Campus
Disciplines
Your Role
About the FEI
On home soil in Denmark, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour clinched a commanding victory with Mount St John Freestyle in the opening leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024/2025 in the Western European League. Fellow Dane Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Vayron secured second place, while Sweden’s Maria von Essen prevented an all-Danish podium by finishing third with Invoice.
The Danish crowd came out in full force to support their home favourites, and they were not disappointed. In Friday’s Grand Prix, Mount St John Freestyle (owned by Laudrup-Dufour & Zinglersen Aps and Mount St John Equestrian LLP) captured the hearts of the audience and went on to deliver an even more stunning performance in the Freestyle. Scoring an impressive 88.965%, Laudrup-Dufour set a benchmark that no other competitor could match. “Already in the warm-up, she felt incredible. And Freestyle adored the arena” said Laudrup-Dufour shortly after her ride.
Daniel Bachmann Andersen, teammate of Laudrup-Dufour in Denmark’s silver-medal-winning team at the Paris Olympics, guided the powerful Vayron (owned by the athlete and Rudolf Spiekermann) to second place with a score of 84.905%. These two combinations were the only ones to break the 80% barrier, setting themselves apart from the rest of the field. While their Paris-teammate Nanna Skodborg Merrald initially claimed third place in the Grand Prix with Blue Hors Zepter (owned by Blue Hors Aps), some mistakes in their Freestyle dropped them to seventh place, opening the door for other competitors. Maria von Essen (SWE) seized that opportunity, moving up from seventh in the Grand Prix to third in the Freestyle with Invoice (owned by Alexanders Hovslageri & Häst Ab).
Challenge yourself and stay sharp
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle impressed at the Paris Olympics, finishing second in the Grand Prix and winning the Grand Prix Special. However, they slipped to fifth in the Freestyle. “Freestyle surprised me a bit in Paris. She was a little stressed from the prize-giving ceremony after the Grand Prix Special. Here in Herning, she was much calmer, as Cassidy did the prize-giving,” Laudrup-Dufour remarked.
Laudrup-Dufour's Freestyle routine is technically demanding but also holds deep personal significance: “I love challenging myself. You need to stay sharp. For me, this is much more than just a floor plan and a piece of music. Every song and every movement reminds me of something.”
As for the remainder of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ season, Laudrup-Dufour is still undecided. “I’ll make a plan with my trainer later. We’ve been invited to ride at the Top 10 in Stockholm, and after that, we’ll see.”
Increased Focus
The five-member judging panel, consisting of Susanne Baarup (DEN), Kurt Christensen (DEN), Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel (NED), Alice Schwab (AUT), and Magnus Ringmark (SWE), unanimously placed Laudrup-Dufour at the top. They were equally unanimous in their decision to place Daniel Bachmann Andersen and his impressive bay Vayron in second.
Bachmann Andersen was delighted with his horse’s performance: “Vayron felt amazing in the warm-up already; he had much more focus than in the Grand Prix, where he was a little fresh, and I made a mistake in the tempi changes. Today he was more settled and focused. He is a very sensitive horse, but the more the audience applauds, the better he performs. His self-confidence was at its highest today. I feel he is really starting to believe in himself.”
Maria von Essen, riding Invoice, a horse she has had since he was two and a half years old, claimed the third position. After winning the Grand Prix and finishing second in the Freestyle at last year’s FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifier in Gothenburg, Von Essen was pleased to secure a podium finish in Herning’s strong field. Starting sixth, she managed to hold on to a top-three spot. “My horse felt just amazing today; he really rose to the occasion,” said von Essen, who borrowed an old Freestyle routine from Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, with whom she shares trainer Kyra Kyrklund.
Tight Competition for the Top Spots
The competition for the remaining top spots was intense. German athlete Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock came closest to breaking into the top three, riding the cheerful mare Florine OLD (owned by Elisabeth von Wulffen) to a solid fourth place with a harmonious performance.
Lone Bang Zindorff, representing Denmark, secured fifth place with Thranegaardens Rostov (owned by Bang Dressage Aps), just ahead of Germany’s Carina Scholz and her experienced seventeen-year-old partner Tarantino (owned by Sportpferde Scholz). Nadja Aaboe Sloth (DEN) guided her own Favour Gersdorf to another score in the 78% range, joining Zindorff, Scholz, and Merrald in a closely contested battle for the top spots. Ninth and tenth places went to German athletes Raphael Netz with Great Escape Camelot and Ingrid Klimke with First Class.
The FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League continues in two weeks in Lyon (FRA), where the second of eleven qualifiers this season will take place. With this strong start in Herning, the journey to the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024 Final in Basel next year is well underway.
Don’t miss a hoofbeat….
After the spectacular Jumping witnessed at the Olympic Games in Versailles, Western Europe now looks forward to the indoor season of top-level competition with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™. This season, a series of 14 events will provide athletes with the opportunity to qualify for the Final in April next year, with the first leg taking place in Oslo (NOR), this Sunday, 20 October where athletes from 16 countries will compete.
Lining up for Switzerland, three-time Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final winner, Steve Guerdat – who is also currently number two in the Longines Rankings - will bring Is-Minka, Lancelotta, and Easy Star de Talma. Last season, he finished 9th in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final with the 11-year-old mare Is-Minka, and this summer, he claimed individual silver at the Olympic Games in Paris with the 11-year-old mare Dynamix de Belheme, with whom he also became winner of the FEI Jumping European Championship in Milan (ITA) last year.
The combination of Harrie Smolders (NED) and Monaco N.O.P., who finished second in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in both 2022 and 2023, is also listed for the opening event. Alongside the experienced 15-year-old gelding Monaco N.O.P., Smolders will bring the 11-year-old stallion Springfield 21, with whom he secured three podium finishes in international 5* competitions this year.
Also in the lineup is Belgian Gregory Wathelet (BEL). In 2023, as part of team Belgium, he claimed 3rd place with the13-year-old stallion Bond Jamesbond de Hay in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final. At the end of last season, he finished 10th in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final with the 14-year-old gelding Ace of Hearts.
Sweden’s Peder Fredricson is also a familiar face in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™, having finished 3rd in the final earlier this year with Catch Me Not S. This 18-year-old gelding was also part of the Swedish team that won bronze earlier this month at the Longines League of Nations™ Final.
Fredricson’s fellow Swede Henrik von Eckermann, world number one and winner of the previous two Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Finals with King Edward, has chosen not to compete at the opening event. As the defending champion, he is automatically qualified for the 2025 Final in April. All eyes will still be on von Eckermann this season to see if he claims victory for a third time.
14 Events
The competition in Oslo is the first in a series of 14 events in Western Europe, where athletes can accumulate points with various horses to secure their spot in the Final. The top 18 Western European League athletes with the most points will qualify for the Final in Basel, Switzerland, from 2-6 April 2025, along with the best athletes from the other leagues.
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™, Western European League, kicks off on 20 October in Oslo (NOR), followed by Helsinki (FIN) a week later, and Lyon (FRA), Verona (ITA), and Stuttgart (GER) in November. December will feature four events in Madrid (ESP), A Coruña (ESP), London Excel (GBR), and Mechelen (BEL).
In 2025, January will see competitions in Basel (SUI), Leipzig (GER), and Amsterdam (NED). February will conclude the qualifiers in Bordeaux (FRA) and Gothenburg (SWE).
More info can be found HERE
The Agria Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials (GBR) has been awarded the FEI Eventing European Championship for 2025. The event will take place from 18 to 21 September 2025.
Photo caption: Paris 2024 Olympic Eventing team champion and individual bronze medallist Laura Collett (GBR) pictured riding Hested at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials 2023. (c) Libby Law
The Oxfordshire venue, home of the Duke of Marlborough, previously ran the FEI Eventing European Championship in 2005. It is the first senior Eventing championship to be held in Great Britain since Blair Castle in 2015.
“It is a great honour to be bringing the FEI Eventing European Championship back to Britain,” said Event Organiser, Katrina Midgley of Stable Events, the organisers of Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.
“Blenheim is such a fitting backdrop, with the Palace and the spectacular parkland cross country course, and we look forward to welcoming the teams and their supporters for a truly memorable occasion. Thanks must go to the teams at British Equestrian, FEI, British Eventing, Agria and UK Sport who have been instrumental in securing this exciting fixture.”
UK Sport’s Head of Major Events Esther Britten said, “Delivering major events like this continues to demonstrate the UK’s reputation as one of the world’s leading hosts, creating extraordinary sporting moments that reach, unite and inspire the nation.”
"We look forward to working collaboratively with the teams at Blenheim and the FEI on this exciting event which will showcase the best British athletes on home soil in a new location for us.”
It will be the 37th running of the bi-annual FEI Eventing European Championship, which started in 1953, the 12th occasion that Great Britain has been the host nation, and the 35th anniversary of the first international horse trials at Blenheim.
“Blenheim is long established as a popular and beautiful Eventing venue and we are very much looking forward to the FEI Eventing European Championship taking place there,” FEI Eventing Director Catrin Norinder said.
The FEI Eventing European Championship has come a long way since its first edition in Badminton (GBR) in 1953 where the hosts took individual gold and silver as well as team gold.
British athletes have dominated the discipline since then, accumulating a total of 20 gold medals in the individual category, more than all other nations combined, including two very high profile wins by members of the British Royal Family – The Princess Royal in 1971 and her daughter Zara Tindall née Phillips in 2005. The combination of Germany and the Federal Republic of Germany has won 27 individual medals (six golds).
In the team category, the British have also been in leading position, winning gold in 24 out of the 36 editions of this Event. France is the second nation with the most team titles, totalling 18, while Germany has achieved 17 team medals, six of which are gold.
At the most recent FEI Eventing European Championship, held in Le Pin au Haras (FRA) in 2023, Rosalind Canter (GBR) and her horse Lordships Graffalo, along with Team Great Britain, were crowned champions.
Next year will be Agria's first as title sponsor. “Could there be a more thrilling way to celebrate the third UK birthday of our game-changing lifetime equine insurance than by becoming Blenheim's title sponsor for the 2025 Agria FEI Eventing European Championships?” said Vicki Wentworth, Chief Executive of Agria UK. “Agria celebrates another birthday next year — the 135th since it was founded in Sweden — and we can’t wait to host the best riders in Europe — plus owners and horse fans from far and wide — to Blenheim on its 35th anniversary. It’s a brilliant event that always produces a memorable competition."
The Cross-Country course conditions played to the Irish strengths this weekend, as an experienced quartet claimed their second FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ win of the season. After winning their home event in Millstreet (IRL), their victory in this the final leg of the Series in Boekelo (NED), came down to some masterful jumping performances in the Cross-Country and Jumping phases. Their finishing score of 102.6 penalties put them well out in front of Team USA on a final total of 116.1, with Germany trailing in third on 131.9.
Eleven teams came forward to compete in this CCIO4* long-format competition which saw a real shake-up in the leaderboard after the Dressage phase. The Netherlands who once again played host to this popular and thrilling Nations Cup finale, finished in ninth spot on 298.9 penalties.
After several weeks of rain affecting the ground conditions, the Organisers had to make a number of changes to the Cross-Country course. With horse and athlete welfare in mind, a loop of the course was removed by Course Designer Adrian Ditcham, to ensure footing throughout.
The Irish team consisted of three members of the team who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer: Susie Berry, Aoife Clarke and Austin O’Connor were joined by the equally experienced and previous Olympian Padraig McCarthy. Three solid and speedy Cross-Country rounds from Berry, Clarke and McCarthy meant they rose from sixth after the Dressage, to pole position going into the final Jumping phase. With just a fence in hand between them and second placed USA, they kept their cool, with Berry and McCarthy jumping clear rounds and Clark taking just one rail, to finish decisive winners of this long-format competition.
Speaking after their performance, Clarke summed up emotions in the Irish camp. “It’s been a brilliant week. The team have performed top of their game, and this win means so much. You can see when we came out (of the prize giving), we were all just over the moon with it. It is a great way to end the year and exciting for next year.”
“We like mud. The Irish are good in mud.”
Aoife Clarke
(IRL)
Of the 93 combinations that started in the CCIO 4*-L competition, 72 rode through the Cross-Country finish. Course Designer Adrian Ditcham praised the team at Boekelo for their efforts to ensure a successful competition which offered enough excitement for athletes and spectators and he was delighted with how it went overall.
“It has been a tough week for myself and the team. Some of the things we had to change to get the right footing were absolutely the right decision. When we made those changes to take out the loop in the first part of the course so that changed the balance of the course, but overall, it went great today, I am very pleased with that”.
Irish rider Clarke, spoke highly of the Nations Cup Series and particularly this crescendo to the season. “The Nations Cup final here in Boekelo is a huge deal and it means a huge amount to anyone competing. It has a real weight to it that is more than some of the individual legs. They (the Organisers) have really done well here, there’s a great atmosphere- it’s built up to a really fun end of the competition. I love Boekelo and would come back every year if I had a horse for it- I love the enthusiasm of the supporters and the work that went in to getting the Cross-Country right. The ground rode well yesterday. It was testing but it held up really well and the work they have done is just unbelievable.”
Team France were overall leaders in the final standings of the 2024 Nations Cup Series with 425 points. Having finished in the top three at four out of five of the legs they entered, they finished well ahead of Germany in second on 320 points. Great Britain were third on 300 points.
A total of 15 teams competed in The FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series this year, which will return to the calendar in 2025.
Image: FEI / Libby Law Photography
With the full silver-medal-winning Danish Olympic Dressage team in action, host nation Denmark is setting the stage for the first qualifier of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024/2025 in the Western European League. Not only will these standout Danish athletes be competing for victory in Herning (DEN), but Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden will be all vying for the podium alongside them.
Denmark at Full Power
The ‘Danish dynamite’ will be out in full force in Herning: Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, Nanna Skodborg Merrald, and Daniel Bachmann Andersen will be competing their Olympic partners Mount St John Freestyle, Blue Hors Zepter, and Vayron for the first time since the Freestyle Final at the Paris Olympics.Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and her partner, Mount St. John Freestyle (owned by Laudrup-Dufour & Zinglersen ApS and Mount St John Equestrian LLP), took first place in the Grand Prix Special in Paris and secured a fifth-place finish in the Freestyle Final. They're looking to write a new chapter in their short but already impressive international career with their FEI Dressage World Cup™ debut in Herning.
Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter (owned by Blue Hors ApS) have already made their mark with a second-place finish in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2023 in Omaha (USA), individual silver at the FEI Dressage European Championships 2023 in Riesenbeck, and another second place with Blue Hors Don Olymbrio in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Riyadh (KSA) this year. In Herning, she'll be looking to secure her first World Cup points with the 16-year-old Zepter on the road to the Final in Basel next year.
Daniel Bachmann Andersen and the mighty Vayron (owned by the athlete and Rudolf Spiekermann) have, besides Olympic team silver, already won European team bronze and will be making their World Cup debut in Herning. They'll be joined by fellow Danes Nadja Aaboe Sloth, Lone Bang Zindorff, and Anna Zibrandtsen.
Fierce Competition
The Danish athletes will surely put up a fight on home turf in the Boxen Arena in Herning, but they’ll face fierce competition from four other nations: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
Patrik Kittel (SWE), who clinched the 2024 Final in Riyadh with Touchdown and also won last year's opening leg in Herning, will be competing with Forever Young HRH (owned by the athlete and Gestüt Peterhof), with whom he finished second in this year’s World Cup qualifier in Neumünster. His compatriot Maria von Essen will also be on hand, bringing the 12-year-old Invoice (owned by Alexanders Hovslageri & Häst AB) to Herning.
Germany is sending a strong contingent of five combinations, led by the experienced Ingrid Klimke. The German 'Reitmeisterin' will be riding the mare First Class (owned by Gut Hülsen GmbH & Co.KG), who made her World Cup debut in Neumünster this year with an eighth-place finish.
One of last season's rising stars, Raphael Netz, will also be in Herning, competing Great Escape Camelot (owned by Theres Boss and Sonja Kristina Krall), with whom he finished fifth in the Final in Riyadh. Germany’s squad is rounded out by Maik Kohlschmidt, Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock, and Carina Scholz.
The Netherlands will be represented by two seasoned combinations, both riding home-bred horses: Marlies van Baalen will saddle up Habibi DVB N.O.P (owned by Dressuurstal van Baalen B.V. and Titus de Vries), her mount for the FEI Dressage European Championships 2023 in Riesenbeck, with whom she also finished second in the World Cup qualifier in Mechelen last year. Thamar Zweistra will bring her top horse Hexagon’s Ich Weiss (owned by Stal Hexagon B.V.).
With the grey stallion she has already competed at the FEI Dressage World Championships 2022 in Herning and in no less than three FEI Dressage World Cup™ Finals: Leipzig, Omaha, and Riyadh. For Belgium, Alexa Fairchild will round out the start list in Herning with her own Lusitano Mala Skala’s Hermes.
38th Season with Final in Basel
With this year marking the 38th season of the FEI Dressage World Cup™, will Denmark claim its first victory since Anne Grethe Jensen and Marzog in 1986? After what promises to be a strong start in Herning, we'll have to wait for the answer until the Final, taking place in Basel (SUI) from 2-6 April 2025.
While this season's Final will be held in Switzerland for the first time in history, Switzerland has already had two victories in the FEI Dressage World Cup™: Christine Stückelberger and Gaugin de Lully took the titles in Essen in 1987 and 's-Hertogenbosch in 1988.
This season's Western European League consists of 11 qualifiers, with Herning as the opening leg. The second leg will be in late October/early November in Lyon (FRA), followed by Stuttgart (GER) and Madrid (ESP) in November. December will see legs in London (GBR) and Mechelen (BEL). The new year kicks off with Basel (SUI) in the second weekend of January, followed by Amsterdam (NED) two weeks later. February will feature action in Neumünster (GER) and Göteborg (SWE), and the WEL qualifiers will conclude in March in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED).
The top 9 combinations from the Western European League will qualify for the 2025 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, along with the reigning champion, Patrik Kittel. He will automatically qualify if he competes in at least two qualifiers this season.
The first qualifier of the 2024/2025 season kicks off in Herning at 10:00 AM local time, followed by the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music on Saturday 19 October, starting at 13:30 PM. It's going to be another thrilling season, so don’t miss a hoofbeat…
Further information about the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024/2025 series here
In a cliff-hanger of a finale to the very first Longines League of Nations™ season, Team Germany reigned supreme at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain today where The Netherlands finished second and Sweden pipped Ireland for third place.
It was a close-fought affair with the Germans and Dutch already out in front at the halfway stage when sharing a zero scoreline but with France, Sweden and Brazil nipping at their heels when carrying just four faults into round two.
The Irish carried eight while the USA and Spain carried 12 apiece, but the Swiss were already on the ropes with 24 first-round faults and there would be no chance of recovery. At the end of the day however they did manage to finish ahead of the French who were eliminated when anchorman Kevin Staut had an unscheduled dismount.
“I think no-one can say now that the format isn’t working - it’s super exciting!”
Santiago Varela
(Course Designer)
With the best three results from each four-member team counted in round one but just three riders returning and all scores counting in round two, it was unpredictable and thrilling once again.
“With this format you have to wait until the very end because everything can change in just a second!”, Varela said. And that was exactly how it played out.
Choice
The plank on the vertical at fence nine was the bogey of the first round, with a choice of a long five or short six strides from the previous oxer. When fences were raised in round two however it was the double of verticals at fence seven on the 12-obstacle track that proved the biggest challenge.
The Germans began to look vulnerable when Andre Thieme and his 2021 European individual gold-medal-winning mare Chakaria put four faults on the board as his team’s second-round pathfinders. And when compatriot and newly-crowned individual Olympic champions, Christian Kukuk and Checker, had two down then they seemed to be really losing their grip.
Maikel van der Vleuten and his Olympic double-bronze-medal-winning gelding Beauville Z NOP piled on the pressure with a second clear to give the Dutch an enormous boost, but Kim Emmen and her grey gelding Imagine dropped both elements of the double at seven on the way to a 12-fault total and now, quite suddenly, the two countries were back on level pegging.
Second-last to go, Germany’s Richard Vogel set off with the big-striding stallion United Touch S who looked positively regal as he soared home clear to throw it down to the final Dutch duo of Harrie Smolders and Uricas van de Kattevennen. If this pair could keep a clean sheet it would go to a jump-off because both sides would finish on a 12-fault tally. But the first pole on that bogey double at seven hit the floor to bring the Dutch tally to 16 and hand victory to Otto Becker’s German side.
Strong connection
Becker has a particularly strong connection with the ring in Barcelona as this is where he rode his final Nations Cup for Germany back in 2008. “I’m proud and honoured with our win here today!”, he said.
And at this evening’s press conference, fourth team-member Jana Wargers said that she understood the decision to leave her and her mare Dorette OLD on the sidelines for today’s second round.
“We decided that the other horses were just in a bit better shape than my one today”, she explained.
Olympic champion Kukuk talked about his eight-fault second round that left Team Germany on the edge in the closing stages.
“I just had a feeling I wasn't accurate enough…I could feel that probably condition-wise he (Checker) was not on his peak right now. His last show was Paris (Olympic Games) and that's a few weeks ago. Everything was set up for that goal and then he had kind of a break after and now it's the first big show again”
Christian Kukuk
(GER)
He realised that Kim Emmen’s 12 faults really let him off the hook.
“Unfortunately for her she had a not-so-good round and suddenly we were equal again. And then Richie had an absolutely outstanding second round and that's why we are in the end now the happy winners!”, he added.
Thieme blamed himself for his single second-round error with Chakaria. After clearing the tricky double that had claimed so many previous victims he said he was “kind of happy and relaxed because I realised that I was the first one who jumped that vertical/vertical clear at that point”. But the seven strides bending to the following oxer “were just 20 centimeters too long and she had to make a really kind of a big jump, which she did very well. And then the six strides (to the vertical at fence nine) became extra, extra short and I didn't quite get her back like I did in the first round…”.
He was grateful to team-mate Vogel for wrapping it up with his effortless clear.
Great day
“Today was a great day for us!”, said Vogel who is ranked 10th in the world.
He is one of many riders who relies implicitly on the help of his groom who he talked about his evening. “I have to thank Felicia (Wallin). She actually had him mostly in training since Paris. We gave him a bit of time off and we did Spruce (Meadows, Canada) and then another bit of time off. So since Spruce, I was, to be honest, not too much in his saddle and around him because I was in America. She overtook the training and clearly did a pretty good job. So I guess we have to keep it that way now. The plan works!”
He sees Felicia as a vital member of his team. “I'm very glad to have her by my side and the horses are very happy to have her by their side. We've worked together for three and a half/four years now. We're a young team. She is 24 and I am 27 - we are heading in the same direction and we have high hopes for the future. Her and United have a very special bond. If he could pick between me and Felicia, he always goes to Felicia. Their bond is special. She rides him very well. I'm the one that does the flat work that is more educating for him, which is also important. She's the one that goes in the forest with him and gives him a happy time, which I find very important to have the right balance there. Now, since I was away for two weeks, I said not only in the forest for two weeks, but also for work in between - and she did it very well!”, he pointed out.
Special awards
Felicia and the other winning team grooms, Sofie Karlsson, Heidemarie Jaeckel, Ulla Uusitalo and Johanna Klare all received special awards at tonight’s prize-giving ceremony while Ariel Grange, owner of the mare Legacy competed by Ireland’s Daniel Coyle won the Best Horse title for her performances throughout this first Longines League of Nations™ series.
Coyle also took a four-way share of the €200,000 bonus on offer for the Best Individual Performances in the Final along with Germany’s Vogel, The Netherlands’ van der Vleuten and Armando Trapote - the latter lifting the home crowd when also posting a double-clear with Tornado VS. And Coyle was back on the presentation podium once again when joining van der Vleuten and Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann to share the Best Athlete Award. All three produced five clear rounds during the season.
The Rookie of the Season title went to America’s Callie Schott and of course Chef d’Equipe of the Season was Germany’s Otto Becker whose team also won the opening leg of the inaugural series in Abu Dhabi in February.
At the end of the day the Longines League of Nations™ Final 2024 scoreboard showed Sweden getting the edge over Ireland for third place based on their faster times when finishing on 20 faults. Brazil slotted into fifth with 24, USA and Spain shared a 28-fault scoreline for sixth and seventh placings, and Switzerland racked up a big 40-fault result to finish eighth ahead of the French.
It’s that time of the year again – a unique and important opportunity for fans to have their say on the best of the best in the equestrian world through the FEI Awards 2024.
FEI is delighted to start the clock today on the online voting for the FEI Awards 2024, with the Longines FEI Rising Star, Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete, Cavalor FEI Best Groom, and FEI Inspire Award up for grabs ahead of a glittering and glamourous awards ceremony.
There are 16 impressive candidates from nine countries nominated across the four award categories this year. They include Olympic and world champions, emerging talents, hard-working grooms, living legends, inspirational volunteers and pioneering Federations.
The public have until 13 October to cast their vote here. The winners will be announced at the FEI Awards Gala presented by Longines on 13 November in Abu Dhabi (UAE).
The FEI welcomes back long-time award partners Longines, Peden Bloodstock and Cavalor for the FEI Awards 2024.
The Longines FEI Rising Star category spotlights young talents who have already left their mark on the equestrian landscape. The nominees are 21-year-old French Para Dressage athlete Chiara Zenati, who finished fourth and just off the Grade III podium on home soil at the 2024 Paralympic Games, 21-year-old Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi of the United Arab Emirates, who was the youngest Jumping athlete at Paris 2024 and qualified for the Individual Final on his Olympic debut, 20-year-old Australian international Grand Prix Dressage athlete Jessica Dertell and the multi-talented 19-year-old Mathies Rüder of Germany, who combines skill sets across both Eventing and Jumping.
The nominees in the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete category are Germany’s Christian Kukuk, who won individual Jumping gold at Paris 2024 with Checker 47 after an incredible three-way jump-off for the medals, Great Britain’s Laura Collett, whose inspirational story has seen her recover from terrible injury to help win and defend Olympic Eventing team gold in Tokyo and Paris, France’s Théo Gardies, who claimed his first world title in Vaulting in Bern (SUI) in July of this year, and Bram Chardon, who recently clinched world team gold and individual silver for The Netherlands at the FEI Driving World Championships 2024 in Szilvásvárad (HUN).
The Cavalor FEI Best Groom category celebrates the unsung behind-the-scenes heroes. This year’s nominees are Germany’s Lisa Fundis, Jumping groom to compatriot and Paris Olympian Philipp Weishaupt, Denmark’s Mette Klose Nielsen, Para Dressage groom to Norway’s multi-medalled seven-time Paralympian Jens Lasse Dokkan, France’s Bettina Cardinael, Eventing groom to Belgium’s Lara De Liederkerke-Meier, who won this year’s German five-star feature at Luhműhlen with Hooney d'Arville, and Estonia’s Pille Riin Roosileht, Driving groom to the Hungarian Youth team under Zsolt Rimarcsik of Hungary.
The FEI Inspire Award showcases the incredible spirit and determination of individuals and organisations serving as role models and showing that anything is possible.
The nominees for the FEI Inspire category are Georgina Urwin of Great Britain for her work with Summerfield Stables – Horses in the Community, the Namibian Equestrian Federation’s heartwarming “Enabling Through the Horse’’ programme, the brilliant Dr Salom Nghinamito of Namibia as an FEI Permitted Treating Veterinarian, and the iconic Lucinda Green of Great Britain for her cross country coaching skills with the Lucinda Green Academy.
Established in 2009, the FEI Awards celebrate individuals and organisations that are making an outstanding contribution to the progress and excellence of equestrian sport, both in and outside the arena.
The lucky award winners will be flown to the FEI Awards Gala presented by Longines in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on 13 November to receive their prizes.
To take part in the fan vote, simply click here!
In summary, the shortlisted nominees for the FEI Awards 2024 are:
Longines FEI Rising Star - for the athlete aged 14 to 21 who demonstrates outstanding sporting talent and commitment:
Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete - paying tribute to the athlete who over the past year has demonstrated exceptional skill and taken the sport to a new level:
Cavalor FEI Best Groom - for the behind-the-scenes hero who ensures the horses they look after are given the best possible care:
FEI Inspire - for an individual or organisation that has pursued their equestrian ambition in an inspiring way and serves as a role model to show that everything is possible, and that even when faced with challenges, you should never stop believing in your dreams:
The winners will be decided through a system in which 50% of the public’s vote via FEI.org and on the Chinese social media platform WeChat and 50% of the judges’ vote will be combined to give the result. The seven expert judges are:
Biographies for all the Judges can be found here.
At the highly anticipated FEI Dressage Stakeholder meeting, which was held in person at the FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) on 1 October, experts and representatives from across the sport have reaffirmed the core objectives of Dressage and discussed ways of realigning the discipline to reflect these objectives.
The aim is that through balanced and systematic education, horses are trained and ridden to be calm, supple, flexible, confident, and responsive, fostering a deep and positive connection with the rider. The group agreed that these core objectives should be integrated in the FEI Rule book and applied in practice, both while training and competing.
This approach emphasises key qualities such as the freedom and regularity of movement, the ease and lightness of transitions, and the horse’s balance.
A crucial aspect is that Dressage is practised without tension or resistance, ensuring harmony between the horse and rider.
Participants acknowledged the impact of breeding on the evolution of the sport and explored the relationship between judging, training, and riding. They also emphasised the importance of examining the sport holistically by introducing principles of behavioural science and the five domains of animal welfare, focusing on the horse's positive physical and mental well-being.
“The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games showcased the best our sport has to offer in competition, but also brought to light challenges that have prompted us to reflect and reassess in the post-Games period,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.
“To many, this vision of what Dressage should embody may seem self-evident. But as highlighted during the meeting, over the years the discipline has moved away from its traditional purpose and this realisation requires a necessary realignment to the foundational principles of Dressage.”
FEI Dressage Director Ronan Murphy said, “Establishing a unified vision is the essential first step in fostering a shared purpose. With this foundation in place, we can now focus on restoring public trust and confidence in the sport.
“Our goal is to be aligned and move forward in the same direction. We have clearly defined what we want to see as a sport and the next step is for all parties to assess how we can adapt our practices and approaches to ensure these standards are met. This effort is not the responsibility of any one group; it is a collective mission for the entire Dressage community and we look forward to engaging with the wider community especially our National Federations.”
Key points that were addressed during the meeting:
Updates will be provided during the session on the FEI’s Equine Welfare Strategy at the FEI General Assembly on 12 November. There will be further opportunities for discussion at the FEI Sports Forum in April 2025.
Note to editors
The meeting was attended by a diverse group of key stakeholders, including representatives from the International Dressage Rider's Club (IDRC), the International Dressage Officials Club (IDOC), the International Dressage Trainer's Club (IDTC) and the Dressage Organisers. Also present were the Presidents of the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) and the Pan American Equestrian Confederation (PAEC), the FEI Vice President and the Chair of the FEI Para Equestrian Technical Committee. Additionally, the FEI Dressage Steward General, FEI Dressage Committee representatives, and members from the FEI Athletes, Para Dressage, and Veterinary committees contributed to the discussions.
The FEI is pleased to announce the appointment of Frédérique Reffet Plantier as Director of Eventing. The 39-year-old Reffet Plantier will commence her new duties on 1 January 2025.
Reffet Plantier, who holds dual Swiss and French nationality, will assume leadership of the FEI Eventing Department, formerly known as the FEI Eventing and Olympic Department. This transition follows the retirement of Catrin Norinder, who has dedicated 37 years of service to the FEI and will conclude her tenure at the end of 2024.
Working with the FEI since 2012, Reffet Plantier started in the Eventing and Olympic Department working closely with the Director and colleagues on all aspects of event and competition management, FEI Committee administration, and the development of risk management practices within the discipline.
In 2021, she transitioned into the role of Senior Manager within the office of the FEI Secretary General, allowing her to gain valuable experience in governance and decision-making, significantly expanding her skill set in both leadership and management.
“Throughout her time at the FEI, we have had the pleasure of observing Frédérique's significant contributions across her various roles,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.
“She has approached each challenge with unwavering professionalism and has demonstrated an exceptional ability to manage complex projects.
“Frédérique is well placed to take on this key role within the organisation, with her comprehensive knowledge of the Eventing discipline and her familiarity with the internal workings of the FEI governance structures. Her inclusive and supportive nature has made her a trusted and valued member of the FEI team at our headquarters in Lausanne and we are excited to see the next chapter of the FEI Eventing Department develop under her leadership.”
Chair of the FEI Eventing Committee and former Olympic Eventing gold medallist from the USA, David O’Connor said, “Frédérique brings to the Director’s position a deep understanding of the operational framework of the Eventing discipline, practical experience in implementing these elements at events worldwide, and a sound awareness of horses as an avid equestrian herself.
“Throughout her involvement in the sport’s evolution, Frédérique has played a crucial role in significant decisions, including changes to the Olympic format and advancements in Eventing Risk Management.
“Having witnessed Frédérique’s growth within the sport, I am confident that her respect for its history, combined with her openness to new approaches for future advancement, makes her the ideal candidate for the Director of Eventing position."
Together with her husband, Reffet Plantier is currently raising two young horse enthusiasts. Her own equestrian journey also began at an early age, growing up in a family deeply connected to the equestrian world in Switzerland. She started riding at just five years old and began competing in amateur Jumping events by the age of eleven. Her passion for the sport extended beyond riding and she gained valuable experience grooming and working in various equestrian roles in Switzerland and during a gap year in the United Kingdom.
Reffet Plantier is also well-known in local riding circles, having served as President for a Swiss National Jumping Event Organising Committee and of a Regional Riders' Association.
Reffet Plantier holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from the Hautes Études Commerciales HEC Lausanne, a Diploma in Sport Management from the Institut de hautes études en administration publique at the University of Lausanne, and a Master’s in Marketing from the Louvain School of Management, a leading business school in Belgium.
“I am truly honored and ready to take on this role, and I’m excited to work alongside such a highly experienced team of colleagues whose passion for the sport and horses matches my own,” Reffet Plantier said.
“My goal is to build on the outstanding work achieved during my predecessor’s tenure and to continue working with the Eventing community to ensure that we navigate both the successes and challenges together as a unified community. I would like to thank FEI President Ingmar De Vos, along with my mentors Sabrina Ibáñez and David O’Connor for their unwavering support and confidence in me as I set out on this new career challenge.”
As the FEI evolves into a key service organisation for its members, maintaining efficient operations is essential. To support this goal, the FEI Board has commissioned an independent review of operations at the FEI's headquarters and an in-depth audit of processes.
The findings, expected by the end of 2024, will help shape the operational structure of multi-sport events, like the Olympic and Paralympic Games, for the future.
For further information about recent staffing changes, please read more here.
About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm. The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
A challenging Cross-Country course meant that the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ at Lignières (FRA) was never going to rest on Dressage scores. The Belgian team’s prowess in both Jumping phases gave them their first Nations Cup victory of the season in the penultimate leg the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ in French soil.
They finished on a score of 143.9 after three of their four riders jumped double clears in the Jumping and Cross-Country phases. The other two teams competing were Great Britain and France but they lagged far behind in second and third respectively with scores of 1084.90 and 1108.60, after both teams lost two riders each to eliminations or withdrawals.
Team Belgium moved their way up the leaderboard from last in the Dressage to second after the Jumping rounding it off with a victory after three solid Cross-Country performances around this demanding course.
This was particularly impressive given their most experienced team member Lara de Liedekerke- Meier was eliminated on her mare Hooney D’Arville, while Steppe Vilain was best of the Belgians on Kawa de la Cour Z. They finished with a double clear and just 12-time penalties and look a promising combination for the future.
Sense Vervaecke jumped a double clear with the 13-year-old mare Google Van Alsingen with whom she competed at various FEI European Championships. The pair had 14.8 Cross-Country time penalties. Wouter de Cleese riding the 14-year-old Holstein mare Quintera, made up the Belgian quartet. They put in a solid performance to jumped clear in both phases with 19.2 time penalties in the Cross-Country.
Former Olympian Kai-Steffan Meier is the Team Manager for the Belgian team and summed up his team’s performance
“It was a very strong Cross-Country course and the ground was a factor due to the rain. After a good and solid Dressage and Jumping performance, I am obviously delighted with three clear rounds on the Cross-Country. That this put us on the top of the podium is the cherry on the cake.”
Kai-Steffan Meier
(Chef d'Equipe - BEL)
In this CIC4* short format competition, the Cross-Country saw a number well-seasoned horse and athlete combinations have faults or eliminations, a stiff track designed by Pierre Le Goupil, course designer at the last Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Jumping faults were peppered around the course, but the early part of the track was particularly eventful for some athletes. The Cross-Country clock also proved hard to beat, with no participants jumping clear inside the time.
The Nations Cup Series now moves to The Netherlands were once again the prestigious Boekelo will play host to the final of this popular Series from 10 to 13 October, which will run as a long format four-star competition. Despite a disappointing experience at their home event, France continues to lead the overall standing on 370 points.
Image: Team Belgium at the podium of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup 2024 in Lignières (FRA). (L-R) Lara de Liedekerke-Meier; Senne Vervaecke; Wouter de Cleene; Seppe Vilain. © FEI/ Libby Law Photography
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.
By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies.