Campus
Disciplines
Your Role
About the FEI
FEI Media Advisory
Lausanne (SUI), 5 July 2023
Central American and Caribbean Games 2023 results available online
The 24th edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games, held in San Salvador (ESA), showcases top-level and diverse representation from across the Central American continent.
Jumping Individual Podium
1° Juan Manuel Bolaños Barrios (ESA) & Zilouet Mystic Rose
2° Alberto Sanchez - Cozar (MEX) & Abril Hilcha Z
3° Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) & Condara
Jumping Team Podium
1° México - Juan Martin Del Campo & La Costa / Alberto Sanchez-Cozar & Abril Hilcha Z / Jorge Canedo & Jacks O / Carlos Moina & Eavantus C
2° Colombia - Camilo Rueda & Indus van het Keysereyck / Juan Gallego & Conbago / Jorge Barrera & Explosive TV / Joseph Bluman & Diabolo de San Isidro
3° Venezuela - Pablo Barrios & Igor Chavannais / Luis Larrazabal & Condara) / Michelle El Masri & Chaplin / Juan Ortiz & Odiel Vdm
Dressage Individual Podium
1° Yvonne Losos De Muñiz (DOM) & Idwinaretto
2° Juliana Gutierrez Aguilera (COL) & Flanissimo
3° Carlos Maldonado Lara (MEX) & Frans
Dressage Team Podium
1° Colombia - Mariana Atehortua Yepes & Justify AS / Juliana Gutierrez Aguilera & Flanissimo / Andrea Vargas & Homerus P / Raul Corchuelo & Maverick
2° México - Carlos Maldonado Lara & Frans / Marcos Santiago Ortiz Diez & Dagasus / Jose Luis Enrique Padilla Liekens & Twan Van Plexat / Antonio Rivera Galarza & Fite
3° Costa Rica - Olger Gerardo Gomez Jimenez & Zarcero AG / Sergio Andres Quesada Lopez & Tango AG / Ronald Mauricio Masis & Zar AG / Gloriana Herrera & Vampiro de Pereto
Eventing Individual Podium
1° Lauren Shady (PUR) – Can Be Sweet
2° Luis Ariel Santiago Franco (MEX) – Egipcio II
3° Fernando Parroquin Delfin (MEX) – Beldad
Eventing Team Podium
1° México - Jose Enrique Mercado Suarez & Balanca Sdn / Guillermo German de Campo M. & Quelite / Luis Ariel Santiago Franco & Egipcio II / Fernando Parroquin Delfin & Beldad
2° Colombia - Mauricio Bermudez & Quinta Real Jmen / Esteban Bermudez & Las Lomas Chestal / Lucero Desrochers S & Gama Castellon / Andres Felipe Gomez Sanabria & Caroline
3° Centro Caribe Sports - Sarka Kolackova De Mendez & Galia / Oswaldo Mendez Kolacek & Rouen / Carlos Sueiras & Valentina RN / Andrea Mendoza Kruger & Tallador Ems
For more information about the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games click here
Photo Caption: Winning Jumping Team Mexico - Carlos Moina, Alberto Sanchez-Cozar, Jorge Canedo and Juan Martin Del Campo during the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games
© FHM Productions
The first drafts of the proposed FEI Rule changes have been published and are now available online here.
In accordance with the FEI Periodical Rules Revision Policy, the FEI Endurance Rules are the only ones undergoing a full revision but some modifications of lesser scope have been introduced to the other FEI Rules and Regulations as well. The focus of this year’s changes is on horse welfare with strong proposals featured in the FEI General Regulations, the FEI Veterinary Regulations, and several discipline rules.
“At the heart of the FEI's mission lies an unwavering commitment to horse welfare,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “This year, we have been fortunate to receive insightful horse welfare-oriented proposals from the National Federations and Stakeholders alike. Our Technical Committees and Headquarters have attentively listened to the community and incorporated many invaluable proposals into the fabric of the Rules.
“An important development is the proposed addition of an Equestrian Charter to the FEI General Regulations as Appendix O, whereby all those involved in horse sport adhere to the FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse, and acknowledge and accept that at all times the Welfare of the Horse must be paramount by pledging to the FEI Equestrian Charter.
“Another key proposal, made by the FEI further to the recommendations of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, is the introduction of a general provision harmonising the approach to measuring the tightness of nosebands across all FEI Disciplines using an FEI Objective Measuring Tool.
“A new Appendix L reflecting the concept of Key Event Requirements, related to horse welfare and horse and human safety, will be added to the General Regulations.
“Important changes are being introduced to in the FEI Jumping, Dressage, Driving and Vaulting Rules and new proposals specifically linked to horse welfare have been included in the FEI Endurance Rules, which are undergoing a full revision.
“The National Federations and Stakeholders have seven weeks to revert to the FEI with their feedback on these proposals and I look forward to an exciting and fruitful dialogue,” the Secretary General concluded.
The main changes related to horse welfare by discipline are listed below.
Jumping
(memo detailing all the proposed changes to the FEI Jumping Rules is available here)
Article 241.4 Eliminations of the FEI Jumping Rules has been reworded to clarify that the Ground Jury has the clear authority to eliminate a combination when it would be in the best interest of the wellbeing and/or safety of the horse and/or athlete to do so.
In addition, it is now clarified via the Tack Equipment Database that comb spurs are not permitted given that they have the potential to harm horses.
Dressage
(memo detailing all the proposed changes to the FEI Dressage Rules is available here)
Article 431.4 Dress – Spurs proposal to modify this article to specify that spurs are optional but when they are used, they must be made of metal.
Driving
(memo detailing all the proposed changes to the FEI Driving Rules is available here)
New Article 911.10 Principles – Horse Welfare on the Field of Play
In line with the recommendations of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, the FEI Driving Committee has proposed the addition of a clause concerning horse welfare on the field of play. This empowers the Ground Jury to promptly intervene and eliminate an athlete if this would be in the best interest of the wellbeing and/or safety of the horse and/or athlete.
New Article 933.2.4 – Horse Welfare - Definition and Penalty for Horse Falls
Since the current version of the FEI Driving Rules lacks a clear definition and penalties for instances of a horse falling during a competition, the FEI Driving Committee has put forward a specific wording and sanctions applicable to the discipline.
New Dangerous Driving Annex (Annex 10)
This new Annex is in line with the introduction of a Driving Recorded Warning. The Dangerous Driving Annex lists all the instances that qualify as Dangerous Driving, and the penalties according to the severity of the infringement.
Vaulting
(memo detailing all the proposed changes to the FEI Driving Rules is available here)
Article 703.1 – Qualification for FEI Championships
Based on the feedback received from the FEI Vaulting Forum 2023 and the survey on the future of the discipline conducted ahead of the Forum, the FEI Vaulting Committee has proposed new qualification criteria for squad members and horses to compete at FEI Championships. These changes aim to address concerns raised regarding safety and horse welfare.
Article 719.2.5 Equipment – two side reins
Based on the interim report of the “side reins study” conducted by the IFCE (Institut français du cheval et de l’équitation) in partnership with the French Equestrian Federation and the FEI, the FEI Vaulting Committee has proposed to allow draw reins in competition only as described in the rule proposal. Standing reins or auxiliary reins are not permitted.
Endurance
(memo detailing all the proposed changes to the FEI Endurance Rules is available here)
The Endurance rules are undergoing full revision this year and it is proposed to modify/add/expand the following articles addressing horse welfare.
Article 801 Horse Welfare
Multiple additions clarifying the notion of Horse Abuse have been made to this article.
Article 816.6.1 Vet Games – Hart rate assessment
The maximum recovery time of each loop as well as the heart rate parameter for Championships have been decreased.
A new Article 816.6.6 specifying that at the first Vet Gate and onwards, except for the Final Inspection, all horses entering with more than 10 minutes recovery time must pass a compulsory re-inspection, has been added.
Article 816.8.1 Vet Gates – Hold Time
The hold times for loop distances ranging from 20 to 29km will be increased to at least 30 minutes.
Article 825.2.5 Tack and Equipment – Permitted tack
The article has been expanded to clarify that any evidence of soreness, lacerations and/or wounds in the mouth, must be recorded on the Vet Card and that if participation or continuing in the Competition is likely to aggravate any such soreness, lacerations or wounds or in any way endangers (or risks endangering) the welfare of the horse, the horse will not be allowed to continue and will be designated 'Failed to Qualify – Minor Injury' (FTQ-MI).
A new Article 825.2.12 regarding the use of curb chains has been added.
A new Article 833.3.1.1 (CEI Qualifications) stating that all six-year old horses entering in their first CEI1* must complete it with a speed restricted to no more than 18 km/hour has been added.
New Annex 9: FEI Endurance Awards
In order to reward a wider range of positive achievements of horses and athletes, a new Annex 9 The Endurance Awards is being introduced. It includes the Combinations Award, Consecutive Completions Award, and Best Condition Award.
FEI Veterinary Regulations
(memo detailing all the proposed changes to the FEI Veterinary Regulations is available here)
Article 1007 Veterinary Services
The proposed new wording clarifies that horse ambulance must now include a winch for the loading of recumbent horses.
Article 1008 Stables – I. Stable Area Requirements
A clarification has been made to the provision of stables for Vaulting horses. With respect to their size, the FEI proposes that they are all stabled in larger stables measuring at least 4m x 3m for their welfare.
Article 1008.6 has been largely expanded to include improvements in stable lighting, ventilation, standard of drinking water, safe movement of horses and people, and increased fire precautions. These improvements are part of the Key Events Requirements concept and will be referenced in the newly introduced Annex L of the FEI General Regulations.
New Annex X – Stable Cleaning and Disinfection Protocol
The FEI has proposed another new annex in support of the Key Event Requirements project. The aim of the new annex is to ensure FEI stables are cleaned and disinfected correctly and to harmonise these procedures.
Article 1010 Examination on Arrival Area
Clarifications have been made to the existing rule to support the highest levels of equine welfare. Unloading of horses upon arrival must now be carried out within one hour of arriving at the venue and the footing on which the Examination on Arrival takes place must be safe and non-slip.
Article 1027 Biosecurity at FEI Events
Proposals to strengthen biosecurity at FEI events have been made. Grooming, tacking-up of horses, and any other similar activities must not take place in stable aisles. The VC/VD may request the horse’s temperature is taken at any time during the Event on their request and must organise supervised temperature-taking of 5% of horses each day at events where horses are stabled for more than one week.
Annex VI – Sanctions in case of FEI Veterinary Regulation violations
Proposed new sanctions for falsification of a temperature record and recording a horse’s temperature using a method that is not FEI approved have been added.
Next steps
The following timeline will be applied regarding the next steps in the FEI Rules Revision Process:
16 August 2023: National Federations and Stakeholders are given seven weeks from the moment of the publication of the first draft of the proposed rule changes to review them and make comments and/or propose any changes in relation to the amendments referenced in the first draft only.
24 October 2023: Final draft of the proposed rules changes to be provided to National Federations and Stakeholders.
20 November 2023: Rules Session in the framework of the FEI General Assembly 2023
21 November 2023: Voting of Rules at the FEI General Assembly 2023
The podium looked nearly identical in the FEI Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special as Germany, Denmark and Great Britain battled for top honors in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ at Aachen (GER), and as the start list reached its end in the Special, only the top two athletes in the FEI Dressage World Ranking remained—Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) and Charlotte Fry (GBR).
The reigning individual Olympic and FEI Dressage World Cup™ Champions, von Bredow-Werndl and DSF Dalera BB took their second victory of the week Saturday at the World Equestrian Festival, receiving 81.021% in the Special to go along with a Grand Prix win Thursday (82.304%). Those scores clinched a fourth Nations Cup victory of the 2023 season for Germany.
Led by von Bredow-Werndl, Isabell Werth (DSP Quantaz), Frederic Wandres (Bluetooth OLD), and Sönke Rothenberger (Fendi). Germany's winning total was 468.285 points, the sum of the team's top three scores in both tests. Denmark finished second with 460.097 points, followed by Great Britain (459.756 points).
"For me, it is not as much about winning, but instead about the development. It still feels like there is room for improvement. [TSF Dalera BB] felt so, so good."
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl
The Grand Prix Special was particularly impressive for Germany, who did not have a rider finish outside of the top 10. For Rothenberger, the test was especially meaningful, as he and his 9-year-old stallion Fendi improved their score by nearly five percentage points after having some tense moments in the Grand Prix.
"In preparation for the [Grand Prix], I had a really good feeling. He was super training in the main arena, and I underestimated the atmosphere [during competition]," Rothenberger said. "I don't have a spooky horse, but I could feel he was getting quite tense, and I couldn't support him how I would have liked to support him."
"It took two and a half days in between [the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special] to give him security in the arena. That was my main goal, and I'm really happy with the confidence we could give him. This was the third Special [Fendi] has ever done, and I'm really happy with how well I could get him back on my side. I'm really proud of him."
Sönke Rothenberger
Ultimately, consistency was the deciding factor when it came to separating the world's top combinations. Great Britain's Charlotte Dujardin (Imhotep) and Charlotte Fry (Everdale) were repeatedly on von Bredow-Werndl's heels, but Wandres and Werth were never far behind, either.
"It's always a good thing when you can show consistency, especially in team competition and especially with Bluetooth OLD. In the Grand Prix, he had a very harmonious and exceptional round," Wandres said. "The feeling we started with [in the Special] in the extended trot to passage, forward and backward, he felt so amazing. I'm proud of him to shine in an arena like that."
Germany extended its lead in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ standings with 56 points. Sweden sits second with 32 points, followed by Denmark with 28 points.
The 2023 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ season concludes at Falsterbo (SWE) on 16 July 2023.
The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in two cases involving Prohibited Substances.
In this case, the horse Blanch (FEI ID 107VD44/LTU), ridden by Nerijus Šipaila (FEI ID 10044738/LTU), at the CSIYH1* in Kunkiai (LTU) 25-28 August 2022, and the horse Cindy NSO (FEI ID 107XY33/LTU) ridden by Vilte Kasiulyte (FEI ID 10129107/LTU) at the CSIYH1* Vasgaikiemis (LTU) 1-4 September 2022, tested positive for the prohibited substances Morphine and Oripavine.
Both positive findings were initially treated as Atypical Findings under the FEI Atypical Findings Policy. Due to the failure of the athletes in establishing the source of the Prohibited Substances, at that point in time, the cases were pursued as Equine Anti-Doping Rule Violations following an ATF Panel’s Decision.
Upon notification of the Rule Violations, both horses were provisionally suspended for 2 (two) months.
The FEI Tribunal was satisfied that the athletes established, on a balance of probabilities, that the Morphine and Oripavine entered the horses’ systems through oats contaminated with the poppy flowers of the Papaver species. In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal ruled that the athletes bear no fault or negligence for the rule violations and shall not incur any fines. The results of both athlete and horse combinations obtained at the Events, where the horses’ samples were collected, are disqualified.
The full Decision is available here.
Notes to Editors:
FEI Equine Prohibited Substances
The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are those that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) Substances should never be found in the body of the horse and are prohibited at all times.
In the case of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Banned Substance, the Person Responsible (PR) is automatically provisionally suspended from the date of notification (with the exception of certain cases involving a Prohibited Substance which is also a **Specified Substance). The horse is provisionally suspended for two months.
**Specified Substances
The FEI introduced the concept of Specified Substances in 2016. Specified Substances should not in any way be considered less important or less dangerous than other Prohibited Substances (i.e. whether Banned or Controlled). Rather, they are simply substances that are more likely to have been ingested by horses for a purpose other than the enhancement of sport performance, for example, through a contaminated food substance. Positive cases involving Specified Substances can be handled with a greater degree of flexibility within the structure of the FEI Regulations.
Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.
No less than 18 organisers from Europe, North America and the Middle East have submitted bids to host one of the five qualifiers and Final of the newly created Longines League of Nations™, which will launch in 2024.
The month-long bid process, which began on 22 May and concluded on 23 June, was for the 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027 seasons and proved very successful. It attracted a strong response from existing and new organisers confirming the importance of the prestigious series.
“We are delighted with the level of interest the newly established Longines League of Nations™ has attracted,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “We are thrilled to have received such enthusiastic feedback from many of the world’s best organisers but are well aware of how challenging it will be to make a choice given the outstanding quality of all the bids. We will take our responsibility to select the most suitable hosts for world’s best series in team Jumping. I would like to thank all the bidders for embracing the new concept so willingly and for their hard work. Our sincerest thanks go also to the FEI’s Top Partner Longines for their confidence and commitment.”
In the coming days, the FEI Headquarters will consult with the relevant National Federations, send out the Host Agreement to each of the bidders, clarify any outstanding questions, and go through a comprehensive evaluation process, including a thorough technical assessment by the FEI Jumping Committee. Based on the evaluation and upon the receipt of the signed host agreements, a recommendation will be made to the FEI Board, who will make a final decision on the allocation at its teleconference on 18 July.
The following deadlines will be applied for the review of the bids and allocation of the five qualifiers and Final:
June 2023
June – July 2023
Friday, 14 July 2023
Tuesday, 18 July
Monday, 31 July (in principle)
The Longines League of Nations was created following a six-month consultation phase with a dedicated Task Force, which was set up to review and redefine the iconic Nations Cup series and included all the key equestrian stakeholders. It will give a fresh start for the century-old equestrian team series and will see a full makeover starting in 2024.
The new series will feature a unified and global format, where the top 10 nations compete at five top venues in order to qualify for a Final where the best eight teams go head-to-head to be crowned the Longines League of Nations™ Champion.
The format, which was approved unanimously by the FEI Jumping Committee, will be unique to the Longines League of Nations™. It consists of two rounds, whereby in the first round, all four athletes from all 10 teams (and potentially the host nation) participate with the three best scores to count, followed by a second round where the best eight teams compete in reverse order - carrying forward their penalties from the first round - however with only three athletes per team and no drop score.
The same format will be applied for the Longines League of Nations™ Final with all eight teams qualified competing across both rounds with only three riders and no drop score in the second round.
The rules for Longines League of NationsTM 2024 were approved by the FEI Board at its in-person meeting on 6 and 7 June and are available here.
A demanding cross-country test shook up the order at the fourth leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ which took place at Strzegom (POL) this weekend. Strong performances in this phase meant that The Netherlands walked away as the worthy winners. Despite having one rider eliminated on the cross-country, the Dutch finished on a final score of 133.8 with their other three riders finishing inside the top ten riders. Team USA were runners-up on 142.8, whilst Belgium finished in third on 166.1 penalties. Nine teams came forward to compete including host nation Poland who did not have such a happy time with none of their three riders completing the competition.
Dutch Chef d’Equipe Andrew Heffernen was delighted with the result. “These guys performed so well. It was a really tough competition and it was really refreshing to see such a strong and forward thinking and demanding cross-country course. It also gave us good pictures. There were no nasty falls or moments and that was really good for the sport. These guys performed fantastic and that is why we won. I am very proud.
The Germans led the first phase with the Dutch team in third after the dressage but this would certainly not prove to be a dressage competition. Germany slipped to eight after the cross-country course designed by Marcin Konarski took its toll on so many combinations. Konarski has been designing international courses at Strzegom for 20 years and his accolades include World Cup Finals and Senior European Championships. The venue is famed for its technicality and big bold jumping efforts and this year was no exception. “This year’s course has a lot of technical questions. There are also a couple of very bold jumps where the horses have to show a lot of bravery” he said.
Experienced Dutch rider Merel Blom-Hulsman who has been a mainstay of the Dutch team for over a decade, summed up the challenge. “It was hard to get this win. It was a difficult course with a lot of technical questions and big jumps in between so I think we all really had to push to the end so it was quite a difficult challenge.”
The Dutch team lost their fourth member Stephen Hazeleger, who was one of 13 athletes to come to grief on the cross-country. Fortunately their other three team members achieved fast and clear cross-country rounds to put them well ahead of the rest of the field going into the final phase. Although they had a 25 penalty margin ahead of USA in second, the pressure was still on with all three athletes’ scores to count in the jumping phase, who held onto their nerves as well as first place.
There was further pressure on the result this year, as the Series takes on extra significance as the last chance to earn a single Team slot to Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Five of the nations competing today are not yet qualified including The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Austria. The FEI Eventing European Championship at Pin du Haras (FRA) this August and the 2023 Pan American Games at Santiago (CHI) in October will provide further chances for nations to qualify.
Like many other nations who are not yet qualified, the Dutch selected a more experienced team on good horses. Their sole objective this season is Olympic Qualification explains Blom-Hulsman. “There is not a bigger motivator than Paris. We stand up every morning just pushing for Paris and we will keep pushing until we are there, for sure. ”
Heffernen reinforced this notion; “We have two Nations Cup competitions coming up in the next few weeks, one in France and one in Switzerland and of course there is the European Championships so we are concentrating on those three competitions now, so hopefully we can repeat this performance.”
The FEI Eventing Nations Cup will now move to Haras de Jardy (FRA) which runs from 13-16 July. The Belgians lead the Series at this halfway stage, with a total of 350 points, whilst the Dutch now move up to second with 285 points. The Series concludes in Boekelo (NED) from 4-8 October, where the final team place for the Paris Olympics, will be allocated to the highest placed nations not already qualified.
Photo Caption: Janneke Boonzaaijer (BEL) rides ACSI Chanp de Tailleur during the Cross Country at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2023 - Strzegom (POL)
Copyright © FEI/Libby Law
History was made Saturday in Rotterdam, as France recorded a convincing victory in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ of The Netherlands—a first for the nation in the event.
Led by Chef d'Equipe Jean Morel, the four-rider squad of Alexandre Ayache (Jolene), Pauline Basquin (Sertorius de Rima Z Ifce), Corentin Pottier (Gotilas du Feuillard) and Morgan Barbançon (Habana Libre A) finished the FEI Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle tests with a winning total of just 11 points.
Germany finished second with 38 points, followed by Sweden (44 points). Each point is equivalent to a finish position of a team athlete, with each team receiving one drop score in the Grand Prix and between the Special and Freestyle tests.
Basquin, Pottier and Barbançon each made the podium at least once, with Basquin recording a personal best (73.468%) aboard the 13-year-old gelding Sertorius de Rima Z Ifce to finish as the highest-ranked team rider (second individually) in the Special. Pottier also finished second in the Freestyle (78.220%) with Gotilas du Feuillard.
But it was Barbançon who led the way, winning both the Grand Prix and the Freestyle with her 11-year-old gelding, Habana Libre A.
"[Habana Libre A] is the best I've ever ridden. He has a great mind, three very good gaits, and he always wants to work. He keeps getting better."
Morgan Barbançon (FRA)
While the Grand Prix test was a familiar one for the pair, the Freestyle offered new challenges. Performing their routine for just the second time, they flirted with 80%, receiving 79.820% from the judges.
"[My horse] was a little bit more tense [in the Freestyle]. It was only our second time riding this Freestyle; I tried it a couple weeks ago for the first time," Barbançon said. "He was concerned to start, because the atmosphere was extreme, and I was a little scared about how he would react. After the first halt, he relaxed and listened to me. I'm very, very proud of him."
France's performance was so dominant, the Nations Cup title had already been secured when Pottier entered the arena for his Freestyle. That put the rider in a unique position, and a second-place finish provided a most memorable bonus.
"That was a bit peculiar, knowing that we had won but still having to ride myself, but it was also quite a special feeling," he said. "I was here for the first time last year with the team. Then, we finished fourth, so to now be the winners is a really nice improvement."
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games will be hosted on home soil for France, making them a primary objective for the French squad. For Chef d'Equipe Jean Morel, a Nations Cup victory served as evidence that his team is on the right track.
"This was real teamwork today. It was more than a year of work together that led to us picking the fruits of our labour today. I hope we can keep improving and keep growing."
Jean Morel
France now sits third in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ standings with 18 points. Germany continues to lead the rankings with 31 points, while Sweden is second with 25 points.
The 2023 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ season continues at Aachen (GER) on 1 July 2023.
On a day of very differing fortunes for the eight competing countries, The Netherlands won through on home ground at the third leg of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2023 Europe Division 1 series in Rotterdam (NED) this afternoon.
Victory was extra-sweet as this was the third Dutch victory in a row in front of their home crowd which included their former Queen, now Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands, who is such a longtime supporter of the sport. But it was hard-won, going right down to the wire with Team Ireland challenging every inch of the way to finish a very close second.
Not for the first time, the heroes of the day were Harrie Smolders and Monaco NOP. If ever there was a man who can keep his head under pressure it is the 43-year-old double-Olympian, and if ever there was a horse that can rise to the occasion it is the 14-year-old gelding who has twice carried his rider to second place at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final and who helped The Netherlands to team silver at last summer’s FEI World Championship in Denmark.
Asked how he manages to handle extreme pressure like he did today to clinch the win, Smolders replied, “I knew I had to go clear, one down and we lost.
I just focus on the things I need to do to make it as easy as possible for my horse. That’s probably easier said than done, but it has to do with experience, with the right focus, a cool mind, and then you have to execute it.
“But Monaco and me love this kind of pressure! I love it because when your round really counts for something that brings out the best in me!”, he said.
Kept them thinking
The 12-fence course designed by Quintin Maertens certainly kept them thinking, the vertical at fence five after the 4-metre-wide open water, the line from the triple combination at fence eight to the delicate 1.60m vertical that followed and the final run from the penultimate double to the big oxer at the end of the track all took their toll.
The teams were already well separated after the opening round after Norway racked up 44 faults, Denmark posted 28, the defending series champions from Belgium who won last Sunday’s leg in Sopot (POL) already struggling with 20 on the board and the big guns from Germany and France carrying 16 apiece.
The leading teams going into round two were Italy on eight, the Dutch with just five and Ireland out in front with just four faults after clears from pathfinder Michael Duffy (Cinca) and anchorman Daniel Coyle (Gisborne VDL) so counting only the four collected by Cian O’Connor (Eve d’Ouilly) with Trevor Breen’s eight (Highland President) the drop score.
The Italians slipped off the radar when collecting 28 second time, out but the Dutch and Irish slugged it out to the very end.
Good start
A clear from Vrieling got the Dutch off to a good start in round two and when van Asten made a dramatic recovery from the unexpected 16 he posted first time out to pick up just a single time fault at his second attempt they began to consolidate their position. Maikel van der Vleuten’s fabulous nine-year-old O’bailey was a real eye-catcher when putting just a single time fault on the board in round one and a baby mistake at the very first fence was his only error next time out. But that meant that Smolders had to go clear to keep his country in the frame. Because by then Duffy had posted his second clear of the day, Breen had added just four and O’Connor produced a brilliant clear. If Ireland’s last man in, Coyle, could match that then they would be untouchable for victory. Smolders had to pile every bit of pressure on him by leaving all the fences in place.
And he delivered, so when Coyle’s stallion made his first mistake of the day at the vertical after the water it was a done deal for the Dutch whose final scoreline of six faults left them two clear of Ireland in second place and a whopping 22 faults ahead of Germany and France who finished third and fourth respectively based on time. Italy (36 faults), Belgium (37), Denmark (44) and Norway (79) filled the remaining placings.
Contagious
The Dutch delight was perfectly understandable and quite contagious. Smolders spoke about his great day.
“It’s an amazing feeling, we had a full house, the Royal Family is always here for the Nations Cup and we had such a great atmosphere. After the first round we were only one fault away from the lead so we knew there were still chances and we had to step up, do better, and all our riders did an amazing job in the second round. It was a tough course but very well built, not super-big but an intelligent course with a tough last line so you really had to know what you were doing”, Smolders said.
“Monaco was again outstanding! He loves Rotterdam, he always feels amazing here, he enjoys this show so much and he’s such a smart horse. He knows when it’s important….”, he added.
And what about that tricky line from the triple combination to the following vertical? “It was a half-distance and you were riding into the corner there, it was a tall vertical with only three rails and a very delicate fence so you really had to know your horse very well, what suits them best, and you had to use the gear-box! You needed a horse that is obedient and can lengthen or shorten the stride very well to ride that”, Smolders explained.
Played out
Dutch Chef d’Equipe Jos Lansink reflected on how the competition played out.
“It was a fantastic day for us, in the second round they all rode very strong and the horses were great. It was not an easy course today, you really had to make the time at the beginning and then the difficulties came after the water jump. But now we can all be very happy!”
For Smolders one of the great satisfactions today was winning with Princess Beatrix once again watching on and clearly enjoying every moment. Having her there is the icing on the cake for all the Dutch riders.
“She is a lover of our sport and always a big promoter so it’s always very nice if we can do like we did today - these are unforgettable moments for us!”, he said.
Today’s result sees Germany move to the top of the Europe Division 1 leaderboard ahead of Switzerland in second, Belgium in third and Ireland in fourth place. The fourth leg of the six-competition qualifying series takek place in Falsterbo, Sweden in three weeks’ time.
Don’t miss a hoofbeat…..
It is one of the great highlights of every Jumping season, and in just 100 days the focus of the world of equestrian sport will turn once more to the prestigious Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023 in Barcelona, Spain (28 September - 1 October).
This trophy is one that every nation wants to lift, confirming supremacy in a team sport that is steeped in a long tradition of camaraderie, national pride and cutting-edge competition. The format has taken a few twists and turns during its 111-year history but the theme remains the same, and the smiles on the faces of the winning riders say it all.
Celebrated
The Real Club de Polo in the heart of the beautiful Spanish city of Barcelona staged equestrian Jumping during the celebrated 1992 Olympic Games and, 91 years after it was built, the stadium at the elegant venue has undergone a rebuilding project to expand the spectator viewing area for this year’s Final.
It has been home to the Final since 2013 when France came out on top ahead of Brazil. Four years later Longines took up the title sponsorship of the series, and the defending champions going into this year’s season-closer are Team Belgium.
Last year’s victory was their third in eight years, and the country that took team bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games got off to a great start on the road to the 2023 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final with a brilliant win at the second leg of the Europe Division 1 qualifying league in Sopot, Poland last weekend.
There are six legs in this series which continues today (Friday 23 June) at Rotterdam in The Netherlands, and a total of eight nations - Belgium, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands and Switzerland - are fighting for one the seven places on offer at the Final.
Battle is over
For some countries the battle is already over, because the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia claimed their spots at the Middle East qualifier staged in Abu Dhabi (UAE) in January while USA and Mexico booked their tickets through the North America, Central America and Caribbean league which concluded in Canada last month.
The fate of the Europe Division 1 teams is unlikely to be decided until the last of their qualifiers takes place in Dublin, Ireland on August 11.
The Swiss are currently leading Europe Division 1, and although they are one of the strongest nations on the world circuit they have never won the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ series title, even going back to the very early years.
Extra incentive
They may have an extra incentive to make it happen this time around because at this year’s Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final there is again a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on offer to the highest ranked team not already qualified. So, should they not succeed in picking up one of the three places up for grabs at the FEI Jumping European Championships in Milan (ITA) in September then they’ll be hungry to take it.
However they’ll face plenty of powerful opposition, including a mighty challenge from Team USA who are in the same position but who will have one further opportunity to make the cut to Paris at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile at the end of October.
There are multiple reasons why the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023 is already set to be a tense thriller from start to finish, not least because it represents team Jumping at its very best and is always guaranteed to provide superb sport…..
So don’t miss a hoofbeat…..
For more about the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2023 series
Peter Weinberg was showered with champagne when Team Belgium came out on top in the gripping second leg of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Europe Division 1 2023 series in Sopot, Poland today.
The Chef d’Equipe who led his country to victory at last year’s series Final in Barcelona (ESP), where they also picked up a qualifying spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, said his whole team handled the pressure really well on an afternoon when it was impossible to predict the outcome until the very end.
“The most nervous of all today was me - they kept their nerve and produced one brilliant round after another and that’s how we won!”, he said after double-clears from both pathfinder Koen Vereecke partnering Lector vd Bisschop and third-line rider Gudrun Patteet with Sea Coast Enjoy Z were supported by Niels Bruynseels and Matador and anchorman Wilm Vermeir riding Crescendo MB Z for a final scoreline of eight faults.
However it was a narrow victory, with the first-round leaders from Argentina finishing a close second with nine faults ahead of Germany and Switzerland in third and fourth when posting 12 faults apiece and separated only by time.
Sensational
The Argentinians were sensational in round one, heading the leaderboard with a zero scoreline after faultless runs from Matias Albarracin (Full Option van’t Zand), Matias Larocca (BM Gran Fantasia) and his father Jose Larocca (Finn Lente), so that the five faults picked up by Mariano Ossa (Elton van het Exelhof Z) was their drop-score. It was a really big day out for the Larocca family as they owned all four horses on the Argentinian team.
Belgium, Switzerland and Ireland were lying equal-second with four faults each at the halfway stage while Germany - hoping to record their third successive Sopot win - already had eight on the board. Meanwhile Poland, Italy and Hungary went into round two carrying 13, 16 and 25 faults respectively.
Argentina’s advantage began to be compromised however when pathfinder Albarracin missed his distance to the double at fence five second time out, landing in the oxer second element and taking a tumble for elimination. Polish course designer Szymon Tarant had set a track with plenty of twists and turns that required accuracy and control every inch of the way especially through the last line of three fences, while the time-allowed of 77 seconds played its part too.
“When you got to the last line you started thinking about the time, the white gate vertical (fence 10 of 12) was delicate and you had to take care there, and then there was still a triple combination with a planks coming out which is not easy, and I think also there were a few faults on the last fence (oxer). The most difficult part of the triple was coming out over the plank, it was very easy to make a fault there”, Belgium’s Gudrun Patteet pointed out afterwards.
Compatriot
Her compatriot Vereecke, winner of Friday’s Longines Grand Prix with the same horse, Lector, set her side up nicely with his second-round clear but eight from Bruynseels ensured the pressure was still full on, especially when Matias Larocca produced another fabulous and faultless round from the 15-year-old stallion BM Gran Fantasia to bring Argentina back into contention.
Meanwhile although the Irish were slipping behind, the Swiss were still in the frame thanks to a brilliant double-clear from Bryan Balsiger (Chelsea Z). And even when Steve Guerdat made it all the way to the very last fence with Is-Minka before putting that on the floor they were still in with a chance if Martin Fuchs could stay clear when last to go for his side with Commissar Pezi.
Patteet’s second clear piled all the pressure on Argentina’s penultimate partnership and when Ossa’s horse lowered both the plank at fence 10 and the first element of the triple combination that followed while also adding a time fault then those nine faults would have to be counted. So now it was up to Switzerland’s Fuchs to leave all the poles in place and pile the pressure back onto Belgian shoulders.
And it looked like the 2019 European champion and 2022 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ champion was about to do it until he ran out of room at the final element of the triple combination for four faults which ensured the final Swiss tally of 12.
So when anchor Vermeir clipped just one along the way the Belgian victory was already assured. It may not have been Argentina’s day in the end, but they had plenty to be proud of, especially when Jose Larocca brought the competition to a close with a second foot-perfect performance.
Ambitions
Earlier in the day his Chef d’Equipe, Enrique Solari, talked about Argentinian ambitions right now. “There is a chance (of Olympic qualification) with one spot at the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona which we are shooting for of course, and then if not there are three spots at the Pan-American Games in November in Chile. We are very focused on that, it is our goal to get to Paris in 2024!”, he explained. Having finished second at their last outing in the EEF series in The Netherlands last month and again today things are looking positive.
For today’s winners however it was all about the Europe Division 1 series of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2023. The teams chasing points were Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Switzerland and the win has moved Belgium into third on the league leaderboard - behind Germany and Switzerland - ahead of round three in Rotterdam, The Netherlands next Friday where they have also opted to compete. The series consists of six legs in total and moves on to Falsterbo (SWE) and Hickstead (GBR) in July, and to Dublin (IRL) for the last qualifier in August.
The Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023 will be staged in Barcelona (ESP) from 28 September to 1 October.
Mentally strong
Asked how her team managed to pull off the win today, Belgium’s Gudrun Patteer said it was achieved because “we had four mentally very strong riders so I was quite confident that we would not do worse in the second round and I had a good feeling about it!”
She was delighted with the performance of her lovely nine-year-old stallion Sea Coast Enjoy Z (Emerald/Parco). “He has done one Nations Cup in the second league at Gorla Minore (ITA) where he was also double-clear and this is only his second Nations Cup and the second time he jumped 1.60m. I’ve always believed in him and now he is confirming my expectations!”, she said of the horse she bought as a four-year-old and which she has slowly been building up to the top level.
“My chef really believes in this horse, he says he’s a championship horse but of course he’s still very young. So we will try to give him more experience so he is important to the Belgian team in the future. He maybe goes to Falsterbo and to Dublin but we have to wait and see what our chef says first….”, she added.
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.
By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies.