Great British individual pair Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir, who finished second at Kentucky this spring. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The 2022 FEI World Championships for Eventing is officially underway after the first horse inspection this afternoon, which saw our field of 90 narrowed down to 89 — and dropped one of our 27 nations out of the hunt entirely. You can read about what happened in full in our report — and keep on scrolling to get a glimpse of this afternoon’s action. This is one of the most beautiful venues in the world, and the equine competitors aren’t too shabby either!
Ears up and smile! Team USA deploys all the tricks for the team photo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Olympic individual silver medallists Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser come to Pratoni with a great chance of going one better. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Has there ever been a more photogenic horse? Tamie Smith gives Mai Baum a pat. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do: the Swiss support team gets the ears forward with much joie de vivre. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The Swiss team, with cross-country coach Andrew Nicholson, pause for the obligatory team snap after a successful trot-up. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Ireland’s Susie Berry and Monbeg by Design. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Sweden’s Sofia Sjoborg and Bryjamolga van het Marienshof Z. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Australia’s Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture, who journeyed to Italy from Down Under for this event. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The Netherlands’ Sanne de Jong and her homebred Enjoy. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Aachen winners Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz. Sandra became World Champion in 2014 after winning Aachen with Opgun Louvo — can she do it again? Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Ireland’s Sam Watson wrestles with an enthusiastic SAP Talisman. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Groom Natalie Sharp and Cekatinka JRA. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Japan’s Ryuzo Kitajima gives Cekatinka JRA some love. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo, who was second on his five-star debut at Badminton this spring. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Switzerland’s Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH, who won the test event here this spring. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Oliver Townend, wearing a black armband in honour of the late Queen of England, waits with Ballaghmor Class. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Miloslav Prihoda Jr.’s Ferreolus Lat tries a bit of interpretive dance on the trot-up strip. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Mike Winter’s El Mundo poses for the cameras. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
He’s the king of the world, but will he be the king of Pratoni? Michael Jung presents fischerChipmunk FRH. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Melody Johner’s Toubleu de Rueire, representing Switzerland, shows the photographers what he thinks of them. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Brazil’s Marcelo Tosi and Glenfly. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Austria’s Lea Siegl laughs as her Tokyo mount DSP Fighting Line, who was 15th at the Olympics, spooks at the photographers. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Badminton winners Laura Collett and London 52. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Several riders are mounted on homebreds this week, and one of those is Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier. She’ll ride the nine-year-old Hermione d’Arville. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Thailand’s Korntawat Samran and Uster de Chanay. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Kazuma Tomoto and Vinci de la Vigne, who were fourth at Tokyo last year, come forward on a quest to step aboard the podium. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Belgium’s Karin Donckers and Fletcha van’t Verahof are among the most experienced pairs in the field, with a wealth of championship mileage behind them. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Canada’s Karl Slezak presents Fernhill Wishes. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Olympic individual gold medallists Julia Krajewski, in a sharp military uniform, and Amande de b’Neville. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The Netherlands’ Jordy Wilken and his stalwart partner, Burry Spirit. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Jonelle Price presents McClaren. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Belgium’s Jarno Verwimp, who’s just 21 years old, and Mahalia. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Poland’s Jan Kaminski and Jard. Poland has two representatives in this field, and they’re a real power couple. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Holly Jacks’s Candy King goes for a stroll after a successful presentation. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Canada’s Hawley Bennett Awad shares a moment with 18-year-old Jollybo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Dr Harald Ambros, the flying dentist, presents Mountbatton 2 in traditional Austrian dress. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Denmark will have two riders in this year’s field, both of whom fundraised to get here. Hanne Wind Ramsgaard presents Amequ Torino. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Poland’s Malgorzata Korycka and Canvalencia. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The Italians know how to dress: Giovanni Ugolotti makes a sharp picture with Duke of Champions. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
British-based Frenchman Gaspard Maksud and nine-year-old Zaragoza. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Sweden’s Frida Andersen and Box Leo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The French team gather for a squad snap after the trot-up. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
India’s Fouaad Mirza and the former Bettina Hoy ride, Seigneur Medicott. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Luhmühlen CCI5* winner Felix Vogg brings forward his Europeans mount, Cartania. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Ireland’s Felicity Ward and Regal Bounty. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Groom Jess Elliott plants a kiss on Padraig McCarthy’s Fallulah. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Milana 23 goes in for a snuggle with Spain’s Esteban Benitez Valle. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Canada’s Dana Cooke and FE Mississippi, who were a last minute substitution into the squad. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Ireland’s Austin O’Connor stops to enjoy the shade with Colorado Blue. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Germany’s Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S will be pathfinders for Germany — and for the entire field. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Brazil’s Carlos Parro and Goliath, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics as a ten-year-old. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Sole Hungarian representatives Balasz Kaisinger and Clover 15. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Ariel Grald gives Leamore Master Plan a cuddle after presenting for the USA. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Spain’s Antonio Cejudo Caro and Duque HSM – perhaps the biggest poser of the Pratoni field. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
New Zealand’s Amanda Pottinger and Just Kidding. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
21-year-old Alina Dibowski and Barbados 26. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
China’s Alex Hua Tian and Don Geniro will represent their nation as individuals this week. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Aistis Vitkauskas and Commander VG come forward as the sole representatives for Lithuania – sporting a special ribbon in support of Ukraine, too. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Want more Pratoni news? Head over to our Ultimate Guide to FEI World Championships for Eventing, and be sure to sign up for the #Pratoni2022 Daily Digest email, which will be delivered straight to your inbox each day through Sunday, September 18.
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