You’ve met the riders of the Pratoni field — now it’s time to get to grip with the horses coming forward to fight for those coveted medals and Paris Olympic qualifying berths. We’ve got your need-to-knows condensed into a handy-dandy coffee-break scroll. We won’t mind if you make yours an Aperol.
FEI World Championships for Eventing:[Website] [Definite Entries] [Live Scoring and Times] [FEI TV] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’S Form Guide] | Daily Digest Email | [EN’s Coverage]
Yasmin Ingham and her elegant, rangy French-bred Banzai du Loir take an early lead at Pratoni. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
After a drizzly start to proceedings — and a tough one, too, with some harshly-marked early tests — the first day’s morning session of dressage at the 2022 FEI World Championships blossomed into a showcase of exceptional young talent peppered with fresh faces and up-and-coming superstars. Chief among their ranks is 25-year-old Yasmin Ingham, who rides as the individual for Great Britain this week. She produced a dazzling test with the eleven-year-old Selle Français gelding Banzai du Loir (Nouma d’Auzay x Gerboise du Cochet, by Livarot), putting a score of 22 on the board that absolutely skyrocketed past the horse’s four- and five-star average of 27.
That 22 isn’t just her best-ever international score, it’s also one of the top five tests ever delivered at a World Championships. It goes into joint fourth in the all-time rankings — equal with a certain Michael Jung and La Biosthetique Sam FBW, who posted the same score in 2010 en route to becoming the World Champions.
“Honestly, it’s the first time we’ve gone in the boards at an event and he’s felt like he’s completely listening and with me, even with the crowds and the cameras and everything atmosphere-wise,” says a delighted Yaz, who pilots the rangy gelding for longtime supporters Sue Davies and Jeanette Chinn. “He didn’t really seem to flinch or bother with it. I’m just so proud of him; he’s really special horse and I still think there’s plenty more in there, which is even more exciting.”
Like many riders, Yaz found that her horse didn’t feel quite as fresh this morning as he has done in previous tests — something that’s no doubt due to the last two days of heat at the Italian venue. But that meant that Yaz was able to take risks in the ring, and her extended canter was a particular highlight of the test, with a clear, bold transition into and out of the movement.
“He maybe felt a little bit tired, so he probably could have been a little bit more sprightly — but I’d rather him do a test like that then have a little break somewhere or something like that. I just couldn’t really fault him today at all,” she says.
Yaz Ingham gets a hug from British chef d’equipe Chris Bartle after a superb performance. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Yaz credits her trip to Kentucky CCI5* this spring, where she finished second, and the opportunity to ride through the test in the main arena at Burghley, with helping her and Banzai deliver their best-ever performance today.
“I think we’ve had more experience now in the bigger, atmospheric arenas, for example Kentucky earlier this year. Then we also had Burghley just before we came here, so we’ve been trying different techniques with the warm up and how long we work him in for, and what we do with him in those work-ins — and I think we’ve come to the bottom of that now,” says Yaz, who has worked closely with British team trainer Chris Bartle to help fine-tune the process. Their schooling regime and warm-up today put them right on the money for their test, which was unanimously put into first place by all three judges.
“He’s actually come here really settled, and I think he’s getting more used to travelling and coming to the bigger events now, so it’s becoming a little bit more normal for him. We did half an hour of work at eight o’clock this morning — just sort of long and low, with lots of simple changes and easy things so as not to stress him out, and to keep him quite happy and confident. Then I worked him for half an hour at quarter to ten, and we started to do a couple of changes and some half-passes and things and just make it a bit more difficult to get him ready for this this afternoon. The work in then was just 20 minutes before we we came and did the test. He’s quite a fit and sharp character, usually, so we do have to make sure we give him enough work so that he doesn’t go in there and just go ‘ahh!'”
Yaz, who makes her Senior squad debut this week after winning every national age title in Britain, is living out something of a fairytale this week.
“It’s so special. I mean, I’ve worked towards this since I’ve started riding,” says Yaz. “It’s always something that I’ve wanted to do, and it’s always been one of my goals and to achieve that has just been a dream come true. Obviously, the team behind the scenes is what sort of helped me get there and my owners, Sue Davies and Jeanette Chinn, and my family. All my trainers, the World Class team — there’s just an army that’s behind every rider and they’ve all helped me get here, so it’s a big moment.”
Monica Spencer makes an 18,000km journey worth it with a superb test aboard full Thoroughbred Artist. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Another rider who’s living out a dream in real time is New Zealand’s Monica Spencer, who held the lead for much of the morning with the full Thoroughbred Artist. Their score of 25.6 was the first of the day to go sub-30, and came after a mammoth journey from the Southern Hemisphere: the CCI4*-L Puhuini winners travelled for over fifty hours from New Zealand to the UK five weeks ago, where they based themselves with teammate Clarke Johnstone.
“They actually announced the team three days before my flight and the horse’s flight left,” she says. “So you kind of plan like you’re going in case you’re going — and then all of a sudden you’re going, and then it’s action!”
The magnitude and complexity of the journey required new mum Monica to leave her husband, Spence, and ten-month-old baby Gus behind, “so I’m a little more emotional than I am normally,” she says.
But what a pay-off. Their test sees them sit second provisionally — and puts team New Zealand in the lead — at this stage in Monica’s debut on a championship team, and her first experience of competing in the Northern Hemisphere. The difference, she says, is huge.
“There’s not many people at a lot of our events — we’re kind of in the middle of a farm somewhere,” she laughs. “I mean, we have some great events too. But yeah, it’s pretty cool to be on this kind of stage, for sure.”
Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo give Britain plenty to celebrate with a competitive test for provisional third. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
It’s been a jolly good morning for the Brits, who have two riders in the top three at the lunch-break — and third, provisionally, is team pathfinder and reigning World Champion Ros Canter. Her mount this week isn’t her 2018 World Championships ride, Allstar B, who was euthanised this summer after an injury at Aachen, but rather, a worthy heir apparent to his throne: the ten-year-old British-bred gelding was second on his five-star debut at Badminton this spring, and has a spate of impressive four-star wins and placings to his name over tough tracks. Though he didn’t quite catch his Badminton score of 26 today, his 26.2 puts him in an enviable position at this early stage of the game.
Like Yaz, Ros was able to bring ‘Walter’ to Burghley to run through the test in the atmospheric main arena, where the practice run also served as an exciting demonstration for spectators after the close of the competition’s dressage phase.
“I’m absolutely delighted with Walter — he’s only a ten-year-old, o coming here is a big occasion for him,” says Ros, who brings Allstar B along for the ride in the form of tail hair bracelets worn by herself and groom Sarah Charnley. “We were lucky enough to practice our tests at Burghley, and every day is still a school day for him, so we’re only just scratching the surface at this level. I truly believe that in the next few years, you’re going to see a bigger and better Walter. I’m just delighted that he went in there and was a complete professional — I don’t think he acts his age.”
Since stepping up to the upper levels, Walter has proven himself a horse who thrives in an atmosphere — and Pratoni is certainly delivering that, even on Thursday morning.
“He’s a very self confident horse,” says Ros with a smile. “He’s very happy in his own skin, and he adores attention. When I was practicing outside, Ian Woodhead, who’s our dressage trainer, said ‘don’t do a halt too close to the crowds, because they’re going to clap’ — but he doesn’t give a monkey’s. He’s in his element when people clap; he thinks it’s all for him.”
Ros opted for a shorter warm-up today, schooling for twenty minutes first thing this morning and then doing a twenty-minute final work-in before her test, which put Walter right in his sweet spot for an excellent test.
“As soon as I went in, I knew he was with me,” she says. “We got the preparation right today, I think. And when he’s like that, he’s very easy, and he has beautiful balance, so I can sit up and he comes back to me, which is what makes him a lovely cross country horse, too.”
Will Coleman and Off The Record get Team USA’s campaign off to a great start with a 26.4. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The USA sit in bronze medal position after the first rotation of riders, thanks to an excellent test from Will Coleman and Off the Record that joins the top-five all-time dressage tests by a US rider at a World Championship. They sit fourth at the lunch break on their 26.4, which sees them just two-tenths of a penalty behind Ros Canter. It’s also one of 2021 Aachen champion ‘Timmy’s’ best-ever international tests, though Will no doubt hoped to match the 23.9 they delivered in their final run at Great Meadows CCI4*-S. But, he concedes, travelling to an event in Virginia is a very different prospect to travelling to Italy.
“We’ve had a lot of traveling, like a lot of horses, to get here, and I think that’s never easy on them,” he says. “Given everything, I thought my horse tried very hard today and I’m very happy with him. I don’t know if I would describe anything as ‘highlights’, but I thought we squeezed every point out of it we could, which, when he came out this morning, was sort of my mentality. I was like, ‘okay, it may not be our best stuff — but let’s just see if we can ride as clean a test as we can, and leave as few penalties on the table as we can.’ And I think we did that. So in that respect, I’m happy: I don’t know if there are any highlights in it, but it was clean and relatively mistake-free.”
Will once again takes on the pathfinder role for the US, a job he took at the last World Championships in 2018 — and one that comes with its own unique pressures.
“It’s a tough job,” he says. “I’ve been first before, and I’ve been last before in some instances, but I think we all have the same sort of approach that we want to go out and execute and just give our horses the best chance of coming home clear, and with as few time penalties as possible. It’s a really intense track, so my job is to go out there and bring back some good feedback for the other guys, and that’s what we’re going to try to do. He’s not the most blood but he’s a real fighter.”
Niklas Lindbäck and Focus Filiocus. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Sweden’s Niklas Lindbäck rounds out the top five after delivering an excellent test for a score of 29 with his experienced mount Focus Filiocus, who tends to average well into the 30s in this phase. The pair, who finished 35th at Tryon in 2018, come forward as the individual combination for Sweden this week — and already, they’ve exceeded their own expectations.
“Expecting is so hard, but we were hoping for this,” says Niklas. “Dressage isn’t maybe his strong point; he’s normally very stable and settled, but not going for the high marks — but we really tried here and it was actually fantastic. It’s the best feeling he’s ever given me.”
The top ten at the midway point of day one in the 2022 FEI World Championships for Eventing.
The team standings after the first rotation of riders.
FEI World Championships for Eventing:[Website] [Definite Entries] [Live Scoring and Times] [FEI TV] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’S Form Guide] | Daily Digest Email | [EN’s Coverage]
Laura Collett and London 52 after their leading test. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Good morning — again! We’re back with the afternoon session (or for North Americans watching, the slightly less early morning session) of day one of dressage at 2022 FEI World Championships for Eventing.
If you’re just pouring your first cup of coffee and joining us, you can catch up on the today’s first session via Sally’s live updates here and via Tilly’s mid-day report here.
Germany’s Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz will be kicking this session off for us at 8:00 a.m. EST. Here’s a couple other notable ride times this session:
To use this live update thread, start from the bottom. I’ll be adding updates as they happen to the top!
Want more Pratoni news? Head over to our Ultimate Guide to FEI World Championships for Eventing, and be sure to sign up for the #Pratoni2022 Daily Digest email, which will be delivered straight to your inbox each day through Sunday, September 18.
FEI World Championships for Eventing: [Website] [Definite Entries] [FEI TV] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’s Form Guide] [Timing & Scoring] [Thursday Dressage Times] [Friday Dressage Times] [Daily Digest Email] [EN’s Coverage]
11:40 a.m. EST: Well that was an excellent first day of dressage, indeed! The top ten is chock-full of super competitive scores, and we still have a lot to look forward to tomorrow. Great Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52 lead the way with the only sub-20 score so far — will we see another before the first phase is over?
The top ten at the end of the first day of dressage at the 2022 FEI World Championships of Eventing.
Great Britain, New Zealand, and the U.S. all have two riders in the top ten are therefore hold the top three spots in the team competition.
Thanks for hanging out with us this morning! Tilly and Shelby will be along later with a full end of day report and much more.
11:33 a.m. EST: Cyrielle Lefevre and Armanjo Serosah have earned a provisional 35.0 and that’s officially a wrap on day one of dressage!I’ll bring you a little roundup of the scores as they stand in a second.
11:25 a.m. EST: Armanjo Serosah simply will not put his ears up for this test! He’d like us all to know that he’s here for the running and the jumping, thanks very much. Even so, he’s playing nice and Cyrielle is riding a relaxed test.
11:25 a.m. EST: Cyrielle Lefevre and Armanjo Serosah of France will bring things home for us today. Armanjo Serosah just holds herself just above the bit and lacks a bit of connection, though she has a nice cadence.
11:19 a.m. EST: Solid test from Sanne de Jong and Enjoy, who’s a homebred of hers. They score a 33.2 and now we’re down to the last rider of the day!
11:19 a.m. EST: Nicolas has scored a 39.4 and it looks like there’s a storm a brewing in Pratoni. The sky has gotten noticeable darker and the wind gusts are still present. We’re now joined by Sanne de Jong and Enjoy for the Netherlands.
11:13 a.m. EST: Ecuador’s Nicolas Wettstein and Meyer’s Happy, who bases in Switzerland, are doing their test now. Lucinda is noting over the commentary that the horse has an interesting way of going so while Nicolas may be riding accurate, he won’t get the highest of scores. Meyer’s Happy just looks a bit disconnected back to front, which gives him a fittingly jaunty look about him.
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
11:09 a.m. EST: Nice test from Dana and Mississippi! They’ve scored a 34.1 which slots them just ahead of Canadian team rider, Hawley Bennett-Awad.
11:02 a.m. EST: Mississippi is sporting a super short summer haircut. Ma’am, your piebald is showing.
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
11:02 a.m. EST: Here’s our last north American of the day! It’s Dana Cooke and Mississippi, who were called up to replace Colleen Loach and Vermont after Vermont sustained an injury in their final outing. Evelina earned a really respectable 30.0 for her nice test.
10:56 a.m. EST: This is a really super looking pair and they’re putting in a strong test! They look connected and accurate to my eye and they’ve earned some great scores for their walk, halt, and rein back in particular.
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
10:52 a.m. EST: Italy’s individual pair, Evelina Bertoli and Fidjy des Melezes, a really gorgeous dark bay mare, now enter the ring.
10:52 a.m. EST: Malgorzata and Canvalencia earn a 35.7 provisionally. They lost out on a couple of points in some of the later canter work.
10:47 a.m. EST: Malgorzata Korycka and Canvalencia for Poland are in the ring now. Canvalencia is a super cute mover:
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
10:44 a.m. EST: Mia is getting a classical rendition of Lead Zepplin’s Kashmir as background music, which I kind of love. She’s happy with her test! They’ve earned a 36.9 provisionally.
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
10:40 a.m. EST: The next seven riders that we’ll see today are all riding as individuals for their countries. Now in the ring is Mia Hastrup, one of two pairs for Denmark, riding Shjabrina.
10:37 a.m. EST: Marcio and Kit Kat put a 33.6 on the board for the moment for Brazil. With three team members now they’ll have no drop score at the end of the weekend.
10:31 a.m. EST: We’re back with the final session for the day. We have 8 pairs left to go, the first of which is Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Kilcoltrim Kit Kat for Brazil. In case you missed the news from earlier today, Brazil is now down to three team members after Ruy Fonseca withdrew Ballypatrick SRS this morning.
10:14 a.m. EST: Alright, we’re on another drag break for the next 15 minutes. Katrin and Oklahoma 2 have earned a 36.9.
10:12 a.m. EST: Oklahoma 2 and Katrin just had the nicest stretchy canter circle. Their rhythm didn’t change a beat and Oklahoma 2 just looks happy.
10:10 a.m. EST: Katrin Khoddam-Hazrati is now between the boards with Oklahoma 2, who just looks like a real sweetheart for some reason. He’s got a real kind eye and looks like he’s trying super hard for his mum. Let’s also take a moment of appreciation for the Austrian tailcoats:
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
10:06 a.m. EST: A little bobble in the last flying change will just barely keep Hazel and Clifford from scoring sub-30. They earn a provisional score of 30.3.
10:04 a.m. EST: Hazel is a really lovely rider with virtually imperceptible aids. You can tell this pair really know each-other — as they should, considering they’ve been together for over ten years!
10:00 a.m. EST: Well, that’s a tough act to follow, but between the board now we have another 5*-winning pair, Australia’s Hazel Shannon and Willingapark Clifford, three-time Adelaide winners
9:57 a.m. EST: Picture perfect! That was a heck of a test as expected — accurate, expressive, just everything we’ve come to expect this Badminton-winning pair. And we have a SUB 20 SCORE ALERT! They’ve earned a provisional 19.3, and she takes over the lead from her countrywoman Yasmin Ingham, who’s riding for GB as an individual.
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
9:52 a.m. EST: Yep, this is going to be a big one. London 52 looks his usual big-moving, fabulous self in the trot work and their score is trending in first place.
9:50 a.m. EST: Yoshi and Cale show their experience and lay down a really solid test earning a 28.0. Next in the ring is a can’t miss test — it’s Laura Collett and London 52!
9:45 a.m. EST: Next up in the ring and already through their trot work are Yoshi Oiwa and Calle 44 for Japan — this is their second World Games as a pair, as we saw them in Tryon.
9:42 a.m. EST: This is looking goooood! Little Bug looked so attentive throughout their test and Lauren looks happy as she salutes the judges … and YES they score a 27.0! They’ll slot into 6th place provisionally, just behind Will and Clarke. That means Team USA also has two in the top ten, thankyouverymuch.
9:37 a.m. EST: Bug and Lauren both are looking super relaxed and accurate through their trot work. They’re trending around 27 penalties at the moment.
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
9:34 a.m. EST: Alright, here we go with Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus! Let’s go Bug!!
9:33 a.m. EST: That’s an excellent start for Team New Zealand! Clarke scores a provisional 27.4, which means that both they and Team GB now have two pairs in the top ten at the moment.
9:31 a.m. EST: Clarke looks as if he’s just enjoying a nice pony ride aboard Menlo Park. He’s got reason to smile too as they’re trending sub-30.
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
9:27 a.m. EST: The fly or whatever it was has buzzed off and Bryjamolga van het Marienshof Z has settled down within her canter work. Sofia looks so pleased as they finish their test! They’ve scored a provisional 32.8. New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone is up next.
9:23 a.m. EST: Uhoh, Bryjamolga van het Marienshof Z has got a figurative bee in her bonnet, more likely a literal fly or something, just before they do their halt and rein back. She’s now shaking her head quite a bit but Sofia is so, so patient with her as she waits for her to settle before taking those steps backward. The mare is still head shaking throughout their transition to canter, but Sofia is riding through it.
9:21 a.m. EST: Sofia is another youngster within the field, at 24 years old. She’s got a great smile on her face throughout her test.
9:17 a.m. EST: I would totally take Uter home. He’s not the flashiest horse, but he really listened to Marco the whole way through and tried his very best. Marco salutes the judges and gives him a kiss on the neck! Next up in the ring will be Sofia Sjorborg.
9:14 a.m. EST: A nice test so far for Marco and Uter. They won’t be challenging the top of the leaderboard, but they’re putting in a super workmanlike test.
9:11 a.m. EST: We’re back underway with Marco Cappai and the gorgeous grey, Uter, riding for the home crowd. We also got an updated/finalized score for Tom Carlile during the drag break and he doesn’t actually slot into second place like we thought — he earns a 26.4 which puts him in equal fourth place with our own Will Coleman. Lucinda notes that the judges likely reviewed one of the flying changes during the break.
8:54 a.m. EST: Melody finished her test and looks happy to have that done! We’re now entering a short break to drag the ring. The next test will start at 9:09!
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
8:51 a.m. EST: Spoke too soon! Toubleu de Rueire throws in what is essentially a capriole after the rein back and there’s an audible gasp from the spectators. Melody has a good head on her shoulders (and a good seat in the saddle too!) though and has brought him right back to work.
8:50 a.m. EST: Lucinda notes that Toubleu de Rueire really enjoyed himself at yesterday’s horse inspection and had a great time showing off how sound he is. So far he’s keeping a lid on his enthusiasm within the boards, though.
8:48 a.m. EST: Gonzalo will score a 33.0 provisionally as we welcome Switzerland’s Melody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire — who’s looking quite fit as he enters the arena!
8:42 a.m. EST: Here’s Gonzalo Blasco Botin and the French-bred Sij Veux d’Autize in the ring now. They’re looking quite relaxed and accurate, but Lucinda notes that the horse doesn’t have as big movements as some of the other competitors.
8:38 a.m. EST: That really was quite a test from Tom Carlile and Darmagnac de Beliard! He’s just slotted into second place on a 25.5. Jamo now wraps up his test and looks so happywith Mahali, giving her big pats and a kiss on the neck after their salute. They’ve just scored an even 30.0 and should be rightfully pleased with that!
8:34 a.m. EST: All the flower boxes have now been removed from the ring and the youngest competitor in the field at just 21-years-old, Jamo Verwimp of Belgium, are now in the ring and performing their test.
8:28 a.m. EST: This is one impressive 9-year-old. Darmagnac de Beliard is a gorgeous mover and has a great brain to boot! A couple of the flower boxes at the letters have been knocked over thanks to a gust of wind during his test, but the horse didn’t bat an eyelash.
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
8:23 a.m. EST:Tom Carlile and Darmagnac de Beliard are now in the ring and have already impressed Lucinda with a super straight centerline.
8:23 a.m. EST: We have just a small pause in action after Karl finishes his test — the wind has picked up again and it’s all hands on deck for a moment to secure some of the flower boxes. Karl has scored a 38.0 also, the same score as his predecessor in the ring — he and Susie will share an equal 19th place as it stands.
8:20 a.m. EST: Lucinda Green, who’s back in the commentary box, notes that “Chocy” has a slightly different way of going than other horses we’ve seen so far today. He carries himself a bit more round and with a bit “stabbier” gaits. That doesn’t stop him from getting it done and he’s also just thrown down the best halt and rein back that Lucinda says she’s seen yet today .
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
8:18 a.m. EST: Canada’s Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes are in the house! I’m slightly disappointed that they’re still piping nice classical music into the arena and not Nickelback. I mean, could we at least get a Bridgerton-esque arrangement of Photograph?
8:17 a.m. EST: Susie and Monbeg By Design finish their test and earn a 38.0 — she looks pretty pleased and maybe a little relieved too!
8:08 a.m. EST: Sandra and Viamant du Matz will score a respectable 31.8 and Ireland’s Susie Berry enters the rings now on Monbeg By Design to make her senior championships debut.
Screenshot via ClipMyHorse.TV
8:06 a.m. EST: Viamant du Matz is not making things the easiest for Sandra — he’s looking fit and spicy as he’s taking a few peeks here and there at some of the flower boxes and giving an extra hop at Sandra’s aids for one of the flying changes.
8:00 a.m. EST: And we’re back underway! Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz are down the center line for Germany.
There are few things hotter than the Italian weather right now — but giving it a jolly good go is the field of entries in the 2022 FEI World Championships of Eventing. With 89 riders and 26 nations in the line-up, it’s a showcase of the very best of the sport, and if you don’t have the bandwidth to learn about all the finer details of their lives and competitive records in our extensive form guide, we’ve rounded up the quick fire details you need to know!
FEI World Championships for Eventing:[Website] [Definite Entries] [Live Scoring and Times] [FEI TV] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’S Form Guide] | Daily Digest Email | [EN’s Coverage]
Monica Spencer celebrates her leading score with Artist. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
When the trip to your first World Championships involves a travel time of over 50 hours and several days in the trailer, you want to make good on your shot to make an impact.
Monica Spencer did just that with her unraced New Zealand Thoroughbred, Artist (Guillotine xx – Maxamore xx, by Volksraad xx), taking a decisive early-days lead at the pair’s first FEI World Championships with a dressage mark of 25.6.
Monica, who found out she’d been named to the New Zealand squad just three days before Artist’s flight out of New Zealand (“you kind of plan like you’re going in case you’re going and then all of a sudden you’re going!”), traveled more than 50 hours in total from her home in Taupo, New Zealand to Clarke Johnstone’s current base in Gloucestershire, England. This is her first time competing in the Northern Hemisphere, and as such the trip necessitated leaving her husband, Spencer, and her 10-month-old son, Gus, behind at home.
“I’ve been away for five weeks, so [I’m] a little more emotional than I normally,” she said. But the task at hand is in full focus, and she’s pleased with the start she’s made — a score she knows the horse she’s had since his four-year-old year is capable of earning.
“It’s, you know, we can do it at home and then you come to a stage like this and you always think some things could fall apart and hope they won’t,” she said. “But he was a trooper. He was relaxed, he just did what he was asked.”
The incredible mover caught Monica’s eye at his first show in New Zealand, where he was under the re-training of Polly MacDonald. Originally bred by Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand to race but not showing enough speed for the task, he’d been sold on and had begun his new career. “I saw him at his first show from the other side the warm up and I promptly trotted over to Polly and asked if she would sell them and I’ve had him ever since,” she explained.
Monica Spencer and Artist. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Monica will be the pathfinder for the Kiwis come Saturday, and this combination has an excellent cross country record to give them a boost. “There’s enough to do — it would be very easy to make a mistake, but I think everything’s jumpable so just got to piece it all together,” she said of the challenge ahead.
[More from this morning’s dressage in my live update thread]
Want more Pratoni news? Head over to our Ultimate Guide to FEI World Championships for Eventing, and be sure to sign up for the #Pratoni2022 Daily Digest email, which will be delivered straight to your inbox each day through Sunday, September 18.
FEI World Championships for Eventing: [Website] [Definite Entries] [FEI TV] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’s Form Guide] [Timing & Scoring] [Thursday Dressage Times] [Friday Dressage Times] [Daily Digest Email] [EN’s Coverage]
Monica Spencer pats Artist after taking the early lead this morning. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
It’s that time!
I’m so excited to welcome you to the first day of actual competition at the 2022 FEI World Championships for Eventing, hosted this year in absolutely picture-perfect Rocca di Papa, Italy at Pratoni del Vivaro. This was the host site of the 1998 World Equestrian Games and is sure to be a true test of the 89-strong field representing 26 nations this week.
We are just about ready to get underway with the first day of dressage, and you’ve got myself along with Abby Powell ready to bring you up-to-date commentary while Tilly Berendt and Shelby Allen work on site. I’ll be updating you as each rider comes in, but I highly encourage you to pick up a pass to watch yourself on FEI.TV, which is a part of ClipMyHorse.TV. You can learn more and sign up here (there is a free trial for new members!).
Our Ground Jury today includes President and judge at C Christina Klingspor (SWE), judge at H Peter Gray (CAN), and judge at B Christian Steiner (AUT). Tilly Berendt caught up with Peter Gray, who is officiating his first World Championships (and has also competed himself in the 1990 World Championships in Stockholm), earlier this year and it’s definitely a cool read if you’d like to study up.
We’ll be underway at 9:30 a.m. local time, which is 3:30 a.m. EST and, sigh, 12:30 a.m. for me out here in California. This morning we’ll see a total of 22 horses and riders, including the first rotation of team riders. After an hour or so lunch break, Abby Powell will pick up live updates for the afternoon session.
There are sure to be a myriad of beautiful tests this morning, but some key notables to key an eye on include:
We aren’t likely to see the eventual dressage winner in these first few groups, but here are a few horses Equiratings recommends keeping an eye on in the coming sessions:
Riders will be using FEI 5* Test B — you can view the test to follow along here, and if you want a really cool breakdown of the test, check out our Dressage Debrief with Peter Gray over Michael Jung’s Kentucky test with fischerChipmunk FRH:
Want more Pratoni news? Head over to our Ultimate Guide to FEI World Championships for Eventing, and be sure to sign up for the #Pratoni2022 Daily Digest email, which will be delivered straight to your inbox each day through Sunday, September 18.
FEI World Championships for Eventing: [Website] [Definite Entries] [FEI TV] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’s Form Guide] [Live Scoring] [Thursday Dressage Times] [Friday Dressage Times] [Daily Digest Email] [EN’s Coverage]
To use this live update thread, start from the bottom. I’ll be adding updates as they happen to the top!
6:52 a.m. EST: This will be another test marred by some tension, and Shutterflyke will take a score in the 40s into the jumping phases. And that will do us for the morning session! Here’s a look at your top 10 individuals and top 9 teams (full scores here), with quite a few more heavy hitters yet to come this afternoon. Abby Powell will be along in about an hour to bring you live updates from the next sessions, and our eyes on the ground Tilly and Shelby will have more content than you can possibly handle coming your way shortly as well. Thanks for following along with me early this morning!
6:47 a.m. EST: Our final before the lunch break will be Czech rider Miroslav Trunda with Shutterflyke.
6:44 a.m. EST: Aistis is navigating this test quite well as Commander VG comes a bit undone in the extended and some changes. What a calm, cool rider and a good partner for this horse. A rueful shake of the head and a grin is all you need to know this is a rider who has fully accepted his horse as he is. Maybe he’ll be trying to tame the Lippizaner moves for the next test, though…
Commander VG says “I WILL FLY AWAY”. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV,
6:43 a.m. EST: Commander VG is a cross country horse through and through, and we knew he wouldn’t grab a low score today but this will be another to watch for jumps up the board on Saturday.
6:38 a.m. EST: Next to see will be Lithuanian individuals Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG (Viegaard’s Come Back II x Nione Fortuna, by Abantos NRA STB 83 4). Korntawat scores a 32.0 to go into 10th place.
Korntawat Samran and Uster de Chanay. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.
6:31 a.m. EST: A 30.1 for Fouaad provisionally puts him into sixth. We now will move to our sole Thai representative, Tokyo Olympian Korntawat Samran with Uster de Chanay (Negus de b’Neville x Ironne de Chanay, by Clyde de la Combe). This is a newer ride for Korntawat.
6:29 a.m. EST: Fouaad has to exercise some tact in this canter work as Siegneur Medicott has decided that’s enough of this silly putting his head down crap and it’s time for the fun stuff. They should still sneak in under the 30s based on their trends. I’d love to see this pair have a great weekend as individuals here!
6:27 a.m. EST: A slight bobble in the walk work bumps Fouaad up into the 28 range.
6:21 a.m. EST: Hanne is grinning ear to ear as she finishes her test. They won’t be competitive in this phase, scoring a 44.3 and will look to climb the ranks in the jumping phases. Just a few before our lunch break, and next in are India’s sole pair and Tokyo Olympians Fouaad Mirza with Siegneur Medicott (Seigneur d’Alleray xx – Gina XIII, by Finley-M). This is another that’s well capable of slipping under the 30 mark. They scored a 28 in Tokyo and most recently at Arville scored a 26.6.
6:14 a.m EST: Super Swede! A big cheer from the gathered crowd for Niklas Lindback and Focus Filiocus, who also slide into the 20s for a 29.0 provisionally and fifth place. This is quite a good mark for this pair, who typically scores in the low-to-mid-30s. What a time to throw a sub-30 down, way to go! Next in will be individual pair for Denmark, Hanne Wind Ramsgaard and her homebred Amequ Torino (Toulouse – Staugaard’s Flying Colour, by Cosmeo).
6:08 a.m. EST: Next up in this block of individuals is Swedish rider Niklas Lindback with Focus Filiocus (Feliciano 823 x Blue Bells, by Be My Chief) — a very Harry Potter-sounding name, if you ask me.
6:06 a.m. EST: Yasmin scores a 21.9 to go into the lead! What a time for a personal best. For reference, Yasmin scored a 28.1 at Kentucky, where she eventually came in second.
Yasmin Ingham celebrates a killer test with Banzai du Loir. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.
6:05 a.m. EST Banzai du Loir’s ears flop a bit on his stretch circle as Banzai has him in a lovely, relaxed way of going. Without being there in person it’s hard to say for sure, but this ring doesn’t give me the claustrophobic, atmospheric vibes that, perhaps, Herning would have had for the other World Championships. I do believe this will be our morning leader — a great test from Yas!
6:00 a.m. EST: And we are underway now with Yasmin and Banzai du Loir (Nouma d’Auzay x Gerboise du Cochet, by Livarot), who are trending a very impressive 21.7 as they go into their extended trot.
5:38 a.m. EST: A look at the top five as they stand currently:
5:33 a.m. EST: Shane and Virgil are enjoying a really nice ride, with some canter work that shows uphill balance. Shane gives Virgil a big pat and they score a 31.5, shaving a hair off their Tokyo score of 31.7 and going into fifth. We’re now into the final judging break of the morning session and will resume at 6:00 a.m. EST with British individual rider and Kentucky runner-up Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir. This pair is a serious contender for an individual medal in what is their first World Championships appearance.
GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.
5:26 a.m. EST: What a test from this young superstar, Lordships Graffalo! Looks like they will go onto a 26.6 for third place behind Monica and Will, provisionally. Next to see will be Australian Olympians Shane Rose and Virgil. Ah – 26.2 for Ros, and that will put her ahead of Will and into second.
Ros’ cheering section is out in full force! GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.
5:24 a.m. EST: Will’s score has been updated to a 26.4. Meanwhile, Ros is trending at about 27 as she goes into her stretch circle.
5:21 a.m. EST: This is a combination who could slip into the lead early on here. They scored a 26 at Badminton, which is just about their average in 4* competition. Ope, we’re onto James Bond theme music now. I feel like I’m playing musical score SongPop.
5:18 a.m. EST: A really nice test from Ryuzo and Cekatinka, who has a little spook after her final halt because why not? A 32.2 is right around their average at this level and will slot them into fifth. We will now have the first of the defending World Champion team and the defending individual World Champion herself, Ros Canter, who debuts the exciting Lordships Graffalo (Grafenstolz x Cornish Queen, by Rock King), who was second in his first 5* at Badminton this spring.
5:15 a.m. EST: Now the music has moved onto the Jurassic Park theme music. What are you trying to say, Pratoni?? I thought I heard a bit of Oh Susannah (Oklahoma? Something Americana, at least) during Will’s test. I have questions.
5:13 a.m. EST: Our first Japanese rider, Ryuzo Kitajima, now comes in with the former Tim Price ride Cekatinka JRA (King Kolibri x Katinka, by Julio Marnier), who was top-10 at the last World Championships in Tryon with Tim.
5:11 a.m. EST: Monica’s score is updated to a 25.6. Will is right on her heels, scoring a 26.5 provisionally and into second for now. I know there will be things Will would like to have been better but this is a great spot for the Americans early on.
I always love Will’s quiet pats at the end of his tests. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.
5:09 a.m. EST: Nice changes from Will and Off the Record. Down towards 26.7 now.
5:08 a.m. EST: A lovely halt from Will, who is trending at about a 27.7 at the moment.
5:06 a.m. EST: Will and “Timmy” put in a lovely test at Great Meadow last month, scoring a 23.9 at the 4* level. Their average at the 4* and 5* level is a 27.3, but on their day they could threaten Monica and Artist’s score.
5:05 a.m. EST: Ok, now I have to compose myself as our first Americans are in the ring: Will Coleman, your 2021 Aachen champion, and Off the Record (Arkansas – Drumagoland Bay, by Ard Ohio) are up centerline.
5:02 a.m. EST: Gosh, what a great walk from this little Thoroughbred. Wow! What a test! They score a 25.5 — a new leader by a very healthy margin! I can’t stop using exclamation points! Here’s another one!
GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.
4:58 a.m. EST: Guys and gals, I think a Thoroughbred is about to take the (early but still!) lead at World Championships. We’ll see how the walk and canter work comes out..
4:57 a.m. EST: A 38.3 for Malin Josefsson and Golden Midnight, and wow — Monica gets started with a lovely medium trot.
4:54 a.m. EST: Malin loses a few marks in her canter work and changes, but she’s going to make a strong pathfinder for the Swedish come Saturday and will have a respectable score to start on. We’ll now start the Kiwis off with Monica Spencer and Artist, a Thoroughbred of unknown breeding with whom Monica’s been partnered since the gelding was four. They’ve traveled all the way from New Zealand for this chance to make their World Championship debut. Artist was racing-bred in New Zealand but did not race. Love to see some Thoroughbreds representing here this week!
4:50 a.m. EST: A fun fact about Malin, who is also half Japanese: She balances riding with a ‘proper’ job as a small animal vet in Sweden alongside her parents. They also breed German Shepherds.
4:47 a.m. EST: Arianna is trending about a 33.5 as she comes up centerline! They earn a 33.3 and will go into fourth at the moment. Nicely done, gals. Next in will be the first Swedish rider, Malin Josefsson and Golden Midnight (Goldmine x Duva, by Maraton). This is their third championship but their first Worlds appearance.
Arianna Schivo salutes the judges after her test. GIF via ClipMyHorse.TV.
4:40 a.m. EST: And we’re getting ready to get back underway with Arianna and Quefira de L’Ormeau. This pair were 25th individually in Tokyo last year, which was their second Olympic appearance together. This combination typically scores in the mid-30s in 4* and 5* competition, most recently scoring a 37.2 at Badminton earlier this year. They did score a 32.8 at the 2018 WEG at Tryon — can they best that today?
4:36 a.m. EST: I’ve just heard over the announcements that Ruy Fonseca has withdrawn Ballypatrick SRS this morning. This pair was held in the horse inspection yesterday but were passed when they re-presented. That will leave the Brazilian team without a score to drop as their team will move forward with three riders.
4:34 a.m. EST: Psst! Want to sneak a peek at the cross country course ahead of our official preview?? CrossCountryApp has just dropped their map!
4:26 a.m. EST: We’ll now head into our first break of the day and will resume in just a few minutes at 4:41 a.m. EST with Arianna Schivo and Quefira de L’Ormeau (Iolisco de Quinhon*HN x Isabelle du Brulot, by Beausejour IV), a very experienced pair riding for home team Italy in their second World Championships appearance. Here’s a look at the first seven scores:
4:24 a.m. EST: Aw, Nadja is thrilled and gets probably the biggest cheer of the morning so far. She scores a 31.8, not quite a personal best ever but it bests her average and sets the Swiss up nicely to start things off — she’ll go into second for the moment. Really well done!
4:23 a.m. EST: Nadja is really putting in a strong effort here in her canter work, trending down towards a 31 as she comes into her flying change work.
4:22 a.m. EST: Catch up with Sam Watson after his test with SAP Talisman:
4:16 a.m. EST: A really nice performance from Esteban and the sensitive, diminutive Milana 23. They will score a 36.4 to best their average and go into fifth for now. Next to see is the first Swiss rider, Nadja Minder making her Championship debut with Toblerone (Yarlands Summer Song x Medelyne, breeding unknown). This 15-year-old Swiss gelding shares a sire with Astier’s horse, Alertamalib’or. A 33.7 is Nadja’s average at this level with this horse.
4:07 a.m. EST: Senne and Google van Alsingen really put in a great effort for their team this morning and will hit the board on a provisional score of 36.1, which is good for fourth at the moment. We’ll next see the first Spanish rider, Esteban Benitez Valle with the 18-year-old Warmblood mare Milana 23 (Medoc x Morka, by Flemmingh). This is another pair who won’t threaten the top on day one, averaging a 39 at this level. Esteban also makes his World Championship debut this weekend with Milana 23.
4:07 a.m. EST: A look at Astier’s scores:
3:59 a.m. EST: A really lovely test from Astier and Alertamalib’or, what a lovely type this one is! They will go onto a 30.8 provisionally and into the early lead. Next up for the Belgians will be Senne Vervaecke and Google van Alsingen (Watch Me x Pinot Brun VH Pannehof, by Forever), a pair that’s come up the levels together and make their Senior championship team debut this week. Senne is well-traveled through the Junior and Young Rider championship ranks, though so this step up comes as a natural progression for the talented 25-year-old. This pair typically hits the board a bit higher in the marks, so we won’t expect them to threaten Astier’s score but they will be looking to put their team into a good position as trailblazers — a role that will become even more important come Saturday.
3:57 a.m. EST: A look at score trends for the first three so far:
3:55 a.m. EST: A 34.8 for Hawley and Jollybo. We’re off to a pretty strong start with Nicolas, who had some gorgeous work in his medium trot.
3:53 a.m. EST: And now the French will start their week, sending forward Astier Nicolas and Alertamalib’or (Summer Song x Dambine, by Prince Ig’Or), a 12-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding who might be our first score in the 20s if they can get near their average of 27.9.
3:51 a.m. EST: Hawley and Jollybo have been averaging about a 33.7 in 4* and 5* competition lately, though they’ve shown some flashes of even lower and even into the high-20s in the past. This test isn’t going to be their best score ever but should hit the board in that mid-30s range to get Canada on the board.
3:47 a.m. EST: A 37.8 for Sam Watson. Hawley and Jolly (has Hawley sent out a Christmas card that says “Have a Hawley Jolly Christmas” yet? Because that should happen soon if not) have one little bobble coming out of their first halt but are now into their trot work and looking more in sync.
3:46 a.m. EST: Next to see is our first of the North Americans: Hawley Bennett-Awad comes in now with the 18-year-old mare Jollybo (Jumbo x Polly Coldunnell, by Danzig Connection). This is the second Worlds appearance for this pair together, who also competed at the WEG in Tryon.
3:44 a.m. EST: Ah, what a lovely stretching circle at the canter for SAP Talisman. A really sold effort here to start things off for the Irish team. Sam looks like he’ll be a little higher than their usual average but not for lack of effort. Christoph’s score is confirmed at 32.8.
3:42 a.m. EST: Whoops, SAP Talisman says “wait, you don’t want me to keep going?”, adding a few extra obedient rein-back steps. I just love this horse and his “I can do it!” attitude. Also, the music here makes me feel like I’m watching a sad scene in a war movie? So.. if you’re into that mood.
3:41 a.m. EST: SAP Talisman is showing a bit more relaxation early on in his test. He wouldn’t be the fanciest mover of this lot, but he’s keen to do the right thing. This pair typically averages a mid-30s mark in this phase and so far are trending at about a 36.8 as they get into their walk work.
3:40 a.m. EST: A look at the breakdown of Christoph’s scores:
3:38 a.m. EST: Dressage scores can be found here.
3:35 a.m. EST: And now we’re seeing some just lovely work in the canter from Carjatan S, who has had quite a successful year thus far. This score is going to hit the board a bit higher than they’d initially have liked to start, but it’s looking like a low or mid-30s score to start the week off for the Germans. We’ll next see the first for the Irish, Sam Watson with the young but supremely talented and class SAP Talisman (Puissance x Ali Row, by All Royal), who stepped up in incredible fashion to represent Ireland at Europeans last year as a late call-up. He gets his proper due this week at Worlds as an 11-year-old. Provisionally, 32.8 for Christoph.
3:33 a.m. EST: If you’re a breeding aficionado and want to follow along with the patterns and trends in this year’s field, you can also purchase a copy of Breed.Ride.Compete’s breeding data for this weekend here. And you can find more bits and pieces about each pair entered here.
3:32 a.m. EST: Oh dear, another bobble here in the extended trot — I think this one will settle a bit more into the canter work.
3:31 a.m. EST: Carjatan S has been bit by the tension bug here early on in the test, unable to get into much of a medium trot because the gray gelding is just feeling himself a bit extra this morning.
3:30 a.m. EST: Andddd…first horse up the centerline – go! Thank you so much for tuning in with us bright and early this morning. We’re getting ready to kick this party off officially with German rider Christoph Wahler with Carjatan S (Clearway x Kajenna, by Galant Vert).
The muck heap at Pratoni! Photo courtesy of Jackie Potts Equestrians Services FB.
I know everyone is excited about the World Championships this week, but can we spare a moment of silent reverence for this muck heap contraption at Pratoni? Jackie Potts posted a video of the action and honestly I was so excited about the future of horse shows. Can we bring this technology to the US so I can stop dealing with horrendous terrifying muck heaps at competitions? This nifty little gadget takes your poo on an elevator ride up and away into the tidy bin in blue, making all your poo pile dreams come true.
Want more Pratoni news? Head over to our Ultimate Guide to FEI World Championships for Eventing, and be sure to sign up for the #Pratoni2022 Daily Digest email, which will be delivered straight to your inbox each day through Sunday, September 18.
FEI World Championships for Eventing: [Website] [Definite Entries] [FEI TV] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’s Form Guide] [Timing & Scoring] [Daily Digest Email] [EN’s Coverage]
U.S. Weekend Preview
Aspen Farm H.T. (Yelm, WA): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]
The Event at Skyline (Mount Pleasant, UT): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Scoring]
Flying Cross Farm H.T. (Goshen, KY): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]
Marlborough H.T. (Upper Marlboro, MD): [Website] [Entry Status]
Otter Creek Fall H.T. (Wheeler, WI): [Website] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Stone Gate Farm H.T. (Hanoverton, OH): [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]
Tryon Fall H.T. (Mill Spring, NC): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Unionville H.T. (Unionville, PA): [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]
Major International Events
Blenheim Palace International (Oxfordshire, England): [Website] [Schedule] [Entry Status] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream]
News From Around the Globe:
The long-awaited 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships are just days away and horse and rider pairs from all over the country are settling in and getting the lay of the land at the beautiful Pratoni del Vivaro in Rome, Italy. The host site, which will also host the 2022 FEI Driving World Championships, was the venue for eventing at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome as well as the site for the cross-country competition at the FEI World Equestrian Games in 1998. [Fast Facts of Pratoni]
“Teamwork makes the dream work” has become a popular caption on social media feeds of athletes from all disciplines. This phrase seems particularly relevant for those in the eventing world. While the spotlight might shine on a single horse and rider combination during the heat of competition, every event rider understands theirs to be a fundamentally team sport, dependent on the efforts and skillsets of grooms, barn managers, trainers, working students, and often a wide array of friends and family, without whom the strains of competition, training, and travel would not be sustainable. But what exactly goes into the “work” that holds together a team for the long haul? One trainer who seems to have cracked the code for building a cohesive and enduring team is Fylicia Barr. [Making the Dream Work with Fylicia Barr Eventing]
Carrot stretches may seem outdated but they’re highly useful for improving performance. Not only can you as the rider use carrot stretches to learn more about their body, but your trainer can see how they react when bending both ways, and how it effects their performance under saddle. Your equine physio, saddle fitter, and vet can also learn plenty from applying carrot stretches. [Understanding Horse Performance]
One of the ways you can help your horse recover from a strenuous workout, such as a gallop or jump school, is to apply a liniment, brace or cooling gel to his legs and/or any large muscles that might be sore. This helps promote circulation which, in turn, reduces swelling in tendons, ligaments, muscles and other soft tissues. But there is a right way to apply liniment, and a wrong way. [How to Apply Liniment]
Before we dive headfirst into today’s social media recap from Pratoni, a major shout to German eventing blogger, videographer, all around content creator, and most importantly badass human Juliane Barth aka @julis_eventer, who has teamed up with us this week for some epic Instagram content and dropped her first Reel today. Nothing quite captures the essence of equestrian sport like the visual arts, and I’m so proud to have both Julis as well as Tilly Berendt and Shelby Allen on the ground and bringing all of us along for the ride.
Wednesday marked trot-up day for the field of competitors at the 2022 FEI World Championships for Eventing, and a total of 89 horses representing 26 countries will now go forward to tomorrow.
One of my favorite parts of these World Championship events is the number of riders from all over the globe who gather to compete, yes, but also to celebrate this incredible sport we are lucky to have. Scrolling through my social media feeds introduces me to riders and horses I haven’t seen before and now I’m here to share some of those missives with you. Without further ado, today’s social media recap — and it’s a big one!
Want more Pratoni news? Head over to our Ultimate Guide to FEI World Championships for Eventing, and be sure to sign up for the #Pratoni2022 Daily Digest email, which will be delivered straight to your inbox each day through Sunday, September 18.
FEI World Championships for Eventing: [Website] [Definite Entries] [FEI TV] [ EN’s Ultimate Guide ] [EN’s Form Guide] [Timing & Scoring] [Thursday Dressage Times] [Friday Dressage Times] [Daily Digest Email] [EN’s Coverage]
Just one more sleep to gooooo… 🥳
We can’t wait to for the FEI Eventing World Championships begin tomorrow!
Will anyone make it into the top ten of FEI Eventing World Championships Dressage scores? 🤔👀#ChampionsAsOne #Pratoni2022 @EquiRatings
📸© FEI / @Ctanierephotos pic.twitter.com/UYkY66BQ5O
— The FEI (@FEI_Global) September 14, 2022
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller
📸 @LLP_LIBBY_LIVE #Pratoni2022 #TeamAustralia #EventingWorldvhampionships #Eventing #TrotUp #HorseLove pic.twitter.com/atrtpaTAkw
— Andrew Hoy (@HoyEventing) September 14, 2022
The winners of the Hi Ho Silver Best Dressed at the Horse Inspection were….
🏆 Roberto Scalisi leading ALAMEIN
🏆 Rosie Fry Eventing leading ARISE CAVALIERPosted by Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials on Wednesday, September 14, 2022
The Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials event is scheduled to run today through Sunday, September 18th in England. With the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Blenheim runs in her honor this weekend as its team extends heartfelt condolences to King Charles III and all members of the Royal Family at this deeply saddening time.
As scheduled, there will be both CCI-L4* and CCI-S 4* divisions running, and today all pairs passed the first horse inspection in front of Ground Jury President Robert Stevenson (USA) and members Douglas Hibbert (GBR) and Sue Baxter (GBR). Let’s take a closer look at the pairs we’ll see this week:
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For our U.S. riders in the 4*L, UK based 27-year old Grace Taylor is entered with Ann Taylor’s Game Changer. With a recent elimination at the 4*L level earlier this year, the pair will look to their previous 4* experience, including a 4*S run at Blenheim last year, where they finished fourth, to expand on their experience.
Kimmy Cecere and Landmarks Monaco. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Kimmy Cecere and Jacqueline Mars’ Landmarks Monaco have been gearing up towards Blenheim with a stay in the UK since this past spring. With runs at the 3* and 4*S levels at Floors Castle, Houghton Hall, Bramham, and Le Pin au Haras, we’ll be keeping an eye on the pair to see how their UK prep has served them to make a run at the 4*L at Blenheim.
Valerie Pride an Favian at the Maryland 5 Star. Photo by Abby Powell.
U.S. based Valerie Vizcarrondo Pride and her Oldenburg gelding Favian have been prepping for this event with the one and only William Fox-Pitt. With two 5*L attempts, and one 5*L finish at Maryland last fall, Favian and Valerie have built their partnership from their first FEI competition at the 1* level in 2016. We’ve been watching Valerie’s Instagram for pictures from around the Fox-Pitt yard, and are excited to follow along this week as well!
Gillian Beale King has been riding for Richard and Tanja Ames of Belline Estate in Ireland since the spring of 2021. Now, we see her listed with three separate rides at Blenheim! In the 4*L, Gillian is riding Rebeliant, the 11 year-old Polish bred gelding. This will be both Gillian and Rebeliant’s 4*L debut.
Gillian Beale King is the only U.S. rider to compete in the 4*S at Blenheim this week, with Richard Ames’ RCA Royal Summer and Derena Super Star. Both horses have been previously been campaigned by Gillian at the 4*S level. RCA Royal Summer most recently finished sixth at Millstreet in the 4*S, with Derena Super Star close behind in 11th.
Outside of U.S. riders, Blenheim has attracted riders from 14 countries. For Canada, we’ll see Jamie Kellock and Summer Bay in the 4*L and Kathryn Robinson and Cloud K in the 4*S. We also see a number of familiar faces within this list, notably Sarah Bullimore with Corouet, Felicity Collins and RSH Contend OR, and Zara Tindall and Class Affair rerouting from Burghley just a few weeks ago, where both riders retired at the 5*L level.
Dressage begins tomorrow and continues into Friday, with the first pair to see at 9:00 a.m. BST / 4:00 a.m. EST (Aimee Penny and PSH Encore). You can view 4*-L times here and 4*-S times here. Notable ride times include:
4*L
Both the 4*L and the 4*S will have a free live stream available via the Blenheim Palace website — click here for tomorrow’s dressage stream and here to see the rest of the broadcast schedule. Many thanks to the team at Blenheim for making this available!
Take a look at some social media from trot-up day at Blenheim below!
Blenheim Palace International (Oxfordshire, England): [Website] [Schedule] [Entry Status] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream]
Ariel Grald gives Leamore Master Plan a cuddle after presenting for the USA. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
It’s all systems go for the United States and Canada as they prepare for the dressage portion of competition at the FEI World Championships for Eventing. We unfortunately saw a premature end for the stateside-based partnership of Daniela Moguel and Cecelia, but the ten remaining North American competitors have their blinders on now for a top performance.
Ahead of the start of the dressage phase, EN catches up with friends from back home for their thoughts on the event, their prep and all things Pratoni:
Bobby Costello
“Chef Bob,” as he’s known to some, is at the helm for the stars and stripes in his role as interim Chef d’Equipe. He’s been given a uniquely challenging role, to oversea an operation as massive as Olympic qualification in such a short term role, but Bobby’s taken to the role with pride.
“I think it’s a mixture of giving everybody the latitude to continue with their own programs, because that’s what got them here, but there’s so much structure that has to happen around this competition,” he said. “So I think it’s just all been about building the trust from the riders over the last few months.”
Riders for the most part have stayed true to their teaching and training principles, and Bobby’s made it his mission to achieve team cohesion amid that.
“I think I think our time in France was time really well spent. Because everybody really started to relax into the weekend in a positive way. And I could just feel the focus improving every day, and almost, actually, the relaxation. I think when you go into when you go into a training camp like that, when you’re used to riding tons of horses a day, and then all of a sudden having one horse to ride, there’s so many other things that can come into your mind. And I thought everybody just did a good job as the week progressed, really just focusing and relaxing, and concentrating on the things that were really important. I think they’re all in a really good place, mentally,” he said.
Of course, top form is what matters most for the team at the end of the day. “What really counts now is starting tomorrow through Sunday. And we’ll see, we’ll see. But everybody’s feeling very positive. I think we have a very good shot at doing well, if we just kind of keep doing what we’re doing and, and not get distracted. And I think the riders have been showing that they’re not going to let any distractions get to them this week.”
“I mean, the priority does have to be an Olympic qualification. But I’ve said, and I’ll say it again, a quarter of a step behind that, as far as I’m concerned, is medaling because we have the horses and the riders to do that now. And not two to six years from now, right now. So Olympic qualification is absolute, but hot on the heels is a medal because these guys deserve it,” he said.
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg
“It’s been a trip to the horses from great meadow to JFK to Frankfort to Vittel. And as he’s getting older, I think the key is to drill him less and less in preparation for good performance. So I’ve tried to leave him quite fresh. And his energy levels get quite high and looks like I’m going the end of the day on Friday. So I had my first workout on the flat today and he felt good. I’ll do a bit tonight here and give him a little jump tomorrow. I think he I think he should do a good test,” he said.
Boyd has been cemented as team anchor, so he’ll be the final team member to leave the start box Saturday. “It’s an unbelievable amount of pressure and nerves. And it seems glamorous, but it’s, you know, it’s a tough process just because you’re really trying to do every single thing you can for top performance. The biggest thing here is to ride really, really well and and give a performance of a lifetime — something that keeps you up at night.
“We’re close now — certainly crunch time — but I feel like we’re in a good place and it’s maybe it’s getting a little bit easier over the years because you sort of understand the process, but it’s still nerve racking process.”
La
Lauren Kieffer and Vermiculus
“He’s right where we want him,” Lauren said of the Anglo-Arabian.
“Vittel was amazing, and they were so welcoming to us. And it was perfect place to prepare but very quiet for the horses and they got to kind of stick to their normal at home routine, so it’s not like they’re gone traveling as much.” Lauren describes their French team training with such idyllic detail, she made us wish we had joined along.
The facilities included steeplechase tracks, competition arenas and a grass jumping arena, which should lead to their advantage come Sunday. “They really had anything we could want,” she said. And of course, the cherry on top was conditioning work along the facility golf course. “I think a lot of people saw the videos of us galloping on the golf course, and I’m not sure that golfers loved it, but it was perfect for us,” she said.
Lauren and Bug have been around the world together, and that wealth of experience helped in the planning for this Championship. “I think it’s always toeing that line of, you know, you want to do your best ever, but you also have to keep it realistic knowing that our job is to to put a team score on the table,” she said.
“It’s also preparing the best way for the horse and being competitive, but not drilling them past the point of their abilities and actually going the wrong way with the competitiveness. So, I think everybody’s found a really good balance of that. And with the training camp everybody really stuck to their normal plans, what they know works for their horse, and it was really cohesive group in that way. Like, nobody felt like just because someone was jumping, they had to jump that day. We all really stuck to what we would normally do with our horses leading up to a three-day, which I don’t think has always been the case in the past.”
Canada’s Karl Slezak presents Fernhill Wishes. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Karl Slezak and Fernhill Wishes
“[The lead up] has been great. He’s been has been in England all summer, and I’ve been going back and forth,” Karl said. “Chocy” has been based at Rodney Powell’s farm where he says, “the hills have been phenomenal for him.”
He’s also taken the summer to rethink their dressage performance with the help of Alex Franklin. “We’ve been changing his shape a little bit. And so I’m hoping it’ll peak this weekend, but maybe, maybe. We’ll see.”
Canada’s Hawley Bennett Awad shares a moment with 18-year-old Jollybo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo
Hawley, a west-coaster based in California, says Jollybo has settled in pleasantly following their lengthy journey.
“It was a long haul from California. We flew with Apollo Equine, and flew from L.A. to Belgium and then stayed in the Netherlands. We stayed there for like five days, and then drove to Germany picked up Holly Jacks, and then drove from Germany to here, which was 32 hours — such a doozy,” she described.
“We’ve been here for about a week, [based just up the road at Italian eventer Mattia Luciani’s farm], so they’ve had a chance to settle. It’s hands down so nice — his whole family. It really gives me goosebumps — the nicest people I’ve ever met in my entire life. And his dad’s actually the vet here. So it’s really cool, and we love it so much. I really could move here. [I’m] blown away by the people the food and how beautiful it is.”
For Hawley, the tropical weather and ground conditions feel like home. “With the ground being dirt and it being hot, I think it’s good for us West Coast kids. It was it was 116 degrees when we left, so heat won’t bother us. But I mean, the first half, of course, is pretty hilly, so I think it’s going to be a true test. And it’s a World Championship course. Nothing’s easy when you put World Championships in front of it. So I’ve walked the course I think it’s gonna be tough,” she said.
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