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With just over two weeks to go, the tension and excitement is at boiling point ahead of the much-anticipated Paris 2024 Olympic Games which will officially get underway with the Opening Ceremony on the evening of Friday 26 July.
Everything about these Games is destined to be spectacular, including the collection of iconic competition venues. And for the very first time the Opening Ceremony won’t be staged in a stadium, but instead will take place on the river Seine. It’s bound to be like nothing ever seen before.
Three years ago, the lead-in to the Tokyo 2020 Games had challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the statistics for equestrian sport in Tokyo were more impressive than ever, with a record number of countries fielding teams and individuals in the three disciplines of Dressage, Eventing and Jumping.
The Paris sport entries (FEI Definite Entries) reveal that the flags of 49 nations will fly high over 11 days of spectacular sport. A total of 200 athlete-and-horse combinations are listed, along with an additional 51 Alternates/Reserves.
The three-member team format introduced in Tokyo has certainly changed the competition dynamic. Not only is the pressure more intense as each individual performance is so critical, but it has also opened the door for more countries to take part.
In Paris a total of 35 nations will line out in Jumping with 20 of those sending teams while individuals from a further 15 countries will take part. In Eventing a total of 27 countries will be represented by 16 teams and individuals from another 11 countries, and in Dressage 30 nations will compete, 15 sending teams and another 15 fielding individuals.
Venue
When it comes to the venue, equestrian sport has arguably the most sensational of all 32 Olympic sports, as the Château de Versailles, a universally recognised symbol of France, will provide the most stunning backdrop.
Beyond its gardens lies 800 hectares of parkland criss-crossed by straight paths marking out woodland and fields. Some sections of land were lost during the Revolution and the 19th century, but the perimeter retained its original outline and its largest water feature, the Grand Canal designed by André Le Nôtre which runs east-west for 1,670 metres and stretches as far as the eye can see, will be a major feature on Eventing cross-country day when horses and riders gallop across pontoons to get from side to side.
The Canal took 11 years to complete, from 1668 to 1679. During the reign of King Louis XIV his fleet of vessels often resided there, and in the winter months the frozen surface was used for skating and sledding.
The Park is normally open to the public free-of-charge all year round but, during Games time, there will be restricted access.
Equestrian Sport in the Olympic Movement
Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic Games since 1912.
Team and individual medals are awarded in three disciplines - Dressage, Eventing and Jumping.
A three-per-team format applies for the equestrian events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Canada’s Ian Millar holds the record – 10 – for the most Olympic appearances by any athlete in any sport. He first competed at the Munich Olympics in 1972 and his last Olympic appearance was at London 2012 at the age of 65. He won team silver at the Beijing Games in 2008. He will be Chef d’Equipe for the Canadian Jumping team in Paris which includes his daughter, Amy Millar who also competed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
At the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games three years ago Sweden won Jumping team gold while Great Britain’s Ben Maher and Explosion claimed the individual title.
In Dressage Germany won the team title for an incredible 14th time and team-member Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera claimed the top step of the individual podium.
And in Eventing Germany’s Julia Krajewski and Amande de B’Neville were individual champions while Great Britain took team gold for the fourth time.
A Century Ago...
When Paris last staged the Games back in 1924 the principle equestrian venue was the Olympic Stadium of Colombes which lies 22kms from Versailles, while Eventing Endurance was held on the race-track at Auteuil and in the Bois de Boulogne.
A total of 17 nations sent horses and riders. A total of 43 riders from 11 nations competed in Jumping and the individual winner was Switzerland’s Lt Alphonse Gemuseus riding the eight-year-old Irish-bred mare Lucette who was bought as an army remount in 1922 for £48. Sweden’s Lt Ake Thelning (Loke), Lt Axel Stahle (Cecil), Capt J Age Lundström (Anvers) and Capt Georg von Braun (Diana) claimed the Team Jumping title.
The 1924 individual Dressage title went to 56-year-old retired Swedish General Ernst von Linder partnering the Trakehner Piccolomini. His compatriots Bertil Sandström (Sabel), Capt Wilhelm von Essen (Zobel) and Lt Viktor Ankarcrona (Corona) finished second fourth and fifth respectively, and Sweden would have overwhelmingly won team gold if that was possible at the time. However the Dressage team competition was not introduced until 1928. The five judges and their assistants all sat together at a long table in 1924.
In Eventing a format was introduced that would remain in place for many years to come consisting of Dressage, Roads and Tracks, Steeplechase, Cross-Country and Jumping phases. Team and Individual gold went to The Netherlands, with Lt Adolph DC van der Voort van Zijp (Silver Piece) taking the Individual title and joining Lt Charles P Pahud de Mortanges (Johnny Walker), Lt Gerard P de Kruijff (Addio) and Lt Anton T Colenbrander (King of Hearts) to top the Team podium.
Paris 2024 Equestrian Statistics:
Jumping: 35 countries, 20 teams, 75 horse/athlete combinations
Eventing: 27 countries, 16 teams, 65 horse/athlete combinations
Dressage: 30 countries, 15 teams, 60 horse/athlete combinations
The Paris 2024 sport entries (FEI Definite Entries) also include additional reserve horses and riders.
The 49 NOCs represented in equestrian sport at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are:
Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United States of America and Venezuela
Full lists HERE
The FEI, in consultation with the Fédération Française d'Équitation (FFE), has announced the cancellation of the CDI Deauville event, which was scheduled to take place from 11 to 14 July. This decision was made on the evening of Tuesday, 9 July due to the Organising Committee’s failure to secure the Veterinary Service for the Event as required by the FEI Veterinary Regulations, despite several weeks of discussions and assurances.
In the weeks leading up to the Event, the Organising Committee repeatedly provided misleading information to the FEI regarding the appointment of veterinarians for the Event. The veterinarians who the Organisers claimed were appointed, reported that they had never been contacted by the Organising Committee and therefore could not accept the role.
The FEI issued a warning to the Organiser of a potential cancellation on 5 July, prompting the Organisers to assure that they would secure the necessary veterinarians to meet the requirements for hosting a CDI.
However, on receiving the Organisers' update on Tuesday late afternoon that indicated a treating veterinarian might only be available after the arrival of the first horses, the FEI Secretary General made the decision to cancel the event the same evening.
Additionally, the FEI discovered that the stables were open and receiving horses one day ahead of schedule without a veterinarian team on site. The stables were scheduled to open on Wednesday, 10 July, with the Horse Inspection set to commence the following day.
Under these circumstances, the FEI concluded that cancelling the event was the necessary course of action so as not to jeopardise the safety of the horses. The FEI informed the French National Federation and notified all affected National Federations accordingly.
"The FEI acknowledges the significant inconvenience the last-minute cancellation has caused, particularly for teams that were already en route to Deauville last night," FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.
“There were over 120 horses who were scheduled to attend the Event, and the potential health risks arising from this situation were too high, especially so close to the Olympic Games. With the lessons from our 2021 experience still fresh in our minds, we are acutely aware of how quickly and severely a disease outbreak can impact both local and international horse populations and the health and safety of the horses is a primary concern.
This was not a decision that was taken lightly by the FEI, and we regret that the various assurances provided by the Organising Committee were not reliable. Our previous experience with this Organiser raised trust concerns, and despite reservations, they were given an opportunity to rebuild this trust.
We appreciate everyone's understanding and, moving forward, we are committed to thoroughly reviewing the matter with the FFE to prevent similar occurrences in the future.”
Affected National Federations are advised to contact the Organisers directly for reimbursement of incurred costs.
About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.
The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its six able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose (the more things change, the more they stay the same)….
French aristocrat, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, was founder of the Modern Olympic Games and co-founder of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and this year, from 26 July to 11 August, the capital of his home country, Paris, will become only the second city in the world to host the Summer Olympics on three occasions.
The story of Olympic equestrian competition began at the second Games of the modern Olympiad which were staged in Paris in 1900, but the IOC didn’t officially recognise the equestrian results of that rather muddled edition for more than 50 years. The organisation of the 1912 Games in Stockholm, Sweden, was much improved with the hosts taking team gold in Jumping while the individual Jumping title went to Capt. Jean Carlou from France riding Mignon. However it wasn’t until the Games returned to Paris in 1924 that equestrian sport was firmly established.
The newly-created FEI, at the time with only 14 member National Federations, had spent the previous two years formulating a new Olympic programme. And that has essentially remained the same ever since, embracing the disciplines of Dressage, Eventing and Jumping.
To the fore
With military men to the fore, Switzerland’s Lt. Alphonse Gemuseus claimed individual Jumping gold in 1924 partnering Lucette. A total of 43 athletes from 11 nations - Belgium, the former Czechoslovakia, France, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and USA - competed and Sweden claimed the team title.
Dressage champion was Sweden’s General Ernst von Linder riding Piccolomini, and individual bronze went to Frenchman Xavier Lesage riding Plumarol. There was no team competition in Dressage in which 24 riders from nine nations - Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the former Yugoslavia - took part.
In Eventing the top step of the podium went to Dutchman Lt Adolphe van der Voort van Zijp who also helped his country claim the team title.
A total of 44 riders from 13 countries - Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and USA - battled it out for the Eventing medals.
A century later as Paris 2024 looms large son the horizon, the flags of all of these countries, some of which have undergone significant change, continue to fly high across equestrian sport, demonstrating the enduring legacy of those early days and the resilience, and appeal, of horses and horse sport during ever-changing times.
Consistently
French riders have been consistently on the medal podium down the years with individual silver in Jumping for Pierre Bertran de Balanda and Papillon XIV and for Major Pierre Marion and Linon in Dressage at Amsterdam in 1928.
In Los Angeles in 1932 Major Marion, Xavier Lesage and André Jousseaume took the team title while Lesage claimed individual gold with Taine and Marion and Linon finished in individual silver medal position once again.
Jousseaume joined Daniel Gillois and Gerard de Ballore to take Dressage team silver in Berlin in 1936, and French Dressage was in really great shape when taking team gold again in London in 1948 where Jousseaume claimed individual silver. It was another strong year for the French with Bernard Chevallier and Aiglonne winning individual gold in Eventing and the Jumping partnership of Jean d’Orgeix and Sucre de Pomme taking individual bronze.
Pierre Jonquères d’Oriola claimed individual Jumping gold with Ali Baba in Helsinki in 1952 where Guy Lefrant took individual silver in Eventing and the ever-consistent André Jousseaume was individual bronze medallist in Dressage.
And d’Oriola was gold medallist again in Tokyo in 1964, this time with Lutteur B, while the French also claimed Jumping team silver.
In between those two spectacular wins was the Eventing team bronze secured by Guy Lefrant, Jehan Le Roy, Jack Le Goff and Pierre Durand in Rome in 1960 - the latter two names becoming more than legendary over subsequent years.
In Mexico in 1968 D’Oriola was joined by Jenou Lefèbvre and Marcel Rozier to take Jumping team silver while Jean-Jacques Guyon and Pitou were individual Eventing champions. And in Montreal in 1976 the Jumping team of Rozier, Hubert Parot, Michel Roche and Marc Roguet stood top of the podium.
In 1980 on home soil at the alternative Olympics in Fontainebleau it was the Eventers who would clinch shiny gold thanks to Joel Pons, Jean-Yves and Thierry Touzaint and Armand Bigot.
Memorable
Perhaps one of the most memorable podium moments however was at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 where the reigning European champions Pierre Durand and his mighty little horse Jappeloup pinned the glorious Gem Twist ridden by America’s Greg Best into silver medal spot while Germany’s Karsten Huck and Nepomuck claimed the bronze. It was an unforgettable Olympic triumph that won its way into the hearts of the public worldwide and eventually onto the silver screen.
French horse-breeding has long been the envy of the world, but Jappeloup, who stood at just 15.2hh, was not classically bred for his discipline. By a French Trotter, Tyrol ll, out of a thoroughbred by Ourai he was tiny compared to many of the horses he competed against at the time. But what he lacked in stature he more than made up for in strength of character and self-belief. When the unlikely ones come out on top it is even more heart-warming, and he carried Durand to also take team bronze at that edition alongside Michel Robert, Frederic Cottier and Hubert Bourdy.
In Dressage Margit Otto-Crépin and Corlandus claimed individual silver in Seoul.
It was Jumping bronze again for the team of Robert, Bourdy, Eric Navet and Hervé Godignon in Barcelona in 1992, and then at Atlanta in 1996 Alexandra Ledermann and Rochet M landed individual Jumping bronze.
There were huge celebrations in Athens in 2004 when Nicolas Touzaint, Jean Teulère, Didier Courrèges, Cédric Lyard and Arnaud Boiteau claimed the Eventing team title, and then at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games the French equestrian teams were really on fire.
Eventers Karim Laghouag, Mathieu Lemoine, Astier Nicolas and Thibaut Vallette took team gold, and Nicolas also claimed individual silver with Piaf de B’Neville who he described as “the horse of my life, a good friend and a very, very nice person!”
And in Jumping, despite a series of setbacks in the lead-up to the final day, Roger-Yves Bost, Pénélope Leprevost, Philippe Rozier and Kevin Staut did exactly the same.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games three years ago it was Eventing team bronze for Laghouag, Christopher Six and Nicolas Touzaint, and in just a few short weeks’ time the French can be expected to give it everything they’ve got once again in all three disciplines.
Versailles
The fabulous Palace of Versailles will be the most extraordinary backdrop to the equestrian events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games during which other sports will also be located at iconic venues including archery at Esplanade des Invalides, fencing at the Grand Palais, skateboarding at La Concorde and beach volleyball in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
Equestrian athletes and their horses from all around the globe will soon be gathering in the French capital as the final preparations are put in place. In a world where so much has changed over the last 100 years the unique bond between horse and rider continues to fascinate the public, and the stories of courage, determination and pure brilliance as man and horse face the Olympic challenge together will soon begin to unfold once more.
After clinching that very special individual gold in Seoul in 1988, Pierre Durand described his delight at sharing that special moment with his equine partner. “Few men have been as fortunate as I am today because I have touched my dream. I wish I could cut the medal in half and share it with Jappeloup!”, he said.
The French connection with Olympic equestrian events has been long and distinguished, and at Paris 2024 the host-nation competitors will be as determined as ever to do their country proud.
The City of Light awaits, with the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad getting underway in only just over three weeks’ time and with equestrian sport still very much at the heart of it all…..so don’t miss a hoofbeat….
Nine months after losing the lead in the FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings, Rosalind Canter (GBR) has reclaimed the number one position. She replaces Olympic gold medallist and compatriot Oliver Townend, who had held the top spot since October 2023.
Canter's rise to the top is marked by her impressive ascent from third place last month. As the reigning European Champion, she stands out as the only athlete to surpass the 500-point mark, boasting 519 points. Townend follows in second place with 492 points, while fellow Brit Tom McEwen secures third with 454 points.
“I was quite shocked to hear I’m world number one, as it was something that wasn’t on my radar. It’s really exciting news, and I’m thrilled for my whole team because this is a joint effort. I’ve been really lucky to have some fantastic horses in my team,” Rosalind Canter said.
The latest FEI Eventing World Athlete Rankings also highlight other notable performances. Belgium’s Lara De Liedekerke-Meier has climbed ten places to fourth position with 406 points, thanks to her victory at the CCI5*-L in Luhmühlen (GER) with Hooney d'Arville. World Champion Yasmin Ingham (GBR) rounds out the top five with 389 points.
British athletes have dominated the rankings in recent months, occupying eight positions within the Top 10. However, their dominance has waned just weeks before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Currently, five British athletes remain in the Top 10, with Wills Oakden (370 points) in seventh place.
Among the other top-ranked athletes, Martin Boyd (USA) holds sixth place, while New Zealand's Jonelle and Tim Price occupy the eighth and ninth spots respectively. Maxime Livio (FRA) completes the Top 10.
Photo caption: Rosalind Canter and Lordships Graffalo at the FEI Eventing European Championship 2023 in Haras du Pin (FRA) - FEI / Libby Law
The Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) has announced plans to move equestrian and para equestrian competitions to an existing purpose-built facility in Temecula, Southern California, emphasising sustainability, legacy, and fiscal responsibility in their decision.
The relocation of equestrian and para equestrian events, which were previously assigned to the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area, will achieve significant cost savings by eliminating the need to construct an expensive, entirely temporary venue.
"The plan to relocate equestrian competitions to the existing Equestrian Center in Temecula is a positive development for the sport and the equestrian community," FEI President and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Ingmar De Vos said.
"The FEI has worked closely with the Organising Committee to evaluate and choose a venue capable of hosting all equestrian and para equestrian events with the aim of managing the overall costs and complexity.
“Importantly, the venue can also accommodate Eventing competitions which was a condition of the IOC Executive Board to include this discipline in the programme of the LA28 Olympic Games. The reasoning behind the venue change also fits well with equestrian sport’s sustainability ideals and aims, and will create lasting legacies for the local community. With this important announcement we can now start working with LA28 on the field-of-play design and organisation of the equestrian competitions.”
The LA28 Organising Committee revised its venue plans to use more existing venues, and fewer temporary venues, in order to make the Olympic and Paralympic Games more sustainable while elevating the experience for athletes and fans. The new venue assignments will create more than US$150 million in combined cost savings and revenue increases for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The amendments to the venue master plan, that have already been approved by the IOC Executive Board, will be put forward to the City Council of Los Angeles for its formal approval in the coming months, as the proposals involve relocating the competition venues outside the city’s boundaries, and differ from the plans initially submitted during the bid.
“We are thrilled a venue has been chosen that can host all the equestrian events,” CEO of the United States Equestrian Federation Bill Moroney said.
“The announcement of the equestrian venue aligns with the IOC requirement stating all equestrian events must be held at the same location. The Equestrian Center for the LA28 Games in Temecula will be a world class international experience on the field of play for the athletes, horses, and their support teams as well as for fans and spectators alike.
“US Equestrian is proud to support equestrian sport’s inclusion in the Olympic and Paralympic programmes for 2028 and is eager to work with the FEI, LA28 Organising Committee, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee to bring an extraordinary event to the USA. The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games hold immense potential to elevate the visibility and popularity of our sport nationwide.”
The IOC Executive Board will finalise the events, athlete quota and competition formats for the LA28 Olympic Programme following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with a final decision expected in 2025.
The Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028 will take place from 14 to 30 July, followed by the Paralympic Games from 15 to 27 August.
More information about updates to the venue plan for the Olympic and Paralympic Games LA28, can be found here.
The full submission put forward to the City of Los Angeles can be found here.
Image: Equestrian Center in Temecula, California (USA) © LesliePotter/USEquestrian
About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm. The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Para Driving, Para Dressage, Endurance and Vaulting.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its six able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving
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If Strzegom proved one thing, it was that Eventing is rarely predictable. The leaderboard changed dramatically throughout but a young French team proved they could fight until the end, climbing from last to first in the fifth leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ in Poland today. Their score of 145.5 was just a whisker ahead of cross-country leaders Sweden, who wound up on 146.6. Whilst Poland delighted their home crowd by finishing in third on 168.3.
All four riders were making their first appearance for the French Team in a Nations Cup competition, but this did not stop them beating stiff competition, including a number of leading riders. These included reigning Olympic champion Julia Krajewski (GER) and winner of six Olympic medals Andrew Hoy (AUS) who at 65 years old was the most experienced competitor in the clubhouse.
The French had a disappointing start in the Dressage phase, where they finished last of the five teams which came forward with Australia out in front. The cross-country phase proved influential, particularly the time with very few riders finishing without penalties. French rider Camille Laisney was one of them and also came out overall winner of the CCIO4*-S.
She was full of praise for her talented French-bred mare, Avalone. “It was a really nice day. For me the dressage was not really good, but I was last to go in cross-country yesterday and I saw that the time was hard to get and my horse is really fast so I say ‘ok I can do something here.’ This is the first time I have come here and the cross-country is amazing. The ground is perfect and all the fences were nice. The showjumping arena is impressive and that can be challenging for horses. I am going to take her of her (horse) as she is just the best.”
20-year-old Verane Nicaud has no doubt impressed French selectors ahead of the FEI European Young Rider Championships which take place next month at this very venue.
“It was an amazing week and many beautiful memories. We all get the chance to do our first Nations Cup here so that was a big experience for all of us and this is part of a dream which we share.
My next goal is the Young Rider European Championships which is here (at Strzegom). We just tried our best out there and it paid. The cards were really changing after the cross-country, and the time was hard to make, but we are all happy.”
My next goal will be a four-star long like Boekelo. We came with nothing to lose and we win, and that was a dream. We hope we have shown that France is ready to compete well at the Olympics in Paris.”
Marie Bouchanville and Sebastien At made up the French quartet and were both full of praise for the venue. “I really like Strzegom. We are really far away, it took two days to come but the weather was really nice and the cross-country was lovely to ride” said Bouchanville.
"It was an amazing week and many beautiful memories"
Verane Nicaud (FRA)
Technical delegate at Strzegom, Giuseppe Della Chiesa, highlighted how well supported the event remains, and how useful that can be for Nations needing team practice ahead of Championships. “It is great to see how much this event has improved over time. The good thing of the sport is that everywhere is different. Strzegom has been put on the map because there is a good atmosphere and a well-supported atmosphere.”
In just two appearances, France have remained unbeatable in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series this season, winning the opening leg in Montelibretti back in March. The nation has shown strength and depth in their Eventing squad over the last few season. They have used the Series to give both less experienced riders and more seasoned team members useful practice competing as a team.
France is now out in front first in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ standings with 200 points, just ahead of Italy and Switzerland who have 180 points. The Series will now move to Arville in Belgium next month (15-18th August), for the sixth event in this eight-leg Series which concludes at Boekelo (NED) in October.
Full results here
Download image here
With exquisite timing, just five weeks ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Team France soared to victory when producing an impeccable performance at the fourth and last leg of the Longines League of Nations™ 2024 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Copybook clears from Simon Delestre (I Amelusina R 51), Kevin Staut (Scuderia 1918 Viking d’La Rousserie), Julien Epaillard (Donatello d’Auge) and Olivier Perreau (GL Events Dorai d’Aiguilly) saw them stand alone on a zero scoreline at the end of a thrilling day of sport that had their own supporters, and the electric Dutch crowd, on the edges of their seats.
In an epic contest Henrik Ankarcrona’s all-powerful Swedish side had to settle for second this time out when fractionally faster than the third-placed British who also finished on a four-fault tally. Belgium lined up in fourth, Brazil slotted into fifth, the Dutch finished sixth, Switzerland seventh and Ireland lined up in eighth place.
It was a tense and close-fought affair from start to finish - so close that two giants of the sport, Team Germany and Team USA, missed out on the second round when slowest of four teams sharing a four-fault result at the end of round one.
For French team manager Henk Nooren and his side however it was a glorious win after a period of inconsistency. And the timing couldn’t be better.
“To have seven out of seven clears - that was for me was something to be really proud of!”, he declared this evening.
Quality
The quality of the field was such that 25 of the 40 starters jumped clear in the first round, not because the 12-fence track set by Dutch course designer Quintin Maertens was easy, but because the teams were filled with Olympic-level combinations all striving to either confirm their selection potential or to prove that they have what it takes.
Qualification for the inaugural Longines League of Nations™ Final was also on everyone’s minds, especially the athletes from Belgium, France and Great Britain who were languishing at the bottom of the League table from which only the best eight of the ten competing nations would make the cut to the much-anticipated finale at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona (ESP) in October.
Despite putting up a mighty fight today the British and Belgians won’t be making that trip to Spain. The French however rose like a phoenix from the ashes and lifted themselves out of the danger-zone to finish joint-fifth in the final standings.
Sharing the lead
At the halfway stage they were sharing the lead on a zero score with Sweden, Britain and Brazil while the Dutch and Belgians were close behind carrying just a single time fault.
But when Maertens raised and widened a number of fences his course began to take a greater toll in round two. Swedish stars Henrik von Eckermann with the great King Edward and Peder Fredricson with the evergreen Catch Me Not S each secured double-clears, but Malin Baryard-Johnsson and H&M Indiana faulted once, and with just three athletes in each team in the second round that proved costly.
Ben Maher and Point Break and Harry Charles and Romeo 88 also kept a double clean sheet, but Joseph Stockdale and Equine America Cacharel fell victim to the middle element of the triple combination at fence seven which loosened Great Britain’s grip. And when both Stephan de Freitas Barcha with Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio and Luciana Diniz with Vertigo du Desert left a pole on the floor then Brazil also slipped off top spot. Because the French were just too good.
All four jumped in the first round despite the fact that they had their zero score in the bag after great runs from Epaillard, Perreau and Delestre. Staut, according to team manager Henk Nooren, had something to prove when going last. And when Perreau was left on the bench second time out, Staut did just that when executing a brilliant second clear after Delestre led the way with another fault-free performance.
The result was left in the hands of Epaillard, the world number 4 athlete who was runner-up at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2024 in Riyadh (KSA) in April and individual bronze medallist at last year’s FEI Jumping European Championship in Milan (ITA). Sweden’s Baryard-Johnsoon had faulted before he went into the arena as the second-last rider to go, and the man who thrives on riding at speed knew what he had to do, wrapping it up with another classic run from Donatello to ensure his was the only country to finish on that coveted clean sheet.
Reflected
Team manager Henk Nooren reflected on how French fortunes have played out during this first season of the Longines League of Nations™. It certainly wasn’t a smooth run.
As he explained his team was short of combinations suitable to compete in the LLN or any 5* Nations Cup competition “so we gave all the possibilities to new and upcoming combinations to see if we could create some. Leg one in Abu Dhabi was not a good start because we ended up last of last, but Ocala was already better and then St Gallen was cancelled. So everybody was really, really sharp to prove themselves here!”, he pointed out. They didn’t disappoint today.
“Our biggest goal is the Olympics, especially because it is a home Olympics, but we also wanted to qualify for Barcelona Final at the same time”, Nooren explained.
His Olympic selections seem to be clarified this evening, Simon Delestre already in the running with Cayman Jolly Jumper “but Amelusina now especially after this performance today is definitely one that could replace in a couple of weeks”, he said.
He was clearly impressed by the performance of Kevin Staut who had a smile as wide as an ocean after he left the ring for the second time. “The last time Kevin jumped in a Nations Cup was 2022, he got injured in April 2023 and only got back in the ring in the beginning of this year…so for Kevin today there was not only the pressure from the Nations Cup and the LLN and but it was also an enormous pressure to prove himself again that he has a horse to go perhaps to Paris within a couple of weeks”, the French Chef d’Equipe pointed out.
He didn’t need to see so much of Olivier Perreau’s GL Events Dorai d’Aiguilly because “we saw the horse a couple of times last year coming up to the level and jumping clear…especially at the European Championships where he had three really great days and ended up eighth individual and we've seen him quite a bit ever since. That's why we took him out of the second round today because we wanted this half to get more information about the other horse/rider combinations. With him we have basically enough information for ourselves”, he said.
“And then Donatello - no matter how much success he already had he never jumped in any Nations Cup in his life. The first choice for Julien is Dubai that’s for sure. But now it's also clear that over two rounds and let's say the second round today was a really championships round. So yes, he also has a replacement if necessary.
Long way back
Staut was understandably delighted this evening. As he said “it’s been a really long way to come back to this level so it's really emotional. Some clears don’t have the same value as others for this reason. We have had tough days, tough weeks, tough shows and a few weeks ago I was not really sure that we could come here and be ready - but here we are! I’m proud of my horse and all the team around us!”
The brand new Longines League of Nations™ series has produced some unforgettable sport this season and today was another fantastic contest.
Despite their disappointing result today Team Ireland still finished at the top of the League table and they will fight for the inaugural series title in October along with Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, France, USA and The Netherlands.
Don’t miss a hoofbeat….
Few nations have been as dominant in their home Nations Cup as The Netherlands. After finishing off the podium last year, the Dutch reasserted their dominance at home with a notable victory Thursday in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ of Rotterdam (NED).
Led by Chef d'Equipe Patrick van der Meer, the quartet of Edward Gal (Glock's Total Us), Marlies van Baalen (Habibi DVb N.O.P.), Emmelie Scholtens (Indian Rock), and Dinja van Liere (Hermes N.O.P.) kept Denmark at bay with a total score of 222.392, led by van Liere's 77.891% in the CDIO5* Grand Prix test.
Denmark, who won the series' last leg at Compiegne (FRA), finished second with a total score of 220.349. They were just ahead of Germany (219.435), who captured the opening leg in Wellington (USA).
The Netherlands has now won four of the last five editions of this event. They have only lost on three occasions in the last 11 years.
"It's always nice to win, but to win here in Rotterdam is very special. It was really nice. We also had some tests with some unexpected results. There were some mistakes, there was some tension, but at the end, especially Dinja—she lifted us all up. We won, and that's super."
-Patrick van der Meer (NED)
The Dutch squad was the only team to have all four of its athletes score above 70%, including its drop score—van Baalen's 70.435%. But it was team anchor van Liere who really rose the team's average with the 12-year-old stallion, Hermes N.O.P., her bronze medal-winning partner from the 2022 FEI Dressage World Championships (DEN). Their 77.891% score was not only the highest score put forward by the team, but it was also the highest of the competition.
"This was only our third competition this year, and he just keeps getting better. He's really a champion in the piaffe and passage, but he's such a complete horse. He can do it all and has so much talent.
-Dinja van Liere (NED)
"He can be a clown sometimes and make up his own test, so I have to stay sharp, but I'm so proud of him and so happy with our performance today," van Liere added.
Both Denmark and Germany kept things close, and the team anchors proved to be the separators. With some horses affected by the venue's big atmosphere at the multi-disciplinary CHIO Rotterdam, Carina Cassoe Krüth (DEN) and Heiline's Danciera putting up a rather surprising score of 67.674%, which was ultimately dropped from her team. Isabell Werth (GER) boosted her team with a 76.935% score aboard Wendy de Fontaine, but it was not enough to match The Netherlands' collective consistency.
It was a particularly triumphant return to team competition for Gal, who took a sabbatical of nearly three years from competitive sport following the Tokyo Olympic Games (JPN). Rotterdam marked just the second international competition for Gal and the 12-year-old stallion Glock's Total Us since 2021, but they came into the event in strong form, having won both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special at CDI3* Exloo (NED) in May. The pair received a 73.196% from the judges in Rotterdam, second-best on their team.
"For almost three years, I didn't ride in any competitions, and I just started again," Gal said. "I didn't have to start all over again with [Glock's Total Us, because] he has so much experience. Now he will settle down a bit in the stable."
Rotterdam is the penultimate leg of the 2024 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series, but for the Dutch, the competition plays an additional role, acting as the final test before the nation selects its team for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games (FRA). With big names on the Dutch roster, van der Meer certainly recognized the talent within the group he put forward to compete Thursday.
"We're close to [the Olympics in] Paris and making the selection...I'm not only here as the chef d'equipe but also as the sports director, and I'm really happy with all the riders here," van der Meer said. "When you see the big names here and then being able to win, it gives a great feeling."
Ahead of the series finale at Falsterbo, Germany leads the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ standings with 30 points. Denmark sits second with 28 points, just ahead of Sweden (27 points).
Starting in 2026, the Helsinki Horse Show - a key event in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series - will feature a new venue, a new date, and a new CEO, enhancing the experience for riders, spectators, and the global equestrian community.
Scheduled for 26 February - 1 March 2026, Helsinki will now be the concluding event of the Western European League, meaning it will follow the Gothenburg Horse Show. Currently, and for the 2024/25 season, it’s the second leg in the series after Oslo, with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ scheduled for 27 October 2024.
Helsinki Fair Centre
From 2026, the Helsinki Horse Show will take place at the expansive Helsinki Fair Centre. This move marks a return to its original location, where the event was first established in 1985, now significantly upgraded to accommodate the growing demands of the sport. The new venue offers a larger competition arena, revamped spectator seating, and comprehensive indoor infrastructure, promising an elevated experience for all attendees.
Valtteri Gundersby Appointed CEO
Valtteri Gundersby, a 31-year-old lawyer and equestrian entrepreneur, has been named the new CEO of BCM Scanhorse Ltd, the organizing company behind the Helsinki Horse Show. Gundersby will work alongside Tom Gordin, the long-time Event Director, during a three-year transition period. This leadership change is expected to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the event’s organisation.
The transition to the Helsinki Fair Centre allows for greater flexibility and creativity in event planning. The new venue, approximately four times larger than the current location, the Helsinki Ice Hall, enables the development of additional side events, improved hospitality services, and a significant equestrian shopping and event venue at the Horse Expo.
FEI Jumping Director, Todd Hinde said;
“We are thrilled with the transformative plans for the Helsinki Horse Show. The move to the Helsinki Fair Centre, the new timing as the final event in the Western European League, and the new leadership under Valtteri Gundersby are set to ensure a world-class experience for athletes, spectators, partners and all participants. These changes will reinforce Helsinki's position as a premier destination in the equestrian calendar.”
With just weeks to go until the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the FEI has launched its global marketing campaign – "A bond Like no other" – honouring good horsemanship and celebrating the unique and long-lasting connection between horse and human.
Created together with London-based marketing agency Redtorch, the aim of the campaign is to engage Olympic and Paralympic equestrian sports fans and connect with a broader audience, showcasing the essential connection between horse and human and its critical role to success in the sport.
Click on the image to watch the video
"Equestrian sport is a rich mosaic of stories that illustrate the profound connection between horse and rider,” FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus explained. “It is a bond that not only drives the horse and human combination to achieve sporting excellence but, as many riders will attest, it also contributes to human emotional well-being.
“For many people, equestrian is a lifelong passion and community. Horse lovers instantly connect through a shared understanding of this unique relationship.
"Through this campaign, we want to take these stories to a broader audience by providing some insight into the depth and beauty of this distinctive bond between the horse and rider. By creating content that we hope will appeal to both animal lovers and sports enthusiasts, we are looking to engage new fans who are curious about the sport and want to experience more of the rich heritage of the sport.”
Although spearheaded by the FEI, the campaign is a truly collaborative effort that resonates deeply within the equestrian community. It involves the collective participation of National Federations, athletes, grooms, and owners to share their stories with a global audience.
The host nation, France, certainly has stories to tell. With a total of 33 medals, France is in the top five countries that have won the most Olympic medals in equestrian sport. As a leading organiser of FEI events each year, France also stands at the forefront of horse breeding, with the "cheval de Selle Français" recognised as one of the premier breeds among Olympic horses.
“Equestrian sport is based on a relationship between two sentient beings, each with their own character, coming together to form a relationship that develops and grows over time,” explained FEI Secretary General and President of the Association of Paralympic Sports Organisation (APSO) Sabrina Ibáñez.
“To truly be successful in equestrian sport, horse and human need to spend quality time together to build up trust. It’s not unlike having a best friend where, after knowing each other for a long period of time, you can just finish each other’s sentences. It’s the non-verbal bond and highly emotive nature of the relationship that is special and unique. Ultimately, it’s about understanding each other’s body language and intonations, learning to read one another without words.
“The bond also highlights the relationship between two elite athletes, with both the horse and the human having undergone years of intensive training to develop their skills en route to the pinnacle of the sport.
“We hope that this campaign will shine a light on the uniqueness of our sport.”
While Paris 2024 will be the first Olympic Games to have a 50:50 ratio of female and male athletes, equestrian is known as a gender-neutral sport that allows athletes of all sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions to compete on a level playing field. Equestrian uniquely stands as the only Olympic and Paralympic sport where all competitions are mixed gender.
The equestrian events of Paris 2024 will be held against the breathtaking backdrop of the Palace and Park of Versailles, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site. An operational cross-country test event held in August 2023 has already provided a taste of what’s to come, promising a spectacular setting for all equestrian disciplines.
The Olympic Games will take place from 26 July to 11 August, followed by the Paralympic Games from 28 August to 8 September 2024.
Key links
Keep up to date with the campaign via FEI digital channels. Catch the action on IOC Olympic & Paralympic channels between Saturday 27 July and Saturday 7 September. Full schedule can be found here.
Don’t forget the hashtags: #ABondLikeNoOther #ASportLikeNoOther
FEI Media contacts
Vanessa Martin Randin
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications & Media Relations
FEI Communications
vanessa.randin@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 73
Didier Montes
Manager, Sport Communications and Media Relations
FEI Communications
didier.montes@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 21
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