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An interim report revealing the opinions of equestrians and the general public on the use of the horse in sport, and a proposed foundation for a new equine welfare strategy for the FEI, will be presented for discussion at a dedicated Session during the 2022 FEI Hybrid General Assembly in Cape Town (RSA).
The report will include the analysis of two separate surveys – one to a worldwide public and the other to the equestrian community – carried out by the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing (EEWB) Commission that was formed as an independent advisory body by the FEI in June 2022.
Chaired by internationally recognised animal behaviour and welfare scientist Professor Dr. Natalie Waran, the Commission is composed of 10 members who have been selected for their expertise in equine welfare, equitation science, ethics, education and public affairs. Their ultimate goal is to develop a strategy that will allow the FEI to address current and future concerns related to the use of horses in sport.
As part of their first phase of work, the Commission carried out a survey of equestrian stakeholders in August that attracted almost 28,000 responses including feedback from FEI affiliated athletes, horse owners and other FEI stakeholders. The public survey – conducted by market research company Savanta in 13 countries – sought the views of individuals who are not involved with or knowledgeable about horses in order to determine the general public’s perception of the use of horses in sport.
The EEWB Commission is basing the development of the proposed equine welfare strategy on information gathered from equestrian stakeholders within and outside the FEI, the general public, expert forums, the media and published research. In making early recommendations related to maintaining a Social Licence, the Commission will continue to seek expert, public and equestrian stakeholder input, as well as analysing existing FEI policy and practice to identify how it can be improved in relation to equine ethics and wellbeing, including evaluating the current FEI regulations related to horse welfare.
“Equestrian sport and the FEI’s role in the governance of horse sport has never been subject to as much scrutiny as it is today,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
“As an organisation, the FEI needs to better understand what we can continue to do, and what needs to change in order to maintain the trust and confidence of the public. The time has come for us to focus not just on providing the best service to our community, but also on what we must do to be the best for equestrian sport.
“This is why the FEI set up this Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, to provide an independent study of our current social license to operate and to come up with a set of recommendations that are based on real feedback and unbiased data. We look forward to the first report they will provide to FEI members during the General Assembly week in Cape Town this month.”
The Session, which will be held on 12 November in Cape Town, is the first opportunity for the Commission to interact with National Federations, and the stakeholders with whom the FEI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
“We would like to thank all of those who took part in our surveys – your responses are extremely valuable and have provided us with a lot of information to help with identifying concerns and opportunities about horse use in sport,” Chair of the EEWB Commission Professor Dr. Natalie Waran said. “Our independent advice and recommendations regarding equine welfare will make good use of the feedback we have received”.
“Ensuring that horse sport maintains its social licence to operate requires all equestrians within and outside of the FEI to not only say they are committed, but to be seen to be committed – to proactively ensure that equine welfare is prioritised before any other agenda. There are many examples of good practice, but it’s important for all equestrians to recognise that there are always improvements that can be made especially with new knowledge available, and where public attitudes towards animal welfare are growing. To those who completed the surveys, the Commission has heard you loud and clear, and we are already making good use of this information to inform recommendations we make to the FEI.”
Following the 2022 FEI General Assembly, the Commission will continue to meet virtually and in-person. They will present a second report for discussion at the FEI Sports Forum in April 2023 before a final report will be submitted for approval at the FEI General Assembly 2023 in Mexico.
Summaries of the Commission’s meetings, including a recap of the teleconference meeting that will be held on 1 November, can be found here.
He has long had a reputation as a super-fast rider, and today Julien Epaillard set the home crowd alight when scorching to victory with the great mare Caracole de la Roque at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League qualifier on home ground in Lyon (FRA).
The 45-year-old Frenchman was in flying form all week, with three big wins already under his belt including Friday night’s Longines Grand Prix in which he steered Caracole to pip Germany’s Jana Wargers and Limbridge. Today it was Brazil’s Marlon Zanotelli and VDL Edgar M who had to settle for runner-up spot while The Netherlands’ Jur Vrieling and Long John Silver finished third.
Classy competition
The line-up for this third round of the 14-leg Western European qualifying series always suggested a classy competition, with 12 of the top-16 riders in the world rankings in action including the leading three. Newly-crowned double World Champion Henrik von Eckermann from Sweden holds the number one slot and reigning Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ champion Martin Fuchs from Switzerland is currently lying second ahead of Epaillard in third.
However the Frenchman was the only one of those top three to make the cut into the six-horse second-round decider when the 14-fence first-round track set by French course designer Gregory Bodo took its toll. The two-stride distance between the first two elements of the triple combination at fence ten was the undoing of many, while several others faulted at the vertical - topped by a plank - that followed. And the final line that began with a 1.9m-wide triple bar also proved influential.
Sweden’s Wilma Hellström was second into the ring and her beautifully-ridden clear with the 11-year-old mare Cicci BJN denied the degree of difficulty of the course. Another 13 horse/athlete combinations gave it their best shot before the host nation’s Penelope Leprevost followed suit with the 11-year-old Bingo del Tondou and then yet another grey, Jur Vrieling’s Long John Silver, gave a jumping exhibition to join the clear-round gang.
Epaillard was next, immediately followed by Denmark’s Andreas Schou, but the crowd were dismayed when home hero Simon Delestre was denied a jump-off slot by a single time fault with the electrifying Cayman Jolly Jumper. Brazil’s Zanotelli then rounded up the jump-off startlist with a convincing clear from Edgar.
Door wide open
Hellström was first against the clock and left the door wide open with two fences down before Leprevost took her turn. The French star said after her first round that she was delighted to be back in Lyon because, for the first time in 15 years she couldn’t compete at the 2021 edition. But she pointed out that “this is the first World Cup Grand Prix for my horse and he’s not so fast, so I will try to do a good round but not go crazy!” And living up to that promise she set the first real target with a great clear from Bingo in 38.89 seconds.
Jur Vrieling also made a point of saying that the magnificent Long John Silver, who helped secure team silver for The Netherlands at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark this summer, is not the quickest horse on the planet either. After his first round today he said the course had been big, “but I love it when it’s big - for this horse! Because in the jump-off for sure we won’t be the fastest but we will be clear. This horse is so scopey, he’s amazing!”, he pointed out. And then hearing the crowd going wild as Epaillard secured a second place for France in the jump-off the Dutchman added, “he’ll be six seconds faster - but I’ll still be happy!”
He was just over three seconds faster as it turned out, because Long John stopped the clock on 37.97 seconds while Epaillard raced home in 34.88 seconds. And when Denmark’s Schou hit the third-last and Zanotelli gave it his all to finish clear in 35.61 seconds it was a done deal. The packed stadium of spectators had their most perfect result - a home win.
Delicate
“The jump-off course was delicate and there were some faults, so I tried to go a clear but not go crazy, crazy! That was the plan and I wasn’t sure if Andreas and Marlon would catch me - Marlon is always dangerous!”, the winning rider said afterwards. Asked about his extraordinary run of form this week he replied, “you can never expect a weekend as good as this one. I will enjoy every moment!”
Looking ahead he said Caracole will have a break after Geneva horse show in December. “This was already the plan since a long time. At the moment if I get qualify for the Final I am not sure I have a horse. Donatello (who also won two classes in Lyon this weekend) is maybe too young and the goal for him will most likely be the European Championships next year. We are already planning for Paris 2024 (Olympic Games) and want to get the horses there”.
However he plans to compete at the WEL qualifiers in Madrid (ESP) next month, Mechelen (BEL) in December, Basel (SUI) in January and on home ground again at Bordeaux (FRA) in February 2023.
Marlon Zanotelli was also a happy man today. His second-place finish has moved him into seventh spot on the Western European League leaderboard, just four places behind his wife, Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli who won the second leg of the 2022/2023 qualifying series in Helsinki, Finland just seven short days ago. Norway's Victoria Gulliksen continues to hold the lead.
Special
“It is really something special that I can do this circuit together with my wife and our family. My parents are joining us also most of the time and this is a really special time in my life”, he explained. And he was very proud of Wilma Hellström who finished sixth.
“She is a close friend of my wife and she spent last year at our stables and she did a great job today which makes us very happy. I am sure we will see her more in the future.”
As course designer Bodo pointed out, today’s winning rider is in a league of his own at the moment. “Julien already won the three major classes last week in St Lô. I did try to make him make a mistake this weekend but I did not succeed!”, he said with a laugh.
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League now moves on to the beautiful Italian city of Verona next weekend ….. so don’t miss a hoofbeat…..
For all the latest information about the LONGINES FEI Jumping World Cup™ season 2022/2023 check out the new Series Hub HERE
Stay up-to-date with articles, interviews, videos and much more while following the action all the way to the Final.
Fresh from winning his 6th Four-in-Hand World Championship a month ago, Australia’s Boyd Exell set out to take a 10th FEI Driving World Cup™ title by emphatically leading from the front to win the first leg, with former champions Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) second and Koos de Ronde (NED) third.
With French events bookending the 2022-23 series, the tally has started in deciding who goes to February’s final in Bordeaux. Gaining a wild card entry – which means his result won’t go into the qualification points pot – Boyd unequivocally showed why he is so hard to beat.
It was an early start on Saturday morning for Competition One. With five confirmed entries (whose points count towards the series ranking) and two wild cards, it was Benjamin Aillaud who opened, followed by Boyd, then Ijsbrand, Jérôme Voutaz (SUI), Dries Degrieck (BEL), Koos and Chester Weber (USA). Still fine tuning their performances, all knocked balls but the order for the second round was set.
All seven came out again and the times from round one rolled on as the clocks started and they tacked a slightly reduced version of Jeroen Houterman’s (NED) 13-obstacle course.
“I was thrilled to get the invitation as a wild card. We’ve got three competitions in a row and although the horses are fit, it’s the competitions that get them competition fit.”
Retaining his superb form from Pratoni, Ijsbrand put in a blazing run to be the first to go clear. But the harder Boyd is pushed, the better he performs, and with his trusted team of Emma Olsson – currently nominated for the Cavalor FEI Best Groom Award in this year’s FEI Awards – and long term supporter Hugh Scott-Barrett behind him, he not only drove clear, but smashed the time, shaving 4.41 seconds off Ijsbrand to finish first on day one.
Competition Two on Sunday morning saw the slate wiped clean and all started on zero again, but Saturday’s standings gave the running order. Unlike the previous day, only the top three came back for what was the fourth run over the course for them, with the ‘F’ gates removed from the marathon-type obstacles numbers 5 and 9.
Dries improved his performance to get into the mix with a fast time of 148.05 but with a ball down and 4 seconds to add, he went behind Koos who was clear on 150.38, followed by a delighted Ijsbrand, clear on 149.08. Although he knocked an early ball, Boyd’s 143.97 was fast enough to give him a cushion and he retained the top spot.
In the finale, Koos drove accurately, with nothing to add, to finish on his time of 150.08. Ijsbrand found even tighter lines for a clear in 145.79, which meant Boyd had to raise his game – which he did. Finding another stratospheric gear, his streamlined horses worked as one and kept their momentum throughout, to end on 140.82.
Stating how delighted he was with his horses Boyd said, “I was thrilled to get the invitation as a wild card. We’ve got three competitions in a row and although the horses are fit, it’s the competitions that get them competition fit.”
The top of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League has become a familiar place for Conor Swail (IRL). After winning the NAL's opening leg in Sacramento (USA) with Vital Chance de la Roque, Swail led the victory lap again in Washington (USA), this time with his mount from the 2022 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Leipzig (GER), Count Me In.
Bernardo Costa Cabral (POR) set a technical track at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro (USA), which was hosting World Cup competition for the first time. But the quality of the field was strong, and nine combinations advanced to the shortened course. The lead would change hands quickly until Swail entered the ring. While Bluman and Moggre would come close, neither could catch the undisputed king of the NAL.
Swail's winning time was 35.76 seconds, less than three-tenths of a second ahead of Bluman (36.00 seconds). Moggre checked in third at 36.74 seconds.
"[Count Me In] has really changed my career. He's brought me to a lot of places I'd never been and has been very successful doing it. This year, I know he's capable, and [returning to World Cup Finals] is something that I'm looking forward to doing with him. It is a plan at this point, which probably makes it better."
Conor Swail (IRL)
Between Count Me In and Vital Chance de la Roque, Swail has recorded five NAL victories over the course of the last two seasons, and with Count Me In, Swail finished eighth in Leipzig. He will continue to pursue points toward the 2023 Finals in Omaha (USA) at upcoming legs in Toronto (CAN) and Las Vegas (USA).
"Since I got those two horses, Count Me In and Vital Chance de la Roque, we really hit it off, and we've gone through the roof," Swail said.
Swail boasts a commanding lead in the NAL standings with 40 points. Bluman and Sophia Siegel (USA) are tied for second with 17 points apiece.
The North American League resumes in Lexington (USA) on 05 November 2022.
To the strains of a brand new French-themed musical score embracing Edith Piaf’s “je ne regrette rien”, reigning Olympic, European and World Cup champions Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and the fabulous mare TSF Dalera BB claimed a definitive win at the second leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League in Lyon, France today.
On the crest of a wave of success, the 36-year-old German rider clinched the 2022 World Cup title at Leipzig (GER) in April before taking a break ahead of the birth of her baby daughter, Ella Marie, in August. And her comeback today was nothing short of sensational.
A score of 90.140 left her ahead of compatriot and five-time World Cup champion Isabell Werth who finished second with Emilio on a mark of 87.945 while Sweden’s Patrik Kittel lined up in third with Touchdown and von Bredow-Werndl’s brother, Benjamin Werndl, finished fourth with Famoso OLD.
Jessica was delighted with the result that stamped her authority back on the sport she has dominated for some time now. And she was relieved this evening too.
“Coming back with a new Freestyle after riding one 90% score after another I knew I was pushing myself. I really wanted to get above 90 to be honest, and that I managed to do it is really cool because it’s what I wished for and prepared for!”, she said.
New lead
There were 13 starters in today’s points-deciding Freestyle and, first to go after the break, The Netherlands’ Thamar Zweistra looked set to forge a new lead with the high-stepping nine-year-old stallion Hexagon’s Ich Weiss who was really fun to watch.
But the pair performed a 2.5 canter pirouette to the left which brought her Degree of Difficulty and Choreography mark to a 5.5 because it is a breach of the rules. So it was the 77.255 posted by the host-nation partnership of Morgan Barbançon and Sir Donnerhall ll OLD that was holding the lead when von Bredow-Werndl entered the ring.
From the moment the German pair set off the crowd were spellbound however, and they burst into applause when the score was posted. The music was captivating, and the floorplan allowed Dalera to show off her pure class. Clearly the golden girl of German dressage had it in the bag.
Coincidence
Asked about her new French-themed Freestyle, von Bredow-Werndl insisted that “it is just a good coincidence that coming up is Paris 2024!
“My mom actually suggested to use this music”, she explained. “It feels like it fits perfectly to Dalera, right from the first time I rode it. And she loves it! It’s a love story between Dalera and me that’s made in France!
“The floorplan is perfect for her because we have developed together over the last four and a half years and we’ve been using the previous Freestyle all that time so I think it’s time now to adapt and move on. I spent a lot of time working on the new choreography and it is difficult, but not for Dalera. Today she made it feel effortless, easy and still expressive. I rode this version last week on Wednesday and I just I knew this was it!”, she pointed out.
As best French finisher, having lined up in sixth in the final analysis behind Sweden’s Nanna Merrald Rasmussen and Atterupgaards Orthilia in fifth, Morgan Barbançon attended the post-competition press conference. She was happy with the performance of her great stallion Sir Donnerhall who has bounced back from a scary accident some years ago and who drew gasps of delight from the crowd when setting off in extended canter at the very beginning of his test.
Happy
“I am happy to see that he is still in a very good shape at 16 years old. It makes me happy to see he still wants to go in the ring, and Lyon is really my heart show - the best public is here!” And asked if she might think of changing her own Freestyle ahead of the Olympic Games in two years time she said “yes, and I might make it more French than France!”
The FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League now moves on to von Bredow-Werndl’s home ground in Stuttgart (GER) in two weeks time where she will partner the 13-year-old Ferdinand BB. As defending champion she only needs two appearances during the season to qualify for the 2023 series Final which will take place in Omaha (USA) next April.
And well on his way to qualification is her brother, Benjamin, who goes into the next leg at the top of the WEL league table.
Don’t miss a hoofbeat…..
For all the latest information about the FEI Dressage World Cup™ season 2022/2023 check out the new Series Hub here
Stay up to date with results, articles, interviews, videos and much more while following the action all the way to Final.
FEI PRESS RELEASE
Lausanne (SUI), 26 October 2022
A sustainable future for the FEI’s oldest and most prestigious team series centre stage at Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Task Force Meeting
Equestrian representatives from around the world gathered online and in-person at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne (SUI) on Tuesday 25 October to explore different options to ensure a sustainable future for the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Series.
A diverse spectrum of the Jumping community was present at the task force meeting, with around 50 participants from over 20 nations representing the interests of Athletes, National Federations and Regional Associations, Organisers, Chef d’Equipes, Owners, and the FEI.
The day was divided in two parts, beginning with a very clear setting of the scene by the FEI President Ingmar De Vos, where he referred to the long history and evolution of the Series, the success of the Series and the need to adapt to a changing sporting and media landscape. This was followed by presentations from FEI Staff including Jumping Director Marco Fusté, Commercial Director Ralph Straus, Legal Director and Deputy Directors Mikael Rentsch and Aine Power and FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez. The FEI delegation set out the current situation in relation to the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Series including the sporting context, the bidding process and legal requirements, the pool of events available to host qualifiers, as well as an increasingly competitive Calendar with international Jumping events rising from 720 in 2007 to 1771 in 2022, an ever-changing media landscape, commercial implications and a lack of identity for the Series.
With a break for lunch, and clear discussion points in mind for the afternoon, the second part of the day focussed around input from each of the different stakeholder groups and their ideas to secure the future of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Series. This was facilitated by a representative panel consisting of Athletes Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Kevin Staut (FRA); Organisers Nayla Stössel from St. Gallen (SUI) and Daniela Garcia from Mexico; Swedish Chef d’equipe Henrik Ankarcrona; Chair of the FEI Jumping Committee Stephan Ellenbruch; and, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez.
As the day progressed, with ample feedback from the panel, constructive contributions from the participants in Lausanne and a detailed proposal from online participant Beezie Madden (USA), there was no shortage of ideas and there was both consensus and an appetite to address certain challenges in the redesign of the series going forward.
For FEI President Ingmar De Vos who moderated the meeting, the dedication of the community “was echoed in the high level task force discussions, with all the participants expressing their commitment to the Series and everything it stands for, and a strong desire to see it succeed and maintain its place as the pinnacle of our sport. Because this is what many athletes aspire to – to represent their nation on the international stage, to be a part of a team, and to win or compete for their flag. And this is a dream which the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Series can and should continue to deliver for elite and developing equestrian nations.
“But to do this, we need a clear and easy to understand concept and a unique identity which reflects this status as the pinnacle of the sport, a global series with top events, and a narrative that can attract fans, inspire teams and create that strong sense of pride which goes hand in hand with the heritage of the FEI Nations Cup.”
“There is no shortage of commitment to the Series, but we need to secure and ensure meaningful change if we are to guarantee the viability of the Series for generations to come and we need the active help of our National Federations to provide us with the right tools to make this happen.
“I believe this task force meeting addressed all the relevant topics and confirmed that we are all in this together, and we will have to do this together in the name of the sport, and in the name of this wonderful Series which has such an important place in the community.”
As for next steps, the FEI President confirmed that based on the constructive feedback from the meeting, an internal debrief will follow to establish future actions including drafting some proposals for a stronger framework, and a follow up meeting with the task force in the first quarter of 2023 to continue the fruitful discussions.
World-renowned Athlete and President of the International Jumping Riders Club Kevin Staut (FRA) summarised the position of Athletes and the general consensus in the room aptly when saying “we all want clarity and consistency (…) and we want the series to be rewarding for the Athletes, the NFs and the Organisers.
“We go for the glory, we go for the sport.”
For more information on the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™, click here.
Photo caption: FEI President Ingmar de Vos addresses the representative stakeholder panel at the afternoon session of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Task Force Meeting at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne (SUI) on 25 October 2022. The panel consisted of (from left to right): Athlete representatives Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Kevin Staut (FRA); Organisers Nayla Stössel from St. Gallen (SUI) and Daniela Garcia from Mexico; Swedish Chef d’equipe Henrik Ankarcrona; Chair of the FEI Jumping Committee Stephan Ellenbruch (GER); and, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez (SUI). © FEI / Anouk Ruffieux
About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.
The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
Media contacts:
Didier Montes Kienle
Manager, Sport Communications & Media Relations
didier.montes@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 21
The world’s top ten four-in-hand drivers, eight legs plus a Final, and one new World Champion – that’s what the 2022-23 FEI Driving World Cup™ promises.
After two stilted seasons due to Covid-19, fans can look forward to a full programme of the heart stopping, edge-of-the-seat entertainment which is the FEI Driving World Cup™. Demanding speed, accuracy and bravery from both horses and drivers, lightening reactions and steadfast commitment from the back steppers, technical excellence from the equipment, this is equestrian sport at its most exhilarating.
In 2001 the ‘Driving World Cup’ format became part of the FEI repertoire. An ingenious formula -which brought four-in-hand Driving to a new audience during the autumn and winter season- it was easily incorporated into established indoor events and became an instant hit.
The first champion was German legend Michael Freund, who took the title five times, sharing it once in 2005 with the great Ijsbrand Chardon of The Netherlands, who himself has been crowned champion on three occasions. Current holder of the title is Ijsbrand’s son Bram, who seized the crown for a second time in Leipzig (GER) in April 2022 during the bumper event which also hosted the FEI Dressage, Vaulting and Jumping World Cup™ Finals.
However, the man who has dominated the format since he won his first title in Gothenburg (SWE) to round off the 2008-2009 season is current Four-in-Hand World Champion Boyd Exell (AUS). Fresh from his record breaking sixth win in Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA) in September, he really wants a tenth World Cup title. Determined to ensure that next-generation driver Bram, whose hunger for a win make him a formidable competitor, does not prevent Boyd’s dream of a double-figure tally of titles, the Australian will surely give it everything this season. During the press conference at the end of the World Championship on a wet Sunday in Pratoni, Boyd stated that he had already started training his indoor horses for the season – as did the gold winning Dutch team of Ijsbrand, Bram and Koos de Ronde, another former champion (2012-2013).
The FEI Driving World Cup™ is open to the top ten ranked drivers who have gained points at outdoor qualifying events during the preceding season. Their participation is then spread out evenly between the eight legs with five athletes per competition plus up to three ‘Wild Cards’, which organisers are at liberty to invite and may include a national driver, such as Fredrick Persson (SWE) who will compete in Stockholm (SWE) in November. At the end of the legs, the six top placed drivers are eligible for the Final.
One athlete who will be missed this season is Mareike Harm (GER), a finalist in Leipzig who is currently ranked 5th having also finished 5th individually in Pratoni and was a member of the German silver medal winning team. In what must be a first for the sport, she drove at the World Championship while five months’ pregnant and so has had to opt out the forthcoming World Cup series as her baby is due in February.
The Longines Equita Lyon (FRA) plays host to the first leg of the 2022-2023 season. The line-up packs a punch with on-form Ijsbrand, fresh from his individual silver and team gold in Pratoni, joined by indoor specialist and young talent, the 27-year-old Dries Degrieck (BEL) who was second at the same event last year and placed fourth in the final in Leipzig, just outside the medals. In what will be a close contest, the ever-competitive Koos will be pushing for a podium place alongside America’s leading driver Chester Weber and another indoor specialist, Jérôme Voutaz (SUI) with his Swiss Freiberger horses. Benjamin Aillaud (FRA) takes the Wild Card.
The first round is an early start at 8:30am on Saturday 29 October with the second round at 12:50pm on Sunday 30 October (CET). The order of the first round determines the running order of the second, both of which have a drive-off for the top three drivers.
Next in the series is Maastricht (NED) in early November, which is the first event for Boyd, who will be joined by outdoor marathon supremo Michael Brauchle (GER), plus Benjamin, Koos and Ijsbrand, and it’s a first outing for Glenn Geerts (BEL) as the Wild Card. The following weekend the focus moves to Stuttgart (GER), then Stockholm (SWE) before Geneva (SUI) in early December where Bram will be hoping to win again. The annual Christmas extravaganza at the London International Horse Show (GBR) is a popular pitstop on the circuit, followed by a post-Christmas outing in Mechelen (BEL) and the last leg in Leipzig (GER), ahead of the final in Bordeaux (FRA) in February.
With the series starting and ending on French soil, all eyes will be on Lyon this weekend as drivers tackle a course designed by one of the most experienced designers on the circuit, Jeroen Houterman (NED) who was also behind the Leipzig course and was the technical delegate in Pratoni. That task in Lyon is assumed by one of the most experienced judges on the circuit, Anne-Marie Turbé (FRA) who was also in Pratoni, as President of the Ground Jury, a role she also assumes, alongside being Technical Delegate, this weekend.
It would be foolhardy to bet against Boyd smashing his own record to take a tenth win, or to think that Bram won’t go all-out for his third World Cup title, but such is the quality of the field this season that there’s every chance a new name will be added to Driving’s ‘Hall of Fame’. Michael Brauchle and Koos de Ronde flew round the obstacles in Pratoni, perhaps a prelude of what’s to come this World Cup series?
The wait is nearly over…
List of qualified athletes for the first leg of the FEI Driving World Cup™ 2022 - 2023: Boyd EXELL (AUS) - Ijsbrand CHARDON (NED) - Bram CHARDON (NED) - Glenn GEERTS (BEL) -Koos DE RONDE (NED) – Chester WEBER (USA) - Jérôme VOUTAZ (SUI) - Benjamin AILLAUD (FRA) - Michael BRAUCHLE (GER) - Dries DEGRIECK (BEL)
Dates, schedules and information here
The FEI has launched the bidding process for the FEI World Championships 2026 in all the FEI disciplines. The process begins today, 24 October 2022, and will end in June 2023 with the allocation of the Championships by the FEI Board. It will consist of the following four phases:
Phase 2: Bidding (Mid-January - 14 April 2023)
Phase 3: Review of bids (Mid-April - 9 June 2023)
Phase 4: Allocation (June 2023)
The bidding process will start with a call for expressions of interest from National Federations and Organising Committees who would like to engage with open and non-binding discussions with the FEI regarding the potential submission of a bid. Detailed information on each phase of the bidding process is available here. Expressions of interest should be sent to bidding@fei.org The submission of an expression of interest is entirely optional and is not a pre-condition to National Federations/Organising Committees submitting a formal bid in Phase 2.
“The launch of the bidding process for the FEI World Championships 2026 is an important milestone,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
“This year we hosted hugely successful World Championships in Jumping, Dressage and Para Dressage, Vaulting, Eventing, and Driving. We were fortunate to work with very professional Organising Committees producing events of the highest order. The result proved popular with the athletes and National Federations. No less than 411 athletes and 340 horses representing 49 nations competed at the Ecco FEI World Championships 2022 in Herning (DEN) whereas 127 athletes and 274 horses from 29 NFs were represented at the FEI World Championships 2022 in Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA).
“The events attracted worldwide interest with over 7’000 articles published in the international press. But the platforms where the Championships were perhaps the greatest hit were social media. The number of followers on the FEI’s social media channels grew by 42% compared to the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018. Impressions and engagements were 56% and 97% up respectively whereas video views increased by a staggering 233%.
“This success gives us confidence that the new flexible approach is the best way forward.
“As was the case for the FEI World Championships 2022, bids will be accepted from National Federations and Organising Committees who are interested in hosting the FEI World Championships 2026 in one or more FEI disciplines.The FEI World Championships 2026 for Dressage and Para Dressage should remain combined. Bids for the full “FEI World Equestrian Games™” comprising all disciplines will also be considered.
“We look forward to interesting bids from many regions of the world and are available for any queries or clarifications all the entities considering a bid may have,” President De Vos concluded.
A detailed Bid Guide containing an overview of all the requirements/rights/benefits associated with hosting the FEI World Championships 2026 will be available as of mid-January 2023.
Picking up where they left off when taking Team gold at the ECCO FEI World Championships this summer, Danish riders completely overwhelmed the opposition at the first leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League series on home ground in Vilhelmsborg, Aarhus (DEN) today.
Yesterday Carina Cassøe Krüth and the 11-year-old mare Heiline’s Danciera led the rout in the Short Grand Prix in which Denmark claimed all of the top four places. And today they did it again in a slightly different order in the Grand Prix Freestyle in which Cassøe Krüth remained at the head of affairs while her world championship team-mates Nanna Merrald Rasmussen and Daniel Bach Andersen finished second and third and her trainer, Andreas Helgstrand, finished fourth.
With her brand new Freestyle, Cassøe Krüth grabbed a big lead when posting a score of 85.925, all five judges - Mariette Sanders-Van Gansewinkel (NED), Hans-Christian Matthiesen (DEN), Susanne Baarup (DEN), Elke Ebert (GER) and Maria Colliander (FIN) - placing her first.
Flying form
However her compatriots were also in flying form and, with just three of the 15 starters left to go, Bachmann Andersen produced a lovely confidence-giving ride on the 12-year-old gelding Zippo M.I. to score 81.330 for temporary second place on their Freestyle debut.
Second-last into the ring, all eyes were on Helgstrand and the fabulous 8-year-old Jovian who has already been super-successful as an even younger horse. And the double Olympian, whose training and sales business is a driving force in equestrian sport, produced a lovely Freestyle at the stallion’s first attempt. Breathtaking extended trot earned 10s and 9s galore, and although the horse lost balance and broke in tempi changes and has clearly more to learn about piaffe, the quality of movement and scope for development suggests a really exciting future for the pair who are only on the very first steps of their journey together.
Putting 80.000 on the board they slotted into third only to be demoted to fourth by the final combination of Merrald Rasmussen and the 11-year-old stallion Blue Hors St Schufro. This pair who won the Freestyle in Falsterbo, Sweden this summer overtook Bachmann Andersen and Zippo for runner-up spot when putting a healthy 82.610 on the board. But no-one could overtake Cassøe Krüth and the horse she steered to that team gold and individual seventh place at the championships staged in Herning two months ago.
Party-style
Talking about her new fun-themed party-style Freestyle, Cassøe Krüth said, “I think I already had a bit of a party with the old one but I wanted to keep the same vibe but not the same music so we stepped it up. I always think music is very personal and Freestyle is very personal, and I want to tell the audience a bit about myself and what I like and where I come from through my Freestyle and I think I grew up with this music. I was a teenager in the 90s and into every boy band and it was part of my life when I was a bit younger”, she explained.
It was all new to her, and to Danciera. “I didn’t get to ride it before. I heard it a bunch of times so I knew where I had to be for every note but I thought when I rode it today it took me through it. There was so much beat and rhythm and it tells me what to do”, she said.
She’s as excited as everyone else about what’s happening in Danish dressage right now. “The sport is at a very high level and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop! It seems we are all going to continue producing horses and Cathrine (Laudrup-Dufour) also has new ones on the way, so as long as we have really good partnerships with our horse owners so we have good horses and we keep on educating them then I think it’s looking very positive for Danish Dressage sport!”, she pointed out.
The second round of the 11-leg FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League will be held in Lyon, France next weekend.
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Stay up to date with results, articles, interviews, videos and much more while following the action all the way to Final.
Making the very best of her last-to-go draw, Sweden’s Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli galloped to victory in the second leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League series in Helsinki, Finland today.
Riding the feisty 12-year-old mare Kalinka van de Nachtegaele the 35-year-old rider was tenth to go in the jump-off but only saw pathfinder, Belgium’s Gilles Thomas, take his turn before her. “I didn’t watch the others, but Marlon (her husband and fellow athlete) told me they were really fast. I know my horse is super quick and I knew I had to stay calm or she would get too excited, so I had my plan and went as fast as I could while keeping her under control, and it worked!”, said the happy rider afterwards.
Breaking the beam in 34.13 seconds she pinned longtime leader Gerrit Nieberg from Germany into runner-up spot with Blues d’Aveline CH. This pair seemed to have set the bar too high for their opponents when grabbing the advantage with a brilliant run in 35.16 seconds when second to go, but Augustsson Zanotelli shaved more than a full second off that target time. Third place went to Germany’s Janne Frederike Meyer-Zimmermann (Buettner’s Minimax) and Ireland’s Thomas Ryan (Springfield) slotted into fourth.
Hard-earned
From 37 starters there were 10 through to the final barrage and every spot was hard-earned. The tight confines of the 60m x 30m ice-skating rink in Helsinki always presents an enormous challenge to riders and horses as well as to the course designer at this annual contest. But Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge set them a superb track that tested the best while keeping them safe.
As Jordy van Massenhove explained after jumping clear first time out, Jorge’s generous time-allowed of 74 seconds meant there was no need for heroics. It was rhythm and accuracy that were key to success and time wasn’t really an issue.
“He didn’t want us to rush because he knows everything comes up so fast in this ring and of course you can’t add strides anywhere, but if you ride in a normal rhythm you normally easily get inside the time”, the Belgian rider said after safely negotiating the 13-fence course including the bogey penultimate triple combination that proved the undoing of many others.
The jump-off however was fast and furious, and the turns to the vertical three from home and to the following vertical before hanging right-handed on the run to the final oxer just didn’t come up quite right for some, including Norway’s Victoria Gulliksen and Papa Roach who clipped the latter and for Great Britain’s Jack Whitaker - one of three members of his family competing in today’s qualifier - who clipped the former when his brilliant little grey, Equine America Valmy de la Lande, got too deep on the approach.
Just right
It all came up just right for Augustsson Zanotelli and Kalinka however. “I’m lucky I have a very quick horse so I will not go in to play safe!”, she said after her first round. And she lived up to her promise when breaking the beam in the winning time as the crowd went wild along with her delighted husband, Brazilian Olympian Marlon Zanotelli, who said afterwards “I’m so happy for Angelica, it’s a dream for us to be in the top sport together!”
“My horse was unbelievable!”, the winning rider said. “She’s very special, she’s very delicate and sensitive but when she enters the arena she wants to win. She’s been extra amazing over the last six months and I think her best years are still to come - she’s getting better all the time!”
Runner-up Nieberg said it was difficult to be one of the first to go against the clock today but that he was “more than proud to finish second!” And it was a big moment for third-placed Meyer-Zimmermann today too.
“I just came back from my maternity leave, so today is special. Everything takes more time now but it’s so much more beautiful to travel with my family!”, said the athlete who gave birth to son Friedrich Alexander in January 2022.
Double-clears
Double-clears for Ireland’s Ryan and Belgium’s Thomas left them in fourth and fifth places ahead of Gulliksen who slotted into sixth with the fastest four-fault finish. Adding points to her second-place finish behind Switzerland’s Bryan Balsiger at last weekend’s opening leg in Oslo (NOR), Gulliksen is in pole position on the Western European League leaderboard going into the the third leg of the series in Lyon, France next weekend.
Helsinki Event Director, Tom Gordin, was a happy man this evening. “We made a new record in visitors and I’m so proud that riders come back year after year, and so thankful!”, he said. And so was course designer Guilherme Jorge.
“It’s always a big challenge here because of the small arena and I always try to give the best chance to horses. We have great footing so that helps”, he said, adding, “and now I must be Angelica’s second-favourite Brazilian!”
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