Sunshine in Szilvásvárad for first horse inspection

Nestled in a valley in the forests of the Bükk Mountains, the State Stud Farm and competition centre dominate the centre of Szilvásvárad with a towering stadium. The two large sand arenas, adjacent to where the Lipizzaners are stabled, are the warmup and dressage arenas where yesterday afternoon the horses were gently exercised as pairs and teams ahead of the FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand which starts today with day one of dressage. 

The morning sun was already hot when the driving horses walked down the hill in single file from the stabling to the two inspection lanes.  Already crowds were watching the activity along one side of the arena, trying to find spots of shade, and soon it was a hive of activity as each athlete trotted up their five horses.  Only two of the 205 horses presented were held for a reinspection and one, from the Romanian squad, was not passed.

After the obligatory hour’s wait at the end of the inspection, the Chefs d’Equipe confirmed their national teams.  For some it was predetermined as they only have two or three combinations but for others, such as Germany and Hungary who have larger squads, there was anticipation ahead of the announcements. 
Teams to Challenge Dutch Dominance

The Dutch team of Ijsbrand and Bram Chardon, and Koos de Ronde, has not changed in recent years and they remain the ones to beat.  But they will be pushed by the strong German team of Michael Brauchle, Mareike Harm and Georg von Stein. With the support of the home crowd and the weight of history and expectation, the hosts have selected József Dobrovitz Snr and Jnr, and the last Hungarian to win an individual Four-in-Hand gold medal, Zoltán Lázár.  One of the Austrian athletes has withdrawn so now ten nations will contest for the team medals.

By early afternoon, Chefs and officials had gathered for the draw to determine the dressage running order.  Team places were allocated first then in draw order, each Chef filled the blank slots with their remaining individuals.  As host nation, Hungary has entered nine combinations and two of their squad, Simon Sándor Tόth and Péter Juhász, will be the opening competitors on Thursday morning. Former champion, Lászlό Juhász, will be the first to enter the dressage arena as the test driver.

Family Orientated Opening Ceremony

As the evening air cooled, the stadium seats filled with the public for the official opening of the event.  Two teams of horses from the stud took former Hungarian champions round the arena then each nation paraded their squads which included generations of families.  The Hungarian minister of defence opened the speeches, joined by Vilmos Lázár, President of the Hungarian Equestrian Federation which has its centenary this year. To close, there was a display of ridden Lipizzaners and vaulting teams.

There is a festive feel in and around Szilvásvárad as Hungary hopes to make history again at this iconic venue which last played host to the FEI Driving Four-in-Hand World Championship forty years ago.  

Image by FEI/ Martin Dokoupil