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

In this case, the horse Basc Trio (FEI ID 106QW17/UAE), tested positive for the Banned Substance 5α-estrone-3β, 17α-diol (metabolite of Nandrolone), following samples taken at the CEI1*100 Dubai (UAE), 7-14 November 2021.

The athlete, Abdul Aziz Salah Abdulla Ameen (FEI ID 10063337/UAE) and the trainer, Amr Mohd Atris El Sayed (FEI ID 10054579/UAE), admitted the rule violation and accepted the consequences. In its final decisions, the FEI Tribunal disqualified the horse and athlete combination from the event and imposed an 18-month ineligibility period on the athlete and on the trainer; the provisional suspension each has already served shall be credited against the imposed ineligibility period. The athlete and trainer were also each fined CHF 5,000.

The Consent Awards are available here.

 

 

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

In the following Endurance case, the athlete and the trainer have been provisionally suspended until the FEI Tribunal renders its decisions. The horse has been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.

Case 2022/BS04:

Horse: Dactyle D’Aqui (106XH16/UAE)

Person Responsible: Muhammad Ali Fazal Amin (10103705/PAK (UAE)

Trainer: Ahmed Ali Salman Hassan Al Sabri (10041041/UAE)

Event: CEI2*120 – Bou Thib (UAE), 24-25.12.2021

Prohibited Substance(s): Testosterone

Date of notification: 8 March 2022

Details on these case can be found here.

Notes to Editors:

FEI Clean Sport - human athletes

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

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

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

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

FEI Equine Prohibited Substances

The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are medications that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) Substances should never be found in the body of the horse and are prohibited at all times.

In the case of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Banned Substance, the Person Responsible (PR) is automatically provisionally suspended from the date of notification (with the exception of certain cases involving a Prohibited Substance which is also a **Specified Substance). The horse is provisionally suspended for two months.

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

 

 

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs was rightly proud when standing top of the podium as winner of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2022 Final in Leipzig, Germany today. He came so close to clinching the trophy at the last Final in 2019 when slotting in behind his compatriot and three-time champion Steve Guerdat, and as he said this evening, “I’ve been a couple of times second in Championships and you obviously have it in mind you could be second again with the best riders in the world coming after me today”. 

But in the end he, and his trusty steed Chaplin, were the only ones in the leading pack to stand firm in the closing stages. Chaplin gave him everything, and more, over two rounds of tough jumping in which only three of the 30 starters left both courses intact. And when Sweden’s Jens Fredricson was one of those he finished third behind The Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders who claimed the second step of the podium.

Held the lead

America’s McLain Ward held the lead as the final day began, but a first-round error with Contagious left the 2017 champion vulnerable. He shared a four-fault tally with Smolders as the second round got underway, with Fuchs stalking the two of them carrying just five and on level pegging with young British star Harry Charles riding Romeo. 

But a pole off the first element of the triple combination second time out saw Charles lose his grip and when Smolders’ gelding, Monaco, clipped the following vertical then Fuchs was quickly moving up the order. 

Ward had no leeway now when last to go, any mistake would see his advantage unravel, and when his 13-year-old gelding lowered the middle element of the triple combination and also the white planks three fences from home, Fuchs had it in the bag, becoming only the fourth Swiss rider in the long history of the FEI Jumping World Cup series to hold the trophy aloft. 

He rode Chaplin in Thursday’s first competition but swapped for The Sinner in Friday’s second leg. “After having a rail down on Friday I wasn’t so sure I had made the right plan. But then I was still sitting in third place so I thought two clear rounds with Chaplin on Sunday and we’ll be on the podium. That I end up winning this prestigious and historical competition obviously is a dream come true. All the best of the best riders’ names are written on this trophy and now to add mine is fantastic!”, he said this evening. He is the second member of the Fuchs family to win it, his uncle Markus Fuchs took the title with the brilliant Tinka’s Boy back in 2001.

Upset

Talking about losing his lead in Friday’s competition but somehow holding on for victory he said, “when I came out on Friday I walked to the warm-up and was pretty upset, but then Steve said ‘congratulations, now you must win on Sunday after what you did today!’. In hindsight when I looked at the video of my round I was very happy, though obviously I was a bit lucky that I ended the course with these four points. It was a good plan that Chaplin had two days of rest and came back today to produce two clear rounds”.

Today was Smolders second time to finish in runner-up spot, his last was partnering Emerald back in 2016 when Guerdat posted the first of his three wins. But the Dutchman was delighted with his horse this afternoon. “This was his first Championship and I wasn’t sure how it would be. We knew he could do it one day, but over three days it’s a totally different story. He was coping with it very easily so I think this won’t be his last Championship”, the delighted Dutchman said. 

Plenty to celebrate

Meanwhile Jens Fredricson also had plenty to celebrate. The older brother of Swedish phenomenon Peder Fredricson never touched a pole today, and although others may have been surprised to see him on the podium he wasn’t a bit surprised himself. He was lying ninth as the day began, and he and his horse, Markan Cosmopolit, were in spectacular form. 

“I had great expectations actually and I enjoyed every second, it’s fantastic to be here doing what I love!”, he said. 

He describes himself as a “hobby rider” but his CV would suggest he’s long been a serious contender with a lifetime of international successes behind him. “I work at Flyinge and Stromsholm, I’m responsible for the next generation of riding instructors in Sweden”, he explained.

Last time

His last time at an FEI World Cup Final was on home ground in Gothenburg in 2013, and he admitted he’s made quite a few changes to his riding style since then. Partly due to the influence of his younger brother, Peder.

“I had the advantage of watching him going up to World No. 1. We talked almost every day so even if I wasn’t at the shows I was there mentally. I followed his thinking and his development and I tried to do the same things, and I’ve changed a little bit my approach to the fences and I now have a horse with very big scope. So I can sit a bit more still and have a better style. Before I used to throw my heart over and then we went over together, now when I look at the videos of my riding and it looks quite ok! I’m blessed that I have such good contact with my little brother. One of the most fantastic things in our sport is that I’m 55 years old and getting better every day. If I was running 100 metres I would be less good every day!”, he said with a laugh.

He also pointed out how great it is to see the younger generation rising through the ranks. “You want young riders coming up, there are some in their 20s like Jack (Whitaker, GBR) and Harry (Charles, GBR) and others. It’s important to have positive young riders coming along with good horses, that’s how the sport develops and gets better”, he pointed out.

Biggest names

Fuchs of course is one of those, not yet 30 but already one of the very biggest names in the sport. Over the last five years he has rarely been off the podium at any of the majors, taking individual silver at the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2018, runner-up at the last World Cup Final in 2019 and following with individual European gold that same year before taking team gold and individual silver at the FEI European Championships in 2021. Today he topped all that by taking the trophy every rider treasures, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup. 

And he did it with the big, brave and charming Chaplin who he calls “the horse of my heart!” Many of the Swiss rider’s biggest wins were achieved with his brilliant grey Clooney who he describes as “a superstar and the most talented horse I’ve ever had”. But Chaplin is also super-special. 

“He is just the biggest fighter, he doesn’t have the ability that Clooney has but at the end he always gives everything. It was nice in the past few weeks because we got a lot of photos of his first foals because last year he started breeding with some mares, so in the last two weeks we have a lot of pictures of new Chaplin babies so that was exciting. And now to come here and win the World Cup Final with him…..”. 

For sure that is a dream come true….

Result here 

By Sarah Dance

In one of the tightest finals in recent history, Bram Chardon (NED) brilliantly held his nerve and clinched his second FEI Driving World Cup™ title in an exhilarating drive off against reigning champion Boyd Exell (AUS) and Glen Geerts (BEL). After a cat and mouse game of swapping positions between the two favourites, it was the 28 year old soon-to-be father who triumphed in Leipzig.

“I was a bit disappointed about the two knock-downs and I thought I gave Boyd (Exell) too much room to win. After Friday I was so confident and to have the two faults made me worry a little bit about my final position, but this is amazing and I am so happy!”

After the first round, held late on Friday night in the Leipziger Messe arena, Bram was ahead of Boyd by just under 8 seconds, so started Sunday’s second round on zero. Each driver carried over 50% of the difference between their score and Bram’s going into the final day and as the tension mounted, Boyd, with a penalty score of 3.78, stated, “It’s less than one ball down between us!”

Former champion Koos de Ronde (NED) was the first to drive Jeroen Houterman’s (NED) twisting course, the route unchanged since Friday but the position of some of the obstacles slightly altered. Koos had paid the price for his attacking approach on Friday, clocking up a penalty of 18.99 to carry forward. Back on his usual smooth form, he only nudged one ball and in a time of 143.19 finished 5th on 166.18.  Next in was Mareike Harm (GER), the first female to compete in an indoor FEI Driving final. Her horses, who she also drives at outdoor events, were off pace in 155.51 and with one ball off, plus a penalty of 14.05, she dropped to 7th on 173.56.

Wild card driver Michael Brauchle (GER), who had set a competitive time on Friday, rolled three balls to add to his time of 144.22, plus a penalty of 10.57 to finish 6th on 166.79.  As the fourth starter, Glen Geerts (BEL), carried over 10.27 but drove a fantasic clear and finished on 148.89 to put himself into the final three. Belgian team mate Dries Degrieck, in his first FEI indoor season, dropped out of contention for the drive off with an unlucky ball on the final obstacle number 13, which cost him the valuable place as he finished behind Glen on 159.68.

As the intensity in the arena grew, Boyd pulled off one of the best rounds of the competiton to close the gap between him and Bram. Leaving all the balls on top, he clocked up a time of 132.42, which plus his penalty put him on 136.2.

Admitting that he was extremely nervous, Bram drew on all his experience and matchplay to drive an even faster time of 132.33 but knocking one ball, finished on 136.33, which flipped the order and put Boyd into first place ahead of the drive off between the best three.

The enthusiastic crowd got behind the drivers and increased the already electrifying atmosphere, clapping to the beat of the music. First in was Glen, with his big outdoor horses, who he says are 1.5m longer and up to 20cm higher than the other teams. Having not considered that he would be in the drive off, he said after that he hadn’t thought about the different routes in obstacles 5 & 9 when two gates were taken out. While in 5, he knocked cone 6 so the clock was stopped and he was given an addtional 10 penalties. He started again, having taken the foot off the pace, and with another ball down, ended his competiton in 3rd place on 323.73.

Bram re-entered the arena and rising to the challenge, produced another exceptional round in 118.39, knocking one ball. But he had done enough to really apply the pressure to Boyd. 

All eyes were on the Australian, who was aiming to take his 10th indoor title, and he began in convincing style with all those watching believing that he would retain his title. Yet everyone gasped as right at the end, his horses lost balance between the final two obstacles and he hit cone two, rolling the ball, which crowned Bram World Champion. 

In a rousing gesture during the prizegiving, the loudest cheer went to Bram’s proud father, the legendary Ijsbrand Chardon, multiple champion, who came in to hold the reins while Bram took to the podium. After receiving their prizes, champagne was sprayed around then the three drivers performed their famous ‘showboat’ before Bram was left alone to absorb the cheers from an adoring audience and exit at the gallop with his stunning grey horses wearing their new, red winners’ rugs.

Still grinning at the press conference, Bram commentated that it was fantastic to have Mareike in the final and he hoped it went to prove that driving a four-in-hand wasn’t all about strength, but as much about the training and getting the equipment right.

A fitting finale to a fantastic competition, after a much shortened season, the drivers are now looking towards the outdoor event at Kronenberg (NED) next weekend. All being well, we can look forward to a full programme of FEI Driving World Cup™ events for the 2022-23 season and much more excitement in this rivetting contest between the world’s very best.

Full results here.

There’s nothing like a big win on home ground, but there’s also nothing like retiring a superstar horse in front of a wildly enthusiastic crowd, so tonight’s Freestyle finale had it all when Jessica von Bredow-Werndl steered Dalera to victory at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2022 where the sport said a rousing farewell to Isabell Werth’s great mare, Weihegold OLD.

The Leipzig Messe was electric with excitement all night, and some of the equine stars shrank under the intensity of the noisy atmosphere during the first half of the competition.

But when it came down to the wire the big names really rose to the occasion, and it was Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour who lined up second with her new young star Vamos Amigos while Werth and Weihegold finished third. 

Raised the bar

Werth raised the bar when putting a score of 85.921 on the board when fifth-last to go in the field of 17, Weihegold producing a stunning test that was full of energy and beautifully ridden by the lady long known as “The Queen” of dressage. The knowledgeable crowd were with them every step of the way, knowing that this was their last performance together as the mare was to be retired . And when they came to a halt, the crowd rose to their feet with an enormous roar to acknowledge them.

Team gold and individual silver at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, European team gold in 2017, three FEI Dressage World Cup™ titles in a row including the last one in 2019 and team gold at last year’s European Championships in Hagen (GER) amongst their many achievements - their record has been extraordinary. 

Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald followed with an impressive performance from the big-moving Atterupgaards Orthilia who posted 81.239 for second place temporarily and next in was her compatriot, Carina Cassøe Krüth whose ride on the light-footed, loose-limbed Heiline’s Danciera included fearlessly forward one-tempi changes. The crowd held their breath until the scoreboard showed 84.971 - Werth was still out in front.

Looked threatening

However the last of the Danes had yet to come, and Cathrine Dufour always looked threatening when steering Vamos Amigo through a brilliant test, although clearly she wasn’t pushing the 10-year-old to the limit in extended canter. It was no wonder because, as she said afterwards, “he was a bomb today for sure!” He certainly looked explosive but contained himself to the very end and, once his rider relaxed the rein, wandered out the arena like he’d heard a crowd like today’s a million times. He certainly hasn’t though….

“He’s never been in a ring as full as this before, he was really brave today!”, Dufour said with delight this evening.

But the story certainly wasn’t over yet because the lady who has dominated the podiums at both the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the European Championships last summer was yet to take her turn. 

Crest of a wave

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl arrived in Leipzig for this week’s Final on the crest of a wave but, as she pointed out tonight, a little “rounder” than usual because she is expecting her second baby to arrive in a few months time. However the little bit of extra weight wasn’t bothering Dalera as the pair executed yet another exquisite test that demonstrated the delightful harmony between these two. 

The balance, rhythm, accuracy and lightness, and the drama of their tempi changes all came together to present the loveliest picture, and as they pranced up the final centreline it was clear the result was done and dusted. When their score of 90.836 was announced the crowd erupted yet again.

Winner von Bredow-Werndl said afterwards, “I just wanted to come here and of course it was my goal to show what we have shown the last couple of months, but it couldn’t have been better to take a little break now and come back soon!” 

Dufour joked that she shouldn’t rush returning to the sport after her baby arrives - “just stay away for a while!”, she suggested with an enormous laugh. 

The Danes had every reason to be on a high tonight, Dufour filling second spot, Cassøe Krüth finishing fourth and Skodborg Merrald lining up in fifth place while Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg had to settle for sixth. It was a show of mighty strength from Denmark, and it’s a real shot-in-the-arm ahead of this summer’s World Dressage Championships on their home ground in Herning in four months’ time.

Really fantastic

“It’s really fantastic to see how the system in Denmark has gone so well over last four or five years and you clearly see what has been produced - riders bringing young horses to the top - the two girls that are here are really cool and they can perform under pressure, myself included, and of course we love to put pressure on the girls sitting here!”, she said, looking at Werth and von Bredow-Werndl. 

“But there is still some way to go, we saw that in 2020 suddenly things change, so for now we are going to keep the horses sharp, try to make a good plan and then really just enjoy that the Championship is going to be on Danish soil. That is quite fantastic in itself, and we are looking forward to inviting everyone for a great battle and great sport”, Dufour added.

Asked this evening about the Ukrainian flag she had pinned to her tailcoat, she explained, “There is an awful situation going on right now so I’m wearing it to show support to the people affected by this crazy war”. Newly-crowned champion, von Bredow-Werndl, leaned forward in agreement and added, “we all carry that flag in our hearts….”

Flowing again

After the prizegiving the emotions were flowing again when Werth and Weihegold entered the arena for the mare’s retirement ceremony. “When you are in a competition you are focused on that, and of course the last line (of their Freestyle) was also quite emotional and when they gave Weihe the standing ovation that was very great. But to go in with the team of people who have been around for the last seven or eight years that was really emotional, to feel the atmosphere”, Werth said. However she felt it was the perfect send-off in the end. “It was what you wish for a horse like her, to give her the last honour - it was just super!”, she added.

Meanwhile von Bredow-Werndl reflected on today’s success and the performance from Dalera that made it possible. “There are no words! She was phenomenal - she always leaves her heart for me in that square (in the arena) and it is not natural at all, and at the same time she does it again and again. I have the feeling even now that we are not yet at the end of our journey together!”, said the athlete who believes her mare has even more room for improvement, and who today became the sixth German athlete to win the coveted FEI Dressage World Cup™ trophy since the first Final took place back in 1986.

Result here

By Joanne Eccles MBE

Under the lights of the Leipziger Messe the 2022 FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Champions were crowned. No-one could keep French Manon Moutinho from the female title whilst Lorenzo Lupacchini took his chance to bring home the glory for Italy. Janika Derks and Johannes Kay gave a spine-tingling ultimate performance to win the Pas de Deux.

After a great start in the Technical Test the trio of Manon Moutinho, FRA, Corrine Bosshard and Saitiri pulled out a show stopping Free Test with a perfect artistic score to win the final on 8.431.  “I am really happy, I could not have expected more from me, my horse or my lunger. It was a really good experience to start this new season 2022. There is still some work to do but we are only in April and I am very pleased.”  Bringing back her 2019 winning freestyle theme wasn’t enough for German defending champion Janika Derks.  She had to settle for second place, 8.257.  Making her mark in her first individual World Cup final, Kimberly Palmer (USA) was one of only three female individuals scoring over 8 points and finished in third place (8.009).

The men’s competition went to a tense finish. After slipping from the horse in one of his risk exercises Lambert Leclezio (FRA) (8.628) had to watch the title go to Lorenzo Lupacchini (8.795). The Italian barely lost a point as he performed gracefully on top of Rosenstolz. “I am really really happy, because I didn’t expect this result. I just participated for enjoying. I was on the third place so far, so I had nothing to lose and nothing to win. So I tried to give emotions and not only exercise.”  He becomes one of only two athletes to have won the FEI World Cup™ Final in the Individual and Pas de Deux class. Jannik Heiland completed the podium for Germany (8.019).

An exquisite final performance from the German Pair, Janika Derks and Johannes Kay, concluded the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final as well as their vaulting careers. Alongside Nina Vorberg and Humphrey Bogart OLD they left the audience with goosebumps as they became World Cup Winners (8.754). Screaming with delight as he landed his final dismount Johannes later summed up his experience “Yes, once in my life I competed in the World Cup, that was here and today and that was the last time - and we have won. But winning was not important to me. We made the thing out of it, what we wanted to make out of it. That worked out, we are satisfied... To have found such a beautiful conclusion, in such a beautiful atmosphere - it doesn't get any better than that.”  Romana Hintner and Eva Nagiller managed to improve on their first round performance to move up into second place (8.016) leaving Chiara Congia and Justin van Gerven in third (7.960).

It has been an historic Final in Leipzig. France and Italy each took the title for the first time in their respective classes. Wrapping up the experience and marking the career end for Janika Derks  “I think we have achieved exactly what we wanted to achieve here again: Having fun with the sport, just enjoying it - this was just the perfect show for both of us to find closure for us”.

Full results here.

By Sarah Dance

As the final competitor to start late on Friday night for the first round of the FEI Driving World Cup™ Final in Leipzig (GER), Bram Chardon (NED) laid down his claim to the 2022 title with a fantastic drive.

Smoothly steering his four-in-hand of grey horses through Jeroen Houterman’s (NED) flowing course of thirteen obstacles, he managed to leave the balls on top and recorded a blistering time of 135.80 secs. Reigning champion Boyd Exell (AUS), who is aiming for his 10th indoor title, was the sixth competitor to go and had set the fastest time of the night of 143.35 with no balls down.  Dries Degreick (BEL), in his first FEI World Cup™ Final, drove a quick course but with one ball down finished in third on a score of 152.76.

A delighted Bram said, “It is incredible to start the finals here. I watched the others on the screen. I knew Boyd by far was the quickest time, so I thought, if I can get near his time I am going to be happy. Definitely I was planning on staying clear, I was trying to go a little bit more safe, but then when the horses felt so good, I just let them go and pushed them to the end, when I knew there was more in it, this is fantastic.”

Seven of the world’s leading horse four-in-hand Drivers are competing in the 20th Indoor Final which was last held in Bordeaux in February 2020. For the first time a female driver is competing, Mareike Harm (GER), who drove a smooth round but knocked three balls and finished in sixth place on 163.89. Fellow German, Michael Brauchle, the wild card entry, ended the night in fifth on 156.94.

Glenn Geerts (BEL), was fourth on 156.94 after driving a clear but slower round.  Making uncharacteristic mistakes was former champion Koos de Ronde (NED) who ended in seventh on 173.78 after knocking several balls and incurring extra penalties for having to stop so the course could be rebuilt.

All the Drivers are now eligible to return for the second round of the Final on Sunday. They will drive in reverse order and the top three will drive again to decide the final placings.  All except Bram, who will start with a penalty score which is 50% of the differential between theirs and the leader’s score.

Full results here.

 

By Joanne Eccles MBE

The 10^th edition of the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final started in spectacular style with French favourites Manon Moutinho and Lambert Leclezio dominating the Individual Female and Male classes with their high difficulty, technical routines proving impossible to beat.  Janika Derks and Johannes Kay of Germany, blew the competition away to take the top spot overnight in the Pas de Deux.

Derks, vaulting on top of Rockemotion lunged by Nina Vorberg, had to settle for second place overnight in the Individual Female competition with 7.883 points. Her gracefully performed technical routine didn’t score quite enough to stay ahead of Manon Moutinho (FRA) who finished with 8.237 points, and who teamed an incredibly high level of freestyle exercises with superbly performed technical moves to give herself a 0.3 lead going into tomorrow’s Final competing with Saitiri and Corrine Bosshard.

Showing the special bond they have Manon explained “It’s the first time my mare sees an arena like this. This was a big arena for her, and the crowd feels really close. When we came in, the lunger kept her close, and I trust her because I knew this was strategic, but as soon as she said ok – then I just went into performance mode.” 
Kimberly Palmer (USA) (7.644) brought her artistry to the table to hold the bronze medal position, proving that she can take on the best in the world even when competing on a borrowed horse. Hannah Steverding sits just behind her on 7.436.

In the Male competition Lambert Leclezio (FRA) showed us just why he is the one to beat this year, aboard his reserve horse Saitiri, he delighted the audience with near perfect technical exercises to take the lead on 8.785. Just within touching distance, (8.489), Lorenzo Lupacchini (ITA) didn’t allow Lambert to get too far ahead. His experience was evident with Rosenstolz on the circle and Laura Carnabucci on the lunge as we were treated to his performance to Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’. After an unfortunate landing in his Cartwheel exercise, Jannik Heiland (GER) was forced to settle for third place with Lukas Heppler in fourth.

World Champions Janika Derks and Johannes Kay (GER) had a dream start to their Final competition together. A beautifully executed test gained them a perfect score from the artistic judge and an overnight score of 8.754. Compatriots, Chiara Congia and Justin Van Gerven, dug deep to show their best on a slightly unsettled Calidor with Patric Looser working hard from the center to ensure the pair could show the elements they planned.  They were rewarded with a score of 7.873 but it will be a big ask for them to try to take the title tomorrow. Third place currently is the Austrian pairing, Romana Hintner and Eva Nagiller, with Jolina Ossenberg-Engels and Timo Gerdes completing the class.

The Leipziger Messe proved to be a challenging atmosphere for several horses throughout the competition. Thomas Brusewitz (GER) in 7^th place, adapted as he went to try to complete his technical program on Calidor. An unfortunate fall in his last exercise, the jump to backwards stand, left him with no score for the exercise and a deduction at the end of the test. Eva Nagiller (AUT) finishing 8^th was also forced to make modifications to her planned routine.

In tomorrow’s Individual FEI Vaulting World Cup ™ Final it’s the French to beat, whilst the Pas de Deux class, we will see the end of an era as Janika Derks and Johannes Kay end their careers together.

Full results here

America’s McLain Ward knows what it is to win the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, and today the 2017 champion set himself on that path once again when topping the second competition at the 2022 Final in Leipzig, Germany.

A brilliant last-to-go run with Contagious in the seven-horse jump-off against the clock moved him up from overnight fifth to pole position on the leaderboard, and he goes into Sunday’s finale a full fence ahead of The Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders in second place while young Briton, Harry Charles, shares third spot with first-day leader Martin Fuchs from Switzerland, both just a single penalty-point further behind.

Today’s two rounds were filled with drama, defending series champion and Fuchs’ fellow-countryman Steve Guerdat producing the first clear with Victorio Des Frotards over Frank Rothenberger’s testing first-round track. But all of the leading four after yesterdays class returned with penalties this time out, and two of them faulted on the snaking line between fences six and eight that proved highly influential. 

The challenge

Ward explained the challenge here. “I thought when we walked the course that was the hardest part. It didn’t line up very well - when you jumped the vertical at six it was a very awkward line to those big spooky standards (at fence 7) and then you threw in the liverpool, and it was on a half-stride, five-and-a-half. So if you let your horse cut in you got there deep and slow, and they were backing up so the back rail was a problem. It was five and a bit (strides) to the vertical at eight and a few did six, it was just quite uncomfortable”, the American explained. 

It was that tricky water-tray oxer at seven that snatched the lead from Fuchs when The Sinner put in a spooky jump and crashed through it, the Swiss rider recovering quickly enough to clear the following vertical however. Lying overnight second, Max Kuhner’s Elektric Blue P skewed over the fence but left it up only for the Austrian duo to bring down the final vertical. Irishman Conor Swail looked en route to a clear with Count Me In only to hit the big oxer at 11 on the 13-fence track while Germany’s David Will, lying fourth as the action began with C Vier 2, left fence six and the penultimate oxer at 12 on the floor.

Jump-Off

Two fences down put paid to Guerdat’s chances in the jump-off in which the vertical at fence eight, now the second-last obstacle, proved the undoing of three of the remaining six. British veteran John Whitaker was first to fall victim there with Equine America Unick du Franckport when next to go, but his nephew Jack, who is a full 46 years younger, then posted the first clear with the brilliant little grey Equine America Valmy de Lande in 48.66 seconds. 

Frenchman Gregory Cottard and Bibici also hit fence eight before Harry Charles overtook his young British rival to take the lead in 47.14 seconds with Romeo 88. Dutchman Smolders put in by far the quickest round with Monaco who stopped the clock in 41.37 seconds but leaving fence eight on the floor, so when Ward set off, last to go, he always looked dangerous. The leaderboard was now at his mercy with those ahead of him all out of contention, and he capitalised on that with a superb tour of the track that snatched the win without hardly turning a hair, leaving Charles in second and Jack Whitaker in third while Smolders lined up in fourth place. 

As he said afterwards he knew exactly what he needed to do.     

“I was able to see enough of the jump-off to know it wasn’t actually very fast and when Harry had the fence down that really opened the door so our game plan was to do just enough but not take too much out of the horse, not only for Sunday but also risking having a fence down”, he pointed out after posting the winning time of 44.03 seconds.

He said yesterday’s fence down that pinned him back into fifth place was entirely his own fault. “The horse was in brilliant form, I added a stride in a bending line and I put him in not a great spot. It was a mistake on me, the horse wanted to win both rounds!”, he said.

Comparing

Comparing the courses yesterday and today he said, “in the sport nowadays at the top level there are no easy days, there are extremely hard days but I’d say yesterday was a friendly speed leg. Today he (course designer Frank Rothenberger) ratcheted it up a couple of notches, a bunch of big verticals, the triple combination was big off the corner with two oxers, and we had a great result. Frank has a lot of experience and he knows how to build a competition that brings out the best. And he also challenges riders without making it too hard on the newer, less experienced ones, and people from different regions of the world where the sport isn’t strong. He’s very good at that”, he pointed out.

Harry Charles was delighted when he checked the new leaderboard. “I would definitely have taken that at the start of the day considering my position yesterday (13th). I’m in pretty good company up there (joint-third), more than a fence off McLain but it’s all to play for on Sunday and I’m pretty happy with that! Even if it wasn’t exactly the day I wanted yesterday I was very happy with my mare Stardust, and I’m so happy to have made up for it today. It was always my plan to ride Romeo today and Sunday, he’s a big jumper and has Olympic experience behind him”, the 22-year-old rider said.

For 20-year-old Jack Whitaker today’s result was also something special. He described his handsome little grey horse as “not so big but he has a big heart, he’s a fighter. We bought him from France when he was six and my dad (Michael Whitaker) rode him until he was about 10 and I’ve only been riding him for a few years. He’s a nightmare to deal with, in the collecting ring he doesn’t like the big screen, he’s really sharp, he see and hears everything and he gets silly, like a big kid! But when you go in the ring he just goes, most of the time. When he gets a bit sharp it can go a bit wrong but he’s unbelievably careful and as long as I’m getting it right he’s normally clear”, he explained.

Very special

Ward’s title win in 2017 came after many years of trying and was very special, particularly because it was posted on home ground in Omaha (USA). Asked today if he now felt under pressure having the advantage going into Sunday’s last class he reflected….

“I sat at this venue 20 years ago in the lead going into the last day with Victor and blew it on the last line, I remember it very clearly. I sat in this position in 2017 and won, so you take those experiences and you try to use them to help you focus and keep your head right. You need to do your job, your horse has to be in form and you need a little good fortune to win one of these Championships, and I’ve been on both sides of that coin. I think understanding that helps keep your head in the right place but it’s a challenge. As I told Harry (Charles) earlier, don’t think this gets any easier in 20 years! My team will do a great job and I’m proud of my horse no matter how it comes out - we’ll do our best!”, he said. 

And asked if he had any advice for his younger rivals he joked, “I hope they get a little nervous! They are doing a brilliant job. At different stages in your career you have different mental challenges and we all process it differently and that’s part of sport and it’s a beautiful thing. I’ve got to work just as hard at it now in this stage of my career as they do at the beginning of theirs, for different reasons. It’s great to be still in the mix, it’s great to see them, I admire both of them their talent and ambition and it gives me energy and makes me still want it”, the said. 

Contagious

And he talked about his 13-year-old gelding Contagious.

“He’s an incredible tryer. I would have said at the beginning when we first got him that he was a very careful, nice, level Grand Prix horse. I never thought of him as a Championship horse but he kept developing and he kept building scope. I would ride the scope into him a bit and give him energy, and he ended up jumping the Olympics last year and performing brilliantly and he’s a different horse since then, or maybe I look at him differently now. 

“He came out of that a bigger, stronger horse.…so he outshines what his natural ability was at the beginning, because he’s a fighter with great quality and he’s a bit of a character - a bit spooky and a bit jumpy, but a winner!”

The 46-year-old New Yorker will be hoping that’s exactly what he is again next Sunday, but it will be another day, another new course and with only a single fence advantage over Smolders and only two fences separating the top ten there’s still a way to go before the 2022 champion is crowned….

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result here

Standings here

It was no surprise when the reigning Olympic and European gold medallists, 36-year-old Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and her 15-year-old mare TSF Dalera BB, strutted their way into pole position in the Short Grand Prix when the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2022 got underway in Leipzig, Germany tonight.

Drawn in prime last-to-go position the German duo soared ahead of the opposition to post a score of 84.793, pinning Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and Vamos Amigos into second place and their German counterparts and defending three-time champions Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD into third.

A strong test from Denmark’s Nanna Skodberg Merrald and the 17-year-old Atterupgaards Orthilia put them top of the leaderboard on a score of 75.752 when fourth to go and that proved unbeatable until Werth posted 79.756 to go out in front when twelfth into the arena.

But then Dufour broke the 80 percent barrier with a great performance from the 10-year-old Vamos Amigos to put 80.019 on the board only for von Bredow-Werndl to deny her the top step of the podium with her winning ride.

Freestyle

It’s now down to Saturday night’s Freestyle to decide the fate of the 2022 FEI Dressage World Cup™ title and for Werth this entire week is filled with emotion because her great mare will be officially retired that evening in a special ceremony. She couldn’t hold back the tears in her post-competition TV interview.

And there was emotion for von Bredow-Werndl too tonight. “As you know I’m six months pregnant and I feel super fit and so does Dalera, but from a sporting point of view it’s a little bit sad because this is my last big competition before a break”, said the rider who has swept all before her over the last ten months.

Dufour was elated with the result she achieved from her relatively young horse. “I was surprised and super happy with his performance. He was really on fire in the ring and the audience started clapping in the first extention and I thought “No!” because he had legs everywhere! But he’s only done a few indoor shows so the fact that he kept his mind in the right place and performed like he did today that is really fantastic!”, she said.

In the shadow

Asked if her Olympic ride, Bohemian, might find himself in the shadow of this new young star, Dufour laughed and said, “no you don’t know how big Bohemian’s ego is!  Of course Vamos has plenty of quality and there is way more in him but Bohemian has more experience so far and I feel very lucky I have two horses that are currently ready for a team position - obviously with the World Championships coming up in Denmark. And I also enjoy every competition, because you never know what happens”, she pointed out wisely.

Werth said she was pleased and proud of her great mare tonight. “She did a super job, just a little mistake, I think a one-tempi was a bit short in the beginning, she was so focused and especially the highlights were piaffe/passage and the pirouettes were really good. So I’m just happy and looking forward to Saturday and it’s a pleasure for me to present her in that way. She’s done so many great competitions, from the beginning to the end she always tries to give her best and that makes her a very special horse”, she said.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead to Saturday’s Freestyle, von Bredow-Werndl said she loves her current one “and I think Dalera does too, she feels the rhythm, she knows it’s her music and maybe that gives her even more confidence. It still feels like she’s improving and always giving 100% and when there are mistakes it’s because of me. She’s always on fire and always willing to do her very best”.

Dufour said she is “borrowing bits and pieces from Bohemian’s Olympic Freestyle and since I’ve only done two World Cups I haven’t had time to make one of his very own (for Vamos Amigos). So I’ve stolen the music and played with the choreography. It’s a super high degree of difficulty and I think the music suits really well and it tells a story about my life at the moment. I feel like I’m living the dream back home and I just enjoy every day with the horses and I think the music sums it up really well. It’s a really powerful Freestyle and I’m just excited to ride it. He’s still young and it’s my first World Cup Final so I’m just here to enjoy it and have fun!”, she explained.

Werth meanwhile is determined that Weihegold will go out in style on Saturday night.

“I hope we can show a very good test like she deserves, and it will be pleasure to be here with a loud crowd in a competition. I think it’s just great to retire her not in an empty arena, she really deserves this atmosphere, so I’m really looking forward to it and I will try to enjoy it. And of course I have the pressure of showing her as best as possible, more than ever before because it is the last one!”

The Freestyle will begin at 19.10 local time on Saturday night.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

 Result here

Tonight 24-year-old Spanish rider Juan Matute Guimon competes at his first FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Leipzig with his horse Quantico. Two years ago he suffered a brain-bleed that left him in a coma for almost a month. He talks about the journey from there to where he is right now, and the gratitude he feels for his amazing recover…..

Two years ago it seemed your future was shattered. How does it feel to be here at the FEI World Cup Final this week?

It’s very, very emotional to come back to the international scene. This is the biggest show I’ve done in my career other than the World Equestrian Games in 2018. But on a personal level this is the biggest show of all because it is proof that I have overcome obstacles and proof that if you work hard and you have a dream and chase it that it can become a reality.

Talk about your illness, how it affected you and how you recovered

I was fully debilitated. I couldn’t move the right side of my body and since I got home after two months in hospital the rehabilitation process has been really tough, a lot of work, physiotherapy, training, a lot of psychological work. It’s been a difficult journey.

Explain the psychological part of that…did you lose faith in your ability to do things?

The disappointment of not being able to remember things, that’s been tough, for my type of personality particularly. I’ve always been a perfectionist and I’m very ambitious but with this challenge I was facing it was like a roller-coaster, many moments of doubts about whether I would recover and return to be myself.

Is it scary to talk about it?

Not at all, I’m an honest and sincere type of being and I’m proud I’ve overcome this. It’s been challenging but I feel stronger and better than ever. 

So what did you do to overcome the initial sense of helplessness you experienced?

I set goals, I’ve always been driven by goals. Ever since I left hospital I said I wanted to make it to the Tokyo Olympic team, that was the dream, it has always been my dream to be an Olympian like my father. I want to inherit my father’s Olympic Spanish flag on his tailcoat - that has been the goal and the motivation. Even though the first day I was told I wouldn’t make the team for Tokyo it was heart-breaking, the following morning I called my Dad and said “you know I don’t care, the next goal will be Paris 2024” and here I am at the World Cup Final - another step on the ladder!  

Can you describe exactly what happened to you? You had a brain-bleed, out of the blue? Did you have a fall beforehand or do you know what could have triggered it?

I had bad headaches the week before, the day before it happened I told my mother I had a pain in the front of my left eye, she was concerned so we called the family doctor. It was in the pandemic and in Spain, on May 4th 2020 - he said take some paracetamol and see what happens in a few days.

It was the first week we were allowed to leave our homes and go training the horses, before that we could only go to feed the horses, we don’t live at the centre where we keep the horses. 

All I can remember is the following morning I was riding and was giving my horse a break with some walking and I felt really dizzy. Luckily my father was at the ringside. I got off the horse, sat down on the ground and I remember vividly seeing my father walking around with Quantico (his horse) and I dropped to the ground unconscious.

My next memory was waking up in the hospital, 25 days later. When I woke I couldn’t stop crying, I was so scared. All the noise, people walking around the emergency rooms, I was so confused, I couldn’t remember what was happening from day to day and they had to keep telling me I was fine, that I’d had a serious brain bleed. I find it curious that many people are now having brain-bleeds, you hear about it all the time. But mine was caused by a congenital malformation. Something I was born with. Not in my veins, in my brain, it just burst and it could have happened any time.

In the first hospital the doctor said he could do nothing for me so I was transferred from the Hospital Universitario la Paz in Madrid to Jiménez Díaz. I had surgery through the veins instead of the arteries - the surgery at the first hospital failed through the arteries. With the second surgery the bleeding stopped and the veins were sealed.

Are there any after-effects? Is there anything you still have to be careful about?

No, after all the physio and training I have no after-effects, I feel better than ever, I’m stronger now. I try to stay fit, to run, to work out with some light weights, stay lean, take care of myself and live the athlete lifestyle. 

You have a very close relationship with your father who is also called Juan Matute - he is your mentor?

Yes, he’s the reason I started. He’s a very demanding trainer, a loving father, a generous horse owner, he’s my partner, my trainer, my friend - he is everything to me! We work together very well. He competed at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Seoul and Atlanta and reserve for Beijing in 2008.  

You spend a lot of time on the Florida circuit - is that because the weather is so much better than in Europe in winter time? 

No, I lived there for 10 years from 2008 to 2018 with the whole family. It’s a second home to me. My main base is in Madrid where we have a total of 10 horses but I go back to the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida every year. I have always been involved with the Wellington season but this year due to my health issue and the pandemic it was two years since I was there and it was very emotional going back. The people there are all like my extended family, I grew up around them and I had a very successful start to the year this time, winning the Grand Prix Freestyle at the 4-Star show with one of my highest scores ever! 

How long did it take for you to get back into top sport after your health scare?

I did the Spanish Championships five months after it all happened but I was still very weak, still 50% weaker on the right side, the transitions weren’t there, I was moving around too much, but I wanted to prove a point to myself and to the world that when you set a goal and have the ambition and determination then you can make it happen! 

What are your expectations for this week at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final?

Just to enjoy it and I already am doing that - to breathe in and learn and look around and watch all the riders. To take it all in. 

Who is your hero in the sport right now? 

I really admire Patrik Kittel (SWE), he’s a really good rider, very elegant, very subtle, very compassionate also with his horses, very loving and always happy. I share that with him - the happiness, the thankfulness to be alive and for the opportunities we have been given.

It’s almost like you are living a second life now - how does that feel? 

I’m full of gratitude but still filled with ambition although I like slow down now and realise I’ve come such a long way. I’m just enjoying it. Like everything if you only focus on the end of the road you can forget to look around and appreciate the journey.

What is your long-term goal in the sport? 

I’d love to fight for a top-place finish at the World Cup Final, the Olympic Games, the European Championships - at all the major Championships. I’d love to be one of the top riders in the world. But of course as everyone knows this is a very difficult. You need to be constant, continuously developing your horses, you need to be scouting horses, scouting clients, scouting sponsors and partnerships and this is something I’m learning about, so I must be humble and learn from my father. 

It’s a way to go yet, but I’m on the road…..