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The FEI Veterinary Department would like to alert the equestrian community to an Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1) neurological outbreak in France.
The outbreak is linked to a national event that took place in Le Mans on 1–3 November 2024 and as of 20 November, has resulted in fatalities, and cases in three different French departments.
An FEI event took place at the same venue in the following week (8-11 November 2024). The FEI horses were housed in different stables than the horses competing in the national event and there were no direct contacts between the national and FEI horses at Le Mans.
EHV-1 is an air-borne disease that can be transmitted up to five metres via coughing, but also through direct contact, via people and shared equipment. It can cause respiratory and neurological signs, abortion in pregnant mares and death of young foals.
However, as this disease is easily transmitted, contact between horses must be kept to the absolute minimum and we therefore strongly recommend that you should not participate in any training events, breeding activities etc. with your horses.
In response to the outbreak, we request that our community remains vigilant and monitors the health of their horses carefully, for clinical signs of infectious disease. Further information relating to EHV-1 can be found on the EHV-1 hub.
Richard Vogel and his charismatic stallion, United Touch S, dazzled in front of an electrified home crowd at the Stuttgart German Masters, clinching victory at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ qualifier. The pair’s seamless performance marked their second triumph in as many weeks, following a spectacular win in Lyon.
A Demanding Test
Course designer Christa Jung set a formidable challenge, presenting 40 of the world’s top athletes with a track that demanded precision, power, and speed. With a tight time allowed of 75 seconds, clear rounds were rare. Only three riders—Vogel, Denis Lynch (IRL), and Kevin Staut (FRA)—managed faultless performances, advancing to the jump-off. Victoria Gulliksen of Norway, though clear over the fences, incurred one time fault to finish fourth, while Britain’s Tim Gredley, with two time faults, secured fifth place.
Speed and Precision
Stuttgart is a special venue for Vogel, who also claimed victory with United Touch S here in 2022 during his Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ debut. This year, the duo once again rose to the occasion. Their jump-off round showcased daring lines, sharp turns, and immaculate timing, thrilling the capacity crowd.
“Stuttgart is kind of my home show,” Vogel reflected. “A lot of my family and good friends were here, as well as the owner and breeder of United, Julius-Peter Sinnack. It was very emotional to have all those people supporting us. When we entered the arena, United and I had a lot of people behind our backs. Their cheering gave us wings. For sure the goal was to repeat our win here (referring to November 2022) and luck was on our side.”
"Today’s result gives me a lot of confidence. Together with my team, I’ll make a good plan for the coming months and ensure United stays in top form.”
Richard Vogel(GER)
The technicality of the course tested even the most seasoned riders. Vogel explained: “It was more challenging than expected. It rode more difficult than it walked. It was very technical, and the triple combination—two verticals followed by an oxer—was especially challenging. But the three athletes who made it to the jump-off proved it was possible to do the course in the time allowed though.
Lynch and Staut Deliver Strong Performances
Denis Lynch and his ever-reliable Brooklyn Heights delivered the first clear round of the day, earning admiration from the crowd for their composed, confident approach. Entering the jump-off first, Lynch set a commendable pace but ultimately couldn’t match Vogel’s bold lines. When asked if he thought whether going first was the disadvantage that kept him from winning, Lynch laughed: “I’m used to going first—it’s my job in the Irish team. The real disadvantage today was that Richard was in the jump-off!.
Kevin Staut and Dialou Blue PS delivered a steady performance to take third place. His 15-point haul secured his qualification for the FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Basel next April. “Now that qualification is in the pocket, I can try out some other horses in the coming legs,” he said, looking ahead to the remainder of the season.
Eyes on the Final
Vogel’s Stuttgart success catapulted him to second place in the provisional Western European League standings with 42 points, bolstering his confidence ahead of the Final.
Meanwhile, Yuri Mansur (BRA) and Harrie Smolders (NED), both ranked within the top 10 prior to Stuttgart, faced setbacks. Mansur’s eight faults plus two time penalties left him out of the points, while Smolders, despite a strong showing with Monaco N.O.P., ended 13th after a single jumping fault and a tight time penalty.
The Road Ahead
The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League heads next to Madrid on 1 December, with subsequent legs in La Coruña, London, and Mechelen rounding out the calendar year. The action resumes in 2025 with the series returning to Basel, where Vogel and his rivals will vie for the ultimate prize at the Final.
Saadiyat Island truly became the 'Island of Happiness' on Wednesday evening as the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas welcomed the equestrian world's finest for the 2024 FEI Awards Gala presented by Longines.
Longines FEI Rising Star Award
It was a night to remember for local Jumping sensation Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi (UAE) who claimed this year’s Longines FEI Rising Star Award, honouring athletes aged 14 to 21 who show outstanding equestrian talent.
The 21-year-old who was the flag carrier for the UAE at the Olympic Games, stood out in Paris for being the youngest athlete in equestrian and for qualifying for the Individual Final, ultimately finishing in the Top 20 on his Olympic debut.
Patrick Aoun, Longines Brand Manager for Middle-East & South East Asia presented Omar with the award and an elegant timepiece from the FEI’s Top Partner.
“I feel so proud to win the Longines FEI Rising Star award, especially as it is the first time someone from UAE has received it,” said Omar.
''I had an exceptional experience in Paris. I participated in the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, which was memorable, but Paris was completely different. I was competing with riders I have looked up to for years.
“I got my horse Enjoy de la Mure just 10 months before Paris which was not ideal. However, I developed a strong bond with him. He is an exceptional horse and jumps so incredibly well, and he was in great form heading into the Olympic Games in Paris.
“He has already experienced one Olympics, which is an amazing achievement, and he still has much to offer – the future is bright for him. I hope we can compete together at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and I will be there every step of the way to help make that dream a reality.”
Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award
The second award of the night went to Olympic Jumping champion Christian Kukuk (GER), who received the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award from the sponsor’s Managing Director, Martin Atock.
Coming from a family with a deep connection to the equestrian world, Christian was more into playing football than riding growing up. While that changed, the two pursuits crossed over somewhat in 2024 when Christian rode his horse Checker 47 – co-owned by Bayern Munich footballer Thomas Müller – to Individual Jumping gold at the Olympic Games in Paris.
“It is a big honour for me to win this award,” Christian said. “To be called the best athlete in 2024 is incredible. This achievement is the result of a team effort. While I stand in the first row, there are many people behind me.”
Christian, known for his meticulous care and sensitivity towards his horses, also paid tribute to his equine partner, Checker.
“I have known Checker for four years, and during that time, we have built a strong connection. It takes a lot of work, just as it does in human relationships,” Christian explained.
“We have shared both success and disappointment. Our bond is built on trust—he needs to trust me, and I need to trust him—and that trust led to a gold medal in Paris. It meant everything to have my family and friends there with me. Our sport is about emotions, and it’s sad if you can’t share these moments with those closest to you.”
Cavalor FEI Best Groom
Bettina Cardinael (FRA) was crowned Cavalor FEI Best Groom, an award that honours the unsung heroes of equestrian sport who work behind-the-scenes.
Receiving the award from Cavalor Brand & Customer Experience Manager Monique Vanhal, Bettina was recognised for her work as groom for Eventing athlete Lara De Liederkerke (BEL), with whom she shared an incredible year, including winning the CCI5* in Lumühlen and finishing 13th in the Eventing Individual at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“I love working with Lara; she is hardworking, human and kind to her horses,” Bettina said.
“This year has been both challenging and exciting, and I could see that our team was destined for great things. I am very happy to have contributed to this success and to be recognised with this award.
“I have always loved Lara’s horse, Origi, and he has improved so much over the past year. The special relationship between the horse and groom is developed at home, but becomes more evident at shows. At home we try to follow the same routine every day in their schedule and I love creating little habits with the horses that I can replicate at shows to make them feel confident.”
FEI Inspire Award
For the final award of the evening, the Namibian Equestrian Federation (NAMEF) received the FEI Inspire Award, for its development programme ‘Enabling Through the Horse’.
The FEI Inspire Award is designed to showcase the incredible spirit and determination of individuals or organisations that serve as role models, demonstrating that anything is possible.
Supported by FEI Solidarity, and First Rand Namibia Foundation Trust, the NAMEF programme creates opportunities for differently abled communities in Namibia through equestrian sport, under the guidance of Susan de Meyer.
“This recognition will make a huge impact on the Federation, the programme, to the children, and the horses,” said NAMEF President Richard Frankle, who received the award from FEI President and Chair of the FEI Solidarity Committee Ingmar De Vos.
“We are also grateful that Susan de Meyer’s work is being recognised through this award. She is the one with the teaching skills, producing incredible results through her endeavours and patience. One girl was completely non-verbal and after two weeks of the programme spoke her first words. Another boy had no confidence and it took him three months to get on the back of a horse – and now he is riding and absolutely loves it.
“It is amazing to see the impact such a large animal can have on children. Initially, many children are scared, but as they interact with the horse, they begin to understand its true nature. This helps them realise that while the world can be intimidating, there are also parts of it that are safe and welcoming. Horses are completely non-judgmental; they accept you for who you are. They connect deeply with children, becoming one with them.”
This year’s winners were decided again by combining 50 percent of the public votes cast on FEI.org, and 50 percent of the judges’ votes. National Federations, FEI partners and stakeholders attended the FEI Awards Gala presented by Longines, with equestrian commentator Steven Wilde (GBR) as Master of Ceremonies.
FEI President Ingmar De Vos said, “It has been a fantastic year for our dear athletes and horses, with many of them competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and these prestigious awards are always a great celebration for the FEI Family.
“Our worthy winners serve as a true inspiration to the future generation of equestrians in terms of their equine excellence, and strong ethics and values that underline the importance of equine welfare.
“I want to thank all our winners, the nominees, and the tens of thousands of equestrian fans who voted for the awards. I also want to thank our valued sponsors, Peden Bloodstock, Cavalor, and, especially, our Top Partner Longines, who once again brought their renowned style and grace to this wonderful Gala evening. We complement each other perfectly, and I look forward to many more years of partnership.”
Videos:
Image caption: FEI Awards 2024 winners. (L-R) Richard Frankle from the Namibian Equestrian Federation (NAMEF), Christian Kukuk (GER), Bettina Cardinael (FRA) and Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi (UAE). FEI / Liz Gregg
About the FEI Awards
The FEI Awards were launched in 2009 to put a spotlight on the individuals and organisations that are making an outstanding contribution to the progression and excellence in equestrian sport.
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 able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
FEI Media Contact:
Vanessa Martin Randin
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications & Media Relations
+41 78 750 61 73
Malina Gueorguiev
Manager, Governance Communications, Stakeholder & Media Relations
+41 78 750 61 33
The FEI General Assembly 2024 took place in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and online on 13 November.
A summary of the main decisions taken by the General Assembly is available here.
An in-person FEI Board meeting took place after the General Assembly.
A summary of main decisions taken at FEI Board Meeting II is available here.
Meeting documents
The detailed timetable, agenda, and meeting documents are publicly available in the dedicated hub here.
Related news
10 November
FEI Board Meeting I, wrap-up report of key decisions
Longines League of Nations™ 2025 Calendar confirmed
12 November – Sessions
A summary of each session along with the relevant presentations are available here.
Caption: The delegates of the FEI General Assembly 2024 held in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on 13 November. (c) FEI/Solo Studio
Caption: Pictured from left to right are FEI Dressage Director Ronan Murphy, Senior Manager for Equine Welfare Initiatives & Implementation Somesh Dutt, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez, FEI Veterinary Director Göran Åkerström, and FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch during the Session on Equine Welfare Strategy Action Plan (c) FEI/Solo Studio
Sessions on Equine Welfare Strategy Action Plan, Horse Digital Passport, Athletes Services and Registration Fee, and Rules took place on 12 November in the framework of the FEI General Assembly 2024 held in Abu Dhabi (UAE).
A summary of each session along with the relevant presentation are available on this page.
Session 1 Equine Welfare Strategy Action Plan was broadcast live and can be viewed in replay mode on the dedicated online hub.
Please note that further to discussions during Session 3: Athletes Services and Registration Fee, the following supporting documents for the FEI General Assembly 2024 were updated:
Budget 2025 (updated 12 November 2024)
Approval of Financial Charges for the year 2025 (updated 12 November 2024)
Coverage will continue on 13 November with the FEI General Assembly, which will be broadcast live starting at 09:00 GST (local time in Abu Dhabi). The agenda and meeting documents are publicly available on the hub as well (Meeting Documents section).
A selection of photographs can be downloaded for editorial use from the FEI Flickr account.
Caption: FEI Technology and Sports Services (TSS) Director Gaspard Dufour during his presentation on the Horse Digital Passport (c) FEI/Solo Studio
Other news
Other news published in connection with the General Assembly:
10 November - FEI Board Meeting I, wrap-up report of key decisions
10 November - Longines League of Nations™ 2025 Calendar confirmed
Just a week after her partner Richard Vogel (GER) claimed victory in Lyon (FRA), 26-year-old Sophie Hinners (GER) made her own mark on the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League in Verona (ITA), winning the fourth qualifier of the season.
40 riders fought for a spot in the jump-off, with only five advancing and just three completing it without faults. Hinners, aboard the twelve-year-old gelding Iron Dames my Prins, outpaced her seasoned rivals with a time of 37.91 seconds. Ben Maher (GBR) on the bay stallion Point Break clocked in at 38.23 seconds to secure second place, while Marcus Ehning (GER) with Coolio 42 finished third at 38.35 seconds.
This season marks Hinners’ debut year competing consistently at 5* level. Today was only her second Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ qualifier—and her very first jump-off with Iron Dames my Prins. Whether it was raw talent or beginner’s luck that propelled her to victory, Marcus Ehning has no doubts: “Sophie has an amazing season. It’s a good horse, and she is an incredible rider.” Ben Maher echoed this praise, saying,
"She is young, but she is a huge threat"
Ben Maher(GBR)
Team Support and Vogel's Encouragement
Although new to riding Iron Dames my Prins since July, Hinners remains modest, crediting her success to her team’s support. “My team colleague David Will (GER) rode this horse before me and he educated him so well. The horse knew what his job was today. David knows him inside out, so he helps me a lot during trainings at home. He even called me after the first round today, to discuss the jump-off. Also Rich (Richard Vogel) helps me when he can and is a great motivator for me” she said.
While Hinners faced more experienced riders, she had confidence in the course design. “The course was tough today, but I knew it would fit my horse. He is a big scopey horse. He is not scared and he jumps effortlessly. That’s perfect in a course where oxers are wide and fences come quick after turns. So I felt very positive when I walked to the stable to take him with me for the warm-up.”
A Costly Slip for Maher
Though pleased with his performance, Ben Maher faced a momentary setback in the jump-off when Point Break stumbled slightly upon landing. “That took us a little bit of time to recover. This horse needs experience. It is a young horse and I was happy to see that he didn’t lose his head when he tripped”, Maher reflected.
With ten Italian riders competing, hopes were high for a home-country podium finish—yet history proved difficult to overcome. In 23 years of Jumping Verona, no Italian has claimed first place. Though Lorenzo de Luca looked promising, his horse Curcuma Il Palazzetto knocked down a rail, ending his chances.
Standings Update and Hinners' Future Goals
Hinners now stands 11th in the provisional rankings of the FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League 2024/25, tied with Robert Whitaker, while Vogel sits in 8th place. Reflecting on their shared success, Hinners was thrilled: “What’s happening now, is really something very special. I had it in my mind after Rich’ win last week: how cool would it be, if I could win this week. But didn’t believe it could happen. It's amazing. I still cannot believe it”
Some seasoned athletes, including Kevin Staut (FRA), Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP), Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA), and Steve Guerdat (SUI), each had a fence down in the first round, yet their fast times secured them places in the top 15 and some qualification points.
After this fourth leg, Kevin Staut (FRA) leads the Western European League standings, followed by Gregory Wathelet (BEL), Steve Guerdat (SUI), Yuri Mansur (BRA), and Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP).
Looking Ahead to Stuttgart
The next leg of the Western European League will take place on Sunday, November 17, 2024, in Stuttgart, Germany. While Hinners won’t be competing there, she has her sights set on London, hoping to earn additional points toward qualifying for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Basel (SUI). Reflecting her characteristic humility, she said, “Basel is the goal, but we will see how things go.”
The second in-person FEI Board meeting of the year took place today, 10 November 2024, in Abu Dhabi (UAE), prior to the FEI General Assembly.
A summary of the main decisions taken by the Board is available on this page.
A press releases on the Longines League of Nations™ calendar for the 2025 season was sent out earlier in the day and has been published on the FEI website here.
Coverage will continue with a report of the sessions taking place on 12 November. The Session on the FEI Equine Welfare Strategy Action Plan starting at 09:00 GST (local time in Abu Dhabi) will be broadcast live on the dedicated online hub here (Watch Live section).
On 13 November, the proceedings of the FEI General Assembly will also be broadcast live. The agenda and meeting documents are publicly available on the hub as well (Meeting Documents section).
A selection of photographs from the meeting can be downloaded for editorial use from the FEI Flickr account.
Photo caption: Pictured from left to right are FEI Veterinary Committee Chair Jenny Hall (GBR), FEI Vice President Mark SAmuel (CAN), FEI President Ingmar De Vos (BEL) and FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez at the opening of the in-person Board Meeting in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on 10 November.
(c) FEI/ Solo Studio
Following on from the conclusion of a thrilling inaugural season of the Longines League of Nations™, which saw Germany crowned the first Longines League of Nations™ Champions, the FEI Board has confirmed the events for the 2025 Season.
The 2025 Season will open in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi (UAE) in February, followed by the US Qualifier at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida in March, before returning to Europe for the Rotterdam Qualifier in June. In September, the LLN’s equestrian stars will rub shoulders with the rich and famous, as Saint-Tropez-Gassin (FRA) makes its Longines League of Nation™ debut, with the Qualifier to be held at the Polo Club de Saint-Tropez in Haras de Gassin. The prestigious Longines League of Nations™ Final will once again take place at the iconic Real Club de Polo in Barcelona (ESP) on 2 – 5 October. Following a review of the 2024 Season, and due to uncertainty regarding the future plans for the arena, the FEI Board decided that, regrettably, St Gallen will no longer be part of the Series moving forward.
The Longines League of Nations™ 2025 will see the top 10 teams in the world compete against each other. Italy will feature in the Longines League of Nations™ for the first time, replacing Brazil in the Series. Italy just edged out Canada and Brazil in the tight battle for the 10th qualification place.
“The Longines League of Nations lived up to all expectations in its first season. When launching this new Series, we took some bold decisions but the success of the first season demonstrates that fortune favours the brave!” said FEI President Ingmar De Vos. “The new format proved to be innovative and, time after time, showed the very best of team equestrian sport. Almost every competition, including the amazing final, came down to the last fence. The top sport that was on show is a credit to the commitment of the participating Athletes, Horses, NFs, Grooms and Organisers, all of whom gave 100% to ensure the 2024 Season was a spectacular success. The FEI is also grateful to Longines for their trust and continued support. As we look forward to the 2025 season, we are very excited to welcome a new Qualifier in Saint-Tropez-Gassin and are confident that the Series will continue to grow and showcase all that is excellent about equestrian sport.”
The Longines League of Nations™ venues for the 2025 season will be as follows:
Qualifiers:
CSIO5* Abu Dhabi (UAE): 12 – 16 February 2025
CSIO5* Ocala, FL (USA): 18 – 23 March 2025
CSIO5* Rotterdam (NED): 19 – 22 June 2025
CSIO5* St Tropez-Gassin (FRA): 17 – 21 September 2025
Final: CSIO5* Barcelona (ESP): 02 – 05 October 2025
When Alex Matz (USA) received a last-minute call informing him that he had made the field for the highly selective Royal Horse Show in Toronto (CAN), he wasted no time accepting the invitation. The decision was handsomely rewarded Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd, as he rode Ikigai to the top of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Toronto—the first World Cup victory of Matz's career.
Matz, 28, bested a five-horse jump-off, producing the only double-clear effort of the night over Oscar Soberon's (USA) short course. The winning time was 34.68 seconds. Tiffany Foster (CAN) and McLain Ward (USA) finished second and third, respectively, each adding a single rail to their scorecards. Foster claimed the runner-up spot with Electrique (4/32.81), while Ward was third with Ilex (4/34.58).
"I don't think it's sunk in yet. I'm really proud of my horse, proud of my team, and I'm really honored to be in this position with two incredible riders behind me and so many good riders in the field."
-Alex Matz (USA)
While the competition was stiff, no athlete came into the event with a hotter hand than Matz, who had already recorded two victories at the venue before he entered the arena for World Cup competition. Fresh off his first senior championship at the Longines League of Nations (ESP), the son of Olympic silver medalist Michael Matz was brimming with confidence and rode like a far more seasoned professional than his years would allow. With only Ward and Foster following him in the jump-off, he put the pressure on his more experienced rivals with a forward, efficient track and a bold turn to the final vertical.
"I knew I had to give it my all," Matz said. I had really fast riders behind me. Sometimes I try to go too fast and make mistakes, so I didn't want to do that. My horse is in great form, and fortunately everything stayed up."
Ward got the first chance to chase Matz's target and was well mounted with Ilex, who helped him earn a fifth Olympic medal when anchoring Team USA to silver in Paris (FRA). Ward's plan was to use his horse's large stride to his advantage, but an aggressive angle to the second fence resulted in 4 faults.
"This is actually [Ilex's] first international indoor show. I'm very happy that he handled it well," Ward said. "He's not the fastest horse, so I knew I had to take some risks. I thought that was a place that I could do it, and I maybe over-sliced it."
That left it all up to Foster, who came forward last with the exciting 10-year-old mare, Electrique. The pair executed the majority of their jump-off flawlessly and were up by nearly two seconds on the clock when Foster turned tightly back to the final fence. This time, the rail fell.
"Sometimes I go too slow...so I was trying to go as fast as I could," Foster said. "The only bit of the jump-off I'd been able to watch was Alex's turn to the last fence. I tried to replicate it, but I didn't do it as well."
Coming back stronger
Matz has been partnered with 11-year-old Ikigai for more than three years, acquiring the chestnut stallion from his former employer, Jos Lansink (BEL). Their introduction began a trend of exceeded expectations.
"I went to Jos, because he said he had quite a special horse, and I didn't really believe him," Matz confessed. "Then I sat on him, and it was like nothing I'd ever sat on."
Matz quickly became a believer in his horse, and their partnership started strongly. However, an injury sustained in the spring of 2023 sent Ikigai to the sidelines for nearly a year. This fall, the pair has turned a corner, producing their biggest and most consistent results yet.
"He's come back better than I could have ever, ever imagined. I'm really proud of him, because I've probably told everybody how good of a horse he is, but I think a lot of people didn't believe me until recently. Now, he's proved it."
-Alex Matz (USA)
Defending champion Daniel Bluman (ISR) finished seventh with Gemma W but took over the lead in the North American League standings with 37 points. Kristen Vanderveen (USA) moved into second (35 points), followed by Kent Farrington (USA) with 30 points.
Hot on the heels of the opening leg in Lyon (FRA), the FEI Driving World Cup™ action moved to Maastricht (NED) with a starry line up which included current World Champion Bram Chardon (NED) and two previous champions, Boyd Exell (AUS) and Koos de Ronde (NED) who were all launching their new series campaigns this weekend.
But it was the Australian who produced the most polished and consistent four rounds over the two days of competition to earn ten points and join last week’s winner Dries Degrieck (BEL) at the top of the ranking table. Driving three of his stalwart World Cup horses, Mad Max 81, Bajnok and Barney, plus a new mare Katydid Duchess, Boyd started his bid for another title in emphatic style with three fast clears and only one knock to add four in the final drive-off to end on 149.44, the only driver to go under 150 all weekend – in all four rounds.
Fresh from his pre-season success at indoor events in The Netherlands, Koos brought out some established horses including the versatile Tjibbe and Edgar, and came second after both drive-offs, finishing day two on a time only score of 153.42. As the wild card he won’t earn ranking points but the performances will boost his morale going into his next event at the 3rd leg in Stuttgart (GER) where the large arena suits his horses and style of driving.
Still amalgamating some new Lipizzaners into his indoor team, Bram drove well enough to be in the top three in both competitions for drive-off places, and he finished third on both days. On day one, his corrected error of course in the drive-off added 20 penalties to his time, plus three knocks which meant there was an unusually high total for the reigning champion. He recovered his form on day two, and his horses were much more united, but a missed turn and extra loop in one of the obstacles meant that he totted up costly seconds to finish on 160.05.
Also making his series debut was fourth-placed Glenn Geerts (BEL), who changed his tactics after day one when his new Lipizzaners still looked to be on a learning curve, and he amassed penalties to add to his time to finish sixth. But he regrouped, and the improvement in the horses on day two was testament to Glenn’s skills when he gave them the confidence to work better together, only missing out on a drive-off place by one knock and 0.03 of a second to end his opening event on 157.14.
Having driven last weekend in Lyon too, Germans Anna Mareike Meier and Georg von Stein also improved between the two competitions and on day two both produced clear rounds, with Anna Mareike finishing fifth on 162.68 and Georg sixth on 164.25.
Like last weekend, the course was designed by Jeroen Houterman (NED) who - for the second week running - had a bridge in the centre as part of his 13-obstacle course, which felt more compact because of the slightly smaller dimensions of the arena. For the drive-offs, only the top three from the first rounds came forward and the scores went back to zero, and for competition one’s drive-offs, the F gates were taken out.
Next weekend, the action moves to the Stuttgart German Masters, one of the first events to include the indoor Driving format, even before it became an FEI championship. Known for one of the biggest crowds on the circuit who love to cheer on the competitors, it promises to be another exciting event. All on their second outings of the series as qualified drivers Boyd, Koos and Glenn will be joined by Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) and Jérôme Voutaz (SUI), with the wild card to be confirmed.
Live coverage will be on FEI TV on 15 and 16 November.
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