Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB reclaimed the Freestyle title they won 12 months ago on the thrilling closing day of the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck (GER) today.

In the months leading up to the event, speculation was rife about the clash of the sport’s giants and the emergence of many new stars, but the expected fire-works didn’t materialise earlier in the week. 

Today however the reigning individual World championship duo of Great Britain’s Lottie Fry and the fabulous stallion Glamourdale pushed the reigning Olympic and defending European champions von Bredow-Werndl and her magical mare all the way to the line to take silver, while fellow-Briton and triple Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin stepped up to bag the bronze with Imhotep.

Much-anticipated

A total of 18 combinations lined out in this much-anticipated final test of the week, and it was Germany’s Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD who led the way at the halfway stage with a score of 84.568. That might have been a great deal higher however if he hadn’t forgotten part of his floor-plan. Riesenbeck is in the heart of German horse country and the super-sharp spectators immediately realised something wasn’t right when he did a few steps of half-pass before riding down the centreline to finish. 

“I had a brain-stop!”, he said afterwards, filled with emotion because he had omitted some of his half-pass and was trying to fit it in before finishing his test. “It was absolutely not a horse mistake, it was completely on my side!”, he pointed out.

When the action restarted the riders were playing leap-frog with each one overtaking the one that went before, and the crowd showed their everlasting adoration for their own Isabell Werth who was greeted with a frenzy of sound when she steered DSP Qantaz to the new leading score of 88.407. Two horses later however Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter, silver medallists in Friday’s Grand Prix Special, raised the bar even higher when putting 89.546 on the board with a super-smooth performance.

There were just four left to go now, and it seemed very possible that the Dane, a member of last year’s World Championship gold medal winning team, would finish on the podium again.

Uncharacteristic

Then von Bredow-Werndl set off for a test that was filled with seamless transitions and showered with maximum marks of 10, but it wasn’t without an uncharacteristic mistake in the one-tempi changes. The pair still stayed in tune with each other to the very end, when the scoreboard showed a colossal 92.818 for the new lead. It didn’t seem likely any of the rest could come anyway close to that. But Fry and Glamourdale did.

The stallion was on fire today, much more like the super-steed who wowed the spectators at the World Championship in Herning (DEN) last summer when he carried Fry to victory in both the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle. Heavenly half-passes and lovely piaffe/passage saw the scores piling up despite a mistake when picking up the canter lead for the first time. The crowd held their breath while the score was being calculated, and although 92.379 was just short of von Bredow-Werndl’s target the knowledgable spectators roared with approval because they knew they had seen something very special once again.

The penultimate partnership of Britain’s Carl Hester and Fame put 85.461 on the board before Dujardin, last into the ring, did what she does best. It didn’t seem possible that a 10-year-old horse with no real experience could withstand the pressure, the noise, the tension in the arena that was now like a cauldron of excitement. But he did, overtaking Skodborg Merrald’s Zepter for bronze medal spot when earning 91.396 for a wonderful test. It was the perfect end to a wonderful week of sport.

Biggest buzz

“For me it’s the biggest buzz to go out there to a full crowd. When you’re warming up all you can hear is clapping, cheering, screaming, stamping feet, and it’s so exciting for our sport and us riders to have. I was just delighted to start and finish, he’d never had anyone clapping through his test and I was thinking they are clapping and I’m not even close to home! But he’s just incredible, he takes everything in his stride and I’m just so excited for next year. I had a baby six months ago and I didn’t think I’d be here this year. I kind of ruled out the Europeans and was aiming at Paris next year and here I am at the end of the week with one gold medal and two bronze medals. I can’t ask for more. It’s been a great week for me and for Dressage!”, Dujardin said.

All-the-more extraordinary was the fact that she was only riding her floorplan and music created by Tom Hunt for the very first time. She only started putting it together a few weeks ago and she had no idea how it would work out. The music is from the film “Madagascar” because apparently Imhotep, aka Pete, looks just like Alex the Lion when his mane is loose. 

Asked how she is feeling this evening after a super-close race to the finish line today, Fry replied “I guess I feel a little relief that we are back on the podium, but mainly just excitement and super happy. The feeling that he gave me in there today was that we are really back on track. The first two tests (this week) maybe weren’t what I had hoped they would be, but today it was the most incredible feeling and I’m a bit speechless to be honest!” 

She said she was trying to reproduce the best parts from her Grand Prix and Special tests from earlier in the week. “Glammy also had a day off yesterday, it’s been very hot for him, and today he was fresh but he was concentrated. The first day here he was fresh and slightly distracted and the second day he was slightly tired, so today we got the perfect mix and it was such an amazing feeling and I couldn’t be more happy”, she explained.

Defence

Meanwhile von Bredow-Werndl reflected on her magnificent defence of both individual titles this week. “This is the success of a huge amount people, not only me. Today the big feeling is just gratefulness. Dalera only hand-walked yesterday and she was full of power and energy again today”, she explained. 

“It was my goal to come here and defend as many titles as possible!”, she continued. “I gave my very best for the team (Germany finished in team silver medal spot) but at the end the ladies next to me, and the men next to them, were better, so we have more work to do before Paris to make it more difficult for them!” she pointed out.

Asked about coming up against Fry and her stallion for the first time this week she said “I was prepared to meet her in Omaha, or in Aachen, and I was just finally happy to meet her here! I’m focusing on myself and Dalera and I’m happy we had great sport and other riders coming up, but this pushes me to train better, more precisely and to keep on improving”. 

There’s no doubt that this week’s close competition has firmly focused minds on next year’s Olympic Games. With the 2023 European titles now decided it’s all eyes on Paris 2024. And Fry still has her eyes on the big prize.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on for next year but it does make everybody super-excited when we were so close today, having small mistakes but that makes it even more exciting because we both know (Fry and von Bredow-Werndl) we can be better! And we shouldn’t under-estimate Charlotte or Nanna for next year, or Isabell (Werth) so I think we are going to have a year to work on a lot of things and Paris is going to be really exciting!”

If it is anything like the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 at Riesenbeck this week it’s going to be a thriller from start to finish…..

Result 

Sweden Qualifies for Paris

The excitement for the team rankings has been high at the FEI Para Dressage European Championships in Riesenbeck the last two days. Not only were the evident glory of team medals at stake, but for one team, a good result meant a nation spot for the Paralympic Games in Paris next year. 

As the top placed team not already qualified for the games would earn that spot, the stakes were high for countries such as Ireland, Austria and Sweden. The last Austrian rider Bernd Brugger was also the last rider of the day, so tension was drawn out to the very end. It was therefore a happy and relieved Swedish team that found themselves in possession of a nation’s qualification for Paris 2024. 

Mette Ubbesen Swedish team trainer says: “I am so excited! I think the riders have been doing a great job. For the last 10 months I have worked with them, they have just been getting better and better and they have worked so hard. Our plan for these championships was to qualify the team for Paris, but we didn’t quite believe in it. But we actually succeeded!” 
   
The Netherlands takes Team Gold once again

The defending European Championship team from 2019 in Rotterdam have just reclaimed their title here at the FEI Para Dressage European Championships in Riesenbeck. For a long time, it looked like it could be German gold but then the European championship debutant Demi Haerkens (Grade IV) and her super mare EHL Daula entered the arena. The pair absolutely smashed it in the Grand Prix B and were rewarded with outstanding 79.730%. 

Not only did they have the highest score of the day but more importantly they put the Netherlands in gold position. Before her Frank Hosmar (Grade V) riding Alphaville N.O.P. and Lotte Krijnsen (Grade III) on Rosenstolz N.O.P. had laid a strong fundament for the gold. Finally, Sanne Voets (Grade IV) and Demantur RS2 N.O.P. sealed the deal and brought the team score up to an impressive 232.637%.
In the end, the German team consisting of Heidemarie Dresing (Grade II) on Horse24 Dooloop, Melanie Wienand (III) on Lemony's Loverboy, Martina Benzinger (Grade I) on Nautika and Regine Mispelkamp (Grade V) on Highlander Delight's took the silver medal with a total score of 226.979%.

On bronze, we have the super ladies from Great Britain, Georgia Wilson (Grade II) riding Sakura, Gabby Blake (Grade I) on Strong Beau, Charlotte Cundall (Grade  V) on FJ Veyron and Sophie Wells (Grade V) on LJT Egebjerggards Samoa finishing with a total score of 222.663%.

National trainer for the Netherlands Joyce Heuitink Speaking after the final result:
“I am incredibly happy, and I am more than proud. I think from most of them it was a pure masterclass! It gave me goosebumps and tears during the test already, because it was so nice and effortless and beautiful and mistake-free. I have riders that perform under pressure and they have to show it every show, which is never a guarantee, but once again they have proven that they can perform under pressure which also makes me extremely proud that you can rely on such good riding”

Defending champions, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and the 16-year-old mare TSF Dalera BB, made it two-in-a-row when coming out on top in the Grand Prix Special at the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck (GER) today.

The pair scored 84.271 to take the title two years ago in Hagen (GER), but today they raised their game even higher when posting a personal-best 85.593 for the win. In a championship filled with a combination of well-established partnerships along with many only setting out on their journeys at this level of the sport, the silver medal went to Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg-Merrald and the 15-year-old gelding Blue Hors Zepter while Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin steered 10-year-old newcomer Imhotep into bronze.

Early target

It was von Bredow-Werndl’s compatriot Isabell Werth who set the early target score at 78.252 with DSP Qantaz. “He was fantastic, he is really in a great shape!”, she said. “The fine tuning is perfect, he trusts me, the confidence is really there and he was so supple”, said the legendary lady who finished in silver medal spot in the Special in 2021.

But then Britain’s Lottie Fry changed the whole shape of the competition when putting 81.763 on the board with the stallion Glamourdale. “He felt really good in there today, much better than yesterday, more concentrated, we had one tiny blip in the one-tempi changes behind, but apart from that I couldn’t fault him.

“The test overall was much better than yesterday, he was much more with me. The pirouettes were a real highlight today, and the trot-work. And his walk has improved so much as well”, she explained. Piaffe also picked up marks of 9 and 10 throughout the test.

With the bar now set really high, von Bredow-Werndl and the mare with which she won all gold at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and again just a few weeks later at the European championship in Hagen in 2021 were next into the ring. And they certainly didn’t disappoint. Despite fiddling in the first halt, they stepped it out in style for the remainder of the test and went way into the lead with that score of 85.593.

She knew she’d thrown it down to the remaining three.

“She (Dalera) was on fire and listening, and now it’s so easy for her. Now she’s got the strength. Of course she was sweating but when we came out her breathing was normal after one minute. This is how you can see how fit she is”, von Bredow-Werndl said.

She wasn’t really threatened by the final three despite some more spectacular performances, Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep overtaking team-mate Fry when putting 82.583 on the board, and Carl Hester posting 80.106 with the 13-year-old Fame. “I’ve never had him so relaxed, it was like he grew up at this show, accepted all my aids really nicely and I just had a really lovely ride!”, Hester said. 

Build-up

In the build-up to the championship all the conversation has been about the clash of giants - the first-time face-off between von Bredow-Werndl’s mare who has been unbeatable for a long time now and Fry’s stallion who won the individual title at last summer’s World championship along with the rising stars ridden by Dujardin and Hester. 

A little more quietly under the spotlight however was the relatively new Danish partnership of Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter. Anyone who has followed their progress since coming together at the beginning of the year knew they could not be discounted this week. And so it turned out. Showing all of their class they gave the leaderboard a shake-up when slotting into silver medal spot with a super score of 82.796 to demote Dujardin to bronze and push Hester off the medal podium into fourth place.

“It was a dream come true today!”, Skodborg Merrald said this evening. I knew it was possible for me to fight for the medals this year but I also knew that I was up against three amazing, strong women who could do the same (von Bredow-Werndl, Dujardin and Fry). I had so much focus on doing my test today as good as possible and see how the result is - it was actually super close, so it’s all the small details that matter”. Just 0.213 separated silver and bronze.

“During the test I was just focusing, but coming to the end I thought I had done everything I could and I really love that feeling, and when I heard the scores it was unbelievable. The feeling I had yesterday in the Grand Prix was a lot of fire and a little too much tension. Today was more relaxed but then I was in doubt if he was too relaxed during the test!”, she added.

Bronze medal spot

Dujardin was more than happy to slot into bronze medal spot.

“I love having young horses and training them through up to Grand Prix. The partnership I have with my horses means everything to me. Pete can get a bit insecure, you can hear it in the sneezing, and I pat him and tell him you are doing really well. I have to hold his hand a little bit but each horse I’ve had has been different. With Valegro I pressed for 10 and he was off for 10, whereas Pete, he’s an amazing horse, phenomenal to ride but I can’t press for 10 now. But next year I can go for 10!”, she said, throwing down the gauntlet to the other two medallists at the post-competition press conference. 

“Their horses are 15 and 16 and they’ve been doing it a lot longer than Pete. He’s done that test no more than six times. To be sat here with a medal around my neck with a horse that is so inexperienced - yesterday there wasn’t much atmosphere in the arena but today it was full of people and you could really feel the vibe. It takes a lot for a horse to go in that environment and go down that centreline and halt and then do a perfect test. For a horse that doesn’t have experience and who has been thrown in the deep end like he has, I am so proud of him. He has a heart of gold and just wants to work with me all the time”, she pointed out.

Managing expectations

For von Bredow-Werndl, this week has been as much about managing expectations as it is about winning medals. Could she and Dalera keep Fry and Glamourdale at bay, or would some of the other British contenders overtake them all? As it happens it is Skodborg Merrald and Zepter who are presenting the biggest threat ahead of Sunday’s Freestyle finale.

The new champion talked about the lead-in to the championship and the expectations ahead of the clash between her mare and her many challengers.

“There were expectations before Aachen and the World Cup Final, so I’ve been working with these expectations for quite a few months now. Finally I was just happy to meet them. What I did was not to think about it. The only thing I can influence is Dalera and me. So that’s how we handled it and how we will handle it in the future.

“Because if there’s no Glamourdale there’s always somebody coming. And it’s good for the sport and good for the competition and if there was nobody I couldn’t improve so it’s good to be pushed and to continue improving ourselves. And we have improved, we’ve improved our walk, the passage, the piaffe, the canter, the changes, so many things. And the art is to have everything together on point but also to have a happy athlete who wants to present herself because she has enough strength. 

“And it’s only possible if you train smart, and not hard, at home”, she said.

She enjoys every moment of her time with Dalera who is pretty good at taking care of herself.

“She is the best at resting, she can switch on and off immediately, she goes to the stable and she turns right off! She lies down in the stable every night, she is the best traveller and she knows how to save her own energy!”

In the intense heat at Riesenbeck this weekend she will need all the energy she can muster for the final clash in Sunday’s Freestyle in which the top-18 will line out. It’s all set for another day of exceptional sport, do don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result here  

The FEI President Ingmar De Vos was re-appointed on three commissions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). These are the Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad Los Angeles 2028; Legal Affairs; and the Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission. The IOC announced the composition of its commissions for 2023 earlier this week. 

President De Vos, who was elected an IOC Member in September 2017, has served on the Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad Los Angeles 2028 and Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission since 2019 and on Legal Affairs since 2018. He was also a member of the Digital and Technology Commission from 2018 to 2019.

The IOC Commissions play a vital role in the organisation's work, focusing on specific subject areas and making recommendations to the IOC President, the Executive Board and the IOC Session. The composition of each commission includes IOC Members and a range of external experts. Detailed description of the work of each IOC Commission is available on the IOC website here.

“The IOC and FEI have enjoyed a longstanding relationship of close cooperation and excellent mutual understanding,” the FEI President said. “I would like to thank the IOC and President Thomas Bach for their vote of confidence. I look forward to continuing contributing in a positive and constructive way to the work of the three Commissions.”

Additional information on the activities of the FEI President and his various memberships can be found on the FEI website here.

Photo caption: FEI President Ingmar De Vos became an IOC Member in September 2017. (c) IOC/Greg Martin

In Para Dressage, the team competition takes place over the course of two days in the Grand Prix B program. But unlike the Dressage team competition, the nations in Para Dressage do not necessarily have an equal number of riders each day.

That is because the rules of the Para Dressage team competition dictate that the teams must consist of at least one rider in either grade I, II or III. This makes it hard to say anything about the standing after the first day, as there is a big variation in how many riders that have been in action from each nation.

That was also visible here at the first day of team competition at the FEI Para Dressage European Championships, where a nation such as Spain have had all their riders through, but the defending European Champion team from The Netherlands only had one rider. 

That does not mean that there are not any results that are worth taking a look at. The top scorer of the day was the Italian star Sara Morganti and Mariebelle with incredible 78.250%. But with Italy having already qualified for the Paralympic Games, more is at stake for countries such as Spain, Sweden, Austria and Ireland as the top team not already qualified earns a nation spot for Paris 2024.  

Germany off to a strong start
The home team from Germany have already had three of their four riders in the arena today and all three of them have provided strong scores. With the newly crowned European Champion Heidemarie Dresing and Horse24 Dooloop on impressive 77.567%, Melanie Wienand and Lemony's Loverboy on 73.933%, and Martina Benzinger and Nautika on 75.333%, the national trainer Silke Fütterer-Sommer was very pleased. This home championship is also the first championship as national trainer for the German trainer Silke Fütterer-Sommer: 
“I am really, really happy! I think all of them did a super job today, so of course we are happy. We have tried to get the rider and horses together to be a team and they have succeeded with that. To be able to have a championship like this in the home country is very special there are so many people around who come and support us, so yes, it is very special”. 

Grand Prix B is second qualifier for freestyle 
In 2020 the rules were changed making the Grand Prix B part of the individual qualifier for the freestyle, which means that the top eight riders from each grade over the two days go on to ride the freestyle. This was done to assure that all athletes get to compete at least twice at every championship. Before that, the nations that were not able to bring a full team, could be unfortunate to have their riders perform only once.

Follow along with Grades IV and V tomorrow live from the FEI Para Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck (GER)

It has been a beautiful and hot day here at the FEI Para Dressage Championship in Riesenbeck where we have witnessed the riders from Grade IV and V deliver outstanding results in the individual competition. 

Compared to yesterday, there have been very few surprises as the top riders in both grades all rose to the occasion and showed what they are capable of. 

With both grades having the gold and silver medalists scoring so close to each other, we’re assured nail-biting excitement in the next few days!  

Grade IV Individual 
Last year at the FEI Para Dressage World Championships in Herning (DEN), Demi Haerkens was very close to the gold in her debut, but saw herself beaten by fellow Dutch Dressage queen Sanne Voets. 
Today at the FEI Para Dressage European Championship, Demi had her comeback as she claimed her first championship gold medal on the stunning mare EHL Daula N.O.P. with a score of 77.556 %, with Sanne Voets and Demantur RS2 N.O.P. taking the silver. In bronze, and finally back on the podium for the first time since Tokyo, was Belgium rider Manon Clayes riding Katharina Sollenburg with a score of 73.444 %.

“I'm feeling overwhelmed and very very happy! In the warm-up she felt so fresh and nice in the contact so I had a feeling that this might be the day. She was very good on the aids in the test and lovely in the contact. I am just very very happy” Says Demi Harkens.  “We have been doing a lot of fine tuning this last year, and today that paid off”. 

Grade V Individual 
Grade V took place under the burning September sun, but it was not only the weather that was hot. Michèle George and Best of 8 made the temperature rise even further as they danced their way to the top of the grade with a 76.308 score. Just behind her was the experienced pair Frank Hosmar and Alphaville N.O.P. with 76.00%. In bronze was the German rider Regine Mispelkamp and her mare Highlander Delight’s with 74.205%.

“You can’t compare medals or championships. I try to be better every time and I try to have fun every time, people sometimes forget that horse riding is supposed to be fun”. Michèle said. 

“I have a very special relationship with my horse and taking her out to competitions is only a small part of it. The important part is the partnership you develop by enjoying your horse and having fun riding, so when medals come it is only a plus”  

The competition continues tomorrow, Thursday 6 September with the Team competitions for Grades I, II and III.

On 21 August 2023, International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) President Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and Vice-President Ingmar De Vos led a senior delegation of the IHSC on a multi-day visit to China to meet with key ministries and equine sports bodies. The IHSC is a non-profit organisation that was created in 2013, when the Fédération Equestre International (FEI) and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) joined forces to create the first formal vehicle for cooperation between the world’s leading bodies for horse sports. The key mission of the IHSC is to encourage cooperation and the exchange of information on all matters of mutual interest between the IFHA and the FEI, as well as represent the collective interests of the global horse industry with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and other international bodies. 

As the first major IHSC engagement in China, the visit focused on developing a deeper understanding of how the IHSC can support the development of equine sports in China. The National Equine Industry Development Plan 2020-2025, launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the General Administration of Sport of China, sees the development of an equine industry as an area of focus. The visit provided a platform for the IHSC to share experiences, ideas and expertise across all aspects of the global equine industry chain which may assist the Chinese authorities in the execution of this transformational plan. It also served to further strengthen the cooperation between the IHSC and key stakeholders in China – particularly in the strategic areas of veterinary care, capacity and skill building, quarantine and the movement of horses – to develop a holistic and sustainable equine value chain in China, which presents a unique growth opportunity for the sport.

An important topic explored was the ongoing development of a professional and sustainable veterinary clinical service industry in China, which would facilitate the further advancement of the equine industry in China. Strategies discussed included the establishment of a veterinary clinical training centre, the refinement of the national equine welfare policy, sustainable use of the equestrian venues, coordination of applied equine clinical teaching and the import and production of medication for horses. Additionally, IHSC representatives and Chinese authorities and stakeholders considered the enhancement of professional development opportunities in China through the provision of vocational training and accreditation for veterinarians, technicians, equine sports officials and those working in the horse sports industry.

Another key topic was the establishment of equine industry rules and regulations, through an effective horse identification and registration system, a national system of venue accreditation, national safety standards for equine sports, a national horse safety and welfare policy as well as an effective integrity framework, which are all critically important to the success of China’s future breeding and equine sports industries.

Furthermore, the development of facility and venue biosecurity, an essential component for the future establishment of quarantine facilities and systems to support horse movement and international competition, was also addressed.

“I am honoured to have this opportunity to lead together with Ingmar the inaugural IHSC delegation on this meaningful visit. The IHSC has witnessed with great interest the abundant resources and opportunities for the high-quality development of the equine sports industry in China. This would offer massive benefits to the global equine value chain, and the Confederation is keen to leverage our vast network of experts and knowledge to contribute towards this endeavour,” said IHSC President Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

“This has been a really productive visit for the IHSC, addressing a number of key topics at the heart of the future development of horse sports in China,” said FEI President and IHSC Vice-President Ingmar De Vos.

“Our focus is very much centred around the welfare and wellbeing of horses, and how we can lay the foundations which will allow horse sport to grow sustainably. From the movement of horses within China and abroad to access to trained equine veterinarians and veterinary medicines locally, it is vital that we continue to work together to ensure the education of local resources and expertise.

“I was highly impressed with the depth of knowledge of the Chinese authorities on all these topics, and their commitment to horse sport and the infrastructures required to sustain it. The ball is now in our court, and I want to thank Winfried for his excellent leadership during the visit but also in the follow up for IHSC and the concrete implementation of what has been discussed.”

During the five-day visit, the delegation travelled to Beijing, Hangzhou and Guangzhou, where they met with representatives from various government ministries and equine sports-related organisations as well as toured local horse sports facilities.

On 22 August, the delegation met with the Director of the General Administration of Sport, Mr Gao Zhidan, in Beijing to examine potential areas towards which the IHSC could contribute with regards to further enhancing international equestrian/speed racing events hosted in China as well as developing a high-quality national training curriculum for the training of equestrian and speed racing sports officials.

On 23 August, IHSC delegates met with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Tang Renjian, to discuss ways in which the IHSC could contribute its global expertise to support the development of a modernised, professional and sustainable veterinary clinical service industry in China. The meeting also addressed the importance of the international movement of horses and laid out ways in which the IHSC’s expert network could support the development of standards to facilitate horse movements to and from China.

Additionally, the delegation met with the Chinese Equestrian Association (CEA) to explore ways to support the CEA’s ongoing efforts to enhance rules and regulations for equestrian and speed racing events as well as provide vocational training in both horse sports.

The delegation also met with the China Horse Industry Association (CHIA) to examine how IHSC technical expertise could best be leveraged to further enhance CHIA’s High-Health Performance standards; advance China’s breeding, horse registration and stud book processes; continue to develop quality veterinary clinical services; and enhance standards for the National Equine Welfare Policy.

The delegation then made their way to Hangzhou, where members had a fruitful exchange with Mr Li Yanyi, Vice President of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee and Vice Governor and member of the Party group of the provincial government, and Mr Yao Gaoyuan, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee and Mayor of Hangzhou, with regards to supporting talent development, along with raising public awareness and increasing participation in equine sports.  

While in Hangzhou, the delegation also visited the Tonglu Equestrian Centre, a state-of-the-art competition facility which has been declared an equine disease-free zone by the WOAH, and the venues and facilities for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games. Then they went to Guangzhou to tour The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Conghua Racecourse – the largest and most comprehensive equine sports facility in Mainland China and an important element of cooperation between Guangdong-Hong Kong and for the development of the Greater Bay Area. These visits helped the delegation to explore ways to leverage international-standard venues and facilities to promote equestrian education.

While in Guangzhou, IHSC representatives had a constructive discussion with Mr Dong Ke, Secretary of the CPC Conghua District Committee on an International Racing Development Centre which would enable the Chinese high-performing horses meeting criteria to compete at international standard and ultimately take part in international group races, facilitate the import and export of competition horses as well as allow pathways for retired racehorses.

The programme concluded with a meeting with Guangdong senior officials.  This meeting explored the various ways which the IHSC can contribute its international network and expertise to the ongoing development of equine sports in Guangdong, the most populous province in China.

“This visit has been extremely fruitful and marks a further deepening of the productive relationship that exists between the IHSC and our partners in government, racing and equestrian sport in Mainland China,” said Engelbrecht-Bresges. “In the days ahead, the IHSC will work closely with our partners and stakeholders to further establish the necessary frameworks and project scopes to progress the ideas and initiatives developed over the course of this visit. We look forward to contributing the IHSC’s resources and expertise to support China in taking its equine sports industry to the next level under the strategic direction of the National Equine Industry Development Plan.”

After a thrilling final kilometers, Sabrina Arnold of Germany on Easy El Boheira won a thrilling ride in the final kilometers to win the individual gold medal at the FEI Endurance European Championship 2023 today, in Ermelo, the Netherlands. 

María Álvarez Pontón of Spain and Bolchoi El Akim were the silver medal winners, a mere two seconds behind the winners, and Philippe Tomas of France and Biwaka De Chalendrat earned the individual bronze medal. 

France captured team gold with four riders in the top 10. Spain, the defending champion, won the team silver medal. Germany sealed the team bronze. This event is the pinnacle of the season for European Endurance athletes, with many focusing their entire competitive season on it.

Sabrina and Easy El Boheira, a nine-year-old bay mare, maintained a steady pace throughout the day, at their own pace, quietly staying with the leaders. They left for the final loop in fourth place and then won in the thrilling ride against María and Bolchoi El Akim, a 12-year-old grey gelding. Both women are powerhouses in the sport of Endurance, with numerous wins and championship titles.

Meanwhile, France has consistently built their reputation for riding strategically and as a team. They won the silver at the FEI Endurance European Championships in 2021, also in Ermelo, and gold earlier this year in Butheeb (UAE) at the FEI Endurance World Championship. Three of their horse and athlete combinations from Butheeb were on the team in Ermelo.

“It was difficult, but it was our strategy to stay all together and have a safe ride with speed,” says Jean-Michel Grimal, France chef d’equipe. “I was very happy with my team; they did a very good job. Spain is very strong and have been leading this sport for 15 years now, I have respect for them, but we are very happy to be in front. We are the World Champions at the start of the year and European Champions now.”

Endurance is a distance equestrian sport that tests horses and athletes physically and mentally. It involves strategy and tactics, with the welfare of the horse coming first. The athletes and their horses train carefully for events such as the FEI Endurance European Championship with assistance from the Chef d’Equipe, team veterinarian, and farrier. 

75 horse and athlete combinations started the event. The loop distances were 38-km, 22-km, 29 km, 20-km, 31-km and 20-km respectively, with mandatory rest periods after each loop.

The six tracks went through forests, past open pastures on tree-lined roads, and along beautiful heather-filled moors. Riders maintained a steady pace throughout the day, working with their horses to get through each phase of the competition, before increasing the pace on the final phase. Crew members met their horses and riders at various points throughout the course to offer additional cooling, and riders cheerfully greeted spectators as they passed by.

The last of the FEI Endurance main events for 2023 is the Pan American Championships for Seniors, Young Riders and Juniors in Llay Llay, Chile in November. The Endurance calendar is still busy with rides until the end of the year as horses and riders look ahead to the 2024 season, which includes the FEI Endurance World Championship in September 2024 in Monpazier, France.

FULL RESULTS

It was team gold for Great Britain at the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck (GER) today where the hosts and defending European champions from Germany had to settle for silver medal spot ahead of the reigning World champions from Denmark in bronze.

Fantastic individual performances were the order of the day, with world number one, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, posting the biggest score of the competition with the super-mare TSF Dalera BB when putting 84.612 on the board. But it was Lottie Fry’s personal-best Grand Prix result of 81.258 with the stallion Glamourdale that clinched it for the British side, boosting them to pole position on a final tally 242.220 when the best scores from each team were added.

Germany completed on a total of 239.674 while Denmark rounded up their tally at 228.727. Sweden slotted into fourth place ahead of The Netherlands in fifth and France in sixth while Austria, Belgium and Spain earned the three Olympic qualifying spots up for grabs when filling the next three places in that order.

Fry was joined in the victorious British side by Gareth Hughes (Classic Briolinca) and Carl Hester (Fame) who strutted their stuff yesterday, and Charlotte Dujardin (Imhotep) who also produced a stunning performance today.

Raised the temperature

It was Germany’s Frederic Wandres who first raised the temperature on a very hot day when producing a strong score of 77.888 with Bluetooth OLD under the midday sun. “It was so hot in there, but Bluetooth is used to the heat a little bit from competing in Wellington (USA). He has had two seasons there and every day it is 30 degrees so he is able to deliver very good scores in the heat. I think we showed a very harmonious ride and a consistent frame from the beginning to the end with no technical mistakes”, he pointed out.  

But Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep set a whole new standard when putting 82.422 on the board for a test in which they earned multiple scores of 9 and 10 and held the crowd spellbound.  

“The relaxation, the frame is getting better, he still has moments where it could be better but it all comes from experience. Just going through the test, for 10 years old that’s done as little as he has, it really is amazing. It normally takes years and years to get them to that point. Last year I think he’d done maybe four or five Grand Prix before the World Games (FEI Dressage World Championship). He did just three shows before coming here and preparation-wise he needs to do more shows but smaller shows just to give him experience, but then he goes and does that! I love him to bits!”, she said.

Start

She didn’t have a great start to the week however. “When I got here Pete (Imhotep) had been travel sick, there were complications getting here because of the EU paperwork that was done wrong, so he had 19 hours of travel and he’s never travelled that far. So he arrived with travel sickness but we have a great team of vets that helped so thankfully he was fine. And then Isabella (her six-month-old baby daughter) got a temperature. She was really sick and had high fever so I got about an hour’s sleep on Monday because she was so poorly - it’s been a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for me this week!”, Dujardin said.

With just one more rider to go for each team the result was still hanging in the balance. And when world number one, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, blew the competition wide open with what would be the biggest score of the competition then Germany looked set to threaten Britain’s overnight lead.

Consistent scores of nine and multiple scores of 10 for piaffe and for seamless transitions throughout their entire test earned a massive mark of 84.612. She was delighted.

“Being here in Germany riding my wonderful, beautiful mare Dalera is always a gift. Every time I am allowed to enter the arena it is a gift. She always tries her very best and it’s just up to me. If I am focused and on point then she is as well, she is my mirror!”, she said. But there would be one more twist in the tale.

Immense pressure

Third-last into the ring, and under immense pressure, the horse-and-rider combination who claimed the individual title at last summer’s FEI Dressage World Championship in Herning (DEN), Britain’s Lottie Fry and the super-stallion Glamourdale, would ensure that although von Bredow-Werndl would have the highest score of the day it would be Team GB on the top of the team podium this evening.

The stallion kicked off his test with a huge mark of over 87.00 but ended up on 81.258, still a personal-best for the British partnership. “He felt amazing in there, he had a few small distractions, some noises from outside caught his attention but still he got a personal best which shows we’ve really improved on a lot of things from last year and we were excited to get back in there”, Fry said.

That score would lift the British total past Germany and onto the top step of the medal podium.

On fire

“He went in there on fire!”, Fry said this evening. “I just felt a few little distractions, his eyes wandering to the outside of the arena, but I think he had many many highlights today as well, some things that have never been as good, so we are focusing on those and really going for it tomorrow!” 

The stallion was awarded six scores of 10 for his trademark and thrilling extended canter and the spectators will be looking forward to seeing it again in tomorrow’s Grand Prix Special for which the top 30 individual riders have qualified.

Carl Hester threw down the British gauntlet yesterday with what he described as his “best test to date” with Fame.

“I’ve only been riding him for about nine months and I was absolutely delighted with him. My take-away from yesterday would be if I could ride the beginning of my test like I got to ride him at the end of the test that would help to get more points in there. He’s a joy to ride, a joy to be around, and I’m very lucky to have him!”, he said this evening.

Emotion

Team-member Gareth Hughes was filled with emotion. “We’ve been a team since 2019, Lottie - her career so far has been unbelievable, what the future brings is mind-boggling. We have Carl, he gets on a horse and he is just a master - he’s been coaching me for 20 years. Charlotte, for me she’s the best test rider in the world, it’s just an honour to watch her today and it’s an honour to be part of this team and all I can say is thank you!”, he said. 

This was only Britain’s second team gold in the 60-year history of the FEI Dressage European Championship. Dujardin, riding Valegro, and Hester, riding Uthopia were on that winning side in Rotterdam in 2011 and, a year later, they clinched team gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Today’s result seems like a good omen a year ahead of Paris 2024.

But more immediately there is tomorrow’s top-30 Grand Prix Special to look forward to and then the Freestyle finale on Sunday. Von Bredow-Werndl won both at the last European Championship in Hagen (GER) two years ago but she looks set to face stiff competition in defence of both of those titles, especially from her nearest challengers in the Grand Prix - Dujardin, Fry, Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald with Blue Hors Zepter and Hester. 

The Special kicks off at 10.15 local time, so don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Startlists and Results here 

Accommodating accessibility is often an afterthought in the planning of a sport event. But the Organising Committee of the FEI Dressage and Para Dressage European Championships here in Riesenbeck (GER) have ensured that everyone in attendance has an opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the Championships, regardless of their disability.

In order to create a welcoming environment for all, accessibility considerations have been included in all aspects of the organisation of this week-long event which will host athletes, staff and spectators with different disabilities and mobility requirements.

Based on the learnings and good practices of the FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN) and Pratoni (ITA) in 2022, the Championships in Riesenbeck are the first to be organised in line with the requirements set out in the FEI Accessibility Handbook for Event Organisers

Relevant links:
Para Equestrian Digest: Ferdinando Acerbi
FEI launches Accessibility Guide for Event Organisers

This handbook, which is the result of consultation and collaboration with accessibility experts, individuals with disabilities and professionals in the equestrian industry, covers venue layout, accommodation and transportation among other areas of Event planning and delivery.

It is an advancement that has made Denmark’s former Para Dressage World Champion Stinna Tange extremely happy.

“The level of consideration and the attention given to accessibility and inclusion here in Riesenbeck has impressed me greatly,” said Stinna who has assisted the Organising Committee with their accessibility planning and is also the FEI Para Dressage sports reporter for the Championships.

“As a wheelchair user, it has been an absolute pleasure to be able to move around the venue as freely as any abled bodied person, and this should be the goal of accessibility of any and all equestrian events, regardless of the discipline.

“The FEI Handbook has been thoroughly studied and implemented by the Organisers here in Riesenbeck and I applaud the level of consideration and the seriousness with which the organisers have approached the job of assuring accessibility and inclusion at the venue.

Tools like this that result in a more inclusive event site are important to ensuring that wheelchair users like myself feel included and part of the action.”

In preparation for the Championships, the Organising Committee carried out an extensive outreach process where they contacted individual national federations to   understand the specific accommodation requirements of their athletes.

“We wanted to create an Event where everyone feels welcome and comfortable regardless of whether they are a participant or a spectator,” said the Event Manager for the Organising Committee, Verena Gravemeier who has played a front and centre role in Riesenbeck’s accessibility journey.

“But sometimes it is difficult to know where to start and how to effectively address all the different types of disabilities. Moreover, as an able-bodied person, it can be hard to understand, or even see, the barriers that a person in a wheelchair can experience, for example. And even if you do see the problem, the solution may not always be obvious. 

“So, we were fortunate to have Stinna’s assistance in the lead up to the Championships and together we worked to enhance all areas of our operations and we are extremely pleased with the feedback we’ve been receiving. Bringing Stinna into the planning process earlier rather than later, allowed us to resolve many issues before the Championships started, and in many areas the solutions were simple enough to implement.

“Once you start thinking about accessibility in terms of your end result, it is just a matter of time before you find yourself anticipating the various disability needs and requirements that need to be implemented in the Event planning process. We hope that our experiences here will help to build on the guidelines already provided in the handbook, which Organisers of future equestrian Events can also put into practice.”

North Rhine-Westphalia’s State Secretary for Sport and Volunteerism Andrea Milz summed it up well when she said, "If you are attending the FEI Para Dressage European Championship here in Riesenbeck you will see why this beautiful facility has been praised by the athletes, trainers and all visitors.

“The excellent venue construction and organisation should become a blueprint for future events, and we hope that other organisers will continue to treat Dressage and Para Dressage equally in all matters of operations. This way athletes with disabilities will also have the same opportunities as their able-bodied colleagues to take part in more top equestrian events."

Editor notes

The FEI was 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 Para Equestrian Committee was created in 2006 when the governance of Para Equestrian passed from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to the FEI.

Over the years, there has been more integration of Para Equestrian sport into the FEI Governance and World Championship structures, which has raised the profile of Para Sport alongside the FEI’s other disciplines.

At the 2020 FEI General Assembly, the Chair of the FEI Para Equestrian Committee became a voting member on the FEI Board, ensuring that Para Sports has a place at the top table’s discussions alongside able-bodied disciplines.

Other governance related initiatives included in the FEI’s host bidding requirements, require world and continental championships for para athletes and able-bodied athletes to be held at the same venue.

The FEI Solidarity and Para Dressage Departments have worked together to create the FEI Para Dressage World Challenge series, a development programme in place since 1 January 2023. The Series aims to give athletes, who are unable to participate in international events due to financial or geographical reasons, the opportunity to compete in events in their own country. These competitions are in place to help National Federations develop Para Dressage, and close the gap between National and first level international competitions.

While these top-down initiatives have been important to the development of Para Equestrian within the FEI’s structures, it has also had a positive impact on the general attitudes towards disability and inclusion within the equestrian community more generally.

The FEI’s online Para Sport magazine – The Para Equestrian Digest – launched in February 2022 was created for Para Equestrian athletes and the people connected to the sport so they can share – in their own words – their personal experiences and disability stories. The Digest puts the spotlight on an athlete or project in Para Equestrian sport with the aim of increasing visibility for the sport and improving disability awareness and inclusion.

Photo credit: FEI/Liz Gregg