The reigning Olympic champions from Sweden lived up to expectations when taking the early lead on the exciting first day of the Agria FEI World Jumping Championship 2022 presented by Helgstrand at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark today. However Frenchman Julien Epaillard and 10-year-old mare Caracole de la Roque were quickest around the track in the opening Speed event, so go into tomorrow’s second competition at the top of the individual leaderboard.

Epaillard’s performance proved critical for France when their anchor partnership of Kevin Staut and Scuderia 1918 Viking d’la Rousserie parted company at the second element of the rustic double at fence five on the 14-obstacle track. Such was the solidity of their team effort however, with more great rides from both Simon Delestre partnering the fizzy Cayman Jolly Jumper and Gregory Cottard and the ever-reliable Bibici, that they lie just 1.75 points behind the Swedes and fractionally ahead of Team Belgium in third place.

After today’s results were converted into points, just over four points separate the top six teams - Sweden, France, Belgium, Great Britain, Switzerland and Germany in that order. And just over six points separate the top 10 nations, with Brazil lying seventh, The Netherlands in eighth, USA in ninth and Italy in tenth place.

On the individual leaderboard Tokyo 2020 individual Olympic champion, Great Britain’s Ben Maher, lies tenth with Faltic HB but only 1.72 points separate him from Epaillard at the head of affairs. A hair’s breadth separates all the major contenders at this early stage.

First out

Jens Fredricson and Markan Cosmopolit were first out for Sweden, posting a clear round in just over 84 seconds. The pair were 25th of the 103 starters from 34 nations to take on the 14-fence track set by The Netherlands’ Louis Konickx that included three doubles, the last of which proved one of the bogeys of the day as many horses clipped the first-element triple-bar when just three fences from home.

The second Swedish pair of Malin Baryard-Johnsson and H&M Indiana were one of the victims at this one, having already put a foot in the water two fences earlier. But fellow Tokyo gold medallists Henrik von Eckermann with King Edward and Peder Fredricson with H&M All In both flew around the track, Fredricson slotting into fourth and von Eckermann into fifth individually to give their country a marginal lead going into tomorrow’s next round.

It was a great opening run from Nicola Philippaerts and the always-speedy Katanga vh Dingeshof that set the Belgians up for the day. And when Jos Verlooy and Igor, Jerome Guery with Quel Homme de Hus and Gregory Wathelet with Nevados S each gave a good account of themselves they secured that third-place advantage over Britain’s Maher, Joseph Stockdale with Equine America Cacharel, Harry Charles and Romeo and Scott Brash with Hello Jefferson.

Super-fast

Brash was super-fast, slotting into runner-up spot behind Epaillard at the end of the day. The British rider has his eyes on the prize after his great start. “He has all the attributes to win, he’s in great shape, he was really good in Aachen (last month) and I feel he’s still on top of his game”, he said.

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs lies individually third with Leone Jei, the horse he steered to individual silver and team gold at last year’s FEI European Championships. Fuchs, who has just been ousted from the world number one position by Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, won the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ title with Chaplin and The Sinner in April and he’s hungry to add the World Championship title to his long list of recent successes.

He clearly made a plan before coming to Herning with Leone Jei. “Sometimes he gets a bit over-motivated which is why I’ve been showing him so much in the last few weeks. I felt every Grand Prix this year when I had a rail down he was always a bit too fresh, so I had to do something different. I used to save him for this or that Grand Prix but now I said OK I must get going and we jumped Aachen (GER), Knokke (BEL) and Dinard (FRA) and he feels really good now”, the Swiss star said confidently.

Tour of the track

Fifth-placed von Eckermann reckoned he lost a half-second between the second and third fences on his tour of the track today, and he’s ambitious for King Edward this week. This is the horse that never touched a pole on the road to that team gold medal in Tokyo last summer.

“He’s the whole package, he’s so clever, he’s careful and so brave and such a sweet horse. I’m more used to the feisty mares but he’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse!”, he said today.

Overnight individual leader, Julien Epaillard, was modest in his appraisal of his own performance today with his brilliant mare. He said they were a bit lucky at that tricky triple bar.

“It’s a good way to start and I had a good feeling with my her, she was very focused. I hope I didn’t ask her for too much speed but she jumped really good until the end. I had a little bit of luck on the triple-bar where I took a little risk. I trusted her scope and it worked. I think I did my job today and I hope it will be the same tomorrow and on Friday for Team France”, he said.

But there’s a long way to go before the team medals are presented on Friday night and a new world champion is crowned next Sunday. As the Frenchman wisely pointed out,”this is only the beginning, the most difficult part is still to come…..”.

Today’s results here 

Tomorrow’s startlist here 

That sport should benefit the community and be sustainable, were the main takeaways from the tree planting ceremony that took place at the FEI World Championships Forest on Tuesday.

Created in cooperation with the host city, the FEI World Championships Forest is just one of many green initiatives by the Organising Committee of the ECCO FEI World Championships 2022 in Herning (DEN), demonstrating that the world of sport can get serious about implementing sustainable ideas.

“The forest is a key component of the Organising Committee’s work around the three sustainability principles which aim to encourage affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and production, and partnerships to achieve these goals,” External Business Consultant Jasper Steinhausen said.

“I believe there is a real need to redefine sustainability and not think of it in terms of minimising our negative impact. Rather, the goal is to maximise a positive impact. It’s about creating and not minimising. And if you frame the task of sustainability in a positive manner, it unleashes a whole new world of possibilities and opens people’s minds to see new opportunities and solutions.

“By showing the world that sports events can naturally take care of their emissions, we aim to inspire future event organisers to do the same and show our guests that there are many ways of being sustainable.”

With knowledge transfer a key component of the Herning2022 Organising Committee’s sustainability plan, they have themselves adopted initiatives from the hosts of the 2018 Ice Hockey World Championship also held in Herning.

One of these initiatives has been the creation of onsite housing for the 900 volunteers who will be working at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning in different areas of the Event operations.

The Organisers have used an existing building to create accommodation for these volunteers onsite, and have also made a dedicated camping ground for volunteers in order to reduce travel times and carbon emissions during the Event.

To help offset carbon emissions, Herning2022 also invited the 50 participating National Federations to support a windfarm project chosen by the Organising Committee and its partner First Climate.

As part of its commitment to sustainability and the organisation of sustainable equestrian events, the Fédération Equestre International (FEI) will also contribute to the plan by fully offsetting the FEI Delegation’s carbon emissions.

“If we all do just a little, then together we do a lot,” Sustainability Coordinator for the Herning2022 Organising Committee Clara Lier Koppelhus said.

“The ECCO FEI World Championships 2022 in Herning is a one-off event, and while many believe that we cannot achieve 100% sustainability, we have nevertheless worked on creating as many sustainable solutions as possible.

“We have really tried to focus all our efforts on changing mindsets and inspiring others to also include initiatives to promote an environmentally sustainable lifestyle. Our hope now is that other Events will pick up on some of the things we’ve learnt here in Herning and continue the work from where we leave off.

“It’s great that our suppliers and the partners that we are reaching out to, are listening to our ambitions and thoughts and are really open minded,” Koppelhus said from Solution Square, an area at the venue dedicated to Danish environmental technology and circular economy initiatives. “We really appreciate that everyone has been positive. We have not experienced one supplier, partner or sponsor that has been negative about these arrangements.”

The Organising Committee’s sustainability ambitions, which were clearly laid out in a letter of intent sent to suppliers, created the foundation for their collaboration with MCH Messecenter Herning, the complex where the World Championships are being held.

“We worked closely with MCH for them to improve their waste management system along with their supplier, and we’re now pleased to see that the solutions offered here are marketed towards companies across Denmark,” Koppelhus explained. “And when MCH were made aware of our sustainability goals and aims, our conversations changed. We were more open about asking for more sustainable ideas and everyone spoke openly about potential solutions.

In order to ensure sustainable consumption and production, the Organisers have opted to rent or borrow instead of buying new, and whenever possible to ensure that products and materials purchased for the event can be reused.

To maximise the value of the products needed for the Event, the Organisers have already found alternate uses for the rubber mats, dressage fences, and medal podiums following the end of the FEI World Championships. The majority of plants that have been used around the arena will be replanted in the FEI World Championships Forest located on the outskirts of the city of Herning which was planted in cooperation with the Herning Municipality.

When asked what lessons can be learned from the Herning2022 experience, Koppelhus stressed the importance of first having a clear plan of action.

“We didn't really know where to start when we first started this World Championship venture, but our sustainability plans became stronger as we started to work through our CO2 emission calculations,” Koppelhus explained.

“These calculations helped us get an idea of the biggest emission factors which helped us narrow down our activities and concentrate on the ones with the most impact, instead of trying to do a lot of things at once.

“We were also very clear in our philosophy, which was that we wanted to engage people, and not force any initiatives on them. We wanted to tell them and show them that it is possible to do something to help the environment. Small steps are better than doing nothing at all.  

“Lastly we always tried to be transparent in our communications around our sustainability initiatives so that people are aware of the challenges that exist in this type of planning. It is important to be open about these problems while taking the time to share insights into what has worked, because this is the only way that solutions can continue to be found.” 

Photos: FEI President Ingmar De Vos, members of the Danish Dressage Team Nanna Merrald Rasmussen, Carina Cassøe Krüth, Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour made the trip to the FEI World Championships forest on the outskirts of the city of Herning during a break in the schedule to plant some trees.

Mexico’s Federico Fernandez will be first into the arena when the Agria FEI Jumping World Championship 2022 gets underway at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark tomorrow. The horses were trotted up yesterday in front of the Ground Jury, and today with their riders onboard they familiarised themselves with the Stutteri Ask Stadium where spectacular sport will play out over the coming days.

A total of 103 athletes, including individuals, will go to post, and the order-of-go for the 22 nations fielding teams will be as follows:

1, Mexico; 2, Spain; 3, Ireland; 4, Belgium; 5, Australia; 6, Germany; 7, The Netherlands; 8, Colombia; 9, Norway; 10, Great Britain; 11, France; 12, Brazil; 13, Italy; 14, Canada; 15, Israel; 16, Austria; 17, Argentina: 18, Switzerland; 19, Japan; 20, Denmark; 21, USA; 22, Sweden.

Despite being drawn 15th, Team Israel’s first rider, Robin Muhr, will be 44th to go because there are only three team-members in the Israeli side.

Prime draw

It’s a prime draw for the reigning Olympic champions from Sweden, with Jens Fredricrison who finished third at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Leipzig (GER) four months ago first into the ring for them in starting spot number 25, while his brother, Peder who is currently number three in the world rankings, last to go on the opening day.

Peder’s Tokyo team-mate Malin Baryard-Johnsson is drawn 52nd while Henrik von Eckermann, who moved into the the world number one slot last week for the first time in his sparkling career will go 81st.

That promotion to the number one spot is a great confidence-booster according to the Swedish star. “I’m really looking forward to this week, these Championships only come around every four years and competing in them is something very special”, von Eckermann says.

Some Facts and figures:

Stutteri Ask (MCH) football stadium capacity - 10,000 seated spectators and a large VIP lounge.

Herning 2022 hosts the 20th edition of the FEI Individual Jumping World Championship and the 12th edition of the FEI Team Jumping Championship.

USA took the team title in Tryon (USA) four years ago. Two athletes and one horse from that winning side are in the US team again. The riders are Adrienne Sternlicht and McLain Ward and the horse is Sternlicht’s Cristalline.

Sweden claimed team silver in 2018 and three members of that team are lining out again this year - Henrik von Eckermann, Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Peder Fredricson.

These three clinched team gold for Sweden at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games last summer.

Germany’s Simone Blum claimed the 2018 Individual title with DSP Alice but is not competing at the 2022 Championships. However both the 2018 Individual silver and Individual bronze medallists, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs and Steve Guerdat, will be in action.

The Swiss are reigning European team champions and German team member, Andre Thieme, is reigning European individual champion.

How it will play out…

The team competition will be decided over three days, maximum four team members with the best three scores taken into account.

All teams will compete in a Speed competition on Wednesday 10 August and again in the first round of the second competition (Table A not against the clock) on Thursday 11 August. The best 10 nations will qualify for the second round of the second competition which will take place on Friday 12 August with the possibility of a jump-off for medals in case of a tie.

After a rest day on Saturday the Individual championship will take place on Sunday August 14, open to the 25 best placed athletes and horses after the first and second competitions. Two rounds of jumping over two different courses with the top 12 coming back for the second round and the possibility of a jump-off for medals in case of a tie.

Tomorrow’s first competition begins at 11.00 local time, so don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Starting Order here

Tobias Thorning Joergensen (DEN) will be the hot favourite to bring home the gold medals for the host team at this year’s Orifarm Healthcare FEI Para Dressage World Championship 2022 Herning, Denmark. If he does, the Grade III athlete will continue his habit of winning his debut global tournaments, having done so at his first European Championships in 2019, and his first Paralympic Games in 2021.

Tobias will face competition, however, from the likes of Great Britain’s Natasha Baker, the USA’s Rebecca Hart, and Canada’s Roberta Sheffield. Baker, the two-time double-Paralympic champion will be especially keen to break her World Championships jinx, it’s the only individual gold medal she is yet to win.

Herning will see 83 athletes from 28 different countries compete across five days of Individual, Team and Freestyle competition, starting on Wednesday 10 August. And in a sport which constantly grows in skill and achievement, the battle for the medals will be tougher than ever.

At last year’s delayed Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the Grade I competition was dominated by the record breaking US athlete Roxanne Trunnell, riding Dolton. In Herning, however, Trunnell will be riding her new horse, Fortunato H20 and competition will again be fierce.

Italy’s Sara Morganti is the defending champion and often rises to the challenge of the big global stage, as does serial podium placer Laurentia Tan from Singapore and Norway’s Jens Lasser Dokkan, the current European Champion and the oldest competitor in the field. Look out too for Ireland’s Michael Murphy and the deejaying Latvian, Rihards Snikus, the current world number one in the Grade.

Grade II will see a new champion crowned, following the retirement of the current title holder, Stinna Tange (DEN). Great Britain’s Sir Lee Pearson, the current Paralympic champion and world number one will want to regain the title he last won in 2014.

The Grade is dominated historically by Pearson, Austria’s Pepo Puch, and Stinna. There are new faces to look out for too though, including another rising Danish athlete Katrine bjelke Kristensen. She made her major debut in Tokyo last year, and could benefit from the lift a home crowd gives any athlete. “I feel that the pressure is a bit higher this time,” she said, “especially to give a good result for the team test. But, in a good way, I feel much more grown up now (after Tokyo).”

Pearson’s team mate, Georgia Wilson, is also a podium prospect after her two bronze medals in Tokyo, and look out too for the USA’s rising star, Beatrice de Lavalette.

The Netherlands Sanne Voets and Brazil’s Rodolpho Riskalla will renew their rivalry in the Grade IV competition. Voets is looking to defend her two World Championship titles from Tryon (USA) in 2018 while the two-time world and one-time Paralympic silver medal winning Brazilian will be looking for his first major title.

The Dutch and Brazilian pair’s plans for glory could, however, be interrupted by Kate Shoemaker from the USA. She is the current world number two in the grade, between Voets and Riskalla, but has had a succession of rising scores coming into the competition on her new horse, Quiana.

Grade V has, for so long now, been dominated by the trio of Belgium’s reigning double Paralympic champion, Michele George, Great Britain’s reigning double World champion, Sophie Wells, and The Netherlands’ reigning double European champion Frank Hosmar. That, however, could change in Herning as World and Paralympic bronze medallist Regine Mispelkamp progresses up the rankings in the grade, as does George’s team mate, Kevin Van Ham.

The overall Team placings have extra weight this year, as the top seven ranked teams will be the first to book their place for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The Netherlands are the defending champions and will want to avenge their close defeat by Great Britain at the Tokyo Games. However, a stronger Danish team could use its home advantage to take a spot too, while the USA will always be a threat. Germany can’t be underestimated either, and Belgium have a chance too.

Alongside the European and regular global teams, Herning will also welcome athletes from Greece, Mexico, Hong Kong, and the US Virgin Islands.

Competition starts with the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship presented by Elsass Fonden on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 August. The Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Team Championship presented by Pressalit takes place on Friday and Saturday 12 and 13 August, with the championship culminating in the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Freestyle Championship presented by Jysk on Sunday 14 August.

Last night, we witnessed the emotional farewell to the crowd favourite Atterupgårds Cassidy.  

In front of an enthusiastic home crowd Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour took one last dance under the spotlights with her beloved Cassidy. After 12 years together and countless championships under their belt, the two of them share an extraordinary partnership. However, time has come for the 19-year-old Cassidy to enjoy his senior life back home at Cathrine and Rasmine Laudrups-Dufour’s yard. Though it is important for Cathrine that Cassidy retires while he is fit and happy, it is never easy when a good thing comes to an end as Cathrine explains “it is the end of an era and that’s what makes this so emotional” she continues “but in reality nothing changes for me and Cassidy. We’ll keep having the same routines and we’ll keep training because Cassidy loves to train! But I feel that he deserved one last dance and his fans deserve one last dance.”

“So, tonight was for Cassidy. I owe him everything (…) he is my best friend and I do everything with him myself and that is the favourite part of my day. Just to be around him (…) he brings me so much peace and happiness.”

He will never do Grand Prix

Cassidy was not necessarily destined or expected to become one of the best dressage horses in the world. Even though he was doing well at the Danish Young Horse Championships, not many people believed he would progress beyond the small-tour. And the same can be said for Cathrine, who initially liked the feeling she got from Cassidy and together with her then-trainer Rune Willum decided that he would be the one even though she wasn’t completely blown way when she tried him, but explains “he was just so soft and supple and had so much power! And quickly after I’ve got him home, I realised that this could be something very special”.

She was proven right when they won their first individual medal at the FEI Dressage European Championships for Juniors 2010 just one month later. Cathrine thought that her first individual European Championship medal would be the highlight of her career, but this was only the beginning of a wonderful partnership. The pair would go on to win a medal at every European Championship for all age groups (Junior, Young Rider and Senior) and become the first partnership ever to have done so. “I also think that is why people love Cassidy so much”, Dufour responds when asked what she thinks is the reason for Cassidy’s huge popularity.

“It is the good story. That we have taken that long road together: a young normal girl and her young horse. I never had a Grand Prix horse before Cassidy, so I also had to learn, whilst I was educating him and because of that he made me the rider I am today.

“I only had this one horse and I loved him so much and even though the transfer from Young Rider to Grand Prix wasn’t easy and Cassidy and I struggled with the piaff, I couldn’t just give up on him nor on our partnership. I had to figure out what I was doing wrong since he didn’t understand, and therefor the focus was always on how I could help him. You don’t just quit on your best friend. That was also a huge lesson for me - keep trying until you succeed! So even if a horse has difficulties with one or two things it does not mean you should quite on them”. 

When living-legend Kyra Kyrklund joined their trainer team together with Nathalie Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein everything clicked, and Cathrine and Cassidy started to master that special art of making Grand Prix look effortless.

To have developed together with your horse like Cathrine has with Cassidy over many years gives a very special confidence in the partnership Cathrine explains “when I saw Cassidy for the first time, he was a six-year-old and afraid of the big screen. Fast forward to our international Grand Prix debut in 2015 it was the exact same situation! But at the time we had been through so much together already, so I never doubted we would also be able to solve that problem. And that is the beauty of having taken that long road together and developed the special bond that we have, it gives you a certain confidence - no matter the situation”. 

Cathrine highlights the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as one of her biggest moments with Cassidy “having my father walk me and Cassidy into the big arena at the Olympics was something I’ll never forget. When he let go of Cassidy, he said ‘Have a good ride and enjoy it’” Cathrine recalls. And so, they did. Finishing 13th in the Freestyle at their very first Olympic Games was a huge accomplishment which led to many offers to buy Cassidy, but for Cathrine, their partnership had grown so strong, and she says it was unfathomable to think of selling Cassidy and she’s grateful to her parents for letting her make that decision to keep him. So, Cassidy stayed with Cathrine and they went on to win an individual bronze at the FEI Dressage European Championship in Gothenburg in 2017. The pair were naturally contenders leading into the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 in Tryon, but unfortunately Cassidy suffered a minor injury in the field so they were unable to go. Fortunately, they bounced back for the European Championships 2019 in Rotterdam (NED) and took home yet another individual bronze medal. That would also be Cassidy’s last Championship, followed by a few more successful World Cups, before it was time to call it a day.

So, what is the most important lesson Cathrine takes away from her more than decade long partnership with Cassidy?

“I think what Cassidy has really taught me is how important good horsemanship is. You know, just how much of a difference it makes to really get to know you horse and spend time with them on the ground as well. It is really necessary to build that special bond if you expect them to give you everything in the arena.”

To view Cassidy’s greatest results – click here

For more on Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour – check out her FEI Biography here

For all the information about the ECCO FEI World Championships 2022 in Herning (DEN), check our press kit here

On Friday 5 August, FEI President Ingmar de Vos attended an online ceremony held by Migu, a subsidiary of telecom giant China Mobile, to celebrate the launch of Migu’s equestrian channel and the live-streaming of the FEI World Championships 2022 in China for the first time in history.

Migu, the rights-holding online live broadcasting partner for the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, is a leading live broadcasting platform in China for comprehensive digital content especially in the sporting domain. As part of the strategic partnership with the FEI, Migu will live stream the FEI World Championships 2022 in Herning (DEN), Pratoni (ITA) and Verona (ITA) on the newly launched equestrian channel.

Alongside providing live content from the World Championships for the first time to a growing Chinese equestrian audience, part of the events will also feature Chinese commentary, while highlights programmes will be available On Demand.  

With China being one of the key equestrian markets for the future, the FEI has been actively developing its presence in recent years in order to introduce and promote the sport with the broader Chinese public through the creation of official accounts on Chinese social media channels, as well as hands-on development initiatives including the hiring of a Regional Solidarity Manager to develop training programmes for equestrian coaches, officials and vets.  

“We are convinced that our partnership with Migu will contribute in an important way to a successful expansion,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“We work closely with the Chinese Equestrian Association and we can see the equestrian community in China developing rapidly and embracing all things related to equestrian. From hosting top events, to developing a strong network of clubs and promoting horsemanship and the equestrian lifestyle, there is a real vitality to the Chinese equestrian landscape. And this year, with the livestream of the FEI World Championships for the first time in China and the launch of Migu’s equestrian channel – this is again another important milestone!

“This dynamic growth of the sport - and the engagement from the next generation of athletes and fans is so important for the global equestrian family. We are ecstatic to partner with Migu so that we can ride this wave together and keep on growing the sport around China with the live streaming of Top Sport and an array of content which will delight Chinese fans and equestrians.”

The equestrian channel on Migu currently features sections including FEI World Championships 2022, Latest Equestrian News, Equestrian Disciplines Explainers, Review of Tokyo 2020 and a specific section for the tutorial content produced by the Chinese three-time Olympic rider Alex Hua Tian.

“It has been a great honour for us to become the only partner of the FEI in China to live stream the FEI World Championships 2022. We also look forward to the full cooperation with the FEI and Mr. Alex Hua Tian. On 6 August, the FEI World Championships, held only every four years, will get under way and we will be there to mark the moment.  With the mission of ‘creating the ultimate experience of sports stories’, Migu Sports will rely on China Mobile’s 5G+ leading advantages to broadcast exciting events on Migu’s multi-platforms,” Mr. Yan Zhongwei Deputy General Manager of China Mobile Migu said.

“In the future, Migu will continue working with the FEI to exploit the unique combination of the FEI’s intriguing top equestrian events and China Mobile's extensive user base, leading technology and event operation experience, bringing more immersive, more professional and more diversified equestrian sports content and services to the audience, in order to develop equestrian sports in China, and to promote Chinese sportsmanship.”

Photo caption: Mr. YAN Zhongwei (Deputy General Manager of China Mobile Migu), Mr. YANG Xingyang (General Manager of Migu Sports), Hua Fan (FEI), Ingmar De Vos (FEI President), Mr. LUAN Shu (Host, equestrian and music industry celebrity) 

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.

About China Mobile Migu
MIGU is a professional subsidiary set up by China Mobile to operate digital content for the mobile internet sector. It is committed to meeting the needs of the people for a better life through culture + technology. Established in 2014, MIGU has become a leading platform for brand all-scenario immersive experience and genuine digital content aggregation in China.
As a content aggregator and producer, MIGU has gathered over 40 million songs, 10.35 million videos, 1,200+ audio and video broadcasts, 9,000 Live Shows, 600,000+ books, 1,700+ online games, 2,346,000 episodes of animation and short videos, as well as a reserve of 49,000 hours of UHD content and 65,000 hours of VR content be stocked.
MIGU will continue to focus on the five major directions of UHD Video, Video Ringtone, Cloud Games, Cloud VR and AR, and delve into “5G+MSC”, “5G+Video Ringtone”, “5G+Cloud Games” and “5G+XR” to bring a brand new experience to users in the 5G era.

Great Britain’s Lottie Fry was the golden girl at the ECCO FEI World Championships 2022 in Herning, Denmark tonight when taking Grand Prix Special gold with the gorgeous stallion Glamourdale. On a night when the final four riders brought something very special to the ring it was host-nation superstar Cathrine Dufour who claimed silver medal spot ahead The Netherlands’ Dinja van Liere and Hermes.

Van Liere, who turns 32 next week, has a formidable record of success at the World Young Horse Dressage Championships, and in 2018 she steered Hermes into bronze medal spot in the Six-Year-Old category. Move on four years and the pair have achieved a very great deal, peaking with a clean sweep of victories at the CDIO5* on home ground in Rotterdam six weeks ago.

Yesterday they helped clinch an Olympic qualifying spot for their country when the Dutch finished fifth in the Blue Hors FEI Dressage Team World Championship, and in today’s Grand Prix Special they posted a new leading score of 79.407 when fourth-last to go. It wasn’t what she had been hoping for - “I really wanted over 80%” she admitted at tonight’s post-competition press conference, but it was enough to pressure the final few in the closing stages and stake that place on the podium.

Impressed

“He was a bit impressed by the arena on Saturday and again today, but we had a job to do and we wanted to do a nice test without big mistakes so I was happy I could do that. He spooked twice a little bit but quickly focused again and went on. He’s still so young and so talented!”, she said of her 10-year-old stallion.

Character-wise apparently Hermes is “really smart but he’s also a clown and thinks everything is so funny. He’s really enthusiastic which makes him fun to ride and he loves all the attention. You can see it when we do the salute at the end of a test, he has a really big ego and next to that he has so much talent for all the collected work and piaffe and passage so I’m really happy to have a horse like him”, the Dutch rider said.

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Vamos Amigos settled the fate of team gold in Denmark’s favour yesterday and the crowd in the Stutteri Ask Stadium were with them every step of the way again in today’s Grand Prix Special. In a delightful test they earned a mark of nine for a transition before making a costly mistake in the two-tempis they still put them out in front with the first over-80-percent score when putting 81.322 on the board.

“I’m really pleased with Vamos, he felt a lot better than yesterday. I felt the connection improved a lot. Of course there was that bit in the two-tempis, that’s just sport and we tried to go for it - and the crowd were fantastic!”, she said.

Still screaming

That crowd were still screaming when Fry came into the ring with just two left to go. “They were literally going wild and he (Glamourdale) could feel the atmosphere and rose to it today. He was trying so hard and he gave me the most incredible feeling throughout the test!”, the British rider said.

Yesterday she admitted that she was concerned that their lack of expertise in the pirouettes would let herself and her horse down today. But in the end they nailed them.

“Anne van Olst, my trainer, was up the entire night worrying how I was going to fix those pirouettes, and I got a great tip from Isabell as well. And with the combination of both of them we got it done today!”, she said, having posted what would be the winning score of 82.508.

It wasn’t decided however until the final partnership of Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz came into the ring as the last pair to go. And the German ace and defending Grand Prix Special World champion made quite an entrance.

As she passed the departing Fry on her way into the ring she gave her British rival a congratulatory high-five before re-establishing the most dramatic passage in preparation for going down the centreline. It was a wonderful sporting gesture.

“Isabell is literally the queen!”, Fry said of the Dressage superstar who slotted into fourth place, just off the podium, with a score of 79.073. “She is amazing, she has inspired me since I was five years old so it’s incredible and she’s the nicest person, always cheering and supporting!”.

Blown away

Talking about Glamourdale, Fry said she was blown away the first time she rode him as a six-year-old. “I’d never sat on anything like him before. He’s always been so special and the feeling he gives now is the same as when he was six - the sky is the limit!

“When he was seven he won the World Championship for Young Horses and that was when we knew he was a massive showman, he loves going in the ring, the more people the better, he wants to show off, he just wants everyone’s eyes on him! And then we made the step to Grand Prix and he just keeps getting better and better and stronger. He’s one in a million, I’ll never find one like him again. The future is also so exciting, this is his first senior championship and I feel like there is so much we can improve that it’s scary!”, Fry said.

Now it’s on to the last collection of medals in Wednesday’s Grand Prix Freestyle. Fry says she has something very special under her belt with her floorplan and musical score.   

“The theme is Best of Britain, it’s all British tracks and it really suits Glamourdale. When you turn it on he just can’t stop dancing to it!”

So don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result 

It was goosebumps galore today in the finals of the Mustang FEI Vaulting World Championships 2022 in Herning (DEN). Double gold for France in the Individual categories and a repeat success for the team from Germany matching their 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ gold medal in the squad competition.

Things started to heat up as Kimberly Palmer entered the Boxen arena earning a score of 8.701 and an overall fifth place finish for the USA native. With tensions running high, Averill Saunders (CAN) slipped off the horse and dropped out of medal contention allowing Sheena Bendixen to rise to the occasion and win the bronze medal for the home nation (8.511). The silver went to Germany’s Julia Sophie Wagner, competing with her Mum on the end of the lunge she kept a cool head in her first major final (8.529). It had been nineteen years since any female medal went home to France and even then, it was the bronze, but history was made today by Manon Moutinho, 9.296 for her final free test, a step above the rest winning the gold medal on a final score of 8.963. “I’m really happy for my country, it’s good to show that French girls can do it too.”

In a class of his own Lambert Leclezio (FRA) won his fourth World title, once again breaking records with a combined score of 9.399 he described this as his best World Championship win. He will retire after the Nations team final.

Continuing the success for France, Quentin Jabet took the silver medal on 8.837.  His horse, Ronaldo 200, briefly dropped into trot right before the end of his test however he stood firm and finished off what was an incredible programme. Jannik Heiland, (GER) steady, soft and strong aboard Dark Beluga completed the Men’s podium (8.833).

A technical problem with the computer gave Sam dos Santos (NED) a tortuous wait in the arena for his music. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to unnerve him, but he couldn’t quite hold on to his overnight third, he finished the competition in fifth, 8.720, an impressive feat at a mere sixteen years of age.

With three medals already firmly around French necks,  the squad final got underway. The atmosphere building in the arena proved too much for the Austrian team horse leaving Switzerland free to collect the bronze medal (8.279).  Team Germany was second to last to compete performing almost flawlessly on top of Calidor 10, Patric Looser working hard from the center. It was a big score, 9.063, and a tough act to follow for the already well decorated French vaulters. A few small errors were all that made the difference and gave the final gold of the day to the Germans (8.614) marginally ahead of France (8.549).

Two gold medals remain to be won on Wednesday. First, we will see the completion of the Pas de Deux class and a high probability of a German top two, the third place remains quite open.

Finishing third in the squad freestyle round and fourth overall Denmark has high hopes for the Nations team competition where we will see two individuals and one squad from the top eight nations battle it out for the final medal. It will be a Germany vs France showdown to top the medal table.

Over 4,500 equestrian stakeholders have participated in a survey designed to take the pulse of the community on topics relating to horse welfare and wellbeing, as well as specific concerns regarding the use of horses in sport.

Early survey results were discussed during the first in-person meeting of the newly formed Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission at the FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) on 3 and 4 August. While initially set up as the Social License to Operate Commission, the 10 members decided to change the name to better reflect the aims and mission of the group’s work at their inaugural meeting in June.

“We believe that this is the first time an international survey has been carried out to understand the perception of welfare standards in relation to the use of horses in sport,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“We cannot assume there is general acceptance of horse use in sport, and it’s important that we – the global governing body - proactively seek input from the community to gauge and to address any concerns they may have. Equestrian sport depends on the wellbeing of its horses, and the FEI has a duty to ensure high standards of welfare for the horses competing in each of our disciplines, and also to consider the impact that our sporting activities have on the environment. This is a role we understand and we are fully committed to.

“If our sport is to keep its social license, our community and the public need to believe and trust that our work is being carried out to the highest moral and ethical standards.

“While we have comprehensive systems and mechanisms in place to protect the welfare of the horse, we need to have our finger on the pulse so that we understand, and then clearly address, the priority concerns for different stakeholders, including the public.”

The Commission has initiated two surveys to help with their work. The equestrian stakeholder survey, available in English, French and Spanish, will run till 19 August and will draw on the views of FEI Athletes, Officials, Owners, Organising Committees, Grooms, National Federations and related associations (MOUs), as well as the wider equestrian sector stakeholders.

There will also be a public opinion survey that will be translated into several languages and conducted in 14 key global markets, using a specialist market research and data company.

The results of both surveys will be analysed, and the data considered alongside information from focus groups, the latest research in the area of equine wellbeing, and input from related industry bodies. These insights will help inform a ‘framework’ to guide the development of FEI regulations, policies and practices in the future, including but not limited to education initiatives, standard setting, engagement and enforcement.

“The significant number of responses we have already received is a good indication that the equestrian community is ready and willing to discuss issues related to the welfare of horses in sport,” Chair of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission Professor Dr. Natalie Waran said.

“The equestrian community is complex and there are many different stakeholders with diverse points of view. We want to gather and understand these concerns and then consider what should be done to not only help improve equine wellbeing, but also address the understanding of horse use in sport around the world.  

“It is clear that equine welfare is important for those who are involved with horses at all levels as well as being of concern to members of the public. Improving welfare standards and practice requires a commitment from everyone within the equestrian community. These surveys are not just an opportunity for the Commission to understand global attitudes but also a chance for the general public to have their opinions heard and addressed.”

The Commission will work together over an initial period of 18-months, with an interim report to be presented at the FEI General Assembly in November 2022 in Cape Town (RSA), followed by a second report at the FEI Sports Forum in April 2023 and a final report/framework to be submitted for approval at the FEI General Assembly 2023 in Mexico.

Quick links
More information on the work and composition of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission can be found on Inside.FEI.org.

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 when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving. The number of international Para Equestrian events has almost tripled in 10 years.

They were always tipped to take the title, and Denmark’s Nanna Merrald Rasmussen, Carina Cassøe Krüth, Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour lived up to the challenge in style when claiming team gold on home ground at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning tonight. But they were chased all the way to the line by Great Britain’s Richard Davison, Gareth Hughes, Charlotte Dujardin and Charlotte Fry who finished just over one percentage point behind in silver medal position while the defending champions from Germany had to settle for bronze.

As the last two riders from each of the nations in strong contention took their turn it was nip-and-tuck all the way and impossible to predict where the medals would fall until the very end. But despite the most intense pressure the Danes achieved the goal they set themselves when these Championships were first allocated to their country three years ago, earning the world team title for the very first time.

Heat

British star and London Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin and her nine-year-old Imhotep began to turn up the heat early this afternoon when putting 77.407 on the board, and when team-mate and last-line rider Charlotte (Lottie) Fry produced a breath-taking test from Glamourdale for a new leading score of 80.839 then Team GB went out in front.

Dujardin was thrilled with the horse she calls Pete. “He’s only done three Grand Prix competitions, he’s very inexperienced and I had no idea how he was going to be in there today. I was so proud of him, I had one little blip but it was just a miscommunication more than anything, I absolutely love that horse. He makes me smile from ear to ear every day! He has so much power, so much expression, he wants to work and to please you. Now he just needs to get used to the environment and to be given some time”, she said.

She has been riding Imhotep since he was five years old. “I haven’t done big shows with him but I know him well and have a really good partnership with him”, she explained. She is taking care not to ask too much from him too soon in his career however. “It’s a fine line because he’s nine and I don’t want to overdo it, but I wanted to do enough to get enough points for the team today. I didn’t want to scare him and I felt I had a really nice ride but I can’t tell you how big everything feels. In a year or two when he can manage all that power he’s going to be spectacular!”, she pointed out.

It was Fry’s performance that firmly sealed Britain’s place on the podium however. This 26-year-old dressage athlete’s angelic expression masks nerves of steel. She didn’t hold back when it came to giving her all in the ring today, and Glamourdale relished every moment of it, leaving the crowd gasping while he racked up maximum 10 scores for much of his canterwork.

“He’s a massive showman!”, Fry said. “He and I were in our own little bubble but when the crowd clapped on the last centreline he loved it, he lifted his head and he went Wow!!”

Had to do

Meanwhile Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Marshall-Bell earned 76.584 for the home side, so when Danish anchor Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour entered the arena with Vamos Amigos she knew what she had to do. She had heard the crowd hailing Fry’s spectacular performance, but she wasn’t going to let that intimidate her. She says pressure just gives her a lift.

“I’ve been dealing with it since I did my first Championship when I was 11 years old and I’m fine with it, it just brings me closer into the zone!”, she said after putting the biggest score of the competition on the board with 81.863 which would leave Denmark on the top step of the podium, but only 1.228% ahead of the British in silver medal spot while Isabell Werth and DSP Qantaz and Frederic Wandres and Duke of Britain FRH secured bronze for Germany, their final tally of 230.791 leaving them less than three percentage points further adrift.

Laudrup-Dufour was also partnering a horse that is still on a learning curve. Vamos Amigos hasn’t always been the most settled ride but he has come into his own this year. “I managed to ride him to the limit but stay on the right side of chaotic and brilliant today!”, she said. “He’s had a super season so far, he’s been riding a wave since Neumunster really. Leipzig (Longines FEI Dressage World Cup Final 2022 in April) was like riding on a bomb but I think that atmosphere might have matured him too”, she pointed out.

Satisfied

German star Isabell Werth has competed in many World Championships during her sparkling career and said that she and her team “are very satisfied with our bronze medal”. Her country’s record is second-to-none with 12 titles from 15 editions of the team competition, but it’s a time of change with new partnerships emerging and others leaving the sport.

“We didn’t come here as favourites and we knew the Danish would ride for the gold. We were not quite sure about the British but Charlotte always delivers when she needs to. We had a really open championship and it was nice to see. We are not disappointed at all and we knew when we came here with new riders and horses that it would be difficult. It was a great competition and we are all satisfied with our results”, she said.

This gold medal means a great deal to all of the Danish team. Nanna Merrald Rasmussen, who set out the Danish stall with a great ride on Blue Hors Zack yesterday admitted the reality hasn’t quite sunk in yet. “I was shaking and so stressed when Catherine was riding. We saw Lottie (Fry) riding on our phone in the stables and saw she was amazing so we knew Catherine had to ride at her best to get the gold. To finally bring this medal home is amazing!”, she said.

The only time Denmark has ever placed on the Dressage World Championship podium was back in 1982 in Lausanne (SUI) when Anne Grethe Jensen (Marzog), Tove jorck-Jorckston (Lazuly and Finn Sakso-Larsen (Coq d’Or) clinched bronze.

“We are all overwhelmed!”, admitted Danish Chef d’Equipe Anne-Mette Binder tonight. “We hoped to make a good impression and have a good result here in Herning for the Danish audience but also for everyone travelling here. The riders all followed the plans we had from the start and I’m really, really proud of my team today. The expectations were high and our fantastic riders have fulfilled them!”, she added.

Of the 19 competing nations Team Sweden finished fourth ahead of The Netherlands in fifth and Team USA in sixth, and the top six nations have now qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

However attention now turns to tomorrow’s Grand Prix Special for which the top-30 individuals have qualified, and if this weekend’s team competition is anything to go by it’s going to be another gripping day of top sport.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat

Results here