Classic Eventing Nation

Coleman, O’Neal and Smith Crowned Ocala Jockey Club CCI Winners

By on Nov 18, 2018 9:12 pm -

Katherine Coleman and Monte Classic. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Katherine Coleman clinched the first three-star win of her career today aboard Monte Classico in his own debut at the CCI3* level here at the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event, leaving all the poles in the cups and adding 5.0 time penalties today to top the leaderboard on 39.5.

Katherine has produced “Monte,” a 9-year-old German Sport Horse gelding (Monte Bellini X W-Sally, by Saami xx) she owns, from a 6-year-old after he was originally sourced through Bettina Hoy in Germany. While she had originally considered taking him to Boekelo for his first CCI3*, she opted to wait until she returned to the U.S. for the winter season.”

“I could not be happier with this horse. This season he’s consistently showing up in every phase, and I think he’s a horse of a lifetime and I’m grateful to have the ride on him,” Katherine said. “He’s a pleasure to ride, and he really jumps. He moved up to three-star this season and he hasn’t had a pole all season. That’s a really nice feeling going into a phase like this, especially when you don’t have a rail in hand.”

Erin Sylvester and Frank McEntee’s Paddy the Caddy, an 11-year-old Irish Thoroughbred gelding (Azamore x Slamy), have yet to add a rail to their CCI show jumping record, jumping clear with just 1.0 time penalty to move up and finish second on a final score of 44.8.

Lauren Kieffer and Jacqueline Mars’s Paramount Importance, an 11-year-old Holsteiner (Pasco X Gesche II, by Louis) owned by Jacqueline Mars, had two rails down in their first CCI3* as a combination to finish in third place on 45.1.

Only two pairs delivered clear rounds inside the time on Chris Barnard’s CCI3* show jumping course: Leslie Law with Voltaire de Tre and Jacob Fletcher with Atlantic Domino. You can rewatch all the action on EQTV Network’s Facebook page and catch up on all the live scoring here.

Alex O’Neal and Fury H. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Looking to the CCI2*, Alex O’Neal and Fury H, an 8-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Sally Cox, delivered a clear show jumping round to take a wire-to-wire victory in the CCI2* — his first win at the level.

“I thought he felt really fresh. He gave the jumps a few taps, but he really tried in there. It was a great feeling. I thought he would jump clear all the way,” Alex said. “It’s definitely the biggest win I’ve had, and to do it at home five minutes from my house with my family here is really incredible.

“And with my wife (Ellie) here — she picked the horse and produced him, so I feel really lucky that she’s helped me bring him along after she decided she was willing to give me a shot at him. She’s helped me come a lot way with him. I’ve learned a lot from her.”

Alex said “Marvin” will now enjoy a long break, and then he plans to spend the rest of the winter season honing their show jumping in preparation for a move up to the Advanced level next year.

“I think he’s ready — on cross country he’s a machine. My show jumping coach, Richard Picken, has helped me a lot with that horse. I’ll keep ticking away with him and get him up to the next level. Richard has been a huge change in my riding in the last year. He’s just a great coach and a great supporter, so I feel really confident with him in the warm-up.”

Doug Payne and Starr Witness, a 7-year-old KWPN mare Doug owns with Catherine Winter and Laurie McRee, jumped a super clear round in the mare’s CCI2* debut to finish in second place on a score of 29.6.

Allie Knowles and Casarino, an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Katherine O’Brien, also delivered a clear round to move up to third place in the CCI2* on a final score of 30.6.

Looking to the CCI*, Tamie Smith and Ruth Bley’s Danito also jumped clear to take a wire-to-wire win on their dressage score of 22.6. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Pru Dawes’s Gorsehill Cooley finished second on 26.9. Will Zuschlag and Quintana K jumped a lovely clear to finish third on 27.2.

You can rewatch SO MUCH OF THE ACTION on the EQTV Network Facebook page, so we strongly recommend clicking over there immediately. We had an absolutely fabulous competition here in Florida this weekend, and we sincerely thank everyone who followed along with our coverage this weekend. Go Eventing.

#OJC3DE Links: Website, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Redemption Is Sweet: Liz Halliday-Sharp Takes Ocala Jockey Club CIC3* Win

By on Nov 18, 2018 6:52 pm -

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night led after the first two phases in the CIC3* at the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event last year before a runout on cross country stymied their chance at taking the win. She returned one year later to seal the deal, leading wire-to-wire in a decisive victory and adding just 2.8 time penalties on cross country to win on 30.0.

“I was nearly more nervous here than I have been at all the events that I’ve done with him in Europe, which were probably collectively harder courses throughout,” Liz said. “I suppose having a mistake last year, and being back home again — it’s hard to go out when you’re in the lead.”

Liz clinched the first CIC3* win of her career today and her 19th career international win. It is also the first season in which “Blackie,” a 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by her lovely mother Deborah Halliday, has finished the year without a cross country jumping penalty.

“Blackie has been amazing this season. He’s really been brilliant everywhere he’s been. I kept thinking to myself, ‘he’s done a lot of hard questions this year, and he’s good enough to do this.’ He was absolutely fantastic through all the tough questions like the corners and the angled hedges. He got a little bit tired and sleepy toward the end because he hasn’t run in 12 weeks,” Liz said.

“I had not-our-best jump into the last water, which is untypical for him, but I think a year ago he wouldn’t have even fought for me there, and he actually just kept going and got it done. The horse deserves this. We’ve had a long time together and he’s never won a three-star, so this is his time to win. I’m very happy for him.”

Jon Holling and Avoca Druid. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Jon Holling and Team Rebecca’s Avoca Druid were on their own redemption trail after the horse’s CIC3* debut at Stable View last month, when the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding picked up 40 jumping penalties on cross country.

“Avocado” — can we all agree that’s the best stable name ever for a horse? — was foot perfect all weekend in his second attempt at the level, adding just 4.8 time penalties on cross country today to finish in second place on 37.2.

(We also have to send a special shoutout to Jon and his fabulous wife Jenn, who are celebrating their wedding anniversary today — cheers, you two!)

Jacob Fletcher had a day of highs and lows, falling from Van Gough on cross country but battling back with Bacardi W to rise up from 11th place after dressage and finish third on a final score of 41.6. Bacardi W, a 12-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Fletcher Farms, delivered the fastest round of the day, adding just 2.4 time penalties.

Jacob Fletcher and Bacardi W. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Phillip Dutton finished both of his rides in the top five. Fernhill Singapore, owned by Sue and Shawn Foley, Tom Tierney and Annie Jones, had a steady run in his CIC3* debut, adding 13.2 time penalties to finish fourth on on 46.7. Fernhill Fugitive, who has been sold to Michael Willham and had one last hurrah with his former rider, added 9.2 time penalties to finish fifth on 47.1.

No pairs caught the optimum time of 6 minutes, 42 seconds on Clayton Fredericks’s CIC3* cross country, which caused its fair share of trouble. There were two more rider falls in the division, with Joe Meyer parting ways with Buccaneer and Grace Fulton also falling from Wild Orange. No major injuries were reported.

Click here to view final scores in the CIC3*. You can watch a live stream of the CIC3* clubhouse water complex below courtesy of R.N.S. Video:

Click here to catch up on all of EN’s coverage from #OJC3DE. Go Eventing.

#OJC3DE Links: Website, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Sunday Video from Total Saddle Fit: OCJ CIC3* Clubhouse Water Complex

By on Nov 18, 2018 2:40 pm -

It’s been a marathon weekend at the Ocala Jockey Club with CCI*, CCI2* CCI3* and CIC3* divisions all running. While the three-day competitors show jumped today, the CIC3* riders left the start box for cross country, and RNS Video streamed it live. Liz Halliday-Sharp sealed the deal on a wire-to-wire win with Fernhill By Night. We will have a full report later today, but in the meantime relive the action from the Clubhouse water complex!

Specifically for eventers, the StretchTec Shoulder Relief Girth now comes in two shades of brown to match monoflap jump saddles! Let your horse move more freely and breathe easier by using the same girth as Tamra Smith. See them all here: totalsaddlefit.com

Best of HN: In Defense of the Square Cooler

By on Nov 18, 2018 12:30 pm -

BELGIANS IN BATHROBES. That’s all. Photo by Kristen Kovatch

Not too long ago I was trawling my Facebook timeline (as you do) and saw someone hating on that barn staple, the square cooler. “No one uses those anymore,” sneered this individual, insinuating that somehow, the square cooler had become retro and outdated, set aside as the trend-seekers turn their attention to the next big thing (fitted coolers? Dress sheets? I have no idea what the cool kids are doing these days).

As someone who wouldn’t know what’s trending if it flew by and hit her in the face, let me tell you that at least as far as my barn is considered, the square cooler is king. This is a hill I will gladly die on, defending these oversize fleecey monsters until they’re pried from my cold fingers.

1. One size fits all.

Why would anyone turn down the opportunity to buy a few giant coolers that fit literally all of their horses, rather than sizing individual fitted fleece sheets for every horse? I also realize that not every equestrian has small horses and drafts co-mingling together in one happy pasture, and this may not be as big of an issue, but for goons like me who need to have one in every size, I can’t beat a blanket rack draped with square coolers ready to go just an arm’s length away when someone needs to dry off and warm up.

2. They cover the entire horse.

The point of a cooler is to allow a horse to dry while preventing him from getting chilled… right? So what on earth is the point of leaving the neck uncovered, steaming away on a cold day? Yeah, okay, I have a fitted fleece sheet to use on those days where it’s not quite warm enough to air-dry after a bath but the horse isn’t steaming into the atmosphere… but if I’m trying to dry off a sweaty horse or warm up a chilled one who’s been outside in the cold rain, I obviously want to cover as much of the horse as possible.

3. They wash easy.

As far as smuggling it home into my home washer so that my husband won’t notice, you can’t beat a square cooler with its subtle nylon tie straps — there are no metal buckles to clank and clatter like a rock polisher as they turn endlessly over and over again in the machine. In a world in which literally every other thing with horses has to be complicated, isn’t it nice to embrace one simplicity?

4. They’re versatile as heck.

If you haven’t worn a square cooler as a hooded cape at least once in your life, are you even an equestrian? I’ve wrapped them around me at cold indoor horse shows in the dead of winter; I’ve worn them as lap robes while driving my draft horses. While hacking out bareback on our 27-year-old senior horse in the snow last winter, I definitely wore it like a giant quarter sheet-cum-dress, and while I’m not saying it was the safest thing in the world, it also made me feel like Lady Stark of Winterfell as I ambled around the pasture and some things are worth it.

I might look slightly like No Face from Spirited Away but whatever, it was cold out. Photo by Chloe Petry

Square coolers, don’t ever let anyone dim your shine. Go riding!

All Horses Accepted at Ocala Jockey Club CCI Final Inspection

By on Nov 18, 2018 9:54 am -

CCI2* leaders Alex O’Neal and Fury H. Photo by Jenni Autry.

All pairs that presented in the CCI3*, CCI2* and CCI* at the final horse inspection were accepted this morning at the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event here in Reddick, Florida.

Laura VanderVliet’s CCI* mount Lady Colina was the only horse sent to the holding box during the inspection and was accepted after re-presenting.

Nilson Moreira Da Silva withdrew RF Nouveau Riche from the CCI* prior to the inspection. Briggs Surratt did not present Bright Water in the CCI2*. Alexis Helffrich did not present London Town in the CCI3*.

Show jumping starts at 10:30 a.m. EST with the CCI*, followed by the CCI3* at 1:30 p.m. and the CCI2* at 2:30 p.m. All show jumping will stream live here on EN and on EQTV Network’s Facebook page.

#OJC3DE Links: Website, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Watch the Ocala Jockey Club CCI Live Stream + Replays

By on Nov 18, 2018 9:52 am -

 

CIC3* Clubhouse Water:

Action is underway the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event in Reddick, Florida. EN is on the grounds to bring you wall-to-wall coverage, and we also have the scoop on the live stream.

All three phases of the CCI3* will be live streamed on EQTV Network, as well as cross country and show jumping for the CCI2* and CCI*. You can watch live at this link and right here on EN. The live stream and all replays are also on Facebook.

Friday, Nov. 16
1-3 p.m. EST: CCI3* dressage

Saturday, Nov. 17
8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. EST: CCI* cross country
12:55-1:33 p.m. EST: CCI3* cross country
2:10-4:10 p.m. CCI2* cross country

Sunday, Nov. 18

10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. EST: CCI* show jumping
1:30-1:56 p.m. EST: CCI3* show jumping
2:26-3:52 p.m. EST: CCI2* show jumping

#OJC3DE Links: Website, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

Hazel Shannon Captures Second Adelaide CCI4* Win in Historic Finish

By on Nov 18, 2018 8:52 am -

Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford. Photo by Julie Wilson Photography.

Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford made history Sunday at the Australian International Three-Day Event when they became the first pair to pick up a second CCI4* win at Adelaide (2016 & 2018).

Girl power has bee the theme of 2018 (Ros Canter, double world champion; Jonelle Price, back-to-back four-star winner), and Hazel continued the trend at Adelaide, leading the charge of the first ever all-female top ten in a CCI4*.

“It feels great, as good as the first time,” Hazel said. “I’m still in disbelief.  Willingapark Clifford performs best when he’s fresh, and he loves Adelaide.”

In second place after cross country, Hazel and Terrence Snow’s 13-year-old Thoroughbred had two poles down, making Hazel the fourth rider to ever have 8 penalties in the final phase of a four-star and still win. They finish on a score of 59.5.

Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding. Photo by Julie Wilson Photography.

Overnight leader and CCI4* first-timer Amanda Pottinger had four down with Just Kidding, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred (Fusaichi Pegasus x Gypsy Princess, by Sadler’s Wells) owned by the Pottinger family. She ended in second place on a final result of 63.2.

Two rails and three time penalties moved Sonja Johnson and Misty Isle Valentino, a 10-year-old Arabian Warmblood (Tani Mani Dances With Wolves x Valuka, by Stirling Lukas) owned by the rider and Phoebe Johnson into third. They had a final score of 78.8.

Of the 24 starters, 11 — all women — finished the Australian four-star. Emily Gray and Jocular vision were 4th after having two down and five time penalties (80.3), and Hayley Frielick was fifth with Class Action JP on 90.3.

Click here to see the final results.

Adelaide Links: Website, Results

[History is made]

 

 

Sunday Links Presented by One K Helmets

By on Nov 18, 2018 12:01 am -

View this post on Instagram

@lkieffer has her hands full with this one 😂

A post shared by Jj (@skipperdoodlefritz) on

JJ Silliman captured this amazing photo yesterday at the Ocala Jockey Club start box, and I’m having trouble picking my favorite part. Maybe it’s the determination in the horse’s eye that he will make the decisions. Or the look on Lauren’s face — I’m assuming she’s coming to the realization that she has to pilot this thing around the course once he lands on the ground. But I think really it might have to be that the timer looks like he’s shielding his eye from the drama. What a fantastic photo!

National Holiday: Mickey Mouse’s Birthday

Major Weekend Events:

Ocala Jockey Club: Website, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

U.S. Weekend Action:

Fresno County Horse Park H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Sunday Links:

World Equestrian Games: Is this the end of the line?

Winning racehorse with only one ear captures public’s imagination

Horses, Hotels And Casinos! Behind The Scenes At The Las Vegas National

O’Neal and Fury H Blaze Around Ocala Jockey Club CCI**

Plans For Horse Park In West Virginia Put Into Action

Amanda’s Adelaide after cross country!

Five Things The Great British Baking Show Has Taught Me About Riding

Sunday Video: 

Katherine Coleman Powers to CCI3* Lead at Ocala Jockey Club

By on Nov 17, 2018 9:33 pm -

Katherine Coleman and Monte Classico. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Katherine Coleman could have run Monte Classico in his first CCI3* at Boekelo in The Netherlands last month, but she chose to postpone his debut at the level until the Ocala Jockey Club International Three-Day Event so she could run him on home soil. The decision paid off on cross country day today, with a clear round and 4.8 time penalties rocketing them to the top of the leaderboard.

Katherine has produced “Monte,” a 9-year-old German Sport Horse gelding (Monte Bellini X W-Sally, by Saami xx) she owns, from a 6-year-old after he was originally sourced through Bettina Hoy in Germany. No pairs caught the optimum time of 10 minutes on Clayton Fredericks’s CCI3* course, but Monte’s round was one of the fastest.

“He answered all the questions. He was really good through those angled brushes. I thought they walked quite hard — especially in comparison to the rest of the course — but he was just on it everywhere. After those two corners (at fence 13) it was like he was flagging a bit, but he really picked up coming back up the hill. He got his second wind and then was really good the rest of the way,” Katherine said.

“I want to start getting my horses out and seen on U.S. soil because I feel like I’m abroad so much that they don’t really get seen,” she said. “I think it’s key for him — especially this year to be competing in the U.S.”

A Louisiana native, Katherine is based in England for six months of the year and in Ocala for the winter season. With all attention now turning to the 2019 Pan American Games, where the U.S. must secure qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Katherine — like her fellow team riders — are firmly focused on next season.

If we are looking to the future, then Monte Classico absolutely has to be a horse firmly in the conversation. He has impressed across the board as he’s moved through the levels, and definitely turned heads when he finished 15th in the Blenheim CIC3* 8- and 9-year-olds class in September.

“He’s really grown up this year. I think he’s a really serious horse on an international level — under any competition. He was second going into cross country at Blenheim 8- and 9-year-olds behind that lovely horse of Laura Collett’s (the winner, London 52) and I just had, again, some time around that course — but really answering all the questions and super to all the fences. I do have that in mind — that I’m producing this horse for that future.”

Katherine said her fingers are crossed for show jumping tomorrow, as she will not have a rail in hand over Lauren Kieffer and Jacqueline Mars’s Paramount Importance. Lauren and “Louie,” an 11-year-old Holsteiner (Pasco X Gesche II, by Louis), delivered the fastest time in the division, coming home with 4.0 time penalties to move up to second place on 37.1.

Joe Meyer and Johnny Royale are in the hunt for a chunk of the $5,000 in prize money allotted to the top placing Thoroughbreds in the division thanks to a speedy clear round around Clayton Fredericks’s course. The 10-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred (His Royal Highness X Chivaney, by Tights) skipped around with 5.6 time penalties to sit in third place on 41.8.

Of the 11 combinations that started on the CCI3* course, seven completed clear without jumping penalties. Dressage leaders Kristen Bond and Enough Already had a gutting runout at the double brushes at fence 20B. Leslie Law and Voltaire de Tre and Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino also came to grief at the brushes.

Alex O’Neal and Fury H. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Looking to the CCI2*, Alex O’Neal could not afford a single time penalty with Fury H to hold his overnight lead after dressage, and he cruised around 28 seconds inside the time to hold first place on 29.5.

“Marvin,” an 8-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Sally Cox, was one of 22 horses in the CCI2* field to make the optimum time of 10 minutes, with his natural galloping stride easily eating up the ground. We had absolutely perfect going for cross country day today thanks to the diligent effort of the grounds crew. Coupled with the fact that Clayton designed a a flowing, open track that really invited horses to settle into a cruising rhythm right out of the start box, the CCI2* track rode beautifully.

“I think the first couple minutes you had to come out and ride really positive and forward because there were some big tables, and by the time you got to the first water you wanted to be moving, so I think everyone came out really positive,” Alex said.

“He’s a total beast, and that’s something I’ve had to get used to because I’m used to pushing horses along the whole way. But (with him) once I get out and jump five fences, I just kind of stay there. He’s such a big horse that you just have to trust that rhythm, take your time in the combinations and know that he’s going to keep traveling. He ends up being really efficient.”

Doug Payne and Starr Witness, a 7-year-old KWPN mare Doug owns with Catherine Winter and Laurie McRee, also caught the optimum time with a classy clear round to remain in second place on 29.6 in the horse’s debut at the level.

Gabrielle Ruane and her own Lismakeera Brewski, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, cruised around 16 seconds inside the time to move up to third place on 29.9.

You can catch up with ALL the action in the CCI3* and CCI2* in EN’s cross country live updates, AND you can rewatch all the cross country action from the CCI3*, CCI2* and CCI* on EQTV Network’s Facebook page.

Looking to the CCI*, the top of the leaderboard remained unchanged. Tamie Smith and Ruth Bley’s Danito easily caught the optimum time of 8 minutes, 52 seconds, coming home 21 seconds inside to remain on their dressage score of 22.6.

“I went out of the box and I felt like I was loping, and I didn’t have to pull on the reins. It was a long track but also feels like old-school eventing. It was gallopy and open and the footing was fantastic. This venue is just unbelievable. I can’t say enough about it.”

Ellie MacPhail O’Neal and Sally Cox’s Zick Zack jumped clear and 38 seconds inside the time to remain in second place on 26.0. Liz Halliday-Sharp and Pru Dawes’s Gorsehill Cooley cruised around 20 seconds inside the time to remain in third place on 26.9.

Liz Halliday-Sharp and Fernhill By Night. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Liz Halliday-Sharp also held her lead today in the CIC3* division with Deborah Halliday’s Fernhill By Night, who jumped a super clear show jumping round over Chris Barnard’s course to keep first place on 27.2. She also led after the first two phases last year and is on a mission to seal the deal on the win this year as we look ahead to tomorrow’s cross country.

“He’s had a really great season and he’s on the best form he’s ever been on this year,” Liz said. “He’s capable of doing everything out there. There are a few difficult questions, and they require serious, accurate riding, so I need to go out and attack it.”

Felix Vogg and Jürgen Vogg’s Colero jumped a clear round to move up to second place in the CIC3* on 30.8. Liz Halliday-Sharp also has a second ride in the top three in The Deniro Syndicate’s Deniro Z, who delivered a super clear to move up to third on 31.9.

The CIC3* will go cross country tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. The first horse inspection for the CCI division starts at 8 a.m. CCI* show jumping will start at 10:30 a.m., followed by the CCI3* at 1:30 p.m. and the CCI2* at 2:30 p.m. All show jumping will stream live here on EN and on EQTV Network’s Facebook page.

#OJC3DE Links: Website, Live Scores, Live Stream, EN’s Coverage, EN’s Twitter, EN’s Instagram

 

The Future of WEG In Question as FEI Opens Bidding Process for Individual Championships

By on Nov 17, 2018 6:25 pm -

WEG 2018 may be over and out, but there’s still plenty to contemplate as we look back on the Games. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Today the FEI quietly acknowledged the potential abandonment of a central World Equestrian Games in favor of  individual discipline championships. This was agreed upon during discussions held at the in-person FEI Bureau meeting of the FEI General Assembly in Manama, Bahrain.

The FEI confirmed that they have opened the bidding process for the 2022 FEI World Equestrian Games twice, but this did not produce any “realistic” bids.

Because of this, the Bureau unanimously agreed to open a bidding process for individual world championships in all divisions for 2022. They also included that multi-discipline bids would receive preference, and that dressage and para dressage should be combined.

This decision comes as both 2014 and 2018 World Equestrian Games have received criticism, calling the sustainability of a 7-discipline world championship into question.

In an FEI document, FEI President Ingmar de Vos was attributed as saying that this decision, “does not necessarily mean the end of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ and bids to host the full seven-discipline Games for 2022 and 2026 will be considered.”

The statement continued in addressing the importance of world championships as part of the Olympic movement: “Securing world championships for 2022 in the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines was crucial as these serve as qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Games.”

Also discussed at the Bureau meeting today was the 2018 WEG at the Tryon International Equestrian Center. Tim Hadaway, the FEI Games Operations Director, provided the Bureau with a detailed report that has not been made available to the public.

According to the document summarizing the Bureau’s meeting, the report weighed the successes and failures of WEG by, “highlighting the quality of the sport delivery and the sport itself (with the exception of Endurance), but also the areas of concern, particularly late delivery of the venue facilities.”

Going forward from here, all interested hosts should submit expressions of interest by February 2019. Workshops with bidders would follow, and the bids would be considered throughout 2019. Decisions based on bids received can be expected by the in-person Bureau meeting next November.

[Main Decisions From FEI Bureau Meeting, Manama (BRN), 17 November 2018]