Jumping to retain their title, Team GB are headed up by Laura Collett and London 52, who were part of the gold medal winning team in Tokyo and currently sit in second individually. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This is it! It all comes down to this… Well, not all, there’s still the small matter of individual medals to go once all’s said and done for the teams (oh yes, even MORE eventing coming up, the Olympics just giveth and giveth), but we’ll get down to the nitty gritty of individual honors in due course. Right now our ears are pricked and very firmly pointed towards the team podium. It’s time to get ready to find out which nations will be celebrated in the medal ceremony. Ooh là là baguette! Eek.
Just in case you missed yesterday’s (and Saturday’s) explanation of why things are looking different in our live blogs for the Olympics, here’s what you need to know:
For those of you who are avid followers of our live blogs (we salute you eventing nerds!), you’ll notice that things are a little different this time around. In order to adhere to the strict media rules for the Olympics, we’re not able to bring you live commentary. We can, however, keep you totally informed with regards to each of the horses and riders show jumping today, what their form is coming into the Games, their hobbies and favorite foods (amongst other, um, horseplay), and how they’re likely to perform in each phase based on the available data, so you’ll be securely in the know as you watch the live stream.
Our roving reporters extraordinaire – Sally Spickard and Tilly Berendt – are mostly resisting the urge to crack open le champagne early in the Chat Zone, maybe. We’ll have a few of the riders’ reactions to their rounds coming at you but, as you can imagine, things are a little crazy back there so make sure you stay tuned for our full report later which will have everything you need to know, and more.
Buckle up and prepare to be hit with absolutely everything you didn’t know you need to know about the horses and riders as we reach the conclusion of the team eventing competition at the Paris Olympic Games.
There was a bit of a shake up at this morning’s horse inspection, which has left the top-5 going into the final phase looking like this:
1️⃣ Defending their Olympic title from Tokyo, Team GB go into the final phase in gold medal position on a combined score of 82.5.
2️⃣ They’ll bring the house down if they make it onto the podium. Home team France currently sit in silver on a combined score of 87.2.
3️⃣ Climbing up into bronze spot following this morning’s horse inspection, Team Switzerland are on a combined score of 102.4.
4️⃣ Belgium are just outside the medals as things stand. They’re on a combined score of 111.
5️⃣ Japan have slipped from third to fifth after incurring 20 penalties for making a substitution this morning, putting them on a combined score of 113.8.
And here’s the rest of the top-10:
6️⃣ New Zealand – 118.2
7️⃣ Sweden – 120.1
8️⃣ Ireland 121.1
9️⃣ USA – 128.5
🔟 The Netherlands – 147.5
Canada, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Australia and Poland round-out the team competition (in that order).
This is what the team start list looks like.
You can follow along with the live scores here and you’ll find the order of go here.
Before we get down to official Olympic business, here are some links of interest:
▶️ If you missed yesterday’s cross country companion guide, you’ll find it right here. And if you’ve a hankering for even more Paris action, here’s the dressage edition.
▶️ The substitute rule and scoring is, shall we say, a little complex at the Olympics, but never fear, EN is here with the clearest explanation we could manage of how things work.
▶️ Here’s everything you need to know about the Olympic show jumping rounds. Yes plural, because there are not one, but two rounds at the Olympics. Click the link and all will be revealed.
▶️ Even more you say? You want more eventing? More EN? Well here you go – all the info and links you can ever require (and some you don’t but actually, you do) in our Ultimate Guide to Eventing in Paris.
▶️ Safe to say, here at EN we are now looking entirely on point for an extra role in a remake of The Walking Dead, which is ironic as we’re more at the crawling stage, to be honest. Bloodshot, sunken eyes from severely limited sleep and 100 hours a day screen time ✅ Sallow, sun-starved skin ✅ A desperate, please-don’t-let-me have-run-out-of-frozen-pizza-just-yet aura ✅ Basically fingerless by now due to excessive scrolling/typing ✅ Except for Sally and Tilly, who are no doubt as dog-tired as the team at home, but a très chic version, because, Paris, baby, Paris. Click to appreciate all the sweet fruits of our labor.
Please remember to keep this page refreshed so that you don’t miss a thing. I’ll be adding in the riders’ reactions to their rounds as they come in, so keep flicking through to gather all the goodies.
This is it, sports fans. They’re going for glory, and gold.
Eyes on and aller, aller, aller eventing!
🥖🍾
#Paris2024: [Website] [Equestrian Schedule, Timing, Scoring] [Peacock for U.S. Viewers] [How to Watch Guide] [Ticket Resale Market] [Spectator Guides] [EN’s Coverage]
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🇨🇿 Miroslav Trunda and Shutterflyke (Ind.)
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Miroslav and Shutterflyke have Olympic and World Championships completions under their cinch, and would love to add another one from the Paris Games. They find this phase a little tricky, because, well, it is tricky, but they jumped clear in their most recent run so Miroslav will be channeling that energy as he enters the ring on the Olympic stage.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Miroslav’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 As well as being an Olympic eventer, Miroslav is also an equine veterinarian.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 53
Cross Country Penalties – 72
Overall – 125 – 53rd
Show Jumping 📈 They had three rails in Tokyo and 1.6 time; at the World Championships in Pratoni they had four poles, and 2 time. They do have clear round form at short-format, but 4 jumping penalties is the best they’ve been at a long-format competition.
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🇪🇨 Nicolas Wettstein and Altier d’Aurois
Sometimes those poles just don’t wanna stay in the cups, and that’s often the case for this pair. Nicolas thinks such a lot of the gelding though, and acknowledges that ‘Altier’ always tries his best. They’ve jumped on the final day of an Olympics once before, so they know the drill. Now all they need is for those poles to stay firmly lodged.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Nicolas’ championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Ind.) – Rio 2016
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.) – Tryon 2018 (Ind.) – Caen 2014 (Ind.)
🔴 Nicolas is a true polyglot, with five different languages in his arsenal.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 42.3
Cross Country Penalties – 65.4
Overall – 107.7 – 52nd
Show Jumping 📈 They had 16 jumping faults in Tokyo, and 16 at the Pan-Ams in Santiago last year. They went through a spate of one-or-nones after the last Olympics, but that ended with five down in the 4*-L at Montelibretti last season, and since then they’ve had three lots of 12 penalties, a 16 and a 4. So really, it’s anyone’s guess where they’ll land in Paris.
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🇿🇦 Alexander Peternell and Figaro des Premices
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Alex is back at the Olympics after a twelve year hiatus, and brings forward ‘Norman’, as he’s known at home. This combination don’t have a ton of runs together under their cinch and will be aiming for a solid Olympic completion to add to their record.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Alexander’s championships experience:
🔥 London 2012 (Ind.)
🗺️ Caen 2014 (Ind.)
🔴 Figaro des Premices is joint-youngest horse in the field, at nine.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 39
Cross Country Penalties – 33.2
Overall – 72.2 – 48th
Show Jumping 📈 This combination had one pole in their most recent run at Strzegom on their way to fifth place, their only event at 4*-L. They rolled three in the 4*-S at Bramham in June but jumped clear in the 4*-S at Bicton this season. They almost always add a handful of seconds too.
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“He just stepped up and performed like an absolute legend … He jumped amazing.”
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“We did look at calling him ‘Norman Crusade’ because we bought him with the dream of coming here — it was a pipe dream and it was kind of a joke. Then of course, as a seven-year-old, he was doing his first three-star, [as an] eight-year-old he did his first four-star, and I’m thinking, Oh, actually, this is not a dream, it’s reality.”
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🇪🇸 Esteban Benitez Valle and Utrera AA 35 1
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Esteban’s in Paris with his eleven-year-old Spanish-bred mare, making his Olympic debut for his country. He’s represented Spain at European and World Championships with another mare, Milana, who’s now going eventing for fun at 1* with his girlfriend.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Esteban’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Esteban has been based in Germany since 2016.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 39.9
Cross Country Penalties – 29
Overall – 68.9 – 47th
Show Jumping 📈 This pair have a bit of a mixed bag of results in the show jumping ring on their record, with a four or eight as likely as a clear round. They jumped clear in the 4*-L at Strzegom last season on their way to third place, rolled one pole in their most recent run in the 4*-S Nations Cup event at Montelibretti, and had two in the 4*-S Nations Cup leg in Arville last fall. So none, one, or two – we’ll have to see how things fall.
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🇩🇰 Peter T. Flarup and Fascination
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Peter gave up his role as head trainer for the national eventing team in order to focus on making it to Paris with Tokyo ride Fascination. They tend to rattle the poles a bit in this phase, but kept it to one in Tokyo. How will they fare this time around?
Form, Facts & Stats:
Peter’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Ind.) – Beijing 2008 (Ind.)
🗺️ Caen 2014 (Ind.) – Lexington 2010 (Ind.) – Aachen 2006 (Team) – Rome 1998 (Team)
🔴 Peter and ‘Cooper’ (hey, their names kind of rhyme) have been going arena eventing over the winter.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 32.4
Cross Country Penalties – 33.6
Overall – 66 – 45th
Show Jumping 📈 They haven’t had a clear in their last six FEI competitions, which include short-format events and arena eventing. There are more single poles on their record than anything else, but there is the odd 8 penalties dotted in there. They kept it to one in Tokyo and jumped clear at their last long-format event.
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🇭🇺 Balász Kaizinger and Herr Cooles Classico
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Balász is making his Olympic debut as the first Hungarian eventer at a Games since 1996. It’s such a huge achievement to make it onto the world stage like this, and even more-so for those riders hailing from countries without such extensive support for the sport that others enjoy. Good for you Balász!
Form, Facts & Stats:
Balász’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 Balász took over the ride on Herr Cooles Classico in 2022.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 45.8
Cross Country Penalties – 16
Overall – 61.8 – 42nd
Show Jumping 📈 This pair have got a bit of a mixed bag of show jumping scores on their card, with one pole in their most recent run, the 4*-S at Luhmühlen, and two in their only 4*-L run. They had three in the 4*-S at Montelibretti last season. They do tend to add time penalties to those scores.
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🇲🇦 Noor Slaoui and Cash In Hand
Trailblazing for Arab women and Moroccan equestrians, Noor has made history with her appearance at the Paris Olympic Games. She progressed from BE90 to 3* in just a couple of years, and now is the first North African representative ever in Olympic eventing.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Noor is involved with a rehabilitation center for people with disabilities that her mother set up following a cycling accident which left her paraplegic when she was in her 30s. Noor has made visits to the center with horses and ponies for equine therapy sessions.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 36.4
Cross Country Penalties – 24
Overall – 60.4 – 40th
Show Jumping 📈 This pair rolled a pole in the 4*-S at Ballindenisk this season and two in the 4*-L at Montelibretti last fall. They were clear at the 4*-S Nations Cup event at Arville, but they’ve added time in almost every round they’ve jumped.
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🇫🇮 Veera Manninen and Sir Greg
How exciting it must be for Veera to be on the cusp of completing at her first Olympics with her long-time partner, friend and Juniors horse. Dreams really do come true in Paris.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Veera describes ‘Greg’ as adorably grumpy.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 36.8
Cross Country Penalties – 18.4
Overall – 55.2 – 37th
Show Jumping 📈 ‘Greg’ is generally a one or none kind of guy, although he’s only jumped clear in a long-format competition once. He does come to Paris with a clear in his most recent competition, although that came at the expense of 1.2 time penalties.
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🇦🇹 Harald Ambros and Vitorio du Montet
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Harald’s no stranger to the final round of a championships, having been to three Olympics and four World Championships. He’s in Paris with exciting new ride, former French horse, ‘Vitorio’.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Harald’s championships experience:
🔥 London 2012 (Ind.) – Beijing 2008 (Ind.) – Athens 2004 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Lexington 2010 (Ind.) – Aachen 2006 (Team); 19th individually
🔴 Harald may be an Olympic eventer, but it’s not actually his full-time job; in his real life he’s a dentist.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 36.5
Cross Country Penalties – 6.8
Overall – 43.3 – 31st
Show Jumping 📈 This combination had a pole in their most recent long-format run but have jumped three clears together at short-format. Historically, the horse is a relatively careful jumper, and has jumped clear on the final day at 5*.
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🇨🇳 Alex Hua Tian and Jilsonne van Bareelhof
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Alex is very familiar with jumping in the final phase at a championships event, having contested three Olympics and three World Championships, as well as the Asian Games, which he won last year. He’ll tumbled down the order after a flag penalty out on cross country, and will be hoping to scramble back into the top-25 for a spot in the individual final with this reliable show jumper.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Alex’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team) – Rio 2016 (Ind.); 8th – Beijing 2008 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.) – Tryon 2018 (Ind.) – Caen 2014 (Ind.)
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Alex enthusiastically represents China but has been based in the UK for many years.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 22
Cross Country Penalties – 20.6
Overall – 42.6 – 30th
Show Jumping 📈 They’re on a streak of four clear rounds, all at short-format. The had two poles in their most recent long-format competition, the 4* in Montelibretti last year, and they don’t always make the time, but Alex will be focusing on those clears as he takes to the ring in Paris.
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🇵🇱 Wiktoria Knap and Quintus 134
Wiktoria is making her Olympic debut with her long-time partner Quintus 134. They’ve been together since Juniors and Young Riders and Wiktoria’s brought the gelding up through the FEI levels to, now, the Olympics. They’ve slotted into Team Poland after the elimination of Jan Kaminski and Jard on the cross country, and are ready to show the world what they’ve got in the show jumping phase.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Quintus 134 has been with Wiktoria since he was a six-year-old.
Show Jumping 📈 Safe to say, show jumping is not this pair’s favorite phase, with penalties accrued in almost every round. Sometimes two poles will go, sometimes three, sometimes four.
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“I am very grateful for this horse, for my team, that I am in this place where I am, and I was nominated for the Olympics.”
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🇦🇺 Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture
Shenae’s making her Olympic debut with OTTB Bold Venture, or ‘Bentley’ as he’s known in the barn. She’s traveled from Down Under for her second championships appearance under the Australian flag, the first coming at the World Championships in Pratoni. They’ve had some exciting results since then and are surely coming to Paris full of confidence. They’re jumping for the Australian team following the retirement of Kevin McNab and Don Quidam on cross country. Australia incur 200 penalties for the non-completion of a phase by a team member and a further 20 penalties for making a substitution. Shenae will be competing solely for the team, not as an individual.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Shenae’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 Bold Venture is the only Thoroughbred in the field. When he was on the track, he was known as ‘Hell on Wheels’.
Show Jumping 📈 They rolled three poles for 12 penalties at the World Championships in Pratoni, but that’s the most they’ve ever had in this phase. They generally jump clear in long-format competitions, but do tend to have a pole at short-format, as they did in the 4*-S at Adelaide this season; it didn’t stop them from winning though.
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“… being a fresh horse going into the show jumping — not having run nine minutes — I wasn’t sure what to expect, with him being a Thoroughbred, whether he would light up and block me out, but he didn’t. He was just his usual amazing self with the atmosphere and I just know I can trust him.”
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🇩🇪 Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S
Photo by Eventing Nation.
Despite having been eliminated on yesterday’s cross country after Christoph took the side exit and had to walk home, in terms of today’s test, this pair are coming in hot, with a clear round streak of eight. Under Olympic rules, following medical/veterinary checks, a combination who didn’t complete the cross country can go on to show jump for the team. Christoph’s out of the individual competition though. Team Germany will incur 200 penalties for having a rider not complete a phase.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Christoph’s championships experience:
🗺️ Team 🥇 Pratoni 2022
🔴 Amazingly, Christoph doesn’t consider himself to be a full-time eventer, despite being so darned good at it. Instead, he considers his role at the helm of his family’s breeding business to be his main job.
Show Jumping 📈 This horse is incredibly careful in the show jumping ring, and hasn’t had a pole since before the World Championships in 2022. They were clear inside the time at the European Championships, notably, a long-format event, where they finished fourth, and added nothing in Pratoni, or at Luhmühlen in 2021 on their way to second place. Don’t get me wrong, there are faults on their record, but like I said, they’ve been on a clear round streak for a while now.
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🇮🇹 Pietro Sandei and Rubis de Prere
Pietro finds himself part of Team Italia after having occupied the traveling reserve slot initially. He took his place on the cross country line-up following the elimination of Emiliano Portale and Future following their dressage test. He’s in Paris with long-time partner and pal ‘Rubis’, making his Olympic debut.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Pietro’s championships experience:
🗺️ Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 Pietro and Rubis finished 10th at Luhmühlen 5* last month.
Show Jumping 📈 There is the odd penalty for this pair in the final phase, mostly one or none, but there’s very occasionally one or two more than that. They jumped clear at Luhmühlen in the 5* on their way to tenth place, and were clear in their other run this season, the 4*-S at Pratoni, which they won, so they come into the show jumping round in Paris on good form.
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🇧🇷 Ruy Fonseca and Ballypatrick SRS
Photo by Eventing Nation.
Ruy’s got plenty of championships experience with the Brazilian team, with two Olympics and three World Championship caps in his locker. Initially selected as traveling reserve, he finds himself on the team, and chomping at the bit to do his bit for Brazil in Paris. Ruy has been substituted into the team following the withdrawal of Carlos Parro and Safira. That means that the team will incur 20 penalties for having made a substitution and Ruy will compete solely for the team, not as an individual.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Ruy’s championships experience:
🔥 Rio 2016 (Ind.) – London 2012 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Caen 2014 (Team) – Lexington 2010 (Team)
🔴 Ruy is a three-time winner of the Best Eventing Rider of the Year awarded by Olympic Brazil.
Show Jumping 📈 In 12 FEI show jumping rounds over the last two seasons, this gelding has had just one pole down, which came at short-format. They’re sometimes a second over the time but have been inside in each of their three runs this season.
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“… the horse has been here for the whole week and thinking, ‘When am I going? When am I going dressage? When am I going cross country?’. I only got the call really late last night … It is a privilege.”
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🇨🇦 Jessica Phoenix and Freedom GS
Jessie’s no stranger to representing Canada on the world stage, having competed at two previous Olympics, three World Championships and five Pan-Ams, as well as hopping the pond with the delightfully named Wabbit to have complete at both Badminton and Burghley. This mare’s not so experienced as her barn buddy, but Jessie takes her pure show jumping, competing at CSI4* last season, and it shows in her form.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Jessie’s championships experience:
🔥 Rio 2016 (Team) – London 2012 (Team)
🗺️ Tryon 2018 (Team) – Caen 2014 (Team) – 2010 Lexington (Ind.)
🔴 Jessie’s life philosophy is, “If you can dream it, you can become it”.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 35.4
Cross Country Penalties – 32.4
Overall – 67.8 – 46th
Show Jumping 📈 In 15 FEI competitions, this mare has had show jumping penalties five times, all but one at short-format and all five just the one pole. She was clear inside the time on her latest run in the 4*-S at Bromont, and was clear with 1.2 time in the 4*-L at TerraNova last November, the only time she’s added time in the show jumping.
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“It felt like we could really execute the plan to the mark. She just loved this French crowd, they are amazing. They’re so loud and I think she feeds off of it.”
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🇳🇱 Sanne de Jong and Enjoy
Sanne spends a fair bit of time doing pure show jumping, so she’ll be feeling comfortable in the ring today. This pair know each other so well, they’ve basically grown up together, and there can’t be a better feeling than completing an Olympic Games with your best friend.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Sanne’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 Enjoy’s mom was bred to compete, but an accident as a youngster left her blind in one eye and so she became a brood mare instead, and now her daughter’s at the Olympics.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 34.8
Cross Country Penalties – 48.2
Overall – 83 – 50th
Show Jumping 📈 They jumped clear at the European Championships last year, and have been clear in each of their three rounds since then. Before that, their form was a bit patchy – the mare kind of went from a one or none kind of gal to a short spate where eight seemed to be her favorite number, to getting over that and producing a bunch of clear rounds. Let’s hope that trajectory continues for Sanne as they finish up their Olympic debut.
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🇮🇪 Aoife Clark and Freelance
Aoife was off games for much of last season with an injury, but she’s back and fighting fit, taking up her place on the Irish team after being substituted in for Sarah Ennis and Action Lady M following yesterday’s cross country. Ireland will incur 20 penalties for making a substitution and Aoife will be competing solely for the team, not as an individual.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Aoife’s championships experience:
🔥 London 2012 (Team); 7th individually
🗺️ Caen 2014 (Team); 20th individually
🔴 Aoife’s been top-10 at Badminton more than once.
Show Jumping 📈 This season, the mare had a pole in the 4*-S at Bramham in her most recent run and was two seconds over the time, but jumped clear in the 4*-L at Saumur on her way to fourth place and a finishing score of 29.6. In her season opener, the 4*-S at Kronenberg, she had two poles and was one second over. So, a bit of a mixed bag thus far this year.
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“I love love, love that little mare. She’s just such a trier.”
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🇺🇸 Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
They had a pole at the Pan-Ams in Santiago, one of only two show jumping penalties on their record. Will they pull out a more characteristic clear in Paris?
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 HSH Blake is joint-youngest horse in the field, at nine.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 30.4
Cross Country Penalties – 32
Overall – 62.4 – 44th
Show Jumping 📈 They’ve got 20 clear rounds in their locker and have never had a time fault – will they make it 21? Hold your breath.
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“He’s nine-years-old; he’s really wise above his years. I think there’s a big, big, big, big future ahead of us, because anything was my mistakes. He didn’t do anything wrong this weekend, but he never does. He’s a bit of a unicorn.”
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“I’m sad that it’s over! I wish we could do this every week.”
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🇸🇪 Sofia Sjöborg and Bryjamolga van het Marienshof Z
Sofia and ‘Belle’ may be making their Olympic debut in Paris, but they’ve got two European Championships and a World Championships together in their locker.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Sofia’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Sofia has produced ‘Belle’ through the levels right from the start of the mare’s career in 2017.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 33.3
Cross Country Penalties – 15
Overall – 48.3 – 35th
Show Jumping 📈 They had a pole at the Europeans but jumped clear at the World Championships in Pratoni. Their recent form suggests they’re likely to have a pole, but that’s all from short-format competitions. They did jump clear in their most recent run, the 4*-S at Luhmühlen last month.
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🇳🇿 Jonelle Price and Hiarado
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Since this pair have been together, they haven’t had a show jumping pole down – that’s got to have Jonelle feeling confident as she comes into the ring. She’s got plenty of experience jumping on the final day of an event and will be going in there aiming to bring their tally of clears to nine.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Jonelle’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 11th individually – Rio 2016 (Team); 17th individually – Team 🥉 London 2012
🗺️ Team 🥉 Pratoni 2022; 10th individually – Tryon 2018 (Team); 19th individually – Caen 2014 (Ind.); 4th
8️⃣ Jonelle is currently World No. 8
🔴 Jonelle has won three of the world’s seven 5*s – Luhmühlen, Pau and Badminton.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 30.8
Cross Country Penalties – 28.4
Overall – 59.2 – 39th
Show Jumping 📈 They’ve added nothing in the show jumping phase at both long- and short-format competitions, including at 5*. Clear round incoming? Eyes on 👀
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🇯🇵 Toshiyuki Tanaka and Jefferson
Toshiyuki spent the week leading up to the Games thinking he was firmly situated in the traveling reserve slot, and then, well, Olympics things happened and here is is, in the team and ready to complete an event for his country once more. His late call-up came just this morning, following the withdrawal of Ryuzo Kitajima and Cekatinka. Japan will incur 20 penalties for making a substitution and Toshi will compete for the team only, not as an individual.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Toshiyuki’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team) – London 2012 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Tryon (2018) Team; 15th individually
🔴 Jefferson came to Toshiyuki via Germany, Australia and Great Britain.
Show Jumping 📈 Every now and again this gelding takes a pole or two, but the vast majority of the time he’s clear, although that’s often at the expense of a time penalty or two.
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“Probably when I see the podium, then probably I will feel it.”
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🇧🇪 Tine Magnus and Dia van het Lichterveld Z
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Belgian farmer/eventer Tine may be making her Olympic debut, but she knows exactly what it’s like to be at the top of her game, having been Belgian national champion in 2022. Incredibly, she’s not a full-time eventer, but there’s no mistaking a pure talent for the sport. The future sure looks bright for Belgian eventing with this pair in their ranks.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 I have it on good intel that this mare has been in hot demand, but her owners are hanging onto her very tightly.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 44
Cross Country Penalties – 2
Overall – 46 – 32nd
Show Jumping 📈 They were clear inside the time in their most recent long-format run, the 4*-L at Saumur; they had one pole in the 4*-L at Montelibretti last season. That’s their form across the board, really – one or none, more likely none.
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“… you sit back, you jump, and you think, ‘Yes!’. I watched a bit in my eye after me, and then it fell down, but it’s my fault. My mare was really, really, really amazing.”
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🇨🇭 Mélody Johner and de Rueire
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Mélody was top-20 individually in Tokyo, where they very nearly finished on their dressage. Their dressage test in Paris didn’t go exactly to plan for them, but they only added 3.2 out on cross country. They’re in 30th coming into the final phase.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Mélody’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 17th individually
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 Mélody was Swiss Junior Champion in jumping, so she’s got a solid foundation for the final phase of an event.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 38.4
Cross Country Penalties – 3.2
Overall – 41.6 – 28th=
Show Jumping 📈 OK, let’s first talk Tokyo. They were just one second over the time on cross country day and followed up that superb performance with a clear round in the first of the two show jumping rounds. And then the poles came, three in total, plus 1.2 time. To be honest, the clear round was the anomaly in terms of their form, they more often have a pole than not – they had one at the European Championships last season – but they mostly keep it to one. Unless they don’t, like they didn’t at the World Championships in Pratoni, where they had four.
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🇫🇷 Nicolas Touzaint and Diabolo Menthe
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Despite only being 44, Nicolas has the experience of five Olympics, two World Championships and nine Europeans in his arsenal – he sure knows how to pack a whole lot into a career. He’s gunning for team and individual honors at his home Games, and there’s every chance he’ll do it with this exciting gelding, who’s already proved his mettle by finishing on his dressage at the 4*-L Nations Cup event in Boekelo last season to take the win.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Nicolas’ championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥉 Tokyo 2020; 6th individually – London 2012 (Team); 17th individually – Beijing 2008 (Ind.) – Team 🥇 Athens 2004 (Ind.) 8th – Sydney 2000 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Aachen 2006 (Team)
🔴 Eventing’s in Nicolas’ genes – his dad and uncle are both eventing Olympians, with his uncle going on to coach the French team.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 27.2
Cross Country Penalties – 3.2
Overall – 30.4 – 11th
Show Jumping 📈 This gelding is a one or none kind of guy; across his career thus far it’s around a 50% clear jumping rate, but more recently he’s been clear more often. However, at long-format it’s exactly 50:50. He was clear inside the time on his way to winning the 4*-L Nations Cup event at Boekelo last season but had a pole in his season opener this year at short-format. Only time will tell how he copes with the two-round format of the Olympics, but one thing is for sure, based on his form thus far in his career, this horse has a sparkling future ahead of him.
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“Now I’m going to analyze that and give my advice to my teammates.”
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🇬🇧 Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo
When you’ve got a horse who’s as good in each phase as ‘Walter’ is, you know you’re onto an eventing winner. He’s accurate and precise in the dressage ring, and an absolute machine cross country, in terms of both jumping and time, and well, in the final phase he more often than not leaves the poles in the cups. Wonderful Walter will have won over many hearts over the weekend, adding to his fan club every time he goes out there and does his thang.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Ros’ championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥇 Tokyo 2020 (as traveling reserve)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team); 4th individually – Team 🥇 & Individual 🥇 Tryon 2018
1️⃣ Ros is currently World No. 1
🔴 Ros has a little girl called Ziggy who can often be seen cheering for her mom at events.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 23.4
Cross Country Penalties – 15
Overall – 38.4 – 24th
Show Jumping 📈 If you were being threatened by something like, really threatening and absolutely had to pick out Walter’s ‘weak’ phase, you’d probably say this one. Although really, we’re pushing it here. In 22 FEI competitions he’s had a total of seven poles down. One of these came at the European Championships, but when your dressage score is 21.3 and you added nothing on cross country day, you can have a pole and still win. That’s the only time he’s had show jumping penalties at a long-format event; he even jumped clear ‘round Badminton last year on his way to the win, a feat that many found tricky given the ground conditions of the day before. They had a very unfortunate 15 penalties for a missed flag on yesterday’s cross country which dropped them right down the order, but wherever they end up today, the future’s certainly very bright for Ros and her buddy.
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“What will be will be, won’t it? I couldn’t have two greater teammates … We’re competitors, but we’re also great friends, and whatever happens today, I know we’ll hold our heads high and be very proud of each other.”
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🇵🇱 Robert Powala and Tosca del Castegno
Robert should be feeling pretty cool, calm and collected as he comes into the show jumping ring, given the fact that he’s competed at World Cup competitions in pure show jumping previously.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Robert is based in Italy, a childhood dream of his that came true.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 34.7
Cross Country Penalties – 60
Overall – 94.7 – 51st
Show Jumping 📈 This season, in four short-format runs ‘Tosca’ has jumped clear three times, and once had two down. In their most recent long-format run, the 4*-L at Montelibretti last season, they rolled just the one pole. There is often a bit of time to be added in the final phase for this pair.
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🇦🇺 Shane Rose and Virgil
Incredibly, Shane is in Paris completing at his fourth Olympic Games with his long-time pal, ‘Virg’. At nineteen, Virg knows a thing or two about this eventing lark, and it’s very cool to see these veterans of the sport turn out and look so damn good. All credit to the teams at home for the obviously excellent care and attention they pay to these horses and their, obviously totally on-point, training programs. Shane’s comeback from a serious injury just a couple of months ago is nothing short of amazing and wherever this pair end up today will be an enormous achievement and great testament to their relationship.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Shane’s championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥈 Tokyo 2020; 10th individually – Team 🥉 Rio 2016 – Beijing 2008 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team); 13th individually – Tryon 2018 (Team) – Caen 2014 (Team) – Aachen 2006 (Ind.) – Rome 1998 (Ind.)
🔴 Dare I mention mankini-gate? I do. Well, Shane said, on record, that should he win a gold medal in Paris, he will wear a gold-kini. Oo la la.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 34.6
Cross Country Penalties – 2.8
Overall – 37.4 – 23rd
Show Jumping 📈 He had a pole at Pratoni and also had one in the first round at Tokyo, adding another in the second round. But there are many more clears on this gelding’s record than there are poles. He finished on his dressage when he won the Horse of the Year event in New Zealand this season and has jumped clear in the final phase in each of his five 5* appearances.
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“I felt like I had an important job to do to help the team and I feel like I’ve done my bit. It would have been great to finish without the pole down, but I’m really proud of my horse. He’s done an amazing job.”
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🇩🇪 Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
A clear round is in no way a dead cert for this pair, so Julia will be holding her breath and hoping that all of the poles stay in the cups as she takes to the Olympic ring.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Julia’s championships experience:
🔥 Individual 🥇 Tokyo 2020 – Team 🥈 Rio 2016
🗺️ Team 🥇 & Individual 🥈 Pratoni 2022 – Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 Julia originally won’t have thought she had a seat on the flight to Paris, having been allocated to Block 3 on the German longlist. Then she won Aachen and was named as traveling reserve. Then Sandra Auffarth withdrew, meaning that yes, in fact, the reigning Olympic Champion is in situ to try and defend her title.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 26.9
Cross Country Penalties – 4.8
Overall – 31.7 – 14th=
Show Jumping 📈 Nickel 21 jumped clear at Aachen on his way to the win a couple of weeks ago, but had a pole at the two competitions leading up to that. He hasn’t done a lot of long-format events, and he had a pole in the 4*-L at Montelibretti last season, where he finished second. Before that we’re going back to a 3*-L in 2022, where, incidentally, he did jump clear. He’s a one or none kind of guy – which will it be?
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“Going in there now and riding in front of such public at the Olympics — because in Rio I didn’t get to ride the showjumping, and Tokyo, zero people, only the team — and here they’ve all come out, so that’s really a treat.”
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“It’s also sometimes cool to do it without being in the lead and nervous and having all the pressure. I want to perform well, but this way, I can actually enjoy doing it.”
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🇮🇹 Giovanni Ugolotti and Swirly Temptress
Photo by Alex Jeffery.
After her extravagance in the dressage ring and determination on cross country, ‘Swirl’ can be a bit tricksy when it comes to the show jumping. She has penalties more often than not, sometimes quite a few, even incurring an automatic elimination in the 4*-S at Chatsworth last season for having more than five fences down.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Giovanni’s championships experience:
🗺️ Caen 2014 (Team)
🔴 Giovanni may be very much Italian, but he’s been based in the UK for over a decade.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 25.7
Cross Country Penalties – 36.4
Overall – 62.1 – 43rd
Show Jumping 📈 OK, are you ready for this? This mare rolled three poles in her most recent run in the 4*-S at Luhmühlen, but jumped clear in her other two runs this season, two of only four clear rounds on her record. She had one pole at the European Championships last season, a long-format event, which is generally where she sits – one pole, or maybe a few more. It was six at Chatsworth last year, resulting in elimination due to it being a short-format event. How will she find Paris?
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🇧🇷 Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Castle Howard Casanova
Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
This gelding is for sure one to watch in the show jumping ring, with his 2022 Sunshine Tour practice showing up as clear in the final phase of an event more often than not. They’re on a streak of seven clears, will they make it eight today?
Form, Facts & Stats:
Marcio’s championships experience:
🔥 Rio 2016 (Team) – London 2012 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 Marcio is a trained doctor and anaesthetist.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 33.3
Cross Country Penalties – 42.2
Overall – 75.7 – 49th
Show Jumping 📈 In 15 FEI competitions they’ve had poles on just three occasions, all coming in the first two years of the gelding’s career. They haven’t had a pole this season, and didn’t have any last season, including at the Pan-Ams in Santiago where they won bronze. They did have 0.8 time that day but they finished on their dressage in the other two long-format runs on their FEI record. Eyes on this one 👀
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🇨🇦 Michael Winter and El Mundo
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This combination know just what it’s like to stand at the top of the podium, having won team gold at the Pan-Ams in Santiago last season. They’re an experienced pairing with World Championships and 5*s under their cinch, and now an Olympics. It’s around 50:50 whether they’ll jump clear in this round – place your bets.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Mike’s championships experience:
🔥 Beijing 2008 (Team) – Athens 2004 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022(Team)
🔴 Mike actually came from a non-horsey family, with his introduction to the madness coming at summer camp, and we all know how contagious the horsey bug is, he had no chance.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 35.2
Cross Country Penalties – 14.4
Overall – 49.6 – 36th
Show Jumping 📈 They were on a clear show jumping streak of five until they had a pole in the 4*-S at Bramham this season. That includes the Pan-Ams, where they were fifth individually and won team gold, and the 4*-L at Bramham last season. Before that, the last time they had a pole was at the World Championships in Pratoni. He tends to be a one or none kind of guy, and it’s around 50:50. There are a smattering of time penalties on his record too, at both long- and short-format. He was two seconds over in Santiago, and one at Pratoni.
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🇳🇱 Raf Kooremans and Radar Love
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This partnership really is brand new, with just six FEI runs this season together. Getting to Paris was very much the motivation behind the pairing, and here they are, at the Olympics within striking distance of a place in the individual final. They seem to be getting on well together so far, with a win, a second and a fifth place under their cinch already.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Raf’s championships experience:
🗺️ Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 Raf’s making his Olympic debut but he’s represented the Netherlands a bunch of times at European Championships as well as being part of the World Championships team in Tryon.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 27
Cross Country Penalties – 5.6
Overall – 32.6 – 18th
Show Jumping 📈 Since Raf took to the saddle, this gelding’s show jumping stats have improved- he’s had one pole in six rounds this season and has delivered by far the most consecutive clears of his career. The pole came in their only 4*-L competition together, so they’re still untested in terms of the Olympic format should they secure a spot in the top-25, but Raf must be feeling pretty good about how far he’s come with this horse in such a short time.
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🇮🇪 Susie Berry and Wellfields Lincoln
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Susie’s in the enviable position of having a string of five horses which were all on the Olympic selectors’ radar. Wellfields Lincoln may not have quite as many miles on the clock as some of his stablemates, but he’s proved himself to be a good all-rounder, and particularly careful in the final phase, so Susie should be feeling good as she enters the show jumping ring in Paris.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Susie’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Susie helped Ireland to qualify for the Paris Olympics when she made her Senior team debut at the World Championships in Pratoni.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 33
Cross Country Penalties – 15.2
Overall – 48.2 – 34th
Show Jumping 📈 In 17 FEI rounds, this pair have had poles on just three occasions, none of which have come at long-format competitions. They’ve jumped three clears inside the time already this season. Eyes on this one for a play to move up the leaderboard 👀
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🇺🇸 Elisabeth Halliday and Nutcracker
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Liz is making her Olympic debut after a few weeks of thinking she would have to watch from the sidelines as traveling reserve. She’s been part of a successful Team US before, winning the team silver at the Pan-Ams in Santiago last year. Nutcracker’s an exciting young talent and will be gaining so much valuable experience to take forward as he struts his stuff on the world stage.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 In the barn, Nutcracker’s known as ‘Bali’.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 28
Cross Country Penalties – 6
Overall – 34 – 22nd
Show Jumping 📈 This combination do roll a pole, on occasion, having one down in the Kentucky 5* in the spring, where they finished eighth on the gelding’s debut at the top-level. They jumped clear in the 4*-L at Galway Downs last season, which they won, and again in the 4*-L at Tryon, which they also won. They do have the odd pole, but they’re almost always at short-format.
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“I’m just absolutely over the moon with him. He gave me such a good round and such a good feel — in all that atmosphere too. This has been a big learning experience for him as well, and he’ll be an even better horse next year for it.”
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“I think he’ll go home and have a big holiday, which he deserves, and then come back a really fabulous 11-year-old next year.”
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🇸🇪 Louise Romeike and Caspian 15
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Caspian 15 is a bit of a triple threat when it comes to eventing. He’s consistently low-30s in the dressage, hasn’t had a cross country jumping penalty ever and is speedy to boot, and very, very rarely has a show jumping pole. Lucky Louise to be at the Olympics with such a talent. They’re rounding out the individual final places as they come into this round.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Louise’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team)
🗺️ Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 Caspian 15 is owned by Louise, her father-in-law, and Dutch eventer Madeleine Brugman, who’s grooming for Louise in Paris.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 37.7
Cross Country Penalties – 0.8
Overall – 38.5 – 25th
Show Jumping 📈 In 26 FEI competitions this guy has had show jumping penalties on just six occasions, all of them at short-format events. They were two seconds over the time in the 4*-L Nations Cup event in Boekelo last season, which isn’t unusual for them in this phase.
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🇳🇿 Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park
Photo by Eventing Nation.
This pair are on a streak of five clear rounds and haven’t had a pole this season. That’s come at the cost of a smidge of time sometimes though. Double clear today? Only time will tell.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Clarke’s championships experience:
🔥 Rio 2016 (Team); 6th individually
🗺️ Team 🥉Pratoni 2022 – Lexington 2020 (Team)
🔴 Clarke has won all of the major eventing titles in his native New Zealand.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 25.7
Cross Country Penalties – 4.8
Overall – 30.5 – 12th
Show Jumping 📈 They had a pole at the World Championships in Pratoni, as well as being two seconds over the time. They’re on a good run of clears as they head to the Olympics, which should have Clarke feeling confident for another one, or two.
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🇯🇵 Kazuma Tomoto and Vinci de la Vigne
Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
Kazuma began his equestrian career in the show jumping ring, so he’s well-used to the pressure of the two-round format we see at the Olympics. In Tokyo, he actually jumped better in the second round, having had a pole in the first, so he’ll be hoping for two clears – and potentially a medal – this time around.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Kazuma’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 4th individually
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team); 8th individually – Tryon 2018 (Team)
🔴 Vinci de la Vigne is known as ‘Vince’ at home.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 27.4
Cross Country Penalties – 0
Overall – 27.4 – 8th
Show Jumping 📈 This pair are on a streak of six clears inside the time, but they’ve all come at short-format events. They had a pole at the World Championships in Pratoni, and one in the first round in Tokyo, and the horse had one at the World Championships before that, when he was being campaigned for France by Astier Nicolas. He’s currently enjoying his best ever show jumping form though, so Kazuma will be keeping everything crossed that it continues at least a little longer.
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“Basically for the equestrian people in Japan, you are dreaming about getting the medal one day, and then we are just wishing for this moment for a long, long time — many many years. 32 years — the last time we got the medal was before the Second World War. So for equestrian people, getting the medal — for 90 years, nothing happened. This was for a long time our dream, so this is a huge thing for us.”
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🇧🇪 Karin Donckers and Liepheimer Van’t Verahof
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Surely one of the most experienced riders in the field, Karin knows what it takes to complete at an Olympics, she’s a six-time Olympian after all. She’s been a huge part of Team Belgium over the years and has very much been a part of the nation’s growing success and upward trajectory – they finished top of the standings of the Nations Cup series last year. She’s here with a relatively inexperienced ride, proving that the future is very bright for Belgian eventing.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Karin’s championships experience:
🔥 Rio 2016 (Ind.) – London 2012 (Team); 15th individually – Beijing 2008 (Ind.); 9th – Athens 2004 (Team); 16th individually – Sydney 2000 (Team); 9th individually – Barcelona 1992 (Team); 8th individually
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Tryon 2018 (Team); 17th individually – Caen 2014 (Team); 5th individually – Lexington 2010 (Team); 4th individually – Aachen 2006 (Team); 13th individually – Jerez de la Frontera 2002 (Ind.); 19th – Rome 1998 (Ind.) – Den Haag 1994 (Ind.)
🔴 This combination haven’t finished outside the top-20 in an FEI competition since mid-2021.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 26.6
Cross Country Penalties – 7.2
Overall – 33.8 – 21st
Show Jumping 📈 They were clear inside the time in the 4*-L at Boekelo last season, the last FEI long-format competition on their record. They’re on a run of four clear rounds, matching the highest number of clears they’ve had consecutively. There are a smattering of one pole rounds throughout their 29 FEI competitions, a couple of 8 penalties and one 12. Will they make it five clears in a row in Paris? Or even six, given the two round format and the fact that they’re currently in one of the spots for the individual final.
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🇨🇭 Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This combination have a whole bunch of championships experience under their cinch, with two World Championships, three Europeans and a whole slew of Nations Cup appearances on their card. Robin’s looking for his first Olympic completion in Paris and he’s hoping to do it with his long-term partner, ‘Grandeur’, who he’s been competing with for nine years. They are just outside the individual final slots as they come into this round.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Robin’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team); 15th individually – Tryon 2018 (Team)
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Robin and ‘Grandeur’ won their last two FEI events – that’s gotta have him feeling confident as he came into the Olympics.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 29.1
Cross Country Penalties – 9.6
Overall – 38.7 – 26th
Show Jumping 📈 They had a pole in the final phase at the European Championships last season, and one at the World Championships in Pratoni; in fact, they’ve had at least one pole at each of their championships appearances. Generally, this is a one or none kind of gelding, more often one, and sometimes the time can creep up on him too.
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🇫🇷 Karim Laghouag and Triton Fontaine
Photo by Eventing Nation.
This pair got caught out by the two-round format in Tokyo but they’ll be buoyed up by the home crowd this time around, and, despite Karim’s happy-go-lucky nature, there’s no doubt that he’s the fiercest of competitors.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Karim’s championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥉 Tokyo 2020; 12th individually – Team 🥇 Rio 2016
🗺️ Lexington 2010 (Ind.) – Aachen 2006 (Ind.) 10th
🔴 Karim is known for his epic sense of humor, arguably one of the most important traits in eventing.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 29.6
Cross Country Penalties – 0
Overall – 29.6 – 10th
Show Jumping 📈 They were on a streak of eight clear rounds until their most recent run in the 4*-S at Marbach, where they had a pole, and that includes long- and short-format competitions and Pau 5*, where they added just 0.4 show jumping time to their dressage score across the entire event and were runners-up. The last time they had jumping penalties in the show jumping ring was Tokyo, where they had one pole in the first round and two poles and 0.8 time in the second round. That must have been disappointing as this horse really is a great jumper, who very much more often than not leaves the poles in the cups.
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🇬🇧 Tom McEwen and JL Dublin
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
‘Dubs’ is very much a one or none kind of guy in this phase, happily more often none than one. But he’s not infallible, and the two-round format caught out a couple of the Brits in Tokyo, not Tom though, who took home the individual silver medal with Toledo de Kerser. It would be a fairytale should ‘Dubs’ find himself up there after all’s said and done today, and we know that anything’s possible in eventing.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Tom’s championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥇 & Individual 🥈 Tokyo 2020
🗺️ Team 🥇 Tryon 2018; 12th individually
3️⃣ Tom is currently World No. 3
🔴 Tom keeps fit by running and can often be seen at events undertaking his course walk rather more speedily than the rest of the competition.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 25.8
Cross Country Penalties – 0
Overall – 25.8 – 6th
Show Jumping 📈 In long-format competitions with Tom, Dubs has 50:50 form – one or none. He had a pole and added 1.2 time penalties on his way to second place at Kentucky 5* in the spring, expensive penalties considering he would have won the thing without them. He also had a pole at Pau 5*, where he was third. He was clear at Kentucky last year though, where he was second, and finished on his dressage in the 4*-L Nations Cup event at Boekelo in 2022, where he was also second. There’s a lot of bridesmaid-ing going on for this pair, but it’s surely only a matter of time before they take a win.
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“He was class from start to finish.”
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🇵🇱 Malgorzata Korycka and Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Malgorzata and ‘Valencia’ know perfectly well what it’s like to enter the show jumping ring for the final of a championships, having competed at the World Championships in Pratoni as individuals. This time they’re part of the team on their Olympic debut.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Malgorzata’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.)
🔴 Do you think Malgorzata and and fellow Olympian (and fiance) Jan (Kaminski) have been asking the Prices for advice about being an Olympic eventing couple?
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 39.4
Cross Country Penalties – 21.2
Overall – 60.6 – 41st
Show Jumping 📈 This pair had two poles and 2 time faults in Pratoni at the World Championships and have two eight fault rounds on their card thus far this season. They’re a bit of a none, one, or two kind of combination, with the three variables being around about equal, really, and spread between long- and short-format events.
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🇦🇺 Christopher Burton and Shadow Man
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Chris has, handily, spent the last two seasons on the pure show jumping scene, so he’ll be well-prepared for the two round format, something we only see in eventing at the Olympics.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Chris’ championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥉 Rio 2016; 5th individually – London 2012 (Team)
🗺️ Tryon 2018 (Team) – Caen 2014 (Team) – Lexington 2010 (Ind.)
🔴 Chris was part of the team that helped Australia qualify for the show jumping at Paris, and had horses qualified for both eventing and show jumping at the Games.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 22
Cross Country Penalties – 0
Overall – 22 – 3rd
Show Jumping 📈 This gelding jumps clear more often than not. He was on a streak of seven clear rounds until he lowered two poles in the 4*-L at Strzegom, Poland, in April (spanning both Chris and his previous rider, Ben Hobday). He kept them in the cups in his most recent run though, when he finished on his dressage score. He was a second over the time in the 4*-S in Kronenberg this spring, but there’s only been one other occasion that he hasn’t been inside in this phase.
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“Isn’t he a lovely animal? And what a lucky person I am to be here in Paris, having so much fun here. The atmosphere at the Olympics is indescribable, isn’t it? You wish you could bottle it … Ben Hobday, thanks for the horse, mate. He’s a ripper.”
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🇩🇪 Michael Jung and Chipmunk FRH
The curse of the last fence must still hang over Michi and haunt his dreams to this day. It cost him and ‘Chip’ the title at the World Championships in Pratoni, and it’s not the only time an unlucky rub has scuppered his chance of a win. Is it their turn to convert their bridesmaid status to bride?
Form, Facts & Stats:
Michael’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 8th individually – Team 🥈 & Individual 🥇 Rio 2016 – Team 🥇 & Individual 🥇 London 2012
🗺️ Team 🥇 & Individual 🥈 Caen 2014 – Individual 🥇 Lexington 2010
🔴 Michi’s won Badminton, Burghley, Luhmühlen and Kentucky, some of them multiple times.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 17.8
Cross Country Penalties – 0
Overall – 17.8 – 1st
Show Jumping 📈 It’s a similar story for this combination’s show jumping form as it is for their cross country form. They don’t have poles often, but when they do, they really count. In 33 FEI competitions together, they’ve had poles on nine occasions, including one in the second round of jumping in Tokyo. They were on track to win the World Championships in Pratoni, with a fence in hand, but when one went and everyone held their breath, no one could have predicted that the last would go as well, dropping them down to fifth place. They’d jumped clear since then, until the 4*-S at Luhmühlen this season when they had one pole, dropping them from first to third. They did jump clear for the win at Kentucky 5* in 2022, and we all know that Michi will be absolutely determined not to let the mistakes of the past haunt his present-day hunt for another Olympic title.
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“Chipmunk jumped amazing. It’s a tough day. [I’ll] try to stay focused.”
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🇮🇹 Evelina Bertoli and Fidjy des Melezes
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This pair have had a bit of a tricky time of it in the final round at championships thus far in their career. Will they put that right in Paris?
Form, Facts & Stats:
Evelina’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Ind.) – Caen 2014 (Team)
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Evelina took over the ride on ‘Fidjy’ in 2020.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 26.6
Cross Country Penalties – 6.4
Overall – 33 – 19th
Show Jumping 📈 This is the phase where this combination may fall down a little, with faults usually coming in the form of two poles, as happened in their most recent run in the 4*-S Nations Cup event in Avenches. They also had eight show jumping penalties as well as 1.2 time at the European Championships last season, a long-format competition. It was a similar story at the World Championships in Pratoni, but there they pulled a third pole and added 1.2 time. There are clear rounds on their score sheet, but they’ve mostly come at short-format.
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🇧🇷 Rafael Mamprim Losano and Withington
Rafael may be young but he’s got Olympic experience in his locker from Tokyo and a Pan-Ams medal in his trophy cabinet, thanks to a team bronze at Santiago, which he won with his Paris ride, Withington.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Rafael’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team)
🔴 Rafael has almost a century of FEI starts under his belt, and he’s a few years off turning thirty yet.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 32.4
Cross Country Penalties – 9.2
Overall – 41.6 – 28th=
Show Jumping 📈 In their eight FEI runs together since Rafael took over the reins in 2023, this pair have had poles on two occasions, both long-format. They had 8 faults at the Pan-Ams in Santiago, where they won team bronze, but jumped clear in the 4*-L at Montelibretti this season; it came at the cost of 3.2 time penalties though.
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🇨🇦 Karl Sleazak and Hot Bobo
They had a taste of what a team gold medal feels like at the Pan-Ams in Santiago last season, and now they’re Olympians with the brightest of futures ahead of them. If you follow Karl on social media, is is abundantly clear that he thinks the absolute world of this mare, and for good reason. Whatever the outcome at the Games, she’s an exciting talent, that’s for sure, and we’ll be seeing very much more of her in the future. We may even spot her foal, Hot Tamale, in the start box one day.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Karl’s championships experience:
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Karl affectionately refers to Hot Bobo as “the bestest mare”.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 35.8
Cross Country Penalties – 4.8
Overall – 40.6 – 27th
Show Jumping 📈 There are a smattering of show jumping faults throughout this mare’s record, but only once has she had more than one pole; that came at the Pan-Ams in Santiago last year, where they won team gold and were fourth individually (their placing wouldn’t have improved had they had their more usual 4 penalties, but they would have been third if they’d gone clear). They have been clear in the final phase at long-format once, but that was a 3* back in 2022 – they’ve had jumping penalties at every long-format event they’ve done since then.
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🇳🇱 Janneke Boonzaaijer and Champ de Tailleur
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
This long-term partnership have been together since 2018 and Janneke has brought the gelding up from 2*. They’ve got plenty of Nations Cup experience under the cinch, as well as two European Championships and the Tokyo Games.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Janneke’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2010 (Ind.)
🔴 Janneke was part of the team at the Europeans last season which secured the Netherlands’ spot at the Olympics.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 31.9
Cross Country Penalties – 0
Overall – 31.9 – 16th
Show Jumping 📈 Every now and then this gelding will have a rail, but more often than not he jumps clear, really. He left the poles in the cups at the European Championships last season, a long-format competition, although it cost them two seconds over the time allowed. He had a pole in his last run, but that was short-format.
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🇮🇪 Austin O’Connor and Colorado Blue
Austin and ‘Salty’ got their first Olympic call-up at the very last minute, when they were bumped into the Tokyo team due to the late withdrawal of Cathal Daniels. They stepped up to the plate and did Ireland proud then, and this time around there mustn’t have been any doubt about his place being firmly on the team, what with a third place at Badminton and a Maryland 5* win now on their record.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Austin’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 13th individually – Beijing 2008 (Team) – Sydney 2000 (Ind.); 17th
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team); 18th individually
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 Austin was the first Irish rider since 1965 to win a 5* when he took the Maryland crown last fall.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 31.7
Cross Country Penalties – 0
Overall – 31.7 – 14th=
Show Jumping 📈 Previously, you wouldn’t have pegged Salty for a certain clear round in the final phase, but recently he proved that he can keep all the poles in the cups, at both long- and short- format, particularly when others can’t. That’s what earned him the win at Maryland 5*. Looking back to his championships appearances, he rolled two poles in Pratoni, and one in each round at Tokyo. But Austin’ll have his more recent form in mind and will be channeling his Maryland luck as he takes to the ring in Paris.
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🇺🇸 Boyd Martin and Fedarman B
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Boyd rides regularly with Olympic show jumper Peter Wylde, so he’s well-placed for a good go at the final phase in Paris. And Bruno is a clear round kinda guy. Hold your breath Team USA fans…
Form, Facts & Stats:
Boyd’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 20th individually – Rio 2016 (Team); 16th individually – London 2012 (Team)
🗺️ Team 🥈 Pratoni 2022 – Tryon 2018 (Team) – Caen 2014 (Team); 7th individually – Lexington 2010 (Team); 10th individually
6️⃣ Boyd is currently World No. 6
🔴 Boyd’s mom and dad both competed at the Winter Olympics.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 30.5
Cross Country Penalties – 1.6
Overall – 32.1 – 17th
Show Jumping 📈 Since this pair started competing together, they’ve had one single pole, which came at Luhmühlen last season and dropped him down a couple of places to eighth. But he was clear at Pau, where he was also eighth, and has kept the poles in the cups at five long-format events with Boyd. We’re looking for a double clear for this pair in the two-round format, but as we know, always with horses, we’ll have to watch this space.
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“I’m just blessed to have a super-duper jumper. He didn’t touch a jump in the warm up and came in the ring and jumped like a superstar.”
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🇸🇪 Frida Andersén and Box Leo
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Frida didn’t get the chance to show jump at her other Olympic appearance in Rio, after withdrawing before the final horse inspection. She’ll be relishing her chance of an Olympic completion – and maybe even an individual final – as she takes to the ring in Paris.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Frida’s championships experience:
🔥 Rio (Team)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 Frida’s a bit of a smart cookie, with degrees in dental hygiene and sport and business 🍪
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 33.3
Cross Country Penalties – 0
Overall – 33.3 – 20th
Show Jumping 📈 This pair have a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to form in the final phase. They had two poles at the European Championships last season, and one at the World Championships in Pratoni. They generally have a pole at long-format events, but that second one at the Europeans was unlucky, they’re mostly a one or none kind of combination.
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🇳🇿 Tim Price and Falco
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Tim and Falco spent some time pure show jumping on the Sunshine Tour in Spain this season, so they’ll be well primed for the two-round Olympic format. Eyes on this pair to deliver a clear round 👀
Form, Facts & Stats:
Tim’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team) – Rio 2016 (Team)
🗺️ Team 🥉 & Individual 🥉 Pratoni 2022 – Tryon 2018 (Team); 8th individually – Caen 2014 (Team)
9️⃣ Tim is currently World No. 9
🔴 Tim has won four of the seven 5*s, been on the podium two of the three he hasn’t (already) won and top-10 at the other.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 26.5
Cross Country Penalties – 2
Overall – 28.5 – 9th
Show Jumping 📈 This pair haven’t had a pole since 2021 and you have to go way, way, way back to 2017 to find another one on their record. That’s two poles in 27 FEI competitions. They were a second over the time when they jumped for victory at Pau 5* in 2021, but Tim’s produced a streak of seven clears without going over the clock since then.
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🇯🇵 Yoshiaki Oiwa and MGH Grafton Street
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
In 2017, Yoshi became the first Japanese rider to win a 4* outside Japan and is, now, based with Pippa Funnell in the UK, after a condition of the sale of MGH Grafton Street was that he stay at her home. Before that, he’d based himself in Germany with Dirk Schrade.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Yoshi’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team) – Rio 2016 (Ind.); 20th – London 2012 (Team) – Beijing 2008 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Tryon 2018 (Team); 20th individually – Lexington 2010 (Team) – Aachen 2006 (Ind.); 18th
🔴 This gelding delivered Pippa Funnell a superb Burghley win in 2019.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 25.5
Cross Country Penalties – 0
Overall – 25.5 – 5th
Show Jumping 📈 In their four FEI runs together, they have a 50:50 jumping clear rate, with two poles over two competitions and two clears. Historically, this gelding can be a little tricky in the show jumping phase, with more faults than clears across his many events, but it looks like he’s going well for Yoshi thus far. How will they do in the Olympic ring today?
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TEAM BRONZE FOR JAPAN!!!
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“The more people come into the sport after this medal — there’s probably more people looking now and recognizing this sport.”
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🇧🇪 Lara de Liederkerke-Meier and Origi
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
It was an emotional day all round when Lara won Luhmühlen this season, the first Belgian to win a 5*. Lara didn’t even watch the rounds of those who went after her, she was just pleased with her performance and didn’t think anything more of it. And then her husband, Belgian team trainer, Kai Steffen Meier came into the collecting ring and informed her that she was a 5* winner. That’s eventing magic right there, my friends.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Lara’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team) – Tryon 2018 – Caen 2014; 18th Individually – Lexington 2010
4️⃣ Lara is currently World No. 4
🔴 Lara’s one smart cookie 🎓 As well as being a 5* winning eventer, she’s also got a Master’s degree in Commerce.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 30
Cross Country Penalties – 1.2
Overall – 31.2 – 13th
Show Jumping 📈 In 25 FEI competitions, this combination have had show jumping faults on just four occasions, each time just a single pole. Two of those times came in long-format competitions, of which they’ve done three. They occasionally add a smidge of time but far more often than not they add nothing at all in this phase.
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Belgium have finished just off the podium in the team competition, in fourth.
“I think I picked the best horse I could to bring the three of us here, and that was a wonderful result, even though I’m disappointed in my rail.”
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🇨🇭 Felix Vogg and Dao de l’Ocean
Photo by Eventing Nation.
Felix is no stranger to the final round of a championships and he’s sitting on a very, very good jumper. The gelding’s untested over a two-round format, but his penchant for clear rounds sure does stand him in good stead.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Felix’s championships experience:
🔥 Tokyo 2020 (Team); 19th individually – Rio 2016 (Ind.)
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team); 14th individually – Tryon 2018 (Team) – Caen 2014 (Team)
🔴 Felix’s grandad competed in eventing at the 1956 Olympics in Stockholm.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 22.1
Cross Country Penalties – 0
Overall – 22.1 – 4th
Show Jumping 📈 This pair jump a lot of clear rounds, but they’re not infallible. They had a pole in the 4*-L Nations Cup event at Boekelo last season, which tumbled them down the order to ninth place. They’ve jumped clear at each of the four competitions they’ve done this season, all short-format events. We’ll have to wait and see how ‘Dao’ finds the format at Paris, but this guy’s got a very exciting future ahead of him no matter how things ultimately play out.
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“I just do my thing and I believe in the horse and believe in myself.”
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🇫🇷 Stéphane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau
Photo by Tilly Berendt.
It can’t be easy for Stéphane to ride in his friend’s honor as he does, but honestly, he does it with such grace and humility, reminding us all that the gelding is Thaïs’ in the stylized prefix he usually adds to the horse’s name – ‘Ride for Thaïs’. It’s one of the most poignant stories of eventing – Chaman Dumontceau’s rider was involved in a fatal fall and her friend took it upon himself to ride for her. And now all three are representing France at their home Olympics.
Form, Facts & Stats:
🔴 As well as her horse continuing in Thaïs’ name, her family continue her legacy with a foundation which raises money for safety devices in the sport.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 24.4
Cross Country Penalties – 2.8
Overall – 27.2 – 7th
Show Jumping 📈 This is a one or none kind of guy, more often one. He’s had a pole in each of his last three FEI competitions, jumped clear in the 4*-S at Chatsworth last season (which he won), and then had a pole at each of his three events before that. He was on a streak of three clears up to that point. I think that gives a bit of a picture of how things tend to go in the show jumping ring for this combination. They’re generally inside the time, but can add a little here and there.
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TEAM SILVER FOR FRANCE!!!
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🇬🇧 Laura Collett and London 52
One third of the team who took the gold in Tokyo, Laura and London 52 are surely here for redemption after an expensive second show jumping round saw them drop down the Olympic order last time around. Laura must’ve been cursing the two-round format at the Games, but I’m willing to bet that she’s been practicing for it since, well 2021.
Form, Facts & Stats:
Laura’s championships experience:
🔥 Team 🥇 Tokyo 2020
🗺️ Pratoni 2022 (Team)
🔴 There’s no prizes for guessing who Laura’s eventing idol is. Of course, it’s British eventing hero Pippa Funnell.
▶️ Score coming into this phase:
Dressage – 17.5
Cross Country Penalties – 0.8
Overall – 18.3 – 2nd
Show Jumping 📈 So yes, Laura and London 52 jumped clear in the first round in Tokyo, but then had two poles in the second round. At that point, this horse had only ever had eight faults in a show jumping round once before, way, way back in 2018 (he’s since had two poles in a 4*-S competition in 2022). He did go through a spate of rolling a pole, around the time of Tokyo to the World Championships in Pratoni (where he had a pole), but once he came out of the other side of that, it’s been clear all the way.
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TEAM GOLD FOR GREAT BRITAIN!!!
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