Classic Eventing Nation

Belgian Team Named for European Championships

By on Aug 14, 2019 4:00 pm -

Karin Donckers and Fletcha van’t Verahof. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

After an unlucky thirteenth-place finish at the World Equestrian Games last year, and with a current ranking of sixth in the 2019 FEI Nations Cup series, Belgium has a big job ahead of it as we rocket towards the Longines FEI European Championships – this will, realistically, be their last chance to qualify for a team ticket to Tokyo. The nation, which is better known for its showjumping prowess, failed to send a team to Rio, but its Luhmühlen team is certainly a relatively strong one. Congratulations to:

  • Karin Donckers and Fletcha Van’t Verahof, owned by Carl Bouckaert, Joris van de Brabandere, and the rider
  • Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Alpaga d’Arville, owned by Larga SPRL
  • Laura Logé and Absolut Allegro, owned by the rider
  • Constantin van Rijckevorsel and Beat It, owned by Mr and Mme von Rijckevorsel
  • Joris Vanspringel and Imperial van de Holtakkers, owned by Catharina Holtrust-Speerstra and the rider
  • Kris Vervaecke and Guantanamo van Alsingen, owned by BVBA Alsingen

Team stalwart Karin Donckers has also been named with a reserve horse, the homebred Lami-Cell’s Iris, owned by Victor Donckers and Lea Sterkens. Karin is easily the most experienced rider on the squad, and her partner, the fourteen-year-old Fletcha Van’t Verahof, the most experienced horse. Karin has competed at six Olympics (1992, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016, the latter of which was with Fletcha Van’t Verahof), seven World Equestrian Games (1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 – the final two with Fletcha Van’t Verahof), six FEI World Cup Finals (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009), and eleven senior European Championships (1993, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015, and 2017. In 2015 and 2017, she rode Fletcha Van’t Verahof). The duo wrapped their 2018 season with a win in a CCI4*-S at Le Pouget, and began 2019 with a win in the CCI4*-L at Barroca d’Alva. Though they’ve had a quiet season since their sixth-place finish at Houghton CCIO4*-S, they’ll be the most formidable weapon that Belgium has at this championship.

It’ll be a fourth senior Europeans appearance for Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, who competed at Strzegom in 2017 with Alpaga d’Arville, finishing 29th. They then went on to the 2018 World Equestrian Games – Lara’s third – and finished 42nd. Their best result this year has been a fifth-place finish in a CCI4*-S at their home event, Arville. Constantin van Rijckevorsel brings forward plenty of squad experience, too – he’s contested three Olympics (1996, 2000, 2004) in which he’s recorded two top-ten individual finishes, three World Equestrian Games (1998, 2010, 2014), and six Europeans (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009). This is the former showjumper Beat It‘s second full season of eventing, but he’s proving an exciting prospect – he finished seventh in his last run, the CCIO4*-S at Camphire last month.

Joris Vanspringel and Imperial van de Holtakkers. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Joris Vanspringel, too, provides a compelling amount of championship experience for the Belgian front: he’s competed at seven Europeans (2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017), the World Cup Final at Malmö in 2006, two World Equestrian Games (2014 and 2018), and four Olympics (2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016). With Imperial Van De Holtakkers, he jumped clear around Tryon last year.

Kris Vervaecke contested the World Equestrian Games way back in 1998, and in more recent history, he’s gone to three European Championships (2001, 2011, and 2017). With Guantanamo Van Alsingen, he’s jumped clear in four-stars at Sopot and Strzegom this season. Laura Logé makes her championship debut after a successful summer that has seen her record top-ten finishes at Marbach and Strzegom with the eleven-year-old Absolut Allegro.

[Europese Kampioenschappen jumping, dressuur, eventing en paradressuur – Lees er hier alles over!]

Austria, Finland, Denmark, and Hungary Name Riders for European Championships

By on Aug 14, 2019 1:00 pm -

Austria’s Katrin Khoddam-Hazrati and Cosma. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Hang onto your hats, dear readers: the deadline has passed for federations to name their teams for the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships (28 August – 1 September), and we’ll be force-feeding you a heaping helping of announcements over the next day or so. This morning, we’ll be looking at two of the underdog nations on the hunt for Tokyo qualification.

Both Austria and Finland will field a team at Luhmühlen, all being well — Austria has named four horse and rider combinations, while Finland has named just three, so all three will need to present at the first horse inspection to be eligible to join the qualification hunt.

This will be the first time we’ve seen Austria field a full team since the 2007 European Championships at Pratoni, where they finished ninth. Congratulations to:

  • Harald Ambros and Lexikon 2, owned by the rider
  • Daniel Dunst and Loriot F, owned by Peter Pichler
  • Rebecca Gerold and Shannon Queen, owned by Arnulf Gerold
  • Katrin Khoddam-Hazrati and Cosma, owned by the rider

Harald Ambros brings forward the most significant championship experience, with a resume that includes trips to four senior European Championships (2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009), two World Equestrian Games (2006 and 2010), and three Olympics (2004, 2008, and 2012). The subsequent injury of his London 2012 ride O-Feltiz meant that it took Harald until 2018 to re-establish himself at the CCI4* (then three-star) level. With the ten-year-old Lexicon 2, he’s since collected top-twenty finishes at CCI4*-S competitions at Strzegom and Vairano, as well as a win in Dunakeszi’s CCI4*-L and second place in a CCI4*-S at Montelibretti.

This will be a second senior Championship appearance for Katrin Khoddam-Hazrati, who rode Cosma as an individual at the 2017 Europeans, finishing 24th. The plucky chestnut mare was just an eight-year-old then, and in 2018, as a nine-year-old, she contested her first five-star. Her first attempt, which took place at Burghley, didn’t go quite to plan, and Katrin opted to retire on course, but the duo then rerouted to Pau, where they jumped clear across the country for 26th place.

Daniel Dunst makes a return to championship competition – alongside Harald, he was part of the last Austrian team at the Europeans, back in 2007. He then competed at the Blair Castle Europeans as an individual in 2015, though he was eliminated on both occasions. This time, he’ll ride the ten-year-old Loriot F, who began his international career last season and contested his first CCI4*-S just six months later. He’s since finished 14th in a CCI4*-S at Strzegom and 5th in the CCI4*-L st Dunakeszi.

Rebecca Gerold will make her first senior Championship appearance after a successful young rider career that saw her contest three Pony Europeans (2011, 2012, and 2013), three Junior Europeans (2012, 2013, and 2015), and two Young Rider Europeans (2016 and 2018). The latter was completed in partnership with Shannon Queen, the nine-year-old Trakehner mare she’ll ride at Luhmühlen. They head to Germany with a second place finish in Dunakeszi’s CCI4*-L and a clear round at Strzegom CCI4*-S behind them.

Pauliina Swindells and Ferro S. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Finland, who have been solidifying their squad under the guidance of top trainer Lizzel Winter FBHS, will debut their very first team at a senior Championship. With just three combinations on their list, the pressure is most certainly on: all three will need to start the competition, and without a drop score, all three will need to do their very best to complete it, too. Congratulations to:

  • Elmo Jankari and Duchess Desiree, owned by Sanna Siltakorpi, S. Hacklin, and the rider
  • Sanna Siltakorpi and Bofey Click, owned by TMI Ratsuvalmennus and the rider
  • Pauliina Swindells and Ferro S, owned by Sharon Graves, Jari and Pirjo Martilla, James Swindells, and the rider

Both Elmo Jankari and British-based Pauliina Swindells bring forward championship experience – the former competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 2014 World Equestrian Games, Senior Europeans in 2015, and Young Rider Europeans in 2012 and 2013, all with Duchess Desiree. Though the fourteen-year-old Oldenburg mare sat out the 2018 season, she’s clocked up a top-ten finish in the CCI4*-L at Strzegom so far this year. Pauliina Swindells and Ferro S headed to Tryon last year and the Strzegom Europeans the year prior to compete as individuals, although they’ve had a quiet 2019 season, with just two international runs. They jumped clear around Belton’s CCI4*-S Grantham Cup in March, but picked up a 20 in the CCI4*-S at Burgham at the end of July.

Sanna Siltakorpi is, perhaps, the rider with the most championship experience on the squad – she’s competed at two World Equestrian Games (2010 and 2014), four senior Europeans (2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015), two Young Rider Europeans (2007 and 2008), and a Junior Europeans (2005). The ten-year-old Bofey Click makes his championship debut at Luhmühlen. Both Sanna and partner Elmo had been named to the team for Strzegom, but Duchess Desiree and Sanna’s mount, Bofey Bridge, picked up minor injuries just days prior to the competition. Now, the German-based couple and new parents are looking forward to completing what they started in 2017.

Denmark is sending just one horse and rider combination forward — Irene Mia Hastrup and her own Constantin M will contest their third European Championships. They were part of the team at the 2017 Strzegom iteration, and competed as individuals in 2015’s Championship. The fifteen-year-old Hanoverian gelding completed his prep run in Strzegom’s CCI4*-S this month with a planned slow clear.

Hungary, too, will send just one pair. Péter Tuska represented his homeland at Junior and Young Rider level, but his appearance at Luhmühlen with Pal Tuska’s fourteen-year-old Hungarian Sport Horse Ben Bendeguz will mark his first senior call-up. The pair hasn’t notched up a cross-country jumping penalty in an international since 2015, nor finished outside the top twenty since 2014, though they have a tendency to flit back and forth between CCI2* and CCI4* with little provocation.

#EventerProblems Vol. 191, Presented by Haygain: ‘Really Wanted to Ride This Week’

By on Aug 14, 2019 11:30 am -

Oh what’s that? You really wanted to ride this week? Is that why you spent your whole paycheck on board and vet bills and shoes your horse delights in chucking off at the earliest opportunity, because you like to RIDE YOUR HORSE?

LOL. Nope! Sorry! Application denied! Maybe next week, sucker!

At least you’re not alone. Exhibit A: your latest batch of #EventerProblems.

View this post on Instagram

Another great dressage to leave us 3rd after the first phase, a moment of sitting too quiet led to a stop in the sj, and some time, but no poles. Must remember to never sit back and expect him to go! Xc was all jumpable but some good use of the undulations and dressing of the fences resulted in three stops at “new” things but there were a few times he really wasn’t sure but ignored his urges to stop and trusted my encouragement to go. Unfortunately not everyone at Chilham could count to three, and this video shows the fence judge attempting (with no red flag) to pull up a couple strides from the penultimate fence because they thought I was eliminated. Fortunately I’m confident with my counting and the rules and completed Marley’s first wet xc round. A tannoy to call me to secretary’s and a chat with the steward, they realised I was right and shouldn’t have been stopped, but I won’t hold my breath for a sorry! Not a great day on paper, but there was a lot on course that Marley really wasn’t confident with and I’m very proud of myself and Marley for getting round. . . . #setfiretotherein #thehorseyadele #britisheventing #notgivingup #horse #crosscountry #nofairweatherrider #eventerproblems #moretrainingneeded #oneday

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Belated post from Brand Hall where my #horsewareamigo “Flexi” stirrup snapped while I was trotting around warming up for dressage! Luckily able to borrow a pair off a lovely competitor who I’d never met before to finish my test. Then had to buy a cheapish pair to get through the day…very lucky it didn’t happen while I was jumping! Have now bought a pair of @mdc_stirrups…couldn’t find reports of them breaking, unlike nearly every other brand of plastic/composite stirrups! #brokenstirrup #plasticstirrups #horseware #flexiblestirrups #mdcstirrups #safetyfirst #onehorselife #horse #horseandhound #BE90 #eventerproblems #saddleproblems #eventersdoitbetter #eventersofinstagram #eventers #britisheventing #britisheventinglife #humdingerhbc #eventer #bravepants #eventingnation #kwpn #horse #horses #horseoftheday #eventingconnect #horseofinstagram #horselovers

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Go Eventing.

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Olympic Champion Michael Jung Claims Ready Steady Tokyo Test Event Honors

By on Aug 14, 2019 9:00 am -

Germany’s Michael Jung, Olympic eventing champion in London 2012 and Rio 2016, takes the honors with Fischerwild Wave at the Ready Steady Tokyo test event which wrapped today at the Equestrian Park. Photo by FEI/Yusuke Nakanishi.

Germany’s Michael Jung, Olympic champion in London 2012 and again in Rio 2016, has already claimed gold in Tokyo one year out from the 2020 Olympic Games after taking the honors with Fischerwild Wave at the Ready Steady Tokyo test event which wrapped up at the Equestrian Park at Baji Koen today.

The 37-year-old, who has three Olympic gold medals and one silver from two Games appearances with the now retired La Biosthetique Sam FBW, had shadowed the leaders from the outset, even though he was riding the youngest horse on the start list: Fischerwild Wave, a 7-year-old Holsteiner (Water Dance XX x Uquina) owned by Klaus and Sabine Fischer and the Jung family.

Third after dressage behind the home side’s Yoshiaki Oiwa and Bart L JRA, the German pair moved up to second after yesterday’s cross country and a superb clear in today’s final jumping test to put the pressure on overnight leaders, Australia’s Andrew Hoy with Bloom Des Hauts Crets.

The mare had jumped impeccably around Derek Di Grazia’s cross country 24 hours earlier, but became increasingly headstrong over the colored poles and, when the middle element of the triple combination hit the sand to drop Hoy down the order to fifth, victory went to the German duo.

In mixed weather conditions that veered from heavy rain to hot sunshine, nine horses were foot-perfect over Santiago Varela’s 11-fence track, with Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima on Vick Du Grisors JRA and dressage leaders Yoshiaki Oiwa and Bart L JRA among them. The home pair moved up to claim podium spots in silver and bronze, heading no fewer than four Japanese in the top 10.

Photo by FEI/Yusuke Nakanishi.

All 16 horses that started yesterday’s cross country were passed fit at this morning’s horse inspection, with all of them beautifully turned out and looking exceptionally well.

The German winner was quick to praise the facilities provided at the two venues, Equestrian Park and Sea Forest. “For me it was very interesting to be here and nice to see how everything works, especially the cross country with the horses,” he said. “It felt very good. It’s difficult but still possible and I think it’s really not a problem. For sure you need a very good preparation and you have to be very fit before you arrive here, the horses and the riders as well.

“I think it will be very nice next year if you see everything this year and we have one more year to prepare and to make some little details a bit better. I’m really looking forward to next season.”

Second-placed Ryuzo Kitajima, a member of Japan’s gold medal team at last year’s Asian Games in Jakarta (INA), was delighted with the performance of his horse Vick Du Grisors JRA: “It was hard work in the very hot weather, but my horse had a very good reaction in the cross country and in the practice arena he was too fresh today so I’m very happy with a double clear, it’s a fantastic result.”

The overwhelming impression from the 20 National Olympic and Paralympic Committees that were onsite was extremely positive and the general mood was summed up by Sydney 2000 Olympic champion David O’Connor, who chairs the FEI Eventing Committee.

“The facilities are very impressive and we had the chance to test everything we needed to test, which was the purpose of this week’s test event,” he said. “There are some adjustments to be made but they are minor ones, as the Organizing Committee has thought through all the details and is right on track to make 2020 a really great Olympic Games for equestrian sport.”

Run as a CCI3*, the test event is meant to trial logistics, results, timing and data handling, footing, and transport between the two venues, along with other key factors that are crucial for the smooth running of next year’s Games. Find more details about the Ready Steady Tokyo test event here.

Ready Steady Tokyo test event final placings — top six:

  1. Germany’s Michael Jung and Fischerwild Wave (28.0)
  2. Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima and Vick Du Gisors JRA (28.2)
  3. Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa and Bart L JRA (30.1)
  4. Great Britain’s Georgie Spence and Halltown Harley (30.6)
  5. Australia’s Andrew Hoy and Bloom Des Hauts Crets (31.7)
  6. Japan’s Toshiyuki Tanaka and Swiper JRA (32.3)

[FEI: Olympic champion Jung claims Ready Steady Tokyo test event honours]

 

 

Wednesday News & Notes

By on Aug 14, 2019 12:01 am -

Photo by Mariusz Chmieliński

Starting from Wednesday, jumpers, eventers and dressage riders will fight for medals in Strzegom. 153 riders aged from 12 to 16, representing 18 countries, along with their ponies will compete overall. Ponies are horses measuring up to 149 cm. These Championships will be a special event. Riders from three olympic equestrian disciplines: dressage, eventing and showjumping will compete alongside each other at the same place and time.
The championships start on the 14th of August, at the hippodrome in Morawa near Strzegom, Lower Silesia Voivodeship. They will be preluded by a festive opening ceremony, with a presentation of all national teams.

National Holiday: National Creamsicle Day

Major Weekend Events:

Bromont CCI & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

U.S. Weekend Preview:

Genesee Valley Riding & Driving Club H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Waredaca H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Full Gallop Farm August H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Ocala Summer H.T. [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]

Huntington Farm H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]

Your Wednesday News & Notes

The value of a getting an ‘A’. Not all kids who have access to Pony Club, but those who do really have an opportunity to learn not just horsemanship but independence and self-reliance. Gabby Dickerson, like many Pony Clubbers, lost interest in proceeding through the ratings just after high school but after a few years out in the world of professionals, took the time to go back and get the ‘A’ rating. [Why I Went Back]

The familiar faces of Andrew Hoy and Michael Jung are sitting atop the Olympic Test event leaderboard in Tokyo. Both riding promising youngsters, the two stalked the leader after the first phase, then tore across the country to move up to first and second respectively. [Hoy Snatches Lead]

Eventers can and do cross over to the highest levels of the other Olympic disciplines with great success. Irish eventer Esib Power not only started in her first five-star jumping competition this weekend, she ended up winning. Mounted on her 18-year-old former eventer Doonaveeragh O One, she finished more than half a second ahead of all other competitors. [Esib Power Wins Speed Class]

Wednesday Video: 

Mason practicing his rope skills before his dressage lesson today!

Posted by Will Faudree Eventing on Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Swedish Team Revealed for European Championships

By on Aug 13, 2019 7:17 pm -

Louise Romeike and Waikiki 207 at Tryon. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.

Hot on the Tokyo trail, Sweden has announced its squad of six horses and riders ahead of the Longines FEI European Eventing Championships, which will take place at Luhmühlen from the 28th of August through the 1st of September. Congratulations to:

  • Ebba Adnervik and Chippieh, owned by Sara Sjöborg Wik
  • Malin Josefsson and Golden Midnight, owned by Karin Berglund
  • Niklas Lindback and Focus Filiocus, owned by Tun Albertson
  • Philippa Magnusson and Cesar, owned by the rider
  • Louise Romeike and Waikiki 207, owned by the rider
  • Ludwig Svennerstål and El Kazir SP, owned by Shamwari 4 Ltd.

“An Olympic ticket is the obvious goal and this is a strong team that has all the prerequisites to fix it,” says Swedish chef d’equipe Fredrik Bergendorff. “The focus in the selection has been on consistent results and reliable cross-country horses.”

Like Italy, who announced their team last week, Sweden has also been heavily targeting the FEI Nations Cup series as an alternative route to the Olympics. With five of the series’ seven legs complete, they currently sit second in the rankings. But their squad for Luhmühlen represents an interesting cross-section of experience and young talent, and the Scandinavian nation is one of the hot favourites to take one of the two available tickets to Tokyo.

Two of the listed combinations were part of Sweden’s ninth-placed team at last year’s World Equestrian Games: Louise Romeike and Waikiki 207 finished 29th, while Niklas Lindback and Focus Filiocus took 35th place, both off the back of clear cross-country rounds. Both have had significant championship experience beyond Tryon, too – Louise has competed at two senior European Championships (2017, with Wieloch’s Utah Sun and 2015, with Viva 29) and two Pony Europeans, in 2005 and 2006. Niklas has four senior Europeans under his belt: he was part of the silver medal-winning team in 2017 with Focus Filiocus, contested the 2015 Championships with Cendrillon, and rode Mister Pooh in 2009 and 2013. He clocked up a top-ten finish in the FEI World Cup at Malmö in 2006 and completed both the 2010 World Equestrian Games and the 2012 Olympics.

Ludwig Svennerstal and El Kazir SP. Photo by Lorraine O’Sullivan/Tattersalls.

Ludwig Svennerstål has amassed a significant amount of team experience too, though this will be a first championship appearance for El Kazir SP, who Ludwig started riding in 2017. The prolific Swede began his team career in the young rider ranks, during which he contested two Junior and two Young Rider Europeans (2007 and 2008, and 2010 and 2011, respectively). He’s been on senior Championship squads ever since, including three senior Europeans (2013, 2015, and 2017), two Olympic Games (2012, 2016), and last year’s World Equestrian Games.

Ebba Adnervik will be making her senior Championship debut after a busy young rider career that included a trip to the Junior Europeans (2014) and two to the Young Rider Europeans (2015, 2017). Her mount, though, has plenty of experience on the world stage – Chippieh competed at the London Olympics with Japan’s Kenki Sato as well as the 2014 Young Rider Europeans with Hedvig Wik. Malin Josefsson follows up on her 2017 Europeans debut with Allan V by partnering her Badminton mount Golden Midnight at Luhmühlen, while Philippa Magnusson makes her Championship debut, as does her horse, the nine-year-old Swedish Warmblood Cesar.

[EM-laget i fälttävlan klart]

Tuesday Video from SmartPak: Mathieu Lemoine’s Save of The Day

By on Aug 13, 2019 4:00 pm -

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Posted by Photos Les Garennes on Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Things started to look pear shaped for French eventer Mathieu Lemoine on the Haras du Pin CCI2*-L cross country. (Check out EN’s report on Haras du Pin here.) Cuattro de Tael gave him a massive leap over a roll top in the water, nearly chucking Mathieu out the side door, but luckily he had his stickability pants on to save it. By the look of his cheeky grin at the end, I’d say he was as surprised as the nearby photographer.

And THAT is why we do our no stirrup work.

Andrew Hoy Brings the Cross Country Heat at Ready Steady Tokyo Test Event

By on Aug 13, 2019 2:00 pm -

Australia’s Andrew Hoy and Bloom Des Hauts Crets. Photo by FEI/Yusuke Nakanishi.

Australia’s Andrew Hoy brought the heat on a hot day of cross country at the Ready Steady Tokyo test event, which is underway one year in advance of the 2020 Olympic Games. The event’s second phase took place at Sea Forest, the venue hosting equestrian cross country as well as rowing and canoe sprint next year.

Temps were in the 90s with humidity — not pleasant, but potentially similar to conditions horses and riders may experience at next year’s Games. As such, the weather provided a perfect environment to test the cross country venue’s onsite cooling facilities for the equine and human athletes.

Andrew Hoy, who was second after dressage (see EN’s report here), stormed into the top spot with Bloom Des Hauts Crets, an 8-year-old Selle Français mare (Orlando x Naika de Kerser, by Oberon du Moulinnaika) owned by Odaria Finemore. They crossed the finish line with seven seconds to spare to take the lead on their dressage score of 27.7.

Australia’s Andrew Hoy and Bloom Des Hauts Crets. Photo by FEI/Yusuke Nakanishi.

“It’s a very nice position to be in and if I win I’m very happy for this year, but it’s next year I want to win!,” Andrew said. “My horse galloped very well and her heart rate and temperature were very good when I arrived. The cooling facilities here at the venue were absolutely excellent. As an Olympic venue it’s ready one year before because the ground is excellent and the construction of the cross country fences is very good, but next year will be very different fences.”

For the test event, cross country course designer Derek Di Grazia built a special 3,025-meter track overlooking Tokyo Bay, incorporating 20 fences with 31 jumping efforts. It was intended to give athletes, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and National Federations (NFs) a chance to assess the undulations of the terrain without giving too much away about Derek’s vision for the Olympic course.

Germany’s Michael Jung and Fischerwild Wave. Photo by FEI/Yusuke Nakanishi.

Germany’s Michael Jung, another triple Olympic gold medalist, also came home clear and up on the clock to move into second on 28.0. His mount for the test event is Fischerwild Wave, a 7-year-old Holsteiner (Water Dance XX x Uquina), owned by Klaus and Sabine Fischer and the Jung family, who has competed through the CCI3*-S level. 

“It was hot but it wasn’t really a big problem,” Michael said afterwards. “The grooms and everyone took really good care of the horses and everyone tried to make the job for the horses and the riders as easy as possible. This is really fantastic here.”

Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto and Tacoma d’Horset. Photo by FEI/Yusuke Nakanishi.

Japan has claim on the next three leaderboard spots: Ryuzo Kitajima and Vick Du Gisors were almost bang on the optimum time of five minutes 30 seconds to move up from fourth after dressage to third. Dressage leaders Yoshiaki Oiwa and Bart L JRA finished 14 seconds down on the clock to collect 5.6 time faults and drop to fourth. Another pair for the host nation, Kazuma Tomoto and Tacoma d’Horset, round out the top five.

Great Britain’s Georgie Spence and Halltown Harley. Photo by FEI/Yusuke Nakanishi.

Britain’s Georgie Spence and Halltown Harley are 6th, and heading into show jumping tomorrow there’s less than a fence between them and the leaders.

Seven of the 16 starters remain on their dressage marks, while eight others collected just time faults. The only combination to pick up jumping penalties were cross country pathfinders Kazuya Otomo and Condorcet, who had a runout at the second element of the angled rails double at fence 10 to drop one place to 16th.

“All the horses recovered really well after the cross country, despite the challenging conditions, and they are all now back home in their air conditioned stables at Baji Koen resting ready for tomorrow’s jumping,” FEI Veterinary Director Goran Akerström said.

Ready Steady Tokyo continues tomorrow at the dressage and show jumping venue, Baji Koen, which was the site of the Olympic equestrian events at the 1964 Tokyo Games and has been independently refurbished by the Japan Racing Association.

Ready Steady Tokyo test event top six placings after cross country:

  1. Australia’s Andrew Hoy and Bloom Des Hauts Crets (27.7)
  2. Germany’s Michael Jung and Fischerwild Wave (28.0)
  3. Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima and Vick Du Gisors JRA (28.2)
  4. Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa and Bart L JRA (30.1)
  5. Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto and Tacoma d’Horset (30.4)
  6. Great Britain’s Georgie Spence and Halltown Harley (30.6)

[Triple Olympic gold medalist Hoy snatches lead with Bloom after cross country]

Andrea’s Return to the Maccabiah Games: Rallying for Team Rounds 1 & 2

By on Aug 13, 2019 11:30 am -

Two summers ago, EN readers followed the story of Andrea Glazer, an eventer among Grand Prix show jumpers at the 2017 Maccabiah Games. She catch rode an unfamiliar horse over 1.20-meter (3’9″) and above show jumping courses to help Team USA earn the silver medal, and was selected to represent the team once again at the 2019 European Maccabiah Games in Budapest, Hungary. Today, she reports on how the Games went — spoiler alert: Andrea is a bada$$. Read more at her blog, Dre the Zookeeper. 

The morning of the competition, both Arly and I headed to the barn at 7:30 a.m. for a quick flat ride before gearing up to compete. I was excited for any opportunity to ride Nando – his changes are automatic, his lateral work is effortless, and to top it off, he’s so pretty that people can’t help but stare at him! Also, any opportunity I had to get to know the horse better, I took full advantage of. With the grounds still being quiet as most riders hadn’t arrived yet, Nando was quiet and relaxed during our flat ride. We rode around for 30 minutes or so, and took them back to the stables where Victoria took them from us to give them a quick bath and finish up their braids (best braids ever, might I add).

Photo courtesy of Andrea Glazer.

I headed towards the ring as the course was open to be walked. The jumps used in the course were similar to the ones we were able to school in the practice round, but they were a bit higher. The course consisted of multiple related distances, big square oxers, a triple combination, and a liverpool – nothing too daunting on the horses I normally compete, but on a horse I had only spent one day getting to know, it wasn’t going to be an easy task to say the least.

Another tricky part of this competition was that we didn’t have our own team coach. Luckily, Carly brought her coach, David Blake, and Arly is a trainer herself so after I walked the course, I would consult them both to make sure all of my plans aligned with theirs, and listen to any input Arly had on how she felt Nando would handle the course.

After reviewing the course and walking it enough times that it was engrained in my brain, I went back to the barn to get on Nando. I put on my GPA helmet (trying to fit in don’t forget), my black gloves (show jumpers never wear white gloves), and my pinque coat (the highlight of my life is wearing this coat), and I was headed towards the ring to warm-up.

Photo by EMG 2019 / Balázs Czagány.

Photo by EMG 2019 / Balázs Czagány.

Walking past the ring, the atmosphere completely changed from the morning – the spectators arrived, there were photographers everywhere (it was like paparazzi, I loved it!), and Nando was definitely sensing the competitive vibes all around him and quickly realized that he might be a bit of a different ride in this atmosphere.

Arly and I rode relatively close together – she was 4th in the ring, I was 9th in, followed by Carly, who was about 14th.   I wasn’t able to watch any of the riders before me because Nando wasn’t really a fan of standing still; he also didn’t like the loud bell being rang, the music being blasted across the venue or the applause from the crowd. I just kept him moving and tried to keep him focused on me – I mean, it’s not like I didn’t enjoy flatting him around and warming him up, but not being able to watch how the course rode wasn’t the most ideal situation.

I saw Arly go into the ring before I had to keep cantering Nando around. The crowd cheered and they announced she had a double clean round! We were off to a fantastic start. Arly got off of Vanilla after many pats and came to the warm-up to help set jumps for me. Nando was feeling really good (maybe too good at times) and we jumped a few big verticals and some square oxers – we didn’t miss! We were called to the ring and I was feeling pretty good about how I was riding him. It took two people to actually get us into the ring, but we finally pranced in feeling like $1,000,000.

Photo by EMG 2019 / Balázs Czagány.

The bell rang, and we started our canter around to the first jump which was a nice eight-stride line. Nando eats up the ground so I knew every line was going to involve lots of half-halts early on in the line to make the strides fit nicely. We started our course, fitting in the eight strides nicely (after a few strong half-halts), and turned for the next jump. He cleared the vertical like it was nothing, and I was feeling great about how the course was going.

Photo by EMG 2019 / Balázs Czagány.

Photo by EMG 2019 / Balázs Czagány.

We cantered around to #4 where we then had to turn right for a triple combination – oxer, two strides vertical, one stride vertical. He jolted forward in the turn after his lead change to the triple which allowed him to get away from me, and caused us to be a bit disorganized. I didn’t see the best distance five strides out, but saw the deep distance, not exactly what I wanted to see going into the triple, but I waited for it. At the last stride, when I wanted to jump, Nando had different plans and stopped then shifted to the side which completely threw me out of the saddle.

Photo by EMG 2019 / Balázs Czagány.

I had just one part of my boot hanging onto the back of the saddle, wrapping my arms around Nando’s neck like my life depended on it. How could this actually be happening? I uprooted my life in Australia to move to America to train for this, and I’m not going to go down without a fight. I truly used every fiber in my being to climb back up, but Nando was about to run off, so in a last attempt, I tried to use the rails on the jump to get back on, but since that’s not allowed, and Nando started to walk/trot away, I knew I had to accept the fact that my feet were about to touch the ground.

Photo by EMG 2019 / Balázs Czagány.

I gathered myself for a second, grabbed Nando, patted him and walked out of the ring. I could not believe it. I knew I could have given Nando a better ride to the triple, but this was the last thing I expected to happen.

EMG 2019/Balázs Czagány Photo.

My mind was going a million miles an hour – how did that just happen? How did I let him get away from me in the turn? Why didn’t he just save my butt? Why, in the 16 years I have been competing, did I have to have my first fall in the show jumping competition during the biggest show of my life? How did I let my team down since we don’t have a dropped score?

I was devastated, but after about 30 seconds of feeling sorry for myself and my team, I realized I had to put it all behind me, get back on the horse, and fix whatever just happened on course.

I had to see the ambulance as the FEI requires every rider that falls off to get checked out, and even though I barely fell off (nearly saved it, still not over it), I walked up to the paramedics and said, “I’m fine – no, I didn’t hit my head, I just need to get back on.” Maybe not my finest moment, but I needed to get back on the horse right then and there.

EMG 2019 / Balázs Czagány Photo.

They announced that my round earned Team USA 44 points. Great. Thankfully, Arly and Carly were such amazing teammates and said, “don’t worry about it, just get back on and round 2 will be better!” They were right – I can’t do anything about it now, except get his butt through those finish flags in the next round.

I got back on Nando and David and Arly helped me school him over jumps to try and get past the absurdity in the ring. It wasn’t the smoothest, but we jumped around the warm-up ring and gained some confidence before the 2nd round started.

Carly went in the ring and had a beautiful double clean round – I was so happy for her, but I mean you can imagine how horrible I felt about my round.

We had a short 20 minute break before the 2nd round, but I just walked back to the barn, had some nice pep-talks with Arly, and we got back on for our redemption. I start warming him up with David because Arly was busy jumping another flawless clean round. We jumped a vertical, and I headed to the small 1.0m oxer where I found myself getting him to a deep spot. I put leg on and waited for the similar distance to the triple combination we had in the ring, and next thing I knew, I was jumping the small oxer solo. The rails flew, and my left leg was the first point of contact with the pole and the ground. I think next was my tailbone and then my arm – it happened so fast, I was just absolutely stunned. I didn’t even take a second to absorb what happened and noticed that Carly’s groom took Nando so I could revisit my good friends a the ambulance.

I attempt to run to the paramedics, noticing that my leg is in an impressive amount of pain. I looked down at my boot and realized that I fell so hard that my nice leather boot ripped; you could say I was in a bit of pain. As I limped over to the ambulance, they were confused to see me there again, and I said, “I swear I’m fine, no I didn’t hit my head, but if I fall off a 3rd time I will gladly let you do a proper examination.” Everyone laughed and I limped back to Nando to get back on. I think David was as surprised as I was that he had crashed through a minuscule oxer. The stewards informed us that I had about three riders until I was supposed to be in the ring. Great – I can’t feel my leg, and I somehow have about six to eight minutes to try and get this horse over some jumps before I go back into the ring.

Both David and Arly helped me try and gather myself as Carly’s groom brushed the sand off of my now broken in pinque coat and back on the horse I went. I kept telling myself, “Andrea, if you’re going to fall, at least you’re falling in your pinque coat, right?”

I was only to jump the verticals, not attempting an oxer again, before being called back into the ring. I knew that if I got this horse to a deep distance I was jumping it alone, so I decided to kick on, sit as tall as humanly possible, and ride like hell.

EMG 2019 / Balázs Czagány Photo.

I could feel silence in the ring as everyone was nervous for me – imagine how I felt! I had to push nerves aside and honestly just focus on getting to the other side of the jump, still in the saddle. We did have to get Nando a bit riled up in the warm-up ring so that he knew we meant business. His excitement in round 1 multiplied in an instant and I knew that him reacting to my polite half-halts would probably do little to nothing to try and get this horse to shorten his stride enough in the lines.

I should really work on my facial expressions while I’m riding. Photo courtesy of Andrea Glazer.

I cantered in, saluted the judge and headed towards the first line. I jumped the first vertical, tried to get him to slow down for the eight strides to the first oxer I would attempt since fall #2. I fit in the eight strides (barely) and as I felt him hesitate, I smacked him at the base and he soared over it. Thank God.

We went over the next two jumps, knocking #4 down because we got a little crooked, to then have to face the issue that started it all – the turn to the triple combination. He was strong in the turn and I tried to get him back the best I could, but when I saw we might get another deep distance, I said heck no, and kicked on for the longer one, and Nando fit two strides in, then one stride to the last vertical jumping it so carefully.

WE MADE IT!

Photo courtesy of Andrea Glazer.

After that, I had little control and Nando and I (mainly Nando) made the decision to leave strides out of each line, knowing that if got to a deep distance to any of the oxers, we are most likely going to have issues. So there I was, soaring over these fences; somewhere we hit another one down, before soaring over the last as I gallop through the finish flags in disbelief that I made it through that course.

Photo courtesy of Andrea Glazer.

I gave Nando all the pats and finally get him to stop before exiting the ring to see my mom still cheering. I jump off, immediately realizing how badly my left leg hurts, and hug my mom which turned into tears – we were so relieved that I got through the course in one piece (for the most part).

Lots of ice and Advil just to get through the next few days.

That was the completion of the team event – I mean, falling TWICE to then come back and jump around the course was an accomplishment in itself. Lots of rails came down and other issues on course, but Carly and Arly had beautiful clean rounds both times around. They were still so supportive, knowing that we ended up with the bronze medal. Switzerland had an amazing day – they took the gold; Hungary also rode well to take the silver; and all that was left was the individual competition the next day.

My teammates and myself after a very eventful first day of competition.

To say I wasn’t feeling confident about the individual round after falling not once, but TWICE on the first day of competition, would be the understatement of the century. Luckily for me, the jumps were going to be even bigger and the course was going to be harder.

Myself and my teammates after a very eventful first day of competition.

One of the highlights of the overall very disappointing day was with the Hungarian team while we were watching the dressage teams compete. I went to sit with them and they said to me, “Girl, you are FIERCE. None of us would be able to do what you did today. If you were brought up a show jumper, there’s no way you would’ve been able to do what you did. That was all the eventing side – so impressive.”

So there you have it – every equestrian can appreciate the unrivaled courage that eventers bring to the table.

10 Reasons to Get Excited About Foshay International 2019

By on Aug 13, 2019 9:00 am -

Photo by Joan Davis/ Flatlands Foto.

We are counting down to the second annual running of Canada’s newest FEI event, Foshay International. Held over Labor Day Weekend on Aug. 29-Sept. 1, Foshay in picturesque Jemseg, New Brunswick, is back and even better in 2019 after its inaugural edition garnered rave reviews.

Entries are open! Are you looking for a special summer destination event to add to your competition calendar? We took a deeper look at Foshay and put together a list of reasons why you should consider making the trip.

1. It’s closer than you think. Jemseg, New Brunswick is located less than eight hours from Boston and just 10 minutes off the Trans Canada Highway. Foshay offers a destination event set alongside the stunning backdrop of the Saint John River. 8. Did we mention there is a beach that runs alongside the cross country course? Spectators can even come by boat — Foshay is the only FEI event accessible by land or by water, and they’re hoping to see more boats in 2019. (Unless you’ve got a floating horse box, competitors are still encouraged to bring their horses by land;)

Photo by Joan Davis/ Flatlands Foto.

2. Foshay has expanded in 2019 to include two international divisions (CCI1* and CCI2*-L) and two national divisions (Prelim and EV 105), as well as an EC gold level jumper show. Foshay is still the only event in North America and one of only 12 in the world offering the FEI’s new CCI Introductory level. With fences set at 1.05 meters, the CCI Introductory level is ideal for horses and riders looking to make the move up to international level who might not quite be ready for a CCI2* yet. Check out last year’s cross country course here. #Protip: Check your qualification requirements here, as they differ between the U.S. and Canada.

Photo by Kathryn Burke/www.equiessence.ca.

3. With an entry fee of $500, which includes stabling, Foshay International is the most affordable CCI to enter in North America this year. For those crossing the border for the event, your money will also go further in Canada, as the US Dollar currently has an exchange rate of $.75/CDN to $1/USD.

Photo by Joan Davis/ Flatlands Foto.

4. There are many ways that you can be a part of this exciting international event, and one of them is volunteering. Express your interest in one or more of Foshay’s Volunteer Teams and the event will be in touch to match your interests and abilities with fun and rewarding assignments.

Photo by Joan Davis/ Flatlands Foto.

5. A total of $25,000 in prize money will be split between the two levels, so you have the opportunity to win back your entry fee and take home extra cash.

Photo by Joan Davis/ Flatlands Foto.

6. Foshay will offer top notch hospitality and amenities and one of the best parties of the summer, including live music in the Marquis Tent. Also, spectator admission is free! The Foshay Country Market will feature local artisans, food and drink in a country fair atmosphere, and for 2019 is expanded to a grand marquis tent overlooking the site so you can shop, watch and eat all day. By popular demand, Foshay 2019 is sponsored by Grimross Brewing Co. from Fredericton, NB — with a Grimross cross country beer tent on cross country and a  station in the country market, craft beer appreciators have much to look forward to.

Photo by Joan Davis/ Flatlands Foto.

7. Foshay also offers numerous educational opportunities. The Foshay Eventing Academy will be occurring over the course of the entire weekend to teach the next generation of eventers the fundamentals of the sport. Learn more here. For students of all ages, check out Foshay Talks — like TED Talks, but Foshay!

Photo by Joan Davis/ Flatlands Foto.

8. Join the club. In the spirit of the ‘Dare to Dream’ legacy, you can now join the Foshay Club. New for 2019, the club provides an opportunity to support the event with an annual membership supporting course building updates, visitor experience upgrades, site improvements, and maintenance. There will be a member’s tent during the event offering local food and drink, and members will also be recognized for their support in announcements and in the program.You also support the event’s future by making a donation here.

Photo by Joan Davis/ Flatlands Foto.

9. While many venues on the East Coast are battling hard ground in late August, the temperate summer climate in New Brunswick will guarantee fantastic footing for Foshay. Thanks to the venue’s location in a river valley, the footing on Jay Hambly’s cross country course will be perfect.

Photo by Joan Davis/ Flatlands Foto.

10. Foshay International is on a mission to become the East Coast’s premier destination event. With a dedicated and experienced organizing committee, Foshay is committed to putting on an event that caters to competitors, horses, owners and spectators alike.

Foshay expects more entries and more excitement for 2019. But although the event is growing, you can expect the same hometown feel, and hospitality that we all love.

Are you planning to compete in Foshay International this year? Let us know in the comments below. Mark your calendars — entries close Aug. 26. Go Eventing.

Foshay International Links: Website, Omnibus, Schedule, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter