Led by Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello, the team stayed composed and focused as the technical track designed by Uliano Vezzani (ITA) proved challenging with rails coming down throughout the course. The final phase was incredibly influential, changing the team standings multiple times as the top 25 combinations concluded the end of the day, making for an exciting championship finale. All five U.S. combinations finished yesterday’s phase in the top 25 and jumped in the second session of competition on the grass field at Centro Equestre Federale. Of the team’s performance, Costello elaborated on the work and commitment from the athletes, their staff, the owners, and all the support team to produce a historic result for the U.S.

“It was just such a crazy day. I had a feeling when I walked the course that it was going to be very influential. I’d never seen such a consistently big and very technical track and have those three lines, all single jumps to combinations, with three completely different distances. It was a real important phase, and no team went unscathed, and you had to keep fighting to the end,” said Costello.

“I hope this means great things for the future. I feel the program has been on the slow burn of the swing for a couple of years and I think there was still something missing. My number one priority when I took this interim position was to try and change the culture and really make sure that everyone had each other’s backs and building trust among the riders,” he added. “The riders, the owners, the staff, people have never given up on the sport and I’m so happy for everyone, even those at home, who get to watch and get to be proud, so really good just all around for us.”

Will Coleman and Off The Record produced the only clear round for the team, managing the questions asked throughout the difficult track with poise, demonstrating the scopiness, rideability, and talent of the 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by The Off The Record Syndicate. The pair finished as the highest placed U.S. combination, taking seventh place overall on a score of 27.2. Coleman purchased the gelding as a four-year-old and has developed him throughout his career, noting that the progress and accomplishments of their partnership is something he continues to cherish.

“It was great. I’m so thrilled. It was par for the course for this entire week for us to be honest. I feel like he’s punched above his weight in every phase and I’m just so happy with him,” said Coleman. “I’m so proud of my horse and my team and everyone involved with this program. I’ve had him since he was four and produced him myself and it’s cool to see him go in there and rise to the moment.”

Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus were the trailblazers for the team and finishing in 19th place overall on a final individual score of 41.1. The pair had two down and finished slightly over the optimum time to add 8.4 to their score following their sharp cross-country round yesterday.

“He tried his heart out for me out there. We had the two down that have caused loads of people problems at the end of the course, but he’s come out of this week feeling good. This was a really tough track. It’s super technical and a real show jumping track. He jumped well and feels great, so I’m really happy with him overall.”

In a notoriously challenging phase for Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF, a 2007 Trakehner gelding owned by Christine Turner, Tommie Turner, and Thomas Turner, the pair dropped four rails for a total of 16 faults, for a final score of 41.2 to finish in 20th place overall. Of the team camaraderie, Martin spoke of the drought the U.S. program has had since their last team podium at a world championship and how much energy and excitement he can feel as the program looks ahead to the future.

“I’m very proud to be an American today. Having five clear rounds yesterday in the cross-country was awesome, and just looking at the results here, any three of the five of us could have gotten a team medal,” said Martin. “I’ve been on many of these teams, and we’ve been so close over and over again, and it’s a massive sigh of relief. I’m really thankful for this team and proud to be here with these guys sitting next to me.”

As the last combination to contest the course, Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, a 2006 German Sport Horse gelding owned by Alex Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell, added eight faults to their original score of 24.0 to finish on a 32.0, to take ninth place individually. Smith, while disappointed to be out of the individual medal running after her round, said the focus was always on the team result and their overall performance throughout the week meant more than an individual medal.

“We came here to do our best and I have to say, we all knew that potentially we could medal, and I think we’re pleasantly surprised and we’re less than a point away from third and it shows to the quality of the field and the riding. It’s impressive and I’m just so honored to be here,” said Smith. “I’m very proud of my horse. I feel like it just wasn’t meant to be and that’s okay. We’re here and we got the silver medal and that’s what we came here for. I have to push that to the side that this isn’t about my individual performance, it’s about the team performance, and I’m ecstatic with our result.”

Ariel Grald (Southern Pines, N.C) noted yesterday that her goal was to finish the championship on her dressage score of 32.5, which is exactly what she did. Aboard Leamore Master Plan, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Annie Eldridge, Grald guided the stunning gelding to a masterful clear round inside of the time. In her first championship appearance for the stars and stripes, Grald felt that it was her moment to prove that she deserved to be on the world stage, while also taking in every piece of knowledge and learning she could to help continue to prepare her for the future.

“I was a bit nervous going in and he’s such a great show jumper. I just have to trust him and trust that he’s going to go in and try, and I knew after the first fence that he was good. The combinations can be hard for him because he has such a huge step, but all credit to my horse. I really have to mess up as a jockey for him to not jump clear, so it’s a lot of pressure of me to give him a good ride. He’s absolutely brilliant. I wanted to finish on my dressage score and we did, so I couldn’t be happier for him and that’s all you can ask for.”

2022 FEI World Eventing Championships Results

Team Medals

◆ Gold — Germany, 95.2
◆ Silver — USA, 100.3
◆ Bronze — New Zealand, 100.7

Individual Medals

◆ Gold — Jasmin Ingham & Banzai du Loir, GBR, 23.2
◆ Silver — Julia Krajewski & Amande de B’Néville, GER, 26.0
◆ Bronze — Tim Price & Falco, NZL, 26.2

US Rider Placings

◆ 7th — Will Coleman & Off The Record, 27.2
◆ 9th — Tamie Smith & Mai Baum, 32.0
◆ 11th — Ariel Grald & Leamore Master Plan, 32.5
◆ 19th — Lauren Nicholson & Vermiculus, 41.1
◆ 20th — Boyd Martin & Tsetserleg TSF, 42.2

View full results here.

Learn more about the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships here.

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First up on the docket is the FEI Eventing Championships with the first horse inspection on September 14 which was followed by two days of dressage on September 15-16, then cross-country will be on September 17 and show jumping and awards on September 18.

Here are a few highlights and photos from the horse inspection and the first day (1 of 2) of the dressage phase. Two riders out of five who are representing the USA in Italy (4 team riders and 1 individual) competed on the first day of dressage.

The next weekend, September 21-25, 2022, the world four-in-hand driving championships will be held at the same venue. The USA’s Chester Webster is ready to drive his team and vie for the medals.

The overall leader after day 1 of the dressage phase at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Italy was Great Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding (by Landos, out of Vernante by Quinar Z, bred by Ocke Riewerts) owned by Keith Scott, Karen Bartlett and Laura Collett. They laid down a super test to score 19.3, a personal best and the third best score in World Championships history, following Bettina Hoy (GER) and Pippa Funnell (GBR) who scored better at Jerez de la Frontera World Championships in Spain in 2002.

Jasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir of Great Britain are shown during their test on day 1 of the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships in Italy. They scored 22.0 putting them in second behind their teammates Laura Collett and London 52 at the end of dressage day 1. Banzai du Loir is an 11-year-old Selle Français gelding by Nouma D’auzay and out of a mare by Livarot, was bred by Pierre Gouye (FRA), and is owned by Sue Davies and Jeanette Chin of Great Britain.

New Zealand’s Monica Spencer and her 11-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Artist (bred by Windsor Park Stud Ltd.) put in a lovely, relaxed test on their way to third in the standings (25.6) at the end of day 1 of dressage at the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships in Italy. It is the pair’s first World Championships.

Will Coleman, Gordonsville, VA, and Off The Record, led the way for the US Team on day 1, September 15, in the eventing dressage phase. Off the Record is a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding (by Arkansas, out of Drumagoland Bay by Ard Ohio, bred by Peter G. Brady and owned by the Off The Record Syndicate). Coleman and Off The Record finished day 1 of dressage sitting on a 26.4 good enough for fifth place.

Lauren Nicholson and Jacqueline Mar’s 15-year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding Vermiculus were the second team members to perform dressage on day 1 for the USA. They scored a respectable 27.1 to sit in seventh at the end of the day with the other half of the competitor list to go tomorrow. Vermiculus is by Sazeram, out of Wake Me Gently and was bred by Lawson Williams.

Ariel Grald, Southern Pines, NC, and Leamore Master Plan are pictured here in the first horse inspection during the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships in Italy. She is riding as an individual for the USA in their first world championships. Leamore Master Plan (Master Imp-Cavalier Royale) is a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Anne Eldridge.

The USA’s Boyd Martin, Cochranville, PA, and his longtime partner Tsetserleg TSF presented a handsome picture as they trotted in front of the ground jury for the first horse inspection on September 14 at the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships in Italy. Tsetserleg (by E.H. Windfall, out of Thabana by E.H. Buddenbrock) is a 15-year-old Trakehner gelding bred by Dr. Timothy and Cheryl Holekamp, Ocala, FL, and is owned by Christine Turner and family from Austin, TX.

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The following athlete-and-horse combinations have been selected for the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Squad at the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championship and are listed in alphabetical order:

• Will Coleman (Gordonsville, Va.) and Off The Record, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by the Off The Record Syndicate
• Direct Reserve: Dondante, a 2010 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Team Rebecca, LLC
  Groom: Hailey Burlock
• Ariel Grald (Southern Pines, N.C.) and Leamore Master Plan, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Anne Eldridge
  Groom: Meredith Ferraris
• Boyd Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and Tsetserleg TSF, a 2007 Trakehner gelding owned by Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner
  Groom: Stephanie Simpson
• Lauren Nicholson (The Plains, Va.) and Vermiculus, a 2007 Anglo-Arabian gelding owned by Jacqueline Mars
  Groom: Sally Robertson
• Tamie Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) and Mai Baum, a 2006 German Sport Horse gelding owned by Alexandra Ahearn, Ellen Ahearn, and Eric Markell
  Groom: Alyssa Dobrotin
• Traveling Reserve: Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) and Z, a 2008 Zangersheide gelding owned by Thomas Tierney, Ann Jones, Caroline Moran, David Vos, Evie Dutton, Patricia Vos, and Suzanne Lacy
  Groom: Sydnee Ledyard

The following combinations have been selected as alternates and are listed in alphabetical order. 

• Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle, a 2010 Warmblood gelding owned by Nina and Timothy Gardner
• Buck Davidson and Carlevo, a 2007 Holsteiner gelding owned by Katherine O’Brien
• Phillip Dutton and Sea of Clouds, a 2011 Thoroughbred gelding owned by the Sea of Clouds Partnership
• Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire, a 2010 Oldenburg gelding owned by Carol Stephens
• Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver, a 2011 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by The Monster Partnership
• Boyd Martin and Fedarman B, a 2010 KWPN gelding owned by the Annie Goodwin Syndicate

Competition will begin with the first horse inspection on Wednesday, September 14, and will conclude with team and individual medals being awarded after the conclusion of the jumping phase on Sunday, September 18.

Click to visit the Official Pratoni Championships website, or visit the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) Information Hub for Pratoni here.

Follow US Equestrian
Stay up to date on the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team by following USA Eventing on Facebook and Instagram. Follow US Equestrian on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Use #USAEventing.

The USEF International High Performance Programs and the USEF High Performance Pathway Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, the philanthropic partner to USEF. High Performance Program support is also provided by the USOPC and USEF sponsors and members.

The post US Equestrian Announces Land Rover U.S. Eventing Squad and Alternates for 2022 FEI Eventing World Championship appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The following athletes have been selected to the Land Rover U.S. Driving Team and are listed in alphabetical order.

Chester Weber (Ocala, Fla.) with Amadeus, his 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding; Boris W, his 2006 KWPN gelding; Gouveneur, his 2011 KWPN gelding; Julius V, his 2014 KWPN gelding; and Kadora, his 2015 KWPN gelding

Misdee Wrigley-Miller (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) with Alonso, her 2009 KWPN gelding; Bajnok, Exell Holding BV’s 2003 Lipizzaner gelding; Corleone B, her 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding; Doorman, her 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding; and Julius van Hapert, her 2014 KWPN gelding.

Competition at the FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses will begin on Thursday, September 22, and continue through Sunday, September 25. The driven dressage phase will run Thursday and Friday, followed by Saturday’s marathon phase. Competition concludes Sunday with the cones phase determining the team and individual medals.

See full event schedule here.

Click to visit the Official Pratoni Championships website, or visit the United States Equestrian Federation’s (USEF) Information Hub for Pratoni here.

Follow US Equestrian

Stay up to date on the Land Rover U.S. Driving Team by following USA Driving on Facebook and US Equestrian on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

The post US Equestrian Announces Land Rover U.S. Driving Team for 2022 FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

2022 FEI World Championships – Denmark – Day 1 Day 1 commenced this morning in Herning, Denmark with first horse inspections for both dressage and vaulting. The U.S. Team presented four dressage horses and eight vaulting horses to the respective FEI Ground Juries and all American entries passed inspection without incident or holds. Read more >>

2022 FEI World Championships – Denmark – Day 2 Day 2 dawned crisp, cool, and clear at the MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark. As the day progressed, the wind picked up and grey clouds dropped intermittent rain showers followed by the sun peeking out again and then the clouds quickly returning. But, the intense competition heated up both the outdoor Stutteri Ask Stadium where dressage was contested and the indoor Jyske Bank Boxen building where the vaulting took place. Read more >>

2022 FEI World Championships – Denmark – Day 3 Day 3 at the MCH Arena in Denmark brought fans through the gates in throngs to see the final round of dressage Grand Prix and the subsequent crowning of the world champion dressage team. And, a continuation of the vaulting competition, as well as shopping, dining and educational displays around the grounds gave spectators lots to do and see. Read more >>

2022 FEI World Championships – Denmark – Day 4 On day 4, three equestrian disciplines were in action. The vaulting competition resumed in the Jyske Bank Boxen arena where the men’s and woman’s vaulting finals concluded with their freestyle classes and the vaulting squads also presented their freestyle routines. Over in the Stutteri Ask Stadium the Grand Prix Special determined the individual medals in dressage. And, the show jumpers opened their championships with the first horse inspection. Read more >>

2022 FEI World Championships – Denmark – Day 5 Day 5 was the only day when all four sports were contested on the same day. The competition day started at 8:30 a.m. and ended around midnight. There were medal ceremonies for three grades of para-dressage and for dressage Grand Prix Freestyle too. Read more >> 2022 FEI World Championships – Denmark – Day 6 The weather in Denmark has turned abnormally warm over the last two days (the locals label it “quite hot,” but at home in the Midwest this would be just “regular summer weather”). In keeping with the trend, day 6 brought more show jumping that was just as hot in many ways. Read more >> 2022 FEI World Championships – Denmark – Conclusion The conclusion of the 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark, saw intense competition in both the Stutteri Ask Stadium jumper arena and the BB Horse Arena para-dressage ring. Along with the competition there was plenty of fun with a large shopping area, many dining and beverage vendors, live music in the food court, a night club for after-hours dancing, educational events, and a “Show Night Saturday” entertainment program. Read more >>

To see in-depth information for the U.S. competitors, visit US Equestrian’s World Championship hub on their website. For more general information about the Herning Championships, visit their website and download an app to follow the competition.

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On this final weekend of the Championships, new team and individual world champions in show jumping and para-dressage were crowned. They will reign supreme in their respective sports until the next world championships in 2026. And, new equine superstars emerged. In addition to the already-named dressage champion Glamourdale from earlier in the week, the show jumper King Edward, a chestnut 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Edward 28-Feo), was piloted to all clear rounds (no rails down) in this championship by Swedish jumper rider Henrik von Eckermann. The pair also jumped all clear rounds in last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

The Show Night Saturday program included a welcome by the organizers of the Championships, Jens Trabjerg and Casper Cassøe, and a variety of enjoyable at-liberty and under-saddle equestrian acts. The medal ceremony for the Para-Dressage Team World Championships was also featured during Show Night Saturday complete with fireworks and a lap of honor in golf carts around the stadium for the winning team riders.

Friday, August 12 – Jumpers & Para-Dressage Continue

Friday, August 12, was the first day of the para-dressage team championships during the day the second and the final round of the jumper team competition in the evening. The show jumping team class in the main stadium also served to further whittle down the field who would contest the individual jumping finals on Sunday.

It was a bittersweet day for U.S. show jumping fans since the American Team had failed to qualify for the finals the previous day (they finished 11th just one spot out of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics; they can still qualify at next year’s Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile), yet the outstanding effort the Swedish Team put forth to win gold was nothing short of amazing.

Show Jumping

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The Swedes finished the day with only 7.69 penalty points well ahead of the silver medal team from the Netherlands who tallied 19.31 points and the British Team who took the bronze with 22.66 points. The Swedish Team members were:  Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward; Malin Baryard-Johnsson and H&M Indiana; Peder Fredricson and H&M All In, and Peder’s brother Jens Fredricson and Markan Cosmopolit.

Since the Friday show jumping team final round was also another qualifier for the individual finals, the remaining two U.S. riders after Thursday’s class tried their luck around the big, technical course designed by Dutchman Louis Konickx. Going first for the U.S. was Brian Moggre on Ann Thompson’s Balou du Revention. They unfortunately had a difficult time accruing 34 faults which put them far down the list and thus did not move on to the individual finals on Sunday.

Then a few later in the order McLain Ward and his 2021 Tokyo Olympic Team silver-medal partner Contagious, owned by Beechwood Stables LLC, took their turn. After pulling several rails down during the first bit of the course, Ward voluntarily retired realizing that there was no way that they would qualify for the final round and saving the normally spectacular gelding for another day. At the end of the class von Eckermann and King Edward were leading the pack going into the individual finals to be held two days later.

Next door in the BB Horse Arena, the first day of team competition in para-dressage commenced with the Grade IV, II and I Team Tests. First up for the U.S.A. was Kate Shoemaker riding her new Rhinelander mare Quiana. They put in a lovely, flowing Grade IV test to score 75.425% to finish third in the class behind Dutch riders Sanne Voets on Demantur RS2 N.O.P. (78.415%) in first and Demi Haerkins and E.H. Daula (76.024%) in second.

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In Grade II, Beatrice de Lavalette and her new ride, the Oldenburg gelding Sixth Sense, turned in a very nice, smooth test to score 73.235% to land them in fourth place behind Denmark’s Katrin Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater in first (77.176%), Austria’s Pepo Puch and his long-time partner Sailor’s Blue (75.441%) in second, and Great Britain’s Lee Pearson and Breezer in third (73.529%).

In the Grade I Team Test the reigning Olympic gold medalist from the U.S.A. Roxanne Trunnell guided her new ride of only two months, the young Oldenburg stallion Fortunato H20 owned by Lehua Custer, to fourth place scoring 75.214% The top three in Grade I were:  Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance from Latvia in first, 80.393%; Sara Morganti and Royal Delight from Italy, 77.250%, and Michael Murphy and Cleverboy from Ireland, 76.072%.

Since Friday was the first of two days of team competition these individual rider scores counted toward the team total scores, but no individual awards were given for these classes. The para-dressage team competition concluded the next afternoon (on Saturday, August 13) after Grades V and III riders took the turns in the sandbox and then the final scores were tallied.

Saturday, August 13 – Para Team Finals & Jumper Day Off

U.S. Team veteran rider Rebecca Hart and her long-time partner KWPN gelding El Corona Texel owned by Rowan O’ Riley, sailed through a super team test in Grade III to finish in second (74.706%) behind Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen riding Jolene Hill who scored 79.265%. Great Britain’s Natasha Baker riding Keystone Dawn Chorus filled the third slot in Grade III with 73.676%. Hart’s score put the U.S. Team in strong contention for a team medal, but they had to wait until all riders in Grades III and V completed their tests to know the final results.

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The U.S. did not have a rider in the Grade V Team Test. The class winner was Belgium’s Michéle George riding Best of 8 (78.405%) ahead of Great Britain’s Sophie Wells on Don Cara M in second (76.190%) and Frank Hosmar and Alphaville N.O.P. from the Netherlands in third (75.786%). The American Virgin Islands representatives, Lee Frawley and Waldon Wild Skye, finished 17th in the Grade V Team Test and did not qualify for the freestyle class which was held the next day.

Sunday, August 14 – Para-Dressage Freestyles & Individual Jumper Medals

The final day of the 2022 FEI World Championships in Denmark was not short on excitement with all five grades of para-dressage performing their musical freestyle tests and then the finals of the individual show jumping with 21 riders competing in round A and then the top 12 coming back for round B.

In para, American Kate Shoemaker and Quiana competing in Grade IV laid down an entertaining freestyle to music created just for them using the theme from the movie Hook as inspiration. Their dance earned them a personal best of 80.275% and the silver medal behind Sanne Voets and Demantur RS2 N.O.P. in the gold spot (82.485%). Shoemaker was all smiles as she talked about their freestyle, “This is just my third time riding a freestyle in an international class. We had so many goals coming here and a lot of things were out of our control, but this has come together beyond everything I imagined. I am so thankful to my horse and my team who makes it all possible.”

Para Dressage

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Next on Sunday’s docket was the Grade II Freestyle with U.S. rider Beatrice de Lavalette and Sixth Sense scoring 71.107% (sixth place) for their ride to music from Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon and Shrek created for them by Marlene Whitaker. The gold in Grade II Freestyle went to Denmark’s Katrin Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater (80.354%). De Lavalette said that they had a few bobbles in their freestyle caused by the atmosphere in the arena, “We haven’t seen audiences like this before. As soon as we went in I felt him breathe in and get a little more tense. It is what it is and I am still very happy with the ride. Yesterday winning the team medal―it was my first―I was over the moon. And meeting the princess was really sweet.”

Roxanne Trunnell and Fortunato H2O from the U.S.A. performed a fun Grade I Freestyle to a mix of music from Titanic and Jurassic Park selected by her trainer. They finished fourth overall with a 76.447%. Gold in Grade I Freestyle went to Italy’s Sara Morganti riding Royal Delight (80.653%). “I am very happy. This is only his second competition; it is all new to ‘Tuna.’ He was super,” said Trunnell.

Grade III individual bronze medalists from earlier in the week, American Rebecca Hart and El Corona Texel were poised for another great performance in their freestyle, but the windy conditions and activity around the arena got the best of Tex’s nerves. Several times he spooked at things during their test which caused breaks in their performance and took precious points off their score (72.080% landing them in seventh). “That was very disappointing; I am going to be honest about that. He warmed up really well and he felt good, but we got in there and things were waiving and he just didn’t stay with me and the music. Unfortunately it happened on the world stage. I was happy that I was able to keep him relatively relaxed through that though, because we are working on this new relaxation [technique] and I wanted him to have a good experience in there.”

As the para-dressage wound down the show jumpers began the race for individual medals as the final event of the Herning Championships. Jumping in reverse order of the rankings the top 21 horse and rider combos, representing 13 countries, tackled the 16 jumping efforts including a water jump, a triple and a double. A near-capacity crowd enthusiastically cheered on their favorites.

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The top 12 riders after Round A moved into Round B after a course change (Round B included 15 jumping efforts). Round B contestants were:  two riders from Germany (Marcus Ehning on Stargold and Jana Wargers on Limbrige); two from Sweden (Henrik von Eckermann on King Edward and Jens Fredricson on Markan Cosmopolit); two from Belgium (Nicola Philippaerts on Katanga von het Dingeshof and Jérôme Guery on Quel Hommede Hus); and one each from Canada (Tiffany Foster on Figor), Switzerland (Martin Fuchs on Leone Jei), France (Simon Delestre on Caymen Jolly Jumper), the Netherlands (Maikel van der Vlueten on Beauville Z N.O.P.), Great Britain (Ben Maher on Faltic HB), and Austria (Max Kühner on Elektric Blue P).

In the end it came down to who had the fewest time faults incurred in the first speed class on Wednesday to separate gold from silver. Both von Eckermann’s foot-perfect King Edward and Guery’s impressive Holsteiner stallion Quel Hommede Hus did not knock any rails in five rounds of jumping during the week, but King Edward had been faster in the speed class (only 0.58 faults total for King Edward as compared to Quel Hommede Hus’ 2.35 in the speed class plus 1 time fault in Round 2 of the team competition). The gold was von Eckermann’s and silver to Gurey with the bronze going to van der Vlueten.

The normally all-business Eckermann shared his relief and excitement on the win, “It a fantastic feeling! I only concentrated on riding. The first round was super and the second round as well. I needed to keep concentrating and I had a very good feeling. I knew I could not afford a fault if I wanted the gold. I have prepared for this for so many years now and to receive this medal was fantastic. King Edward is the world’s best horse, but it is still so easy to make mistakes.”

Parting Thoughts from Denmark

Denmark was a wonderful host for these 2022 FEI Herning World Championships. The facility was lovely and all riders had positive comments about the stabling, warm-up and competition areas. The Championships mascot, “Henri” the horse, was very cute.  He made appearances walking around the venue welcoming visitors young and old and entertained in the stadiums during breaks in the action.

Another thing that Herning did better than perhaps any other international championships I’ve ever been to was to recognize the grooms’ contributions to our sport. They even put names and photos of the grooms up on the big screen when their corresponding horses and riders entered the arena!

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Although generally the Danes seem to be a bit reserved, the organizers of these championships were quite welcoming while still being very efficient. The volunteers and staff did their best to help and inform. Almost everyone spoke English very well there. The only Danish word I managed to learn was “tak” which means thank you; I said it a lot because there was much to appreciate!

The country is clean and green, both literally and figuratively speaking. The land surrounding the city of Herning is full of natural areas and farmland and it is less than an hour from the North Sea and scenic fjord inlets. Denmark is very into alternative energy use (windmills and electric cars are common) and recycling and upcycling. The Herning Championships highlighted this with an eco-friendly businesses section in their trade fair and in their practices of providing recycling bins everywhere.

They also had a Championships reforestation project planned with trees to be planted around the venue. Within that new forest there will be specific trees with plaques placed in front of them bearing the names and facsimiles of signatures of the gold medal winners from these Championships.

It was uplifting to see the joy of the Danish people as they supported their equestrian teams who did well in three disciplines. They won gold in team dressage (a first for the country), team silver in para-dressage and finished fourth in vaulting squads. Even though their show jumping team only finished 14th, the crowds supported their riders with thunderous applause any time they were in the ring. The home crowds were generous in enthusiastically supported all of the horses and riders from the other countries too.

The post 2022 FEI World Championships – Conclusion appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Show Jumping

Teams Sweden and France added zero penalties to their previous score from Wednesday’s speed class, leaving them only 1.75 penalties apart. The Swedes are still basking in the glow of their Olympic win last summer and for France show jumping success is a matter of national pride. Third place Germany, another traditional show jumping powerhouse, is just over six points behind after adding a rail to their score.

America’s team finished 11th, just one place too far down the list to return for tomorrow’s team competition. This leaves the U.S. Team the task of still needing to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. U.S. riders McLain Ward and Brian Moggre are in 12th and 25th, respectively, from Wednesday’s class and will be able to continue competing as individuals tomorrow (Friday, August 12).

Show Jumping

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Less than one point now separates the top five jumper riders vying for spots in the individual finals. Tomorrow’s team final class will also help to sort out who will move on to Sunday’s those individual medal finals. At the end of the day yesterday France’s Julien Epaillard held first with no penalties. Scott Brash of Great Britain, Peder Fredricson and Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden and Canada’s Tiffany Foster round out the top five.
Between the unusual heat wave and the fantastic competition, tomorrow’s show jumping won’t be turning down the heat at all.

Para-Dressage in the Spotlight

Turning to the Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Para-Dressage World Championships competition over in the BB Horse Arena, the U.S. riders were faring better. Grades III and V competed in their individual tests today with medal ceremonies following.
The U.S.A. had one entry in the Grade III Finals (Rebecca Hart riding Rowan O’ Riley’s El Corona Texel, a 13-year-old bay KWPN gelding by Wynton) and the U.S. Virgin Islands had an entry in the Grade V Finals (Lee Frawley riding Waldron Wild Skye, her 15-year-old black half Warmblood-half Gotland Pony gelding by Wild Dice Bowes).

Para-Dressage

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Hart and “Tex” turned in a very nice test to earn a 73.147% and the bronze medal. To date this is the U.S.A.’s only medal of the Championships in any division.

Coming Up On Friday, August 12

Para Grades IV, II and I return to the BB Horse Arena with their Team Tests during the day and the show jumping team finals will light up the night when they begin at 9 p.m. local Denmark time with medal ceremonies to follow.

Stay tuned for more photos and daily updates throughout the 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark. To see in-depth information for the U.S. competitors, visit US Equestrian’s World Championship hub on their website. For more general information about the Herning Championships, visit their website and download an app to follow the competition. For full results from Day 5 of the 2022 FEI World Championships, click here.

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2022 FEI World Championships Day 5 Results

Para-dressage Grades I, II and IV began with their team tests. Show jumping started with the 1.55-meter, Table C speed class where faults (such as dropped rails or refusals) were converted into added time to complete the course.

Show Jumping & Para Dressage

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In vaulting there were two competitions, one being the pas de deux free test (the second of two classes for pas de deux during these championships). The other vaulting class was a Nations Cup where the individual men and women and the squad (six people on a squad), from the same country competed with their scores averaged and the highest average score of the nations entered was the winner.

And, last, but very certainly not least, was the amazing dressage freestyle competition that happened last evening. The top-scoring 15 horse and rider combinations from the Grand Prix Special held on Monday (August 8) moved on to tonight’s competition. Watching it was nothing short of fun, fun, fun! The line up for the class included Adrienne Lyle and Salvino from the U.S.A., plus one rider from Spain, two from the Netherlands, two from Germany, three from Great Britain, three from Sweden, and three from Denmark.

The stadium was nearly at capacity and the crowd was very into the action and started rhythmically clapping to the beat as each horse started their last pass down the centerline. The noise was deafening as each rider finished. As the final three riders performed a nearly full orange-hued moon rose over the stadium adding an ethereal quality to evening.

While there have certainly been other notable, record-setting international dressage freestyle performances in the last 10 years or so, the depth of the talent in this freestyle class was very, very impressive. Every horse and rider combination left it all out on the arena floor. It was just flat-out entertaining and the crowd loved it.

Dressage

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The individual gold medalists from Monday, Great Britain’s Charlotte “Lottie” Fry and the uber-attractive black KWPN stallion Glamourdale joined the elite 90%-club, scoring 90.654 % for their dynamic and fun freestyle which earned them another gold tonight. Much like their compatriots Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro 10 years ago, this pair seems unequalled and unstoppable for the foreseeable future. Their test began and ended with the Bryan May version of God Save the Queen and included music from Queen, the Beatles, Genesis, The Verve and Robbie Williams. Fry was over the moon in the press conference and said of her equine partner in the press conference, “This is exactly what Glamourdale was made for.”

Catherine Laudrup-Dufour from Denmark has become a national hero this week with her success as a member of the gold-medal winning Danish Dressage Team, then winning the silver medal in the Grand Prix Special on Monday. Last night her success in the Grand Prix Freestyle earned her another silver (89.411%). Laudrup-Dufour made a similar comment in the press conference saying that the sport is changing, “You can really tell that the horses were born to do this, to dance.”

The bronze medalists in last night’s freestyle, Dinja van Liere and Hermes from the Netherlands, were also a repeat winners from Monday’s Grand Prix Special earning 86.900 % in the Freestyle. Germany’s Benjamin Werndl and Famoso OLD took fourth with 85.893 % and Great Britain’s Gareth Hughes and Classic Briolinca were fifth with 84.043 %.

Lyle and Salvino from the U.S.A. finished a respectable sixth with 83.704%. Patrick Kittel and Touchdown (Sweden) and Daniel Bachmann Anderson (Denmark) were seventh and eighth, respectively.

Germany’s Isabell Werth entered the ring with DSP Quanta and amazed the crowd by stringing together moves that most didn’t realize could be done, such canter pirouettes right into piaffe and other high-degree-of-difficulty transitions. But, on top of the difficulty was the playful and artful incorporation of music by Meatloaf into their highly entertaining freestyle. Ultimately they finished ninth, but the crowd gave them a standing ovation.

Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and the young, but impressive Imhotep rounded out the top ten in the Freestyle with an 83.132 %. They are ones to watch for Paris 2024!

Stay tuned for more photos and daily updates throughout the 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark. To see in-depth information for the U.S. competitors, visit US Equestrian’s World Championship hub on their website. For more general information about the Herning Championships, visit their website and download an app to follow the competition. For full results from Day 5 of the 2022 FEI World Championships, click here.

The post 2022 FEI World Championships – Day 5 appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Dressage Grand Prix Special

At the conclusion of the FEI Herning World Individual Dressage Championships on Monday, August 8, the silver went to Denmark’s Catherine Laudrup-Dufour and Vamos Amigos; gold to Britain’s Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale, and bronze to the Netherlands Dinja van Liere and Hermes. All three celebrated with fireworks before re-acquiring their horses for a raucous victory gallop.

Show Jumping Jog

The U.S. Show Jumping Team for Herning 2022, including their traveling reserve, presented their five horses for the first horse inspection on the morning of Monday, August 8. Four of the five horses passed on first inspection, but reserve rider Jessica Springsteen’s RMF Zecilie was held  for re-inspection which will happen on the morning of Tuesday, August 9.

U.S. Show Jumping Team Jog

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Vaulting

The U.S. Vaulting Squad finished the Herning World Championships in sixth place on Drillian who was lunged by Selena Brummund. Squad members who are all from Oak Hill Vaulters in California were:  Calle Davis; Paula Hampshire; Alyssa Stoddard; Jaynee Meyer; Miriam Griffiths, and Todd Griffiths.

Stay tuned for more photos and daily updates throughout the 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark. To see in-depth information for the U.S. competitors, visit US Equestrian’s World Championship hub on their website. For more general information about the Herning Championships, visit their website and download an app to follow the competition.

The post 2022 FEI World Championships – Day 4 appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Grand Prix Dressage Decides Team Medals

Today, the final two riders from each country’s team performed their Grand Prix tests. U.S. riders Adrienne Lyle on her Tokyo 2020 Olympic partner Salvino and Steffen Peters on his Tokyo Olympic mount Suppenkasper were up for the U.S. Team and put in nice rounds to end the day in ninth and 17^th places respectively. Their individual scores were high enough for each to qualify to move on to the Grand Prix Special class tomorrow.

The battle for the team medals was respectfully intense. Everyone loves Cinderella story and today a real-life one unfolded. The Danish Team captured their first-ever World Championship Dressage Team Gold title (235.541) topping star-studded teams from Great Britain in the silver position (234.223) and Germany in third (230.791). They had been planning for this scenario since it was announced that Herning was granted the 2022 Championships in mid-November of 2019.

Denmark is only one of four nations to top Germany at a World Championship, the other three being the Soviet Union in 1970 (Aachen) and the Netherlands who won gold with Great Britain winning silver over Germany in bronze position, both in Kentucky in 2010.

The 2022 Danish “dream team” included Daniel Bachmann Anderson riding Marshall-Bell, Carina Cassøe Krüth riding Heiline’s Danceria, Catherine Laudrup-Dufour riding Vamos Amigos and Nanna Merrald Rasmussen mounted on Blue Hors Zack, all under the watchful eye of Danish Chef d’ Equipe Anne-Metta Binder.

Through a whole lot of hard work and carefully grooming younger riders through their dressage development pipeline (Nanna Merrald Rasmussen among them), all of the Danish Dressage Team’s aspirations came true as gold medals hung around their necks in front of the home crowd. Their countrymen and women in the stands erupted into cheers of patriotic pride as the four took their victory lap around the stadium.

Sweden finished was fourth and the Netherlands took fifth. The U.S. Dressage Team (Adrienne Lyle and Salvino, Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper, Katie Duerrhammer and Quartett and Ashley Holzer and Valentine) finished in sixth place, which is a high enough to seal the deal for their qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Vaulting In the Box

The other equestrian sport discipline running concurrently with dressage at the Herning World Championships is vaulting in the Jyske Bank Boxen arena, which is as the names implies, a black building in the shape of a box. Today was the vaulting women’s and men’s technical classes and the first of two days of competition for the pas-de-duex vaulting pairs.

2022 FEI World Championships Day 3: Vaulting

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Competition in Jyske Bank Boxen

Women’s Individual Championship Current Leader: Manon Moutinho (FRA) on Saitiri lunged by Corinne Bosshard with their freestyle class to come tomorrow.

Men’s Individual Vaulting Championship Current leader: Lambert Leclezio (FRA) on Estado IFCE lunged by Loric Devedu with their freestyle class to come tomorrow.

Pas de Deux (Pairs) Current Leaders After Round One: Chiara Congia and Justin van Gerven (GER) on Highlight lunged by Alexandra Knauf with a second round to come on Wednesday, August 10.

American Vaulters in the Standings

On Day 3 of the 2022 FEI World Championships, Kimberly Palmer from California, on Rosenstolz 99 lunged by Laura Carnabuci, is in sixth place and poised to be in the top finishing individual vaulter from the U.S.A. The other two U.S. women vaulters, Tessa Divita (on Sunday Song lunged by Lasse Kristensen) and Emily Rose (on Eldoctro Lunged by Carolyn Bland) are in 10^th and 24^th respectively going into their final freestyle round tomorrow (Monday, August 8).

After two rounds the U.S. men vaulters, Daniel James on Christmas PS Z lunged by Nienke de Wolff and Jace Brooks on Dwight lunged by Maurits De Vries, are in 16^th and 17^th places respectively. They have one more round tomorrow (Monday, August 8).

U.S. Pas de Deux vaulters Calle Davis and Todd Griffiths on Lightning Jack 12 lunged by Thordis Thoroe are standing in seventh after the first round. Vaulting Pas de Duex will conclude with one more round on Wednesday, August 10.

The vaulting squads did not compete today, but the current leader from yesterday is the French Team and the U.S. Team is standing in sixth place for the moment. Vaulting squads have two more classes yet to come over the next couple of days.

Tomorrow’s Competition

The dressage Grand Prix Special and medals are on the docket tomorrow, Monday, August 8. Plus more vaulting including women’s and men’s final freestyles and the vaulting squads’ second-round freestyle tests. The show jumpers will also begin their run in Herning with their first horse inspection. The next day, Tuesday, August 9, is a day off for all competitors other than a para-dressage first horse inspection and ring familiarization for the jumpers and para riders.

Stay tuned for more photos and daily updates throughout the 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark. To see in-depth information for the U.S. competitors, visit US Equestrian’s World Championship hub on their website. For more general information about the Herning Championships, visit their website and download an app to follow the competition.

The post 2022 FEI World Championships – Day 3 appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.