Let the Games begin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Oh yes! Here oui go! It’s Olympic dressage day in Paris and here at EN oui’ve been chinchilla-ing away to bring you all the stats, facts and form for every competitor oui’ll see up the center line. (OK, I’ll stop it now.)
For those of you who are avid followers of our live blogs (we salute you eventing nerds!), you’ll notice that things are a little different this time around. In order to adhere to the strict media rules for the Olympics, we’re not able to bring you live commentary. We can, however, keep you totally informed with regards to who’s in the ring, what their form is coming into the Games, their hobbies and favorite foods (amongst other, um, horseplay), and how they’re likely to perform in each phase based on the available data, so you’ll be securely in the know as you watch the live stream.
I’ll also be bringing you the riders’ reactions to their Olympic test, courtesy of our roving reporters extraordinaire – Sally Spickard and Tilly Berendt – who are waiting with baited/garlic infused breath in the Chat Zone. So buckle up and prepare to be hit with absolutely everything you didn’t know you need to know about the horses and riders of the Paris Olympic Games.
But it’s not going to be all about the competitors today, oh no. Show your faces eventing die-hards and get in on the EN action.
Have you sniffed out and wrangled together a watch party with all the eventing fans in your town (and any unsuspecting future fans you could find – willingly or not, it’s all the same to us)? Are there any furries, or feathereds, or scaleys along for the ride? How is your horse getting in on the equestrian frivolities in France? Do you, like me, have an Olympic flag flying on your front porch? We want to see everything. Head over to our Facebook page (which you’ll find right here) to share all your Olympic geekiness – look for the relevant post and leave a comment. Show yourselves eventing nerds! Please remember to include who took the photo, and if you’re not of the selfie variety, don’t fret – let us know how you’re celebrating the Games and I’ll try and give you a shout-out. And if you miss out due to it being basically the middle of the night in your time zone, share away anyway and I’ll try and include you at some point over the weekend. Scroll down to the ‘Fan Zone’ at the bottom of the post to see your shares.
Before we get down to official Olympic business, here are some links of interest:
▶️ The Olympic dressage test is a little different to what we’re used to seeing at CCI5*s – for one, it’s a whole minute or so shorter. EN asked the experts to come onboard to explain just what’s required of the horses and riders in this, fairly unique, test. Find out more here.
▶️ Check out everything you need to know about the Olympic eventing in Paris – and much more besides – in our Ultimate Guide.
▶️ It’s fair to say that we’ve been typing our fingers to the bone to bring you all the Paris content you can handle, and we’re not done yet. For now though, click here to view all our blood, sweat and tears thus far.
Please remember to keep this page refreshed so that you don’t miss a thing. I’ll be adding in the riders’ reactions to their test as they come in, so keep flicking through to gather all the goodies.
Scores will be included in this companion guide later, but you can follow along with the live leaderboard as things happen here.
It’s time to adjust your beret to a jaunty angle, perhaps sample a snail or two, and go eventing! Let the Games commence!
#Paris2024: [Website] [Equestrian Schedule, Timing, Scoring] [Peacock for U.S. Viewers] [How to Watch Guide] [Ticket Resale Market] [Spectator Guides] [EN’s Coverage]
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FIRST TEAM ROTATION
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🇩🇪 Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Coming in hot 🌶️ Julia was actually in Block 3 on the German squad list, but a superb win at Aachen a few weeks ago bumped her right up the order and she was due to come to Paris with this exciting young horse as traveling reserve. However… the withdrawal of Sandra Auffarth has meant that Julia is there to defend her Olympic title, and she’s got a pretty good shot. It’s going to be an exciting few days, that’s for sure.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Julia’s championships experience:
🔥 Individual 🥇 Tokyo 2020 – Team 🥈 Rio 2016
🗺️ Team 🥇 & Individual 🥈 Pratoni 2022 – Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 Julia’s win in Tokyo made her the first woman Olympic eventing champion, and, as far as we can tell from sometimes patchy records, we believe that Amande de B’neville was the first mare to win gold.
Dressage 📈 This guy really is something special in the first phase. He put down a 23.9 at Aachen on his way to the win, and almost has a clean sweep of sub-30 scores on his card. He does tend to swing between the low- and high-20s but, seriously, what a problem to have.
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Incoming from Julia Krajewski after her ride on Nickel 22, one she wasn’t expecting having headed to Paris in the traveling reserve spot:
“To be honest, I didn’t have the Olympics marked in my calendar as ‘I’m probably going’ — it was more like, ‘Okay, that’s the Olympics, don’t book an expensive holiday then, just in case … [Nickel 22] proved in Aachen that he’s really able to play with the big boys.”
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Score for Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21 – 26.9.
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🇦🇺 Shane Rose and Virgil
After a bit of a bumpy ride recently, Shane has made it to Paris and it must feel good to be sat on his old pal of many years, 19-year-old ‘Virg’, particularly given that they’re here off the back of three consecutive wins, including Adelaide 5* and the Horse of the Year Event in New Zealand – that’s some hot form right there 🌶️
Form, Facts & Stats:
Shane’s championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥈 Tokyo 2020; 10th individually – 🥉 Rio 2016 – Beijing 2008 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team); 13th individually – Tryon 2018 (Team) – Caen 2014 (Team) – Aachen 2006 (Ind.) – Rome 1998 (Ind.)
🔴 Safe to say, Shane is one of the more battered and bruised eventers on the circuit. He defied the odds to be here after a nasty fall at home a few months ago, has had facial reconstruction in the past after being kicked by a horse, as well as having defeated thyroid cancer. He’s one tough cookie, that’s for sure.
Dressage 📈 These veterans of the sport knows his way around a championships dressage ring, that’s for sure. They put down a 31.5 at Pratoni and a 31.7 in Tokyo, and generally hover around the 30-mark in the first phase. They went sub-30 at Adelaide 5* last season, where they very nearly finished on their dressage score of 28.1, adding just 1 second of cross country time on their way to the win. They’ve just had the one run this year, due to Shane being off games, but what a run to have, winning the Horse of the Year event in New Zealand in style and finishing on their dressage score of 30.8.
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Shane and Virgil might be veterans of the sport, but that doesn’t mean they rest on their laurels:
“I thought he was in a better way of going; I think his frame was really good, something that we’ve been working on.”
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He elaborated further about how things went for them in the ring:
“I think he sometimes starts a little slow and doesn’t get into his medium trot. I felt lucky; he really started in a positive way. I think his walk was really good, he was reaching for the contact and stayed forward.There was lots to be happy with, but certainly some things that I could do better.”
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Score for Shane Rose and Virgil – 34.6.
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🇨🇦 Michael Winter and El Mundo
Mike’s here with his World Championships and Pan-Ams ride, El Mundo. They got a taste for taking home medals when they won team gold in Santiago and there’s no doubt that’s given them a hankering for more. ‘Roberto’ has been with Mike since he was a six-year-old and the pair have a really close relationship after Mike spent a good while tending to the gelding’s every need, 24-hours a day, whilst he was on box rest following an injury. Safe to say, that bond will stand them in good stead as they take on Paris.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Mike’s championships experience:
🔥 Beijing 2008 (Team) – Athens 2004 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Mike is an outspoken advocate for diversity and anti-racism in the sport, as well as speaking up for equality issues such as access to clean drinking water, education and health care.
Dressage 📈 This pair have one sub-30 score on their card, which came at the pop-up 5* at Bicton in 2021. At their three other 5* runs they’ve been low- to mid-30s – their highest is 34.6. It was a 32.3 for them at the Pan-Ams in Santiago, where they were fifth individually and won team gold. At the World Championships in Pratoni, they put down 33.3 in the first phase.
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Score for Michael Winter and El Mundo – 35.2.
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🇮🇪 Sarah Ennis and Action Lady M
“Action by name and action by nature,” Sarah says about this mare on her IG account. She describes her as feisty, and a true performer with grit and determination, which pretty much sums up everything you want in an event horse, really.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Sarah’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team)
🗺️ Team 🥈 Tryon 2018, 5th individually – Caen 2014 (Team)
🔴 Action Lady M is called ‘Lottie’ in the barn.
Dressage 📈 This pair posted their best dressage score at 4* in their most recent run so Sarah must coming to Paris full of confidence. They generally tend to swing between low- to mid-30s scores in the first phase. They finished on their dressage score of 32.9 in the 8-and-9-year-old class at Blenheim in 2022, where they were sixth.
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Score for Sarah Ennis and Action Lady M – 38.
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🇨🇭 Mélody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This pair very nearly finished on their dressage score at Tokyo (if we ignore the second round of show jumping), which has got to have Melódy chomping at the bit as she bids to better her individual 17th place.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Mélody’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 17th individually
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 Mélody’s had the ride on this seventeen-year-old gelding since 2020.
Dressage 📈 They put down a 36.1 in Tokyo and added just one second of cross country time across the entire event, up until the second round of show jumping, when things kind of fell apart a little, but we’re focusing on dressage right now. They posted a 36.7 at the European Championships last season and a 35.9 at the Worlds in Pratoni, and we can see from those scores that they’re generally pretty consistently mid-30s in the first phase.
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Score for Mélody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire – 38.4.
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🇺🇸 Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Pan-Ams individual gold and team silver winner Caroline is making her Olympic debut with exciting talent HSH Blake. Seriously, this guy is total class. He’s been first or second in 50% of his FEI runs and has only been outside the top-10 twice. That’s the kind of quality we’re dealing with here.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Caroline was just 14 when she became a full-time eventer! She won team and individual gold at the North American Young Rider Championships in 2013 and left school the next day, continuing her education at home, but mostly riding.
Dressage 📈 This guy has only ever been out of the 20s in the first phase twice. He posted a 26.8 on his way to individual honors in Santiago, that was 3*, and has generally been 27 or 28 at 4*. How will he handle the step up to the Olympic test, which is essentially a short 5*? Eyes on 👀
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Listen up! Sally and Tilly caught up with Caroline and here’s what she had to say about her very exciting young talent, HSH Blake, and the priority in the US camp for the Games:
“He’s such a little unicorn at only nine-years-old — and that much atmosphere, he couldn’t care less… The big goal is a good team score.”
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Caroline went on to talk about what her and ‘Blake’ get up to at home:
“Blake is my best friend … I take him for bareback hacks; I’m with him every single day.”
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Score for Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake – 30.4.
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🇵🇱 Malgorzata Korycka and Canvalencia
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Malgorzata is here to contest her first Olympic Games, but she comes with the experience of European and World Championships appearances under her belt. She’s in Paris with her Pratoni mount, Canvalencia.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Malgorzata’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 Malgorzata is engaged to fellow Paris Olympian, Jan Kaminski.
Dressage 📈 This pair put down a 35.7 in the dressage phase at the World Championships in Pratoni, which is about where they tend to be in the first phase – mid- to high-30s.
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Malgorzata’s making her Olympic debut, but it’s not her first championships rodeo – she’s been to the Worlds and Europeans:
“I feel strange — the Olympics are not the same as the World Championships, or European Championships. The arena here is huge.”
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If you’re watching the livestream, you’ll have noticed that the Olympic test is really pretty short. Malgortzada talks a little about what it’s like to ride:
“I think it’s pretty nice to ride; it’s really short. Just when I opened my eyes, I was in the middle of it, almost done! I think it’s good — good for the rider and good for the horse. I am happy with [Canvalencia] even if I had some mistakes.”
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Score for Malgorzata Korycka and Canvalencia – 39.4.
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🇸🇪 Sofia Sjöborg and Bryjamolga van het Marienshof Z
Sofia brings her World Championships ride forward on her Olympic debut, but she’ll have had a heap of advice from Olympic veterans and fellow Paris competitors Tim and Jonelle Price, who she’s based with in the UK.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Sofia’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Sofia spent three years training with fellow Paris Olympian – and former Olympic Champion – Michael Jung. Talk about learning from the best.
Dressage 📈 This pair can have a bit of a tricky time in the dressage phase, with scores this season ranging from 37.1 to 51.7. They put down a career-best score of 32.8 at the World Championships in Pratoni – what a time to break out a PB. A championships thing perhaps?
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Here’s what Sofia had to say after her Olympic test:
“I just was overwhelmed. It’s been a long road — I’ve had the horse since she was at the end of her four-year-old year; I’ve done all her events with her.”
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And how she found the atmosphere in the Olympic ring:
“The dressage, she [the mare] hasn’t always found easiest. She’s quite hot, she’s very forward-going — she’s great cross country, but dressage, she’s had to learn to keep a lid on it a bit and listen. I was just so proud — she’s never seen anything like this, with the atmosphere. She got a bit fed up when they started clapping at the beginning. I kind of went in thinking, ‘Just get through,’ but then she came back to me and she listened and tried.
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Score for Sofia Sjöborg and Bryjamolga van het Marienshof Z – 33.3.
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🇬🇧 Tom McEwen and JL Dublin
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Tom knows what it’s like to take a haul of medals home from a Games, with a team gold and individual silver from Tokyo stashed away in his bling cabinet. He’s here with relatively new ride JL Dublin, who he took on from Nicola Wilson, and Tom is very vocal in his praise of Nicola’s work with ‘Dubs’ each time he’s had success with the lovely gelding. Which is a lot, really, hence they bagged an elusive spot on the very competitive British team.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Tom’s championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥇 & Individual 🥈 Tokyo 2020
🗺️ Team 🥇 Tryon 2018; 12th individually
3️⃣ Tom is currently World No. 3
🔴 Tom was awarded an MBE from the late Queen of England following his success in Tokyo.
Dressage 📈 Since Tom took on the ride in 2022, they’ve had dressage scores ranging from 20.9 to 29.8. They were second at Kentucky 5* in the spring, where the posed a 24.6 in the first phase and third at Pau last fall, where they put down a 23.1, so their best scores do tend to come on the big occasions, like an Olympics, say. Eyes on this one 👀
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Incoming from Tom McEwen:
“Dubs was awesome … [He’s] always very relaxed and very happy.”
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Tom went on to talk about his lovely test:
“He loves an atmosphere and I must say, he really lit up in the trot a little bit more than I was expecting, and then was actually super relaxed in the walk, which then caught me out for the first change. I was expecting, when I picked up the canter, to have a little bit more electricity underneath me, so sadly missed that first change, but then after that, we picked it right back up where we left off. [We’ve] hopefully put Great Britain in a great, strong starting position, which is our main goal. Now my aim is to support the girls and finish on that score.”
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Score for Tom McEwen and JL Dublin – 25.8.
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🇧🇷 Carlos Parro and Safira
Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Carlos made his Olympic debut back in 2000 at the Sydney Games and has a hattrick of Olympic experiences under his belt. The Brazilian team are in Paris off the back of a team bronze medal at the Pan-Ams last season, where Carlos and Safira played their part and gained valuable experience ahead of the test they face in Paris.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Carlos’ championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team) – Rio 2016 (Team); 18th individually – Sydney 2000 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Aachen 2006 (Ind.) – Rome 1998 (Team)
🔴 Carlos has won Best Eventing Rider of the Year awarded by Olympic Brazil three times.
Dressage 📈 They put down a 34 at the Pan-Ams in Santiago on their way to team bronze. This season they’ve had two FEI 4* runs; they scored 33.4 in Strzegom, Poland, and 34 in Sopot, also in Poland.
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Carlos was pragmatic when he talked about his test:
“There was a chance that the changes weren’t going happen, and half of them didn’t quite happen the way we planned — the atmosphere shook her concentration little bit. But I’m happy with her attitude. I’m not going to say I’m happy with the result, but I’m happy with the attitude, and I’m happy with the horse. It could have been better, but it just didn’t happen today.”
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Score for Carlos Parro and Safira – 37.7.
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🇳🇿 Jonelle Price and Hiarado
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Jonelle Price sure knows a thing or two about championships appearances, having made her Olympic debut back in 2012 at the London Games. She took home a team bronze medal that time around, and has since added another, at the World Championships in Pratoni in 2022. Her Paris ride is relatively new to her, but they’ve already shown they’re a great partnership with a top-10 finish on the mare’s 5* debut.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Jonelle’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 11th individually – Rio 2016 (Team); 17th individually – Team 🥉 London 2012
🗺️ Team 🥉 Pratoni 2022; 10th individually – Tryon 2018 (Team); 19th individually – Caen 2014 (Ind.); 4th
8️⃣ Jonelle is currently World No. 8
🔴 Jonelle broke her arm 5 weeks before the London Games but bounced back to make her Olympic debut for New Zealand.
Dressage 📈 This mare put down a 30.4 in the first phase on her 5* debut at Pau last season, where she finished seventh. They’re very much a low-30s pair, their best being 30.2 and highest 34.5.
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This is what Jonelle had to say about her mare, who’s a relatively new ride for her:
“She’s not the finished product yet … 95% I’m delighted.”
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She elaborated on how her test went and how she came about having Hiarado in her string, :
She’s had a steep learning trajectory this year, since we only bought her two years ago and she been playing catch up ever since. This test is another step up, in technicality. She has such a beautiful walk, it feels like a crying shame to give marks away on the walk, but that’s the tension that showed, and such is the nature of the big arena like that.
I sort of thought I was going to be a bit light on the ground for Paris, and I thought maybe I should get a little bit proactive. I happened to ring up Jodie Amos and said, ‘Have you got any seven-year-olds?’ because I didn’t think I could probably afford anything else. She said, ‘Well, I haven’t got a seven-year-old, but I’ve got a ten-year old-mare that I think would really suit you’. So I went and had a look at her, and I hopped on her and just loved her from the minute I sat on her. She’s right up my street. She’s a little angry, feisty, determined.
She’s just got better and better in everything … I think in another year to two years, we’ll see the end product. She’s a natural talent for sure.”
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Score for Jonelle Price and Hiarado – 30.8.
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🇯🇵 Ryuzo Kitajima and Cekatinka
Ryuzo has represented Japan at the Olympics, World Championships and Asian Games, where he finished fourth individually in 2018. Cekatinka was purchased especially for the Tokyo Olympics but didn’t go; Ryuzo was selected as traveling reserve with his other ride, Feroza Niewmoed, stepping up in the final phase as a substitute. But he’s here now, and ready to do it for Japan in Paris.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Ryuzo’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team) – Rio 2016 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 Cekatinka was 8th individually at Tryon WC 2018 with fellow Paris Olympian Tim Price.
Dressage 📈 This pair are capable of going sub-30 in the first phase, but they’re more likely to drop in somewhere in the low-30s. They scored 32.2 at the World Championships in Pratoni and 31.5 in their most recent run prior to Paris, the 4*-L in Ballindenisk, where they finished second.
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Score for Ryuzo Kitajima and Cekatinka – 34.5.
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🇮🇹 Emiliano Portale and Future
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Emiliano’s making his championships debut and what a competition to get your first Senior call-up at. This pairing is relatively new, with Emiliano taking on the ride last season. They’ve had their fair share of success since getting together though, so it’ll be interesting to see their performance in Paris.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Emiliano has been a selector for the Italian pony team.
Dressage 📈 They’re proving to be a low- to mid-30s kind of pair, with a 33.3 in the European Championships last season and, more recently, a 31.7 in the 4*-S Nations Cup leg in Montelibretti this spring, where they finished fifth.
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Emiliano Portale and Future – EL.
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🇳🇱 Janneke Boonzaaijer and Champ de Tailleur
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Janneke’s back at the Olympics for another go, this time as part of the Dutch team after competing as an individual in Tokyo. This pair didn’t have the happiest of times on their Olympic debut, after being eliminated for a technical refusal on the cross country, but they’re here to put all that right this time around à Paris.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Janneke’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Ind.)
🔴 Janneke’s sporting philosophy is one we can all get behind: “Having fun together is one of the keys to success” 💪
Dressage 📈 They put down a score of 33 in the first phase at Tokyo and a 32.5 at the European Championships last season, but have a smattering of sub-30 scores scattered through their record also, notably in their most recent run, where they posted a 27.8.
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Janneke’s ride was feeling the Olympic spirit:
“Phwoop, go!”
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She seemed to have a great time in the Olympic ring:
“I really enjoyed it. He was focused and relaxed. When I’m working him I’m really also in a bubble myself — I’m really focused on the horse. He was going with me and that was was really nice. I came in and I really felt, okay, he was with me, and I made a turn to the medium trot and he was like, ‘Phwoop, go!’ And I was like, ‘Okay, I don’t have to give that much leg. Wow.’
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Score for Janneke Boonzaaijer and Champ de Tailleur – 31.9.
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🇫🇷 Karim Laghouag and Triton Fontaine
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Karim’s known for being quite the character on the European eventing circuit and I have it on good authority from EN’s roving reporter, Tilly Berendt, that he’s deserving of a gold medal for being the friendliest person in the sport. He’s got tons of championships experience and was part of the bronze medal success for France at Tokyo with his Paris mount, Triton Fontaine.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Karim’s championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥉 Tokyo 2020; 12th individually – Team 🥇 Rio 2016
🗺️ Lexington 2010 (Ind.) – Aachen 2006 (Ind.) 10th
🔴 Karim was honored with the title Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur after being part of the French team which won gold in Rio.
Dressage 📈 This pair scored 31.4 at Pau 5* on their way to second place, a relevant result in terms of what they’ll face at the Olympics. The dressage test is 5* level but shorter than a usual 5*. In Tokyo the put down a 32.4 in the first phase. They can sneak sub-30 at 4*, as they did in the 4*-S Nations Cup at Montelibretti last season on their way to third place.
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Karim is, shall we say, one of the more advanced in years athletes at the Olympics. We really do have a cool sport, with long careers for both the horses and the riders:
“When I’m in the Olympic village, they think I’m the physiotherapist — everyone else who’s there is so young and I’m like the old man walking around; they don’t think I’m an athlete!”
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Safe to say, we’re all looking forward to hearing the home crowd cheer their riders ‘round the course tomorrow. Karim talked a little about the atmosphere for the French athletes in Paris:
“We’re loving the crowd, and I’m loving being here as well — talking to everyone, being in the whole atmosphere. It’s going to be the same when we go into the jumping — I’ll hear the crowd and they’ll all be wild. We have to get our heads into this, but once we start, we’ll be fine. [Translated]”
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He had a ‘Mary King’ moment when he rode into the arena, apparently:
“It’s probably like the English — in London, how they felt — but when I went in, I felt like Mary King saying to the crowd, ‘Everyone settle down, everyone be quiet.”
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Score for Karim Laghouag and Triton Fontaine – 29.6.
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🇧🇪 Karin Donckers and Liepheimer Van’t Verahof
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
It’s fair to say that Karin has been a valuable representative of Belgium over the years, with six Olympic and eight World Championship appearances. All in a day’s work, hey Karin?! She’s here with the only stallion in the field, who was fourth in the Young Horse Championships as a seven-year-old. He’s got championships experience via the Europeans in 2021, and has been a regular on the Nations Cup circuit.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Karin’s championships experience:
🔥 Rio 2016 (Ind.) – London 2012 (Team); 15th individually – Beijing 2008 (Ind.); 9th – Athens 2004 (Team); 16th individually – Sydney 2000 (Team); 9th individually – Barcelona 1992 (Team); 8th individually
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Tryon 2018 (Team); 17th individually – Caen 2014 (Team); 5th individually – Lexington 2010 (Team); 4th individually – Aachen 2006 (Team); 13th individually – Jerez de la Frontera 2002 (Ind.); 19th – Rome 1998 (Ind.) – Den Haag 1994 (Ind.)
🔴 Karin was named the 2021 Sportswoman of the Year in Hoogstraten, Belgium.
Dressage 📈 This pair tend to hover around the 30 mark, with an almost 50:50 just over, just under rate. In their last run, the 4*-S in Luhmühlen, they put down a 32.2 in the first phase; in their run before that, the 4*-S in Kronenberg, it was a 29.6. Their best score at 4* is 26.7; that came in 2022. Their highest 4* score is a 35.7 in 2021.
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Tilly and Sally caught up with six-time Olympian Karin after her superb test:
“Of course, we have two more days to go! I have experience with riding Olympics — that helps! You get a bit more mature, you get a bit older, you know what they expect from you, and you know how the crowd is going to be.”
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Karin explained how going eventing with a stallion is different from a mare or gelding:
You have to respect the stallions the way they are — that’s what I have learned from them. It’s not the first time that I’ve ridden a stallion. I never had the choice to choose what I got to ride; I grew up on a farm where I started [riding] as a kid, so I’ve learned throughout my life to get the best out of the horse that you have.. You have to respect [stallions] more and really accept how they are. If you have a good trusting relationship with them, then you have to believe that they will fight for you. I find it a bit different than the mares or the geldings — the geldings are a bit more easy going, the mares are a bit more of the fighters. The stallions are a bit different. My stallion was sleeping yesterday in his stall.
The plan is to breed with him, and I have two very nice foals from him — one I hope to qualify for Le Lion d’Angers, she’s six years old. I’m very excited for him also as a future stallion for eventing horses.”
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Score for Karin Donckers and Liepheimer Van’t Verahof – 26.6.
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INDIVIDUAL RIDERS
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🇪🇸 Carlos Diaz Fernandez and Taraje CP 21.10
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Carlos may be making his Olympic debut in Paris, but he’s got plenty of championship experience under his belt, with three World and four European Championships on his card. He’s taking to the Olympic stage with his 2022 World Championships ride, eleven-year-old ‘Taraje’.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Carlos’ championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Tryon 2018 (Team) – Caen 2014 (Team)
🔴 Carlos had a scary time at the European Championships in 2013 when a dog chased him round the cross country course for a whole minute. Puppers on leashes, please! 🐶
Dressage 📈 This pair put down a 30.5 in their most recent run, the 4*-S Nations Cup event at Montelibretti, where they finished third. They went sub-30 at the same venue in the fall, scoring 29.8 in the 4*-L and placing sixth. At the World Championships in Pratoni they scored a 32.5.
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Carlos had a dream come true in the Olympic ring this morning. [Quote translated by H&H]:
“Before I went into the test, I dreamed of getting below 30, but my Chef told me I’d get a 27, so I’m very happy with 29.”
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Score for Carlos Diaz Fernandez and Taraje CP 21.10 – 30.2.
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🇭🇺 Balász Kaizinger and Herr Cooles Classico
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Balász comes to Paris with a World Championships completion in his locker, which came courtesy of his other ride, Clover. He’s piloted Herr Cooles Classico since 2022, stepping the gelding up to 4* last season. He’s here as Hungary’s first eventing representative since 1996.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Balász’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 Balász is pronounced ‘Balash’, in case you were wondering.
Dressage 📈 Safe to say, this pair are not here to win the dressage. They’d probably rather we just scrapped the first phase altogether and get straight down to the nitty gritty of things. But alas, dressage we must in order to earn the right to ride cross country. They put down a 48.9 in the 4*-S at Luhmühlen last month and a 43.5 in the 4*-S at Sopot in May. Since stepping up to 4*, their best score is 41.1 and their highest is 50.5.
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Score for Balász Kaizinger and Herr Cooles Classico – 45.8.
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🇨🇿 Miroslav Trunda and Shutterflyke
Photo by Sally Spickard.
Miroslav and Shutterflyke are back at the Games after contesting Tokyo three years ago. They’ve gained World Championship experience since then, with an appearance representing the Czech Republic in Pratoni.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Miroslav’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 As well as being an Olympic eventer, Miroslav is a veterinarian, taking care of top-level horses and working at the race track.
Dressage 📈 This pair aren’t here to win the dressage, Shutterflyke is an out-and-out cross country girl at heart. At Tokyo they put down a 46.1 in the first phase and at the World Championships in Pratoni a 43.2. They do have scores in the 30s at 4*, but they’re high-30s.
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Score for Miroslav Trunda and Shutterflyke – 53.
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🇨🇳 Huadong Sun and Lady Chin V’t Moerven Z
Huadong comes to Paris with his Tokyo horse, with whom he was fourth at the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Huadong’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team)
🔴 This combination won team gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games last season, the first time the People’s Republic of China have taken the title.
Dressage 📈 They put down a 35.2 in the first phase at Tokyo but there have been a few competitions since then where they’ve had their hooves in the 20s, notably at their most recent FEI run, the 4*-S Nations Cup leg in Strzegom, where they posted a 29.9. It was a 37 at their run before that though, so it’s safe to say that we don’t really know where this pair are going to land.
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Tilly and Sally caught up with Huadong Sun after his test:
“I am really happy. Last year with my horse, I won the Asian Games, so I was really happy last year. This year, we will try to do better. Today, there was a lot of noise and a lot of people. My horse always gets excited with the noise. I try to focus myself on my test and then try to help my horse to focus with me.”
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Score for Huadong Sun and Lady Chin V’t Moerven Z – 33.6.
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🇪🇨 Ronald Zabala Goetschel and Forever Young Wundermaske
Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Wundermaske sure is true to his prefix – he’s 21-years-young and contesting his first Olympic Games. Ronald is a pretty amazing guy, and not just because he clearly has a program at home which has allowed for this veteran horse to stay in peak performance into his twenties. He taught himself to ride as a little kid, jumping over a fallen log to practice his cross country skills. He has confirmed that he is totally horse crazy.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Ronald’s championships experience:
🔥 London 2012 (Ind.)
🗺️ Tryon 2018 (Ind.)
🔴 Ronald was the first rider to represent Ecuador at the Olympics when he made it to London 2012.
Dressage 📈 So far this season, this pair have put down dressage scores of between 37.4 and 49. Last season they were regularly mid- to high-30s.
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Ronald’s horse, Forever Young Wundermaske, is true to his name:
“This guy is 21 and he’s flying.”
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Ronald pays tribute to his awesome, history making, campaigner:
“He is the oldest horse in the world to ever compete at the Olympic Games. He is 21 — the next oldest horse in eventing was 19 years old, with Caroline Powell, and then a show jumper in 1972. There was a dressage horse that was 20-years-old in the last Olympics, but they didn’t start — so the oldest in eventing has been 19, and this guy is 21 and he’s flying. He never gets tired, never gets sick, and never had an injury in his life.”
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Score for Ronald Zabala Goetschel and Forever Young Wundermaske – 37.7.
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🇫🇮 Veera Manninen and Sir Greg
Amazingly, Sir Greg partnered Veera at the European Young Rider Championships in 2021 and now here they are at the Olympics. We can all agree that’s pretty awesome.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 At 24, Veera’s certainly at the younger end of the scale when it comes to Olympic eventers.
Dressage 📈 This pair are consistently mid-30s in the first phase, posting two scores of 34 and a 36.3 this season.
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Score for Veera Manninen and Sir Greg – 36.8.
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🇩🇰 Peter T. Flarup and Fascination
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Hugely experienced Danish eventer Peter Flarup is in Paris with his Tokyo ride. This is Peter’s third Games, and he’s got the experience of four World Championships under his belt too, so he knew what he was getting into when he decided to step down as the head trainer for the national eventing team to focus on getting to Paris.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Peter’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Ind.) – Beijing 2008 (Ind.)
🗺️ Caen 2014 (Ind.) – Lexington 2010 (Ind.) – Aachen 2006 (Team) – Rome 1998 (Team)
🔴 This pair have been going arena eventing together over the winter – every little helps when you’re on the road to Paris.
Dressage 📈 This pairing scored 33.7 in the first phase at Tokyo, which has been their form there-or-thereabouts this season. They went sub-30 in he 4*-S at Maarsbergen last season, a personal best at the level, and contributing to them taking the win. But generally we’re looking at 32 or 33, they’re pretty consistent overall.
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Peter’s wife is along for the Olympic ride in her role as groom for Fascination:
“It’s really good — we are in it together, the whole family. We have been doing this for 25 years, so I know everything in the stable is tip top.”
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Peter also talked about the relationship he has with his horse:
“We have had him since he was five. I know him really, really well and that is actually what makes him this good now. We don’t have to train him hard or anything like that, we just have to keep him happy. I know him, and he knows me.”
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Score for Peter T. Flarup and Fascination – 32.4.
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🇪🇸 Esteban Benitez Valle and Utrera AA 35 1
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Esteban is making his Olympic debut, but he’s got World and European Championships caps in his locker. Spain were really hoping to have a team in Paris, and fought hard for it, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be and they bagged two individual slots instead.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Esteban’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Esteban was selector for the Spanish University team and was president of the Spanish University Riders Association.
Dressage 📈 Recently, this pair have been producing tests in the low- to mid-30s. They scored 33.8 in the 4*-S Nations Cup event at Montelibretti in their most recent run this year, where they finished fourth, and a 31 in the 4*-S in Strzegom at the end of last season, where they were also fourth.
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Esteban is a little disappointed with his mark, but is super happy with his mare:
“I have been so long waiting to be here, and to be honest, today she was nervous. It is the first time she’s performed in this kind of arena. She was nervous and I was trying to manage it as good as possible. The flying changes, normally she does very good, and today, I think she only did one good — but I’m very happy with her. She deserves a better mark, but it doesn’t matter — we need experience in this kind of big atmosphere.”
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Score for Esteban Benitez Valle and Utrera AA 35 1 – 39.9.
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SECOND TEAM ROTATION
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🇩🇪 Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This pair know what it’s like to win a team gold medal at a major championships, and I’m pretty sure they’d like another one. They’ve got a ton of experience together, with 48 FEI competitions under their cinch, despite Christoph’s relatively young age. They’re here in hot form, off the back of a win, which must be a very nice confidence boost right before an Olympic Games.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Christoph’s championships experience:
🗺️ Team 🥇 Pratoni 2022
🔴 In 2020, Christoph took over the management of his family’s breeding operation, founded by his grandfather and known to have bred some of the world’s best Trakehners.
Dressage 📈 Across this season and last, this pair only have one dressage score in the 30s on their record. They’ve been super consistent so far this year, with three FEI runs and 28, 28.7 and 28 in the first phase in each of them. They were all 4*-S competitions; at the World Championships in Pratoni in 2022 they scored a 32.8, and at Badminton the same year they put down a 32.5. So high-20s to low-30s is where we’re looking, probably towards the higher end given that the Olympic test is 5* level, albeit a bit shorter than we’re used to seeing at Kentucky, Badminton and the like.
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Christoph is living the dream on his Olympic debut:
“It’s very, very cool. I’ve been dreaming — I think my whole team, we’ve all been dreaming about this for a while now, and going into the village, seeing all the other athletes last night, being part of all this is a dream come true.”
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There was a little wobble in there but it all came good in the end:
“Coming into the arena, he felt seriously good; I had the feeling he was absolutely with me. He was waiting for me to tell him what to do through the first part of the trot work, also the halt and the rein back. I had the feeling that everything was going to plan, as if finally, everything’s coming together. Then he started off very well in the walk; in the extended walk, I had the feeling he was totally relaxed — then just with that little turn to the to the medium walk, I sort of lost his attention for a couple of seconds, and then he just wanted to go to cross country mode. But then, bless him, once I was striding into cancer, he came back and he let me ride him as if nothing happened — he was totally with me again.”
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Carjatan thinks he did a mighty fine job at the Olympics:
“He left the arena absolutely pleased with himself. So am I!”
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Score for Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S – 29.4.
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🇦🇺 Kevin McNab and Don Quidam
Photo by Eventing Nation.
Kevin brings his Tokyo Olympics and Pratoni World Championships horse to Paris. He knows just how it feels to board the plane home from a Games with a medal ‘round his neck, having won team silver in Tokyo, and he’ll be gunning to improve on his 14th place individually from three years ago. They wowed with a 25.7 in Pratoni, but it was closer to their norm in Tokyo at 32.1. How will they fare à Paris?
Form, Facts & Stats:
Kevin’s championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥈 Tokyo 2020; 14th individually
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Kevin was initially named as reserve for Tokyo, but was drafted in at the last minute when Stuart Tinney’s horse was injured. He came home with a silver medal.
Dressage 📈 At the World Championships in Pratoni, this pair put down a 25.7 in the first phase, his third best score of his career. At Tokyo it was a 32.1. More recently, he’s had a bit of a mixed bag of results, going just about sub-30 at the Nations Cup 4*-S in Strzegom but scoring 38.3 in the 4*-S at Luhmühlen, his highest score since 2018. He was pretty consistent in his first two runs of the season, with a 33.5 and a 33.9 respectively.
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Kevin sums up his time in the Olympic ring:
“It was a lot of fun. It would have been even more fun without the mistakes.”
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He elaborates on what went down:
“Some of the stuff we did was fantastic, but I had a few costly mistakes, and unfortunately in a test like this one, you really need a clear round because costly mistakes will pull your score down quite quickly. [Don Quidam] actually was really good. He had a little bit more energy probably than was ideal for him, he just slipped a little bit with the atmosphere. He was actually super to ride in there; he felt really springy off the surface.”
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Score for Kevin McNab and Don Quidam – 34.9.
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🇨🇦 Karl Sleazak and Hot Bobo
Part of the gold medal winning team at the Pan-Ams in Santiago, where they took individual 4th place, Karl and Hot Bobo are here to try and make their mark on Paris. Hot Bobo’s in hot form 🌶️ coming to the Games off the back of a win in the 4*-S at Bromont a few weeks ago, where she put down a personal best dressage score – what a time to do it. No doubt Karl’s here full of confidence with this gutsy mare.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Karl’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Hot Bobo became a mom this year via embryo transfer. What do you call a Hot Bobo baby? Hot Tamale of course.
Dressage 📈 Hot Bobo pulled out a PB in her most recent run, the 4*-S at Bromont on her way to the win. It was a 27.6 that day for her and Karl, and a second sub-30 score since stepping up to 4*, the other one coming in the 4*-S at Kentucky last season, which they won. They put down a 32.7 at the Pan-Ams in Santiago last year, on their way to team gold and fourth place individually. They are very consistently low-30s, with a couple of welcome anomalies in their form.
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Karl often refers to Hot Bobo as ‘the bestest mare’:
“She was such a good girl.”
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Karl filled us in on his test:
“We all know that she can get a bit spooky in the dressage ring, and I thought that she held it together really, really well. Just a little tension in the flying changes, and specifically the left lead to right lead. There’s just one thing after another [in the test]; it takes a lot of focus on the horse’s part to stay confident in it. That left lead to right lead change has always a bit of our nemesis, so we were hoping for the best today but it wan’t quite there.”
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Karl was particularly complimentary about the Olympic venue:
“[Versailles] is breathtaking. It’s such a beautiful venue — they’ve thought of everything. They have all the amenities that we need to make it the best experience possible for us.”
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Score for Karl Sleazak and Hot Bobo – 35.8.
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🇮🇪 Susie Berry and Wellfields Lincoln
Hoping for the luck of the Irish, Susie’s making her Olympic debut with ‘Slinky’. They come to Paris on good form, having finished top-10 in two out of their three FEI runs this season. She may have had her first call-up for the Games this time around, but she’s got World and European Championships experience under her belt with other horses in her string. Slinky may be one of Susie’s less-experienced campaigners, but thus far in his career he’s looking to be sound in all three phases, which has got to have Susie feeling good as she takes on Paris, and beyond.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Susie’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Susie relocated from Ireland to England in 2014 when she went to work for one of her eventing idols, Piggy March (you guessed it, her other hero is Pippa Funnell). She set up her own yard in 2020.
Dressage 📈 They posted a career-best dressage score this season when they went sub-30 in the 4*-L at Kronenberg on their way to third place – what a time to pull that out of the bag. They’ve been between 28.7 and 34.2 so far this year, with low-30s tending to be their norm.
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Susie’s having a grand ol’ Olympics time:
“I’ve had messages from people I went to school with, not heard from for 10 years! The Olympics is just a totally different ballgame, and an incredible experience to be a part of.”
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Wellfields Lincoln knows there’s something a little different about this show:
“It’s just a surreal experience. I was thrilled with him. He is quite a spooky horse, so he really felt quite alert today. Even from this morning, it was like he knew that it was something different; he really tried to keep it together. I thought his trot work felt peaceful, it was just when I picked up the canter that he felt a little bit tense through his back, and so we just lost a few moves that usually I’d find that he’d do really naturally and easily — but it’s his first time to be in an atmosphere like that.”
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Susie explains what it’s like to ride in the Olympic ring:
“They cheer before you start, and I was just halting at the end and they were cheering. The grandstands are so tall and the horses feel really like they’re looking up at the very top all the time. It is an incredible arena.”
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Score for Susie Berry and Wellfields Lincoln – 33.
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🇨🇭 Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Don’t be fooled by Robin’s young age into thinking that he’s inexperienced, because, despite being just 26, he’s already been Swiss national champion six times. He comes to Paris for his second Olympics and brings his two-time World and three-time European Championships horse.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Robin’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team); 15th individually – Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 Robin and ‘Grandeur’ have been together since Robin was 17.
Dressage 📈 This pair posted a 26.8 in the first phase at the World Championships in Pratoni, very close to their personal best of 26. So they know when to pull the good stuff out of the bag. It didn’t quite happen for them at the Europeans last season, where they scored 33. So, dressage scores tend to swing from the mid-20s to the low-30s but there are definitely more sub-30 scores on their record than anything higher.
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Robin talked to Sally and Tilly after his test:
“I’m very pleased, he was super good. He can be a bit spooky and looking around — we saw that before the center line because he was looking, but then inside [the ring], he was more with me. Still a bit tense, but I’m very happy with how he was today. My goal was to be under 30; we can always do better, but I’m still very happy with it.”
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Score for Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH – 29.1.
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🇺🇸 Elisabeth Halliday and Nutcracker
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Liz Halliday had the final, final hour call-up to the team from the traveling reserve spot, after the late withdrawal of Will Coleman’s second ride (his first had already been withdrawn). Liz is a fearless competitor who’s sure to relish the chance to compete with the US team at the Olympics, particularly after being part of the silver medal winning team at the Pan-Ams in Santiago.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Liz’s horse, Nutcracker, will be more commonly known to eventing fans as having the Cooley prefix, but due to the commercial laws at the Olympics it’s had to be dropped, so Nutcracker it is.
Dressage 📈 Since stepping up to 4*, Nutcracker has produced seven sub-30 dressage tests, going as low as 22.6 for a PB last season. He put down a 30.6 on his 5* debut at Kentucky, where he was eighth.
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Liz on her Olympic horse, ‘Bali’ as he’s known to hid friends:
“He’s just become the most wonderful horse. We have a good partnership and I just think the world of him. I believe in him.”
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Liz elaborated on how she works on the first phase with Bali in order to produce lovely tests like the one today:
“I’m absolutely thrilled with how my young horse performed in there. He was spectacular. I think he’s actually really taken a big leap forward in just the last two weeks in some of his work; I’ve sort of changed around some things, just tried to make him more relaxed and just really let it flow, and I think that’s helped. He still needs a little bit of work on the changes, of course, but they are breathing and this is a difficult test for a 10-year-old horse. I’m thrilled with him.
Recently, I’ve just been practicing the movements, especially in the canter work, so he wasn’t surprised. I think I wanted him thinking, ‘Oh yes, I’m gonna half-pass, change, half pass again; just getting him really comfortable with how things went. I have practiced a lot with poles on the ground to keep him straight, because when he’s nervous, he jumps sideways a little — I think those are helping the changes — just trying to do whatever I can to help him learn to do [the changes] in a relaxed, happy way. It’s improving and I’m pleased that he’s getting the clean change every time, but that would be a little bit where he gets slightly nervous and is feeling the atmosphere a little bit. It’s a work in progress — it will be there.
He’s very, very sharp and sensitive and he’s desperate to do the right thing all the time, and sometimes that adds tension in his back. So that’s what we worked so hard on — I worked on that in the warm up, just having him go in and saying, ‘We’re cool, buddy!’ I think we’re heading the right way.”
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Score for Elisabeth Halliday and Nutcracker – 28.
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🇵🇱 Jan Kaminski and Jard
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
It’s been a bit of a late call-up for Jan and long-time campaigner, Jard, with the confirmation coming just two days before the first horse inspection. But Jan’s got Olympic and World Championship experience in his locker and has been a stalwart representative for Poland on the Nations Cup circuit, so he’s not exactly coming in without knowing what’s what. Also, now he gets to really share the whole Olympic thang with his fiance, fellow teammate Malgorzata ☝️
Form, Facts & Stats:
Jan’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2010 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 Jan’s fiance is also part of the Poland team in Paris.
Dressage 📈 They put down a 33.1 in the first phase at Tokyo, and a 31.1 at the World Championships in Pratoni. They’ve been a bit higher thus far this season, with dressage scores ranging from 33.1 to 38.3.
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Score for Jan Kaminski and Jard – 35.8
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🇸🇪 Frida Andersén and Box Leo
Photo by Shelby Allen.
Frida’s in Paris for her second Olympic call-up for the Swedish team, but she’s looking for her first completion after withdrawing before the final horse inspection at Rio. She’s bringing forward former Ludwig Svennnestal ride, Box Leo, her European Championships partner.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Frida’s championships experience:
🔥 Rio (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Box Leo shares a sire with Irish Maryland winner and fellow Paris competitor, Colorado Blue.
Dressage 📈 They’re generally a low-30s kind of pair, but every so often a high-30s score slips onto their card. They scored 33.3 in the first phase at the European Championships last season but it was a 38.1 for them in their most recent run, the 4*-S at Luhmühlen. It was a 34.5 at the World Championships in Pratoni, where they finished top-20 individually.
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Score for Frida Andersén and Box Leo – 33.3.
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🇬🇧 Laura Collett and London 52
Part of the reigning gold medal winning team, Laura and London 52 are the only Tokyo combination in Paris. Laura has long heralded this horse as an absolute superstar and he’s totally proved himself over and over again. He’s won three different 5*s, for a start, and comes here in hot form off the back of two wins this season, but really, London 52’s always in hot form. In 40 FEI competitions he’s won 11 times and been runner-up six times. He’s been top-5 in more than half the events he’s done. Seriously 🌶️
Form, Facts & Stats:
Laura’s championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥇 Tokyo 2020
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Laura has a hattrick of 5* wins in her locker – Badminton, Luhmühlen and Pau – all with London 52. She also has an MBE, awarded to her by England’s late Queen Elizabeth.
Dressage 📈 We’re definitely not going to count sub-30 scores for this one as we’d be here all day. We can however count sub-20 scores, of which there are three. That’s right, this guy is one to watch in the dressage ring, that’s for sure. He put down a 22.4 in the first phase at the European Championships last season, and has finished on his dressage at two 5*s and very nearly finished on it at a third, all of which he won; it was a 20.3 at Luhmühlen last year, a 21 at Badminton in 2022, and a 21.3 at Pau in 2020. A 19.3 at the World Championships was the stuff of dreams, until things went awry out on the cross country course. At Tokyo, they scored a more modest 25.8 on the way to team gold. Eyes on this one 👀
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Laura sums up what it takes to get a horse to the Olympics:
“It takes years and years of hard work.”
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She talked about the exceptional London 52, who, like a lot of the top horses, hasn’t always been easy. This horse thing truly is a journey:
“He’s a horse that’s actually very shy. In 2019, we had a roller coaster year, and at the end of the year, he won a four-star long and went into a prize giving, and that for me was the turning point. He really believed in himself; he had full trust in me, and I can feel it on top of him. He doesn’t like umbrellas and things like that, so it’s about reassuring him every step of the way and making him believe, because then you can go and do a performance like he did there.
You never really think you’re going to do it, but everything’s been gearing towards this. It’s been three years in the making, since the moment we stood on the podium in Tokyo. We thought there he’s still young enough to aim for Paris, and I’ve been very lucky that everything’s gone to plan in the lead up. He’s just a horse that, luckily, gets better and better with age.”
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Score for Laura Collett and London 52 – 17.5
OLYMPIC RECORD ALERT!!!
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🇧🇷 Rafael Mamprim Losano and Withington
This combination are a recent pairing, only having been together since June last year, but they do have championships experience under their cinch courtesy of the Pan-Ams in Santiago, where they took home the team bronze. Rafael’s no stranger to the big time though, having competed at Tokyo when he was just 24 years old, so he’s well placed to show Withington the Olympic ropes.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Rafael’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team)
🔴 Rafael is only 27, but he’s got almost a century of FEI starts under his belt.
Dressage 📈 They put down a 36.1 in the dressage at the Pan-Ams in Santiago last season, where they finished 9th individually and won team bronze. They put down a PB at 4* in their most recent FEI run – a 30.9 in the 4*-S at Marbach, but generally we’re looking at mid-30s for this pair.
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Sally caught up with Rafael after his ride:
“We worked so hard. He’s still a fairly new ride for me, we only purchased this horse twelve months ago. I’m delighted with him. He takes a lot of time and a lot of work, but he literally pulled it out of the bag last minute.”
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Score for Rafael Mamprim Losano and Withington – 32.4.
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🇳🇿 Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Clarke and Menlo Park (oh, cool, their names rhyme!) have been together since 2021 but have quickly forged a partnership in that relatively short time, finishing in the top-15 in all but two of their thirteen FEI starts and winning a team bronze medal at the World Championships in Pratoni.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Clarke’s championships experience:
🔥 Rio 2016 (Team); 6th individually
🗺️ Team 🥉Pratoni 2022 – Lexington 2020 (Team)
🔴 Clarke was named New Zealand Eventer of the Year in 2013 Horse of the Year Show.
Dressage 📈 This pair are well capable of a sub-30 score in the first phase, as they proved at the World Championships in Pratoni when they posted a 27.4. This season they’ve had two scores in the high-20s and a 30.8.
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Clarke was, quite rightly, delighted with Menlo Park:
“He’s been training so well. He’s so with me, he feels amazing in his body, he’s fit but calm, and I’ve been thinking he could do a test like that — to actually do it, I’m just so, so proud of him.”
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He decided to stick with the plan, and it really paid off:
“He’s been to the World Championships, but that was nothing like this, and I guess Aachen, but no, nothing like this. I bravely decided not to pre-ride him this morning, because that’s normally what I would do to get the best out of him — he’s really solid, he always walks — and after I watched the first few go, I thought, ‘Well, that looks very electric in there. Maybe I should pre-ride it’. We decided to stick with what we’ve been doing, which has been steadily getting the scores lower and lower over the last couple of years. He was just so with me. He did have a little look at the gate stewards when I was about to go into the ring, and I thought, ‘Don’t let me down, Jacko.’ He pulled it back, and he was just a delight to right in there, really on the aids, and just giving me everything.”
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Score for Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park – 25.7.
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🇯🇵 Yoshiaki Oiwa and MGH Grafton Street
Yoshiaki is one of Japan’s most experienced eventers, having represented his nation at, now, five Olympics and four World Championships, as well as the Asian Games, which he’s won twice, in 2018 and 2006. Here’s some interesting Olympic eventing trivia: Yoshi was in the lead after the dressage in London.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Yoshi’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team) – Rio 2016 (Ind.); 20th – London 2012 (Team) – Beijing 2008 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Tryon 2018 (Team); 20th individually – Lexington 2010 (Team) – Aachen 2006 (Ind.); 18th
🔴 When he’s not going eventing, Yoshi loves listening to music and fishing.
Dressage 📈 This gelding proved he’s a bright spark in the dressage ring with former rider Pippa Funnell, and three out of four sub-30 dressage scores this season with new rider Yoshi have shown that he’s very reliable in the first phase.
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Understatement from Yoshiaki:
“… kind of a legend, Pippa Funnell.”
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He’s talking about having taken over the reins on ‘Squirrel’ from Pippa Funnell. He’s moved to be based with Pippa, who’s now coaching him, which has meant that the horse’s routine has stayed the same despite a change in rider. He talked to Sally about his test:
“He knew that today, it was the time, you have to show something, so I’m very happy with this. It’s very new partnership, actually. My first competition with him was this year — February or March — so only a few months. It was challenging for us, but it went well, so I’m very, very pleased.”
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Score for Yoshiaki Oiwa and MGH Grafton Street – 25.5.
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🇮🇹 Evelina Bertoli and Fidjy des Melezes
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Evelina brings her Pratoni World Championships horse to Paris with some pretty solid dressage form recently that’s sure to have her feeling good about heading up the center line on her Olympic debut. Sub-30’s not outside this pair’s reach on their day – is today one of those days?
Form, Facts & Stats:
Evelina’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.) – Caen 2014 (Team)
🔴 Evalina’s no one-trick pony – she’s also competed in modern pentathlon and was Italian Junior Champion in 2004 and 2005.
Dressage 📈 They went sub-30 at the World Championships in Pratoni where they put down a 29.8 in the first phase, and have scored a 29.9 at 4* this season. They’re incredibly consistent in terms of dressage scores, with their form hovering around the 30-mark.
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Evelina loved it in there:
“I am very pleased. The horse is very talented — she moves well, she can really do everything well — but the atmosphere for her could be a very serious problem. Today, it was okay — I worked her two times, this was the third time — and she was really focused. I loved riding this test because sometimes it’s very difficult to enter in the arena and the horse doesn’t listen to you, but today it was a really good feeling. I could ride my test normally, easily, and take the points, and that was really amazing.”
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Score for Evelina Bertoli and Fidjy des Melezes – 26.6.
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🇳🇱 Sanne de Jong and Enjoy
Sanne’s here with her homebred mare, who she started herself and with who she’s forged her eventing career. They’ve represented the Netherlands together at Nations Cups, European and World Championships and now Sanne’s at the Olympics with the horse she’s know since she was fifteen.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Sanne’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 Sanne’s from a sporting family – her mom competed in international eventing, her dad designed cross country courses, and her brother has represented the Netherlands in handball.
Dressage 📈 This combination scored 33.4 in the first phase at the World Championships in Pratoni, and 33.9 at the Europeans last season. They’ve very consistently low-ish-30s (EquiRatings will be sweating at my descriptions), although every now and then they’ll throw up an anomaly – a high-30s, maybe a hoof in the 40s, or even a sub-30 score. They like to keep us on our toes, clearly.
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Score for Sanne de Jong and Enjoy – 34.8.
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🇫🇷 Stéphane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
It’s a dream come true in the most poignant way for this pairing. Stéphane rides the gelding in honor of his friend, and former rider, Thaïs Meheust, who tragically lost her life in a cross country fall. It was Thaïs’ dream to compete at her home Olympics, and Stéphane is making that a reality as he comes up the center line today with Thaïs in his heart and the horse she loved as his partner.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Chaman Dumontceau’s name is usually styled with a ‘Ride for Thaïs’ prefix.
Dressage 📈 This gelding can pull some very smart scores out of the bag – a 22.8 in the 4*-S Nations Cup leg at Chatsworth last season (which he won). Hello. That was a PB by a fair stretch, but sub-30 is not a place that this guy’s a stranger to, although he can just have a hoof in the 30s. At last year’s 4*-L European Championships he put down a 31.8 in the first phase, on his way to sixth place. This season he’s had a 28.6 and a 33.3.
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It’s an emotional Olympic debut for Stéphane:
“There’s a lot of emotion in this place, so coming here has been really quite special — all of us are feeling it.”
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He spoke about his test with Caman Dumontceau:
“I am very, very happy with my ride … There’s really an emotion that we’re all feeling as we come into the arena. I was really emotional, but really proud that there’s a crowd out there that really appreciate the sport and appreciate everybody that comes in.
I watched Karim [Laghouag] and saw his score, but I actually didn’t watch anybody else or be aware of them because I was totally concentrating on my performance. I didn’t worry about the others, we just went in there and did our thing.”
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Score for Stéphane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau – 24.4.
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🇧🇪 Tine Magnus and Dia van het Lichterveld Z
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Tine’s making her Olympic debut in Paris, although she has contested a number of Nations Cup events under the Belgian flag. She was national champion in 2022 and, with the mare she rides in Paris, was third with the team in the Nations Cup leg at Boekelo last season, helping to bump Belgium to the top of the overall standings and win the whole dang thing.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 When she’s not going eventing, Tine works at her family farm in Belgium.
Dressage 📈 They scored 32.6 in the first phase on the way to winning the 4*-S in Strzegom this season, and came back out with a 32.5 in the 4*-L at Saumur. In the 4*-S at Luhmühlen, their latest FEI run, they put down a 35.2. And that tends to be the story across their record: mid-30s-ish (I can feel EquiRatings rolling their eyes).
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Tine had a fair bit to manage in the ring, which wasn’t helped by going straight after a French rider (the home crowd are loud!):
“She was really perfect in the in the warm-up — I had her better than ever — but then you have to trot quite a long trip to the arena. Before me was a French guy, and there was a lot of noise, so on the way to the arena I felt already that she was getting nervous. Then inside there, I had nothing — I was on a bomb, she could explode at every second. I tried to manage.”
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Score for Tine Magnus and Dia van het Lichterveld Z – 44.
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INDIVIDUAL RIDERS
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🇫🇮 Sanna Siltakorpi and Bofey CLIck
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This combination have been together for almost ten years, for sure a boon as they make their Olympic debut together. Sanna’s represented Finland at World and European Championships, so she at least knows a bit about the championships atmosphere as she heads up the center line in Paris.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Sanna’s championships experience:
🗺️ Caen 2014 (Ind.) – Lexington 2010 (Ind.)
🔴 Sanna’s friend helped to fundraise so that Finland could make it to Paris.
Dressage 📈 We’re looking at low- to mid-30s scores in the first phase at 4*, but the Olympic test is a bit of a step up, with 5* movements in a shortened form. They put down a 32.3 in the 4*-L in Romania last season, where they were runners-up, and a 35.6 in the 4*-S at Strzegom in April.
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Sanna’s ride, Bofey ClIck, is anticipating tomorrow:
“My horse had quite a lot of energy. I think I still managed him okay; I hoped that he would be more calm and quiet. I think he’s healthy and happy to go cross country tomorrow.”
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Score for Sanna Siltakorpi and Bofey CLIck – 35.4.
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🇿🇦 Alexander Peternell and Figaro des Premices
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Alex has represented South Africa at both the Olympics and World Championships, back in 2012 and 2014 respectively, and is in Paris with relative youngster, nine-year-old Figaro de Premices, or ‘Norman’ as he’s known to his friends. They’ll be gaining a whole heap of valuable experience in Paris, with their sights on LA and beyond.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Alexander’s championships experience:
🔥 London 2012 (Ind.)
🗺️ Caen 2014 (Ind.)
🔴 Alexander trained as a ballet dancer for 12 years and danced professionally for the National School of Arts in South Africa.
Dressage 📈 This pair are putting down scores in the mid-30s, with a hoof toward the high-30s and a toe in the 40s very occasionally, at this stage in their career together. They scored 34.8 in their most recent run in the 4*-L at Strzegom on their way to fifth place. They’ve also had a 34.9 and a 38.4 this season.
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Alex is really passionate about representing South Africa in eventing and talked about the potential of a future team:
“The pool of riders coming from South Africa is ever increasing; the talent is incredible. There’s probably about four Junior riders that I can name that I would like to be able to compete on the team.”
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He elaborated on the main problem that he sees for South African equestrians, and told us a little about his Paris ride, Figaro Des Premices:
“The pool of riders coming from South Africa is ever increasing; the talent is incredible. There’s probably about four Junior riders that I can name that I would like to be able to compete on the team. If they keep going, I wouldn’t be able to say no. I think there’s a lot South Africa can offer, but the problem is that South Africa has African Horse Sickness. We can’t export our horses — they’re working on it, and it’s improving.
It was a lot to take in, the atmosphere and everything like that, but [Figaro des Premices] has just got an amazing heart. He’s incredibly trainable and I think he’s got an incredible future ahead of him.”
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Score for Alexander Peternell and Figaro des Premices – 39.
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🇨🇳 Alex Hua Tian and Jilsonne van Bareelhof
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Alex was determined to represent China at his home Games back in 2008, which he did. Three Olympics later and he’s in Paris with ‘Chocs’, or Jilsonne van Bareelhof if you want to be fancy about things. Alex has also represented China at three World Championships and three Asian Games, from which he has podium places at all three levels, most recently winning the individual title in Hangzhou last year.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Alex’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team) – Rio 2016 (Ind.); 8th – Beijing 2008 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.) – Tryon 2018 (Ind.) – Caen 2014 (Ind.)
🔴 Alex was the first person to represent the People’s Republic of China in an Olympic equestrian event when he contested his home Games in 2008.
Dressage 📈 In 19 FEI competitions, this combination have posted just three scores in the 30s, that’s right, we’re looking at a solid sub-30 pairing. The put down a 23.8 in their most recent event, the 4*-S at Bramham, which is one heck of a time to pull out your best score at the level. More commonly they’re mid- to high-20s.
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Jilsonne Van Bareelhof is right at home at the Palace of Versailles:
“He was always going to trot in there and think, ‘Oh, I found a venue of similar majesty to myself.'”
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He told us more about this very cool-sounding guy:
“Chocs is the most talented horse I’ve ever sat on in my life.”
“He’s very extravagant, and he knows it, and he’s very arrogant; he loves the attention. That was either going to go this way, which thankfully it did, or it was going to go the other way, and he was going to get get over the top about it … He’s a horse that I always liken to a human athlete that’s at Olympic level — weightlifting, marathon running, and gymnastics — one body cannot have that much talent and that much range. There are other very talented horses that have been more consistent, more successful than him over years, but if you look at him in each phase, he just goes extra — and I think because of that, through his career he has picked up little bits and pieces on his way to big events, and so he’s quite often not made it. Last year, he was our first choice for the Asian Games, but picked up a little injury in the month beforehand, and that would be his his story. For me, this has always been his goal and his target.”
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“We’ve saved him for seven years to come here, and tomorrow we unleash the beast and see what happens.”
Bring it on!
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Score for Alex Hua Tian and Jilsonne van Bareelhof – 22.
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🇵🇹 Manuel Grave and Carat de Bremoy
Manuel is the first Portuguese event rider at the Olympics since his dad rode in Athens in 2004, and, his dad’s firmly by his son’s side in Paris, imparting all his Olympic experience as coach. He comes into the Games off the back of two third place finishes, on long- one short-format, which should have him feeling pretty confident as he makes his Olympic debut.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Manuel’s championships experience:
🗺️ Lexington 2010 (Ind.)
🔴 In real life, Manuel is a manager at an agricultural company.
Dressage 📈 Really, we’re looking at high-30s in the first phase for this pair, although they did put down a 4* PB of 34.6 in the spring.
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How does it feel to be the first representative in Olympic eventing for your country in two decades?
“… pride and honor to bring our sport to the Olympics, after 20 years of no one coming here. It’s a great honor. Of course, it comes with some pressure because at home we have a lot of people watching and I want to do the best for my country, and I’m going to try to do the best I can.”
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Score for Manuel Grave and Carat de Bremoy – 40.9.
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🇲🇦 Noor Slaoui and Cash In Hand
Noor is making her Olympic debut in Paris, but she’s making history at the same time. She’s the first rider from North Africa to compete in eventing at the Olympics, the first Arab woman to compete in eventing at the Olympics, and the first ever Moroccan international eventer. What a cool, inspirational story, and exactly what the Games are all about.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Noor has worked with Australian eventing stalwart Bill Levett.
Dressage 📈 This combination’s best dressage score at 4* is a 33, and their highest is 40.6. The 33 came in the 4*-S at Kilguilkey House in Ireland last season, where they finished tenth. Their most recent run was in the 4*-S Nations Cup event in Avenches, where they put down a 39.8 in the first phase.
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Noor tells it as it is:
“First phase down, two to go!”
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Noor explains what it’s like making her, historic, Olympic debut with her heart horse:
“At the end [of my test] there, I got very emotional. I had the little tears because I’ve been — like any athlete that’s here — we’ve been dreaming of it.
We’ve been working super hard to get here, so having it happen is just a big achievement in itself. I think we gave our all and I’m very, very happy with him and with how we have progressed over the years and what we’ve delivered today. Of course, there’s a lot of room for improvement, but I think it’s a super platform to move from.
You train, train, train, but once you get to the competition, it’s very different — you’ve got the stress, you’ve got the adrenaline, you’ve got the crowd, you’ve got the judges. So it’s very different from when you train at home, and this test is a lot harder than what we’ve done before — it’s our first 5* test. I think he handled it really well, and I’m looking forward to doing it again and again and again.
He’s not the flashiest but he’s got the best heart — everything you can wish for in a horse. For me, I’m still learning at my first Olympics. I’m super happy that I get to do that with him. We’re looking forward to the next two phases.”
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She shared with us the feeling of riding down that center line:
“It’s been amazing, the stadium atmosphere is electric. I think for me and my horse it was great, because usually he’s a little bit too chill so it woke him up a little bit. There’s no word for it, to be fair, riding down that center line was… I’m out of words.”
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Score for Noor Slaoui and Cash In Hand – 36.4.
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🇦🇹 Harald Ambros and Vitorio du Montet
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Harald’s in Paris for his fourth Olympic Games, bringing forward former Maxime Livio ride ‘Vitorio’, who was fifth at Pau in 2021 with the French rider. They may be a new partnership, but they’ve got three top-5 finishes on their card, from six FEI runs.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Harald’s championships experience:
🔥 London 2012 (Ind.) – Beijing 2008 (Ind.) – Athens 2004 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Lexington 2010 (Ind.) – Aachen 2006 (Team); 19th individually
🔴 Open wide. Harald is a full-time dentist.
Dressage 📈 So far, this pair have been putting down mostly mid-30s dressage scores. There’s a 39 in the mix, and a 53, but their best score together came in their most recent run, the 4*-L in Baborowko, where they posted a 33.8 and came fourth overall.
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Score for Harald Ambros and Vitorio du Montet – 36.5.
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🇨🇿 Miroslav Příhoda and Ferreolus Lat
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Miroslav and Ferreolus Lat have an Olympics, World, and European Championships already in their locker, so they’re well-versed in what all this championship lark is all about. They get 10/10 for consistency across major championships in terms of dressage scores, posting exactly the same at Tokyo and Pratoni.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Miroslav’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 Miroslav was Czech Republic Senior Eventing Rider of the Year 2016.
Dressage 📈 It was a 33.8 for this pair at both Tokyo and Pratoni, and that consistency tracks throughout their form; mid-30s. One exception is the European Championships in Avenches in 2021, where they posted a massive PB of 27.9.
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Score for Miroslav Příhoda and Ferreolus Lat – 35.7.
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🇪🇨 Nicolas Wettstein and Altier d’Aurois
Paris has always been the goal for this horse, but it doesn’t hurt that he’s gained valuable experience via Tokyo, as well as a spin at the Pan-Ams in Santiago. Nicolas is in Paris for his third Olympics, and has three World Championships under his belt to boot. Oh yeah, in ‘real life’ he’s not even an eventer – he’s actually a full time CEO of a Pharmaceutical Distribution Company.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Nicolas’ championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Ind.) – Rio 2016
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.) – Tryon 2018 (Ind.) – Caen 2014 (Ind.)
🔴 In 2015, Nicholas was the first rider representing Ecuador to compete at Badminton.
Dressage 📈 This combination put down a 40.9 in the first phase at Tokyo and a 38 at the Pan-Ams in Santiago. Which is pretty indicative of their general form – high-30s, occasionally a hoof in the 40s.
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Someone give Nicolas a hug:
“I’m feeling disappointed. I tried after Tokyo to ride more brilliant, and sadly it didn’t work out.”
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But you’ll have to get in line because I’m guessing his horse already stepped up for the job:
“He’s a horse that had not such a good history before I bought him and he trusts me like no one ever. That’s very nice.”
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We’ll conclude this little exchange on a positive note, because, hello, three Olympic appearances is pretty darned good, no matter how things go on the day:
“I [was] very happy when I qualified for my first Olympics. I’m a completely amateur, and so, a really good achievement for sure.”
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Score for Nicolas Wettstein and Altier d’Aurois – 42.3.
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FINAL TEAM ROTATION
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🇩🇪 Michael Jung and Chipmunk FRH
He’s been Olympic Champion, World Champion, European Champion, Kentucky Champion, Luhmühlen Champion, Badminton Champion, Burghley Champion… need I say more?
Form, Facts & Stats:
Michael’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 8th individually – Team 🥈 & Individual 🥇- Rio 2016 – Team 🥇 & Individual 🥇 London 2012
🗺️ Team 🥇 Pratoni 2022; 5th individually – Team 🥇 & Individual 🥈 Caen 2014 – Individual 🥇 Lexington 2010
🔴 Michael held the Olympic, World and European titles simultaneously.
Dressage 📈 Ordinarily, we tend to herald the sub-30 marks when it comes to dressage form, however, for this combination that just won’t do. Since they got together in 2019, in 33 FEI competitions, there’s nary a score in the 30s on their record – not one or any, zero, zilch, none. So I find myself counting sub-20 scores and there are eight – eight sub-20 scores! One such score came at the World Championships in 2022, where they put down 18.8 in the first phase. At Kentucky 5* that year, they finished on their dressage score of 20.1 to take the win. They set themselves up nicely for an Olympic gold at Tokyo with a 21.1 in the dressage, but we all know what happened next. I have this pair as my EN team pick for the win this time around. Have I spoken too soon? Only time will tell.
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Even the former World, European and Olympic Champion is feeling the competition:
“… everything was training for this competition. I think everybody had the same idea because the Olympic Games are such a special competition and everyone is really, really well prepared.”
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And he’s got that “goosebump feeling”. Same, Michi, same. He also talked about what it was like riding ‘Chip’ today:
“It was an amazing feeling to gallop into the stadium — it was a goosebump feeling, but at the same time a really great feeling, because Chipmunk was so well concentrated and so good with me, so well listening. It was so nice to ride every second — and directly before I start with the dressage, I know I can take all the risk and I can try everything.”
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Michi and Chip have had their fair share of crappy luck at major competitions, but Michi’s characteristically pragmatic about that:
“At every competition, everything I did was experience and learning, trying to get a better partnership with him, get information.”
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Score for Michael Jung and Chipmunk FRH – 17.8.
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🇦🇺 Christopher Burton and Shadow Man
Burto’s back eventing after a hiatus spent in the show jumping ring, and comes forward for Australia with new ride this season, Shadow Man, formally piloted by Britain’s Ben Hobday. It’s a horse Chris has admired for a while, in fact, he’d already tried to buy him off Ben a while ago. When the opportunity arose, it was too good for Chris to pass up, and tempted him back to eventing. They’re here in hot form 🌶️ right off the back of a win in the 4*-S Nations Cup at Millstreet, Ireland, where they finished on their dressage score of 25.7.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Chris’ championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥉 Rio 2016; 5th individually – London 2012 (Team)
🗺️ Tryon 2018 (Team) – Caen 2014 (Team) – Lexington 2010 (Ind.)
🔴 Chris was given his first pony for his third birthday. Outside of horses, Chris enjoys skiing (on snow and water), golf, and playing the guitar.
Dressage 📈 They’ve been sub-30 in four of their five runs together, with scores ranging from 25.7 to 30.8 – impressive given the fact that they’ve only been together a matter of months. Shadow Man’s fancy and extravagant on the flat and has been pulling in sub-30 scores for most of his career, with the 25.7 at Millstreet a PB – what a time to pull that out of the bag, just before an Olympic Games.
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Safe to say, Chris looooooooves this horse:
“We were made for each other the day we were both born.”
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He had a bit of a tough draw, going into the ring as Michael Jung was coming out. But Shadow Man’s “a pretty cool guy”:
“I’m really happy! [Shadow Man] got on his toes! He’s a very relaxed horse and he got really excited because some guy went before me [Michael Jung] that the crowd liked to cheer for, but then I was just delighted with him — he went back to work, showing what a lovely gentleman he is and showing how well schooled he is. That was a real treat for me, and it’s always a buzz to be at the Olympics.
He is a pretty cool guy — if they are a good nature, they’re a good nature.
When we went up to Ben’s [Hobday] to ride him and vet him, I said, ‘I feel like I know him already.’”
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Score for Christopher Burton and Shadow Man – 22.
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🇨🇦 Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS
Photo by Sally Spickard.
Jessie’s no stranger to representing Canada on the world stage, having competed at two previous Olympics, three World Championships and five Pan-Ams, as well as hopping the pond with the delightfully named Wabbit to complete at both Badminton and Burghley. This mare is not so experienced as long-time campaigner Wabbit, but Jessie knows her way ‘round a championships and will have her back.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Jessie’s championships experience:
🔥 Rio 2016 (Team) – London 2012 (Team)
🗺️ Tryon 2018 (Team) – Caen 2014 (Team) – 2010 Lexington (Ind.)
🔴 We all know she’s an inspirational eventer, but did you know that Jessie has been the inspiration for a book and a song? The book details Jessie’s return from serious injury and country singer Elyse Saunders wrote the song ‘Rise’ based on it.
Dressage 📈 This mare’s showing up as a low- to mid-30s kind of gal thus far in her career. She put down a 34.6 in the 4*-S at TerraNova in the spring, on her way to second place. It was 34.6 in the 4*-S at Kentucky also. In her most recent run, the 4*-S at Bromont, she scored 32.5 in the first phase.
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There’s nothing quite like a good mare:
“She’s one of the most straightforward, competitive thinking mares I’ve ever ridden. Like, she fights to do the right thing … she has the heart, she’s 100% in it, and she’s mentally fighting for you.”
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Jessie talked a little about this very cool-sounding mare:
“I was so proud of the composure that she had going into that ring. It’s her first time doing a test at the five star level, and it is by far the biggest atmosphere she’s ever felt. And I was over the moon with how much composure she showed in there, and honestly, how much brilliance she showed in the movements that she’s really solid in. So yeah, her future looks bright. ”
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And what’s it like being part of Team Canada in Paris?
“It’s such a joy to be able to ride for your country and just be here with the group of people that we have here with us, from the riders to the support staff to all of our family and friends and owners. It’s a really cohesive group, and you can really feel that synergy when you’re in and around the gardens.”
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Score for Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS – 35.4.
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🇮🇪 Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue
Photo by Sally Spickard.
Man of the hour at Maryland 5*, Austin won a million new fans when he and ‘Salty’ won their first 5* in the fall. Salty is not a horse who’s going to win the dressage, but that doesn’t matter, because he’ll darn well turn himself inside out to win the other two phases, and so far that approach to the sport hasn’t done him too badly. He was just outside the top-10 at Tokyo and after his successes last season, Austin’s got to be hoping to go even better this time around.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Austin’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 13th individually – Beijing 2008 (Team) – Sydney 2000 (Ind.); 17th
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team); 18th individually
🔴 Austin and Salty were originally traveling reserves for Tokyo, but stepped up last minute when Cathal Daniels’ horse wasn’t fit to compete.
Dressage 📈 Ever since he came third at Badminton last year – where he posted a very respectable but not top of the table 31.9 in the first phase – Salty has been in the form of his life. He won the Maryland 5*, where he added just 1.2 cross country time to his dressage of 33.7, and he comes to Paris off the back of posting a career-best score – a 26.4 – which he achieved in the 4*-S at Bramham in June, where he finished second. Generally though, we’re looking low- to mid-30s in the first phase, but Salty’s on a mission to prove the saying that ‘eventing’s not a dressage competition’, and so far he’s doing a grand ol’ job.
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We’ve had a record-breaking day in the dressage ring, which Austin has noted:
“… the standard is just going through the roof.”
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He was a little disappointed with his score, but very pleased with ‘Salty’, and they’ve made a huge leap since Tokyo:
“Obviously, I was trying to break the 30 barrier. It’s improved eight marks from Tokyo, realistically, and everything has got to be a bit realistic. I think a lot of his work was really quality. Obviously the changes didn’t quite come off as we hoped, but other than that, he didn’t put a foot wrong. He tried his best and it is what it is. I was obviously trying to do better — you’re always trying to do better — but at the end of the day, it is what it is and you move forward.”
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He concludes by saying what all eventing fans are thinking:
“Bring on tomorrow.”
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Score for Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue – 31.7.
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🇨🇭 Felix Vogg and Dao de l’Ocean
Felix Vogg and Dao de l’Oceane. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
We’re so used to seeing Felix with his stalwart 5* campaigner, Colero, but he comes to Tokyo with exciting young talent Dao de l’Ocean, who has some very impressive form on his card already, and it’ll be very interesting to watch this pair over the next few days.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Felix’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 19th individually – Rio 2016 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team); 14th individually – Tryon 2018 (Team) – Caen 2014 (Team)
🔴 Not a one trick pony, Felix competed in alpine skiing at junior level.
Dressage 📈 You know how I usually talk about sub-30 scores? Well, with this pair they’re basically all sub-30. They put down a 29.4 in the 4*-L Nations Cup leg at Boekelo last season, where they finished top-10, and a 26 in the 4*-S at Wiesbaden this year, which they won. The Olympic test is a bit of a step up from the 4* they’ve been competing at, but this horse sure has all the quality needed for a pretty smart score.
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Felix sums up what it’s like to ride in the Olympic ring very nicely:
“It was pretty awesome.”
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He elaborated about how ‘Dao’ went in there:
“He gives me so much confidence because I know when I do it right, he’s doing it right, and I give him some confidence, I think. I think I could have done some stuff a little bit better, but it’s always like this. I think what we had outside, I got 90% inside, and that’s all I could ask of him.”
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Score for Felix Vogg and Dao de l’Ocean – 22.1.
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🇺🇸 Boyd Martin and Fedarman B
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Boyd’s in Paris with ‘Bruno’, who he rides in memory of Annie Goodwin. This fan favorite is instantly recognizable for his big white blaze, and truly does seem to be one of the sweetest horses on the circuit. Boyd has got heaps of championships experiences but this is Bruno’s first time, although he’s been well-prepared with European trips to Pau and Luhmühlen last year to contest the 5*s, finishing eighth in each.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Boyd’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 20th individually – Rio 2016 (Team); 16th individually – London 2012 (Team)
🗺️ Team 🥈 Pratoni 2022 – Tryon 2018 (Team) – Caen 2014 (Team); 7th individually – Lexington 2010 (Team); 10th individually
6️⃣ Boyd is currently World No. 6
🔴 Boyd’s well-placed for some dressage schooling, considering he’s married to dressage rider, Silva Martin.
Dressage 📈 This pair can go sub-30 but mostly hang out around the 30-mark. They put down a 31.7 at Pau last year and a 32.4 at Luhmühlen. Most recently they scored 31.7 in the 4*-S at Kentucky, where they finished up fourth.
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It’s an emotional and special Olympics for Boyd, who spoke to Sally after his test:
“I really felt like Bruno went in and was such a champion in there, and was with me every step of the way.”
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Not everything went exactly to plan for them in the ring; Boyd explains:
“Awesome test, except for two moments, which were disastrous. We’ve just got our left to right flying change — it has been a bit of a bit of a muddle. In the lead up to this event, we’ve been getting it really good at home and in training, but just when the atmosphere is a bit electric out there, he’s got a bit of anxiety, and I think I mistimed my aids a little bit. I felt like I gave my all, and it would have been awesome to have four great changes, but it wasn’t to be today. I felt like we still came out of it with a respectable score … I thought he was about perfect — he’s a quiet horse, I felt like I could ride him well, and he wasn’t distracted.”
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If you thought you spotted Boyd losing a stirrup in one of those changes, you were right:
“The same thing happened a Pau. He does get a little bit more electric in the flying changes and it’s a shame. We’ve probably done 20,000 flying changes in the last two months, and been working and working and working them and getting them in training. But today wasn’t our day in the flying change department. Other than the flying change, I think it was our best work ever.”
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“I always find championships emotional, just because so much of your heart and soul goes into it. I’ve just got to try and keep a good head and stay focused on the job.”
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He talked a little about the story behind him and ‘Bruno’:
“It’s a tough one, because [the emotional back story] is always at the back of your mind, and you feel like you’re riding for more than just yourself. At the same time, I’ve tried to block it out a little bit, and we’ll think about it and enjoy this moment once it’s behind us, but Annie’s dad is here, Pardo. We had a great dinner last night, and we’ve got the whole Annie Goodwin Syndicate here.”
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Score for Boyd Martin and Fedarman B – 30.5.
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🇵🇱 Robert Powala and Tosca del Castegno
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Robert’s got his first senior call-up and what a first for it to be. He’s in Paris with a mare he’s brought through the international levels himself, which will be a good foundation for them as they take on their biggest challenge yet.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Robert competed in Italy as a Junior and said he wanted to move there one day – and he did.
Dressage 📈 This pair are proving to be a mid-30s kind of combination, on the whole, although they put down the highest score of their career this season, a 39.6. They came back out at the 4*-S Nations Cup in Strzegom with a more usual 35.7.
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“I’m extremely proud of her.”
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All hats off to Robert for this amazing achievement – from foal to Olympic partner:
“I got her when she was six months old, so I’ve had her from the very beginning and now she’s 11. I’ve done everything with her, from the breaking until this point. Buying a foal, is always a question, but she was really special from the very, very beginning. This is a really good feeling for me, that I have produced her from the baby horse until now.”
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Score for Robert Powala and Tosca del Castegno – 34.7.
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🇸🇪 Louise Romeike and Caspian 15
This is Caspian 15’s first foray onto the big screen but Louise knows just what’s what at a championships, having been part of the Swedish team in Tokyo and at the World Championships in Pratoni.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Louise’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team)
🗺️ Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 When Louise started out, she was a part-time eventer and full-time lingerie salesperson. Then she got the chance to work for German eventer Peter Thomsen – she was there one weekend before she resigned from her sales job and took up eventing full-time.
Dressage 📈 This pair are generally low-30s in the first phase, although sometimes their scores creep up a little; they posted a 31.7 in the 4*-S at Marbach this season and a 35.2 in their most recent FEI run, the 4*-S at Luhmühlen.
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There was a hint of the fireworks from yesterday’s opening ceremony in Louise’s test with Caspian 15:
“The first half I was quite happy with, but then the canter work got a little bit explosive. But it’s a super atmosphere in there. You come in and they’re already clapping and cheering you on, which is awesome, but that made him a little bit nervous today.”
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Score for Louise Romeike and Caspian 15 – 37.7.
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🇬🇧 Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo
Well, what can we say about ‘Walter’? Runner-up at his first 5*, winner of his second, finished on his dressage at the World Championships only to be pipped to the podium because he was too fast on the cross country. Ros heralds this gelding as equally good in all three phases, a triple threat if you will. And based on his form, she’s not wrong.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Ros’ championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥇 Tokyo 2020 (as traveling reserve)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team); 4th individually – Team 🥇 & Individual 🥇 Tryon 2018
1️⃣ Ros is currently World No. 1
🔴 Ros has always been super sporty and played hockey and tennis at school.
Dressage 📈 Since getting together with Ros in 2020, it’s safe to say that Walter’s not really put a foot wrong in the dressage ring. They’ve had just one score in the 30s in 16 FEI runs – it was a 30.6 and came in 2021. He put down a PB of 21.3 at the European Championships last season, which he won, and has finished on his dressage at both a World Championships and a 5*. This guy is one to watch 👀
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“I’m over the moon with him.”
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Ros talked a little bit about her talented ride, ‘Walter’, and how their test went today:
“We all forget that Walter’s actually only 12-years-old. Yes, he’s won Badminton and the Europeans and everything else, but he is still a green horse. I still very much feel like we’re only scratching the surface, particularly in a test like that which is significantly harder than the tests we normally see. I’m absolutely delighted that he got all four changes and everything, because he’s still not fully matured yet, and I do think there’s much more to come from him. We halted a bit late and it had a bit of an effect, unfortunately, on the two movements. But these things happen with horses, and the rest of it, he was spot on … He is amazing. He absolutely loves attention, so yes, he lifted, but only ever so slightly; he just seems to kind of revel in it, and he’s so self confident and so self assured that I think he thought he was well up for being there. He was quite happy. I think when I finished him and patted him, he had a little scratch, and then looked up and thought, ‘Yeah, I’m all right’.”
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Ros is in the zone:
“Mark-wise [I had] no expectations. I kept in my own little bubble really, apart from watching my guys and a couple this morning, so I wouldn’t be able to tell you how it related to everybody else’s marks. I’ve very much tried to stay process-driven today. “
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And how do you prepare for an Olympics? With a little help from old friends:
“Practice, practice, practice, I guess! We’ve been practicing for a while now trying to fine tune it and get it right. I’m very lucky I’ve got my old five-star horse Zenshera at home — he’s 20 years old now, so he’s always in work, but often only light work. The last month, he’s been working hard as well, helping me to practice a test and make sure I know it inside out. He’s absolutely amazing, and to be quite honest, I think he would have stood in for Walter if we needed him this week, he thought he was about ready to go.”
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Score for Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo – 23.4.
That puts Great Britain on an Olympic record-breaking team score of 66.7.
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🇧🇷 Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Castle Howard Casanova
Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Is there a doctor in the house? Actually, yes, Marcio is, in real life, a trained doctor. But I digress. The Brazilian Olympic team are no strangers to contesting championships together, having won the bronze medal at the Pan-Ams last season, with Marcio and ‘Howard’ taking the individual silver to boot. He’s in Paris for his third Games, whilst relative new kid on the block, Howard, is making his Olympic debut after his success in Santiago.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Marcio’s championships experience:
🔥 Rio 2016 (Team) – London 2012 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 Marcio has been named Eventing Rider of the Year three times by the Brazilian Olympic Committee.
Dressage 📈 This combination went sub-30 at the Pan-Ams last season, where they won individual silver, adding just a smidge of time penalties to their dressage score of 29.8. At 4*, they’re more a mid-30s pairing, but the test in Paris is a shortened 5*. They’ve been very consistent in their two FEI runs this season, with a 34.9 and a 34.4. They finished on their dressage score of 33.1 in the 4*-L at Sopot, Poland, last year on their way to second place.
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Score for Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Castle Howard Casanova – 33.3.
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🇳🇿 Tim Price and Falco
Photo by Eventing Nation.
Tim’s now on a hattrick of Olympic appearances and he comes to Paris with the very experienced Falco. It’s great to see this gelding back in top form after he didn’t make it to Maryland in the fall due to needing emergency colic surgery in the run-up to the event. But all’s well and here he is, making his Olympic debut. They’ve already got two World Championships medals under their cinch – team and individual bronze, from Pratoni – and Tim’ll be aiming to add some Olympic bling to that collection.
World Championships Pratoni horse – finished on dressage of 26.2
Form, Facts & Stats:
Tim’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team) – Rio 2016 (Team)
🗺️ Team 🥉 & Individual 🥉 Pratoni 2022 – Tryon 2018 (Team); 8th individually – Caen 2014 (Team)
9️⃣ Tim is currently World No. 9
🔴 In 2022, Tim and his wife Jonelle were the first married couple to be World No.1 and 2.
Dressage 📈 This pair finished on their dressage of 26.2 at the World Championships in Pratoni, and they added just one second of show jumping time to their career-best dressage score of 22.1 when they won Pau in 2021. They put down a 32.5 in the 4*-S at Luhmühlen in June, the highest dressage score they’ve had since June of 2019. In the five years between, they haven’t had the hint of a hoof in the 30s.
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It’s electric out there:
“… you just don’t get atmosphere like that anywhere else in the world – it’s an Olympic Games – but that makes it really exciting”
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Tim talked to Sally about his Olympic test with Falco:
“He’s [Falco] been fresh all week — not overwhelmed, he’s been rideable and things. It was a little bit that theme, he just wasn’t quite as soft and as rideable as I would normally have him, so that you can really show that lovely cadence and elegance; it was a little bit forced, I would say. But he’s such a quality little horse, I think he can still mop up a few marks and do okay.”
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We all know them as eventing’s power couple, but Tim points out that Team Price is very much made up of two individuals:
“Jonelle and I, we’re not like ‘Tim and Jonelle’, we’re individuals. It’s important for everyone within the team dynamic to understand that that’s how it is — we’re individuals in the way that we do things — and how we’ve got here needs to be considered a bit individual as well. We have a different approach.”
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Score for Tim Price and Falco – 26.5.
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🇯🇵 Kazuma Tomoto and Vinci de la Vigne
If you’re after an exciting combination, look no further. Kazuma’s in Paris with his Tokyo Olympics horse, the one he almost made the podium with at his home Games. This pair have proven themselves to be super consistent at major championships – their finishing score was 31.1 at Pratoni; at Tokyo it was 31.5 (31.9 including the second show jumping round).
Form, Facts & Stats:
Kazuma’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 4th individually
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team); 8th individually – Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 Kazuma represented Japan in show jumping before making the move to eventing, basing himself with none other than William Fox-Pitt – a smart stepping stone, for sure.
Dressage 📈 Mr consistent, Vinci de la Vigne posted a 25.9 in the first phase in Tokyo and a 25.9 at the World Championships in Pratoni. And if you can take your attention away from that interesting fact for a minute, you’ll notice that he’s pulled out two drool-inducing dressage scores at two major championships. This combination is one to watch, not just between the white boards, but across the whole competition 👀
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He was fourth individually in Tokyo, but Kazuma is very clear about his priority at the Games:
“Team first.”
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He elaborated on his test with Vince De La Vigne:
“He had a couple of mistakes, which is not like him, basically. He’s always relaxed, always could do everything perfectly. But this time, just a little bit, he got sharp when they clapped. So it wasn’t him, but it’s the Olympics.”
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Score for Kazuma Tomoto and Vinci de la Vigne – 27.4.
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🇮🇹 Giovanni Ugolotti and Swirly Temptress
Photo by Eventing Nation.[/caption]
This fabulously named mare is just as you’d imagine she’ll be; feisty, extravagant, fearless – she’s one cool lady, that’s for sure. She probably wouldn’t be the easiest to manage, and Giovanni’ll have his hands full, but she’s brimming with talent and is an exciting one to watch.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Giovanni’s championships experience:
🗺️ Caen 2014 (Team)
🔴 Giovanni has worked with Australian eventing legend Andrew Nicholson.
Dressage 📈 This pair regularly post sub-30 dressage scores although they did creep over the line at the European Championships last season with a 30.6. Their best score came in the 4*-L at Boekelo in 2022, where they put down a 24.4 in the first phase, before Giovanni had an agonizing fall at the final fence.
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Geovanni and Swirly Temptress are “ready to rock and roll tomorrow” – us too, Geovanni, us too! But first, the small matter of the Olympic dressage test:
“Everything comes very quick and fast. It’s not like any other test that you can actually settle the horse back into it. If you make a mistake, you’re straight into the next move, and then straight into the next movement. Of course, we’ve been practicing but again, you don’t want to practice too much. Because the horses start to actually know what they’re doing, start to anticipate a little bit the movement. It’s not an easy test to ride, especially when the horses are ready to rock and roll tomorrow.”
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It was choices choices for Geovanni when it came to which one of his five qualified horses he would bring to Paris. What an enviable choice to have!
“At the beginning of the season, I had five horses qualified. When the season went on, I had two that I took to Luhmühlen that were my first choice. [Swirly Temptress] was 50/50 with my other horse and the Federation decided for me. [This mare] probably will be better in this phase; they’re both normally good cross country horses, and the other one will be a better show jumper than this one. It was decided [that Swirly Temptress] will be more experienced. I’ve been riding the other one only a season and I think they went for experience.”
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Score for Giovanni Ugolotti and Swirly Temptress – 25.7.
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🇳🇱 Raf Kooremans and Radar Love
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This partnership really is brand new, with just six FEI runs this season together. Getting to Paris was very much the motivation behind the pairing, and here they are, at the Olympics. They seem to be getting on well together so far, with a win, a second, and a fifth place under their cinch already.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Raf’s championships experience:
🗺️ Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 Raf switched from representing Belgium to the Netherlands through his Dutch father.
Dressage 📈 This pair went sub-30 in their first competition together, putting down a 27.3 followed by a 29.4. Admittedly, these scores both came at 3* and the Olympic test is 5*, albeit a shortened version than we’re used to seeing, although they did score 28.3 in the 4*-S at Bicton in May.
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Score for Raf Kooremans and Radar Love – 27.
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🇫🇷 Nicolas Touzaint and Diabolo Menthe
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This guy leaped onto everyone’s radar when he won the Nations Cup event at Boekelo last season after finishing on his dressage of 25.4 (Diabolo Menthe, not Nicolas, we already knew about him). In his last ten FEI competitions he hasn’t been outside the top-5.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Nicolas’ championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥉 Tokyo 2020; 6th individually – London 2012 (Team); 17th individually – Beijing 2008 (Ind.) – Team 🥇 Athens 2004 (Ind.) 8th – Sydney 2000 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Aachen 2006 (Team)
🔴 Nicolas had a French sports center in Saint-Clement-de-la-Place named after him in 2007.
Dressage 📈 In 15 FEI competitions this horse has had a dressage score in the 30s on just three occasions – yes you read that right – and each one of those was variations on 31. Mid-20s is where he’s been at recently, with a 25.3 and a 26.7 at his two FEI runs this year. He’s as yet untested at 5*, which is where the Olympic dressage test lands, but there’s no doubting this gelding’s talent on the flat (and, if you’re wondering, he’s just as good in the other two phases too).
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Score for Nicolas Touzaint and Diabolo Menthe – 27.2.
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🇧🇪 Lara de Liederkerke-Meier and Origi
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Lara’s coming in hot off delivering Belgium’s first ever 5* win at Luhmühlen 🌶️ This pair have been in great form this season, with two fourth places and a fifth, after finishing up last season with a fourth and fifth place too. Origi is just a 10-year-old, and, although not the youngest horse in the field, is at the less-experienced end of the scale. He was top-10 at the Young Horse Championships in 2021 and has made the climb to 4* since then, finishing up at the Olympics with those five top-5 placings under his cinch.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Lara’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Tryon 2018 – Caen 2014; 18th Individually – Lexington 2010
4️⃣ Lara is currently World No. 4
🔴 Lara’s parents were both eventers, so she got a double whammy of eventing genes 👖
Dressage 📈 This combination had their best score at 4* when they went sub-30 at Wiesbaden with a 29.9, on their way to 4th place. Generally they’re in the low-30s; they scored 32.7 in the 4*-S at Luhmühlen in their most recent FEI run.
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Score for Lara de Liederkerke-Meier and Origi – 30.
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Photo by Tilly Berendt.
