The first horse inspection took place today as the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2023 got underway at the CHI Health Centre in Omaha (USA). A total of 40 horses from 19 nations came before the Ground Jury headed up by President Harry Braspenning (NED), and just one was held for further re-inspection tomorrow morning at 08.00 local time, Nurjon Tuyakbaev’s 10-year-old mare Lancelotta representing Uzbekistan.

The horses already took some time to exercise in the arena this morning, and tomorrow (Tuesday 4 April) they will practice over fences during the training session which begins at 13.00. The first Final competition, a 1.60m Speed and Handiness class will take place on Wednesday starting at 19.15 and the second competition, a 1.60m with jump-off, will follow on Thursday at the same time.

Friday will be a rest day before the 2023 champion is crowned on Saturday evening after a thrilling two-round contest in which the top 30 will go into round one and the best 20 then fight it out in one final round.

Many of the world’s top riders chose to trot their horses up themselves today including Great Britain’s Scott Brash with Hello Jefferson and Jur Vrieling with his lovely grey Long John Silver 3 who got a big hug from his rider when they were given the thumbs up. Fellow-Dutchman Harrie Smolders also showed Monaco NOP as did Ireland’s Denis Lynch with Brooklyn Heights.

Presented

Defending champion, Martin Fuchs, had not arrived so it was the Swiss rider’s popular groom, Irishman Sean Vard, who presented Leone Jei, the horse with which Fuchs won team gold and individual silver at the FEI European Championship in Riesenbeck (GER) in 2021.

Vard talked about the 11-year-old gelding, and the part he personally plays as Team Fuchs prepare for this big week ahead.

“Always at Championships and big events Leone Jei has stepped up even though he is still young and inexperienced. He’s quite a hot horse so we try to keep him cool. For him the bigger the tracks the better he jumps and he was sensational in Geneva in December. After that he had a few weeks off while we were on the Sunshine Tour, and he was just hacking and doing conditioning work, and then he jumped at the Dutch Masters in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) where he finished fifth and gave a fantastic effort.

“We took him to Gorla Minore in Italy last week where he jumped three 1.25m tracks, but he’s always in shape, he’s a great horse for us and has done fantastic things and naturally being title defenders we have a really great feeling with him”, Vard said.

So how does it feel putting in all the preparation, knowing once Martin gets onboard it’s all out of his hands?

“It’s all very much in my hands until the horse goes through the start beams. It’s a team effort. Martin isn’t here yet, he had a late flight so I’ve ridden the horse five times already”, said the Irishman who rode up to international level himself before deciding to become a top groom. 

“I know how Martin rides the horse and the way I’ve ridden the last few days is exactly the way that he would have done. I know how to replicate what he does when I have to at shows like this where I fly ahead with the horse. He can arrive and the horse is 100% ready to jump. It’s a good feeling knowing that he trusts me to do it, and it’s also a good feeling knowing that I’ve played a huge part in it until he goes through that start beam”, he explained.

Character

So what about Leone Jei’s character? “He’s a fantastic personality but he’s a bit of a hot-head sometimes, it’s all about managing his energy levels. He’s a big horse and sometimes he can be too fresh so it’s a delicate balance between doing too much and too little. Especially after driving from Switzerland to the plane in Liege (BEL) and then quarantine after coming here over the last few days. He’s very nice and very easy to be around, and he has filled big shoes since Clooney (Fuchs’ legendary former ride) retired.”

There’s no shortage of powerful opposition to the defending champion however, and it’s all to play for when the action gets underway for real on Wednesday night.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….

For more information, facts and statistics around the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2023 – check out the dedicated press kit here

 

The FEI Tribunal has issued a Consent Award in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance.

In this case, the horse Eryn (FEI ID 105SX59/SUI), tested positive for Flufenamic acid, a banned substance, following samples taken at the CEI1*100 Oberstammheim (SUI) on 20 August, 2022.

The athlete, Melania Vanina (FEI ID 10160936/SUI), admitted the rule violation and accepted the consequences. The horse had been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification (26 September 2022 to 25 November 2022). 

In its final decision the FEI Tribunal disqualified the horse from the event and imposed an 18-month ineligibility period on the athlete; the provisional suspension she already served shall be credited against the imposed ineligibility period. She was also fined CHF 5,000.

The full Decision is available here.

Separately, the FEI has announced new adverse analytical findings (AAF) involving equine prohibited substances. The Endurance cases below involve *Banned Substances and in each case the athlete and trainer have been provisionally suspended. The horses have also been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.

Case 2023/BS02:

Horse: Intruso Del Reparo (106GW63/BRN)

Person Responsible: Abrahim Alyahya (FEI ID 10204085/KSA)

Trainer: Khalifa Saad Sharida Mubarak (FEI ID 10043686/BRN)

Event: CEI1* 100 - Sakhir, Bahrain International Endurance Village (BRN), 08–10.12.2022

Prohibited Substance(s): Boldenone

Date of notification: 12 January 2023

 

Case 2023/BS01:

Horse: Zaime (106SS76/QAT)

Person Responsible: Mohd Jubal Ahmed Sayadur Rahman (FEI ID 10093895/QAT)

Trainer: Jassim Hilal H Abuhadoud (FEI ID 10030706/QAT)

Event: CEI1*100 - Doha, Mesaieed (QAT), 11–12.11.22

Prohibited Substance(s): 5α-estrane-3β, 17α-diol, Cobalt

Date of notification: 13 March 2023

 

Case 2023/BS03:

Horse: Hera Durances (106FU45/BRN)

Person Responsible: Abdulrahman Mohammed Alzayed (FEI ID 10026481/BRN)

Trainer: Muhammad Abbas Khalid (FEI ID 10220213/BRN)

Event: CH-M-E- Butheeb (UAE), 20-26.02.2023

Prohibited Substance(s): Stanozolol, 16-beta-hydroxystanozolol

Date of notification: 20 March 2023

 

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 (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.

Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.

FEI Clean Sport - human athletes

The FEI is part of the collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport led by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The aim of this movement is to protect fair competition as well as athlete health and welfare.

WADA’s Prohibited List identifies the substances and methods prohibited in- and out-of-competition, and in particular sports. The substances and methods on the List are classified by different categories (e.g., steroids, stimulants, gene doping).

As a WADA Code Signatory, the FEI runs a testing programme for human athletes based on WADA’s List of Prohibited List of Substances and Methods and on the Code-compliant FEI Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA).

For further information, please consult the Clean Sport section of the FEI website here.

We would like to provide the equestrian community with a brief overview of the situation and measures that have been taken by the FEI, , in consultation with the Organising Committee and the Belgian National Federation, in relation to a confirmed case of EHV-1 in Opglabbeek (BEL).  
 
The affected horse, which had already left the venue, presented neurological signs for EHV-1 upon returning home which were subsequently confirmed through an EHV-1 test. The horse unfortunately died today on 31 March 2023 and the FEI is following up on the circumstances of the horse’s death.  
 
Over 30 horses deemed to be in-contact with the affected horse (stabled in the same stabling area since 22 March) have been blocked in the FEI Database as a safety precaution. This includes any horses that may have already left the venue.
 
The Persons Responsible (PRs) have all been notified, alongside their respective National Federations and National Head Veterinarians (NHVs).
 
All blocked horses have been isolated and will be prevented from attending any FEI events until they have fulfilled certain health requirements which are imposed in order to minimise any potential transmission of the virus, both to their own horses and the wider horse population. The mandatory biosecurity measures include isolation for a minimum of 21 days, taking twice daily rectal temperatures and conducting laboratory testing for EHV-1. Release from isolation can only take place on the advice of a veterinarian and in order to be “un-blocked” and have access to FEI Events, the horses will need to comply with all the return to competition protocols and have the restriction lifted by the FEI Veterinary Department.  
 
We are grateful for the community’s vigilance in all matters of biosecurity and once again reiterate the importance of the Horse Health Requirements, and the necessity to fulfil the Horse Health Requirements via the FEI HorseApp to ensure the maximum safety for all horses competing at international events.
 
All information in relation to the Horse Health Requirements is available on the dedicated Horse Health Requirements hub. Should you have any questions regarding this matter, don’t hesitate to contact the Veterinary Department.

Following a baby-break that meant she didn’t compete at last summer’s ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN), Jessica von Bredow-Werndl returns to centre stage with TSF Dalera BB when the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2023 gets underway in Omaha (USA) next Wednesday.

The German rider and her lovely mare were on a roll when taking the 2022 title on home ground in Leipzig (GER) last April having already bagged a full set of Olympic and European medals over the previous seven months. And they showed they had lost none of their sparkle when returning to action in this season’s Western European League, with wins in Lyon (FRA) last October and again in Basel (SUI) in January and each time posting an over-90% score.

If they maintain that form they seem well set to challenge for the double in a weeks’ time when 17 horse-and-rider combinations from 11 different countries will contest the title.

Repeat wins

Repeat wins are a theme of this Final, but nobody has ever come close to matching the nine posted by The Netherlands’ Anky van Grunsven with her two great horses between 1995 and 2008. Riding Bonfire she topped the podium in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000 and with Salinero, who only passed away last December at the age of 28, she won through in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008. 

On next week’s startlist is a lady who chased the Dutch star all the way to the line on many occasions. Isabell Werth has five wins under her belt and posted her first in Gothenburg (SWE) in 1992 which boasted an all-German podium of Sven Rothenberger in second place and Monica Theodorescu in third.

Over 30 years later this remarkable rider, known colloquially as “The Queen” and the most decorated athlete in equestrian sport, will line out in her 23rd Final. Currently lying third in the athlete world rankings and winner of the 2022/2023 Western European League series, she will mean business when strutting into the ring to chase down her sixth title with the feisty DSP Quantaz. 

Each country can only field three athletes, and third of the German contingent is Ingrid Klimke, daughter of Dressage legend Dr Reiner Klimke and best known as a five-time Olympian and multiple medallist in the sport of Eventing. With the 15-year-old stallion Franziskus she won the third leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League in Stuttgart (GER) last November and she will be sure to make her presence felt when the action gets underway next week.

Champing

However there are a host of others also champing at the bit including Dutch star Dinja van Liere who brings the 11-year-old stallion Hermes NOP with which she won individual double-bronze at last summer’s World Championship in Denmark, and Nanna Skodborg Merrald who was on the gold-medal-winning Danish team there with Blue Hors Zack.

Skodborg Merrald has opted to bring Blue Hors Zepter to Omaha and this is a new partnership that looks to have serious potential, finishing third at the Swiss leg of the Western European League in Basel and winning the ninth round of the 11-leg series in Neumünster (GER) last month.

The Netherlands will also be represented by Thamar Zweistra and Hexagon’s Ice Weiss and Marieke van der Putten with Torveslettens Titanium RS2 while Morgan Barbançon and Sir Donnerhall ll OLD will fly the French flag.

Lithuania’s Justina Vanagaite (Nabab), Moldova’s Alisa Glinka (Aachen), Singapore’s Caroline Chew (Tribiani), Australia’s Simone Pearce (Fiderdance), and Belgium’s Jorinde Verwimp (Charmer) will be joined by the sole Swede, Johanna Due Boje (Mazy Klovenhoj). And completing the line-up are the US contenders, headed by Steffen Peters whose win with Ravel in Las Vegas (USA) back in 2009 nearly brought the house down.

He pinned Werth riding Satchmo and van Grunsven riding Painted Black into second and third on that memorable day, and the five-time Olympian brings his Tokyo 2020 team silver-medal-winning ride Suppenkasper to do battle this time out.

Also flying the Stars and Stripes will be Alice Tarjan and Serenade MF who have posted consistently strong results over the last few months, and Anna Buffini and FRH Davinia La Douce who finished 12th in the Freestyle at last year’s Final in Leipzig. 

Officials

The officials for the Final include President of the Ground Jury Janet Foy (USA) and members Stephen Clarke (GBR), Hans Christian Matthiesen (DEN), Katrina Wüst (GER), Maarten van der Heijden (NED), Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA) and Magnus Ringmark (SWE).

The Foreign Technical Delegate is Gotthilf Riexinger (GER) and the Judges Supervisory Panel will consist of David Hunt (GBR), Evi Eisenhardt (GER) and Lilo Fore (USA).

The action will get underway with the Grand Prix on Wednesday 5 April and the 2023 FEI Dressage World Cup™ title will be decided by the Freestyle on Friday night, 7 April. 

Don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

More Facts and Figures:

Omaha 2023 presents the 36th FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final.

A total of 17 horse and rider partnerships will compete.

A total of 11 countries will be represented: Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden and USA.

At 28 years old America’s Anna Buffini and Belgium’s Jorinde Verwimp are the two youngest competitors at this year’s Final.

At 58 years of age, America’s Steffen Peters is the oldest.

The first Final took place in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in 1986 where Denmark’s Anne-Grethe Jensen and Marzog reigned supreme ahead of Great Britain’s Chris Bartle and Wily Trout while Switzerland’s Christine Stückelberger finished third with Rubelit von Unkelruf.

Stückelberger went on to win the next two editions partnering Gaugin de Lully.

Olympic and European champions Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB will defend the title they won in Leipzig (GER) last year. 

Five-time FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion, Germany’s Isabell Werth, will be competing in her 23rd Final. 

The wait is almost over and the excitement is sizzling….just a week to go to the start of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2023 in which a crack field of horse-and-rider combinations will battle for the supreme title of indoor jumping.

The history behind this series is the stuff of legend, and placing their name on the Roll of Honour is something every top athlete wants to achieve. But the competitions to decide the winner are always hard-fought and often unpredictable, and course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral from Portugal will be sure to test them all the way.

For the second time in its long history the Final will be staged at the CHI Health Center in Omaha (USA) where, with a capacity audience of 18,300, the crowd went wild when home hero and five-time Olympian, McLain Ward, clinched victory in 2017 with his great mare HH Azur.

Currently ranked fourth in the world, Ward returns as part of the nine-strong American contingent and this time will ride the 15-year-old mare Callas when flying the host nation flag.

Title-defender

Title-defender is world number two Martin Fuchs from Switzerland who partnered The Sinner and Chaplin to victory in Leipzig (GER) 12 months ago. This time around the 30-year-old rider brings the grey Leone Jei who carried him to European team gold and individual silver in 2021. However the entry-list of 41 athletes from 19 countries around the globe is filled with plenty of others who are also chasing down their hopes and dreams, and if ever there was a Final that can spring surprises then this is definitely one of them.

One of the intriguing things about equestrian sport is the age-range of competitors and the fact that male and female athletes compete on exactly the same stage. This time around the age difference between the youngest and oldest finalists is a not-inconsiderable 42 years.

America’s Elisa Broz, who is only 18, earned her place through impressive results in the North America West series. She will be armed with the experienced 13-year-old Belgian mare Kardenta Van’t Meerhof who previously competed at top level with Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya before joining Broz’s string in 2021.

The most senior rider is 60-year-old double-Olympian Pius Schwizer from Switzerland who, riding Ulysse and Carlina at both World Cup Finals, finished equal-second in 2010 and third in 2012. He brings the popular stallion Vancouver de Lanlore who competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with French rider Penelope Leprevost in the saddle and who finished second at the last leg of the Western European League in Gothenburg (SWE) last month with the Swiss rider onboard.

Record

The record for the youngest rider ever to take the title remains with Canada’s Mario Deslauriers who was only 19 when steering Aramis to victory in Gothenburg (SWE) back in 1984, beating two other legends of the sport, Brazil’s Nelson Pessoa and America’s Norman dello Joio.

And following in that distinctly equestrian tradition Norman’s son, 33-year-old Nicholas dello Joio, is amongst the host nation contenders again this year.

Besides Switzerland’s Fuchs and America’s Ward, there will be two other previous winners in action this time around and both are German - Daniel Deusser who reigned supreme in 2014 and Marcus Ehning who is one of five three-time champions.

Also on the startlist are seven of the top ten athletes on the current Longines rankings including world number one, Henrik von Eckermann, who brings the incredible King Edward, the horse with which he scooped team gold at the Tokyo Games and double-gold at last summer’s ECCO FEI World Championships.

Consistent

The Swedish rider has been very consistent at the Longines Finals, finishing third with Toveks Mary Lou in Omaha in 2017 and again the following year in Paris (FRA). He’s not putting his superstar horse on the flight out of the airport in Liege (BEL) next Friday, which will carry all the European horses and many others to their US destination, without that fabulous World Cup trophy in his sights.

But the competition will be intense. Frenchman Julien Epaillard, currently third in the rankings, is like an unstoppable force right now and his talent for speed riding is second to none. He posted three spectacular wins - in Lyon (FRA), Madrid (ESP) and Amsterdam (NED) - during this qualifying season and he brings the brilliant Donatello d’Auge to the Final.

Meanwhile Dutchman Harrie Smolders is surely so very close to taking the title. He’s been runner-up twice, in 2016 with Emerald and last year with Monaco NOP who will be back in action this time around. Could this be his year to take that coveted top spot and the glory that goes with it?

It’s all to play for with the first Final competition taking place on Wednesday April 5, the second competition on Thursday April 6 and the new champion crowned on Saturday April 8 when the top-30 go into the first round and the top-20 battle it out for the final placings.

It’s going to be another epic conclusion to a great year of indoor sport, so don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

More Facts and Figures:

Omaha 2023 presents the 43rd FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final.

A total of 41 athletes will compete.

19 countries will be represented -  Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Lithuania, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, USA, Uzbekistan.

The first Final was staged in Gothenburg (SWE) in 1979 where Austria’s Hugo Simon posted the first of his three victories.

Gothenburg (SWE) has played host to 15 of the 43 Finals to date.

The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final previously took place in Omaha (USA) in 2017 where the USA’s McLain Ward and the brilliant mare HH Azur claimed the title.

The country with the greatest number of wins at the Final is the USA with 11 in total. Germany is next in line with 10.

There have been five three-time champions - Austria’s Hugo Simon (1979, 1996 and 1997), Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa (1998, 1999 and 2000), Germany’s Marcus Ehning (2003, 2006 and 2010), Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (2005, 2008 and 2009) and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat (2015, 2016 and 2019).

Pessoa’s three wins are particularly remarkable because he posted them back-to-back with the same brilliant stallion, Baloubet du Rouet.

Reigning champion is Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs who is the second member of his family to win the title. His uncle, Markus Fuchs, came out on top with the brilliant Tinka’s Boy in 2001. Martin partnered two horses, The Sinner and Chaplin, to win last year in Leipzig (GER).

Five female athletes have lifted the trophy and four of those represented the USA - Melanie Smith (1982), Leslie Burr Lenehan (1986), Katharine Burdsall (1987) and Beezie Madden (2013 and 2018). Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum posted her three victories in 2005, 2008 and 2009, all with Shutterfly.

Anticipation is building for the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final, taking place outside Europe for the first time in Omaha, USA, from the 6th – 8th April. Joining the World’s best in Jumping and Dressage for an epic week of competition, the top ranked Vaulters will aim to ‘go large’ stateside to take home the title of Champion. 

Qualifying took place within the 2022 season and the top ranked eight Male and Female individual Vaulters, and five Pas de Deux, who accepted the invitation, will make the journey to the Midwest USA. The individual athletes will perform a Technica  l test and those in the Pas de Deux will take part in 2 Free tests over two days of competition aiming for glory.  None of last year’s winners have chosen to return, leaving the floor completely open for new title holders. A flight has been chartered for six horses to fly from Europe to Nebraska, whilst the rest of the participants will partner with American horses and lungers. 

Kimberly Palmer is one of the front runners for the Female title. She will hope to use her home advantage to improve on last year’s third place finish.  We can expect excellent artistry as she performs new technical and freestyle routines aboard Romeo lunged by Christoph Lensing.  After stunning judges with her exceptional technical routine in Herning last year, fellow North American, Averill Saunders, will make Canada’s premier performance at the FEI Vaulting World Cup™.  

She will compete with a new partnership, Max and Sarah Krauss from Germany. However, Julia Sophie Wagner (GER) vice World Champion will stand in the way and aim to bring the title home to Europe.  Compatriot Kathrin Meyer brings her own horse San Classico lunged by her Mum Sonja Meyer.  Switzerland also has two representatives: Nadja Büttiker with her years of experience, and World Cup debutant Danielle Bürgi. Completing the line up, Eva Nagiller is Austria’s hope in the individual competition, she has partnered with Mary McCormick and Kilian, and Blanka Nemeth of Hungary who will also work with an American team. 

Heading up the Male contenders   and searching for the elusive title is Germany’s Jannik Heiland.  He will compete with FRH Highlight and Alexandra Knauf and will fight off competition from Lukas Heppler (SUI) who has qualified for the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final for the 10th consecutive time, combining with Best Brew and Andrea Selch from the USA for this event.  His best World Cup result is second place.  In a battle of experience versus youth, Dutch talent Sam dos Santos and Colombian Estiven Palacio Hernandez look to shake things up and have every chance to show they’re worth the title.  Julian Wilfling competes for Germany in his second final, while the USA’s hope in the Men’s competition is Daniel Janes who makes his first individual appearance at a final. Davide Zanella (ITA) and Andrin Müller (SUI) round out the competition.

All eyes are on World Champions Chiara Congia and Justin van Gerven (GER) in the Pas de Deux competition.  Undoubtable favourites, they will bring their medal-winning team to Omaha to recreate their winning routines from the 2019 European and 2022 World Championships, and present their final performances together as they retire at the end of the event.  

Both the Silver and Bronze medal winning pairs from last year’s FEI World Championships (Diana Harwardt and Peter Künne GER), and Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella (ITA) will be in attendance aiming for high scores to kick off the season.  They need to hold back stiff competition from Austria’s Eva Nagiller and Romana Hintner as well as the Danish duo Maria Thinggaard Sorensen and Freja Linde who are already out in the States training on their horse, Lunar Eclipse.

Many of the athletes have partnered with new equine companions and will show how versatile and talented they are when they take to the arena for what will be an exhilarating and enthralling competition as we crown new FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Champions.

When you have a dream, and you don’t let go of it, then anything can happen…

At the age of 51, and partnering the lovely 10-year-old mare Cassina Dior, Phillip Steiner will be a happy man when representing New Zealand at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2023 in Omaha, USA in two weeks’ time.

His is a story of horsemanship and hard graft, of opportunities grasped and firm friendships made, of family and commitment, and of following a dream.

Talking last week from his temporary base in The Netherlands where he has been for the past few weeks, he said he can hardly believe how things have evolved over the last year.

“It’s been a lifetime goal to get to the top of the sport. There have been times at home with the young horses when I’d look up at the sky and wonder if one day I might make it to Europe to jump a horse or compete in a big class. And now it has all happened!”

Selected

Things began to fall into place when putting himself forward for selection for the New Zealand team that will battle for a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer.

The first goal was to jump a season at home, and then to come to Europe and be ready for the Olympic qualifier in Valkenswaard in July. Omaha was not so much on the radar, but then High Performance mentioned halfway through the FEI season that the winner (of the FEI Jumping World Cup™ New Zealand League) might have the chance to go to the Final. That wasn’t really confirmed until the last day of January when our season finished, so I had about three weeks to put some clothes together and sort the horse out and get myself to Europe - it all happened very quickly!

“It was my plan to do three weeks to a month here and then get on the charter plane (to Omaha) with the big boys. I intended to do Lier (BEL) which I thought was two indoor shows, but when I arrived I found out it is outdoors so straight away my plan was on the floor!”.

But fortunately he is basing himself with Hilary Scott - “she’s an Aussie, a really nice person and she has sorted me out!”.

His link with Hilary began last August when he went to Australia to get some World Cup experience. “One of my Kiwi mates is based at The Oaks in Sydney which is Hilary’s mum’s breeding stud, and I stayed there for two months and we did two World Cups and another big show at Wallinga Park”. So it was a logical progression to ask Hilary if he could stay at her facility near Eindhoven (NED) when travelling to Europe this year.

‘She’s a 5-Star rider so every question I have about how I’m going to get to the plane or where I’m gonna go, or what show I should do, or how much work I should do, she’s just there on the ground and she has been really great”. And, being who he is, Phillip is very happy to give some payback. “I’m helping around the yard and riding a couple of horses for her every now and then, and then ride my one. I help keep the place clean and tidy and what-not”, he explains, as if any world-class rider would do exactly the same thing in the same circumstances.

Work ethic

His strong work ethic is long-established, as is his love of horses. Along with the rest of his family he hunted as a child, and when he saw some children showjumping he decided he wanted to try that, so he bought his own first jumping pony.

“I reared ten calves and sold them at a sale and then bought myself a B-grade pony and from there I did Pony Club and Eventing and then went to work for David Goodin, (legendary New Zealand Eventing and Jumping rider), Bruce Goodin’s dad. When I went to work for David I didn’t know much about striding, I knew that sometimes there was a deep one, sometimes a long one and sometimes it came up perfect! He taught me the mechanics of riding a related line and things like that”.

Phillip seems to have had a knack for learning from the best, because in 1992 at the age of 20 he went to America to work for 1984 Olympic gold medallists Joe Fargis and Conrad Holmfeld - the latter twice-winner of the FEI Jumping World Cup™ title. “I did two summers with them and learned all about style, how to bandage horses and how to groom, and I leased a horse off a girl called Debbie Dolan”, he said, casually referring to the athlete who competed for Team USA at the very top of the sport during the peak of her career.

After returning home to New Zealand for a while, he left for Europe in 1998 to work for legendary Swiss horse-dealer Max Hauri.

“I was in Max’s yard for a good year or two on and off and then I went to work for Lesley McNaught. I did my time, learning in the dealing yard and riding some quite good horses with Lesley. That was when she had Dulf (the horse with which she won team silver for Switzerland at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games)”.

His attraction to Switzerland was no accident as his grandfather emigrated to New Zealand from a little town close to Lucerne at the age of 11. And once again his uncanny knack for associating with the best of the best was triggered. “When I was there I got to know Pius Schwizer who was jumping at national shows, and Steve Guerdat was just starting to jump his first Grand Prix classes - now they are the best in the world!”

He returned home again in 2000 to settle down, buy a property, set up his business, get married and raise a family in Tauranga on the North Island with his wife Sally who, 20 years ago, won the same series that has qualified Phillip for the forthcoming Longines Final. They have an arena, 20 stables and about 80 acres of farmland on which they graze a herd of 100 cattle and exercise their horses.

Home life is fairly hectic with three children, plenty of horses and a small trucking business. “One truck brings Kiwi fruit off the orchards to the factories, and then two trucks go eight months of the year seven days a week from the coldstore at the back end of the factory and take the fruit to the boats”. That business stemmed from frustration with having to sell the good young horses he was producing in order to keep the family afloat.

Never got sold

One that never got sold however is Cassina Dior who he will proudly ride into the ring when the action gets underway in Omaha.

Known at home as Dolly, he bought her from her breeder Pip McCarroll.

“Pip had a horse that was on livery in our place that we were training for Mark Todd (Sir Mark Todd, Eventing superstar, voted Rider of the 20th Century by the FEI). She kept telling me about this three-year-old, so we went and had a look, watched her free-jump and ended up buying her”.

He had to promise that he wouldn’t resell Dolly right away, “and by the time she got to about seven years old I realised we had something quite special. A lot of people wanted to buy her but I always said I want to have a couple of years to take this horse as far as I can. At my age I don’t think I’ll probably see another one this good!”

The passage of time has made his arrival at the top of the sport all the more sweet. “You don’t take things for granted like you would at 25, but going to this World Cup Final is huge really and and I want to keep that in check so it doesn’t affect my ability to do my best when we get there”.

Pip will be ringside in Omaha along with all of Phillip’s family. Eldest son, 15-year-old James, is already well into the sport, recently winning three pony Grand Prix classes in a row, ten-year-old son Oliver “is more interested in motorbikes at the moment but he can ride” and his daughter, Francie, is a horse-crazy five-year-old who broke her collarbone in a fall from her 128cms pony the night before doing this interview. No shortage of drama for Mum to manage while Dad is away….

Support

Asked if, apart from wife Sally, he will have anyone else on the ground to support him in Omaha, Philipp dropped one more phenomenal name.

“Greg Best. I’ve trained a lot with him over the last 15 years. He married a New Zealand girl and they live in Hawkes Bay (NZL) and his kids are the same age as ours so they all play together and are best friends. I know I’m going to be a bit over-awed when I get there, and he’s someone who has ridden all the biggest Championships and he’s pretty amazing!”, he said of the man who won two silver medals for the USA in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea riding the fabulous Gem Twist.

At home right now his support system includes his wing-man Marcus who is keeping the business going, “and grandma who is looking after the kids while Sally is running around doing the farm”. It’s an all-out effort to make a dream come true for one man and his magical mare who will wear the silver fern with enormous pride….

Don’t miss a hoofbeat

All the information about the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final 2023 available here

Caption image: Phillip Steiner rides Cassina Dior

COPYRIGHT image: © KAMPIC / Kerry Marshal

Following extensive consultation, feedback and review, the FEI has released the revised edition of the FEI Sustainability Handbook for Event Organisers.

First produced in 2014, the FEI Sustainability Handbook was created with the aim of aiding and encouraging equestrian event organisers with the implementation of sustainability initiatives that help reduce the negative environmental impact of events, and create a positive social and economic legacy for the host city.

“This second edition of the FEI Sustainability Handbook addresses the evolution in sustainability thinking and international policy since the publication of the first edition,” FEI Sustainability Manager Somesh Dutt explained.

“The main focus of this handbook is on measurement and data management, which are crucial in identifying areas for potential emission reductions in the organisation of FEI events.

“The Handbook is structured to accompany organisers at every stage of the event planning process and contains a list of initiatives that are each linked to one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

A signatory of the United Nations Climate Change – Sport for Climate Action Framework, the FEI works closely with its event hosts to adopt innovative green practices.

 “We started our sustainability journey with the intention of having sound environmental practices and decisions become part of the DNA of the equestrian community,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.

“Equipping our event organisers with the necessary knowledge to simplify the decision-making process on implementing eco-friendly initiatives was an important part of this process and this handbook has become the guiding text for our community’s sustainable efforts.

“We have seen some incredibly innovative environmental projects come to life over the years. But what has been more encouraging to see is the number of event organisers who now include sustainability thinking from the start of the planning process. Each of their decisions – including those related to contractors and sponsors – is taken to ensure the most efficient and environmentally sound use of resources.

“We are hopeful that this revised edition of the Handbook will inspire further innovation in our community. A sustainable approach to event planning is not only central to good governance and critical to building long term value for our sport, but also for the cities that take on the responsibility of hosting equestrian events.”

Click here to download the FEI Sustainability Handbook for Event Organisers.

Related information

Herning2022: Every green journey begins with a single step

Tree planting demonstrates World Championship commitment to sustainability

Natural Horse Power provides heat and electricity to Helsinki

  

For the accomplished pair of Andre Thieme (GER) and DSP Chakaria, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Ocala (USA) title had been elusive.

The 2021 individual European Champions, who base in Ocala each winter, finished second in Ocala in 2020 and third in 2022. Sunday at Live Oak Stud, they secured their long-awaited and much-deserved victory, besting an 11-horse jump-off. 

They were comfortable winners, crossing the timers of Olaf Petersen, Jr.’s (GER) shortened track in 38.28 seconds. Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso (DOM) and J’Adore Flamenco finished second in their World Cup debut (40.14 seconds), with Santiago Lambre (BRA) and Chacco Blue II third (40.86 seconds). 

“I said a million times how much I truly am in love with that horse, because that is the horse of my lifetime. There’s no question about that anymore. She’s just different. She’s just better than every other horse I ever had. All of a sudden, riding is easier with her. She does things that the other horses cannot do. She’s special in any and every way."

Andre Thieme (GER)

Thieme’s confidence in his mount was apparent in a jump-off that challenged riders to gallop while also forcing them to respect some technical questions. Theime left a friend at the ingate to watch the jump-off riders before him as he formulated his plan, ultimately deciding not to leave out strides in two places and to make up the time in the turns, as well as the first and final lines. In those places, he did not touch the reins, and his mount answered every call. 

“The plan was definitely to try to win,” Thieme said. “I was almost over-careful to the combination; I thought that was maybe one too many [strides], but it worked out, and maybe it helped my horse to turn even shorter to the next jump. I’m extremely happy, and the plan worked perfectly.”

Thieme and DSP Chakaria have been partnered for more than five years and have represented Germany in five championships, earning two medals.

“She jumped her first five-star like she had jumped the two-star and three-star [classes],” Thieme said. “That, in the end makes her special. She jumps the big tracks so lightly, it doesn’t take anything out of her.” 

Ocala’s event brought the 2022-2023 North American League season to a close, finalizing the league’s qualifying athletes for the upcoming Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Finals. Lambre’s third-place finish secured his ticket as an Extra Athlete. East U.S. athletes Hunter Holloway, McLain Ward, Kent Farrington, Nicholas dello Joio, Devin Ryan and Brian Moggre secured their places with their Ocala placings, as did Canadian athletes Mario Deslauriers and Tiffany Foster. 

Daniel Coyle (IRL) finished the season atop the league standings with 66 points, ahead of fellow Irishman Conor Swail (56 points) and Israel’s Daniel Bluman (54 points).

The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Finals take place in Omaha (USA), 4-8 April 2023.

FULL RESULTS

LONGINES FEI JUMPING WORLD CUP NAL FINAL STANDINGS

Following strictly applied protocols and measures to minimise the risk of transmission in response to the EHV-1 outbreak in Oliva (ESP) in February 2023, it has now been confirmed by the Organising Committee that the last remaining horses at the venue returned negative EHV-1 tests on 15 March, and have since left the premises. 
As communicated in the FEI Update on 2 March, MAPA, supported by the FEI Veterinary Department, had decided to extend the initial safety measures, requiring horses to present a first negative sample, followed by a second sample to be taken 14 days later and a third on day 15. All three samples needed to be negative in order for a horse to be released. 
This protocol has now been completed for all the concerned horses in Oliva, with the Organising Committee expressing their gratitude to all involved for the good collaboration.
“We are very happy that the last ten horses are able to leave the venue, following the confirmed cases of EHV-1 that occurred during Spring MET II 2023,” Event Director Bettina Pöhls says. 
“We would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts: The FEI, the Valencia Veterinary Department, the Veterinarian Department OCA La Safor, the Spanish Equestrian Federation, the University Equine Hospital in Valencia, VISAVET laboratory, the Veterinarians being in Oliva, the various national federations, and of course all the grooms and the riders. They all contributed towards making it possible to keep the situation under control. We wish the last horses, grooms and riders a safe trip back home.” 
The OC has also confirmed they will be resuming competition, and are now preparing for Spring MET IV which will take place from 4 to 23 April. 
“The FEI would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the words of gratitude and thanks expressed by the Oliva Organising Committee to all concerned individuals, organisations and agencies throughout this process”, commented FEI Veterinary Director Göran Åkerström. 
“Preventing and minimising the risk of disease transmission is a collective effort which we must all embrace wholeheartedly. We have very efficient systems to manage an outbreak thanks to competent national authorities but also thorough protocols in place – and this was exemplified in Oliva. We also have very efficient systems to prevent and minimise the spread of disease through the FEI Horse Health Requirements. 
“We understand the requirements can be demanding, but we also believe that the inconvenience is a very small price to pay for the safety of our horses, let alone the added insights every groom, rider and owner can gain by monitoring their horses more closely. Taking and registering correct body temperatures is absolutely critical and it really is a win-win situation, this is the message we want everyone to share and encourage within the community. We all have a role to play when it comes to enhancing our biosecurity ecosystem - and by working together and in the same direction, applying the different measures in place, we are stronger and more effective.” 

• See EHV-1 Update sent and published on 2 March here. 
• See EHV-1 Update sent and published on 22 February here.
• See latest News from the Organising committee of the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova (ESP) here. 

About Horse Health Requirements
In accordance with the FEI Veterinary Regulations 2023 the Horse Health Requirements have been rolled out globally as of 1 January 2022. Derived from the EHV-1 By-Laws, applied in Mainland Europe from 31 May to 31 December 2021, the Horse Health Requirements have been put in place to:

• protect FEI Horses and global equestrian sports from the consequences of infectious diseases being transmitted before, during and after FEI Events.
• provide reassurance of the high health of equestrian sport Horses to global, continental and national veterinary authorities and organisations.
• maintain and further improve the conditions for international movement of sport Horses.

All information in relation to the Horse Health Requirements is available on the dedicated Horse Health Requirements hub including dedicated Q&As for Athletes & Grooms, FEI Veterinarians, and Organising Committees. 
Should you have any questions regarding this matter, don’t hesitate to contact the FEI Veterinary Department