On an afternoon filled with thrills and surprises, German star Marcus Ehning galloped to victory with his relatively new ride Coolio 42 at the sixth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in Madrid, Spain today.

From a starting field of 39, a total of 10 made the cut into the second-round jump-off where the track set by Spanish course designer Javier Trenor created even more excitement. 

Included in the final showdown were two from Spain, Mariano Martinez Bastida who is ranked 101st in the world and Teresa Blazquez-Abascal ranked 319th, and they didn’t disappoint when filling third and ninth places in the final analysis.

But it was Ehning, currently ranked 39th but holder of the number one slot on more than one occasion during his spectacular career, who would carry away the maximum 20 points when pinning reigning Olympic champion, Great Britain’s Ben Maher, into runner-up spot with Enjeu de Grisien.

Ehning is only 49, but his list of accomplishments goes back a long way including Olympic team gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, five European team titles and three World Cup victories, the first recorded with Anka in Las Vegas (USA) in 2003. Now, 21 years later, he looks well on his way to his 21st FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final. 

Today’s Madrid success was not his first.

“Winning here for the third time means I am getting old, but I am still here!”, he said. “I really like the show in Madrid and I am happy to come back every year!” 

French contenders

There were four hot French contenders in the second-round decider and the first was pathfinder Jeanne Sadran who, at just 22 years old, is clearly a rising star. Showing great maturity she set the standard with a lovely tour of the twisting eight-fence jump-off course in 45.11 seconds with the 10-year-old stallion Dexter de Kerglenn who never looked under pressure.

Brazil’s Pedro Veniss was next to set off with the 14-year-old Boeckmanns Lord Pezi Junior but two fences down would leave them out of the reckoning before Martinez Bastida whipped his home crowd into a frenzy when clear with Belano vd Wijnhoeve Z. His time of 43.06 might have been faster, but he seemed to lose his line to the final oxer with a last-minute adjustment to the left and, as it would turn out, he wouldn’t be the only one to make an error of judgement there.

Next in, Frenchman Olivier Robert had a pole down with Igelesias DV but, fifth to go, Maher made no mistake, bringing the nine-year-old Enjeu de Grisien through the timers in 42.38 seconds to put it up to the rest of them.

Super-fast Frenchman, Julien Epaillard, was no threat to the British rider’s lead with two down with Donatello D’Auge. But Ehning followed with a fabulous tour of the track that shaved a quarter of a second off Maher’s target time, balancing his horse beautifully on the tricky turn to the penultimate vertical and on full power down to the final oxer to put a zero in 42.13 seconds on the board to go out in front.

Far from decided

With three to go it seemed the result was far from decided, but World number one, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann with the grey mare Calizi, left one on the floor in the quickest time of 41.02 seconds before the final Frenchman, and last weekend’s winner in Stuttgart (GER) Kevin Staut, set sail with the experienced 14-year-old mare Visconti du Telman. 

And they were looking very dangerous indeed until, to the disbelief of the crowd, they also seemed to mistake the bending line to the final oxer at fence eight like the earlier Spanish pair who, however, managed to rectify the situation at the last minute. It was too late when Staut realised he was heading instead for fence 13, the second fence on the new track which he had already jumped, and it was elimination when Visconti took it on anyway and sent the standards and poles flying in every direction. 

Staut shook his head with disbelief at what had just happened, leaving the arena with a wry smile on his face. 

Last to go, Teresa Blasquez-Abascal and her 10-year-old mare Nasa de Toxandria gave it their best shot for two fences down in a good time of 44.95, more than pleased to have battled it out with some distinction against the very best in the sport.

For the winner, Ehning, today’s victory was particularly special. “I was very happy with my horse today. It is only his second World Cup so I am very pleased with him”, he said.

Promise

He only acquired Coolio in August, and already the pair are showing great promise together. The horse was produced from a youngster up to 5* level by fellow-German Marcel Marschall who competed him in the German side that finished third at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2023 at St Gallen in Switzerland in June. “I’m really happy to have him to ride alongside Stargold”, Ehning added today. 

Maher, who won the Western European League qualifier in Verona, Italy two weeks ago wasn’t disappointed with his second-place finish this time out. He’s enjoying a spectacular end to the year with his string, and said of Enjeu de Grisien, “it’s just his second 5* Grand Prix and the first time at that level trying to go quick”.

Reflecting on his jump-off round he pointed out, “I did everything I could, there were one or two places that didn’t go exactly as I wanted but it was a difficult course in the jump-off. We saw some amazing riders make mistakes, and Marcus just got me there at the last jump I think!” 

Maher missed much of the early-season shows this year after injuring himself in a fall, but that has left him with a huge amount of fire-power now, later in the season.

More indoor shows

“I’m doing more indoor shows than I have in the past. I had a quiet start to the year which enables me with the bigger team of horses to compete more this time of year. I’m lucky I can rotate them and pick which horse will suit which arena, and the whole team is riding with confidence and that’s showing in the results at the moment”, said the man who has now risen to the very top of the Western European League table ahead of the next leg of the series in La Coruna, Spain next weekend.

Ehning meanwhile is still talking low-key about his plans for the remainder of the winter season. After today’s victory he said, “I would like to continue like this, but it is not so easy!”

Qualifying for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2024 which will take place in Riyadh (KSA), next April is definitely on his agenda  “I will try to qualify for the Final and at the moment I am in a good position, so I hope I keep having good results”, said the man who is one of just five three-time FEI World Cup champions and who gave one of his masterclasses in horsemanship to post yet another memorable victory today.

The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024…..don’t miss a hoofbeat…

Result

Standings

There’s nothing quite like a home win, and today Spain’s Jose Daniel Martin Dockx and the 13-year-old stallion Malagueno Lxxxiiii thrilled the home crowd with a superb victory at the fourth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in Madrid (ESP).

Fourth-last to go in the field of 13 starters, they threw down the gauntlet from the very beginning of their Freestyle performance when moving straight into canter pirouette followed by tempi changes. And their foot-perfect piaffe/passage and seamless transitions between the two movements consistently boosted their scoreline to the winning mark of 80.870.

Yesterday the pair had to settle for third in the Grand Prix behind the French runners-up Morgan Barbançon and Sir Donnerhall ll OLD and Germany’s Matthias Alexander Rath and Destacado FRH at the head of affairs. But today Rath had to settle for second place with a score of 79.720 while Spain’s Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and Elegance lined up in third when putting 78.425 on the board and Barbançon slotted into fourth spot.

Martin Dockx could feel the improvement in his horse today. “The pirouettes, especially the one to the right was better, the relaxation was also a bit better, the changes felt more relaxed and I think all those things made a little bit of a difference between yesterday and today - I’m really very, very happy!”, he said this evening.

Surpassed

Once the eventual winners had surpassed Barbançon’s target score of 78.030 it was down to the final three to overtake them. And with too many mistakes fellow-Spaniard Jose Antonio Garcia Mena and Gladiador Do Lis did not present a threat when putting down a score of 75.330, although they finished strongly with marks of 8 and 9 towards the end of their test.

Rath and Destacado were the penultimate partnership but couldn’t quite make the 80 percent mark, although Rath was so pleased with his 10-year-old stallion’s performance that he clapped with delight after his final halt. And when Ferrer-Salat finished just behind him it was Martin Dockx who took centre stage at the post-competition press conference which was conducted in front of an eager and enthusiastic public audience. 

This was only Malagueno’s fourth Freestyle today. “We made one in Aachen (GER), one in the Championship of Spain, and one last year in Sicab (Seville) and my expectation was that if I could be third like I was yesterday in the Grand Prix it would be great to be on the podium again. But today the Freestyle went really well so we are very, very happy and proud of the horse!”, the 49-year-old Spanish rider said.

He said Malagueno is a lovely character. “He is super nice and super sweet, I can put my little daughter on him, he’s not scared of anything yet he has enough power to do Grand Prix - so he is very special!”

The pair were in the Spanish team at the FEI Dressage World Championship in Herning (DEN) last year and at the FEI Dressage European Championship in Riesenbeck (GER) this summer.

“I see such an improvement in him now. In the beginning the difficulty was that he was always too tense, he’s a very sensitive horse with a lot of power and he wants to give you all he has and sometimes he can’t control the power. Now he’s getting more relaxed and making it more easy for both of us!”, Martin Dockx explained.

Breed

Malagueno is an Andalusian, a distinct breed also known as a PRE or Pure Spanish Horse (pura raza española) whose history can be traced all the way back to the 15th century. The stallion’s next outing will be at Sicab 2023 in Seville (ESP) next week.

“We have to be there because we have to make a good representation of our breed because people from all over the world come to this show! Then he will have a break that he deserves and then we would like to go to the World Cup in Doha (QAT) in February”, Martin Dockx said.

Further down the line is an even bigger ambition. “I would love to get him to Paris (2024 Olympic Games), it’s a long way but this is the goal even though it will be very difficult. In Spain now we have a lot of horses with a lot of quality and in eight months a lot can happen, but I hope we can make this goal come true!”, he added.

Today’s result has shaken up the Western European League leaderboard, with Rath moving up to fifth place behind fellow-German Raphael Netz in fourth and Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald in third place. With a significant 54 points Barbançon has improved to second position but Sweden’s Patrik Kittel still sits at the top of the rankings with 68 points going into the fifth leg in London (GBR) in three weeks’ time.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result

Standings

The FEI is aware of the distressing images presented in Danish TV2’s documentary, "Operation X: Secrets of the Horse Billionaire" that involved Andreas Helgstrand. The FEI takes all allegations of horse abuse very seriously and at all times the welfare of the horse must be paramount. 

The welfare of horses is at the core of our values and regulations, and any action or omission which causes or is likely to cause pain or unnecessary discomfort to a horse constitutes a violation of our rules.  

Equestrian sport is built on a foundation of respect and welfare for our equine partners. Any deviation from these principles is unacceptable, and the FEI remains resolute in its commitment to upholding the highest standards of equine welfare, maintaining the integrity and wellbeing of our athletes - both equine and human. 

As this is an ongoing situation, we are unable to provide further details at this time. The FEI will however collaborate closely with the Danish National Federation, and there is a mutual recognition of decisions and any sanctions imposed. We will continue to communicate as the situation develops, and want to assure the equestrian community, our stakeholders and the public, that we are rigorously addressing this issue. 

It is for the governing bodies to assure that there are rules in place to sanction any welfare breaches and uphold horse welfare, and there is an onus on everyone within the equestrian community to adhere to such rules and best practices in equine care and welfare, in order to maintain equestrian sport in a strong, healthy and ethically sound way for the future. 

Last year, in June 2022, the FEI created the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, an independent body tasked with addressing societal concerns related to the use of horses in sport, and to provide an independent evidence-based ‘framework’ to guide FEI regulations policies and practices in relation to equine welfare and wellbeing. 

Their Final Report “A Good life for horses. A vision for the future involvement of horses in sport”, which was delivered to the FEI Board on 18 November 2023, and presented to the FEI General Assembly on 22 November, will now form the basis of an action plan and roadmap for implementation to be discussed at the upcoming FEI Sports Forum in April 2024. 
 
We are committed to ensuring that horses involved in sport experience positive welfare throughout their lives, and that the FEI’s regulations, policies and practices, as well as the wider community’s actions reflect these principles, and we will continue to address actions and behaviours that are in contradiction with our values. 

Official Press Releases from the Danish National Federation can be seen here: https://rideforbund.dk/nyheder-2023 

Detailed information on the composition, aims, work, and timelines of the EEWB Commission is available here:  https://equinewellbeing.fei.org/

Mexico City’s Colegio de la Vizcainas provided a stunning backdrop for the 2023 edition of the FEI Awards Gala presented by Longines, which celebrated international and home-grown winners across four categories of equestrian excellence.

The evening saw Mimi Gochman (USA) take home this year’s Longines FEI Rising Star Award, created to recognise young athletes between the ages of 14 and 21 who demonstrate outstanding equestrian sporting talent.

The 19-year-old Jumping sensation from New York City, has already made her mark on the international stage with three senior FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ team appearances. Mimi has come into her own during the 2023 season, placing fourth in the FEI Jumping U25 Rankings and earning top three results at several CSI5* level competitions. With her sights set firmly on the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, the young Rising Star is also currently pursuing a degree at USA’s Ivy League school Brown University.

Longines International Sponsorship and Event Manager Michael Vuilleumier presented Mimi with the Longines FEI Rising Star Award and an elegant timepiece from the FEI’s Top Partner.

“Winning the Longines FEI Rising Star Award is an extreme honour and I'm super grateful to be here,” Mimi said.

“Riding means everything to me. It’s the thing I've been doing my whole entire life and for which I’m very grateful. I've always had a connection to horses. I think they're incredible animals, and I'm lucky enough to spend my time with them. This sport has taught me a lot of valuable life lessons, and I hope to continue it as long as I can. Horses are very intelligent and when you make that relationship with them, a deep relationship, they work extremely hard to win with you.”

Considered one of the best Dressage athletes of her generation, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl was the recipient of this year’s Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award, which was presented by Managing Director of Peden Bloodstock Martin Atock. Unable to attend the ceremony in person, Jessica accepted the honour via video.

“I feel very honoured to have won the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award,” Jessica said.

“Dalera is probably the most intelligent horse I've ever worked with so far in my life! She is the cuddliest version when we are in the stable and walking together, and she is a rockstar when we enter the arena. Dalera and I have a very special relationship. We love each other and we love what we are doing together. And this is something I really have to think of as a rider - How can I make my horses love me? And how can I make my horses love what we are doing?

“I always say don’t train hard, but train smart. Sometimes I think: How is it possible to feel so much love for so many animals and people? But it’s exactly what makes riding horses so special.

“I'm so sorry I can't be in Mexico tonight, but I want to say a huge thank you to everybody who voted for us. I always have to say ‘us’ because this is not only my success. It is Dalera’s and mine, and the success of my family and the whole team around us. And I want to thank all of them, and all of you, for making this happen!”

Jessica clinched her first international championship title at the FEI Dressage European Championship for Juniors in 2002, a feat she replicated in 2004. She has won the individual European Champion title an impressive six times and has taken the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final title for the past two years. With her exceptional mare TSF Dalera BB, Jessica remains an unstoppable force, dominating the FEI Dressage World Rankings, winning double gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and maintaining an unbroken streak of victories since then.

Emma Uusi-Simola (FIN) clinched this year's prestigious Cavalor FEI Best Groom Award, in recognition of her outstanding dedication and hard work as groom for Swiss athlete Steve Guerdat.

Over the past decade, Emma has been an integral part of Steve's team, demonstrating unwavering passion and commitment through the highs and lows of the sport. A trusted member of the Swiss team, Emma is often the groom of choice when travelling to equestrian events overseas is required. Her special bond with Steve’s horse Dynamix, her understanding of her athlete’s needs as well as her ability to anticipate and adapt to any situation has been pivotal to his success.

Receiving the award from Managing Director of Cavalor Liselotte Hamerlinck, Emma said, “I'm really pleased to get this FEI Cavalor Best Groom Award and it means a lot to me.

“Horses are my whole life. I love to work with them because they challenge me every day. All of them have their own personality, and I have to figure out how to handle each and every one of them.

“You need time to get to know the horses and it does not happen in one day. Some horses are easier and some horses are more difficult. With some of them you need two years to figure out what they like and don’t like.”

The last award of the evening was presented to Federico Fernández Senderos (MEX) who won the newly created Pivo FEI Inspire Award, in his hometown of Mexico City. As the name suggests, the Award has been designed to showcase the incredible spirit and determination of individuals who serve as role models and show that anything is possible.

Aged 19, Federico was one of just three people to survive a plane crash in which more than 50 people were killed. After months of intensive recovery and with a new take on life, Federico returned to competition and has gone on to become one of Mexico’s most well-known Jumping athletes. 

Federico has participated in seven FEI World Equestrian Games™, three Olympic Games, and won a silver medal, together with team Mexico, at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo (DOM) in 2003. He has also competed at countless CSIO5* Longines FEI Nations Cup™ competitions, with wins in Xalapa (MEX) and Dublin (IRL), to name a few.

For Federico, family is his motivation, entrepreneurship his drive, and horses his passion. He is known, respected and admired by many for his philosophy of letting go of what can’t be changed, focusing on making life meaningful and always expecting that the best is yet to come.

Receiving the award from CEO of Pivo Ken Kim, Federico said: “For me to receive the PIVO FEI Inspire Award is an honour. I should be the one to say thank you for all that equestrian has done for me because it has been so important in my life.

“I'm going out every morning with passion and I try to make every day special and happy for myself and for the people whose lives I touch daily. I really think that horses are the healthiest way of taking a step back into real nature and into the basics of life. It is about interacting with the animal and not with technology or anything else. Getting on a horse heals every physical and mental pain and it’s just an indescribable moment when you’re on top of a horse.”

This year’s winners were decided by combining 50% of the public votes cast on FEI.org, and 50% of the judges’ votes. National Federations, FEI partners and stakeholders attended the FEI Awards, with well-known Mexican TV presenter Gloria Cazalda as Master of Ceremonies.

“All week during the FEI Hybrid General Assembly 2023, we have spoken about our role as governing bodies, what more we need to do to serve our sport and our stakeholders, and how we can build a better future for the next generation of equestrians,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“And tonight, we are celebrating the individuals who effectively inspire our decision-making process and the many discussions we have behind the scenes, so that we can provide them with the very best platform to thrive. So, this is a special night and I look forward to this occasion every year.

“Congratulations not just to our winners but also to everyone who was nominated for these Awards. And I also want to thank the sponsors – Peden Bloodstock, Cavalor and PIVO and especially our Top Partner Longines who also present the Gala evening. The FEI and Longines are kindred spirits and tonight is another example of our wonderful collaboration. 

“I’m already looking forward to the 2024 edition!”  

Photo 1: Mexico City’s Colegio de la Vizcainas provided a stunning backdrop for the 2023 edition of the FEI Awards Gala presented by Longines. (FEI/Liz Gregg) 

Photo 2 (left to right): Emma Uusi-Simola (FIN) winner of Cavalor FEI Best Groom Award, Federico Fernández Senderos (MEX) winner of Pivo FEI Inspire Award and Mimi Gochman (USA) winner of the Longines FEI Rising Star Award (FEI/Liz Gregg)

Read also

Start of voting for 2023 ushers in new era of FEI Awards

 

The FEI Hybrid General Assembly 2023 took place in Mexico City (MEX) and online on 21 November.

A summary of the main decisions taken by the General Assembly is available here.

An in-person FEI Board meeting took place after the General Assembly.

A summary of the main decisions taken by the Board is available here.

 

Meeting documents

The detailed timetable, agenda, and meeting documents are publicly available in the dedicated hub here.

 

Other news

Other news published in connection with the General Assembly:

FEI Board Meeting I, 18 November – wrap-up report on key decisions

A+ for the FEI World Championships 2026 as Aachen and Al Ula confirmed as hosts

FEI Board takes decision on protective measures regarding Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses and Officials

Proposed modifications to FEI Rules including a full rules revision for Endurance, ideas for optimising the existing rules revision process, the FEI’s work in the areas of education, sustainability, accessibility and the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games were the subjects under discussion at the sessions in Mexico City (MEX) today. 

In the FEI Rules Session, FEI Deputy Legal Director Aine Power discussed the existing FEI Rules Revision Policy, which was initiated in 2020. According to the policy, a full revision of discipline rules takes place every four years, while rule changes outside the context of a full rule revision are only permitted when they meet specific criteria (e.g. addressing urgent athlete and horse welfare and safety issues, correcting inconsistencies, implementation of new technologies, mandated changes from organisations such as IOC, IPC, WADA and ASOIF or in other circumstances when approved by the FEI Board).

The FEI Rules Revision Policy was implemented to streamline the rules process, addressing feedback that the annual review of all rules had become excessively burdensome. While the current policy serves to uphold principles of democracy and transparency, the delegates were asked to consider whether the constantly evolving rulebooks and the volume of changes that are put forward every year align with the overall purpose of rules, which is to provide clarity in the sport. The implementation of a new rulebook every year impacts on athletes, officials, National Federations, and Organising Committees who must familiarise themselves with the changes on an annual basis.

In the session, delegates were asked to consider if they were happy to maintain the status quo or if thought should be given to making some changes, for example limiting the number of annual rule changes or if an alternate model needs to be considered. The FEI Deputy Legal Director stressed that the door would remain open for discussion and encouraged delegates to provide their feedback.

The session continued with a discussion of the key changes proposed to the FEI Endurance Rules which are undergoing a full revision. These changes relate to: star level of events; categories of FEI Endurance Events; minimum weights; novice qualifications; CEI qualifications and validity of CEI star level qualification; Championship rules; mandatory out of competition periods; rotation of officials; Technical Delegate and Ground Jury roles; elite athlete status; athlete and trainer penalty points; warning cards; horse inspections, examinations and control of medication; officials required for events; and Endurance awards. 

In the second half of the session led by FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch, delegates were taken through various proposed changes to the FEI Statutes, General Regulations as well as other discipline and Veterinary Rules and Regulations.

All proposals and modifications will be put forward to the FEI Hybrid General Assembly for approval on 21 November. Delegates will be required to vote separately on proposals concerning the new FEI Social Media Policy, Integrity and Ethics related provisions, and the transition period on the Appointment of National Officials in Eventing.

In the session – Making the most out of educational and development programmes – FEI Director of Education and Officials Frank Spadinger and FEI Director of Solidarity Jean-Philippe Camboulives showcased the extensive educational tools and solutions that are made available by the FEI – free of cost – to help inform and educate the equestrian community.  

Delegates were informed about the various online materials and videos available through FEI Campus, as well as awareness campaigns like "Beat the Heat" and "Think Outside the Box". The vast catalogue of in-person courses for National Federations, Coaches, Grooms, Farriers, stable managers, biosecurity-related personnel and Veterinarians was outlined for delegates. A common thread through the discussions was the crucial role that National Federations play in informing and distributing educational content.

The session was followed by discussions on the Sustainability and Accessibility activities of the FEI.

In his video address, FEI Sustainability Manager Somesh Dutt took delegates through the FEI's sustainability initiatives, in particular the FEI Sustainability Handbook for Event Organisers, urging organisers to pose critical questions about product sourcing, composition, packaging and end-of-life implications before making key sustainability decisions.

FEI Director of Games Operations Tim Hadaway then took the floor to introduce the recently created FEI Accessibility Handbook for Event Organisers, which aims to provide a systematic approach to enhancing the accessibility of FEI Equestrian Events for para athletes, support staff, spectators, media, volunteers, and stakeholders with disabilities.

The cost-effectiveness of integrating sustainability and accessibility into the Event planning process from the outset, as well as the importance of early engagement and collective involvement, was keenly emphasised. The value of including a dedicated sustainability and accessibility role within event teams, ensuring consideration across all planning aspects, was also put forward to delegates for consideration.

In the last session of the day, Tim Hadaway and FEI Eventing Director Catrin Norinder took delegates through the preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The session covered venue teams, layouts, competition schedules, operational intricacies, and design considerations, including jumping and cross-country obstacles, dressage arenas, and hospitality. Rule clarifications, an explanation of qualification procedures, key dates and deadlines for the Olympic and Paralympic Games were also put forward to delegates.

All presentations from today’s sessions can be found on the FEI General Assembly Hub

The FEI and the Maison de la Recherche en Sciences Humaine MRSH, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique MRSH CNRS (Human Sciences Research Centre, National Centre for Scientific Research) of the University of Caen in France have entered a partnership regarding an exciting new project. La Bibliothèque Mondiale du Cheval (World Horse Library) is an innovative digital library combining the resources of public and private libraries around the world on the subject of the horse.

The Library currently has an inventory of over 15,000 books with over a quarter that have been digitalised  and is constantly being enriched by the addition of new works. It is a highly collaborative initiative open to all existing public and private libraries, who retain their copyright while becoming a part of the Library’s corpus. The books are not only being digitalised but are also cross-referenced and annotated by experts in various fields, which takes the project to a higher scientific and methodological level.

Located in Normandy, the region in the northwest of France, where the highly successful FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 were held, the University of Caen is a national centre of digital publishing and carries the prestigious Biblissima label of excellence.

La Bibliothèque Mondiale du Cheval benefits from exceptionally advanced interdisciplinary research on digital documents and is being supported by the French authorities and especially the Normandy Region.

“The FEI is thrilled to become a partner of La Bibliothèque Mondiale du Cheval, an innovative project dedicated to promoting and encouraging knowledge transfer”, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “It is the first time that such massive digital resources in the academic world are being dedicated to the subject of the horse and we are very excited to be involved.”

In the framework of the partnership between the FEI and La Bibliothèque Mondiale du Cheval, a conference "Sports Équestres, Jeux et Enjeux” (Equestrian Sports, Games and Stakes) will be organised on 1 August 2024 during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the auditorium of the Chateau de Versailles.

Various speakers, historians, researchers and academics will gather at the Château de Versailles, the iconic venue of the Olympic equestrian competitions.

“We look forward to gathering at Versailles during the world’s greatest sporting event, the Olympic Games,” Xavier Libbrecht (FRA), Project Leader for La Bibliothèque Mondiale du Cheval, said.

“Asking questions about the future of equestrianism, a unique sport in a changing world, through the prism of the values implicit in humankind’s relationship with the horse was a rare opportunity, which we could not pass up. Doing it in the historical setting of Versailles, which has been the centre of what became known as "court equitation" or "academic equitation" since the time on French King Louis XIII in the first part of the 17^th century, makes it truly exceptional.

“This partnership with the FEI is very much based on cooperation and collaboration and we look forward to working together to centralise the resources and information around equestrian sports and their development over time.”

On a day of fabulous sport and wild celebrations, Kevin Staut and Beau de Laubry Z won the fifth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League series in Stuttgart, Germany.

The home crowd may have been hoping that one of their own would take the top step of the podium, but they roared with delight when the Frenchman set the eight-horse jump-off alight with a sensational round from his 10-year-old gelding that simply couldn’t be beaten.

Young British star, Harry Charles, finished a very close second with Casquo Blue while Staut’s compatriot, Francois Boudant, slotted into third with Brazyl du Mezel, and best of the nine German contenders was Hans-Dieter Dreher who lined up in fourth with Elysium. 

For Staut, who turned 43 last week, this was one very special victory. He arrived in Stuttgart on a Wild Card and it worked out like a dream.

“I’m really happy - can you believe it’s 11 years since I won here last! This is a really fantastic show, the organisers are thinking about the sport first and that’s what makes it so special! You can feel the atmosphere in that arena - it’s totally crazy, the crowd are really, really nice with everyone, and of course they are hoping for a German victory but they also are all horsemen and horsewomen and what they want is to see great sport!”

That’s exactly what they got today.

Course

Top Dutch course designer, Louis Konickx, created the 13-fence first-round track that included five fences standing at a full 1.60m with a time-allowed of 69 seconds, and it took some riding. There was a tricky turn to the triple combination at fence four and absolute accuracy required to negotiate the pink-topped vertical at eight to the following oxer at nine and a sharp right bend to a narrow vertical at fence 10. For several however the game was already up when the oxer at fence two hit the floor.

“It was difficult, just eight clears and the time-allowed was tight so it motivated the riders to run a little bit against the clock already in the first round”, Staut explained.

Boudant set the pace in the jump-off when clear in 42.08 seconds and neither Dreher nor fellow-German Kendra Brinkop threatened that despite great clears. Staut’s round flowed seamlessly however, the 2009 individual European champion and 2016 Olympic team gold medallist never losing momentum and racing through the timers in 41.78 seconds to really put it up to the remaining three. 

Sweden’s Amanda Landeblad and For Killy returned a nine-fault result but reigning European champions, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and Dynamix de Belheme, looked set to oust the French leader as they wound their way around the snaking eight-fence challenge. However the penultimate oxer and the final vertical didn’t come up quite right, and time in the air over the last cost valuable fractions of seconds that saw them cross the line in 42.99 which would only be good enough for fifth place in the final analysis.

Real threat

The real threat to Staut came from Britain’s Charles and his 13-year-old gelding who set off like they were on fire when last to go. 

“I didn’t quite think I could catch Kevin, Casquo isn’t the fastest horse but when you have a crowd like this behind you then you give it everything and the horse gave it everything as well. It was so close, but honestly it feels like a win anyway!”, said the popular 24-year-old after breaking the beam in 41.92, just 0.14 seconds off Staut’s winning time, to secure runner-up spot.

The spectators loved every moment of it, and all the riders were talking about the tremendous atmosphere in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Halle this weekend. “This is the best crowd I’ve ever jumped in front of!”, Charles said this evening.

He enjoyed a really successful show over the last few days. “I came here last year for the first time and didn’t have the luckiest week and I made a promise to myself I’d come back next year. This is a show I always wanted to perform well at, and on Friday to become the German Master was a pretty cool title! I would have loved to have won the World Cup today but maybe I’ll come back next year and try again!”, the British rider added.

Turn

Staut said it was his turn to the last fence that clinched it for him today. 

“I had a good left turn at the wall (fence 3) and then Henk (Nooren, French Chef d’Equipe) told me I had to turn inside if possible to the vertical (last fence) - but let’s see how you jump the oxer (second-last). If you jump that well then you are in the trajectory to take the last because the other horses are really fast and mine would not be the fastest - but he was so great today!”, the winning rider said.

He talked about where he is in his career right now. 

“It’s difficult at the moment, I’m trying to rebuild the horses I can have and I can ride, it’s take a long time but for sure when you have this kind of victory it gives an extra boost for everyone!”, he pointed out.

He has only been partnered with Beau de Laubry Z for the last year.

“He was supposed to be a dealing horse but Henk took him in his view next year for the Olympics so he’s really motivated that we are doing a great job on him. He’s got him at home sometimes to do flatwork, he is at every practice I am doing to try to help me. The horse is really sensitive and a bit stiff, but we are working a lot and this is a horse with such a big, big heart and he is such a clever one. I’m really lucky the owners decided to keep him until the end of next year, they secured him for me to ride so it’s a great, great pleasure!”, he explained.

Impression

Staut’s initial impression of Beau de Laubry wasn’t flattering, but the bay gelding has surely turned that around.

“Before I got him he was just jumping 1.40m, 1.45m and honestly when they were showing me the video I didn’t want to try him because he was really special! And then they were telling me they would bring him to my place and I could try him anyway. I wasn’t motivated at all but the feeling when I got on him was really great, so we made the deal. 

“Sometimes the stories come from nowhere - this horse was really not on target to be a superstar, but he’s trying to do his best and now he is there - and he’s amazing!”, the delighted Frenchman said.

So what are his plans for the rest of the season, with a view to the Longines final 2024 in Riyadh (KSA) next April? He has long been an avid supporter of the much-loved and prestigious series.

“At the moment I have a few points, something like 33 - not like I’m counting!!”, he said with a laugh today. He’s currently lying fifth on the Western European League leaderboard. His highest-placed finish at the 11 Jumping World Cup finals in which he has competed was third with the great Silvana HDC in Gothenburg (SWE) ten years ago.

“I’m going to Madrid (ESP) next week and to London (GBR, in December). I really love the World Cup tour, and every time I try my best”, he pointed out. 

So don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result

Standings

Whilst the sanctions prohibiting international competitions to be held in Russia and Belarus remain in place, the FEI Board has decided to lift protective measures to allow future participation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses and Officials as neutrals. The conditions and timeline for implementation will be put forward for approval by the FEI Board during a teleconference in December 2023.

The FEI Board discussed the protective measures at length during its in-person meeting on 18 November 2023 in Mexico City, which had been imposed on Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses and Officials on 2 March 2022 following the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine.

The Board was updated on the latest position of the International Olympic Committee which had urged International Federations to consider re-admitting Russian and Belarusian Athletes to international competitions under certain conditions and the changed situation among other International Federations. It was noted that since the protective measures had been introduced over 18 months ago, the situation in other sports has changed and Russian and Belarusian individual athletes have gradually resumed participation in international sport as neutrals alongside Ukrainian athletes without significant disruption to the competitions.

The Board noted that the original protective measures were put in place further to the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee however, it was acknowledged that the measures currently in place may no longer fulfill a protective role and, therefore, had to be reconsidered.

The FEI Headquarters was tasked by the Board with establishing the conditions and timeline allowing individual Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses and Officials to resume participation in FEI Events as neutrals. In the meantime, Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses and Officials remain ineligible to participate in FEI Events.

The Board took the opportunity to reiterate its full support to the people of Ukraine, who have suffered and continue to suffer tremendously, and pledged its continued solidarity and support to the Ukrainian equestrian community through the FEI Solidarity Relief Fund.

FEI Board Meeting Wrap-Up Report

A summary of all the key decisions taken by the Board on 18 November are available in the wrap-up report here.

The press release on the allocation of the FEI World Championships 2026 to Aachen (GER) and Al Ula (KSA) can be viewed here.

Conor Swail (IRL) spent the last two seasons of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League at the top of the standings. But through the first four legs of the 2023-24 season, he uncharacteristically had yet to make the podium of a World Cup event.

But ahead of the league's fifth leg in Las Vegas (USA), Swail felt that his mount from the 2022 World Cup Finals, Count Me In was feeling primed for a confident effort. His feelings were justified, as he and his longtime partner bested a six-horse jump-off at the unique venue that is the South Point Hotel & Casino. 

The duo crossed the timers of Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER) jump-off track in 38.28 seconds. Swail's student Vanessa Mannix (CAN) produced the only other double-clear effort to finish second with Lehar (39.49 seconds). Jill Humphrey finished third with Chromatic BF (4/39.18). 

"I'm lucky that 'Crosby' is very quick. Regardless, he is very careful. I thought I would just stick to the plan and have a nice, tidy round, and it worked out very well for me."

Conor Swail (IRL)

Petersen, Jr.'s first round track proved formidable for the 28-strong field with its many options for striding, blind turns and a most technical final line that consisted of a 1.60m narrow upright and a steadying distance to the widest oxer on course. A clear round did not come until the 18th combination, when Katie Laurie (AUS) and her homebred Django II cracked the code. Five other combinations would join them for the jump-off, all coming from the final eight riders.

"There were options everywhere throughout the course," Swail said, "so basically you had to stick to the plan that suited your horse best and try to execute."

Each of the first three combinations to jump off had rails, including defending champions Lillie Keenan (USA) and Agana van het Gerendal Z. Third in the order, Swail broke things open with "Crosby," setting himself apart with a most expedient track to the combination and a swift gallop up the final line. 

Swail shared his strategy with his student of more than 15 years, Mannix. Mannix gave great chase, but she settled for second after finishing fourth a week ago in Toronto (CAN) with Carmela Z. Mannix has been training with Swail and James Chawke (IRL) since 2007.

"We're very good friends. Vanessa has been riding great [on the North American League] for a number of years now," Swail said. "She's got a nice string of horses at the moment, and it's fantastic to see her on the podium as well."

But Swail gushed most about his equine partner, who has given him some of his career's most memorable milestones, including a top eight finish in Leipzig. Earlier in 2023, Swail felt his partner's confidence wasn't at its strongest, but the 16-year-old gelding is now having an exciting resurgence.

"This year has been a little up-and-down for him...Then we went through a little period where he wasn't comfortable jumping the bigger fences, so we took a step back," Swail said. "[Tonight], he felt as good as he ever has, so I'm really delighted.

"The horse owes me nothing. I think he's the best horse I've ever ridden. He brought me to the World Cup Finals. I won at Dublin (IRL). He's brought me incredible days and basically brought me to the top 10 in the world. If he didn't want to jump anymore, that's totally fine with me. But thankfully he's feeling really good again."

Conor Swail (IRL)

Swail's win catapulted him to second on the North American League standings with 30 points. Daniel Bluman (ISR) leads the standings with 43 points, while Mannix sits third (30 points). 

The North American League continues in Fort Worth (USA) on 16 December 2023.

Full results

Standings