ECCO FEI World Championships 2022

With a tide of change once again sweeping through the sport of international Dressage, it seems very possible that the host nation will shine when the ECCO FEI World Championships 2022 gets underway in 10 days time. With a mighty show of strength over the last year, and impressive results at the premier showcase in Aachen (GER) just a few short weeks ago, Team Denmark is in great shape right now.

Leading the charge is world no 2, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, who partnered Bohemian in the team that finished fourth at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games last summer. They then went on to win team bronze at the European Championships in Hagen (GER) a few weeks later where Dufour also claimed individual bronze in the Grand Prix Special and silver in the Freestyle.

Major stir

Roll on 2022 and the Danes caused another major stir when swamping the leaderboard at the fifth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2021/2022 Western European League in Neumunster (GER) in February. World no. 1, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, claimed pole position with her Tokyo Olympic champion TSF Dalera BB but, in a field filled with class, Laudrup-Dufour - this time riding the younger Vamos Amigos - finished second ahead of compatriots Nanna Skodborg Merrald (Atterupgaards Orthilia) and Carina Cassøe Krüth (Heiline’s Danciera) in third and fourth. German legend Isabell Werth had to settle for fifth place with her relatively new ride, DSP Qantaz.

Then at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Leipzig (GER) in April, Laudrup-Dufour and Vamos Amigos finished second in the Short Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle, each time sharing the podium with von Bredow-Werndl and Werth. And in Aachen earlier this month she was joined by Skodborg Merrald, Cassøe Krüth and Daniel Bachmann Andersen (Marshall-Bell) to post victory in the penultimate leg of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ 2022 series before going on to win both the Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle with Vamos Amigos.

It’s no wonder that this is the team now selected to represent the host country when the action kicks off in just over a weeks’ time.

History

The history of the FEI Dressage World Championships dates back to 1966 when the first edition was staged at the Swiss Cavalry School in Bern (SUI) with a starting field of just 24 competitors. Germany has been the dominant force since then, claiming the team title for the twelfth time at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Tryon (USA) in 2018.

Running on a four-year cycle. half-way between each Olympic Games, Denmark has only once made it onto the Team podium when taking bronze at the fifth edition in Lausanne (SUI) in 1982.

However the Danish team finished fourth and Andreas Helgstrand really put his country on the map when clinching Freestyle silver and Grand Prix Special bronze in Aachen in 2006 partnering Blue Hors Matine. The pair were in the best of company, with superstars Isabell Werth and Satchmo and The Netherlands’ Anky van Grunsven and Salinero filling the other two podium places on each occasion.

And now Team Denmark are a real force to be reckoned with.

Paris 2024

The Blue Hors FEI Dressage World Championships 2022 provides the first qualification opportunity for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games so there’s a lot hanging in the balance.  The top six teams, excluding the hosts, will make the cut from the long list of 20 competing nations that includes Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and USA.

A total of 95 athletes from 34 countries will line out, and there will be individual representatives from another 14 countries; Armenia, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Hungary, India, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Morocco, Moldova, Palestine, Singapore and South Africa.

The defending Team champions from Germany will of course be determined to uphold their incredible record despite the absence of von Bredow-Werndl and her lovely mare TSF Dalera BB who have been all but unbeatable for some time now. With a new baby on the way very shortly the Olympic, European and World Cup champion is sidelined for the moment, so her country’s four-strong side consists of Werth (DSP Quantaz), Frederic Wandres (Duke of Britain FRH), Benjamin Werndl (Famoso OLD) and the extraordinary Ingrid Klimke (Franziskus 15), a multiple champion in the sport of Eventing whose father, Reiner Klimke, was a double world champion in Dressage and one of the great horsemen of all time.

German party

Only a narrow defeat by the Soviet Union in 1970 and a bronze medal finish behind the winning Dutch in 2010 have spoiled the German team party down the years. Great  Britain took bronze and the USA slotted into silver medal spot in 2018, and this year’s American side is headed up by Steffen Peters (Suppenkasper) who will be joined by Katie Duerhammer (Quartett), Ashley Holzer (Valentine) and Adrienne Lyle (Salvino). Meanwhile putting their best feet forward for Britain will be Richard Davison (Bubblingh), Charlotte Dujardin (Imhotep), Charlotte Fry (Glamourdale) and Gareth Hughes (Classic Briolinca).

Team Sweden’s Jeanna Hogbeg (Astoria), Patrik Kittel (Touchdown), Therese Nilshagen (Dante Weltino OLD) and Juliette Ramel (Buriel KH) can be relied upon to give a good account of themselves as can the Dutch foursome of Emmelie Scholtens (Indian Rock), Marieke van der Putten (Torveslettens Titanium), Dinja van Liere (Hermes) and Thamar Zweistra (Hexagon’s Ich Weiss). But if the Danes continue to fire on all cylinders then the rest are going to have to be at their very best to keep them in check.

It’s all to play for with three sets of medals on offer in the Team event, the individual Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle. The Grand Prix, which will run over two days - Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August - will decide the result of the Team competition and the top 30 finishers will qualify for the Grand Prix Special on Monday 8. The top 15 here will then go through to the Grand Prix Freestyle in which a maximum of three athletes per country are permitted to participate on Wednesday 10 August.

The exceptional Isabell Werth, who won the first of her five World Championship Team gold medals at The Hague (NED) in 1994, was on the victorious 2018 German team and also won the Grand Prix Special with the now-retired mare Bella Rose and will be looking to defend that title too. The Freestyle competition did not take place in Tryon due to a forecast for extreme weather conditions, so the last Freestyle world champion was Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin who swept all before her with the amazing Valegro in Caen (FRA) in 2014.

More classic Dressage history is about to be made, so don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Definite Entries, Timetable and much more here

Sweden clinches 2022 series title

A compact but accomplished field lined up for the finale of the 2022 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series at Falsterbo (SWE), including the top two teams in the standings, but that didn't stop Denmark from running away with the competition. The win marked a second straight victory for the Danish squad after triumphing in Aachen two weeks ago.

The four-rider team of Nanna Skodborg Merrald (Blue Hors. St. Schufro), Nadja Aaboe Sloth (Favour Gersdorf), Anna Kasprzak (Addict de Massa) and Daniel Bachmann Andersen (Zippo M.I.) impressed with their consistent excellence across the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle tests. The group finished on a total of just 14 points, well ahead of The Netherlands (30 points) and Sweden (31).

"There has not been one ride we came away [feeling poorly about]. Everyone really delivered. I'm so proud to be a part of this team."

Daniel Bachmann Andersen (DEN)

Sweden's Patrik Kittel shined individually aboard the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding Blue Hors Zepter, winning the Grand Prix (75.261%) and finishing second in the Freestyle (80.865%), but it was not enough to hold off Denmark. In fact, Danish riders took up two-thirds of the podium in every test. 

They shared the wealth. Bachmann Andersen performed best for his team in the Grand Prix, finishing second with Zippo M.I. on a score of 75.043% before topping the Special on 73.723%. Both scores were personal bests for him and his 10-year-old mount.

"He's quite a green horse. This was just his sixth show at the Grand Prix level," Bachmann Andersen said. "He's shown a lot of quality, and and he's improved since his last show. Overall, I'm happy with his development. He has had a good experience here. It's all a part of the journey."

Nanna Skodborg Merrald stole the spotlight in the Freestyle, taking the win with 11-year-old Blue Hors St. Schufro in what was the stallion's debut in the test. Inexperience did not prove to be a hindrance, as the pair received a top score of 81.080%. 

"I'm really happy and really proud of [my horse]," Merrald said. "He's still very green, and this was his first Grand Prix Freestyle ever. It's not a freestyle I've made for him, so there was a little bit of improvising. In the end, he did really well. There were some small misunderstandings, but overall, I had a clean test without big mistakes, and I'm really happy with that."

The win leaves the squad feeling confident as they make their final preparations for the upcoming FEI World Dressage Championships on home soil in Hernig (DEN).

"It's always fantastic to have a Nations Cup, where you can come out and train to be a team and compete as a team before going out for a World Championship," Bachmann Andersen said. "It's always bigger pressure riding for an entire team, and it's good to be trying out different combinations and see how everyone is riding on a team."

Although finishing third, Sweden still came away with a victory, having secured the 2022 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series title before competition began. With less than four teams competing at Falsterbo, the event did not count for series points. Sweden, also finishing on the podium at Compiègne (FRA), Rotterdam (NED) and Aachen (GER), completed the season with 37 points. The Netherlands finished second on 24 points, with Spain third (20 points).

"We were very strong from the beginning. At every show, we had a different team, and that is a strength of the country to have four different teams and be on the podium every time," said Sweden's chef d'equipe Bo Jena. "The experience we get from Nations Cup competitions are [ones] we take with us to the next show, the next year and for the future."

In a competition containing all the ingredients that make this particular equestrian team sport stand out from all the rest, Belgium won through at the fourth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2022 Europe Division 1 series at Falsterbo in Sweden today.

Few could have predicted that the hosts and reigning Olympic champions from Sweden would finish seventh of the eight competing nations, and that last place would go to the reigning European champions from Switzerland. And even fewer would have expected that Great Britain would lose out on the opportunity to jump off against the eventual winners because their anchor rider didn’t hear the second-round start bell.

But Nations Cup Jumping is all about unpredictability, tension and excitement, and the spectators at Falsterbo today enjoyed all of that, and more, despite the unexpected result for the home side.

Any course designed by Germany’s Frank Rothenberger is always to be taken seriously, but with 15 fault-free efforts in the first round his 12-fence track seemed very jumpable. Second time out however it was a different story.

Halfway stage

Great Britain and Norway had the whip hand with zero scores at the halfway stage while the Belgians carried four faults into round two as did the Swiss. The Dutch were close behind with just five on the board while Team Italy had eight and both Sweden and Denmark already had 12 on the board.

However the Danes rallied brilliantly with double-clears from both Linnea Ericsson-Carey (Skorphults Baloutendro) and Andreas Schou (Independent) which moved them up the leaderboard to fifth in the final analysis. On the other hand the addition of 20 penalties saw the Swiss plummet to last place as they struggled against the track that had been significantly raised second time out. Meanwhile the Belgians really stood their ground and piled all the pressure on the leaders.

Pieter Clemens and Koen Vereecke both posted double-clears, and when 24-year-old Gilles Thomas, who left two on the floor first time out, also returned with nothing to add at his second attempt then the Belgian scoreline remained intact at four faults and was now the one to beat.

Because when Norwegian pathfinder Marie Valder Longem (Echo de Virton) landed in the open water at fence six, Marit Haarr Skollerud (Nelson van’t Roosakker) racked up eight faults and Benedikte Endresen (Stenhaga Tulip Tattoo) collected five, then not even the brilliant double-clear from the legendary Geir Gulliksen (Equine America Grandino H) could prevent the Norwegian tally from rising to nine faults.

Still in contention

The British however still looked well in contention when Jessica Mendoza’s eight faults with Play were followed by just a single error from Joseph Stockdale and Equine America Cacharel and then a brilliant second clear from Jodie Hall McAteer with Salt’N Peppa. If the anchor partnership of Ellen Whitaker and Equine America Spacecake could follow suit then Mendoza’s eight could be dropped and the British would carry only Stockdale’s four and would jump off against the Belgians to decide the result.

And it seemed to be all about to happen until, to her utter disbelief, Whitaker saw four time faults going up on the board after she completed her otherwise copybook round. On a final scoreline of eight faults the British would have to settle for third place at the end of the day because the rock-solid Dutch foursome of Jur Vrieling (Long John Silver 3), Johnny Pals (Charley), Patrick Lemmen (Exit Remo) and Harrie Smolders (Darry Lou) added absolutely nothing to their five-fault first-round tally to slot into runner-up spot.

Very happy

“I was very happy that we won but I felt very sorry for Ellen - I don’t think she heard the bell!”, said winning team rider Pieter Clemens afterwards.

Of course he was delighted with the foot-perfect performance of his mare, Hulde G, who helped clinch this important victory. “She’s only nine years old and so far one of best horses I’ve ever had - she’s a real fighter, she tries to give everything to you and she has a great mentality”, he said.

Talking about the course he explained that when the vertical at fence two was raised for the second round along with the second two elements of the triple combination at fence nine and the following oxer, then it increased the degree of difficulty significantly. “And the water (at fence 6) was early enough - after that some horses lost control a bit and I struggled there in first round”, he pointed out.

He was full of praise for the Falsterbo Horse Show organising team, and for the Swedish spectators. “This is an amazing venue and the surface in the arena is good for our horses. They do a great show here and the spectators are fantastic!”, he said.

Reflected

Meanwhile team-mate Koen Vereecke reflected on a superb return to the Swedish fixture. “Last time I was here was in 2016, and what a comeback it is today by winning the Nations Cup!”, he said.

His Chef d’Equipe, Peter Weinberg, had plenty of reasons to be happy too. “My team was brilliant in round one and even better in the second round! We have lots of Nations Cups happening at the moment so we have different riders here and for Gilles (Thomas) this was his first 5* Nations Cup and he was great!”, he said. Thomas, double European Champion at Junior level and team silver medallist at the FEI European Young Riders Championship in 2019, is yet another blossoming Belgian talent.

Weinberg is already planning for Belgium’s final outing in the Europe Division 1 series in which all of the nine teams have been allocated four events from the six qualifiers which conclude in Dublin (IRL) in mid-August. Only seven of the nine competing nations will make the cut to the Longines series Final in Barcelona (ESP) in late September, and Belgium lies fourth on the league table after today’s result.

“In two weeks we will have the next round at Hickstead (GBR) and the team will be the same except for the fifth rider. We will try to get some more points there to ensure our participation in Barcelona and I am quite confident that we will make it”, he said.

Result 

Standings 

Team Switzerland are proving to be ‘the ones to watch’, in this year’s FEI Eventing Nations Cup™, after winning both their appearances in the Series. On both occasions the Swiss riders have won both team and individual prizes in the CCIO4*-NC-S. After winning the opening leg in Pratoni (ITA) back in May, this time they delighted their home crowd in Avenches. This promising quartet - three of whom competed in Pratoni, all showed strong two-phase jumping performances, to finish on a score of 127.7.

Just as they had in Pratoni, France had to settle for second spot in Avenches - this time scoring 134.9. There were just four teams competing in this fourth leg of the Nations Cup, and after a disappointing team performance on the cross-country, Germany lagged behind on 216.1 and Italy on 256.4.

A superb double clear in the cross-country and Jumping phases was achieved by Robin Godel, who rode the fastest cross-country clear of the day, adding just 0.4 of a time penalty to his good dressage score. This meant the 23 year old rider, was also a deserving individual winner of the CCIO4*-NC-S. He was also crowned the winner of the Swiss National Championships. Fittingly, he was riding the Swiss-bred horse, Grandeur de Lully CH. The ever-consistent pair climbed from fourth place after the dressage to first after the cross-country. Speaking after the prize-giving he said:

“I can’t be more happy right now. I am happy we have another win for the team. Grandeur was great from start to finish. We managed to handle the pressure here at home. In the individual category, I had no choice- I had to make a clean sweep.”

Also contributing significantly to the team victory and proving that age is irrelevant to eventing success, were 20 year old Nadja Minder and 52 year old Patrik Rüegg, who said “the atmosphere is very special. There were a lot of people on the cross-country. I am proud of our performance today”.

Making up the quartet was 38 year old Mélody Johner who rode her Tokyo Olympic team horse Toubleu de Rueire, to finish fourth individually. She has been riding ‘Toubleu’ since 2020 and describes the 15 year old Selle-Francais gelding as “a very generous and experienced horse”. Johner hopes good results here will put the pair in contention for the FEI Eventing World Championships which will be held in Pratoni from 15-18 September. “I am moved and happy. The cross-country was quite technical. The requirements we have set ourselves up to have now been met. Now we have to continue working”, she said.

The French team led after the dressage phase but lost their edge over the Swiss in the cross-country phase on the basis of time faults. World-renowned course designer, Mike Etherington-Smith built a strong cross-country test which made the most of the natural features and topography, with no riders making the time and only 19 riders out of a total of 36 jumping clear.

Six-time Olympian Andrew Nicholson has been coaching the Swiss team for several years and summed up the competition.

“I am very pleased with my team’s performance. The course was a proper four star and used a lot of the same track at the Europeans last year. We are now focusing on the World Championships.

The event took place at the Institut Equestre National d'Avenches (IENA) - also the site for last year’s FEI Eventing European Championships as well as the FEI European Pony Championships for Dressage, Eventing and Jumping in 2008. It is on the outskirts of Avenches, the former capital of Roman Helvetia, and is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland.

The overall result means that Italy, who have attended all four legs of the Series are now leading on 245 points, whilst Sweden are in second on 220. Switzerland who have now won both of their appearances are on 200 points which puts them in third place at this early stage of the Nations Cup Series. Le Pin au Haras (FRA) will host the fifth leg which runs from 11-14 August.

Full results can be found here.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the FEI Tribunal decision issued on 2 February 2022, in the Horse Abuse case involving the athlete Esam Zbibi (FEI ID 10184793/GBR) and his support personnel Hicham Gharib, regarding the horse HH Sigma (FEI ID 105XP18/UAE) at the CSI3* in Abu Dhabi (UAE) 23-26 February 2021.

The athlete had engaged in horse abuse, and the trainer in incorrect behaviour in relation to horse abuse, by using boots with sharp pins on the horse during the competition.

In its final decision the FEI Tribunal ruled that Esam Zbibi had engaged in Horse Abuse and imposed a four-year ineligibility period on him starting from the date of the decision, meaning he is suspended until 1 February 2026. The athlete was also fined CHF 10,000 and asked to pay costs of CHF 2,000.

The FEI Tribunal also ruled that Hicham Garib had engaged in Incorrect Behaviour and imposed a one year ineligibility period on starting from the date of the decision, meaning he is suspended until 1 February 2023. He was also fined CHF 5,000 and asked to pay costs of CHF 2,000.

The final decision of the FEI Tribunal is available here.

The operative part of the Arbitral Award issued by CAS can be found here.

The FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ at Aachen (GER) was full of emotion as Denmark recorded its first victory in the history of the event. Nanna Skodborg Merrald (Atterupgaards Orthilia), Daniel Bachmann Andersen (Marshall-Bell), Carina Cassøe Krüth (Heiline's Danciera) and Cathrine Dufour (Vamos Amigos) gave Team Manager Anne-Mette Binder a birthday to remember as the quartet triumphed over the home nation in the penultimate event of the 2022 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series. 

Denmark finished on a winning total of 459.421 points after tallying the three best scores from the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. Germany was left on 454.903 points after team anchor and seven-time Olympic gold medalist Isabell Werth (DSP Quantaz) was shockingly eliminated in the Special when blood was found on her horse's mouth. Sweden finished third (440.499 points)

"It's just really fun building this [team] together," Dufour said. "It was an annoying way to win in the end with Isabell, but I still think that we did a super job today. Everyone contributed."

The runners-up from April's FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, Dufour and Vamos Amigos anchored the group with career-best scores in both the Grand Prix (81.544) and Grand Prix Special (80.064). The pair was the only combination to score above 80 percent.

"I'm super proud of [Vamos Amigos]. He did a super job again in the ring today [in the Grand Prix Special]," Dufour said. "I might have had five minutes too much warm-up, so I had little less power compared to the Grand Prix, when he was super, super electric. He's 10 years old and is doing super job."

Bachmann was not expecting to be at Aachen after Marshall-Bell was sold to U25 rider Nicole Ahorner of Austria earlier this year, but a meaningful summer reunion has transpired in hopes that horse and rider can make Denmark's team for the upcoming FEI World Championships in Hernig (DEN). After finishing 11th in the Grand Prix (73.696%), the pair rose in the standings with a Grand Prix Special test worthy of 75.234%. 

"This was our last selection [event] for our team for [the World Championships]. I was very happy. It was a big day for me," Bachmann said. "I rode [Marshall-Bell] eight times before coming here. It was a little stressful but still a good experience."

"We are proud—overwhelmed I would say I am," Binder said. "I'm really grateful to have such good riders and lovely horses and horse owners that support us all the way."

With its podium finish, Sweden extended its lead in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series with 41 points. The Netherlands moved into second with 24 points, while Spain sits third (20 points). The series concludes at Falsterbo (SWE), 14-17 July.

The first-ever FEI Youth Equestrian Games came to a thrilling conclusion this afternoon on the hallowed ground of Aachen in Germany where South Africa’s Thomas van Rijckevorsel claimed Individual gold ahead of Morocco’s Jed Guerraoui in silver while USA’s Mimi Gochman earned bronze.

The story of this fixture, designed to replace the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games which were postponed to 2026, is already epic, with the 30 contestants from 30 different nations - all aged between 15 and 18 - providing an incredible week of sport. Riding borrowed horses which they must get to know within a few short days, they showed extraordinary skill, maturity and horsemanship against the background of arguably the most intimidating arena in the world.

And today 17-year-old van Rijckevorsel put his name into the history books when taking the individual title with the nine-year-old mare, Lucy 781.

“It was amazing - it hasn’t sunk in yet, it’s the best thing that ever happened to me!”, said the young man who was also part of the Team Africa quintet who claimed bronze in Thursday’s team medal decider.

Bigger track

Top German course designer, Frank Rothenberger, presented them with an even bigger track today with fences measuring up to 1.30m, but 18 of the 30 starters still managed to jump the first course clear.

By this final afternoon most of the relationships between the new horse/athlete partnerships had really gelled, and although the line of fences from the vertical at fence five to the triple-combination at six and the following oxer at fence seven proved the undoing of some, it was clear that those going through to the second-round jump-off were all still highly competitive.

Colombia’s Juan Felipe Gonzalez Cova gave it his all to set the target at 36.95 seconds with the 12-year-old gelding Diacco-Blue when first to take on the new course, but Egypt’s Haya Osama El Borai and the eight-year-old mare Jadzia galloped home more than two seconds quicker when third into the ring.

Then Great Britain’s Claudia Moore and Largo van de Molenhoek reset the target when clearing the line in 33.71 seconds and that looked tough enough to beat. But Germany’s Charlotte Hoing, who along with Moore was a member of the Team Europe silver medal winning side on Thursday, had other ideas when next to go.

Setting off like a rocket with the chestnut gelding Andy’sBoy Bretoniere, the 17-year-old had the home crowd screaming in delight as she raced around the track only to fall foul of the very final fence for four faults in an incredible time of 31.18 seconds.

Next in, Belgium’s Bart Jay Junior Vandecasteele overtook Moore for the lead when steering the mare, Haya, home in 33.33 seconds with real style.

Preparation

Meanwhile, out in the warm-up ring van Rijckevorsel hadn’t seen any of that because he was busy working on his preparation with his trainer, Dominey Alexander. “Before I went in I just saw his (Bart’s) time and I thought he must have been pretty fast. Dom told me to just go for it and we just went for it - Lucy tried her heart out and it all just worked out in the end!”, he said. It certainly did.

He had established a real bond with the little nine-year-old Lux Z mare, and the pair look perfectly matched as they scorched around the course that demanded serious turning skills and balance, especially on the penultimate bending line from the oxer at what had been fence two first time out and the vertical fence three before winding left-handed for the long run to the final vertical.

Stopping the clock on 31.69 seconds they wouldn’t be beaten, but Morocco’s Jad Guerraoui, whose jump-off ride clinched bronze for Team Africa on Thursday, came very close indeed with a brilliant run with the eight-year-old mare Lady Angeles who broke the beam in 31.83 for silver medal spot while, fourth-last to go, USA’s Mimi Gochman and Merino van de Achterhoek earned individual bronze in 32.56 seconds.

Finishing just off the podium in fourth place was Qatar’s Saad Ahmed Al Saad and DSP Cessy who were just 0.27 seconds slower.

First experience

The FEI Youth Equestrian Games 2022 has provided the newly-crowned champion with his first experience of competing in Europe.

“I have three top open horses at home that jump at 1.40m and three young horses as well as a dressage horse”, explained the young man who hails from Johannesburg. He had plenty of support in Aachen this week, not just from trainer Dominey Alexander who himself took team bronze at the African Games in 2007 but also from his parents, grandparents, brother and sister who all travelled to see him compete.

And of course he had the lovely Lucy to rely on. “She’s a great horse - small and hot like one of my horses at home but super careful and just a fighter, so I just got on and clicked with her and she’s been just amazing!”, he pointed out.

Talking about his future ambitions van Rijckevorsel said, “after this week I definitely want to come back and jump at Aachen again - I’d love to have a career in this sport, it’s my life!”

Silver medallist, Jad Guerrouai, said his dream would be to represent Morocco at the Olympic Games. At just 15 years old, and one of the youngest amongst the 30 athletes competing, that seems like a real possibility following his brilliant performances this week. He was also thrilled to make such a significant contribution to the Team Africa bronze medal winning result. That meant a lot to him because “we were not just a team, we were like a family!”, said this talented young man.

And for bronze medallist Mimi Gochman who is no stranger to success on the US circuit and whose jump-off round clinched gold for Team North America on Thursday, claiming her second medal of the week was also super special.

“I’m very grateful and my horse was incredible!”, said the 17-year-old. “In the USA we have a big riding community and it feels amazing to represent them proudly and with my head held high! Now I can go home knowing how incredible it is to ride in Aachen. Not a lot of people get that opportunity so I’m super lucky”, she added.

Result here 

It took a thrilling three-way jump-off to decide the result of the team competition at the FEI Youth Equestrian Games 2022 in Aachen, Germany this afternoon. And it was the North American quintet of Mimi Gochman (USA), Carlos Andres Meany Morataya (GUA), Gabriela Maradiaga (HON), Shannon Grubba (CRC) and Xaviera Maurer Buch (MEX) who clinched gold ahead of Team Europe in silver and Team Africa in bronze.

First to set out in the third and final round, Gochman set the standard when flying through the finish with the lovely grey gelding Merino van de Achterhoek in 32.26 seconds and couldn’t be caught. But the sheer delight on the faces of Great Britain’s Claudia Moore who scooped silver medal spot for Europe and Moroccos’s Jad Guerraoui who earned bronze for Africa told the story of this super-exciting youth tournament that will come to a close on Saturday when the individual medals will be decided.

It has already been a wonderful opportunity for young people who would otherwise be unlikely to meet to come together in the most iconic arena in the world of equestrian sport. And the riders, all aged between 15 and 18, have truly risen to the occasion.

Phenomenal

The standard of competition has been phenomenal all week. Divided into six continental teams, the 30 contenders from 30 different countries had only a few days to get to know their borrowed horses before yesterday’s first round in which Africa, Europe, Asia and North America finished on a zero scoreline when the best three results from each group was taken into account.

Despite brilliant double-clears from Qatar’s Saad Ahmed Al Saad (DSP Cessy) and Iran’s Marilya Manavikherad (Cornelia Marie), Team Asia had to count four faults today so slipped off the radar along with Australasia who completed with eight and South America who finished up with a total of 20 over the two days.

The Australasian result however belied fantastic performances from Syria’s Aya Hamcho (Campari 329) and New Zealand’s Dylan Bibby (Chasseur Ask Z) who were amongst the 14 riders to post double-clears by the end of the day.

Looked threatening

With four more of those coming from the North American team they always looked threatening.

Gochman’s lovely quiet ride with the 12-year-old Darco gelding got them off to the perfect second-day start before Meany Morataya, also clear yesterday, followed suit with the mare Annelie which was formerly competed by German international rider Mario Stevens. Maradiaga (DSP Goldquelle) had a fence down on both days but both Grubba (Volk D’Ermng) and Maurer Buch (Lawita 3) were foot-perfect so, third team into the ring, they already had the podium in their sights. But it was still far from over.

Team Europe also added nothing to their zero score when Belgium’s Bart Jay Junior Vandecastelle (Haya), Germany’s Charlotte Hoing (Andy’sBoy Bretoniere) and Britain’s Claudia Moore (Largo van de Molenhoek) produced double-clears while Greek rider Annie Mayo Vatidis (Despacita) picked up their second four-fault result of the week and Jeanne Hirel from France (Galliano LW) followed yesterday’s four-fault effort with a clear today. Now for sure there wuld be a jump-off.

And then Team Africa joined in. Tunisia’s Elyes Chaouachi (Maestro v. Donkhoeve) and Zimbabwe’s Amy Hay (Ypaejae Jeremy) were both clear yesterday but collected eight and four faults apiece this afternoon. But when Egypt’s Haya Osama El Borai (Jadzia), Morocco’s Jad Guerraoui (Lady Angeles) and Thomas van Rijckevorsel (Lucy 781) all racked up double-clears it was game on - a three-way battle for the podium places would have to decide it.

First

First against the clock, USA’s Gochman put Team North America on the map in 32.26 seconds and Great Britain’s Moore was just 0.33 slower over the new track when next to go for Team Europe. This left all the pressure on Jad Guerraoui whose lively mare, Lady Angeles, cleared the line in 33.33 seconds to take the bronze for Africa.

Britain’s Claudia Moore is a multiple medallist at European Pony and Junior level but she still felt the pressure today. “I knew Mimi had an incredible round and I wanted to match that. I kept quite cool, calm and collected and went in and I had so much fun and I had my entire team behind me and I think that was the thing that drove me the most!”, she said. And like all the young riders this week she thoroughly enjoyed competing in the world-famous Soers arena. “The crowd, the atmosphere, the ground, the jumps, it’s such an amazing thing for the youth. Some people in their professional career never get to jump at Aachen and for us to be able to do it at this age, and have this type of experience early on, is amazing!”, she said.

Newly-crowned team gold medallist, Gochman, said, “going first is a bit challenging sometimes but I gave it my all and it paid off! I’m very proud of the way it went!” She talked about creating a bond with the Belgian-bred Merino van de Achterhoek with whom she has clearly struck up a great relationship already.

Growth period

“The first thing I tried to do was not to be too defensive…I don’t know him and he doesn’t know me so of course there’s going to be a little bit of a growth period. I spent as much time as I could in his stall, letting him smell me, letting him snuggle with me, to make sure he knows who I am and being really gentle and kind with him. And then when it came time to get into gear I was able to really ask him for things and I think he really knew he could give it to me and he could trust me”, she explained.

The spirit of these FEI Youth Equestrian Games is infectious and the winning team’s Chef d’Equipe, DiAnn Langer, spoke about the positivity it has already engendered.

“The earlier they start this type of competition - the younger they are the better for our future. It’s about more than just producing a winner, a second and third, it brings the young riders together to meet so many new people and make great friendships”, she said.

So what does she think about Team North America’s chances for more glory in Saturday’s individual medal-decider? “We have our hopes and today Mimi, Claudia and Jad showed what they are made of, but all the riders on all the teams have the same capabilities. On Saturday the fences will be a bit higher and it’s a whole new competition but one thing is for sure - it’s going to be great sport!”

Result here 

The FEI has secured a top-tier placing in the fourth review of International Federation Governance conducted by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF). It is the second time the FEI has earned a leading position after welcoming top classification in the previous edition of the review published two years ago.

The evaluation was conducted by the ASOIF Governance Taskforce in 2021-22. As is customary in this process, it took the form of a self-assessment questionnaire with independent moderation of the responses. The questionnaire consisted of 50 measurable indicators covering Transparency, Integrity, Democracy, Development, and Control Mechanisms. Some 33 International Federations took part in the review.

The FEI is one of the seven IFs – the others being the BFW (badminton), FIFA (football), ITF (tennis), UCI (cycling), World Athletics, and World Rugby – which, according to the review, “stood out from the rest” having secured at least 175 out of a maximum of 200 points.

The complete version of ASOIF's fourth review of International Federation Governance is available here.

“Being one of the top IFs in good governance practices is a matter of great pride for all of us at the FEI and it reflects the important strides we have taken – and continue to take - as a community to ensure integrity on the field of play but also within the decision-making process,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos commented.

“This is very much a collective effort, and an ongoing effort, to which we are wholeheartedly committed at the FEI. It is also a big responsibility but the silver lining in having good systems in place, such as transparency and consultation, is that there is nowhere to hide and you have to lead by example and serve your community thoroughly and responsibly.

“There are always improvements to be made and when I look back on the last two years since the last IF Governance Review – and the difficult circumstances globally – I believe we have achieved a lot and this is predominantly due to the solid structures we already had in place, which were put to the test but I believe are now even stronger.”

Read up on the FEI’s latest facts and figures in the comprehensive and colourful 2021 FEI Annual Report which was published last week. Among the in-depth statistics and trends presented in the report, it shows that despite the Covid-19 related restrictions still in place and the severe and unexpected outbreak of EHV-1 on mainland Europe, some 3,719 FEI Events took place in 2021, with 39,162 registered athletes and 71,547 registered horses worldwide.

The Annual Report, which was approved at the FEI Board Meeting at its in-person meeting on 21 and 22 June, also presents solid finances with a net profit of over CHF 3,6 million in 2021, with more than half of this sum expected to be reinvested in FEI Solidarity and IT Funds.

“Like all sports, we have had to overcome a lot of challenges these past two years, and I am grateful to the community for their resilience and dedication to ensuring a sustainable future for equestrian sport,” the FEI President concluded. “We are happy but also very humbled that the good practices all of us at the FEI apply to our daily work, and the commitment of members and stakeholders, are being recognised at the highest level of international sport.”