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Want to Level Up Your Riding at Home? Check Out the Newly-Launched RideiQ App

By on Aug 23, 2021 2:00 pm -

McKinsey Lux (Ride iQ Co-Founder) and Leslie Law filming for RideIQ lessons.

Ride iQ launches new app to give equestrians broad access to the world’s best coaches
Launching with a mobile app, Ride iQ members will have access to a library of 100+ on-demand audio lessons taught by world-class coaches

Ride iQ launched its membership and mobile app today. As the first audio-focused training platform for equestrians, it offers something completely new to riders: the opportunity to get on-demand instruction while they ride. It is the equestrian-equivalent of Peloton’s guided runs. Ride iQ is currently focused on English disciplines with coaches who specialize in eventing, hunter/jumpers, and dressage. Ride iQ membership costs $29.99/month or $249/year.

Ride iQ provides affordable, unlimited access to world-class coaching for more enjoyable, safe, and productive schooling. While the Ride iQ mobile app and audio lessons are the foundation of the business, other membership benefits include access to live virtual Office Hours with Ride iQ coaches, the private Ride iQ Facebook group, and private Ride iQ podcasts. Ride iQ’s team is dedicated to compassionate horsemanship and effective training and seeks to elevate the global standards for equestrian partnerships and performances.

“If I had something like this as a kid growing up in the sport that could have kept me focused and inspired, it certainly would have helped me a lot. I think it’s that access not only to good instruction, but motivation.” – Jon Holling, 5-star event rider

Kyle Carter taking a lesson from Dennis Mitchell for a Ride iQ recording.

Members get unlimited access to a library of 100+ audio lessons that can be selected based on topic, preferred coach, experience level, and more. Ride iQ lessons cater to all levels and focus on:

  • Mastering a specific skill
  • Improving a horse’s way of going
  • Perfecting a dressage test, movement by movement
  • Training a green horse
  • Improving rider position and use of aids
  • Exercises to achieve the desired outcome

Lesson examples include Walk Canter Transitions with Ema Klugman, a green horse progressive program with Jon Holling, Improving Unsteady Connection with Doug Payne, OTTB warmups with Holly Hudspeth, dressage test playbooks with Peter Gray, and Using Ground Rails for Stride Accuracy with Leslie Law.

Ride iQ lessons are not meant to replace in-person lessons, but instead provide support during independent schooling rides. Currently, schooling rides lack guidance and rely on a rider’s existing knowledge and abilities; with Ride iQ, those rides can be a source of improved understanding, helpful exercises, new insights, and better experiences for horse and rider.

“I’ve said it for years: this is an information game. There’s a reason that the majority of medal winners are over 35 in this sport. It’s not because we get healthier, it’s because we’ve accrued more knowledge.” – Kyle Carter, Olympic event rider

Ride iQ provides everyday riders access to an elite level of coaching that is currently only accessible to a small minority of equestrians. By giving broad access to exceptional coaching, Ride iQ will raise the standard for safer riding and better performances.

“I really think that through programs like Ride iQ and others, it’s a way we can help spread good training techniques and it will benefit everybody.” – Peter Gray, Olympic event rider and top-level dressage judge

Ride iQ coaches include:

  • Leslie Law
  • Lesley Grant Law
  • Ema Klugman
  • Holly Hepp Hudspeth
  • Peter Gray
  • Jennifer Carter
  • Jonathan Holling
  • Doug Payne
  • Kyle Carter
  • Dennis Mitchell
  • + more coaches will be added regularly after launch

Ride iQ was founded in 2021 by sisters McKinsey and Jessa Lux. McKinsey and Jessa grew up eventing in Minnesota. Wanting to move up the levels, both sisters moved their horses to Ocala, Florida during high school to work with Kyle and Jennifer Carter, now their partners in Ride iQ.

“I transferred to online school for high school so I could move to Florida and train with the best coaches. Had Ride iQ existed, I would’ve had the necessary resources to pursue my passion in my hometown in Minnesota. There are riders all over the world that want to be great and do right by their horses, but they simply do not have the necessary mentorship or tools to do so. Ride iQ can change that. – McKinsey Lux, Ride iQ Co-founder and amateur Eventer

CCI4*-L Competitions Announced for 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar

By on Aug 21, 2021 5:15 pm -

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the competitions approved by the USEF Board of Directors Ad Hoc Committee (Board) to host the CCI4*-L level events during the 2023-2027 competition cycle under the new Eventing Calendar Process. All U.S. Organizers were invited to bid to host the CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L and Advanced levels through a bid process. Only venues that submitted bids to host the CCI4*-L level were considered for the CCI4*-L dates.

The host competitions and their 2023 dates are as follows:

  • April 22, 2023 – Twin Rivers Spring International (Paso Robles, California)
  • May 13, 2023 – Tryon Spring International (Mill Spring, North Carolina)
  • July 22, 2023 – The Event at Rebecca Farm (Kalispell, Montana)
  • October 14, 2023 – Morven Park Fall International (Leesburg, Virginia)
  • November 4, 2023 – Galway Downs International (Temecula, California)
  • November 18, 2023 – The Event at TerraNova (Myakka City, Florida)

The approved CCI4*-L bids met the criteria outlined in the 2023-2027 U.S. Eventing Calendar CCI4*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L & Advanced Policies & Procedures. The USEF Eventing Bid Review Group provided their recommendation to the USEF Eventing Sport Committee and USEF International Disciplines Council prior to Board approval.

The USEF Eventing Bid Review Group is in the process of reviewing the bids to host the CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L and Advanced competitions on the 2023-2027 Eventing Calendar. The allocation of the CCI4*-S, CCI3*-L and Advanced levels is expected be announced by the end of September.

Please refer to the U.S. Eventing Calendar Process webpage for all information regarding the Eventing Calendar Process.

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US Equestrian Announces FEI Eventing Nations Cup Team for Military Boekelo Enschede

By on Aug 19, 2021 6:36 pm -

Graphic via US Equestrian.

US Equestrian is pleased to announce the combinations selected to the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ The Netherlands CCIO4*-L at the Military Boekelo Enschede in Enschede, Netherlands from October 7-10, 2021. The team will be led by Chef d’Equipe Erik Duvander.

“I am looking forward to taking this team to Boekelo, as any of these combinations can be ready for the FEI Eventing World Championship in 2022, Pan American Games in 2023 or Olympic Games in 2024,” said Duvander. “Part of their development is to have team experiences. This is an area where we are behind as a country in comparison to other competitive nations.”

The following athlete-and-horse combinations have been selected to represent the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ The Netherlands CCIO4*-L and are listed in alphabetical order.

  • Jennie Brannigan (West Grove, Pa.) and FE Lifestyle, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by Nina Gardner and Tim Gardner
  • Sydney Elliott (Bossier City, La.) and QC Diamantaire, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Carol Stephens
  • Matt Flynn (Ocala, Fla.) and Wizzerd, a 12-year-old KPWN gelding owned by A. Patrick Flynn, Kathleen Flynn, and Merry Go Round Farm
  • Tamie Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) and Danito, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Ruth BleyT

The following combinations have been selected as alternates and are listed in ranked order.

  • Jenny Caras (Cartersville, Ga.) and Trendy Fernhill, a 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Elyse Eisenberg
  • Hallie Coon (Ocala, Fla.) and Global EX, her own 11-year-old KWPN mare

BE Announces Nominated Entries for FEI Eventing European Championship

By on Aug 18, 2021 3:19 pm -

Ros Canter (GBR) and Allstar B. Photo by Sally Spickard.

British Equestrian and the British Eventing selectors can today confirm the 18 horse and rider combinations that will form their list of nominated entries ahead of the FEI Eventing European Championship, set to take place at Avenches, Switzerland, from 22–26 September this year.

Nominated entries, listed in alphabetical order by athlete surname:

  • Sarah Bullimore (48) based in Keysoe, Bedfordshire, with the Kew Jumping Syndicate, Brett Bullimore and her own Corouet (chestnut, gelding, 10yrs, 15.2hh, Balou du Rouet x Lovis Corinth, Breeder: Sarah Bullimore GBR)
  • Rosalind Canter (35) based in Hallington, Lincolnshire, with Caroline Moore and her own Allstar B (bay, gelding, 16yrs, 17hh, Ephebe For Ever x Erkstein, Breeder: FAJ Van der Burg NED) and Michele Saul’s Lordships Graffalo (bay, gelding, 9yrs, 17hh, Grafenstolz x Rock King, Breeder: Lordships Stud Writtle College GBR)
  • Kirsty Chabert (32) based in Salisbury, Wiltshire, with John Johnston and Carole Somers’ Classic IV (bay, mare, 12yrs, 16.1hh, s. Calvaro FC, Breeder: P. Charles GBR)
  • Emilie Chandler (40) from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, with Maria Doel’s Gortfadda Diamond (brown, gelding, 12yrs, 16.2hh, Water Valley Cool Diamond x Glacial Storm, Breeder: Sean Thomas Lydon IRL)
  • Laura Collett (31) based in Salperton, Gloucestershire, with Keith Scott, Nick How and her own Mr Bass (bay, gelding, 13yrs, 16.2hh, Carrico x Exorbitant XX, Breeder: Henning Heinz GER)
  • Kristina Cook (50) based Findon, West Sussex, with Elisabeth Murdoch and Keith Tyson’s Billy the Red (chestnut, gelding, 14yrs, 16.1hh, Balou du Rouet x Stan The Man XX, Breeder: Michaela Weber-Herrmann GER)
  • William Fox- Pitt (52) based in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, with Jennifer Dowling and his own Little Fire (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 17hh, Graf Top x Heraldik, Breeder: Dr. Volker Steinkraus GER) and the Oratorio Syndicate’s Oratorio (brown, gelding, 12yrs, 16.3hh, Oslo Biats x Topanoora, Breeder: R. Jenks GBR)
  • Pippa Funnell (52) based in Dorking, Surrey, with Jonathan and Jane Clarke’s MGH Grafton Street (bay, gelding, 13yrs, 16.2hh, s. OBOS Quality, Breeder: Padraig and Lucy McCarthy GBR) and Barbara and Nicholas Walkinshaw’s Billy Walk On (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 16.3hh, Billy Mexico x Golden Bash, Breeder: Donal Barnwell GBR)
  • Yasmin Ingham (24) based in Nantwich, Cheshire, originally from the Isle of Man, with Janette Chinn and Sue Davies’ Banzai Du Loir (chestnut, gelding, 10yrs, 16.2hh, Nouma D’Auzay x Livarot, Breeder: Pierre Gouye FRA)
  • Kitty King (38) based in Chippenham, Wiltshire, with Diana Bown, Sally Eyre, Samantha Wilson and Sally Lloyd-Baker’s Vendredi Biats (grey, gelding, 12yrs, 16.2hh, Winningmood x Camelia de Ruelles, Breeder: Phillipe Brivois FRA)
  • Piggy March (40) based in Maidwell, Northamptonshire, with John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn’s Brookfield Inocent (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 16.3hh, Inocent x Kings Servant, Breeder: John Mulvey IRL)
  • Harry Meade (37) based in West Littleton, Wiltshire, with Mandy Gray and his own Superstition (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 16.1hh, s. Satisfaction FRH, Breeder: Eva Meier GBR)
  • Izzy Taylor (38) based in Bicester, Oxfordshire, with Mark Sartori and her own Monkeying Around (bay, gelding, 10yrs, 16.2hh, Bertoli W x Donnerhall II, Breeder: Christian Heinrich GER)
  • Oliver Townend (38) based in Ellesmere, Shropshire, with Angela Hislop’s Cooley Master Class (bay, gelding, 16yrs, 16.2hh, Ramiro B x Master Imp, Breeder: John Hagan IRL)
  • Nicola Wilson (44) based in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, with Deirdre Johnston and James and Jo Lambert’s JL Dublin (dark brown, gelding, 10yo, 16.2hh, Diarados Cheeky Boy x Cantano, Breeder: Volker Coettsche-Goetze GER)

Selection decisions are subject to the athletes and horses maintaining fitness and performance, and this list may be amended at any stage.

The selected squad of six combinations, plus reserves, will be announced on or around 27 August.

[British Equestrian]

Tuesday Video: Venturing to Jumperland with Quantum Leap

By on Aug 17, 2021 5:00 pm -

Doug Payne and Quantum Leap. Photo by Reagan Ibach, TIEC.

Doug Payne dibble-dabbles between show jumping and eventing, and he claimed first, third, fourth and fifth in last Friday morning’s $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake. Doug and Quantum Leap, the 2011 RPSI gelding (Quite Capitol x Report to Sloopy) he owns in partnership with wife Jessica, were one of only two pairs to go clear: Merideth Bryans (Newborn, GA) and Guidam Sid, her own 2007 Czech Warmblood gelding of unknown breeding, scored second place on a time of 38.753 over the Skip Bailey (Wellington, FL) course design.

Doug and Quantum Leap won on a jump-off time of 34.402 seconds, while Payne collected third with Botanja, the 2006 Warmblood mare (Salvatore x Juta) owned by Courtney Alston, by way of a four-fault round in a time of 68.667. Quintessence, the 2011 Holsteiner gelding (Quinar x Victoria’s Secret) owned by Jane Dudinksy, earned fourth place on a time of 68.69 and four faults, while Getaway, Olivia Wall’s 2007 Oldenburg gelding (Contendro x Unknown), collected fifth place on the same faults and with a time of 73.314 seconds.

Doug made a last-minute decision to include Quantum Leap in the Welcome Stake, and revealed that the 5* eventing athlete typically jumps fences a bit smaller than the ones that he conquered for the win. “He went to Kentucky for the 5* in the spring, and he’ll be headed to Maryland for the new 5* this fall. It was kind of a last-minute decision to throw him in this class. He’s been jumping great, so I figured I’d put him in the Welcome Stake here, and it’s actually bigger than he’d be jumping normally in eventing.”

The gametime decision paid off for Doug, who credited his horse’s nimble athleticism despite his large stature. “He’s a very good jumper: very careful and super honest. For a big horse, he’s super maneuverable and light on his feet, so with jump-off situations he’s generally pretty efficient. He was able to pull it off today, so that’s always fun!”

Just home from his Olympic debut with Vandiver, Doug reflected on his travels that took him from Tryon to Tokyo and back. “It was an incredible experience. You always hope and dream that you’ll be able to represent your country at the Olympics, so when it actually happens it’s kind of surreal. It was unusual for sure because the COVID lockdown situation was strong over there, so I didn’t know what to expect, but my horse, Vandiver, was excellent,” Doug concluded. “He has probably the biggest heart of any horse I’ve worked with.”

Go Doug. Go Eventing.

Brandon McMechan Shines in Bromont CCI4-S*

By on Aug 17, 2021 12:49 pm -

Brandon McMechan (CAN) and Oscar’s Wild.
Photo by Cealy Tetley.

Brandon McMechan (CAN) riding Oscar’s Wild rose to the task this weekend at the Bromont CCI-S Horse Trials in Bromont, Quebec. Winning the CCI4*-S after adding just 4 jumping penalties in Sarah Robert’s designed show jumping course and 5.2 time over a tightly wheeled Derek Di Grazia cross country course, giving them a final score of 38.5

“We just have a great relationship” says Brandon of Oscar’s Wild, a 12-year-old thoroughbred gelding which Brandon owns with his father Glenn was sourced by fellow competitor, Kendal Lehari and her mother Gwen.

Brandon, a Toronto based chiropractor, when asked about his weekend said, “I love it here. I try to get all my friends to come for a little cottage weekend, come watch the show and so close to Montreal they can buzz over there.”

Second place in the 4* went to Australia’s Dom Schramm on the score of 45.8 and the KWPN gelding, Bolytair B, with Lindsay Traisnel (CAN) on Bacyrouge taking third place with their score of 54.8.

In the CCI3*-S, Uxbridge resident Kendal Lehari (CAN) and her own Canadian Sport Horse gelding Audacious (Junior) took top place on a score of 34.8. Finishing just ahead of fellow Canadian and Dunham, Quebec based, Colleen Loach on a score of 36.1.

When asked about her weekend Kendal said, “I love Bromont, it’s probably my favourite event.”

Ascot Corner (QC) resident Melissa Boutin took the red ribbon in the CCI2*-S division ahead of a strong field of 14 on her own Obeah Dancer GS (Colleen). Finishing on their dressage score of 24.9. A financial advisor when not riding four to six horses a day and giving lessons in her barn, Melissa appeared pleased with their results saying “It went so well, that course has a beautiful flow. It keeps you busy right up to the end. A really fun course to ride.” Continuing an already great weekend Melissa also won the Open Training with Threes are Wild on a score of 27.6, riding the thoroughbred gelding owned by Marie-Gabrielle Bronsard.

In the Open Preliminary, Kingston, Ontario’s own Selena O’Hanlon riding Ringwood Hustler and Lexington, Kentucky based Alexandra Baugh on Dogano de L’Oiseliere took first and second respectively.

A fabulous weekend by all accounts was had by both Canadian and US based competitors at the iconic venue, Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park, site of the equestrian events of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.

A popular discussion for U.S. visitors over the weekend was just how straight forward cross-border travel has become since the change in COVID-19 travel restrictions. US Citizens and permanent residents can now come to Canada by being vaccinated, providing COVID-19 negative results, and entering all the information in to the free ArriveCAN application or on the official website.

Dom Schramm when asked about his border experience said, “It literally took no extra time” and went on to say about the event “People were asking me are you going to Bromont? I said of course I’m going to Bromont. Bromont is the best event in North America.”

Held annually the third weekend of August in the charming village of Bromont, Quebec, the Bromont CCI-S Horse Trials is within easy driving distance of Montreal, Quebec and Burlington, Vermont. This scenic area offers great dining, shopping, entertainment, and golf options.

Information regarding the event is available on our website at https://bromontcci.com and linked to our social media. Reach the event secretary at [email protected].

Kendal Lehari (CAN) and Audacious
Photo; Cealy Tetley
Brandon McMechan (CAN) and Oscar’s Wild
Photo: Cealy Tetley
Mellisa Boutin (CAN) and Obeah Dancer GS
Photo: Cealy Tetley
Selena O’Hanlon (CAN) and Ringwood Hustler
Photo: Cealy Tetley
Melissa Boutin (CAN) and Threes are Wild
Photo: Cealy Tetley
Dominic Schramm (AUS) and Bolytair B
Photo: Cealy Tetley
Colleen Loach (CAN) and FE Golden Eye
Photo: Cealy Tetley
Joanie Morris (USA)
Photo: Cealy Tetley

MARS Great Meadow International Makes Strides for Equality

By on Aug 15, 2021 9:30 am -

Photo via MyCourseWalk.com.

The MARS EQUESTRIAN™ Great Meadow International (MARSGMI) and Strides for Equality Equestrians (SEE) are pleased to announce a partnership to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sport of Eventing. MARSGMI is excited to be the first event to partner with SEE with the shared goal of proactively increasing awareness of and access to our sport.

“We are honored to be partnered with SEE,” said Darrin Mollett of Five Rings Eventing (FRE), the organizer of MARSGMI. “Sports, as in all things, are better when more people can belong. If we can encourage more participants in Eventing, we will be more competitive in the long run. Growing diversity and inclusion within the sport is important to me and to my FRE partner, David O’Connor”

Strides for Equality Equestrians is a non-profit organization developed by Eventers to promote the sport through inclusivity and allyship. SEE’s mission is to both create equitable opportunities for BIPOC equestrians and to foster an encouraging environment of inclusion and belonging within the sport. SEE provides access grants to community riding centers, has developed a professional pathways program that provides scholarships for equine career oriented individuals, promotes Allyship and team building within equestrian sport, and engages and educates about the historical culture and evolution of broader participation within the horseworld.

Recognizing that financial barriers might prevent interested folks from attending the event which requires the purchase of entrance tickets, the MARSGMI organizing committee has generously donated two tailgating spots for members of the local equestrian access program to attend the event at no cost. SEE is pleased to announce that riders from network member White Oak Stables have been invited to come out and enjoy the MARSGMI event, which takes place August 19 – 22. They will be able to watch the action up close with space provided by Great Meadow and will meet with International riders who are joining SEE to promote their cause.

White Oak Stables, located in Warrenton, VA, provides affordable, fun, and inclusive access to horseback riding for people from all walks of life. One of its guiding principles is that it’s important for people in minority and under-represented communities to know that horseback riding is an option for them. Raising awareness of the sport, making it more affordable, and providing inclusive opportunities, is pivotal to increasing diversity in the equestrian community,” (read more about White Oak Stables, their values, and their diversity program at http://white-oak-stables.com/about/diversity-program/).

Horse & Country and USEA Announce Wide-Ranging Partnership, Launch of USEA Channel

By on Aug 14, 2021 12:00 pm -

Lynn Symansky and Under Suspection, winners of the 2019 MARS Great Meadow International CCI4*-S. This year’s MARS Great Meadow International, happening August 19-22, will also be live streamed on H&C+. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Leading international equestrian sports network Horse & Country (H&C) and the United States Eventing Association (USEA) have announced the details of a wide-ranging partnership. The rationale behind the new arrangement is underpinned by H&C’s extensive eventing coverage, both domestic and international, which includes live and highlights sport, training content and rider profiles, the increasing role of video in USEA’s communications activity, and the opportunity to showcase eventing from the U.S. to H&C’s global audience.

At the heart of the partnership is the creation of the USEA Channel on H&C’s streaming service, H&C+. The USEA Channel will host all of H&C’s eventing live streams, starting with the forthcoming MARS Great Meadow International from Virginia. Future USEA Channel livestreams will include events such as the Carolina International, major USEA-recognized competitions, and championships. The USEA Channel will also feature major international events including the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials and the Chedington Bicton Park 5* Horse Trials. A further treat awaits eventing fans in October with world-class competition from Les 5 Étoiles de Pau.

The USEA Channel will feature a wealth of eventing-related material including Masterclasses from Will Faudree and Will Coleman, as well as episodes of H&C’s Barn Talk series featuring profiles of both Wills and USEA Rider of the Year Liz Halliday-Sharp.

Other key features of the partnership include:
A 15% reduction on the annual H&C+ subscription for USEA members
An extensive promotional program for each partner across the other’s platforms
Further live streams of USEA events to be announced

H&C Director David Qualls said, “Three-day eventing is one of the cornerstones of H&C+, so a partnership with USEA is a great way to add further value for the passionate eventing community. Many of our viewers are both fans and competitors in their own right, so we’ve created the USEA Channel to pull together a wide range of content to help them get even more from the sport they love.”

“For a number of years the USEA has been looking for an international equestrian sports network partner,” commented USEA CEO Rob Burk. “In order for the sport to turn our current hundreds of thousands of fans into millions of fans we need to enable better access to the sport by the public. H&C+ will enable us to do exactly that. H&C+ offers exciting coverage and interesting educational programs. Ultimately, the USEA is an educational association with an aim to promote eventing as a top-notch spectator sport. We know the fans of horses, equestrian sports, and eventing will make H&C+ their go-to network.”

To watch all of H&C’s eventing live streams and access the USEA Channel, make sure you are signed up to H&C+, Horse & Country’s worldwide streaming service. H&C+ members can watch online or with H&C’s mobile apps, as well as on Xfinity, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire. Membership is just $9.99 per month, or $99.99 annually ($84.99 to USEA members), and full details on how to join can be found at horseandcountry.tv.

There are a number of high-profile opportunities for equestrian brands to advertise around live eventing on H&C including in-stream billboards, in-stream video ads, and pre-roll video ads. For further details, contact H&C Partnership Manager Tattie Singer.

Time for Ponies! The European Championships are About to Start in Strzegom

By on Aug 11, 2021 2:30 pm -

Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński.

Jumpers, eventers and dressage riders will be fighting for medals in the European championships in the ponies’ category from today forward at the arenas in Strzegom. 162 young riders, representing 21 countries will take part in the competition.

The arenas of the Morawa Hippodrome will host competitors aged 12 to 16 and their ponies, i.e. horses up to 149 cm tall. It will be a unique event for horse sports fans. The championships in three Olympic disciplines: dressage, eventing and show jumping will be played out in one place and time.

The competition will start on August 11 and will last for five days – the eventers will get underway tomorrow, Thursday August 12. It will be preceded by an opening ceremony during which all national teams will present themselves. The rivalry in dressage will begin the event, and we will know the first medalists on Thursday, August 12th.

The competition will be played out with the participation of audiences. Admission is free. Parking costs 20 PLN. Fans will also be able to virtually cheer on their favorites during the live broadcast, which will be available via FEI.TV.

Website: http://www.strzegomponies.pl/pl/

Entries: http://www.strzegomponies.pl/images/2021/zakladki/zgłoszenia_.pdf

Davis Equine + Ride Safe to Present Inaugural Groom’s Award at #MARSGMI

By on Aug 9, 2021 10:00 am -

Boyd Martin’s Tsetserleg and his groom Stephanie Simpson. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Five Rings Eventing, LLC is pleased to announce a partnership with Davis Equine + Ride Safe to provide a Groom’s Award at this year’s event.

The MARS Great Meadow International (MARSGMI) takes place in The Plains, Virginia on August 19-22, 2021 and offers CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI2*-S and preliminary divisions.

“A Groom’s Award is something this competition has always wanted to do,” said Max Corcoran, a member of the organizing committee and an Olympic level professional groom who’s traveled around the world caring for the top horses in the sport. ”I’ve been so lucky to work with amazing animals throughout my career. A groom’s relationship with their horses is the foundation for the success of any team, and we are grateful to our friends at Davis Equine + Ride Safe for sponsoring a prize that highlights their role.”

Davis Equine + Ride Safe has been supporting GMI for years. Now, in addition to providing beautiful leather halters to winners in each division, Davis Equine will also provide a $200 gift certificate to Tri-Country Feeds Fashions and Finds, a leather shank, and a Ride Safe bracelet to the best groom nominated by the ground jury of the CCI4*-S division.

“For Davis Equine + Ride Safe to step up to sponsor a groom’s award is truly a special thing for David O’Connor and me,” said Darrin Mollett, who together with David O’Connor run Five Ring’s Eventing, the Organizer of the event. “When David and I envisioned this event seven years ago, we always saw it as a community-based event on an international stage. To have our local businesses contribute in this generous way makes the hard work worth it and ensures the longevity of this event for our community athletes for years to come.”

“Davis Equine + Ride Safe is excited to partner with this great local competition again,” said Dr Chad Davis of Davis Equine. “We understand how important the work of these grooms is to the health and welfare of the equine athlete and are honored to recognize their immense contribution to the sport.”

Last year, MARSGMI successfully implemented the “Great Meadow Model” to run a safe event during the pandemic. This year will be no different as MARSGMI will return to the same model to allow spectators to enjoy the competition in a safe environment.

Returning for 2021, MARSGMI will offer general admission weekend passes as well as fabulous tailgate options for spectators. Limited vendors, a wine vendor, and food trucks have been invited to enhance the spectator experience. Catering is also offered by Salamander Market.

“Great Meadow is truly a special place in the heart of Northern Virginia horse country,” said O’Connor. “We are especially excited to broaden the reach of this event to be more inclusive of our community members, businesses, and organizations who share our love of open space, animal well-being, and the Piedmont.”

MARSGMI will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and maintain communication with the Great Meadow Foundation, state and local health officials and the USEF and FEI.

Today in Tokyo: Silver for Team USA After Thrilling Jump-Off Finale

By on Aug 7, 2021 3:11 pm -

This report was compiled from FEI and US Equestrian press releases.

Sweden – Gold. USA – Silver. Belgium – Bronze. Photo Copyright © FEI/EFE/Kai Försterling.

It’s almost a century since Sweden last won Olympic Jumping Team gold, and when they did it tonight they did it with both style and grace.

A magnificent performance all week from Henrik von Eckermann with King Edward, Malin Baryard-Johnson and Indiana and Peder Fredricson with All In led to high expectations that this could be the night they would bring the ultimate honour back to their country for the first time in 97 years. But it wouldn’t be easy.

As the final competition played itself out it came down to a head-to-head with the feisty American threesome of Laura Kraut with Baloutinue, Jessica Springsteen with Don Juan van de Donhoeve and McLain Ward with Contagious, and they wouldn’t be handing anything over without a fight. The two sides completed today’s first round with eight faults apiece, and the battle lines were drawn.

Belgium was already assured of bronze when collecting 12 faults in the opening round. Team France looked set to be the biggest threat to all others when single time faults from both Simon Delestre and Berlux Z and Mathieu Billot with Quel Filou, in the opening round left them sitting pretty before Penelope Leprevost set off. But elimination at the third fence for Vancouver de Lanlore shattered the French dream of repeating the glory they enjoyed five years ago in Rio de Janeiro.

So Pieter Devos (Claire Z), Jerome Guery (Quel Homme de Hus) and Gregory Wathelet (Nevados S) could sit back in the knowledge that the third step of the podium would belong to Belgium, and the stage was set for one last roll of the dice for the Americans and Swedes.

Jessica Springsteen (USA) & Don Juan van de Donkhoeve. Photo by FEI / Arnd Bronkhorst.

Final showdown

With all three team members returning to the ring for the final showdown it was Kraut who led the way for the USA with her 11-year-old gelding, scorching through the finish in 41.33 seconds to set the pace. And although Sweden’s von Eckermann took a new route he was a little slower when breaking the beam in 42.00 seconds with King Edward who, sensationally, never lowered a single pole in five rounds of tough jumping this week.

Springsteen returned clear for USA in 42.95 seconds so when Baryard-Johnsson was quicker, crossing the line in 41.89, the Swedes already had a small advantage. But Ward was next to go, and shaving seconds off all those ahead of him he raced through the finish in 39.92 to really put it up to Swedish anchorman Fredricson.

But how cool is the man who took his second successive Individual silver medal, and with the same horse, just three days ago.

As he set off you could read the complete determination on Fredricson’s face. Did he feel the tension as he galloped down to the last fence, knowing what was hanging in the balance?

“Oh, the pressure was on!”, he admitted. “My god, in these situations when you have two teams like this you really want to win. McLain was fast, I saw his round and I knew what I had to do, and today the poles stayed up and the time was on my side!

“I had the speed and I gave him (All In) a lot of room. He’s in super shape, but I was really worried he would take the front pole with his hindlegs, but he came up!” he said after breaking the beam in an amazing 39.01 seconds to seal the victory.

In the end just 1.3 penalty points separated the two sides, but the joy in the aftermath for both teams was palpable. They’d been in a fair fight and the best side had won. No hard feelings, just delight in great sport played out between great opponents.

McLain Ward & Contagious. Photo Copyright © FEI/Christophe Taniére.

Enjoyment

Ward enjoyed every moment of it. “It was great to be in the battle!”, he said with a big smile. “Sweden’s win wasn’t unexpected here but they took it to another level, we would have had to have an incredible day to beat them. I think we pushed them right to the limit, and in competition when you push them to that limit and they still win you’ve got to be proud of the fight!”

“We just didn’t give up!”, agreed his team-mate Kraut. “It was hard-fought and Sweden were incredible all week, so if you’re going to lose you’re going to lose to them, and we can live with that!

Springsteen said, “It was wild, watching the last couple go, wondering if we would have to jump-off or not, you really got the jitters, but it was very exciting!”

But it was even more exciting for the new Olympic champions. There was no-one begrudging their success today. They won fair and square and they were immensely proud of their achievement.

“Yes it’s a dream come true – to win an Olympic gold medal I think that’s every athlete’s dream for sure!”, said Baryard-Johnsson. We’ve been so well prepared for everything at this championship, we’ve not missed out on anything, we have a team behind us that’s incredible. All of us, the way we’ve ridden shows how confident we’ve been and how they’ve all made it possible for us to totally focus on what to do in there. We knew it was very possible for a jump-off because it was only one round and we knew we didn’t want the silver medal this time!”, said the rider who was a member of the Swedish side that took Olympic team silver in Athens (GRE) 17 years ago.

Peder Fredricson (SWE) & All In. Photo Copyright © FEI/EFE/Kai Försterling.

Even more special

Von Eckermann just missed out in the Individual Final on Wednesday night when finishing fourth, “so that’s why it’s even more special tonight!”, he said. “It was a frustrating fourth place but I’m so happy that I pulled myself together and told myself to leave what I can’t change behind me and focus on this. No one can say we didn’t deserve it!”

And he added that there should be medals awarded to the horses as well as the riders. King Edward certainly deserved a medal having jumped through the entire week without ever dropping a pole.

Fredricson’s last round was the stuff of champions, and Ward, who has won plenty of accolades himself, acknowledged that. “He’s one of the best, and his record with that horse is spectacular. What horsemanship and what planning, and all the people around him. But he’s also been at the top of the sport with other mounts too which is testament to his riding, it’s not just one horse”, he said.

Typically modest, Fredricson was thoughtful when asked what tonight’s glorious victory meant to him.

“It’s unbelievably satisfying to get this gold. And my horse deserves it also for the way he jumped, I’m so happy for him and his owner and groom and the whole team and my team-mates. This is a great feeling!”, he said.

Team USA – Silver. Photo Copyright © FEI/EFE/Kai Försterling.

Team USA

Laura Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Baloutinue, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by St. Bride’s Farm were the first combination to test the second-round track built by Santiago Varela (ESP) for the final night of team competition and the pair delivered with a clear round to start the team off strong. The scores were wiped clean from yesterday’s qualifier, making each round critical for the overall team standings.

“Today he was just in the game. He was relaxed and focused and just did everything I asked of him,” said Kraut. “He’s just one of the best horses I’ve ever had the privilege to ride and for him to come in here tonight, he’s still new to this level of jumping, and he’s gotten better each day that he’s jumped.”

Following Kraut’s fantastic finish, Springsteen (Colts Neck, N.J.) picked up the baton and guided Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by Stone Hill Farm, to a fast four fault round, keeping the team within reach of the podium. In the pair’s championship debut, they exceled under the pressure.

“This course was super technical. The first time I walked it I made a plan, and that was what I stuck with in the ring. There were a lot of half strides where you had the option to choose whether you wanted to do one less or one more and my horse has a big step and I was able to do most of the leave-outs which really helped me with the time allowed,” explained Springsteen about her first round.

As the pair’s anchor combination, Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) and Contagious, a 12-year-old Deutches Sportpferd owned by Beechwood Stables, LLC, found themselves needing to keep the team within striking range of the Swedish, and delivered with a solid round, as Contagious barely tapped a rail to add four to their score. Ultimately the team’s total of eight, tied them with the Swedish team, forcing a jump-off to determine the gold and silver medals.

“I thought the horses jumped great last night and really well again today. The task for me was a bit difficult to go in cold to that round last night and I was a little bit anxious about it,” said Ward. “I had a feeling that we were going to settle in, and everyone delivered. Jess stayed as cool as can be after having an early rail and I thought my horse’s rail was a little unlucky, and Laura was just lights out.”

The order for the jump-off remained the same as the second-round order, with Kraut and Baloutinue entering the ring first to set the pace. The duo finished with a quick clear round and were followed by Henrick von Eckermann and King Edward, who matched their pace and kept the score even. Springsteen was tasked with keeping the team on zero in the jump-off and delivered with Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, crossing through the timers with another fast clear for the U.S. With the draw order, Ward would need to pull out all the stops to try to keep the gold medal out of Sweden’s grasp. He pushed Contagious and delivered a brilliantly fast, clear effort for the U.S., as the rest of the team waited to see what Peder Fredericson and All In would deliver. Ultimately, the gold was earned by the Swedish team, which was well-deserved after their tremendous performance this past week, with the U.S. team securing their second consecutive team silver medal at an Olympic Games.

“Sweden has been lights out, which was expected, but they have really been on a different level. We would have had an incredible day to beat them, and I think we pushed them right to the limit and in competition, when you push them to that limit and they still win, you’ve got to be proud with the fight and the medal,” said Ward.

“This was a hard-fought battle,” said Kraut. “McLain is fast, and we know he’s fast, and he definitely put the pressure on Peder. He had .4 seconds to make up and Peder and All In are just so fast, just like we saw on the individual final. This is what we do this for. It’s a lot of work, sweat, and tears, but I’m just so thrilled and I’m so fortunate to have a great team here with me.”

“This was truly a team of four, plus the army behind us,” added Ward, to Kraut’s testament to the team comradery and the support they received from teammate Kent Farrington, who competed in the Individual Qualifier, but sat out for the team competition.

Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland was thrilled with the way the team’s strategy played to their preparation and noted that they were confident the team competition would most likely go to three rounds and made a point to be sure the horses were fresh and ready for the task at hand.

“It’s what you dream of. We came up with a plan a long time ago and the emphasis was always going to be on the team competition. The plan was, of course, that we’re bringing four riders here and all four were going to be whatever results we were able to get,” said Ridland. “Today was supposed to be the day that we really channeled everything, and we tried to leave as much gas in the tank as we could through the qualifying round to get there, and we’ve all been saying that the team was going to be three rounds and we were prepared for that. It just became magical. It was sweet revenge for Sweden and it’s a great rivalry. They were amazing and we pushed them to the limit and that’s what has made us proud.”

Sweden – Gold. USA – Silver. Belgium – Bronze. Photo Copyright © FEI/EFE/Kai Försterling.

Facts and Figures:

Sweden last won Team gold at the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924 when the three-rider side consisted of Ake Thelning (Loke), Axel Stahle (Cecil) and Age Lundstrom (Anvers).

Sweden also won Olympic Team gold on home ground in Stockholm in 1912 and in Antwerp in 1920.

For tonight’s Final competition, two changes were made to the teams that competed in Friday’s Jumping Team Qualifier – Willem Greve and Zypria S stepped out of the Dutch team and Harrie Smolders stepped in with Bingo de Parc, while Rodrigo Pessoa and Carlito’s Way stepped out of the Brazilian team so Yuri Mansur and Alfons stepped in.

Final medal standings in Jumping:

Jumping Team: Gold – Sweden; Silver – USA; Bronze – Belgium.

Jumping Individual : Gold – Ben Maher (GBR), Explosion W; Silver – Peder Fredricson (SWE), All In; Bronze – Maikel van der Vleuten (NED), Beauville Z.

 

Today in Tokyo: Sweden Soars, USA Advances in Team Jumping Qualifier

By on Aug 6, 2021 3:00 pm -

This report was compiled from US Equestrian and FEI press releases. 

Malin Baryard-Johnsson (SWE) & Indiana. Photo by FEI / Arnd Bronkhorst.

It was a tough day at the office for many of the nations competing in the Team Jumping Qualifier at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Baji Koen Equestrian Park today. But for Team Sweden it was just another walk in the park.

Since the action began on the first day of the Individual competition last Tuesday, Henrik von Eckermann’s King Edward, Malin Baryard-Johnsson’s Indiana and Peder Fredricson’s All In have not lowered a single pole.

Fredricson and the 15-year-old All In have an incredible record. They were faultless on their way to Individual silver at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and once again on their way to Individual silver here in Tokyo on Wednesday night.

It will be a whole new competition when the action resumes in tomorrow’s Team Final where the top-10 teams from tonight’s qualifier will battle it out once again, all starting on a zero score. But the Swedes look super-confident ahead of that showdown in which they will be challenged by Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, USA, France, Great Britain, Brazil and The Netherlands.

Ondrej Zvara (CZE) & Cento Lano. Photo by FEI / Arnd Bronkhorst.

Dramatic exit

A number of countries made a dramatic exit, including Japan. Daisuke Fukushima and Chanyon, who finished Individually sixth, picked up eight faults when first to go for the host nation, but when Koki Saito and Chilensky were withdrawn that dashed their chances.

Then Irish pathfinder Shane Sweetnam and Alejandro fell at the water-tray vertical at fence 10. The grey gelding had been jumping erratically after paddling the first element of the triple combination at fence five. They left the arena unscathed, but Sweetnam was devastated for his team and for the horse who is normally so reliable.

“He’s an experienced horse, normally he’s very good but he pulled his shoe off going into the triple combination, I don’t know whether that hurt him but it definitely rattled him, and then after that you could see he was very unsettled and wasn’t like himself at all”, said the man who has long been a rock for the Irish side. But his team’s chances of a place in the Final were gone.

When the second rotation of riders got underway Israel’s Teddy Vlock took a fall at the previous liverpool oxer. His 11-year-old mare had already refused at the second fence and had two fences down along the way. Vlock was examined by medics after walking out of the arena and was cleared to go back to his hotel, but knowing that his country was now also out of the medal race.

Photo Copyright © FEI/Christophe Taniére.v

Effortless ease

At the other end of the spectrum the Swedes were just waltzing home with effortless ease. “Our horses have been unbelievable!”, said Baryard-Johnsson. “I think we all have the same feeling that it felt quite easy every round in there – they are all jumping so well, every round!”

The Belgians and Germans also looked very comfortable, both completing with just four faults on the board all made up of time penalties. Gregory Wathelet was last to go for Belgium with Nevados S and felt he was in a comfort zone because his compatriots Pieter Devos with Claire Z and Jerome Guery with Quel Homme de Hus had only collected a single time penalty each. He added two more but didn’t feel under any pressure.

“I just had to go and see how my horse was feeling after the Individual Final because we all know tomorrow will be bigger like the (Individual) Final. It feels like he is fresh so I’m happy about that”, said the rider who finished ninth on Wednesday night.

Germany’s Maurice Tebbel and Don Diarado also picked up two time faults to add to the single faults collected by team-mates Andre Thieme with DSP Chakaria and Daniel Deusser with Killer Queen. Thieme had an interesting time in the arena and said afterwards, “I won’t win the prize for the most stylish round!”, but he was really proud of his 11-year-old mare.

Gregory Wathelet (BEL) & Nevados S. Photo FEI / Arnd Bronkhorst.

Superstar

“She is a superstar and I’m not the only one thinking that. She is complete!”, he said. But that venue, those lights and jumps it’s maybe a bit early and too impressive for her because she’s young and green. But on the other hand if she goes through this she will learn something and everywhere else in the world it will be easy for her. I’m totally in love with this horse! She belongs to the family and she’s so special!”, he added.

Switzerland finished with 10 on the board, the USA with 13, the defending champions from France with 15, and Great Britain racked up 17. The final three teams to make the cut were Brazil who collected 25 faults, The Netherlands who picked up 26 and Argentina who finished with 27 and squeezed Egypt out of the top 10.

Also on the sidelines as the Final plays itself out tomorrow night will be the teams from China, Morocco, New Zealand, Czech Republic and Mexico.

Laura Kraut (USA) & Baloutinue. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniére.

Team USA

The U.S. Jumping Team has qualified for the Jumping Team Final to be held on Saturday, August 7, beginning at 7:00 p.m. JST/ 6:00 a.m. EDT at Equestrian Park in Tokyo, Japan. The team finished the Team Qualifier competition in fifth place, earning their spot in tomorrow night’s final, with the top ten teams advancing.They will begin tomorrow night on a clean-slate score of zero, as the scores from this evening’s qualifier do not carry over to the team final.

Laura Kraut and Baloutinue led the team as the first combination to test the Santiago Varela (ESP) track and finished with four faults in a time of 80.78 seconds. Jessica Springsteen and Don Juan van de Donkhoeve secured another strong ride for the team, crossing through the timers in 80.67 seconds with only four faults. The anchor combination of McLain Ward and Contagious ensured the team would return for the second round of competition, finishing in 83.03 seconds with four faults and a single time fault. The new format saw a range of scores from the participating teams, ultimately with the U.S. finishing in the top five of 19 teams who contested the course.

Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Baloutinue, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by St. Bride’s Farm, needed to provide a strong foundation for the rest of the team to build on and the duo did just that. The track suited Baloutinue’s style and allowed the pair to position the team off with a strong start, only adding four faults to their score.

“He jumped beautifully. I had said when I walked the course that I thought it could be the bogie jump of the night and I myself probably could have gotten him six inches closer to it, and if I could do it again that’s what I’d do, but other than that he didn’t touch a jump and he did everything I asked of him, so I’m really happy,” said Kraut. “The objective today is to get in tomorrow and pull out all of the stops then.”

In her Olympic debut for the U.S. Jumping Team, Springsteen (Colts Neck, N.J.) and Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by Stone Hill Farm, looked sharp and competitive. The pair, who just barely missed qualification for the Individual Final earlier in the week, made sure to make the most of their time in the arena at Equestrian Park and secured a second solid effort for the team.

“I thought my horse jumped beautifully. I was thinking for the time allowed a little bit and I just needed to regroup before that last line, but I’m thrilled with the way he’s jumping,” said Springsteen. “I had a lot more nerves today as opposed to the first day. I want to make everyone at home proud and have a good performance for my teammates and I think we’re sitting in a good spot heading into tomorrow.”

McLain Ward (USA) & Contagious. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniére.

Familiar with the pressure of being the anchor rider for the team, Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) and Contagious, a 12-year-old Deutches Sportpferd gelding owned by Beechwood Stables LLC, were impressive in their competition debut after being subbed in specifically for the team competition. With the new format, Ward and Contagious delivered, ultimately helping to punch the team’s ticket to tomorrow’s highly contested team final.

“My horse felt great. This was a new challenge for Contagious and me. We’ve been on the ice for the better part of four weeks and his last show was Rotterdam, which was over a month ago. Over the last ten days I think I’ve maybe jumped eight or nine jumps and to jump at this level is a real challenge,” said Ward. “He was right there with me and I’m proud of Contagious for stepping up. When I originally got the ride on him, I didn’t know if he was an Olympic horse, and he has proved that he’s capable at this level.”

The team is primed and ready for what will be an intense battle for team medals tomorrow with several strong teams also vying for positions on the podium. Feeling positive after tonight’s class, Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland commented on how pleased he is with the way the team’s strategy is playing out.

“The plan is working so far. We went into tonight looking for three solid rounds and we wanted to come in fresh, and also know that this is the first of potentially three rounds, specifically if we are fortunate enough to do well tomorrow and end up in a jump-off. The plan was to not leave too much on the table and I think that’s what happened tonight,” said Ridland. “I thought all three riders rode great and all three horses looked fresh and jumped great. There were three solid rounds and we easily qualified, so we have a good order tomorrow. We’re in good shape and it’s exactly what I was hoping would be the case for us heading into the final day.”

The Jumping Team Finals for medals will begin at 7:00 p.m. JST/6:00 a.m. EDT tomorrow, August 7.

Facts and Figures:

Great Britain was heading the medal table with a total of 5 going into today’s Team Jumping Qualifier – so far they have won 2 in Eventing, 2 in Dressage and 1 in Jumping.

Germany has won four sets of medals to date, 1 in Eventing and 3 in Dressage.

19 teams of three riders started in this evening’s Olympic Jumping Team Qualifier.

France are defending Olympic team champions.

Results here.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Website, EN’s Ultimate Guide to Tokyo 2020, Latest News, Eventing Final Scores , EN’s Coverage, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

Today in Tokyo: A Costly Day for Team USA in Individual Jumping Qualifier

By on Aug 3, 2021 1:49 pm -

This report was compiled from FEI and US Equestrian press releases. 

Ben Maher (GBR) and Explosion W had the fastest round of the night. Photo Copyright © FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst.

There was an edge-of-the-seat start to Jumping at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games today, with fluctuating fortunes in the opening first Individual competition. Only 30 of the 73 starters could qualify for tomorrow’s Individual medal-decider, and with many horses finding the atmosphere electrifying and the fabulous course of fences more than mesmerising, even the best of the best admitted that tonight’s 14-fence challenge was a big one. The colour and creativity of Santiago Varela’s course was nothing short of spectacular, and he gave them plenty to jump too.

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs was partnering his superstar Clooney who carried him to Individual glory at the European Championships in Rotterdam two years ago, but he still found today’s opening competition a big test.

“The course itself wasn’t super tricky but what makes it difficult is that it’s the Olympic Games, the pressure is there, Clooney feels the pressure and I feel it, the rideability wasn’t as it should have been. But usually he gets better from day to day and I think now we have the most difficult round of the week behind us”, Fuchs said.

Daisuke Fukushima (JPN) and Chanyon. Photo Copyright © FEI/Christophe Taniére.

Roar of approval

The was a big roar of approval when Japan’s Daisuke Fukushima produced the first clear of the competition when seventh to go with Chanyon, and the host nation were hugely impressive when all three of their riders made the cut to tomorrow’s Individual showdown. Other nations who also have three riders through are Belgium, Great Britain, Ireland and Sweden while Fuchs will be joined by Swiss compatriot Beat Mandli and both Egypt and The Netherlands will also have two representatives.

Britain’s Ben Maher produced the fastest round of the night with Explosion W so has the best of the draw tomorrow. “We’ve been waiting a long time and we’ve been edgy to get going. It was a big enough course today and a lot of horses are a little bit spooky, I don’t know whether it’s the new jumps or the lights and I felt that with him. This is my most nervous round of the week. He’s a horse that improves as the rounds go on, so he was having a little look today but he’s naturally a fast horse and he did everything he needed to do”, Maher said.

Darragh Kenny (IRL) with Cartello. Photo Copyright © FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst.

Second-fastest of the night was Ireland’s Darragh Kenny riding Cartello. “Not a lot of people know the horse — this is only my sixth FEI show with him, I’ve only had him since May”, Kenny pointed out. “He was with Irish riders before so he was in Irish ownership for the Olympics. Cormac Hanley and Lorcan Gallagher rode him and they both had great success with him, he’s been a good horse for everybody. He jumped great in Rome (ITA) and Madrid (ESP) over the last couple of months, but this week will be a big ask. But he feels up to it and we’ve had a great start”, he added.

Ashlee Bond (ISR) with Donatello 141. Photo Copyright © FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst.

Costly Rails 

There were four eliminations and four retirements during the competition, with the turn to the white vertical at fence 10 proving costly for several riders, the large Sumo Wrestler holding up the left-hand wing possibly something of a distraction here.

Penelope Leprevost, a member of the gold medal winning French team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, was one of its victims when Vancouver de Lanlore had a run-out. “I was trying to relax the horse on the turn and he was maybe surprised when he found himself so close to the vertical”, she said.

The only French rider through tomorrow is Nicolas Delmotte with Urvoso du Roch but for Team USA tonight was a bit of a shock. The side of Jessica Springsteen, Kent Farrington and Laura Kraut were expected to be major players at these Games but none of them have qualified for tomorrow’s next stage of the Individual competition.

Martin Fuchs (SUI) and Clooney 51 – Beauville. Photo Copyright © FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst.

Pressure 

Olympic pressure is nothing new, and Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs talked about that tonight.

“I was feeling a little nervous Sunday and Monday night, and yesterday I had a good talk with the sports psychologist for the Swiss team and he really helped me to ease the feeling a bit. I told him I’ve never had this feeling before, being nervous, it’s totally new to me. He gave me a few small but good advices and it helped me a lot.

He asked me what was the problem, I told him on Sunday after the warm-up I felt so excited because Clooney felt so good and thought OK now we can win a medal. This carried me through the night and woke me up a couple of times and he said Martin what are you here for? I said, to win a medal. He said, no what are you doing here? I said, I ride. He said, exactly you ride. You don’t need to think, we have other people to think, the Swiss team brought you here to ride and not to think, so just get on your horse and ride and leave the rest to the smart people!”

He’ll be doing that tomorrow evening for sure.

Photo by Shannon Brinkman for US Equestrian.

Team USA

Jessica Springsteen and Don Juan van de Donkhoeve were the first pair to test the Santiago Varela (ESP) 1.65m track under the lights, crossing through the finish in 87.15 seconds and an unfortunate four faults. Kent Farrington and Gazelle were the second combination out for the team and just barely rubbed the first rail of last double to finish with a time of 88.57 seconds and an additional four faults added to their score. Laura Kraut and Baloutinue rounded out the combinations for the U.S. Jumping Team and completed the track with eight faults in 85.23 seconds.

Springsteen (Colts Neck, N.J.) and Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by Stone Hill Farm, made their Olympic debut for the U.S. Jumping Team, and impressed in their trip around the beautifully built track. Springsteen felt the pressure of being the first combination out for the U.S. and delivered with a strong start to their week of competition ahead.

“My horse jumped unbelievable,” said Springsteen. “I couldn’t be happier with him. When I walked that line, I thought that would ride a little bit more up, but my horse has such a big stride, and he jumped the wall very forward, so I just think I was a little bit quieter there but all-in-all I’m thrilled with the round and I’m excited for the rest of the week.”

Farrington (Wellington, Fla.) and Gazelle, one of the most notable and successful combinations in the world, looked formidable as they tackled the course, but one uncharacteristic rail kept them out of the qualifying for the Individual Final. Gazelle, a 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Robin Parsky and Kent Farrington, is a seasoned competitor at the international level and now adds an Olympic Games to her long list of accomplishments. Farrington was disappointed with the score but is ready to game plan with the team for Friday’s competition.

“A harsh reality of our sport is that you have one rail down and you’re out. The new format here being what it is, is that this is the only qualifier for the individual final and is all or nothing and unfortunately for the American team right now it’s nothing, so just a tough night for us,” said Farrington. “Any horse can have a rail down and it wasn’t the right day to have one down, so it was costly. We’ll go back as a team and regroup with a plan and look forward to doing better later this week.”

As the most recent partnership of the team combinations, Laura Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and Baloutinue, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by St. Bride’s Farm, faced their biggest track together so far this evening and the energetic and nimble gelding looked fit and ready for the rest of the week ahead.

“I was really pleased with three quarters of the course. I thought my horse jumped fantastic. He was focused and he stuck right with the plan that I wanted. I wouldn’t say that it actually went wrong; I got the jump into the wall that I wanted, which led me into the four and he had an uncharacteristic touch of a back pole,” explained Kraut. “I lost a tiny bit of concentration to the last and didn’t fight as much as I should have, and he barely touched that. I’m not disappointed in him at all, just disappointed with the score.”

The team’s Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland discussed his analysis of tonight’s track and what he expects in the days to come for the Individual Final and the Jumping Team Qualifier and Team Finals competitions, which will be the focus for the next two days.

“The strategy was to go clean, which we didn’t do, but all along we’ve been very aware that this is a four-day process and the horses jumped very well tonight and the riders rode well. It just wasn’t our night, but the flip side is we’ll have fresher horses on Friday night and the course designer, Santiago, is definitely going to step things up tomorrow,” said Ridland. “This wasn’t our plan, but we’ll play it to our advantage to some degree and I think we’re in good shape for Friday, though it’s obviously disappointing to not be in contention for an individual medal.”

The Jumping Individual Final for medals will begin at 7:00 p.m. JST/6:00 a.m. EDT tomorrow, August 4, and the Jumping Team Qualifier will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 6 at 7:00 p.m. JST/ 6:00 a.m. EDT.

 

Results here.

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Today in Tokyo: Tears & Cheers as von Bredow-Werndl Takes Individual Dressage Gold

By on Jul 28, 2021 1:46 pm -

Compiled from FEI and US Equestrian press releases. 

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl Jessica ride TSF Dalera. Photo Copyright © FEI/Shannon Brinkman.

Everything about the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has been a journey into the unknown. But there was a ring of familiarity combined with spirit of great sport when Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl claimed the Individual Dressage title with the lovely mare TSF Dalera at Baji Koen Equestrian Park tonight where compatriot Isabell Werth had to settle for silver and Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin took the bronze. It was the perfect end to four fabulous days of competition in this first of the three Olympic equestrian disciplines.

The new champion was always on song, throwing down the biggest score in the opening Grand Prix and then setting a new Olympic record in yesterday’s Grand Prix Special to secure the team title for her country. Tonight she produced another performance that oozed such class and elegance that once she left the arena, with a score of 91.732 on the board, it seemed impossible she could be beaten.

But the game is never over until it’s over, and the tension and emotions in the closing stages were extreme. Of four remaining combinations still left to take their turn, three of them were a real threat, and as she was trying to engage in a post-competition media interview Von Bredow-Werndl’s eyes were glued to the nearby screen, because, third-last to go, her compatriot Isabell Werth was in the ring.

Isabell Werth (GER) -Silver, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) – Gold, and Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) – Bronze. Photo Copyright © FEI/Christophe Taniére.

Longtime legend

Werth is a longtime legend with more Championships and Olympic medals in her trophy cabin than any other equestrian athlete. Never the shrinking violet, she is not used to playing second fiddle to her own teammates and with her much-loved mare Bella Rose she produced one of her typically spellbinding performances that kept onlookers glued to every move. However when her score of 89.675 was posted Von Bredow-Werndl burst into tears and fled back to the stables, overcome by the possibility that Olympic gold was now within reach.

Second-last to go was defending double Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin from Great Britain, but not with the now-retired superstar Valegro with whom she dominated the sport in recent years but instead with a 10-year-old gelding who knows nothing about the world.

Von Bredow-Werndl’s mare took team gold at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA in 2018 and individual bronze at the European Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands the following year. Werth’s mare is a veteran of two World Championships in which she medalled and also those Europeans where she also took gold. On the other hand Dujardin’s little chestnut, Gio, had previously only ever competed at one international show, at Hagen in Germany in April. Unaware of the level of exposure he was now getting however, the little chestnut gave his all for a score of 88.543 which put him in bronze medal position.

Only the last of the German riders, Dorothee Schneider, could change the podium places now and under normal circumstances she might well have ensured it was an all German one but it didn’t happen when her horse, Showtime, was right off form.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera. Photo Copyright © FEI/Shannon Brinkman.

Spectacular

Talking about the spectacular ride she enjoyed on Dalera tonight that earned the coveted gold, Von Bredow-Werndl said, “I felt from the very first second to the last the she was 100% with me – listening so well that I had to be careful not to do too much or too little!” She’s been riding the 14-year-old mare for many years now, but she’s had a new level of belief in their potential since producing a great performance at the 2019 European Championships.

“We didn’t have such a lucky start in the Grand Prix or the Special there, but in the Freestyle we showed that anything is possible and from then on I began believing the Olympic dream could come true”. Now it has…

Meanwhile silver medallist Werth was asked what it was like to no longer be the number one German rider, and replied with her usual usual wisdom. “If you follow the results of the last 30 years I have not always been number one, it has been up and down all the time and I’m happy today because Bella felt fantastic. This was a tough sporting competition and that’s what we all want to have and love to have. You can’t have ten winners, you can only have one, that is sport”, she pointed out.

Dujardin meantime, who in winning her sixth medal has overtaken rower, Dame Katherine Grainger, to become Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian of all time, was delighted with her bronze. And she was thrilled with her little wonderhorse.

“I was never going down without a fight but Pumpkin (Gio) has only done one other Freestyle in his life and for him to go out there with as little experience as he has is truly outstanding. We never did this floorplan before and he didn’t know what he was doing and I didn’t know what I was doing but we just went out to have a really good time and enjoy ourselves, and we did that. I’m really proud of him”, she said.

Photo via US Equestrian.

Team USA

Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo recorded their third personal best score of the week, earning an 84.300 percent, while teammate Steffen Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Suppenkasper recorded an 80.968 percent from the Ground Jury.

After their historic team medal performance last night, Peters and Schut-Kery rode down the centerline to their FEI Grand Prix Freestyle music, giving the arena in Tokyo one last ride. Peters and “Mopsie” have a very modern and upbeat musical arrangement that Peters as said reminds him both of his struggles and of his excitement and energy for what’s to come.

“Mopsie gave me everything yesterday. Every single ounce of cooperation and he fought for our team. It was a clean test and almost an 81 percent so we’re happy,” said Peters. “The beginning of the music is ‘It’s Going to Be Okay’ by James Blunt, and personally, I’ve gone through a couple of rough years and my wife always kept telling me, ‘It’s going to be okay,’ so to honor her, I picked that music and also included the music I used with Ravel in 2009 when he won World Cup Finals. I figured after twelve years it was elegible for recyling,” he smiled.

Schut-Kery and Sanceo, who have been impressive in each of their outings this week in Tokyo, haven’t performed their Freestyle since 2018 and rose to the occasion to score a huge improvement on their previous personal best in the freestyle.

“It comes down to the fact that he’s there for me and I really do feel like we have an incredible partnership. He’s just sensitive, but not over-reactive, simply, he lets me guide him and lets me be the leader,” said Schut-Kery, as she described her long-time partnership with Sanceo. “My husband made this music for me. The first song with the piaffe and passage is from the Last Samurai, so it’s very fitting and I just love it. It has some elegant pieces and I think it really resembles Sanceo.”

The pairs efforts rounding out what has nearly been a two-month journey for the athletes, coaches, and support staff has come to a joyous close with the team returning to the United States with the team silver, the culmination of a massive group effort to ensure the team’s success.

“What an incredible few weeks we’ve all had together, and I am just so proud of this entire team,” said McDonald. “We came into these Olympics knowing that we could really deliver on the world stage and this historic silver medal is a testament to all of the hard work everyone involved in this program has built upon over the last several years. I am thrilled with our team and the continued momentum we’ve seen year over year at this level.”

Next on the equestrian schedule for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is the discipline of Eventing, which will begin tomorrow with the First Horse Inspection at 10:30 a.m. JST/9:30 p.m. EDT and the first session of dressage taking place on Friday, July 29 at 8:30 a.m. JST/7:30 p.m. EDT.

Results here.

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Today in Tokyo: Germany Takes Gold, U.S. Earns Silver in Dressage Team Competition

By on Jul 27, 2021 6:53 pm -

 

Compiled from FEI and US Equestrian press releases. 

The winning podium: Germany Gold, USA Silver and Great Britain Bronze. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Tonight’s victory for Germany in the Dressage team event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will go down in the history books. For the last 27 years the country that has long been the cradle of classical horsemanship has been all but unbeatable at this level of the sport, and despite the disruption and confusion of the last 18 months right across the globe they reigned supreme once again ahead of Team USA in silver and Great Britain in bronze.

There were mixed reviews for the new team format which separates athletes into groups and reduces team numbers to three, with all scores to count. But there was no denying the increased intensity and excitement it created in tonight’s deciding Grand Prix Special. While the Germans came out clear champions, the battle for silver and bronze was a thriller to the very end.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

And a new star was born. Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl stole the show with the new Olympic Grand Prix Special score of 84.666 with the mare Dalera, and team-mate Isabell Werth posted 83.298 with a beautiful performance from her beloved Bella Rose after Dorothee Schneider and Showtime set out the German stall when putting 80.086 on the board. However a relatively unknown American produced the third-best score of today’s super-hot competition that decided the fate of the team medals.

Sabine Schut-Kery and Sancero have rocketed on to the world stage.

Dorothee Schneider (GER) and Showtime FRH. Photo by FEI/EFE/Kai Försterling.

Set for silver

Great Britain looked set for silver in the early stages after Carl Hester and En Vogue posted 78.344, while it seemed Denmark and the USA were locked into a game of cat-and-mouse for the bronze. But the Americans couldn’t have been more rock solid, Adrienne Lyle’s 76.109 with Salvino giving them a firm basis on which to build before Steffen Peters and Sussenkasper backed that up with 77.766.

Cathrine Dufour and Bohemian were the last pair to go for Denmark, but 77.720 wouldn’t be enough to keep her country in the race, especially when America’s Schut-Kery followed with an incredible 81.596. That just knocked the Danes right out of contention and suddenly the British were under threat for their silver medal spot too. It would take a big score from Charlotte Dujardin and Gio to keep Britain out in front after Lottie Fry’s 76.894 with Everdale.

And although Dujardin’s inexperienced chestnut gelding did his best, his 79.544 just wouldn’t be enough.

Meanwhile last to go, von Bredow-Werndl strutted to a score of 84.666 to put the icing on the German cake. And that was despite a whoopsie in the one-tempis when her mare needed a toilet break. As von Bredow-Werndl said afterwards it was just another day at the office for the lovely, talented Dalera. “It didn’t feel difficult actually, for her it all seems to be easy!”

Team USA – silver medalists. Photo by FEI/EFE/Kai Försterling.

Team USA

Adrienne Lyle and Salvino received a 76.109 percent from the panel, while Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper, who rode in the second group, finished the competition with a 77.766, a personal best for the combination. Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo anchored the team and received a career-high 81.596 percent from the judges as one of the final rides of the evening.

Adrienne Lyle and Salvino. Photo by FEI.

Lyle (Wellington, Fla.) and Salvino, a 14-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Betsy Juliano LLC, were the trailblazers for the U.S. Dressage Team, riding early in the first group order. The pair executed a mistake-free test, giving momentum to the team for their second ride with Peters and Suppenkasper.

“I’m super thrilled. I was really hoping we could pull off a score like that for the team today. We were a little conservative in the Grand Prix, and it wasn’t our greatest display, so I wanted to come out here and push for a little bit more,” said Lyle. “Despite the heat and humidity, he was really a good boy and he delivered with no mistakes and that’s what you want for the team test.”

Steffen Peters (USA) and Suppenkasper. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

In the second grouping of combinations, Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Suppenkasper, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farm, rode one of their best tests to date and earned a superb score, improving from their test on Sunday in the team qualifier competition.

“This is exactly what I wanted for my team. It’s one thing to ride individually, but when you pull a good score for your team it’s an incredible feeling. When we came out of the arena, I gave Mopsie a big hug and thanked him from the bottom of my heart,” said Peters. “We were seriously in the zone. When we were out there about to go in the ring, I said, ‘Mopsie, please just do what we just did out here in warm-up,’ and we had a good schooling this morning. He did that for me when it counted and it’s an incredible feeling when a horse will fight for you like that in the arena.”

Sabine Schut-Kery (USA) and Sanceo. Photo by FEI/Shannon Brinkman

As the anchor combination for the team, Schut-Kery (Napa, Calif.) and Sanceo, a 15-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Alice Womble, rounded out the team’s effort with another stellar performance and personal best. The duo, who made their presence known in their first outing on Saturday, returned with another strong performance for the U.S. Dressage Team, helping them to clinch their second-place finish.

“For me, this was my first time here at the Olympics, and it was quite intense to wait that long for the end of the class, but I am so proud of my horse, my team, my owners, and the coaches. It’s been a really, really great experience and I am still a bit speechless,” said Schut-Kery. “I was filled with joy and pride. It’s such a team effort. It’s a big relief to deliver for the whole team, not just my teammates, but everyone involved, and it just meant everything. It was just pure happiness.”

Steffen Peters (USA) and Suppenkasper. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

With team competition concluded, Chef d’Equipe Debbie McDonald discussed her team’s performance throughout the team competition, as she was overcome with emotion.

“I am just so proud of this team. This is truly the dream team,” said McDonald. “They each persevered and delivered when their team needed them most. I am so elated by their accomplishment tonight, and wow, what a moment to be remembered for this program. We’ll be back tomorrow and ready for our last competition of this journey, which I am so proud to be a part of, and I have to thank all of the amazing coaches, support staff, and owners, as this wouldn’t have been possible without their dedication and unwavering commitment to our athletes and their horses.”

Team Germany, gold medalists. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Dominant

Germany’s Werth was asked about her expectations coming to Tokyo in light of the long and dominant German record at Olympic Games. “We are long enough in this sport to know that one horse can make a difference, and one situation can make a difference, especially when you are only three on a team and you have no reserve. We came with a lot of self-confidence because we knew if we bring our performance in the arena like we can then it would be really hard to beat us, but you never know. One bad day or a sick horse or after such a long trip everything is possible”, she replied.

That’s one more gold medal for the German superwoman who, as former Eventing star/turned commentator Lucinda Green pointed out on Sunday night, is wearing riding boots that been around a while and seen a lot of action….

“I’ve had them since 1991 and I’ve worn them at every Championship since then — they are my lucky boots!”, the German superstar admitted. That’s 30 years of service, with many golden moments along the way, and Lady Luckyboots may well be about to make more history.

Today brought her Olympic gold medal tally to seven, and if Werth can add one more in tomorrow’s much-anticipated Freestyle for the Individual title then she will match the German record set by rower, Birgit Fischer, who has won 8 gold and 4 silver Olympic medals during her sparkling career.

The Second Horse Inspection will take place at 10:30 a.m. JST/9:30 p.m. EDT and the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle for Individual Medals will begin at 5:30 p.m. JST/4:30 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 28. The order-of-go will be announced tomorrow morning. Official results can be found here.

 Facts and Figures:

Germany first won team gold at the Olympic Games in Amsterdam (NED) in 1928, with a three-man team of Carl Freiherr von Langen (Draufganger), Hermann Linkenbach (Gimpel) and Eugen Freiherr von Lotzbeck (Caracalla).

Germany were the defending champions coming to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and two of tonight’s winning team members were in the side that reigned supreme at the Rio 2016 Games -. Dorothee Schneider riding the same horse, Showtime and Isabell Werth riding her other great mare Weihegold.

 

 

Results here.

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Keeping Cool in Tokyo: Countermeasures in Place for Equine Athletes

By on Jul 27, 2021 8:00 am -

Example of monitoring horses in work using thermal imaging cameras at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo © FEI.

Olympic Equestrian Dressage competitions are already well underway and, by tomorrow morning, all equine athletes will have settled into their temporary home at the historic Equestrian Park venue in Baji Koen, with the arrival of the final batch of Show Jumping horses. To allow our equine and human athletes to optimise their performance in the Tokyo climate, comprehensive heat and humidity protocols have been put in place by the FEI and the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic & Paralympic Games (TOCOG).

The FEI has been working on minimising the impact of heat and humidity on performance since before the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, and the work on Tokyo 2020 is a continuation of that.

Heat countermeasures in place onsite at both Equestrian venues for equine athletes:

  • Air-conditioned stables at both Baji Koen and Sea Forest Park (Cross Country venue)
  • Training and competitions scheduled for early morning and evening (under floodlights)
  • Constant monitoring of current and forecast climatic conditions, working with the official Tokyo 2020 weather provider, Japan Meteorological Agency
  • Constant monitoring of onsite climatic conditions using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index, which measures heat stress in direct sunlight, taking into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover (solar radiation) – every 15 minutes during the Cross Country
  • Constant and close monitoring of horses by a world-class veterinary team, multiple cooling facilities (shade tents, cold misting fans, unlimited ice and water, mobile cooling units etc)
  • Specific climate mitigation protocols for training and warm-up and also in-competition
  • Monitoring horses in work using thermal imaging cameras, enabling body temperature to be estimated accurately from a distance of 5-10 metres.
  • Allows for monitoring without interfering with athletes
  • Helps with early identification of horses at potential risk of overheating
  • Allows for timely interventions such as rapid cooling during training and warm-up and prior to competing
  • Possibility to stop a horse on the Cross Country course and bring mobile cooling units out to provide rapid cooling. (These mobile cooling units are also available for the arena-based competitions and in the warm-up arenas.)

Stable Manager Patrick Borg is proud of the onsite accommodation provided for the horses by the Baji Koen venue owners, the Japan Racing Association: “We can compare the stables in Tokyo with the Ritz in Paris. It’s five-star stabling for the horses. We try to do the very best for them.”

Baji Koen stables:

  • 333 stalls (4×3 metres)
  • Air-conditioning
  • Rubber matting throughout
  • Washing & drying machines
  • Unlimited supplies of ice and water

Heat countermeasures in place onsite at both Equestrian venues for humans:

  • Provision of shade, special cooling tents/areas (including cold misting fans) for athletes and entourage
  • Facilities and measures for officials/volunteers including rest periods, shade and rest areas, water etc

“We have ongoing and direct contact with the Weather Information Centre, which is constantly monitoring the weather specifically for the two Equestrian venues, providing us with detailed information that allows the onsite team to make informed decisions on whether there may be a need to delay or interrupt a competition”, FEI Veterinary Director Göran Akerström said. “If there is bad weather forecast then we receive hourly updates, and this can be more frequent if necessary.” 

Official weather data and forecasts (primarily WBGT readings) from the official Tokyo 2020 weather provider, Japan Meteorological Agency, form the basis of decision-making, combined with in-situ readings. In addition, onsite conditions are monitored multiple times a day by the FEI Climate Advisor David Marlin, in liaison with the FEI Veterinary Director, FEI Veterinary Commission, FEI Chief Steward and Tokyo 2020 Sport team.

To assist National Federations with optimal preparation for the Games, the FEI produced a series of educational Beat the Heat videos, aimed at optimising both human and equine performance in hot and humid conditions. Practical advice has been made available through the FEI Athlete hub, as well as on the dedicated Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic hub.

Alongside its own research, the FEI has made available to its community a number of important documents, including the IOC advice – Beat the Heat – for human athletes preparing for the Games. These are available on the Olympic Hub here and Paralympic Hub here (scroll down to the Medical, Veterinary & Climate Information sections).

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US Team Announced for CHIO Aachen in September

By on Jul 26, 2021 12:04 pm -

A return to the buzz and camaraderie of a pre-COVID world is Aachen’s biggest hope for their new dates – and if all goes according to plan, the venue will be back to providing a full championship experience for competing teams. Photo courtesy of CHIO Aachen/Andreas Steindl.

US Equestrian has announced the exciting line-up of athlete-and-horse combinations selected to represent the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the rescheduled CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S in Germany, set to take place from September 15-19.

“Simultaneously as we are out in Tokyo in our last preparation before the Olympic Games, our eyes have consistently been looking forward to the FEI Eventing World Championship in Pratoni, Italy, next year,” said Erik Duvander, U.S. Performance Director of Eventing. “This year’s CHIO Aachen is an opportunity for our riders to get a proper team experience in a unique environment that simulates a championship. I believe we have a high-quality group of athletes and horses that are tracking in this direction.”

The following athlete-and-horse combinations have been selected to represent the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team at the CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S and are listed in alphabetical order:

Will Coleman and Off The Record. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

  • Will Coleman (Gordonsville, Va.) and Off The Record, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Off the Record Syndicate

Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire. Photo by Shelby Allen.

  • Sydney Elliott (Bossier, La.) and QC Diamantaire, a 2010 Oldenburg gelding owned by Carol Stephens

Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan at the 2019 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

  • Ariel Grald (Southern Pines, N.C.) and Leamore Master Plan, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Annie Eldridge

Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

  • Tamie Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) and Mai Baum, a 2006 German Sport Horse gelding owned by Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell

The following combination has been selected as the alternate for the CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S:

Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus. Photo by Nico Morgan Media.

  • Lauren Nicholson (The Plains, Va.) and Vermiculus, a 2007 Anglo-Arabian gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars

Today in Tokyo: US Advances, Germans Establish Authority Ahead of Dressage Team Medals Finale

By on Jul 25, 2021 9:19 pm -

Compiled from FEI and US Equestrian press releases. 

Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Salvino. Photo by FEI/Shannon Brinkman.

Team Germany continued to build up a head of steam when moving to the top of the Dressage Grand Prix leaderboard at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games today. Two great rides, from Dorothee Schneider with Showtime and the living legend that is Isabell Werth with Bella Rose, secured pole position at the end of the competition which decided the eight best nations that will go through to Tuesday’s medal-decider, the Grand Prix Special in which all teams start from scratch.

Joining the defending champions will be Great Britain, who finished second today followed by Denmark, USA, Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal and Spain.

Meanwhile the 18 individuals that have made the cut to Wednesday’s Individual medal decider are also confirmed. The two best from each of the six qualifying groups – Charlotte Fry and Charlotte Dujardin (GBR), Therese Nilshagen and Juliette Ramel (SWE), Cathrine Dufour and Carina Cassoe Kruth (DEN), Edward Gal (NED), Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Dorothee Schneider and Isabell Werth (GER), Sabine Schut-Kery and Adrienne Lyle (USA) are through. Also qualified are the six next-best individuals, Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN), Beatriz Ferrer-Salat (ESP), Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED), Carl Hester (GBR), Rodrigo Torees (POR) and Steffen Peters (USA).

Carina Cassoe Krut (DEN) and Heiline’s Danciera. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Top two spots

Denmark’s Cassoe Kruth and America’s Lyle claimed the top two spots in Group D when the action resumed this evening, and then Germany’s Schneider headed up Group E after a lovely test. Schneider said her horse was “a little bit tense but it’s normal for him on first day”. She’s had a late return to top competition for a range of reasons.

“Showtime competed at the European Championships in 2019 and then he was at home because I wanted to keep him safe for the Olympic Games in 2020 and then there were no Games! I wanted to start early in 2021 but then I had an accident in April. But he’s an experienced horse and once he gets out to compete three or four times he’s fine”, she said of the gelding who carried her to team gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and who she has ridden since he was a three-year-old.

A fall when a horse she was competing dropped dead during a prize-giving ceremony left her with a broken collarbone, “but it’s all good now!”, she said. “It took a little time to come back and it wasn’t so easy mentally, but we are back now and I’m happy again”, she explained.

Isabell Werth (GER) and Bella Rose 2. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Solidity

Compatriot Werth headed up the final group of 10 horse-and-athlete combinations and, last to go tonight, underpinned the solidity of the German challenge. With her beloved Bella Rose who scored 82.500 she pinned Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and the charming little chestnut gelding Gio into second place in that group.

However both of these ladies look to have a lot more in store for the coming days. And Dujardin, whose reign of supremacy with the great Valegro changed a lot about the sport of Dressage in recent years, is clearly super-excited about her latest rising star. You could feel that rivalry between herself and the evergreen queen, Werth, filling the air once again tonight.

Isabell Werth (GER) and Bella Rose 2. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Gio. Photo by FEI/Shannon Brinkman.

Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Gio. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Talking about Gio, Dujardin said, “I was so happy, he’s a very green inexperienced horse, so it was a bit of the unknown what to expect. Hagen (Germany in April this year) is the biggest show he’s done and he delivered there. I couldn’t ask for any more today, he went in there and he tried his heart out. He’s just unbelievable, he keeps giving. I felt emotional on the last centreline because when you have a ride like that, win or lose that’s what it’s all about for me.

“He’s like a little powerhouse, he’s small but definitely mighty, for where he is at his training I know he can give even more and I’m so happy with him”, she said.

Isabell Werth (GER) and Bella Rose 2. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Rivalry

Werth clearly enjoys the renewed rivalry with her British counterpart because it feeds her competitive edge. “It’s always very important that you have strong field of competitors because then you push each other to top performances and that’s the spirit of competition”, she pointed out.

She described the 17-year-old Bella Rose as “my dream horse and when she’s in top shape she is the best – her way of moving, her character, her charisma, her piaffe/passage down the centreline – of course Weihe (her other mare Weihegold) is super and the younger ones too, but with Bella you have the feeling there is always something more possible!”

Talking about these “Games like no other” in Tokyo, the multiple Olympic champion said the lack of an audience could be influential. “Mostly you will see it in the medal decisions, especially in the Freestyle. There will be music but no crowd to carry the horses and riders — it makes a big difference — but on the other hand we are so happy that we can be here, can compete that we have an Olympic Games. We are in a discipline that is really depending on Games, because then we are more in the focus of the media and the world and it gives the younger riders at home the motivation and support so it’s a big package we have, and we are very thankful to be here”.

 

Steffen Peters (USA) and SuppnKasper. Photo by US Equestrian.

Team USA

On the second day of FEI Grand Prix competition at Equestrian Park in Tokyo, the U.S. Dressage Team saw its final two pairs help to secure a team start in the FEI Grand Prix Special for Team Medals set to take place on Tuesday, July 27. Adrienne Lyle (Wellington, Fla.) and Salvino were the first team combination to contest the second day of competition in Group D, with the duo earning a 74.876 percent and qualifying for the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle for Individual Medals. Steffen Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Suppenkasper rounded out the evening, going second-to-last in Group F, and earning a score of 76.196 percent. The team qualified in fourth place overall with 7389.5. total points.

Lyle has had the ride on the impressive 14-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Betsy Juliano LLC for nearly six years and the strength of their partnership was on display during their test. With experience as an individual from the London 2012 Olympic Games, Lyle was reflective on her experience in Toyko and the importance of the team environment.

“He has some great talent in the piaffe and passage and unfortunately we had some tension and balance issues got in the way of showing off what he’s really capable of today. I know there’s so much more in there,” commented Lyle. “This is my second Olympics, but everything is a little bit different with COVID, and the format is completely different, so in a lot of ways it’s all very new. We have a wonderful team and everyone is so supportive. We train so hard for this and to get to be here and to think about everyone who starts on this journey and being one of three selected to represent this country is awesome. This whole experience has been wonderful.”

Steffen Peters (USA) and SuppnKasper. Photo by FEI/Shannon Brinkman.

As the team’s Olympic veteran, Peters brought his experience and composure forward to his FEI Grand Prix test with Suppenkasper, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Four Winds Farm and Akiko Yamazaki. Starting in his fifth Olympic Games, Peters understood the need to give the team a strong performance to secure their team start on Tuesday in a competitive field and delivered with a clean and conservative test.

“It was a good test. It was a bit conservative because we had some trouble spots with the flying changes in the warm-up, so I rode those really carefully, but the rest I rode very forward. We had a super relaxed walk tour, which for Mopsie in an arena like this, to be that relaxed is a wonderful feeling,” said Peters. “I think today I really wanted to go for a clean test and get a decent score, which we did. With a 76 percent, I think that puts us in a really good place going into the Special.”

Chef d’Equipe Debbie McDonald was pleased with the team’s qualification for the FEI Grand Prix Special, as well as all three combinations qualifying for the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle for Individual Medals.

“It was really important that we put in two solid tests today in order to qualify us for the Grand Prix Special on Tuesday, and after Sabine’s great ride yesterday, Adrienne and Steffen made sure we got the scores we needed to get there,” commented McDonald. “We’ll start with a clean slate in terms of scoring on Tuesday and will begin preparing for what is going to be a very intense competition for team medals.”

The U.S. Dressage Team will return to competition on Tuesday, July 27, as they aim for the podium in the FEI Grand Prix Special for Team Medals, which will begin at 5:00 p.m. JST/4:00 a.m. EDT. The draw order with ride times will be announced on Monday, July 26. The following countries will partake in the FEI Grand Prix Special for Team Medals: Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, United States, The Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, and Spain.

Joao Miguel Torrao (POR) riding Equador. Photo by FEI/Shannon Brinkman.

Facts and Figures:

  • If Isabell Werth wins double-gold she will become the most decorated female German Olympic athlete of all times.
  • The IOC and FEI have given special permission to Irish athletes across all equestrian disciplines at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to wear a yellow ribbon in memory of young rising star, Tiggy Hancock, who tragically suffered a fatal fall last month. Dressage rider Heike Holstein was the first to compete with hers today. She said, “We are very proud to wear it, and grateful to the IOC and FEI for allowing us to do it.”

Dorothee Schneider (GER) and Showtime FRH. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

  • The judges awarded the maximum score of 10 on 14 occasions during tonight’s second half of the Grand Prix which is the Team and Individual qualifying competition and 13 of them were earned by Isabelle Werth’s Bella Rose (GER) – 7 for piaffe, 5 for passage/piaffe transitions and one for halt. A single 10 was awarded to Charlotte Dujardin’s Gio (GBR) for two-tempi changes.

Hiroyuki Kitahara (JPN) and Huracan. Photo by FEI/Shannon Brinkman.

Quotes:

Christian Schumach (AUT) who scored 70.900 with Te Quiero SF: “I’m super happy with my horse and super happy with my riding. Overall there was one mistake in the twos and that was clearly my mistake, I was enjoying the surroundings and the Olympic experience too much so it wasn’t his fault, he did a super job! he’s really young (10 years old) and this was only his seventh Grand Prix.”

Heike Holstein (IRL): “It’s special when you breed a foal that you know from when it is running around in your fields as a baby, breaking it, competing it and taking it all the way to the Olympic Games!”

Steffen Peters (USA), talking about his ride on Suppenkasper: “He’s a hot horse so to do a relaxed clean test was a very good start. This was not the test to go crazy in, we’ll do that in the Special! It’s been four years of a complete love affair with him, he’s such a big, kind teddy bear. He’s 18.2 hands tall but there’s not a mean bone in his body, he always tries and I’m one of the fortunate riders who gets to ride him!”

He complimented the judges on the scores they gave his team-mate Sabine Schut-Kery yesterday whose pathfinding ride got the US off to a great start.

“Sabine is a cool, calm competitor with a helluva horse. Not too many people know her that well but I appreciate that some of the judges who had never seen her before gave her a very good score”.

Results here  https://tokyo2020.live.fei.org/

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Website, Latest News, EN Olympic Digest Newsletter Signup, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

Want to stay in the know with all things Olympic eventing? We’re getting ready to kick off daily editions of our Olympic Digest starting Wednesday, July 28. You can sign up for free right here.

Today in Tokyo: Sensational Start to Race for Olympic Dressage Titles

By on Jul 24, 2021 7:29 pm -

Compiled from FEI and US Equestrian press releases. 

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) with TSF Dalera posted the highest score of Day 1 Grand Prix Dressage. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

It may have been a long time coming, but the opening day of Equestrian Dressage at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games more than lived up to expectations. Emotions ran high and so did the scores as superb individual performances saw The Netherlands take the early lead in the battle for the Team title, while Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl set a personal-best when posting the biggest mark of the evening with TSF Dalera.

The Grand Prix continues tomorrow when another 30 horse-and-rider combinations take their turn. And if Dorothee Schneider (Showtime) and Isabell Werth (Bella Rose) can come anyway close to the score achieved by compatriot von Bredow-Werndl then Germany looks well on the way to securing the Olympic Dressage Team title for a fabulous 14th time.

Sabine Kery (USA) with Saneco. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Team USA 

Sabine Schut-Kery (Napa, Calif.) and Sanceo, a 15-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Alice Womble, were the first U.S. combination to ride down the centerline at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 at Equestrian Park, completing their FEI Grand Prix Test as part of Group C on the first day of competition. Schut-Kery and Sanceo received a 78.416 percent from the ground jury, a personal best in FEI competition, placing the U.S. in a strong position looking ahead to the second day of competition. Fourteen teams are vying to finish in the top eight at the conclusion of tomorrow’s competition in order to qualify for the FEI Grand Prix Special for Team Medals on Tuesday, July 27.

Schut-Kery has developed a strong partnership with Sanceo over the last 12 years, having acquired the stallion as a young three-year old from Europe and developing him herself up through the international levels. This is the pair’s first Olympic Games, though they have competed in a championship environment before as part of the gold-medal winning team at the Pan American Games Toronto 2015.

“He’s always just so with me. It really feels like a partnership, absolutely. You go in there and he gives you that feeling like ‘I’ve got it,’ and then he also likes going into that venue. He definitely puffed up a little bit,” smiled Schut-Kery as she talked about her incredible Olympic debut. “The highlights to me, and it always feels amazing, was the piaffe and passage.”

Sabine Kery (USA) with Saneco. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

The pair received strong marks from the Ground Jury, as Sanceo excels in his piaffe and passage movements, which were rewarded by the judging panel. Schut-Kery and Sanceo automatically qualified for the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle for Individual Medals on Wednesday, July 28, as they secured second place in Group C behind Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera, who led the day with an 84.379 percent.

“Coming here, I think, you know, when you come as a team, you don’t ride for yourself anymore, so for me it was really important that I ride for my teammates and ride for my country, and that means all of you, for Christine, for Debbie, and for friends and fans.”

Chef d’Equipe Debbie McDonald was pleased with the test, which provided the team with a positive start with the two remaining pairs to come tomorrow. This is McDonald’s first Olympic Games as Chef d’Equipe, though she is familiar with the intensity of the Olympic Games having competed as an athlete in 2004 and 2008 and serving as the personal coach for athletes in previous years.

“I could not be happier or prouder of Sabine and Sanceo,” said Chef d’Equipe Debbie McDonald. “It was certainly a great way for our team to start this competition and it was truly just a beautiful test from both Sabine and Sanceo.”

The remaining two American combinations will take their turn in the arena at Equestrian Park tomorrow, with Adrienne Lyle and Salvino competing as part of Group D and scheduled for 6:21 p.m. JST / 5:21 a.m. EDT, and Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper in Group F rounding out the competition with the second to last ride of the day at 9:42 p.m. JST / 8:42 a.m. EDT.

Charlotte Fry (GBR) with Everdale. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Groups

The competition is divided into six groups in total, with three of those groups taking their turn today. The top two athletes from each group, and the six athletes with the next best scores (including ties) will qualify to the individual final (Grand Prix Freestyle). It was Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry and Everdale who set the early target score when posting 77.096 to top Group A.

“At the end he got a shock that there were people watching, he was so concentrating on my ride!,” Charlotte said. “He knew it was a big occasion, he was so concentrated all day, he knew it was coming, he is so intelligent. I’ve been riding him since he was 7 and he’s now 12. I’ve done Young Riders with him and U25 Grand Prix and he’s moved up to Senior Grand Prix in 2019 so we’ve really grown up together and built a really good partnership. He’s fun to ride and I love every day riding him.”

Charlotte Fry (GBR) with Everdale. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

The support team of Charlotte Fry (GBR) celebrates a great performance. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

But only two athletes earned marks over 80%, and Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour was the first of these when putting 81.056 on the board with Bohemian to take complete command of Group B.

Catherin Dufour and Bohemian. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

“It was important for me to give him a really great feeling in the ring today,” Dufour said. “I didn’t want to push too much because I wanted him to be comfortable in there. And even though there’s no audience there’s a vibe in the arena and they can feel it!”

Catherin Dufour (DEN) and Bohemian. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Much of her previous success has been achieved with the diminutive Cassidy who carried her through Junior and Young Rider level to triple-bronze at the Senior European Championships in Gothenburg (SWE) in 2017 and bronze again in the Grand Prix Special at the Europeans in Rotterdam (NED) in 2019. Tonight she admitted she felt a bit guilty about leaving the 18-year-old gelding at home and bringing the 11-year-old Bohemian to Tokyo instead.

“Cassidy has been my partner in crime for 11 years so I felt a little bit like I was cheating on him!” But she feels Bohemian is “one of the best horses in the world! He doesn’t have any weaknesses.”

Edward Gal (NED) with Total Us. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Firm basis

Meanwhile Edward Gal’s score of 78.649 left him second in Group B and gave The Netherlands a firm basis on which to build their team challenge. His black stallion, Total US is only nine years old, and a son of the great Totilas who, with Gal onboard, set the world of Dressage on fire a decade ago.

“You feel so much comparison, the same feeling when you give your leg, the same reaction. Totilas was more confident at his age – he (Total US) is a bit shy but I’ve done some more competitions with him now and I feel him getting more confident”, said the Dutchman who was sporting an eye-catching new tailcoat.

Previously Dressage riders were only permitted to dress in modest colours, but following a change to those rules the Dutch Dressage team have joined their Jumping counterparts in wearing the brightest of bright orange jackets so they stand out in every sense.

Second-last into the arena tonight, Hans-Peter Minderhoud bolstered the Dutch position with a score of 76.817 with Dream Boy, giving his country the lead going into tomorrow’s second half of the Grand Prix ahead of Denmark in second and Great Britain in third. But some shuffling of positions can well be expected by the end of the second day.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) with TSF Dalera. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Thrilling test

A thrilling test produced by von Bredow-Werndl produced the biggest score of the evening, despite a big spook from Dalera before entering the ring following a rainshower.

“She wasn’t scared, she was just excited by the atmosphere. She didn’t expect it because it was so silent every day here!”, said the German star after posting a massive 84.379.

Talking about how testing it was for the riders as well as the horses in the conditions at Baji Koen Equestrian Park tonight she added, “to be honest I’m very fit, but at the centreline where I started the pirouettes I thought ‘gosh, it’s so exhausting!’ It was so hot in there and the humidity is extreme after the rain. It was tough,” she said.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) with TSF Dalera. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.

Facts and Figures:

Two athletes, both Olympic first-timers, produced personal-best Grand Prix scores tonight. Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl exceeded her previous best score by 2.727% and America’s Sabine Schut-Kery exceeded hers by a massive 3.394%.

The best two combinations from each group, along with the six next best athletes, will qualify for Wednesday’s Freestyle which will decide the Individual Olympic title. Tonight the best two combinations in each group were as follows:

Best two combinations from Group A – Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry and Everdale with 77.096 and Sweden’s Therese Nilshagen with Dante Weltino OLD 75.140.

Best two combinations from Group B – Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and Bohemian with 81.056 and The Netherlands Edward Gal with Total US scoring 78.649.

Best two combinations from Group C – Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with TSF Dalera and USA’s Sabine Schut-Kery with Sancero.

The number of countries now left in the medal race for the Team title has been reduced from 15 to 14. The withdrawal of Victoria Max-Theurer and Abbegelen NRW leaves Austria without a team. The 11-year-old Abbegelen didn’t start today because he had a toothache.

Three equestrian athletes were flag-bearers at Friday night’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony – Sweden’s Sara Algotsson Astholt, Estonia’s Dina Ellermann and Syria’s Ahmad Saber Hamcho.

The judges awarded the maximum score of 10 on 10 occasions during tonight’s first half of the Grand Prix which is the Team and Individual qualifying competition. Edward Gal’s Total US (NED) was awarded a single 10 for Passage, Cathrine Dufour’s Bohemian (DEN) was awarded a single 10 for Piaffe and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl’s TSF Dalera (GER) was awarded three scores of 10 for Passage/Piaffe Transitions and five scores of 10 for Piaffe.

View complete scores here.

Guaranteed to advance to the Grand Prix Final (top two in each group):

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Website, Latest News, EN Olympic Digest Newsletter Signup, EN’s Instagram, EN’s Twitter

 

Want to stay in the know with all things Olympic eventing? We’re getting ready to kick off daily editions of our Olympic Digest starting Wednesday, July 28. You can sign up for free right here.

Aiken Horse Park Foundation Announces Establishment of Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund

By on Jul 24, 2021 9:00 am -

Photo courtesy of Christine Quinn Photography.

The Aiken Horse Park Foundation board of directors are honored to announce the establishment of the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund in her memory.

In the spirit of Annie’s vision and legacy, the Aiken Horse Park Foundation is establishing the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund, to foster, support and develop Aiken’s young equestrians who embody Annie’s character and dedication in their respective sports.

Annie was a rising star in the sport of eventing and a frequent competitor at Bruce’s Field. Her huge smile, infectious laugh, enthusiasm for life, and dedication to her sport, made her an endearing member of our community. Annie was a fixture at our winter schooling days since their inception in 2016. She was a member of our $50,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field committee, and had her rookie start in this past March’s showcase.

Supported by her friends and family, The Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund will have a lasting impact on equestrian sport and will allow us all to hold on to Annie’s spirit in perpetuity.

You can make a donation to the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund here.

August Bromont CCI-S A Go As Border Opens Up

By on Jul 23, 2021 9:00 am -

Kendal Lehari and Audacious. Photo by Cealy Tetley.

Bromont CCI-S Horse Trials on the calendar for August 13th to 15th, 2021 are pleased to announce that starting August 9th, Canada is expected to begin allowing entry to US citizens and permanent residents who are currently residing in the United States.

All travelers must use the ArriveCAN (app or web portal) to submit their travel information. All travelers must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to entering Canada for non-essential travel.

Entries are open and divisions are starting to fill up already.

Competition over the weekend will include the CCIO4*-S, CCI3*-S, CCIU253*-S, CCI2*-S, CCIU252*-S, Open Training, and Open Preliminary at the iconic venue, Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park, site of the equestrian events of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.

Held the third weekend of August in the charming village of Bromont, Quebec, the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Bromont along with the Bromont CCI-S Three Day Event is within easy driving distance of Montreal, Quebec and Burlington, Vermont. This scenic area offers great dining, shopping, entertainment, and golf options. The Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park, which hosted the equestrian events of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.

For those riders who have yet to experience competition at Bromont, you’re in for a treat. Derek Di Grazia of Carmel Valley, California, FEI cross-country course designer at Bromont since 2009 and the course designer for the Tokyo Olympic Games, will set a challenging track with the help of Canadian course builder Jay Hambly and his team, utilizing the spectacular hills and natural water features Bromont has to offer.

Information regarding the event is availble on our website at https://bromontcci.com and linked to our social media. Reach the event secretary at [email protected].

Brisbane to Host 2032 Olympics and Paralympics

By on Jul 22, 2021 3:00 pm -

Brisbane City Council Photo.

The secret ballot was held at the 138th Session in Tokyo, two days before the Opening Ceremony for the Olympic Games, under strict COVID-19 restrictions. The Session heard presentations by Brisbane 2032, including by video link-up from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, as well as a final report from Kristin Kloster, Chair of the Future Host Commission for the Games of the Olympiad – the IOC body responsible for monitoring and analyzing interest in hosting the Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games.

Brisbane received 72 yes and 5 no votes from 77 valid votes.

Before the vote, IOC Members were able to pose questions to Mrs. Kloster about the election process, and to Brisbane 2032 about their proposal to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane and South-East Queensland.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “We encourage Olympic Games projects which are sustainable and economically responsible, which deliver the best possible Games experience for athletes and fans, and which leave solid legacies for local communities. The Brisbane 2032 vision and Games plan fit into long-term regional and national strategies for social and economic development in Queensland and Australia and complement the goals for the Olympic Movement outlined in Olympic Agenda 2020 and 2020+5 while focusing on providing memorable sports experiences for athletes and fans. Today’s vote is a vote of trust that Brisbane and Queensland will stage magnificent Olympic and Paralympic Games 2032. We have heard a lot of positive feedback from IOC Members and International Federations in the past few months.”

IOC / Greg Martin Photo.

Brisbane 2032 is the first future host to have been elected under, and to have fully benefited from, the new flexible approach to electing Olympic hosts. The reforms enable the IOC to work in partnership with cities, regions and countries, to encourage Olympic projects which use a high percentage of existing and temporary venues, which align with long-term development plans, and which have a strong vision for sports and local communities.

President Bach said: “This new approach is lighter, more collaborative, more compact, and has a positive impact. Now we always have a significant pool of Interested Parties for 2036, and even for 2040, which is almost 20 years from now. I can’t remember that we have ever been in such a favourable position 20 years before an Olympic Games.

“We enter Tokyo 2020 with full confidence for the future of the Olympic Movement.”

Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Scott Morrison MP, said: “The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Queensland will forge an enduring legacy for our entire nation. They will support economic growth and investment, deliver lasting community benefits and inspire the next generation of Australian athletes.

“I am proud of Australia, proud of Queensland and proud of our team that secured this win for our country. The Commonwealth Government has supported Brisbane’s candidacy for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games right from the very start. We believe in this bid. We know it’s a huge opportunity for our nation, just like the Melbourne Games in 1956 and the Sydney Olympics in 2000.”

Following the election, the Host Contract 2032 was signed by the Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Premier of Queensland and Minister for Trade, Councillor Adrian Schrinner, the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Brisbane, and Mr John Coates AC, President of the Australian Olympic Committee.

 IOC / Dave Thompson Photo.

Ms Palaszczuk said: “Queensland’s fundamental approach is to align Games legacy with long-term plans.

“We will work with all three levels of government to embed Games legacy opportunities in existing programmes and will create a special Games Legacy Fund. This is to ensure the effective delivery of legacy over the next 10 years – and the 10 years after that. That means we develop not just a new generation of Olympic athletes, but we give our small businesses the opportunity to participate too, grow their business and export to the world.”

Councillor Schrinner added: “Local government leaders began this incredible journey, and now it is our job to ensure that Brisbane 2032 delivers a legacy to everyone who calls South-East Queensland home.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the fastest-growing capital city in Australia, and successful Olympic and Paralympic Games will help our region cater for the growth to come and guarantees Brisbane will get even better.”

Since approving the new approach to electing in June 2019, IOC Members have been engaged and consulted throughout the process.

IOC / Greg Martin Photo.

Mrs Kloster had delivered three previous reports to the Session, most recently in March of this year, when she presented a detailed Future Host Commission report and Feasibility Assessment. After receiving the report in March this year, the Session supported the decision to conduct a Targeted Dialogue with Brisbane 2032.

A second, in-camera briefing with IOC Members took place in June, as part of regular consultations between the IOC and Members. This meeting replaced what used to be known as the Members’ technical briefing, and incorporated a comprehensive presentation by the Brisbane 2032 team and the Australian Olympic Committee.

Members also heard from Mrs Kloster about the in-depth analysis of the project carried out through Targeted Dialogue, at the end of which Brisbane 2032 put forward a Final Submission in response to the IOC’s Future Host Questionnaire, setting out its vision and technical ambitions for hosting the Games. This led to the Future Host Commission Report and the Commission’s recommendation to put forward Brisbane 2032 for election – endorsed by an IOC Executive Board decision.

Brisbane City Council Photo.

Early reports indicate that Brisbane 2032 has spent approximately 80 per cent less than for the average candidate city budget for the Games in 2020, 2024 and 2028. This will be confirmed in due course by audited accounts – a requirement of the election process. An Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (OCOG) will be formed in the coming months. For news about Brisbane 2032, follow @olympics and #brisbane2032 on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for email alerts at olympics.com.

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Tel: +41 21 621 6000, email: [email protected], or visit our web site at www.ioc.org.

You’re Invited! The Inaugural Maryland 5 Star Opens Volunteer Applications

By on Jul 22, 2021 9:00 am -

Volunteers are invited to become part of the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. The Fair Hill Organizing Committee (FHOC), an affiliate of the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland (The Sport Corp.), invites Eventing and all equestrian fans to join the team and enjoy the exciting new event from the inside! Sign-up is available at www.EventingVolunteers.com.

The storied tradition of Eventing at iconic Fair Hill continues with the inaugural Maryland 5 Star to be held October 14-17 at the newly constructed Fair Hill Special Event Zone in Elkton, Maryland (Cecil County).

The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill is one of only two 5 Star events in the United States, and just the seventh worldwide, and its prestigious 5 Star (CCI5) designation is the pinnacle of the Olympic sport of Eventing, best described as an equestrian triathlon.

In addition to the CCI5-L, the event will feature a CCI3-L, which is serving as the USEF CCI3-L Eventing National Championship, and The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships Presented by Dubarry of Ireland.

The Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill marks a new chapter for the State of Maryland’s rich horse and equestrian tradition. The event will showcase four days of Eventing competition with Dressage (Thu-Fri), Cross-Country (Sat) and Show Jumping (Sun).

“Volunteers are critical to the success of the sport of Eventing. We are looking for a large amount of dedicated individuals who would like to participate in the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill,” said Volunteer Coordinator, Debi Rogers. “There are many different areas before and during the event in which volunteers are needed, so we invite everyone who would enjoy being on the inside of this exciting world-class event to go to EventingVolunteers.com and sign up today!”

Volunteers receive complimentary tickets to the event and more. Further information on the inaugural Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill is available at maryland5star.us/volunteer/ or contact [email protected].