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As the prestigious 19th Asian Games draws ever-closer, equestrian athletes and fans alike are eagerly awaiting the events set to unfold in Hangzhou, China. With just 100 days remaining until the equestrian events kick off on 26 September, the excitement is building among riders, teams, and the equestrian community.
From September 26 to October 6, the magnificent Hangzhou International Equestrian Park will serve as the playing field for the competitions across the 3 Olympic disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. A state-of-the-art venue, spread over an impressive area of approximately 54,000 square meters, awaits the arrival of world-class equine and human athletes with meticulously designed training arenas, stables and veterinary facilities.
Organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Asian Games bring together the OCA’s 45 member countries to compete in a diverse range of 40 sports.
Since its debut appearance at the 9th Asian Games in 1982 held in New Delhi, India, equestrian sport has become an integral part of the Asian Games program. Following a brief absence in the 11th edition in Beijing, it returned in 1994 and has been a core of the programme ever since.
At Hangzhou 2022, we can expect an impressive roster of 20 nations to participate in the equestrian events, including powerhouse equestrian countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, alongside emerging contenders like Palestine, Qatar, and Uzbekistan, vying for supremacy and national pride.
A Rich History
Over the years, legendary riders and talented teams have etched their names in Asian Games history.
In Jakarta (INA) 2018, Ali Al Khorafi from Kuwait clinched the individual Jumping gold medal with his remarkable horse Cheril, while Ali Al-Thani of Qatar secured the silver aboard Sirocco. Meanwhile, Ramzy Al-Duhami from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia galloped to a bronze medal victory astride Ted.
Notably, the Saudi Arabian team, comprising Abdullah Al-Sharbatly, Khaled Al Eid, and Khaled Al Mobty alongside Ramzy Al-Duhami, claimed the team gold.
Hong Kong’s Jacqueline Wing Ying Siu left an indelible mark in Jakarta, winning the individual Dressage gold medal with her extraordinary horse, Jockey Club Fuerst On Tour, while Japan took the top spots in the team competition.
In Eventing, it was Yoshiaki Oiwa from Japan who emerged victorious, capturing the individual gold with Bart L JRA. India's Fouaad Mirza secured the silver medal on his mount Seigneur Medicott, while Alex Hua-Tian from China claimed the bronze riding PSH Convivial.
The Japanese Eventing team, comprising Ryuzo Kitajima, Takayuki Yumira, Kenta Hiranaga, and Yoshiaki Oiwa, also stood atop the podium, proudly taking home the team gold medals.
Equestrian sport’s rich history at the Asian Games is a testament to the sport's growth and popularity in the region. The inclusion of equestrian events in the program since 1982 speaks volumes about the enduring appeal and impact it has had on the Asian sporting landscape, which is growing every year.
With Hangzhou 2022 on the horizon, it offers a unique opportunity for riders and teams to showcase their talents on a continental stage, while inspiring a new generation of equestrians across Asia.
The countdown has begun, and the stage is set…
The Asian Games runs from 23 September to 8 October, with the equestrian events slated for 26 September to 6 October.
Photo caption: Jacqueline Siu of Hong Kong pats her horse JC Fuerst On Tour after winning the individual dressage event during the equestrian competition at the 18th Asian Games at Jakarta International Equestrian Park on August 23, 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Photo copyright: FEI/Yong Teck Lim
About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.
The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
FEI Contact:
Didier Montes
Sport Communications & Media Relations Manager
didier.montes@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 21
The highly anticipated Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport has been released, following the successful conclusion of the 6th International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Amsterdam (NED) in October 2022.
Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM), the statement is informed by 10 systematic reviews and methodology outlining the new consensus process. This work was carried out by a group of more than 100 expert researchers and clinicians from around the world, who reviewed and synthesised new scientific evidence and updated existing recommendations with the aim of optimising the care of athletes at all levels of participation who have, or who are at risk of, concussion.
The statement includes a series of new (SCOAT6, Child SCOAT6) and updated (CRT6, SCAT6, Child SCAT6) age-appropriate tools for clinicians and sports organisations to help them better identify and manage sports related concussion in the short and longer term. It also features new evidence-based strategies for returning to active sport and education after concussion, early exercise and treatment recommendations, approaches to prevention, targeted rehabilitation, and a call for a working group to be set up to guide further research on the potential long-term effects of concussion on health.
The FEI is a member of the Organising Committee for the 6th International Consensus on Concussion in Sport, alongside the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), World Rugby and Fédération Internationale d’Automobile (FIA). The role of the sports organisations is limited to funding, logistics and administration.
In light of the new recommendations, the FEI will conduct a comprehensive review of its existing protocols and policies, implement necessary changes to align with the latest scientific consensus, and ensure dissemination of this information to its stakeholders.
Germany entered the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ of Hungary with a bit of added pressure. Prepared to start with a full team of riders, the squad was left short-handed following the late scratch of Lisa-Maria Klössinger.
But no drop score would be needed, as Team Germany, with just three riders, recorded a comfortable victory under the tutelage of Chef d'Equipe Götz Brinkmann. The trio of Rudolf Widmann (Ferrari OLD), Franziska Stieglmair (Samurai 504) and Lisa Müller (Gut Wettlkam's D'avie FRH) finished on a total score of 416.873%, more than 10 points ahead of runners-up, Hungary (405.301%).
"There was a lot of pressure. Of course you can make mistakes, but if that happens [with three riders], you're out of the running...I was pretty proud of all of them, that they were able to handle that pressure and solve all the problems."
-Chef d'Equipe Götz Brinkmann (GER)
Stieglmaier and Müller were the only riders to score above 70 percent across the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, with Stieglmaier firmly asserting a German victory with an individual win in the Special aboard her longtime mount, Samurai 504. She and the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding received a winning score of 71.234%—a personal best for the pair.
"It's a really special partnership. I bought him as a 2-year-old. When he was young, he was a little scared of everything, but now he's my partner in crime. If I don't make a mistake, he also won't."
Franziska Spieglmaier (GER)
Anchor pair Müller and Gut Wettlkam's D'avie FRH set the team ahead from the onset, winning the Grand Prix (72.543%) and finishing second in the Special (70.000%). Collectively, the squad did not finish worse than seventh in a single test.
"It was really fun to ride with our team," Spieglmaier said. "There was really good team spirit, and we helped each other really well. This win is very good for all of us."
Germany maintains its lead in the 2023 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series standings. Sweden sits second, followed by Denmark.
"We have many strong riders [in Germany]. It's not only riding in a foreign country and riding for Germany, but many others also could have ridden, and [German National Coach Monica Theodorescu] chose us," Brinkmann said. "That makes us really, really happy."
The FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ season continues in Rotterdam (NED) on 24 June 2023.
Following on from their Eventing Team’s success in securing a Paris 2024 Olympic Games slot in Baborówko (POL) earlier this month, Poland’s Dressage Team has emerged victorious in the FEI Dressage Olympic Qualifier for Group C held at Pilisjászfalu (HUN), earning a place next to their compatriots next Summer.
In a fiercely contested competition, Poland topped the leaderboard, ending the day on a total of 204.892 points, just ahead of Hungary, who finished on 202.152 for the home crowd, and Israel taking third place on 192.522 points.
The qualification was determined during the Grand Prix test, which was part of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ hosted near Budapest, showcasing the skills and finesse of fifteen talented athlete combinations.
With every combination executing the same movements, the panel of international judges were evaluating technical proficiency, suppleness, proper framing, smooth transitions, and the harmonious connection between rider and horse. Ultimately, the slot went to the team with the highest total score based on the scores of their three best athletes in the CDIO3*-NC Grand Prix Competition.
Leading the charge, Żaneta Skowrońska-Kozubik of Poland and her remarkable mount Romantic P delivered an exceptional performance, firmly placing Poland at the top of the leaderboard. While Lisa Müller of Germany and Gut Wettlkam’s D’avie FRH clinched the individual victory with an impressive score of 72.543%, Skowrońska-Kozubik's commendable marks propelled Poland ahead of Hungary in their quest for a coveted ticket to Paris.
The Polish team's success was further bolstered by the outstanding performances of three other athletes who secured positions in the top 10. Mateusz Cichon and Herzregent 2 claimed sixth place with a score of 67.913%, Magdalena Jura and Ron secured eighth place with 67.283%, and Marta Sobierajska and Ultrablue De Massa finished in 10th place with 65.565%.
The home-team of Hungary displayed remarkable determination throughout the competition, narrowly missing the top spot and settling for second place. Benedek Pachl and Donna Friderika delivered an impressive performance, earning them fourth place with a score of 68.804%. Anikó Komjáthy-Losonczy showcased exceptional skill aboard Dior S, securing seventh place with a score of 67.696%, while Jazmin Yom Tov, the youngest athlete in the event at just 21 years old, claimed ninth place with her mount Konfucius.
The top 10 was completed by Franziska Stieglmaier of Germany with Samurai 504, who secured the Individual bronze medal with a score of 69.522%, and Rudolf Widmann, also representing Germany, finished fifth aboard Ferrari OLD with a score of 67.978%.
Germany's outstanding performances positioned them as the leaders in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ competition, with the Grand Prix Special set to captivate audiences on Saturday.
As the event unfolds, the anticipation continues to build. Will Germany retain the Nations Cup points, or will Poland, Hungary, or Israel rise to claim the top honours?
Looking ahead
Overall, there are 15 Olympic team slots up for grabs for Paris 2024 - one has been allocated to France as the host country, with the remaining fourteen team quota places allocated through FEI Olympic Group Qualification Events such as this one.
The six highest ranked teams from the 2022 FEI Dressage World Championships, Herning (DEN) - Denmark, Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands and the USA have secured their places. Also from Herning, the place for the highest ranked team from the Olympic Group G went to Australia.
Now with Poland clinching the Group C allocation, this leaves just 6 slots left for teams to win: the 3 highest ranked teams from the 2023 FEI European Dressage Championship in Riesenbeck (GER) this September, the 2 highest ranked teams from FEI Olympic Groups D and/or E at the 2023 Pan American Games, Santiago (CHI) in October, and the final spot to the Olympic Group F, for which the allocation procedure for is still to be decided.
Photo Caption: Polish Dressage riders qualify for the Olympics Games in Paris 2024 during the FEI Dressage Olympic Qualifier - Group C.
Team Poland - Magdalena Jura, Mateusz Cichon, Chef d'equipe Andrzej Salacki, Marta Sobierajska, Team Vet - Dr. Maciej Przewoźny, Żaneta Skowronska-Kozubik Daniel Karpinski
Copyright © FEI/Łukasz Kowalski
The first in-person meeting of the FEI Board for 2023 took place at the FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI). The Board members tackled a packed agenda over two days – on 6 and 7 June.
The approval of the rules of the newly created Longines League of Nations was the,hallmark decision taken by the Board on this occasion. The rules are effective for the 2024 season and available now on the FEI website.
The presentation of the Interim Report of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing (EEWB) Commission by the Commission’s Chair Professor Natalie Waran was another key topic, which generated a lot of discussion, with the FEI Board keen to continue to tackle and develop non-regulatory Recommendations, especially in the areas of education and communication, prior to the presentation of the Final Report by the EEWB at the FEI General Assembly in November 2023.
The FEI President also provided an update on the wide-ranging activities of FEI Solidarity across the world and reminded the Board members that the deadline for National Federations to submit applications for FEI Solidarity support in 2024 was 1 July.
The allocation of the FEI General Assembly to Oman was another important decision.
The Board was informed of the proposed main changes to the FEI Rules and Regulations, which will be submitted for consultation with National Federations and Stakeholders on 28 June. In accordance with the FEI Rules Revision Process Policy, the FEI Endurance Rules are the only ones undergoing full revision this year.
The Board heard a comprehensive overview on the veterinary research projects, which are being conducted by the FEI in cooperation with prestigious academic institutions as well as an outline of future plans.
The FEI President presented the timeline for preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the Board approved the proposed way forward.
“We had two very productive days of meetings focussed on the future and sustainability of our sport,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “It was very good to see the entire FEI Board gather in Lausanne – a first since the Covid 19 pandemic – where we were able to take a number of important decisions, including the approval of the Rules for the Longines League of Nations. This was the result of a comprehensive and successful consultation process, and it’s testament to the community’s ability to think out of the box, that we have been able to re-imagine this result with so much support. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the FEI Jumping Committee for their hard work and excellent solutions.”
“The future, but especially what we are and what we can do now, was also at the heart of our discussions around the recommendations of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, and I am looking forward to continuing our work around the findings of the EEWB so that we can strengthen the systems we have in place, and ensure our core value “Horse First” is embedded in everything that we do, and with every stakeholder we work with.”
The comprehensive list of decisions and additional details are available here.
Photo caption: On 6 and 7 June, the FEI Board met at the FEI Headquarters for two-day in-person meeting. (c) FEI
The FEI Tribunal has issued a Consent Award in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance.
The horse Hera Durances (FEI ID 106FU45/BRN), trained by Mr Muhammad Abbas Khalid (FEI ID 10220213 /BRN), tested positive for the Banned Substance Stanozolol and its metabolite 16-beta-hydroxystanozolol, following samples taken at the FEI Endurance World Championship in Butheeb (UAE), 20-26.02.2023.
The trainer admitted the rule violation and accepted the proposed consequences. In its final decision the FEI Tribunal imposed an eighteen-month ineligibility period on the trainer; the provisional suspension already served shall be credited against the imposed ineligibility period. He was also fined CHF 5,000.
The FEI Tribunal also disqualified the athlete and horse combination from the event. Consequently, Bahrain no longer has three results counting towards the team score which earned them the gold medal at the event, resulting in the team gold medal now going to France, silver to Portugal and bronze to Italy.
The press release regarding the decision and the updated results of the FEI Endurance World Championship in Butheeb is available here.
The full Consent Award 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 medications that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned 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.
Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.
The FEI has created an online Reporting Mechanism to centralise the feedback from grooms attending international equestrian Events and to provide deeper insights into the needs and priorities of the community.
The Grooms Reporting Mechanism was created to raise the well-being of equestrian grooms, and to enhance their working conditions, welfare, and overall status in order to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for these dedicated professionals.
"The Gooms Reporting Mechanism is a game-changer for the equestrian industry, empowering grooms to have their voices heard and their experiences acknowledged,” Director of the International Grooms Association (IGA) Lucy Katan said.
“This mechanism not only fosters transparency and accountability but also cultivates a culture of continuous improvement within the FEI and with Organising Committees, ensuring that the welfare and working conditions of grooms are taken into consideration at every stage of the decision-making and planning process.
“But a tool like this is only as good as the people using it, and the IGA hopes that individual member of the Grooms’ community will make a conscious effort to provide their feedback, both negative and positive, so that collectively we can elevate the professional standing of grooms worldwide.”
Key elements of the Grooms Reporting Mechanism include:
“What came through strongly during the setup of the International Grooms Association in 2022, was that grooms needed to be provided with a way of communicating directly with the FEI to relay their concerns about Event facilities,” Chair of the FEI Grooms Consultative Group Frank Kemperman said.
“By allowing grooms to express their opinions and concerns, they can have a direct influence on the decision-making processes that affect them and the FEI in turn can more quickly identify the key areas for improvement that will make the Event experience more comfortable and enjoyable for grooms.
“International grooms have a unique lifestyle and the care and services they provide are key to any equestrian athlete’s success. And as any athlete will tell you, a happy groom makes for a happy horse! It is our moral and social duty to ensure that we support these important members of our community with the best conditions in which to do their jobs.”
Crowned Team World Champion for the first time at the postponed FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 held in Butheeb (UAE) from 20 to 26 February 2023, Bahrain has been stripped of the team title following an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance and the horse Hera Durances, ridden by Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed Alzayed (the third Bahraini combination). The FEI Tribunal confirmed the disqualification of the athlete and horse combination from the event and imposed an eighteen-month ineligibility period for the athlete, who has also been fined (See FEI Tribunal Equine Anti-Doping Consent Award here).
As a result, Team Bahrain’s results are null and void as they no longer have the three required combination results to count for the team ranking and all the remaining teams on the leader board move up by one place, with France taking gold, Portugal slotting into silver and Italy stepping onto the podium with bronze (See updated Results here).
Team France are no stranger to the top spot of the podium having had their share of Team golds in the past, although the most recent dates back to 2006. This places France well and truly at the top of the leader board for Team titles, with five to their name since the first edition was held in 1986, followed by UAE and Spain who both have three World Championship team titles in their record of achievements.
“While it is never optimal to have medals re-distributed following an event due to medication control and anti-doping related offenses, we view this as confirmation that the systems we have in place are thorough and effective”, said FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch.
“The FEI’s Clean Sport programme has extensive processes to ensure we not only educate the community, but also have the tools to follow up and uphold the Rules at play in order to guarantee a level playing field, and safeguard the welfare of our human and equine athletes.”
The FEI has extensive procedures in place to uphold and ensure the integrity of competition through the FEI Clean Sport Programme which encompasses both human and equine anti-doping rules and processes. For human athletes, the FEI is a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), whilst for horses, the FEI has developed and runs the Equine Anti-Doping and medication Control System (EADMCR), which sees extensive testing at FEI Events around the world.
Prior to all major Championships and Games, the FEI prepares and shares specific “Doping & Medication Control Guides” with the participants such as the nominated athletes, chefs d’equipes and concerned National Federations in order to raise awareness, explain the processes and avoid any inadvertent positive cases. The relevant Guide for Butheeb refers to extensive testing to be carried out, the testing process, reminding Athletes they are the “Person Responsible” for their horse and will carry the ultimate responsibility, which includes legal proceedings should their horse test positive.
Notes to Editors
Relevant Links:
FEI Equine Prohibited Substances
The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are medications that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned 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.
Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.
For more information on Clean Sport: https://inside.fei.org/fei/cleansport
Ireland is not a member of the North and Central America and Caribbean division of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™, but the nation has certainly made its mark on it, especially in Vancouver (CAN). The Irish squad topped the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of Canada Sunday afternoon at Thunderbird Show Park; the nation has won three of the last four editions of the event.
Led by Chef d'Equipe Michael Blake, the quartet of Shane Sweetnam (James Kann Cruz), Daniel Coyle (Gisborne VDL), David Blake (Claude) and Conor Swail (Nadal Hero & DB) completed the two rounds of competition over Peter Holmes' (CAN) 1.60m track with just 4 penalties on their scorecard. Canada finished second—just a rail behind them with 8 penalties—followed by the United States (28 penalties).
"It was sweet victory for us today, because we knew Canada had a really strong team, and we knew we would have to have a really strong team, or else we couldn't beat them. The luck went our way, and it all worked out."
Chef d'Equipe Michael Blake (IRL)
It was truly a head-to-head battle between the defending champions and the home nation: Ireland and Canada finished the first round tied for the lead with 4 faults apiece. But in the second round, Ireland was flawless. Sweetnam jumped double-clear aboard the highly regarded 10-year-old, James Kann Cruz, before both Coyle and Blake improved upon their first round scores to come away with clear rounds.
"I guess we were maybe a little casual in the first round. I'm also just getting to know the horse. I have big plans for him in the future. He's a different kind of animal, and I've got to ride him in the way that's best for him."
Daniel Coyle (IRL)
"We all walked the course as a team, and the [other] guys' numbers and the numbers in my head were not adding up," he continued. "I thought, 'I'll keep doing the right numbers,' but after I jumped the first round...I said to Michael, 'I need to do different strides here.' He said, 'I don't care how you do the strides. Just get a clear round!'"
With three clear rounds on the scorecard in the second round, Swail did not have to jump again with Nadal Hero & DB, who jumped a clear round of his own in the first round.
"The first round was a very important round, to keep us where we wanted to be," said Swail, the World No. 8. "My horse hasn't actually jumped much this year, so he's had to step up very quickly. I've been very impressed with him."
Sweetnam set the tone for the team and was one of just two combinations to jump double-clear on the day; Canada's Erynn Ballard was also double-clear with her mount from the 2022 FEI World Championships and 2023 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Finals, Gakhir.
After Tiffany Foster had a rail with Hamilton, Mario Deslauriers (Emerson) kept the home nation on even ground with Ireland after he jumped clear in the second round. That left it up to Amy Millar (Truman) to keep the Canadians in the running, as a clear round would send Canada and Ireland to a jump-off. But Canada's anchor pair saw a the front rail of the oxer fall at Fence 6.
"This is tough sport. It's difficult, and you're always putting your best foot forward," Sweetnam said. "You're trying your best for the team. We have great team spirit, and we wanted to win.
"This week I tried [a new bit] and I think it's the best [James Kann Cruz] has jumped this year," he added.
The United States finished its season atop the division standings with 280 points, having won in both San Miguel de Allende (MEX) and San Juan Capistrano (USA). Mexico and Canada finished the season with equal points (240) and finish classifications, so a tiebreaker was necessary to determine the second qualified team for October's Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Finals (ESP). That tie was broken by the number of clear rounds produced by each nation throughout the series; Mexico had seven clear rounds—one more than Canada—securing its place in Barcelona.
Eventers from Australia and The People’s Republic of China, were suitably euphoric after claiming the two Olympic places up for grabs at Millstreet (IRL) this weekend. Australia were the decisive overall winners of the FEI Eventing Designated Qualifier for Groups F and G on a score of 100.8, whilst China made history by qualifying for a team spot in second place on 122.1.
British-based Alex Hua Tian (fourth individually on Chicko) first rode at the Olympics in 2008 but, until now, he has been China's sole representative.They finished a painfully narrow margin ahead of Japan who were heart-broken to finish third on 125.7, and missing out on qualification.
Indeed, Millstreet in Co Cork took on extra significance this year when it played host to six teams in the CCIO3*-L Qualifier, which was one of the final chances to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for Groups F and G which consists of nations in Africa, the Middle East, South-East Asia and Oceania.
Six nations contested the crucial qualifying event: Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Morocco. Australia, who have had an illustrious Eventing record over decades, as well as multiple team gold medals, had so far not qualified for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. They took no chances, fielding the Tokyo silver medal trio of Andrew Hoy, Shane Rose and Millstreet regular Kevin McNab. Although it was the 27 year old Shenae Lowings who ruled the roost this weekend by leading the class from the start.
Finishing on a Dressage score of 24.9, Lowings rode one of the fastest cross-country times of the day, on the former racehorse Bold Venture. This talented combination made their first major appearance for the Australian team at the World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, last year. “Paris, here we come!” she declared on completion of the event.
"This has been the plan for a long time, so to do the job here is great, and means that we can now work towards Paris and maybe going one better than in Tokyo," explained 2021 team silver medallist Shane Rose, who had flown all the way from Australia to help the national effort.
The People’s Republic of China were visibly thrilled with their performance and qualification. They fielded a team of four athletes who rode some strong Jumping and cross-country rounds against combinations who had previously competed at Olympic Games and World Championships. Their presence at the Paris Olympics will be particularly exciting for the sport of Eventing, being relative newcomers to the equestrian discipline.
Hua Tian was joined by Huadong Sun (eighth) and Yingfeng Bao (ninth) who are both based in the Netherlands with trainer Martin Lips. Whilst Ruiji Liang (17th) divides his time between Belgium and China and is chiefly a Jumping athlete. "It's worth saying just how much of a sacrifice they have all made, leaving their families behind to represent their country in Eventing," said Alex.
The New Zealand Team were also competing with some of their less experienced horses as they had already qualified for Paris in Pratoni last year, but their Chef d’Equipe Sam Griffiths summed up this pivotal competition for other nations:
“I’ve actually just bumped into the Chinese team who got their spot and they are absolutely over the moon. The Australians fielded an incredibly strong team. The course was strong enough and time played quite an issue. It ended up being a really good competition. The Australians were a bit ahead, but between the Japanese and the Chinese, it came right down to the Jumping, making it a really exciting competition to watch. Japan is a really strong nation so that was a really big ‘upstep’ that China qualified in front of Japan."
There are 16 team slots on offer for Eventing at Paris 2024, including one for host nation France. There will be serious competition for the remaining five Olympic team places, with Australia and China now taking the tenth and eleventh slot. Germany (2022 world champions at Herning), the USA, New Zealand, and Great Britain (2020 Tokyo champions), as well as the highest ranked teams at the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championship at Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA) - Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland. Whilst Team Poland took the only qualifying spot in Group C FEI Designated Olympic Qualifier at Baborówko (POL).
The FEI Eventing European Championship at Pin du Haras, France this August and the 2023 Pan American Games at Santiago, Chile in October will provide further chances for nations to qualify. The last chance to earn a single Team slot to Paris 2024 will be the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series, which wraps up at Boekelo in the Netherlands in October.
All is not lost for athletes whose teams don’t ultimately qualify to compete at the Château de Versailles next year.
In addition to the 16 Team spots (48 athletes), there are 17 Individual quota places to be allocated across multiple Olympic groups. Final places will be determined in 2024 and will be announced by the FEI once they have been confirmed.
Millstreet, run by the Duggan family has long been a popular event for riders largely owing to their challenging but well-prepared cross-country courses which are designed by Mike Etherington-Smith. The event also hosted eight teams in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ and entries from an impressive 20 nations, making it Ireland’s most international horse trials on record.
Photo Caption: Shane Rose (AUS) rides Dotti during the Cross Country during the FEI Eventing Olympic Qualifier - Group F Millstreet (IRL)
Copyright: ©FEI/Libby Law Photography
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