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Team Sweden swept into the lead on the opening day of the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship 2021 at Riesenbeck, Germany today but the newly-crowned Olympic champions have only a narrow advantage over the host country who in turn lie just ahead of Switzerland going into tomorrow’s first round of the team competition.
The beautiful big grass arena at the charming new venue created by multiple Olympian Ludger Beerbaum and his team provided the perfect backdrop to a great day of sport. And the hosts had plenty to cheer about when David Will was quickest around Frank Rothenberger’s 13-fence track for a German victory with C Vier in the opening Speed class.
Second-last to go, and chasing the target time set by Tokyo Olympic individual silver and team gold medallist Sweden’s Peder Fredricson riding Catch Me Not, Will shaved almost a second off that without seeming to turn a hair.
“My plan was not necessarily to win this class, I wanted to land a really good round and do everything right leading up the to next days, but of course winning is a very big plus so I couldn’t be happier for myself or my horse. His jumping was amazing, he made it easy for me, so the credit really belongs to him!”, said the 33-year-old who is competing in his very first Championship.
Pathfinders
Swedish pathfinders, Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli and Kalinka van de Nachtegaele, had a clear but relatively slow tour of the track to come home in 80.92 seconds. But when Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Ermindo W broke the beam in 75.58, Douglas Lindelow and Casquo Blue stormed home in 73.59 and then Peder Fredricson produced his country’s fourth clear of the competition in 72.58 they clinched pole position in the team rankings when the top three scores were counted.
On top of that, Fredricson lies second and Lindelow third individually when the action resumes tomorrow, with Olivier Robert from France in fourth with Vivaldi des Meneaux and defending individual champion Martin Fuchs from Switzerland in fifth with Leone Jei.
The German team looked compromised when Maurice Tebbel’s Don Diarado was withdrawn last night. “Of course it was bad for us that Maurice couldn’t ride, but this decision had to be made for the horse. But if you have Marcus Ehning as the fifth you are still pretty OK! We have a good team and a good team spirit, we are working well together and we’ll see where this leads us. I think we can be very happy with this start”, Will said.
Christian Kukuk’s Mumbai and Andre Thieme’s DSP Chakaria are not long back from Tokyo, but both German horses were looking great when slotting into tenth and 17th individually. On today’s form the Swedes will be under plenty of pressure if they are to stay ahead of the home contingent. Although the Swiss were a little unlucky.
On course
Anchorman Steve Guerdat looked on course for a really fast result with Albfuehren’s Maddox that could challenge for the lead but, coming down to the wall of planks at fence nine on a seven-stride distance, the stallion put down for an extra one at the last minute and ploughed through the timber. The pair cleared the finish in 71.96 which would have been the second-quickest time of the class, but the addition of four seconds for that mistake left them in 14th place instead, just behind Swiss team-mates Elian Baumann with Campari Z and Bryan Balsiger and AK’s Courage. Fuchs’ great fifth-place result was therefore pivotal at the end of the day.
The Netherlands lies fourth, France fifth and the defending champions from Belgium are in sixth place. Belgian chances were undermined when, in what looked set to be another good round, Olivier Philippaerts’ Le Blue Diamond v’t Ruytershof did exactly the same thing as Guerdat’s stallion at the planks at fence nine.
At the post-competition press conference Peder Fredricson said “there was something about that fence that was a bit spooky. When my horse came in he also had a little look at it - I showed it to him and he really didn’t like it but when he was up and going he didn’t mind it!”, he explained.
Commenting on the course in general the Swedish star added, “it was really well built, quite welcoming for the horses, a nice start but with a few good questions including the turn inside to the water and the two combinations at the end. He (Frank Rothenberger) did a really good job, most horses jumped well and confidently and still there were mistakes”, he pointed out.
Temptation
Lindelow described his feeling after steering his 11-year-old gelding into third individually and helping to anchor his country’s team lead. And he also talked about the temptation to try too hard in today’s competition where speed was so important. “It’s easy to get drawn in when the class is running so that you try to ride faster than you planned initially. But I think I stuck to my plan and I’m very happy with the result, and with my horse”, he said.
He wasn’t the only one feeling pleased this afternoon. “I’m pleased, relieved, a little bit proud and a little bit honoured!”, said event creator Ludger Beerbaum who was anxious that everything went right at this first major fixture on his home turf. It’s less than a year since the Championship was allocated to his venue which has been rapidly developed since then.
“It’s my name up front but it’s definitely not all my achievement or glory, we have a great group of people, Karsten (Lütteken, Show Director) and the whole team at Riesenbeck International. You never really know when you do an event for the first time - are we really able to do this, are we competent enough, will the ground last, will we have a nice competition, especially in the speed class - you never know 100%. But I couldn’t be more pleased”, he said.
You never know 100% how a Championship will play out either, but tomorrow will tell us more. Athletes not competing on teams will start first, so Hungary’s Gyula Szuhai and Lawisangos will be first into the ring at 13.00, while the first team combination will be Norway’s Frederik B Seim with Quevara van de Vlierbeek Z.
Don’t miss a hoofbeat….
The Horse Inspection and first training session were staged today ahead of tomorrow’s opening competition of the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship 2021 at Riesenbeck International in Germany. The exciting new equestrian centre created by international showjumping star Ludger Beerbaum in conjunction with Baron Constantin Heereman will be home to athletes and horses from 22 nations over the next five days as the medal race is played out.
A total of 15 countries are fielding teams, with Austria, Czech Republic and Turkey sending just three horse/athlete combinations while Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and Sweden have full teams of four. Greece, Hungary, Israel, Poland, Portugal, Russia and Slovenia will be represented by individuals.
Team Belgium are defending champions but, whether they like it or not, it is the newly-crowned Olympic champions from Sweden who are really under the spotlight. Peder Fredricson, individual silver medallist and hero of the thrilling jump-off that claimed team gold for Sweden for the first time in 97 years at the Tokyo 2020 Games just over three weeks ago has been called up again but with a different horse - Catch Me Not - and he’s not taking anything for granted.
Different
“I don’t think I can take anything from Tokyo to Risenbeck, it is a completely different event with another format, different footing and a different horse”, he said today. But Catch Me Not is in fantastic form right now. “I just hope he will keep this shape over the Europeans. He is quite a big horse, he is not the fastest, but he has a lot of blood. Sometimes this is not so easy to see, because he is a slow mover”, Fredricson explained.
So he doesn't expect to be in the lead after tomorrow’s opening class which is a Speed competition. But he has a simple plan. “My goal is to jump as many clear rounds as possible and in the end we will see how far that brings us”, he said.
But even though this is a very different Swedish team it’s still a strong one, bolstered by double Olympic silver medallist Rolf-Goran Bengtsson who, after something of a hiatus while rebuilding his string of horses, is now right back in the game thanks to Ermindo W.
“He’s still at the beginning of the big sport, I took it carefully with him when he was younger and of course I didn’t really have the chance to do too much with him because I lost several horses in a short time and that means you can’t go to the bigger shows because you have no first horse” Bengtsson explained this afternoon.
Selected
However the pair won the Swedish Championship last summer and were selected for the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2021 at St Gallen in Switzerland in June 2021 where, in less than ideal weather conditions, they clinched victory for their country in a thrilling jump-off. Then it was on to Rotterdam (NED) where they jumped double-clear with a time fault before being named as reserves for Tokyo.
“It’s a different team here but I think it’s a good one and it’s so nice to be back in the side again, I hope we have great success together this weekend!”, Bengtsson said. He’s joined by Fredricson, Angelica Augustsson Zanotelli, Evelina Tovek and Douglas Lindelow.
Bengtsson is very impressed by the venue at Riesenbeck. “The stables are great and the indoor is lovely, there’s plenty of space and we are surrounded by trees and out in the countryside. The big grass ring where the Championship competitions will take place looks brilliant, and now it seems the weather is going to be good - what more can we ask for!”, he said as the sun suddenly came out.
It’s clear that, although they are playing it down, the Swedes are in fact feeling pretty confident. “We are an experienced team and have a chance of a good placing. In the individual we will take it day by day and do our best to qualify for the top 25 on Sunday. We will see….”, he added with a smile.
The draw took place this afternoon and the team order of go is Great Britain, Spain, Turkey, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, France, Czech Republic, Belgium, Ireland, Germany and Austria.
The action kicks off at 11.00 tomorrow (Wednesday 1 September) when Britain’s Georgia Tame will be first into the arena with Z7 Ascot.
Don’t miss a hoofbeat…..
Stallions from the KWPN studbook claimed both the 6 and 7-Year-Old titles while a Danish Warmblood was crowned 5-Year-Old champion at the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses which returned to Verden in Germany for the 2021 edition from 24 to 29 August.
6-Year-Olds
Tokyo 2020 Olympic team bronze medallist, Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry, posted 94.000% in Wednesday’s 6-Year-Old qualifier with the KWPN stallion Kjento (Negro x Jazz), earning 10s for both trot and canter, and the pair never looked back. In Saturday’s Final they shone even brighter, with judges Peter Storr (GBR), Adriaan F. Hamoen (NED), Maria Colliander (FIN) and Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA) awarding them gold with a score of 96.000. Kjento earned 10s for trot, canter, submission and perspective.
Silver went to the Rheinlander stallion Escamillo (Escolar x Rohdiamant) ridden by Spain’s Manuel Dominguez Bernal who posted 93.4%, while the Hannoverian gelding For Magic Equesta (For Romance OLD x Jungle Prince) scored 86.4 for bronze with Poland’s Beata Stremler in the saddle.
Fry is no stranger to success in these Championships, taking the 7-Year-Old title with Glamourdale in Ermelo (NED) in 2018, and in Gert-Jan Van Olst’s Kjento she has found another exceptional ride. “When I got all those 10s I got very emotional, and it is thrilling to see that everyone sees the same quality as we do. He felt his best ever, and I don’t know how to describe this horse - if you look up the word power, he is it!”, she said.
Judge Jean-Michel Roudier praised the quality of both the horses and horsemanship he witnessed. “The improvement in breeding and riding is incredible over the last years. The winner Kjento was a happy horse like all the three medallists - a happy horse means wonderful training and it gives a wonderful willingness in the horse”, he pointed out.
5-Year-Olds
Germany’s Eva Moller had a sensational day in the 5-Year-Old Qualifier on Thursday when steering the Hannoverian stallion, Danciero 7 (Dancier x Fuechtels Floriscount), into pole position and the Oldenburg stallion Global Player OLD (Grand Galaxy Win T x Blue Hors Don Schufro) into third. Sandwiched in between these two was the KWPN mare Lightning Star (Ferguson x De Niro) ridden by The Netherlands Kristen Brouwer.
Danciero 7, owned by Helgestrand/Schockemohle, scored 96.600, Lightning Star posted 95.200% and Global Player OLD was awarded 95.000%.
But in Sunday’s medal decider it was the Danish Warmblood stallion Hasselhoej Down Town (Hasselhoej Donkey Boy x Blue Hors Zack), ridden by Sweden’s Jeanna Hogberg, who grabbed the gold with an amazing score of 97.000%. The pair had finished fourth in the opening competition three days earlier, but with 10s for trot and perspective, and 9.5s for walk, canter and submission, this time they left the rest in their wake. Danciero 7 had to settle for silver with 96.600% while Lightning Star took the bronze with 92.8%. Moller’s second ride, Global Player OLD, just missed out on the podium when earning a mark of 92.600%.
Hasselhoej Down Town was real crowd pleaser. “When I got him everyone said he’s so cute and he really is, but he’s also a really fantastic horse!”, Hogberg said. “I have a great team behind me and I have a lot of support from Andreas (Helgstrand), and I think today it was a matter of riding a really solid test without faults and at the same time showing the best of the horse, and he really stayed with me”, she explained.
Thursday’s test had been a bit disappointing, but yesterday’s performance was in a different league. “He was a bit surprised by the environment on the first day, but today he was much more relaxed”, Hogberg said. However she pointed out that the young stallion is no pushover. “He’s also the only horse at Helgstrand that I have fallen off!”, she added with a laugh.
Brouwer was delighted with bronze for the mare Lightning Star. “I’ve been riding Lily a long time and know her well but of course with Corona I didn’t get the chance to show her a lot. But she makes me every day happy, also here, she’s always fresh and willing to work. Today maybe there was a bit more tension because there was a lot of applause when you were warming up. But she’s only five and has a great future, I hope I can ride her a lot longer”, the Dutch athlete said.
7-Year-Olds
The last Championship to be decided was the 7-Year-Olds, and Danish riders completely dominated the podium but it was the KWPN stallion Jovian (Apache x Tango) who claimed the title with Andreas Helgstrand on board.
The Helgstrand name was all over these Championships as owners, sponsors, riders and producers of top-class Dressage horses, and in Friday’s qualifier Andreas steered Jovian to victory ahead of the Danish Warmblood stallion Elverhøjs Raccolto (Sezuan 2 x Sandro Hit) ridden by his wife Marianne Yde Helgstrand.
The Hannoverian stallion Quando Unico (Quantensprung 3 x Fidertanz 2), partnered by Australia’s Simone Pearce, lined up in third while Andreas Helgstrand also finished fourth with the Danish Warmblood mare Queenpark Wendy (Sezuan 2 x Blue Hors Soprano). But in Sunday’s final only Jovian stood his ground.
A mark of 89.136 from judges Sharon Rhode (RSA), Ulrike Nivelle (GER), Maria Colliander (FIN), Mariette Sanders van Gansewinkel (NED) and Kurt Christensen (DEN) gave Jovian the title, while silver went to the Danish Warmblood gelding Blue Hors Touch of Olympic L (Don Olymbrio x Fidermark) who posted 83.965 with Denmark’s Nanna Skodberg Merrald on board. And the third Dane on the podium was Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen who steered the Westphalian gelding Eternity 75 (Escolar x Sir Donnerhal) to a score of 83.75% to pin Pearce and Quando Unico back into fourth place.
“To win with Jovian is special, he is my favourite horse. He is a PR machine for us and he will have a lot of very nice foals coming up”, said Helgstrand.
Nanna Skodborg Merrald was very pleased to take silver for the Danish Warmblood studbook. “We have had so many good horses for DWB and it is good to give back”, she said. She’s been riding Blue Hors Touch of Olympic L since he was a four-year-old and is looking forward to watching him develop. “I will go into small tour shows with him now, I think he is a future Grand Prix horse”, she added.
And Anne-Mette Skodborg Hansen had every reason to be pleased with Eternity 75 because she’s only been riding him for two months. “Cathrine Dufour trained him and this is my first competition with him!”, she said after collecting 7-Year-Old bronze.
Reflecting on another great FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses, German judge Ulrike Nivelle commented that this year “we saw huge quality and the level is much better than before, both in breeding and riding. We saw more harmony and softer riding”, she concluded.
The Baji Koen Equestrian Park has won plaudits from the international equestrian community for the top notch facilities that have played a key role in the high quality of competition during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. But the Japan Racing Association (JRA) which owns and run the facilities, has far reaching plans to ensure barrier free access to equestrian sport.
JRA has worked towards the development and preparation of the Equestrian Park, not just with the delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in mind, but also with a view to boosting the long term development of the sport.
“We began planning the re-development of the venue even before Tokyo won the right to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” adviser to the JRA’s horse-affairs division Takahiro Nishio explained.
“The Equestrian Park was not initially built to cater to the specific needs and requirements of people with disabilities. But through our preparations for the Paralympic Games, we have gained a better understanding of what we need to do to create a safe and welcoming structure which allows people with different impairments to fully enjoy all that equestrian sport has to offer.
“All our development plans have been created to include accessibility requirements for people with disabilities so that the Equestrian Park, which also functions as a city park, can bring clear benefits to our community even after the Paralympic Games have ended.”
Opened in 1940, the Equestrian Park was created to provide training for riders and horses, and to host equestrian competitions as well as educational and training programmes. The venue was scheduled to host the equestrian competitions at the 1940 Olympic Games which were cancelled on account of war. It was a natural choice for the equestrian events at the Olympic Games that were subsequently held in Tokyo in 1964.
While the original plan for equestrian put forward by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee was for a temporary venue in the Tokyo Bay area, the JRA and the Japanese Equestrian Federation (JEF) pushed for the alternative which was to reuse the 1964 Olympic equestrian venue at Baji Koen. The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) were in full support of this as the Equestrian Park would deliver a more tangible and useful legacy for equestrian sport in Japan.
Post Paralympic Games, the JRA has ambitious plans to create pathways and programmes that allow riders engaged in therapeutic programmes to gradually move into Para Dressage competition. There are currently only a few therapeutic riding clubs in the country and the JRA wants to put in place the necessary structures that will allow these programmes to develop across Japan.
“The JRA has provided athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games with some incredible facilities in which to compete,” FEI Director of Games Operations Tim Hadaway said.
“JRA has gone over and above with their support and have provided specialists like veterinarians, farriers, footing maintenance staff and equestrian instructors. Through their affiliated companies, the JRA also provided feed and bedding, transportation of competition horses and turf maintenance advice for the field-of-play on the Sea Forest Cross Country Course to ensure the best possible conditions for the equestrian competitions.
“All the work the JRA has done to date is laying a solid foundation for the development of Para Equestrian sport in Japan and they have led the way by example, through their support of the Japan Para Dressage team.”
Mitsuhide Miyaji, Sho Inaba, Katsuji Taskashima and Soshi Yoshigoe are the four members of the Para Dressage team who trained and prepared for the Paralympic Games at the Equestrian Park and with the full support of the JRA.
Mitsuhide Miyaji, 63, used to work as an assistant trainer at the JRA before he suffered a stroke in July 2005 and was left without feeling on the right side of his body. Tokyo 2020 is his second Paralympic Games after Rio 2016, where he was the only equestrian representative from Japan.
A former jockey with the JRA, Katushi Takashima, 28, was injured during a race that left the right side of his body paralysed. He participated in the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 and Tokyo 2020 was his first appearance at a Paralympic Games.
Twenty six year-old Sho Inaba, who made his Paralympic debut in Tokyo 2020, was born with cerebral palsy that affected his lower limbs and he took up riding at the age of eight for rehabilitation in his hip joint. He represented his country at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 where he finished 14th.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games was also a first for 21 year-old Soshi Yoshigoe who is a student at Nippon Sport Science University. He took up horse riding as part of his rehabilitation programme but it was not until high school that he became interested in Para Dressage. Encouraged by the President of his University and colleagues, he has made his mark on the Para Equestrian scene in Japan.
All four athletes hope that the Paralympics will be the catalyst for the continued development of Para Equestrian and other disability sports in Japan.
“Until now, there has been little recognition of Para Sports in this country,” Mitsuhide Miyaji said.
“But the Paralympics have been a good opportunity for many people to learn about Para Equestrian and for them to see how people with various disabilities can get involved in the sport.
“There was no coverage of Para Equestrian Sport in Japan when I took part in the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016. But in the build up to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, there have been many live broadcasts in Japan because of the collaboration between the JRA and Green Channel, the Satellite Broadcasting Foundation for Horseracing, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
“This has allowed people to see for themselves what the sport has to offer. Also by having so many people in Japan involved in the organisation of the Paralympic Games, it has helped change the perception of Para Equestrian sport in the country.”
Photo credit: FEI/Christophe Taniere
Roxanne Trunnell (USA) broke the nine-year-old Grade I Paralympic Freestyle record tonight in a stunning Freestyle competition which also saw Sir Lee Pearson (GBR) take his third gold of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
The highest scoring podium
Grade I was the only Grade to have three athletes with a score of over 80% on the podium. Roxanne Trunnell (USA) scored 86.927% on Dolton to break the previous record of 84.750% set by Sophie Christiansen (GBR) in London 2012.
“I just wanted a nice test. It felt good with the music the whole time,” Roxanne said. “It’s been really nice. Everyone is so happy and friendly it makes everyone in the barn happy. It’s just fun. Everyone will be excited when we get home.”
The ever-brilliant Rihards Snikus (LAT) took his second silver in Tokyo on King of the Dance with 82.087%, doubtless prompting more demands for his DJing skills when he gets back home. For Rihards, these two medals more than make up for his disappointment at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. And third place went to Sara Morganti (ITA) on Royal Delight, with 81.100%.
Sir Lee makes it a golden 14
Sir Lee Pearson (GBR) became the most successful athlete in the entire competition by taking his third gold medal of Tokyo 2020, the 14th of his Paralympic career, in the Grade II Freestyle.
His relatively inexperienced and home-bred partner, Breezer, took him to a massive 82.447% to take the title ahead of Pepo Puch (AUT) who rode Sailor’s Blue to a score of 81.007%. Meanwhile Lee’s young teammate, Georgia Wilson (GBR), added another brilliant bronze to her collection on Sakura with 76.754%, which is not a bad result for the reserve rider who was called to Tokyo as a last minute replacement for Sophie Christiansen.
“Number 14, not that we’re counting,” laughed Lee. “I’m twice over the moon. I actually didn’t care if I medalled. That horse gave me his heart in there. He was so much braver than the team and individual test a few days ago. He was still nervous, and we had a tiny little spook when we entered but I said ‘come on we can do this’.”
Lee came to Tokyo with Breezer having had to retire from their selection event. “I’ve not managed to ride this Freestyle in a competition so I’ve been nervous for days. He’s brilliant. I’m taking the best horse home. I didn’t think I could love him any more than I did before but he’s beautiful, amazing.”
Sanne’s HAEVNly gold
Sanne Voets (NED) stormed to victory in the Grade IV Freestyle with a massive personal best score of 82.085% to win her class. Riding Demantur N.O.P. to the stirring music of Dutch artists HAEVN, she finished comfortably ahead of silver medallist Louise Etzner Jakobbson (SWE) who scored 75.935% on Goldstrike B.J. Manon Claeys (BEL) took bronze on San Dior 2 with 75.680%.
Louise’s silver was even more remarkable given that she broke her leg falling off her bike just a couple of months ago, and only got back on a horse to ride two weeks ago during the horses’ quarantine in Aachen (GER).
Speaking after her ride, Sanne said: “I’m not sure I can find the right words. I was really focussed and normally when I first enter a test I try to make eye contact with the judge. I never did that here it was just me and my horse and the music. It was a bit like hypnosis. It felt powerful and soft and relaxed and confident. Sometimes when you ride a test you’re thinking ‘what do I do now?’ but it was like it just happened to me. It felt like we found that true harmony and it was the two of us and no one else.”
Michele’s golden double
Michele George (BEL) was dominant again in the Grade V Freestyle, defending her London 2012 and Rio 2016 titles with aplomb. She scored 80.590% on Best of 8 to pip Frank Hosmar (NED) to the title by just 0.350 of a point. Frank, riding Alphaville N.O.P. scored 80.240 to take the silver, while Regine Mispelkamp (GER) took bronze with 76.820 on Highlander Delight’s.
“I’m really blown away. The mare is just fantastic. What can I say, I’m a bit speechless because coming over here with a young horse and showing the world what she’s capable of is just genius. I knew she could, but I thought maybe it was a bit early to show everyone because at home she can work like a queen but at home is at home.”
Michele went into the arena just after Frank had posted his great score. “Once you’re riding into the arena you don’t look at that,” she said. “I know he had a high score but I thought the mare feels good, so I came into the arena and tried to make something even better. That’s the spirit.”
Tobias’s double delight
In the second highest winning score of the night, Tobias Thorning Jorgensen (DEN) rode Jolene Hill to his second gold of the Paralympic Games in the Grade III Freestyle. Together they scored a massive 84.347% to take the title ahead of Natasha Baker (GBR), who scored 77.614% on Keystone Daw Chorus. Anne Katrin Lubbe (NOR) took the bronze on La Costa Majlund with 76.477%.
A clearly delighted Tobias said after his ride: “I feel great. I left my head out here this time because I wanted to show I can do this. I just rode to the edge of being too much and I was probably closer to some mistakes today than I was yesterday, but I took the chance.
“I always had the dream of double gold but I knew it would be hard. I would be happy if it was a silver or bronze, just to get two medals at my first Paralympics, but two golds is amazing.”
At the end of five days of stunning Para Dressage competition, the horses and athletes of Tokyo 2020 will now start their journeys home. They will remember a record-breaking week of drama and fierce competition which saw new champions crowned and titles re-won or defended.
Great Britain top the Para Dressage table, with three golds, three silvers and two bronzes, ahead of The Netherlands’ two golds, two silvers and two bronzes. Belgium take the third spot with two golds and two bronzes, followed by the USA in fourth position with two golds and a bronze.
The world’s best Para Dressage athletes will gather again in August 2022 at the FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN). Until then, the memories of this competition in Tokyo will be slow to fade. It’s been a dazzling, brilliant Paralympic Games.
©FEI/Liz Gregg
The FEI joins the entire sporting world in mourning the passing of Count Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee from 2001-2013. The Belgian, who was 79, was made IOC Honorary President when he stepped down after serving a full 12-year term.
Born in Ghent, Belgium, on 2 May 1942, Jacques Jean Marie Rogge took the medical path in his education, earning a degree in sports medicine and becoming a respected orthopaedic surgeon. But it was the sport’s world that became his metier, both as an athlete and a sports administrator at the very highest level.
An avid sailor, he was crowned world champion in the Cadet Dinghy before moving into the Finn class, which earned him three Olympic appearances at the Mexico 1968, Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976 Games. He played rugby for Belgium and was Belgian national champion no fewer than 16 times.
He then moved into sports administration, becoming President of the Belgian National Olympic Committee (NOC) in 1989, the same year that he was made President of the European Olympic Committees, a post he held until 2001. In 2013 he was made Honorary President of the Belgian NOC, having acted as Chef de Mission for the Belgian team at several editions of the Olympic Games. He also did a four-year term as United Nations Special Envoy for Youth Refugees and Sport (2014-2018).
Jacques Rogge became an IOC Member in 1991 and was made a Member of the IOC Executive Board in 1998 prior to his election as President three years later. As part of his publically declared war on doping, he became the IOC Representative on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation Board (1999-2001) and was President of the Coordination Commissions for both Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.
Wanting to instil the Olympic sporting ideals of excellence, friendship and respect into an increasingly youthful athlete base, he was instrumental in the creation of the Youth Olympic Games. Aimed at generating a pathway to the bigger Olympic stage by offering younger athletes aged 14-18 the opportunity to gain Olympic experience and hone their craft without the pressure of the full Games, the YOG was an instant success from the moment the inaugural Games were staged in Singapore 2010.
“Jacques Rogge was a truly inspirational leader, a genius who immeasurably improved the Olympic Movement with his visionary work during a 12-year tenure at the helm of the IOC”, FEI President, IOC Member and fellow Belgian Ingmar De Vos said.
“He vigorously championed integrity in sport, fighting against doping and competition manipulation in all their various forms, yet despite his brilliance, he remained humble throughout.
“I was honoured to be able to work with him when our paths crossed at the Belgian Olympic Committee, and follow in his footsteps as a WADA Executive Board Member. He became a valued mentor to me and I felt privileged to count him as a dear friend. He was an immense presence and his passing will be felt not just in his homeland of Belgium, but across the entire global sporting community. He will be sorely missed.”
Jacques Rogge also had a great connection with former FEI President HRH Princess Haya Al Hussein, who remembers him with great affection. “President Rogge was a true statesman recognised beyond the borders of sport”, she said. “He steered the Olympic Movement with a moral compass centred on values of honesty and kindness. His energy and commitment changed international sport and the world for the better.
“President Rogge brought the IOC to the UN. He worked tirelessly to protect and improve the standing of women in sport, introduced the Youth Olympic Games, and helped shape programmes for athletes retiring from the world stage. He rescued the Olympic Games after the scandals of Salt Lake City and had an unbending approach to integrity, leaving the movement in strong financial health.
“President Rogge was a passionate advocate for sports development and a great help to me personally in establishing FEI Solidarity. I will be forever grateful for the unwavering support and inspirational guidance he gave me over eight years as FEI President. I am eternally in his debt, and my life is better for having known him. May he rest in peace.”
Jacques Rogge was married to Anne, and is survived by a son, a daughter and two grandchildren. As a mark of respect, the Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast for five days at Olympic House and at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne (SUI). The funeral will be a private family ceremony, but a public memorial service will take place later in the year.
The FEI offers its most sincere condolences to the family of Jacques Rogge, his wide circle of friends in Belgium and further afield and to all members of the Olympic Movement. Together we mourn the untimely passing of one of the sports world’s true gentlemen.
Vaulting legends reigned supreme in Budapest (HUN) as FEI Vaulting made a successful return to the world stage, with Lambert Leclezio defending his World title for France, Jasmin Lindner (AUT) reclaiming the female individual gold medal and Germany proving dominant in the Pas de Deux, Squad and Nations Team categories.
After its triumphant debut at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in 2018, The Nations Team event once again returned to great acclaim, delivering the first medals of the FEI Vaulting World Championships 2021. The competition which sees two individuals and one team from each nation line up in the quest for national glory, once again provided a stage for history to be made.
Team Germany consisting of Jannik Heiland (9.048), Janika Derks (8.884) and Team Germany (9.157), was in a league of its own, posting an incredible average of 9.030 to retain the Nation’s Team World title. The silver medal was awarded to Eva Nagiller (8.938), Jasmin Lindner (9.061) and Team Austria (8.207), whilst history was made with the bronze medal going to Denmark, marking their new-found eminence on the world stage after impressive performances from Sheena Bendixen (8.988), Anna Damm (7.751) and Team Denmark (8.264).
In the female category, golden girl Jasmin Lindner reclaimed the World title she won at the FEI World Championships in Le Mans in 2016. The multi-talented, highly decorated vaulter, added to her already impressive collection of Individual and Pas De Deux World gold medals after again showing her formidable talent and unmatched expression within the sport.
Renowned for her story-telling ability, Lindner, the only female vaulter to post a freestyle score over 9.0, dominated both freestyle rounds. Partnering with her long-term team of lunger Klaus Haidacher and Dr Doolittle 5, Lindner’s Greta Thunberg inspired freestyle helped secure her unprecedented fifth Vaulting World title (3 Pas De Deux, 2 Individual) further contributing to her legacy within the sport (8.759).
Silver individual medallist from the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™, Janika Derks (GER) once again took the second step on the podium with Dark Beluga and Barbara Rosiny. Whilst Lindner’s fellow compatriot and training partner Eva Nagiller (8.578) took bronze after posting the highest technical test score of the female competition. Denmark’s Sheena Bendixen (8.461) and France’s Manon Moutinho (8.427) finished fourth and fifth respectively.
The male category lit up the arena in Budapest with France’s Lambert Leclezio retaining the World title he won so emphatically at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™, once again pushing the boundaries of the sport and rising to the top of the highly competitive class.
Leclezio got his quest to retain his World title off to the best possible start, leading after the compulsory round on 8.849 – a score rarely seen within the sport and evidence of his outstanding technical ability. His nearest competitor, Jannik Heiland from Germany, finished round one on 8.584, with the chasing pack narrowly behind.
This exceptional standard was further evident in the first freestyle round where Leclezio, Heiland and rising star France’s Quentin Jabet all posted scores in excess of 9.0. The skill, flexibility, expression and harmony of those chasing the medals thrilling to watch.
Saturday’s technical test round saw Leclezio perform a breath-taking masterclass. The flawless, technical elements coupled with his intricate, clever composition saw him post a previously unheard of technical test score of 9.083, creating breathing space between him and his nearest competitors Heiland and France’s Theo Gardies. A fall for Quentin Jabet in the technical round saw him fall away from medal contention.
In their first championship together, Leclezio, lunger, Loic Devedu and Estado IFCE performed a jaw-dropping final freestyle to retain Lambert’s World title, and further cement his legacy within the sport (8,989). Germany’s Jannik Heiland, with Barbara Rosiny on the lunge and horse Dark Beluga also retained the world silver medal from the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™.
Further evidence of France’s dominance within the male category, Theo Gardies took bronze converting his previous junior success into senior acclaim (8.659), with Quentin Jabet posting the highest final freestyle score of 9.126 to finish fourth and again prove that he is one to watch for the future.
In the squad competition Germany led through all three rounds of the competition, dominating the event. Together with lunger Gesa Buhrig and Claus 51, the team from Fredenbeck upheld Germany’s rich history within the Squad competition to take gold. Their perfect final freestyle saw them awarded 9.224 to finish on an astonishing total of 8.735, scoring 0.7 more than second place Team Austria. A masterclass in teamwork, coupled with incredible artistry and strength, saw the gold medal never in doubt. A commanding win for the power-house vaulting nation.
Representing Austria, URC Wildegg, together with Cornelia Trimmel and Leokado added to their already impressive tally of World and European medals taking second place (8.044). The United States of America finished in bronze medal position, the first time they have won a medal at the senior World Championships in squad since the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games™, marking their ascent back to prominence on the world stage (7.914). Denmark rounded off a history making Championship to finish fourth (7.856).
The ever-entertaining Pas De Deux class lived up to its highly entertaining billing, once again providing edge of the seat action. Vaulting legends from the 2014 gold medal winning team, Team Neuss, Johannes Kay and Janika Derks (GER) converted the silver medal they won at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ into gold in untouchable fashion. A fall by their fellow countrymen and nearest competitors 2019 FEI European Gold medallists Chiara Congia and Justin Van Gerven in the first round saw them enter round 2 with an impressive 0.7 advantage. Together with Humphrey Bogart and lunger Nina Vorberg they proved unbeatable, finishing on an impressive total of 8.936 and taking the top step on the podium.
Chiara Congia and Justin Van Gerven came back from their round one mistake in spectacular fashion to post the highest second round freestyle of 9.092 thus securing the silver medal (8.646). The bronze medal went to USA’s Daniel Janes and Haley Smith, securing their first ever FEI medal as a pairing after bravely changing their freestyle between round 1 and round 2 (8.469).
German athletes were unstoppable for gold when clinching the team and individual titles in both categories at the FEI Eventing European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders 2021 in Segersjö, Sweden today.
The venue, originally a royal estate that now belongs to the ninth generation of the Montgomery-Cederhielm family, provided the perfect backdrop to a brilliant weekend of sport in which Spain and Ireland took Junior and Young Rider team silver respectively while Italy took double team bronze.
And the closing stages of both competitions was nail-biting to the very end.
Juniors
A total of 67 competitors lined out before the judging panel of Seppo Laine (FIN), Laure Eslan (FRA) and Tim Downes (GBR) in the Junior dressage phase in which Germany established the advantage when Viktoria Weyers and Lariostea H posted a brilliant 22.2 for the leading score ahead of team-mate Nane Nikolaus Dehn and Zilia D who put 23.6 on the board.
On a mark of 27.7, French team member Lisa Gualtieri (A d’Aunis) was lying third while Spain’s Marçal Piro Patau (Kira HDB 20 88) was next in line on 28.0. In the team rankings Germany had the clear lead ahead of France in silver medal position, Ireland in third and Poland in fourth going into yesterday’s cross-country phase which proved very influential.
The 21-fence course, designed by Great Britain’s Eric Winters, saw 13 of the 67 starters eliminated and riders racking up a total of 31 refusals. However 35 horse/athlete combinations came home without fence penalties and 17 were clear within the time of 7 minutes 05 seconds. The bogey fence of the day was the combination at fence 11 where a total of 17 refusals were recorded, and amongst them was one for the German team anchor partnership of Sophia Rossel with Exclusive.
It proved no problem at all for the two leading Germans however, and when Gualtieri missed a flag at fence 19 to drop down the leaderboard then individual competitor Nicoletta Massmann bolstered the German position even further when moving into third after a great tour of the track with Painters Igor.
Rocketed up
Piro Patau remained individually fourth when adding just 1.6 time penalties, and the Spanish side that also included Pau Catala Sanuy (Batec), Daniel Sala Aloso (Myatn de Remella) and Arkaitz Arana Delgado (Arvoleda FM) rocketed up from overnight eighth into silver medal position going into today’s final Jumping phase.
Team Italy’s Camilla Luciani (Athina Quandolyn), Ginevra Grizzetti (Junco CP), Ludovica Vincenti (Herminia) and Cecilia Magni (Piano Star) also enjoyed a big bounce from sixth place into potential bronze medal spot thanks to solid cross-country runs. And those team positions remained unchanged this afternoon, despite plenty of drama over the coloured poles.
Four of the top five individuals were flying the German flag as jumping began, because team-member Kaya Thomsen (Da Bin Ich C) moved up from tenth after dressage to fifth after cross-country and was lying just 0.4 penalties behind Piro Patau. As the final stage played out less than two fences separated the top 10, and there was less than a fence between the top two.
Fifth-last to go, Thomsen kept a clean sheet to stay on her dressage score of 30.0 and then fourth-placed Piro Patau followed suit to hold on to his running total of 29.6. But, first of the final three, Massmann had two down to slip out of contention.
Dehn’s single error when the penultimate rider into the ring seemed to suggest he would scoop the silver with 29.2 now on the board. But, last to go, Weyers double-faulted and her final total of 30.2 left her an agonising 0.2 behind team-mate Thomsen who bagged the bronze, while Piro Patau stood on the second step of the podium and 17-year-old Dehn was crowned the 2021 FEI Eventing European Junior champion.
Young Riders
A total of 41 contenders rode their dressage tests before judges Anne-Mette Binder (DEN), Dr. Joachim Dimmek (GER) and Joanne Jarden (IRL) in the Young Riders category in which Team Germany once again established the lead from the outset.
Anna Lena Schaaf and Fairytale 39 posted the best score of 21.5, and when team-mates Greta Busacker and Scrabble OLD slotted into third with 24.1, Libussa Lubbeke and Darcy F filled fourth with 28.3 and Alina Dibowski and Barbados 26 slotted into sixth, then the German running score was 73.9 going into the second phase.
However Team France were close behind on 84.4, boosted by Anouk Canteloup’s mark of 23.8 with Daniel del Impermeable which left this pair in overnight second. The three-strong Belgian side held third on 96.2 ahead of The Netherlands in fourth on 96.6, but cross-country day would bring changes.
An impressive 20 horse/athlete combinations jumped clear over the solid timber and five made it home inside the time of 8 minutes, with two retirements, nine eliminations and 16 refusals around the 24-fence track.
Dibowski scorched home in 7 minutes 53 seconds to move up three places to third at end of the day, behind Canteloup and Schaaf who held on to the leading two spots when adding just 4.0 and 1.6 time penalties respectively. Busacker’s 5.2 time penalties dropped her one place to fourth ahead of Zazie Gardeau (Udine Jolimon Beam) and Julie Simonet (Sursumcord’Or) in fifth and sixth for France.
Dashed
The team leaderboard showed Germany still out in front and France in silver medal spot after yesterday’s cross-country, but Belgian chances were dashed when Seppe Vilain (Lamparo V) missed fence 16 and Jarno Verwimp’s Mahalia had a fall at fence 20. And the French had no luck either.
Chiara Autin and Urban Legend Blues had been eliminated for three cross-country refusals so when Gardeau’s Udine Jolimon Beam was withdrawn before this morning’s second Horse Inspection and Canteloup’s Daniel del Impermeable wasn’t accepted, then their chances were also gone.
So it was Ireland’s Jim Tyrrell (Rock Gift), Alannah Kelly (Cooley Bounce) and brother and sister Brian (Tullibards Now or Never) and Jennifer Kuehnle (Polly Blue Eyes) who were lying in silver medal spot as the final action got underway today. The departure of the French saw Italy’s Matilde Piovani (Born West), Leonardo Maria Fraticelli (Belamie DHI), Carolina Silvestri (Dutchdaleo Z) and Maria de Angelis Corvi (Bungowla Diamond Time) move from fourth up into bronze, and, like the Irish, they held firm in the final analysis.
A total of 28 lined out over the showjumping course set by Sweden’s Lars Erik Jakobsson, but only four managed to keep a completely clean sheet. It looked like it might be an all-German individual podium with Schaaf, Dibowski and Busacker holding the top three places ahead of the sole remaining French team member, Simonet, sitting in fourth place as the action resumed for the final time.
Adding four faults to her score of 31.2, the French rider then had to sit back and watch the final three take their turn and when Busacker went clear then all the pressure was piled onto the remaining two. Dibowski had no room for error with only a 0.3 advantage over Busacker, but with three fences down her medal hopes were gone. So when, last to go, Schaaf left two on the floor then she would drop to silver medal spot and it would be Busacker who would grab the gold with Simonet taking bronze.
Suspense and pure grit were on display tonight as Great Britain claimed the Tokyo 2020 Para Dressage Team gold medal, continuing their seemingly unbreakable hold on the title which started in Atlanta 1996. The trio of Sir Lee Pearson (Grade II), Natasha Baker (Grade III) and Sophie Wells (Grade V) scored 229.905 to finish just 0.656 ahead of The Netherlands’ 229.249. And in another momentous shift in the sport, USA took the bronze medal with 224.352, making this their first Paralympic Team podium finish, and the first time the podium hasn’t been made up of all European teams!
How it works
There are three athletes per team. Each Grade competes separately in its own Team Test, with each horse and athlete combination performing a series of pre-determined movements, which differ by Grade. The combined results of each of the teams’ three athletes determine the overall score and the team with the most points wins gold. The competition was run over two days, starting with the athletes from Grades I, II and III performing on Saturday, leaving Grades IV and V to seal the deal today.
Here’s how the day unfolded
At the beginning of the day, the competition was shaping up to be a showdown between the three podium winners, with Great Britain having the slight advantage over the USA, with both countries having two tests already completed.
The Grade V Team test was won by Belgium’s Michele George on Best of 8. She scored 77.047% to put her country into medal contention too.
A crucial score of 75.651% for Sophie Wells (GBR) proved to be a massive boost for her country’s chances of winning, while Frank Hosmar (GBR) on Alphaville N.O.P. posted 74.814% to keep things neck and neck between the two countries.
At the start of the Grade IV Team Test, the British had completed all their rides, leaving the USA and The Netherlands with the knowledge of how much their last two athletes would have to score to beat them.
First up was Kate Shoemaker (USA) on Solitaer 40. She scored 71.825% to put the USA in silver medal position.
Sanne Voets then entered the arena on Demantur N.O.P. and knew she needed to score 78.136% to beat Great Britain. Four minutes later she left, and her score was announced, a massive personal best of 78.200%. However, between the calculation of what was needed to win, and Sanne’s test, Sophie Wells’ score was confirmed slightly higher than the provisional score given earlier, thus handing Great Britain the closest of wins. It could not have been any closer, it could not have been more historic.
Speaking after their medal ceremony, Natasha Baker tried to sum up how the team felt. “I don’t think any of us expected that in a million, trillion, gazillion years to be honest. We’re all so immensely proud of everything our horses have done in the last few days.”
“We had no expectation that we could achieve that” Sophie Wells added. “We genuinely thought it was impossible in the most realistic way. We all had horses that have never done this or been against anyone else. The Dutch are so strong and secure on their horses and we’re not.”
“We haven’t even got any championship horses on this team,” said Lee Pearson.
Team Leader Georgia Sharples paid tribute to the team saying: “I just think these guys are undefeated Paralympic champions but in a whole new context. You’ve heard about the inexperienced horsepower, but never underestimate these guys and what a job they did out there on that field of play.”
The Netherlands were equally enthused by their silver, and the closeness of the competition.
“We’ve been working towards this for five years,” said Sanne Voets, “and this is where you want to perform at your best and, if you can succeed at that you can’t be disappointed.
“There was so much pressure. When we saw the order to go and I realised I was the last rider of the three countries who were expected to win I knew I would know the score needed for team gold.”
And despite coming into the Games as hot favourites for the title, there was delight and relief with bronze for the USA as well, especially Rebecca Hart, who has competed at four Games now.
“I don’t have words right now, she said. It was such an amazing competition and so close. A real nail-biter to the very end. I am so incredibly blessed and happy to be standing here with these two amazing riders. To finally, after so many years, be able to stand on that podium as a country, it’s a lifelong dream come true.”
After the drama of the Team competition, the Para Dressage competition at Tokyo 2020 comes to an end tomorrow, when the top eight individual riders in each Grade take to the arena to dance in the ever-popular Freestyle competition. The five medals will come thick and fast in what will doubtless be another fascinating, exciting and potentially historic end to a brilliant Paralympic Games for Para Dressage.
Equestrian Dressage and Para Dressage are considered the most artistic of the equestrian sports. But it is in the Freestyle tests, which are specially choreographed for each horse and performed to music, that the horse and athlete have a real opportunity to come into their own.
No one knows this better than Dutch Para Dressage star Sanne Voets, who took individual gold here in Tokyo on Thursday.
“When the horse, rider and music all come together in a perfect fit, that’s when the magic happens,” Voets said.
“It all starts with your choreography. And the first ingredient of good choreography is to know your horse very well, to know what your strong exercises are and what you are good at. Top sport is all about standing out and having the audacity to show the world what you’ve got. The Freestyle gives equestrian Dressage and Para Dressage athletes that opportunity.”
And Voets is not afraid to make a statement with her original Freestyle choreographies or her unconventional choice of music. Prior to the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, Voets worked with critically acclaimed Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren for a chance to perform to his song “This is What it Feels Like”. Together with her horse Demantur, Voets brought home the only equestrian gold for the Netherlands.
“The music adds an extra dimension to the choreography,” Voets explained. “You want to enter that arena feeling your very best. You want to feel focused. You want to feel strong and confident and that feeling can be affected by the music you choose.”
The 33-year-old is now going for more gold at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo alongside her horse Demantur RS2 N.O.P., affectionaly known as “Demmi”, with a new Freestyle routine, developed in collaboration with top Dutch freestyle producer Joost Peters, and one of the Netherlands’ most popular bands, HAEVN. Founded in 2015 by singer-songwriter Marijn van der Meer and film soundtrack composer Jorrit Kleijnen, HAEVN’s music has a unique sound that Voets believes will allow her make her mark.
“HAEVN compose cinematic music that has a distinctive sound with their piano, string and electronic sounds. The singer Marijn has a clear and warm voice and this really makes the sound of the band unique. I first heard them when I was in my car and the lyrics touched me deeply,” Voets said.
“Where the heart is, is a song about chasing a dream, paving your own path and taking a leap of faith. I chose it because I see myself so much in this song. I also try to follow my own path by doing what I feel is best, even when it is not the generally accepted way. There is always some doubt: Do I dare to be different? Is this the right choice? Am I good enough? This song tells me to have faith.”
Voets, who was born with a condition which weakens her legs and affects her other joints, holds Team, Individual and Freestyle gold medals at European and World level. She won gold in the Grade IV Individual Freestyle on the opening day of the Para Equestrian events, and is hoping to achieve a ‘triple-triple’ of golds in Tokyo.
“The relationship between the horse and athlete is essential for success. You cannot perform or act like you have harmony when that relationship is not there. Demmi has quite a personality and we have a deep connection. He is so special to me. He always reminds me of what really matters and is the reason I’m encouraged to go after my dream, to never let anything or anyone stop me, and also to do good. I heard someone say a few years ago that a good Freestyle is like a movie. It should tell a story. It should tell your story. And that is what this HAEVN-Freestyle really does.”
If there’s anyone who knows how to find that perfect fit and bring music, athlete and horse together into a breathtaking Freestyle routine, it is British composer and producer Tom Hunt.
Based in London, Hunt is the man behind Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester’s Freestyle music, and composed the music for Dujardin’s bronze medal Freestyle at the Tokyo Olympic Games. He also worked with Great Britain’s Natasha Baker and Singapore’s Laurentia Tan on their routines for the Tokyo Paralympics.
“Usually the process begins with a discussion with the athlete where we talk about the Freestyle and about preferences they might have,” Hunt explained.
“If the athlete is passionate about creating a really good Freestyle, then that feeds into how I work with them. Some athletes are very hands-on at every stage and are really passionate about getting every detail absolutely perfect.
“Before I even begin creating the demo, I need to see how big the horse is, what its paces are like and how expressive it is. Then I look at the floor plan and how it has been crafted, so I can emphasise the strengths of the horse and have the music highlight those sections of the choreography. It is important to build on the dynamics of the music in order to really show off the horse’s paces.
“When creating Freestyle music it is important to figure out how to fit the music to what the athlete aims to do and the story they want to tell, and to make the style work for them and the horse.”
However, when composing the music for Laurentia Tan, Hunt has had to take into account input from a number of different people. Tan, who is currently ranked number four in the world for her Grade in Para Dressage, is profoundly deaf.
“With Laurentia we’ve been working, not just with a whole team of people who tell her what the music sounds like, but also with technology so she can feel the music,” Hunt said.
“The SUBPAC is a piece of technology that she wears like a back pack and it feedbacks all the low frequencies of the music so she can feel its pull when she’s riding. The creation of Laurentia’s Freestyle music for Tokyo has been a longer processes than others, and not something we could have done quickly. So it has been good to have had the time to work with her over the past year.”
While the Freestyle Test is where the Para Dressage athletes can really show off their musical tastes and artistry, they are also free to choose the background music for their Team Tests. Any style of music can be used in a Team Test and, as it is considered background music, it does not affect an athlete’s score.
The Tokyo 2020 Para Dressage Individual Freestyle Tests across all five Grades will take place on Monday, 30 August 2021 at the Baji Koen Equestrian Park.
Photo credit: FEI/Liz Gregg
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