Switzerland’s Robin Godel and the former Andrew Nicholson mount Jet Set. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Switzerland is the latest nation to announce its team for the forthcoming Tokyo Olympics. The country earned their slot at the Nations Cup finale at the Netherlands’ Military Boekelo in 2019, the final selection route for teams for this renewal of the Games.
The horses and riders selected to represent their country are:
Robin Godel and Jet Set – 14-year-old Spanish Sport Horse gelding (Nordico – Carina), owned by Jean-Jacques Fünfschilling and Olivia Sellar
Felix Vogg and Cartania II – 10-year-old Holsteiner mare (Cartani 4 – Z-Schatzi, by Clinton), owned by Phoenix Eventing S.a.r.l. and the rider
Mélody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire – 14-year-old Selle Français gelding (Mr Blue – La Guna de Rueire, by Bayard d’Elle), owned by Peter Hasenböhler and Peter Thuerler
Travelling reserve: Eveline Bodenmüller and Violine de la Brasserie CH – 12-year-old Swiss Warmblood mare (Galant Normand – Clarte de la Brasserie, by Cinema), owned by Mathias Bodenmüller and Christian Kron
The team is helmed by trainer Andrew Nicholson, who also piloted nominated horse Jet Set through the CCI5* level. It’s an exciting year for Switzerland; the country will also host this autumn’s European Championships, held at Avenches.
Graphic courtesy of the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation.
Upon the deadline for achieving the Olympic Games Minimum Eligibility Requirement (MER) on Monday 21 June 2021, the HKEF is delighted to confirm that eventing rider Thomas Heffernan Ho, who has earned the qualifying result to Olympics Eventing Individual, will be the representative for Equestrian to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Thomas also earned the first-ever Eventing Individual slot for Hong Kong back in 2020 by ranking the second regionally after India. Thomas and his long-term partner Tayberry has achieved the first full MER at Strzegom CCI4*-L and Arville CCI4*-S in 2019. Under the FEI requirement for the postponed Olympics, the combination further earned the confirmation result at Sopot CCI4*-S last September, and thus a full qualification to the Olympics.
With impressive achievement and being the only eventing rider in Hong Kong qualifying for the Olympics level, Thomas was selected the Hong Kong representative and will be competing with his horse Tayberry at Sea Forest Cross-Country Course and Baji Koen Equestrian Park from 30 July to 2 August.
On top of the first eventing representative, Hong Kong is also sending the first-ever Para Dressage team to the Paralympic Games. Based on the top six international results obtained before 31 January 2020, Hong Kong riders Timothy Tsang Tin-chi and Natasha Tse Pui-ting ranked among the top three on the FEI Paralympic Individual Asia Region Ranking List and attained the maximum of two slots available. Fleur Schrader, who received a Bipartite Commission Invitation with outstanding results, will be joining Timothy and Natasha to Tokyo.
With Hong Kong obtaining three individual slots and all athletes fulfilling the required criteria to form a team, it is exciting to see the first Para Dressage team to the Paralympics, marking the milestone of equestrian sport in Hong Kong. The Paralympic equestrian events are going to be held at Baji Koen Equestrian Park shortly after the Olympics from 26 to 30 August.
The HKEF would like to congratulate all riders for their achievements and we invite all to wish them the best of luck in Tokyo this summer.
We are full of Tokyo news today! Next up in the latest team announcement is Italy, who will be sending a full team that will also quarantine in Aachen, Germany before heading to Japan. Team Italy will be represented by the following combinations:
Susanna Bordone and Imperial Van De Holtakkers (Quidam de Revel – Ava vd Holtakkers, by Argentinus), 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Maria Giovanna Mazzocchi
Stefano Brecciaroli and Bolivar Gio Granno (Gio Granno – Native de Sautussan, by Faalem), 10-year-old Anglo-Arab stallion owned by Maria Giovanna Mazzocchi
Vittoria Panizzon and Super Cillious. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Vittoria Panizzon and Super Cillious (Deanes San Ciro Hit – Lady Priscilla, by Rock King), 12-year-old British Sport Horse gelding owned by Lucy Allison, Deborah Bevan, Juliet Donald and Vittoria Panizzon
Arianna Schivo and Quefira de l’Ormeau. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Arianna Schivo on Quefira de L’Ormeau (Iolisco de Quinhon – Isabelle du Brulot, by Beausejour IV), 17-year-old Selle Francais mare owned by Arianna Schivo
Italy’s Pietro Majolino and Vita Louise DH Z post a 39.7 to sit in the top thirty overnight. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Reserve: Pietro Majolino on Vita Louise Dh Z (Va-Vite – Diancara), 14-year-old Zangersheide mare owned by Pietro Majolino
The British Olympic team of Oliver Townend, travelling reserve Piggy March, Laura Collett, and Tom McEwen. Photo courtesy of Jon Stroud/BEF.
There’s such extraordinary strength in depth in the Britain’s eventing scene at the moment that any combination of the long-listed riders would have come forward as the firm favourites to take gold in Tokyo this summer. But it’s been a long wait to find out who will actually board the plane to Japan in a scant couple of weeks, and after the intended announcement date was delayed, speculation ran rife. This morning (July 1), British Equestrian finally opted to put us all out of our misery and reveal their hotly anticipated team.
The four horses and riders who will represent Great Britain at the Olympics are:
Laura Collett (31) based in Salperton, Gloucestershire, with Karen Bartlett, Keith Scott and her own London 52 (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 16.3hh, Landos x Quinar, Breeder: Ocke Riewerts GER, Groom: Matilda Sayburn-Hughes)
Tom McEwen (30) based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, with Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Inns and Ali McEwen’s Toledo de Kerser (bay, gelding, 14yrs, 16.1hh, Diamant de Semilly x Papillon Rouge, Breeder: Kerstin Drevet FRA, Groom: Francesca Gorni)
Oliver Townend (38) based in Ellesmere, Shropshire, with Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan’s Ballaghmor Class (grey, gelding, 14yo, 16.2hh, by Courage II, Breeder: Noel Hicky IRL, Groom: Jess McKie)
Travelling reserve: Piggy March (40) based in Maidwell, Northamptonshire, with John and Chloe Perry and Alison Swinburn’s Brookfield Inocent (bay, gelding, 12yrs, 16.3hh, Inocent x Kings Servant, Breeder: John Mulvey IRL, Groom: Amy Phillips)
Laura Collett and London 52 take the win at the 2020 edition of Les 5 Etoiles de Pau. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
All four combinations are first-time Olympians, but bring forward an extraordinary wealth of experience at the top level of the sport. Laura Collett has ridden at three Senior European Championships, as well as two at Young Rider level, two at Junior level, and one at Pony level, and with her 2020 Pau CCI5* winner London 52, she’s finished in the top five in six of her last seven international runs – and four of those six have been wins.
Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser were part of Great Britain’s gold medal winning team at the 2018 Tryon World Equestrian Games, where they finished 12th individually, and took top honours in Pau CCI5* in 2019. They’ve never finished worse than 11th in any of their six CCI5* runs, and were victorious in the CCI4*-S at Bicton last month, which served as the final selection trial for Tokyo.
Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class. Photo by Shelby Allen.
Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class won Burghley on the horse’s CCI5* debut as a ten-year-old in 2017 and took Kentucky CCI5* this year; so far, they’ve never finished lower than fifth in any of their six runs at the level. Disregarding competitions at which Oliver has opted not to run cross-country, Ballaghmor Class hasn’t finished lower than third in an international since mid-2018. Though this will be a Championship debut for the gelding, Oliver has ridden at World Equestrian Games as an individual in 2006 and 2014, and has been to six European Championships: twice as an individual, once as part of the silver medal-winning team, and three times as part of gold medal-winning teams.
Piggy French and Brookfield Inocent. Photo by William Carey.
Travelling reserve combination Piggy March and Brookfield Inocent can be used as a substitute pair throughout the competition, and though the exciting horse is relatively inexperienced, his results so far are formidable: he finished second in his CCI5* debut at Pau last year, won Blenheim CCI4*-L in 2019 on his debut at the level, and has finished in the top ten in ten of his last twelve international runs. Piggy has won three European medals across her career, and was part of the gold medal-winning team at the World Equestrian Games in 2018 aboard Quarrycrest Echo.
Great Britain’s team heads to Tokyo hoping to scoop the country’s first Olympic eventing gold since Leslie Law took individual honours in 2004. The last time the British won team gold was in 1972, though they took silver at London in 2012 and bronze at Beijing in 2008.
Need a little extra schooling? (Who doesn’t, honestly?) Stable View’s next Eventing Academy weekend is coming up fast, July 10 & 11! It’s the perfect opportunity to get a little bit of extra education under your belt (or your horse’s girth )with an opportunity to school the courses on Saturday and then compete in an unrecognized horse trial on Sunday. You can register easily online right here!
Equestrian sports have had not one but TWO major viruses to deal with year. While COVID-19 has rightfully taken centerstage as biggest hurdle that the Tokyo Olympics has had to contend with, the EHV-1 outbreak that hit Europe earlier this year was also a cause for concern while planning for the Olympic equestrian disciplines. [Battling two deadly viruses, equestrian sports brace for Tokyo]
Ready for some TBT Olympic nostalgia? The USEA has unearthed some vintage footage from the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Enjoy this video and take a trip back to the time of shag carpet, corduroy pants, and double gold medals for the Team USA. Those were the days, huh? [Team Gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games]
It has been nearly two years since show jumper Kevin Babington suffered serious spinal injuries in a fall at the Hampton Classic. While his initial prognosis was not particularly uplifting, Kevin’s acceptance into stem cell therapy clinical trial from the Mayo Clinic is beginning to show results and giving them hope. As Kevin and his family fight for the best possible scenario for recovery, they also fight to keep their business going. [“Our Family Has Never Been More United”: The Babington Family Inches Bravely Forward as Kevin’s Recovery Progresses]
Advertising on EN is a great way to connect your brand with the heart of the eventing community. New for 2021, we are proud to offer Event Coverage Sponsorships for 2021 and beyond. Learn more about advertising opportunities here.
Thursday Video: You gotta love it when a rider just gushes about their horse. Here’s what Australia’s Andrew Hoy has to say about his Olympic mount, Vassily de Lassos:
Liz Halliday Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by US Equestrian/Taylor Pence.
The riders slated to head to Tokyo next month as well as several alternate pairs and one Canadian have converged on Great Meadow in The Plains, Va. this week for one final training session before the Olympics. With instructions to have all fitness work completed before coming to this Mandatory Outing, the pairs will focus on honing the fine details and getting valuable feedback this week.
Today’s dressage was moved up a day in anticipation of heavy weather in the forecast to ensure that competitors would be able to get in a cross country run tomorrow morning. While official scores were not handed out, the dressage tests focused on more of a “Ride-A-Test” format in which riders could repeat a movement if desired and get realtime input from the judging panel of Mark Weissbecker and Debbie Adams.
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg. Photo by US Equestrian/Taylor Pence.
In Tokyo, riders will use the newest version of the Olympic Games Dressage Test, which consists of 20 scored movements and one collective mark for Harmony of Athlete and Horse. This being a new test that none of these riders will have performed yet, there was much value to be had in querying the judges for what it was they’d be seeking in true competition. Particularly notable in this test is the canter work, which begins with a right lead counter-canter and is nearly immediately followed by two flying changes on the quarter lines of a diagonal. A total of four flying changes, each performed on the quarter line, are included in this test, and in a short window of time.
“Today’s dressage was a lot of learning for all of us,” U.S. Eventing Performance Director Erik Duvander said. “It’s a new test for us all. Today we got the judges’ opinions on how the test should be ridden.”
Erik Duvander looks on during today’s practice tests. Photo by US Equestrian/Taylor Pence.
The riders echoed these sentiments, expressing their appreciation of the judges’ willingness to walk through the expectations for each movement and how each pair can improve between now and Tokyo.
“It was very helpful to go through the test with the two judges as well,” Phillip Dutton commented. “I was pleased, but also there are areas that I can improve before Tokyo. Overall, they liked (Z’s) paces and the way I presented him. Certainly there was too much neck bend in the shoulder-in and the finessing of the canter work. It’s kind of a little bit harder and a little bit different than what we’ve ever done before and certainly with the half pass the change and back, so the way that you execute and position the horse through that, they talked us through what they’re looking for there, so that was helpful as well.”
Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by US Equestrian/Taylor Pence.
“I found that extremely helpful,” Liz Halliday-Sharp said after her test with Deniro Z, noting that she didn’t go in the ring aiming to produce the best possible performance but rather to practice the movements and ensure she had the details nailed down. “There’s a lot of odd movements we’ve never done…so that’s more what I wanted to get out of today was what do they want to see for the 8, when do we set up for that, can we do this that and the other, so that was fantastic.”
Watch Doug Payne and Vandiver’s test to get a visual of what the riders will be tackling in the Tokyo sandbox:
Dressage was followed by a horse inspection, through which all 12 pairs passed. Tomorrow will see a cross country test over a 5 minute, 30 second track designed by Ian Stark at four-star specifications (as the Olympic Games track will also be). The track will include 34 jumping efforts and 21 numbered fences.
Things will then wrap up on Friday morning with a second horse inspection and show jumping test. For the jumping phases, live scores will be populated at this link. With this being more of a dress rehearsal than a competition – and with the typical July temperatures and harder ground – expect to see plenty of time taken on cross country as the riders get in one final practice run before getting on the plane.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by US Equestrian/Taylor Pence.
“I guess we’ll see time wise on cross country,” Doug Payne said. “Things are a bit drier – not going to go crazy fast, but you absolutely want to be competitive and want to put together the best, most polished round you can, again preparing the best we can for going over to Tokyo.”
Kate Samuels will be on the ground at Great Meadow tomorrow to document the action, so stay tuned here on EN for much more from Virginia!
Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way. Photo by US Equestrian/Taylor Pence.
Liz Halliday Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by US Equestrian/Taylor Pence.
Liz Halliday Sharp and Deniro Z. Photo by US Equestrian/Taylor Pence.
Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by US Equestrian/Taylor Pence.
Doug Payne and Vandiver. Photo by US Equestrian/Taylor Pence.
It’s been a seriously good day to be a fan of the sport, particularly if you, like us, can think of little else but the forthcoming Tokyo Olympics. That’s because today, the US eventing team and the UK shortlist both tackled their first ride-throughs of the Olympic test: US riders in their mandatory training outing at Great Meadows, and the six shortlisted British riders in an exhibition at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
We already know our US team, which is comprised of Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF, Phillip Dutton and Z, Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z, and Doug Payne and Vandiver as the travelling reserves, but they weren’t the only combinations on the roster in today’s line-up. 12 pairs came forward in total, including all the reserves and – wild card! – Canada’s Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue d’Argouges. Meanwhile, in England, we’re still waiting for tomorrow’s announcement, but can feel confident that the final team comes from today’s six pairs: Piggy March and Brookfield Inocent, Kitty King and Vendredi Biats, Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser, Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class, Laura Collett and London 52, and Ros Canter and Allstar B. Once again, we’re struck by how little we’d enjoy having to choose three pairs out of that star-studded line-up.
Though neither the British side’s tests nor the U.S.’ were officially scored, we’ve rounded up some videos showcasing some of today’s action, which offers a great opportunity to familiarise yourself with the short, snappy Olympic test and to see how some of these high-flying combinations fare in its clutches. Oh, and a fun fact for you? In this three-and-a-half minute test, the four flying changes count for nearly 20% of the total marks awarded. We’re used to missed changes being expensive – in Tokyo, they could bankrupt you.
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Pawel Spisak and Banderas. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
We’re still waiting on a few federations to announce their team and individual slots for the fast-approaching Tokyo Olympics (cough cough, looking at you, Great Britain, cough cough), and the latest to hit the newswires is the announcement of Poland’s team.
Poland will be represented in Tokyo for eventing by:
Paweł Spisak and Banderas (Moravia – Babilonia xx, by Jape xx), 14-year-old Polish gelding owned by Marek Jodko
Małgorzata Cybulska and Chenaro 2 (Chequille – Dayenne, by Dinaro), 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Marzenna Walden
Joanna Pawlak and Fantastic Frieda (For Edition – Pirola, by Pinkus), 12-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Joanna Pawlak
Reserve: Mateusz Kiempa and Libertina (Con Sherry – Libra, by West), 12-year-old Pferdezuchtverband Brandenburg mare owned by Anna Manczak
Second reserve: Jan Kamiński and Jard (Czuwaj – Jucznia, by Chef Supreme), 11-year-old Polish gelding owned by Marcin Kaminski
Team USA (and Canada!) and the designated alternates for Tokyo are in The Plains, Va. this week as they make their final preparations for next month’s postponed 2020 Olympics. The Mandatory Outing is being held at Great Meadow International, and though the session was originally slated to run in a traditional format – jog, dressage, cross country, jog, show jumping – due to concerns about forecasted weather, some modifications to the schedule have been made.
The entered horse and rider pairs for this Mandatory Outing are:
Team USA:
Phillip Dutton and Z
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Deniro Z
Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF
Doug Payne and Vandiver
Alternates (alphabetical order):
Will Coleman and Off the Record
Buck Davidson and Carlevo
Sydney Elliot and QC Diamantaire
Will Faudree and Mama’s Magic Way
Boyd Martin and On Cue
Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum
Team Canada:
Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue d’Argouges
A series of dressage test rides will be performed at Great Meadow this afternoon by the 12 entered combinations. Canada’s Colleen Loach, who has been tapped to take one of the two individual slots allotted to the country, is also participating this weekend. Her fellow Canadian competitor, Jessica Phoenix, is not participating; the test is not a Mandatory Outing for Canada. These tests will be scored, though followers should note that this is not a true competition and at the time of publication there is no confirmation as to the availability of dressage scores. Dressage will be followed by a horse inspection at 5:30 p.m. EST, concluding today’s action.
Tomorrow, the pairs will tackle an Ian Stark-designed cross country test beginning at 10 a.m. EST. A second jog will take place Friday morning at 8 a.m. EST, followed by show jumping over a Chris Barnard-designed track at 10 a.m. EST.
There is unfortunately no live stream of the Mandatory Outing, but we’ll be sharing photos from today’s and Friday’s action and will have Kate Samuels on site reporting tomorrow.
“The basic purpose [of GMI] is that they all needed a run,” USEF Managing Director of Eventing Jenni Autry told EN earlier this month. “They’ll all work on specific goals with [Chef d’Equipe Erik Duvander] during the competition in order to be ready. Ultimately the goal is to be the best prepared they possibly can be during the Olympics. It is set up like a competition and there will be live scoring, but fundamentally it’s technically a mandatory training session.”
Following the outing, the horses will be staged at Gladstone in New Jersey in preparation to fly on July 8. “All fitness work is to be done by the time they leave,” Jenni says. “They’ll have access to gallops but they are not intended for actual galloping. Erik has been very clear that that all needs to get done before they get on the plane.”
From there, the team will travel to a Pre-Export Quarantine in Aachen, Germany. The facility will function as their final training camp where we will be working with dressage judges and as well as Peter Wylde for show jumping.
The first and second alternates, Tamie Smith with Mai Baum and Will Faudree with Mama’s Magic Way, will travel to Aachen with the team and will have the option of staying to contest CHIO Aachen on Sept. 17-18.
Olympic eventing will begin July 30 and continue through August 2, 2021, at the Equestrian Park and Sea Forest Cross-Country Course venues in Tokyo.
Japan has the honor of hosting this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, a postponement from their original running date in 2020. This is a team that has been building and priming for this moment, assembling a talented cast of riders and top horses, assisted by some of the best coaches and trainers in the sport. At long last, we’ve got our answer on who will have the nod for the eventing team in Tokyo next month:
Yoshiaki Oiwa and Tullyoran Cruise JRA. Photo by Leszek Wójcik.
Yoshiaki Oiwa and Tullyoran Cruise JRA (Vriend – Tullyoran, by Bahrain Cruise), 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare owned by the Japanese Equestrian Federation
Reserve Horse: Carre
Groom: Barbora Kamírová
Toshiyuki Tanaka and Talma d’Allou (JPN). Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Toshiyuki Tanaka and Talma D’allou (Opium de Talma – Belle de L’Etang, by Prince Ig’Or), 14-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Riding Club Crane)
Reserve Horse: Swipe JRA
Groom: Undecided
Vinci de la Vigne and Kazuma Tomoto. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Kazuma Tomoto and Vinci de la Vigne JRA (Esterel de Bois SF – Korrigane de Vigne SF, by Duc du Hutrel), 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by the Japanese Equestrian Federation
Reserve Horse: Utopia
Groom: Jackie Potts
Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza Nieuwmoed. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Reserve (1 horse) Ryuzo Kitajima and Feroza Nieuwmoed (VDL Groep Zagreb – Uthodina, by Frisbee Kerellec), 11-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Riding Club Crane
Reserve Horse: Secatinka JRA
Groom: Undecided
Kenki Sato and Shanaclough Contadora. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Supplement Kenki Sato and Shanaclough Contadora* (Contador – Shanaclough Diamond Queen, by Covers Diamond Boy), 11-year-old Anglo-European mare owned by Shodo Sato *Valid after entering the quarantine station for transportation from Europe to Japan and before leaving Japan
