No fewer than 800 experts will be ready tomorrow to offer the best Endurance horses in the world all the care they could wish for during the marathon of equestrian sports: the FEI Endurance World Championship 2024 in Monpazier (FRA). Every horse has a team of caretakers, a veterinarian, a farrier and of course its rider, with whom it will accomplish its sporting feat.

The World Championship under the flag of the FEI takes place in the nature around the French city of Monpazier. The combinations of horse and rider have a varied ride ahead of them in a typical French course; The route alternates between hills, bends, forests, gravel and asphalt.

Sabrina Arnold, the German rider who won the European title in Ermelo in 2023 with her horse Easy el Boheira and occupies 11th place on the FEI world rankings, does not dare to claim that the French or Europeans have an advantage. “In 2011 I rode the European Championship in Florac, France. An incredibly hilly, technical course. The competition was also open to combinations from outside Europe. You would think that Europeans would come out strongest there, because they have more experience in such areas. But that was not reflected in the result: Maria Alvarez Ponton (Spain) won the championship and I came second, but the competition itself was won by Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, a rider from the UAE.”

Power and agility

Italian rider Daniele Serioli compliments the FEI for the choice to hold the World Championships in the hilly south of France. “I know the area. It is a beautiful course, but above all a safe course. From a sporting point of view, it is also an interesting area. Because with the technical challenges that will be included in the route, the horses that are the fastest or recover the fastest will not automatically win. Power and agility are both just as important here. Moreover, the last lap is still a considerable distance (26 kilometres). Then your horse should still have enough power left.”

Development of Endurance

The beginning of modern Endurance, as practiced worldwide today, was marked by the 1966 'Tevis Cup' competition in the United States. Over the decades, the sport has developed in quality. This is partly because other parts of the world also started practicing the sport. For example, in the Middle East, where the courses are mainly flat and where it is therefore logically easier to gain speed.

The Americans are extremely proud of their 'Endurance roots': “We have great horses and great riders. And a lot of combinations that practice Endurance. But most of them participate in national competitions. Tomorrow it will be up to the five USA riders - who come from all over the United States - to show how beautiful the international FEI competitions are”, chef d’equipe Lisanne Dorion says.

Success starts with a herd 

A country that is geographically much smaller, but has an extraordinary number of international (FEI) Endurance riders, is France. This country won the previous world championship as a national team (Butheeb, 2022). Jean-Michel Grimal, the national coach of France, shares his 'secret': “Success is a team effort. First of all, I am referring to the horses. They are all away from their herd home this week. So, the first thing we do is create the new herd on the competition site. Our horses have stables next to and opposite each other, walk together and eat at the same time. They quickly feel solidarity.”

Making the riders a 'herd' is more difficult, the national coach admits. “The riders ride alone all year round, for individual results. Once a year there is a European Championship or World Championship and they are suddenly expected to compete together. Unlike Jumping or Dressage, for example, Endurance riders can help each other while they are on the track. In any case, the five French riders will start together tomorrow. In Butheeb we even rode the entire race together. That strategy has yielded gold. Are we counting on the world title again? We see it as a new ride, in a new place, with partly new horses and riders. We just have to do our utmost again.”

Definitive selections

Who will start the ride tomorrow, has in most cases just been decided this morning (6th of September 2024). All horses (the horses preferred by the chefs d’equipe, the spare horses and the horses of spare riders) have all had the chance to be presented to the team of FEI veterinarians. After that the national coaches chose their selections of maximum five rider-horse combinations. 

Spaniard Jaume Punti Dachs, who has been on multiple gold medal-winning teams for his country across his World Championship career, was supposed to ride his trusted partner Echo Falls, but did a horse swap in the last days before the championship. “Echo Falls has a cut in one of his hind legs. He is absolutely fine, but I don’t want to take any risk with him. And besides that, I don’t want to take a risk in my task to represent Spain in the best way I can. So I’ll ride with my mare LG Farasia de Shebab. She is - with the age of 11 - less experienced than Echo Falls (18 years old), but she loves running. So I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s ride.”

When he gets asked if he will make his wife’s dream come true (finishing at the same time, winning both a medal) he answers laughing: “No, I hope Maria (Alvarez Ponton) will be faster than me tomorrow”.

There was a reverential silence around the stadium in Szilvásvárad as Chester Weber (USA) produced one of the finest dressage tests ever seen at a Four-in-Hand World Championship to charge into the lead on 31.06.   The knowledgeable audience appreciated the spectacle as the gleaming bay horses worked in unison and seemed to glide effortlessly around the arena. 

“I’m humbled to sit behind these horses even though I’ve had most of them since they were four.  They’ve been produced not only by me but by a synergetic team of people who all have yoked together to help make this sort of perfection. 

I knew that we came in as potential leaders, but you still have to make it happen, so I started the warmup only 35 minutes before the test and kept everything quiet and soft.  Every time I asked a question today the horses said, ‘Yes’ so I tried not to get in their way, and they really deserve this win.” – Chester Weber (USA)

Ever the tough challenger when a gauntlet is laid down, defending Champion Boyd Exell (AUS) followed in the final session of the day.  His experienced team produced another superb test to score 33.53 which meant only he and Chester went sub-40. Later Boyd said that he was especially pleased with the horses as they are marathon specialists, so they did brilliantly to get so close to Chester’s mark. He also paid tribute to Anna Sandmann’s test on Thursday stating that it wasn’t easy for her to score so well on day one and maintain her leading position for so long.

Boyd’s score put Australia ahead in the team competition with 80.91 after his compatriot Tor van den Berge produced an improved test for 47.38.  Not far behind are the Dutch on 86.44 after father and son Chardon had only 0.2 between them – Bram scored 43.12 for fifth and Ijsbrand 43.32 for sixth.

As the penultimate athlete to drive, there was expectation that Germany’s Mareike Harm would post another strong score, and she slotted in behind Anna on 42.18.  It was enough to put Germany into third place as - combined with Georg von Stein’s 47.11 - they are on 89.29.  The USA are fourth, Belgium fifth and hosts Hungary are sixth after Zόltan Lázár (HUN) rounded off the second morning session with 47.51.

Chester said afterwards that his strategy going into the marathon with Boyd so close is to just go for it!  Both attended the test event last year and so selected horses that they feel with thrive over the undulating ground and through the long obstacles.  They will both try to put pressure on each other, but Chester uses the analogy with golf, saying that he tends to compete against himself and tries not to pay too much attention to what’s happening elsewhere. He’s brought a new horse Casper in the left lead which is a change from the Aachen (GER) combination as he feels it will add a lot of strength to the team. 

The eight obstacles are situated outside the town and have been designed by Alexander Flocke (GER).  The two-section marathon opens on Saturday morning at 10.00am with test driver and double gold medallist from the iconic Szilvásvárad World Championship in 1984, Lászlό Juhasz.  Boyd is in the second half of the order, immediately followed by marathon specialists Michael Brauchle (GER) and Bram Chardon (NED).  Chester is in the late lunchtime slot, just before Koos de Ronde (NED) who will expect to climb the rankings after his round.  Keeping the crowds in place until the end will be Zόltan Lázár who is last to go.

“For me it is a really big honour to drive in front of the home audience here in Szilvásvárad.  It is very emotional because I was an eleven-year-old boy at the World Championship in 1984 and that was the moment that I made the decision to be a driver.  So, to come back here 40 years later and be in the team is incredible and I am very happy!” - Zόltan Lázár (HUN)

In this special edition, The Para Equestrian Digest speaks to Bridget Murphy (AUS), who is competing in her first Paralympic Games in Paris.

Bridget was not allowed to ride as a young “horse-mad kid” born with multiple pterygium syndrome. But after several surgeries, doctors gave her the green light for some RDA therapy riding.

 After two sessions though, Bridget decided she “wanted to ride like the normal kids”. She joined the Pony Club aged 10, passed all her certificates and gained her instructor qualifications, before moving onto Adult Riders Clubs where she competed at state level in Victoria against able-bodied athletes until 2017, when she was persuaded to try Para Dressage by Australian three-time Paralympian Sharon Jarvis.

 Bridget became classified at the end of 2017, entered her first competition in early 2018 and was national champion within 12 months.

 Now 36, she tells us about her transition into para equestrian and her progress through the Grade II ranks in partnership with her adorable bay mare known as ‘Macey’.

 

 

"As an adult rider in Australia, I was competing for my club at state level and coaching to give something back, but in 2017 my horse had to retire from competitions. He was 18 - it was just one of those things.

 At the time Paralympian Sharon Jarvis was also in Melbourne and heard about me through Sonja Johnson (an Australian Eventer who won an Olympic Games silver medal in 2008). Sharon convinced me to go and have a Para Dressage lesson with her. At the time I didn't have a horse, so I was like, ‘Why not?’

 Through word-of-mouth, I found an awesome school master. He was in his early 20s, stepping down from Grand Prix with his rider, but still looking for a job. So, I got the ride on him and within 12 months, we were national champions.

 The transition to Para Dressage was really eye-opening. I didn't really know much about the scene until I started competing in it - just seeing the opportunities it presented and the community around it was very unique. I hadn't experienced that in other disciplines before. Everyone has a real genuine care and understanding for each other, which is awesome.

 For the last four years I’ve been with Macey, formally known as Penmain Promise, a seven-year-old Dutch Riding Pony Cross Welsh. She was bred locally to me through a friend. Her Sire’s owner (Rossanne Mason) brought her back as a foal because she scored the highest in Australia that year. She was going to keep her, but she never really grew.

 So Rossanne, who now part-owns her with me, introduced Macy to wearing a saddle. It was during the Covid lockdowns and the horse I was riding to try to qualify for Tokyo had injured herself in the paddock. I was looking for something else, ready to step straight into competition, a bit bigger.  But Rossanne convinced me to come and look at this three-year-old.

 I was only the second person to ever sit on her, but within five minutes I knew she was pretty special. I took her home to try her out and she's been with me ever since.

 I’ve sat on a lot of horses and some of them just don’t cope with different weights and aids initially. But Macey would try anything for you. She was like, ‘OK, yep, got it’ and we'd do it straightaway. On the ground, she was phenomenally quiet. Nothing fazed her at all. I just got a really good feeling from her. She picked up everything so quickly. You don’t have to ask twice. You tell her once, she gets it, and off we go. She is a special one.

 The Covid lockdowns in Victoria were quite beneficial for me because it gave me that time to really get to know her and take her through everything slowly before going out and competing. She’s really reliable, she just wants to please. Because I got her so young, I’ve just worked with her to what I need and it’s been amazing.

 I've always liked training young horses, even growing up, because I like working with a blank canvas. Being only the second person to ride her, I could train her specifically to my aids. I do a lot of voice with her so I'm always pulling faces in photos when I'm riding because I'm always talking to her. She’s very light to my aids and adjusts to my weight differences. She knows what to ignore and what different weight shifts mean.

 Last year I went over to the UK and rode at Hartpury and unfortunately came back with a bone fracture and was told I had to spend 10 weeks minimum out of the saddle, and I had 12 weeks until our first Paralympics qualifying competition. I was very lucky and grateful that my coach - Monica Bird - stepped in for that 10-week period and took over the reins for a bit. It just got Macey up to the point where she needed to be.

 It's so important to have a good support team around you. I met my groom, Kate Arton, at university about 18 years ago and we've been friends ever since. When I stepped into Para Dressage, she put her hand up straightaway to groom with me and has been at every competition – good, bad and ugly. She's seen it all in me. I'm very lucky to have her and glad I could pay it back in some way by being here at the Paralympic Games.

 Macey’s only seven and only stepped up to three-star level at that first qualifier in Australia, in October last year. We threw her in at the deep end to experience what happens, because we only get big shows every four years in Australia. We didn't want to wait till the next cycle to get that exposure. So, we decided to run the campaign more as a training exercise and ended up here in Versailles, which is quite amazing.

 The Individual Medal Event on the opening day of the Paralympic Games programme was only her fifth shot at this test, so it was beyond expectations. I was super happy with her. It was awesome to get through to the Freestyle, because Macey loves her Freestyle.

 Paris has just been phenomenal. Everyone's been so welcoming, going above and beyond to make sure we have everything we need at the athletes’ village and the venue. It’s beautiful, so magical, just looking at the Chateau and the stunning grounds. Everything's super easy and everyone in the community has been behind me too.

 For any aspiring young athletes, you need to be clear in what your values are. If it's to win a medal, you’re going to have to dig deep. But if it's just to enjoy the journey, make sure you stick true to what feels right for you and your horse.

 It also helps to have a pair of lucky socks! I wasn't superstitious until I learned about other riders’ habits, but now if I have a really good competition, I take note of what socks I was wearing and they come out for the next one. I had a special pair lined up for this week!"

 

The Para Equestrian Digest is the FEI’s online Para Sport magazine bringing you first-person stories from athletes and the people connected to the sport.

Read more Para Equestrian Digest stories here

DEI - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | FEI

After the first day of competition of the FEI Driving World Championship Four-in-Hand in Szilvásvárad (HUN), Germany’s Anna Sandmann took the lead on 40.99 after a polished test which pleased all the judges, ahead of her father Christoph Sandmann who closed the late morning session on 46.78. Both were coached ahead of their tests in the warmup arena by current World Champion Boyd Exell (AUS).

As a member of the Hungarian team that won the nation’s last gold in Kecskemét in 2004, József Dobrovitz was last to go on the opening day. He delighted the home crowd with a return to form score of 51.38 to take third place. Only a slight deviation in his final walk movement detracted from what was otherwise a well-rewarded test.

Joining him on the national team is his son József Jnr who opened the second session of the morning with a solid mark of 57.44 for eighth place. Keeping the host’s hopes alive of a return to the podium, father and son have put the team into the lead overnight, although only they the French had two drivers compete on day one.

The Dutch challenge for a 12th gold team medal started well with Koos de Ronde finishing fourth on 51.91. His long-legged Dutch Warmbloods produced a consistent test but they are marathon specialists and their strength lies in the fast times they clock through the obstacles. Another marathon maestro and the first of the German team to drive, Michael Brauchle slotted just behind in fifth with 52.77.   
As hosts Hungary also have six individuals, and they included Ferenc Galbács Jnr and István Váczi who are based at the Stud Farm and drove teams of Lipizzaners to finish 11th on 59.83 and 16th on 62.16. Hungary also fielded the youngest athlete of the event with 18-year-old Peter Juhász who already has international experience as a young driver and is now supported by the Hungarian Military. 

In the team competition, France’s Maxime Maricourt scored 57.30 for seventh and the experienced Benjamin Aillaud with his Lusitano horses scored 57.90 for ninth. Of the two Americans, veteran driver James Fairclough made a return to the world stage after the team gold at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon (USA) six years ago.  Driving Dutch Warmbloods, one of which belongs to teammate Chester Weber, his mark of 60.23 put him into twelfth.  

Judge Barry Capstick said afterwards, “Anna Sandmann did a fabulous test, and her father wasn’t far behind her! The venue is tremendous, the surface is good and for a Thursday, what a great attendance in the stands. Everything about it so far is super.”  

At an event and venue where the passion for driving and sense of history is everywhere, the morning session opened with 73-year-old legend Lászlό Juhász as test driver. It was a special appearance as he was a member of the winning team 40 years ago when Szilvásvárad last hosted a Four-in-Hand World Championship.

Friday’s first morning session opens with Wieslaw Sadowski for Poland followed by current European Champion Bram Chardon (NED). In the second session, Chester Weber (USA) promises to produce another winning test but come the afternoon, Boyd will pull the stops out to set himself up for his 7th consecutive title.

Dressage supremo Mareike Harm for the German team is also likely to be in the top three with a sub-40 mark. Ijsbrand Chardon (NED), who has competed at more World Championships than anyone else, is also in the final session of the day.  But there’s no doubt that the home crowds will be eagerly awaiting 2004 champion and Hungarian hero Zόltan Lázár who rounds off the second morning session.

FULL RESULTS

Image: FEI/ Martin Dokoupil

Great Britain’s unbeaten Paralympic Games streak in the Para Dressage Team event will come under threat on Friday on the third day of competition at Château de Versailles.

GBR have taken the team gold in all seven previous Games since Para Equestrian joined the Paralympic programme at Atlanta in 1996. But their winning margin at Tokyo 2020 was only 0.656, scoring 229.905 overall with the Netherlands on 229.249.

The Dutch have enjoyed a strong opening two days in the Individual events at Paris 2024, with Rixt van der Horst taking silver on Royal Fonq in Grade III on Tuesday, while Wednesday had a distinctly oranje glow as Demi Haerkens – on her Paralympic debut - won Grade IV gold with Daula and Sanne Voets took silver on Demantur.

The United States have done even better with golds for Rebecca Hart on Floratina in Grade III and Fiona Howard on Diamond Dunes in Grade II, plus silver for Roxanne Trunnell on Fan Tastico H in Grade I.  

Great Britain, who have topped the Para Dressage medal count at all seven previous editions, have had to settle for three Individual bronzes so far in Versailles – Natasha Baker on Dawn Chorus in Grade III, Georgia Wilson with Sakura in Grade II and Sophie Wells on LJT Egebjerggards Samoa in Grade V.             

“In Tokyo it was very close with GB and now, USA is going to be a tough cookie as well,” said Netherlands team coach Joyce van Rooijen-Heuitink.

“The good thing about the team competition is that we don’t have a scratch result, which I like. It’s like the 4x100m relay in athletics – you can’t make a mistake. Everyone has to perform in the best possible way. If one has an off-day, we cannot compensate.

“That’s what makes it so exciting, because we don’t know. Maybe France is going to win gold. Or Singapore. Or Italy - they have a few riders who can get over 75 or 76 as well. So if one of my riders has an off-day, or USA or GB, anything can happen.”

Nevertheless, Van Rooijen-Heuitink has been heartened by the performance of her four “girls” - as she calls them - including 65-year-old Annemarieke Nobel, in her first Paralympic Games, finishing fourth on Doo Schufro in Grade I.

“I’ve seen very harmonious rides from all my riders,” she said. “I’m very proud of the quality of the riding. I know we have good horses and good riders, but under pressure, to still perform in the most harmonious way, that is what touches me and what I’m so proud of.”

Three athlete/horse combinations from 16 nations will compete for team honours, with the Para Grand Prix B tests starting with Grade IV (at 09:30) and V (11:10), followed by Grades I (12:52), II (14:50) and III (16:03).

The Netherlands, with Voets and Haerkens both in Grade IV and going off at 10:15 and 10:51 respectively, have the opportunity to set a challenging target. Wells is the first Briton to go in Grade V at 12:13, while USA’s first athlete Trunnell starts at 13:10 in Grade I.

All three of the medal favourites have a contender in the concluding Grade III, with Baker going for GBR at 16:03, Van der Horst for the Dutch at 16:39 and Hart for the USA at 16:48. The final combination to go will be Singapore’s Hui’en Hilary Su with Gambler, at 17:33.

Van Rooijen-Heuitink believes her athletes will embrace the particular pressure of the team event with the right mindset.

“I have riders who can keep their focus,” she added. “You can send them out in the field and say, ‘go out and play’. Of course, everyone feels the pressure of having to perform, whether it is for the nation, or not being able to make a mistake.

“No-one rides in there thinking it is just another day at the office. That wouldn’t be good, because then you don’t ride to win. If you want to win, you’ve got to perform and you’ve got to take some risks.”

Nations competing in team event: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, USA.

Image: FEI/ Liz Gregg

Nestled in a valley in the forests of the Bükk Mountains, the State Stud Farm and competition centre dominate the centre of Szilvásvárad with a towering stadium. The two large sand arenas, adjacent to where the Lipizzaners are stabled, are the warmup and dressage arenas where yesterday afternoon the horses were gently exercised as pairs and teams ahead of the FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand which starts today with day one of dressage. 

The morning sun was already hot when the driving horses walked down the hill in single file from the stabling to the two inspection lanes.  Already crowds were watching the activity along one side of the arena, trying to find spots of shade, and soon it was a hive of activity as each athlete trotted up their five horses.  Only two of the 205 horses presented were held for a reinspection and one, from the Romanian squad, was not passed.

After the obligatory hour’s wait at the end of the inspection, the Chefs d’Equipe confirmed their national teams.  For some it was predetermined as they only have two or three combinations but for others, such as Germany and Hungary who have larger squads, there was anticipation ahead of the announcements. 
Teams to Challenge Dutch Dominance

The Dutch team of Ijsbrand and Bram Chardon, and Koos de Ronde, has not changed in recent years and they remain the ones to beat.  But they will be pushed by the strong German team of Michael Brauchle, Mareike Harm and Georg von Stein. With the support of the home crowd and the weight of history and expectation, the hosts have selected József Dobrovitz Snr and Jnr, and the last Hungarian to win an individual Four-in-Hand gold medal, Zoltán Lázár.  One of the Austrian athletes has withdrawn so now ten nations will contest for the team medals.

By early afternoon, Chefs and officials had gathered for the draw to determine the dressage running order.  Team places were allocated first then in draw order, each Chef filled the blank slots with their remaining individuals.  As host nation, Hungary has entered nine combinations and two of their squad, Simon Sándor Tόth and Péter Juhász, will be the opening competitors on Thursday morning. Former champion, Lászlό Juhász, will be the first to enter the dressage arena as the test driver.

Family Orientated Opening Ceremony

As the evening air cooled, the stadium seats filled with the public for the official opening of the event.  Two teams of horses from the stud took former Hungarian champions round the arena then each nation paraded their squads which included generations of families.  The Hungarian minister of defence opened the speeches, joined by Vilmos Lázár, President of the Hungarian Equestrian Federation which has its centenary this year. To close, there was a display of ridden Lipizzaners and vaulting teams.

There is a festive feel in and around Szilvásvárad as Hungary hopes to make history again at this iconic venue which last played host to the FEI Driving Four-in-Hand World Championship forty years ago.  

Image by FEI/ Martin Dokoupil

Demi Haerkens (NED) confirmed her status as a rising star of Para Dressage as she claimed Grade IV gold with Daula on her Paralympic Games debut on the second day of Individual medal events at Château de Versailles.

The 26-year-old, who came to the fore by winning European Championship gold last year, excelled in the sunlit arena to finish with a score of 78.722%.

Defending champion Sanne Voets (NED), partnering Demantur again after they won double gold and team silver at Tokyo 2020, had to settle for silver with 76.528%, taking Voets’ overall Paralympic medal tally to five.

The one-two lifted Netherlands into second place on the Para Dressage medal table at Paris 2024 with a gold and two silvers, behind USA on two golds and a silver.

“It feels amazing,” said Haerkens after waiting for 11 other combinations to go before her gold medal was confirmed. “She (Daula) really deserved this gold. My horse was a superstar today. We have been together three years now and every year our bond grows.

"It was such a lovely ride. She was so focused, with such lovely quality and softness. We didn’t make any mistakes. She was with me and dancing with a lot of quality. She was amazing. Now I want to go to the stable and give her big cuddles"

 Demi Haerkens
(NED)

Voets, 37, said a tour of the royal stables at Château de Versailles last year had resonated with her as she prepared for a fourth Paralympic Games.

“They showed me a lot, and how they still work with horses every day, with such a beautiful motto,” she said.

“They work with the belief that our horses don't owe us anything, that the horses are not an instrument for us to reach our goals and reach our ambitions, but that we are an instrument for our horse to develop them into beautiful, strong, healthy, happy athletes.” 

Anna-Lena Niehues (GER), who took time off in 2023 to give birth to daughter Nelly, took bronze on Quimbaya 6 with 75.222%, edging Frenchman Vladimir Vinchon on Pegase Mayenne into fourth on 72.889%.

World number one Kate Shoemaker (USA) finished out of the medals in fifth after her horse Vianne spooked during their performance.  

“It is the first spook she has ever had with me,” she said. “Something must have caught her eye. It was just an unfortunate moment. But horses are horses, and if we wanted to ride motorcycles, we would ride motorcycles. 

“Regardless, I love her more than anything in the world and she is certainly forgiven because there are going to be a lot of beautiful days in future.”

Joy of six for George in Grade V

Michèle George (BEL) showed her enduring class as she won her sixth Paralympic gold medal, defending her Grade V Individual title on Best of 8. 

The 50-year-old, who won double individual gold at Tokyo 2020, finished well clear with a superb score of 76.692% to take her overall Paralympic medal tally to seven.

"I’m incredibly happy. She (Best of 8) was amazing. For me, it felt like a gold medal because I had nearly no mistakes and she was really dancing with me. I enjoyed every second of it. It means a lot."

Michèle George
(BEL)

George will aim to repeat her Tokyo feat of winning both Individual Grade V golds in Saturday’s Individual Freestyle event. “I really look forward to showing people how she can dance with our music, because she adores it,” she added.
Regine Mispelkamp (GER), partnering Highlander Delight’s, added a silver medal to her individual Freestyle bronze from Tokyo, scoring 73.231%.  

The 53-year-old, who coaches athletes and trains horses for Dressage at her own stables near Kerken (GER), hopes to continue for possibly two more Paralympic cycles. 

“I have two young horses who are coming on, so I am thinking about 2028 and maybe 2032,” she said. “It is the best thing I do and when I do it, I am not thinking about my illness.”

Sophie Wells (GBR), partnering LJT Egebjerggards Samoa after her original horse Don Cara M was ruled out, won her ninth Paralympic medal by taking bronze – Great Britain’s third of these Games - with 72.257%, adding to her previous four golds and four silvers.

“It’s not ideal,” she said of her late change in horses. “But she was so brave going into that arena. She got a little bit nervous, but she is eight years old. I held her hand through the whole test. She listened to me and I couldn’t be prouder of her for that.”

After a rest day on Thursday, Para Dressage resumes at Versailles on Friday with the team event, with three athlete/horse combinations from each nation joining forces in a bid for a place on the podium.

Great Britain have won all seven team golds since 1996, but will face strong competition from the likes of USA and Netherlands if they are to maintain that sequence.

The final set of Individual medals will be decided on Saturday, 7 September, as the top eight from the Individual tests in each of the five Grades compete in the Freestyle events.

FULL RESULTS - GRADE IV

FULL RESULTS - GRADE V

Image: FEI/ Liz Gregg

Haras de la Majorie has been thrust into the global spotlight thanks to the achievements of their gelding, Darco la Majorie (by Baltik des Ors), who won individual gold at the FEI Endurance World Championship in Butheeb (2022).

Among the final entries of the 2024 FEI Endurance World Endurance Championship in Monpazier (FRA) are two horses bred by Haras de la Majorie. With over 100 Arabians grazing in their lush pastures, the French stable attracts numerous potential buyers However, as Camille Manoha explains, "We will never let commercial opportunities take precedence over the horse's health." The young entrepreneur shares how she and her sister Clémentine prioritise equine welfare above all else.

Haras de la Majorie, located in Saint-Alban-d'Ay between Lyon and Valence (France), was founded over twenty years ago by Christian and Pascale Manoha. As they step back due to age, their daughters, Clémentine and Camille, are taking over the breeding operations, with the family’s values and standards remaining firmly in place. "If you own horses, you must take responsibility for them", Camille asserts with conviction. She takes the time on a Tuesday evening to give this interview, while Clémentine, as stable CEO and trainer, is still working with the horses until late.

Back to basics

Having been involved with horses her entire life, Camille has witnessed the evolution of various equestrian disciplines. When asked about changes in Endurance riding, one of which being a market demand for larger horses, she notes, “Of course, we explore how we can meet customer needs, but if we see that it doesn't work, we return to our roots. For example, we experimented with crossing Arabians with Thoroughbreds, which tend to be larger. However, the Anglo-Arabians produced from these crosses tend to be more complex horses to deal with than purebred Arabians. Additionally, their size and longer legs make them less sturdy. Smaller horses perform just as well as larger ones. Their compact build is an advantage. And as for speed, we can achieve that by crossing with Arabians bred for the racetrack, like Tidjani."

Stepping out of the shadows

The Manoha family takes pride in the recent successes of the eleven-year-old purebred Arabian, Darco la Majorie. He became world champion under Hh Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 in Butheeb (UAE), won the 160 km (CEI3*) Monpazier test event in 2023, and has multiple top-three finishes at CEI2* and CEI3* levels.

This year, Hh Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will saddle Darco's half-brother, Everest la Majorie. This ten-year-old gelding finished second at last year’s test event, just 25 seconds behind Darco. "We believed in Everest from the beginning" says Camille. "He was seen as ‘the little brother’, but he has similar qualities. For example, he excels both on flat sand and in technical, hilly terrains (2nd in Monpazier in 2023). We expect him to step out of the shadows this year," Camille shares. 

Bahrain's Hamad Isa Abdulla Yusuf Al Janahi will also be heading to the World Championship in Monpazier with a 'La Majorie' horse: the eleven-year-old mare Deesela Majorie, who shares the same sire, Baltik des Ors, as Darco and Everest.

Training 'normal horses' into 'cracks'

The Manohas are proud of these ‘cracks' as they call the top horses. However, Camille emphasises that champions aren’t necessarily born that way. In other words, proper training is essential. "We have around ten foals born each year. Usually, one of them is a natural-born champion. You can see it right away—they have a strong mind, are fighters, and often take the lead in the herd. 

We handle the training of our young horses ourselves. But in the recent past we’ve enjoyed collaborating with rider Jean Philip Frances (6th at the FEI Endurance European Championship 2021 in Ermelo, Netherlands). He excels at training 'normal looking horses' into 'champions'. He’s meticulous and ensures that every detail is right—from the saddle to the hooves to the bit. He experiments with new approaches; he’s innovative. His method aligns with ours because he’s willing to explore what works best for each horse."

Outdoor living shouldn’t be about survival

"In addition to proper training, care and attention to their mental well-being are crucial", Camille emphasises. "From a young age, our horses graze on our 200-hectare pasture with long, green grass. The young horses can eat, play, and gallop as much as they want, allowing them to develop well. We are very strict about deworming and managing their hoof health with the help of a farrier. Of course, they also see the dentist and, when needed, the vet. We spare no expense. Even if an accident or something else means a horse will never be a sport horse, it still receives full veterinary care. We love our horses and want to give them a good life." 

Although the Manoha family believes that horses should live outdoors in freedom, their yearlings are brought into large group stables on winter nights. "Outdoor living keeps horses strong, healthy, fit, and happy. But if living outside becomes about survival, we'd rather have them in the stable at night. That way, they can focus all their energy on growth and development." 

Breaking in begins at five years old, at Haras de la Majorie. Camille explains, "Afterward, they can participate in a 20 km event and a 40 km event. They do this in a group, with their friends. Then, they go back to the pasture to process emotionally and physically what they’ve learned. Only after the summer do we prepare them for a 60 km distance. This is all done at a calm pace, even in training". 

At this week's FEI Endurance World Championship, the Manohas are looking forward to seeing the participants listening well to their horses: "The bond between horse and human is what I love most about this sport. Of all the equestrian disciplines, Endurance riders spend the most time in the saddle . If you can learn to listen to your horse, you can achieve great things together. For example, if your horse wants a break after a long gallop or a tough climb, ease up. They have such remarkable recovery abilities that they can be fully refreshed after a short rest. If you listen to your horse and give them a moment of rest, you can win."

The FEI has announced an adverse analytical finding (AAF) involving an equine prohibited substance. The case involves a *Banned Substance under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).

The athlete has been provisionally suspended from the date of notification, until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horse has also been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.

The athlete and horse competed at the Paris Olympic Games in Eventing. An adverse analytical finding (AAF) from one team member during the Olympic Games, will lead to the disqualification of the whole team. Hence, team Belgium will be disqualified from the Eventing team competition of the Paris Olympic Games.

Case 2024/BS05:

Horse: DIA VAN HET LICHTERVELD Z/106WJ63/BEL
Person Responsible: Tine MAGNUS/10045338/BEL
Event: Olympic Games-C - Paris (FRA), 27-29.07.2024
Prohibited Substance(s): Trazodone
Date of notification: 3 September 2024

The full table of suspensions can be found here.

FEI Tribunal issues Settlement Agreement in equine anti-doping case
The FEI Tribunal has also issued a Settlement Agreement in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance.

In this case, the horse Faroon (FEI ID 107WT96/BRN), ridden by Jalam Singh Inder Singh (FEI ID 10182994/UAE), and trained by Alhareth Mohamed Jaafar Abdulrahim (FEI ID 10063210/BRN), tested positive for the Banned Substance Strychnine following samples taken at the CEI1*100 Butheeb (UAE) 10-11 November 2023.

The athlete and trainer were able to establish, on a balance of probabilities, that the source of the Prohibited Substance arose from a supplement given to the horse which had been contaminated with Strychnine.

In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal accepted the terms of the settlement, according to which the athlete and trainer bear no fault or negligence for the Rule Violation. The applicable ineligibility period for each shall be one year, stating from the date of the decision, with the Provisional Suspension already served credited against the ineligibility period. Both athlete and trainer were also asked to each pay costs of CHF 4,000 and the results obtained at the event are disqualified.

The full Decision in the case of Jalam Singh Inder Singh is available here. 

The full Decision in the case of Alhareth Mohamed Jaafar Abdulrahim 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 (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.

Team USA enjoyed a superb opening day of Para Dressage action at Paris 2024 with two golds and a silver in the first three Individual medal events at Château de Versailles.

Rebecca Hart on Floratina (Grade III) and Fiona Howard, partnering Diamond Dunes (Grade II), both struck gold before Roxanne Trunnell, double gold medallist from Tokyo 2020, took silver on Fan Tastico H in Grade I behind Rihards Snikus (LAT) and King Of the Dance.

The trio of medals already makes Paris 2024 Team USA’s most successful Paralympic Games in Para Dressage, after just three of the 11 events across four days of competition.

They surpassed the two golds and a bronze won at Atlanta 1996 and at Tokyo 2020, where Trunnell – on Dolton - won the USA’s first two individual golds for 24 years and also won team bronze alongside Hart on El Corona Texel, and Kate Shoemaker with Solitaer 40.

Hart strikes gold at fifth attempt

Hart, 39, kick-started the gold rush by winning her first individual medal at her fifth Paralympic Games on Floratina, having previously finished fourth in Beijing and fifth at London 2012.

“It's been 25 years of trying to get to this point and being close many, many times,” she said. “To actually get it, I feel like I'm going to wake up at any moment. It's just surreal. It feels like a dream.

 

"This is my first gold ever. We've worked so hard as a country with my fellow athletes to really develop our programme and step up our game. Four years later, here we are"

Rebecca Hart
(USA)

“It's a huge venue and the entire atmosphere was phenomenal. I was just trying to stay with her and focused, because it felt so easy. I just needed to stay on my game and get the test done.” 

Hart and Floratina were the penultimate combination to enter the arena in the morning rain and they claimed the win with a score of 77.900%.

Rixt van der Horst (NED) took silver with 76.433% - her sixth Paralympic medal overall at her third Games - on new horse Royal Fonq, her partner since December.

“He’s really special,” she said. “He has such a kind and honest character. His quality is amazing. I think we click really well and have developed a really special bond in the short time we have had together.”

Natasha Baker (GBR), in her first Paralympic Games since becoming a mother last year, took bronze – her ninth Paralympic medal after six golds and two silvers - on Dawn Chorus with 73.167%.

“I had 20 months out of competition when I had Joshua, and a year out of the saddle,” said the 34-year-old. “That's the longest I've ever had out of the saddle. I'm just super, super happy with her.”

Diamond Dunes is forever gold for Howard

Howard, 25, maintained the USA momentum as she took Grade II gold on Diamond Dunes in her debut Paralympic Games with a superb performance to finish on 76.931%.

“We haven’t been a partnership for that long – only since March when we did our first competition,” she said. “I just trusted him and he gave me everything in there. I am so proud of him. He’s never let me down.”

Katrine Kristensen (DEN), who also became a first-time mother last year after winning double gold at the FEI World Championship in 2022, took silver on Goerklintgaards Quater with a score of 73.966%.

 

"I was crying a lot because this is so huge. After becoming a mom, I have worked very hard to gain my physical strength again and to balance being a mom and training at this level. But I succeeded."

Katrine Kristensen
(DEN)

“I have never ridden in such a beautiful arena as this before, with all the audience. I promised myself when I finished to just look up and enjoy it and I did.”

Georgia Wilson (GBR), on Sakura, added another Paralympic individual bronze to her collection after two at Tokyo 2020, scoring 73.414%, with 69-year-old Heidemarie Dresing (GER), the oldest athlete in Versailles, edged into fourth place on Dooloop.

‘No limits’ for DJ Snikus

The final event of the opening day saw an emotional triumph for Rihards Snikus (LAT) in his fourth Paralympic Games, going one better than Tokyo 2020 to take gold in Grade I. The 36-year-old, who won silver in both the Individual and Freestyle events in Tokyo, turned in a brilliant display partnering King of the Dance to triumph with a score of 79.167%.

“It was a really beautiful performance, we enjoyed watching it,” said Latvia’s chef d’equipe Darja Tikhomirova, speaking on behalf of Snikus, who is also the reigning Grade I world champion and an active DJ in his spare time.

"I think it was one of Rihards’ best ever performances. After Tokyo, we came home and said, ‘okay, next time let’s get gold’."

Darja Tikhomirova 
Chef d'Equipe (LAT)

“It's great for para sports in general in Latvia because people can see it's not only classic sports we know, like athletics or cycling. Equestrian is also a sport for people with disability, where they can improve how strong they are, how perfect they can ride, how wonderful technically they can be.  It's always great to show that you have no limit.”

Trunnell (USA), the double individual gold medallist from Tokyo, had to settle for silver on Fan Tastico H after finishing on 78.000%.

She paid tribute to the influence on US fortunes of Michel Assouline, who spent 12 years as head coach of Great Britain’s para equestrian team before joining Team USA in 2017 as head of para equestrian coach development and high performance consultant.

"He is really good,” Trunnell said. “He got us all straightened up, training harder, with better horses. We have evolved our training and been working so hard. It's nice to see it pay off." 

Sara Morganti (ITA), on Mariebelle, collected her third Paralympic Games bronze medal – after two in Tokyo partnering Royal Delight - on a score of 74.625%.

FULL RESULTS