by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 17, 2025
Calling on all his experience and the courage of his mare, Great Britain’s Scott Brash powered through a nightmare moment when he lost his left rein before the troublesome triple combination at the Longines European Show Jumping Championships Thursday.
As he was just a few strides from the obstacle, his rein went astray, and it appeared he would have to circle and re-approach.
But the Olympic team gold medalist didn’t hesitate, and neither did the plucky Hello Folie. They kept going and cleared the vertical/oxer/oxer line-up in a breathtaking moment on their way to a clear round at the competition in Spain./”
“I just managed to gather up the rein at right time,” Scott said, “but I was very deep coming in and asked her to jump and she responded so well. What was nice was that line didn’t feel great, but she settled down and jumped home very well. I think that shows how confident she is with me and what a great partnership we have, so hopefully we’ll be in a great place tomorrow,” he said.
Explaining what happened, Scott said, “My mare jumped unbelievable…She jumps high behind and sometimes snatches a little bit, so I lost my rein and we were lucky just to get to the triple.
“What a spirit and fight she showed to jump through what was a very testing triple anyway,” he said of the 10-year-old Selle Francais (Luidam X Diamant de Semilly).
“Her attitude’s amazing. She wants to do the job and that makes life easy for me.”
Scott Brash and Hello Folie with reins. (British Equestrian/Jon Stroud Media)
Their performance was vital to keep day one leader Britain in front of Germany on the second day of the show, since Scott’s teammate, Matt Sampson, had two refusals at the last element in the triple and was eliminated, becoming the drop score, since only the best three scores count–and the other team members all were fault-free.
Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard joked when asked about Scott’s feat, “I think he was saying to Matt, actually, `I can do this one-handed. What’s the matter?’ ”
The team race is a tight one. The Brits need some luck to stay ahead of Germany with perfect rounds from each of its riders, because the margin between them is only 0.23 penalties. On their heels are the Belgians, just 0.42 back. Ireland is further away, another 3.78 penalties behind.
On Friday, the top 10 teams of the 18 that started Wednesday will return for their finals. Sweden, the reigning European championship squad, just made the finals in tenth place. After its victory in its home Rolex Nations Cup in Falsterbo last weekend, its two star riders — Henrik von Eckermann and Peder Fredricson — were not part of its team at the Europeans.
Fifty riders will be competing, since individuals are also included, with their final set for Sunday at Casas Novas in A Coruña. Following the decision of overnight leader Daniel Coyle to drop out and save Legacy for next month’s Dublin Horse Show (read about it here), Germany’s Richard Vogel with United Touch S (0.1 penalties) moved into the lead, with Donald Whitaker and Millfield Colette (0.67) in second place for Britain.
“United jumped in great shape. He gave me the feeling he was very collected today and every much with me,” said Richard.
“It’s always a bit easier if you have a horse like United and you can trust his quality and his enormous stride and scope. That gives you obviously a lot of security.”
Donald Whitaker of Great Britain and Millfield Colette (British Equestrian/Jon Stroud Media)
For his part, Donald said of his 12-year-old gray mare by Cornet Obolensky, “I’m delighted. She jumped amazing again. She tries her heart out every time.
“She means the absolute world to me. When you go in the ring, she never gives up. I don’t always have to be perfect, she helps me out there. She’s unreal. She’s one in a million.”
Click here for the individual standings and here for the team standings.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 13, 2025
A spectacular victory in the Rolex Grand Prix of Falsterbo, Sweden, once again demonstrated the effectiveness of show jumper Karl Cook and the incredible Caracole de la Roque against both the clock and a stellar field of rivals.
It was the second time in three weeks that the American combination showed its mastery in Europe, having won the Rotterdam, Netherlands, grand prix last month. And it was the first time since 1992 that a U.S. rider had won the grand prix at Falsterbo, though this is the first time it has been designated as a Rolex competition.
Cara — who U.S. Coach Robert Ridland contends “for sure” is the fastest horse in the grand prix world — had the advantage of going last in the tiebreaker by virtue of being the quickest in the first round. In the second round, where Cara finished in 43.28 seconds, Karl was aiming at the time set by the Netherlands’ Sanne Thijssen on the 19-year-old Con Quidam RB.
Sanne, whose father, Leon, won the Falsterbo grand prix in 2007, was blazing at the beginning of her round over the shortened 8-obstacle course. She finished in 43.74 seconds after giving it everything she had. No shame in coming second to a horse with a reputation like Caracole’s, though.
And Sanne had the edge over the third-place entry of European Champion Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, timed in 44.20 seconds on Dynamix de Belheme, who earned the same placing last week in Aachen.
The challenging format of the 500,000 Euro class presented by Agria offered a second round open to 25 percent of the 50 participants, or 13 riders. That turned out to be just one less the number who went fault-free over 14 obstacles in the first round, which meant Frank Rothenberg and his team practically set a perfect course.
Karl was ecstatic about what he and Cara achieved. After his time on the podium, he kept his victory gallop going, reveling in the sustained applause from the sold-out venue.
“I’m just so elated,” Karl said about enjoying another triumph, only two days after he put in the only double-clear for the U.S. team that was second in the Nations Cup.
“Caracole is everything,” the Californian continued, citing the team behind her and himself, as well as “the U.S. team; her owner, my mom (Signe Ostby).
“It’s a joy. I think she’s the fastest horse I’ve ever ridden and it’s great when you go in the jump-off and you know you have this beat. It’s whether me as a rider can bring it out,” he explained.
Looking at Sanne’s trip, Karl said, “I knew if I could handle the technical-type part well, I knew I had ground speed over her.”
The Rolex podium at Falsterbo: Karl Cook, runner-up Sanne Thijssen and Steve Guerdat. (Rolex photo)
Karl was the only U.S. rider to go clean in the first round. Carly Anthony had two rails with Heavenly W, world number one-ranked rider Kent Farrington on Toulayna tumbled a rail at the troublesome triple combination and McLain Ward dropped two poles with Callas, at the liverpool and the final oxer.
Discussing Karl’s performance, Coach Robert said, “The way he’s riding her (Cara) is beyond reproach. He’s gotten really consistent. Those four rounds (the two in the Nations Cup) and the two today, you couldn’t fault him. He rode beautifully. She’s an amazing mare.
“His strategy was perfect today. Those were two fast times he had to beat. They didn’t give it to him at all. The question was whether he was going to do six after the double (4A and B) or five, the leave-out, and the decision was do the six. Unless he really jumped out of the double, he was going to play the audible there.”
Plan A was the six because as Robert noted, Karl and his consultant trainer, former world champion Eric Navet, “were pretty sure she could make up for it with her foot speed to the jump at the end and then obviously, duplicating what Steve Guerdat did in the turn to the second-to last and then 11 strides home. She’s just quicker, but that was beautifully executed. It was really fun to watch.”
Before the prize-giving, Karl spoke to Sanne and congratulated her impressive effort.
“She and that horse are amazing,” he said.
“They’ve been together for over 10 years. It’s such a cool horse story. She and that horse are inspiring and you have to give credit to the journey they have had.”
Karl had a good tour of Europe this spring and summer, with lessons along the way. In Rome during May, for instance, he admitted to a mistake before the grand prix by choosing studs that were too small to handle the footing.
“I really feel if I had chosen the correct studs and we didn’t slip, the two major slips we had in that grand prix, we had a serious chance of jumping clear,” he said.
You can bet that the right studs were chosen for the grass footing in Falsterbo.
“We went bigger. If you make a mistake, you better learn from it,” Karl advised.
But aside from attention to detail, there’s no one secret that has him on a winning streak.
“When you get the opportunity to show at high level shows with the right cadence with the same horses, you’re basically bound to get better,” he commented.
“We did that last year and and I think we did it again this year.”
Robert pointed out, “It obviously doesn’t hurt having these 5-star nations cups under your belt. It’s a different world. He’s gotten quite comfortable with it. Having the teammates he has, it rubs off, and especially this year, when we’re on a bit of a roll.”
Let’s face it. Buying a world-famous horse and trying to ride up to that animal’s capability is a challenge, and it wasn’t easy for Karl, particularly at the beginning.
But while the two of them now obviously are working in sync and achieving success, Karl emphasized about the result, “It’s very much not just me. We do everything we can to track every detail that we’re able to, and make adjustments to any detail that we need to. That’s a credit to the strong team that we have, and it’s important for the incremental minute gains. You build up enough of them, you become powerful. No one thing is the secret.”
Karl Cook was all smiles after his winning ride. (Photo USA Equestrian)
Cara is heading home for a rest. The next outing for the 5-star U.S. team is in St. Tropez during September and then the Longines FEI League of Nations final in Barcelona during October. No one has been named to those squads at this point, but I would guess Karl might be a part of it, considering his recent record.
The schedule is so demanding that it can be difficult to have enough riders to keep up with the pace. As Robert pointed out, the Swedes skipped Aachen, where the U.S. won the nations cup, so they could field their best combinations at their home show. And it worked.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 11, 2025
But the U.S. show jumping team came very close in the Agria Falsterbo Nations Cup Friday, finishing second to the Swedish home squad by 4 penalties. It broke a tie by being better on the clock than Ireland, which also had 8 penalties over two rounds to finish third.
The winning Swedish team of Amanda Landeblad, Petronella Andersson, Chef d’Equipe Henrik Ankarcrona, Peder Fredricson and Henrik von Eckermann.
The podium finish came on the heels of the American triumph last week in the Aachen, Germany, Nations Cup, where Frank Rothenberg was also the course designer.
U.S. Coach Robert Ridland considers Aachen the gold standard of Nations Cups and was hoping to make it two in a row in the Scandinavian location. The U.S. has won four times at Falsterbo, but not since 2007.
“I guess we’re getting greedy,” mused Robert with a smile, moments after the competition ended.
On the other hand, he pointed out, “We always aim for the podium, and that’s clearly what we got.”
The composition of the Falsterbo team was different from the Aachen team with the exception of anchor rider McLain Ward, although he was on High Star Hero, rather than Imperial HBF.
Rising star Spencer Smith took on the role that Lillie Keenan (also on a gray horse) had played at Aachen, delivering two clears as pathfinder aboard Keeneland. Robert wisely focuses on bringing along younger riders when possible.
Spencer Smith and Keeneland.
He was convinced one of those, Carly Anthony, would have jumped clear in the first round on Heavenly W, had her horse not lost a shoe before the next-to-last jump, which she had down. Had all else gone as it eventually did, that clear round would have meant a jump-off with Sweden.
The footing was grass and it held up well, but considering the rain, horses needed shoes with appropriate caulks in order to handle the surface.
At the end of the first round, the U.S., Sweden, Ireland and Switzerland all were tied on 4 faults. Swizterland eventually finished fourth with the slowest time of the top group after the competition ended.
The Swedes had plenty to wave their flags about.
Karl Cook, winner of the Rotterdam grand prix last month with Caracole de la Roque, went double-clear. If there was a jump-off, he would have been the USA’s designated rider, and Robert said caulks were already being switched on Cara’s hind shoes as Karl prepared for that eventuality, but after McLain logged 4 faults in the second round, there was no need.
Karl Cook and Caracole de la Roque. (USA Jumping/Helen Cruden)
Had McLain gone fault-free, it would have prompted the jump-off with Sweden. That country is often the USA’s chief rival, as it was in the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games and the Tokyo Olympics, Robert pointed out.
Robert Ridland and McLain Ward.
In the first round, McLain had a rail at the third fence, a narrow red and blue vertical, with his 13-year-old mount by Zazu out of a Darco mare. He left that fence untouched in the second round, but toppled a pole at the ninth obstacle, a 1.60 meter vertical.
The Swedish effort was buoyed by packed stands despite the steady rain that fell during the class, which did not deter hordes of fans who kept busy waving their blue and yellow flags.
Former world number one Henrik von Eckermann, the Swedes’ anchor rider, produced two fault-free trips on Minuteman.
Henrik von Eckermann on Minute Man (Photo Roland Thunholm)
We have gotten used to seeing Henrik on King Edward, but he’s bringing along a new string, and Minute Man’s scope and concentration are impressive. In addition, he won the grand prix qualifier on Thursday with Steely Dan.
“Minute Man hasn’t been in my stable that long,” said Henrik.
“He has had a very good development.But today it felt like yet another push forward. It feels like the trust has built up enormously over the last few weeks,” Henrik commented about his sensitive mount.
He added “In the first round, I was a bit annoyed that I was so close to the time. So I could step it up a little in the second round, with one less to the water and one less to the third. And still, he did it so very, very well. I’m very, very happy with him and of course to be able to contribute a bit to the team, since last year, it wasn’t like that.”
Peder Fredricson and Alcapone des Carmille.
For his part, team member Peder Fredricson said, “It’s always fun to ride on home soil. It’s a fantastic competition to win at with that crowd and that atmosphere. You step up on the podium there and you see the Swedish crowd and there’s no better place to be than there.”
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 30, 2025
Reflecting on her decision to retire after 47 years of a high-profile career at Rutgers University, Dr. Karyn Malinowski explained simply: “It’s time.”
Yet it’s hard to think of the Rutgers Equine Science Center, of which she is the founding director, without Karyn at the helm. She has been behind so many research projects that have made a difference, such as those involving her irreplaceable expertise in equine aging and stress management.
“Her whole life has been dedicated to the horse. I would call her a towering figure in the equestrian world,” said Max Spann Jr., who serves as a member-at-large on the Rutgers University Board for Equine Advancement (RUBEA), which advises the Equine Science Center at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
Karyn in her familiar spot at the lectern. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)_
“No one has had more energy and passion about the horse and equine industry,” observed Max, who grew up riding quarter horses.
Although Karyn has a special fondness for Standardbreds, he noted that she “reached out to all different disciplines and did so much not only to promote, but also encourage, the next generations to get into the equine world. I often refer to her as a force of nature, someone with so much energy, so much drive, constantly moving.”
Karyn enjoyed interacting with Standardbreds and driving them. (Photo courtesy Rutgers Equine Science Center)
And of course, she won’t stop moving, even after having closed her office door for the last time on June 30. The professor of animal science will continue her efforts to help keep standardbred racing going in New Jersey (she’s also involved with the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in New York) and she’ll stay involved with many aspects of horse welfare. She has plans to do some consulting and as you would expect, is getting “tons of calls” from people who want her expertise. First, however, she will take some time to relax and do a little gardening at her Manville, N.J., home.
Karyn with the late Assemblyman Ronald Dancer.
Although her accomplishments are many, building the Equine Science Center, recognized by the board of directors in 2001, stands out.
The question of what is next for the Equine Science Center and who will lead it has yet to be answered, but “We’re very proud of it and we want to continue it,” said Executive Dean Laura Lawson of the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
“It’s always complicated transitioning when you’ve had a great leader. We are being careful, we are involving the advisory group, the stakeholders, the board of managers. It’s not going to be an immediate announcement of a new director, but we are definitely in the planning stage and we have every intention of hiring new faculty and continuing to support the Equine Science Center,” the dean commented.
In the meantime, she said, the center will continue to operate, even if “it will be a little quiet” during the faculty hiring process, but existing research involving graduate students will not be paused.
“It’s not going anywhere,” the dean promised about the center.
“We’re just going to keep making it stronger.”
Discussing what made Karyn so effective, the dean cited, “her commitment and her constant work with her advisory board and engaging with the industry. She’s the model of that kind of real commitment to working with an industry. She’s a rock star.”
Among Karyn’s other leadership achievements, one that stands out is the 2007 Economic Impact Study for the state of New Jersey which set the standard for all economic studies for horses nationwide and globally.
At this point, Karyn thinks the status of the horse industry in New Jersey is good, even though breeding for both racing and pleasure has declined.
“It’s at a lull. I’m hoping someone will keep that bumped up,” Karyn said, but she is disappointed that there is no longer any representation from New Jersey at the American Horse Council, where she was president of the American Youth Horse Council for two years in the 1990s.
“I loved my time in my career,” reminisced Karyn, who is often seen in vibrant red jackets that reflect her high energy (and Scarlet is Rutgers’ official school color).
Over the decades, Karyn’s mentorship has offered a valuable learning experience to a legion of students. (Photo courtesy Rutgers Equine Science Center.)
“I’ve loved making a difference and enhancing the horse industry in New Jersey. I wish those in the future the best. Times are not going to get easier for pleasure, racing, recreation and sport,” she offered, noting the difficulties presented by such issues as equine welfare, development and the cost of having horses, among other things.
“It’s a huge challenge now,”” she pointed out.
Dr. Jeffrey Thomason from the University of Guelph, one of the many experts Karyn Malinowski brought to Rutgers for seminars..
Dr. Amy Butewicz, the Equine Science Center’s chair emeritus, commented on Karyn’s positive influence.
“In an industry that can often times be divided, she has brought unity and clarity to many research and welfare areas by always focusing on the majestic creature itself — the horse.
“Her love for the horse transcends all boundaries, a deep passion that has led to success and a resume that is truly astounding. Her fierce determination and spirit are the center of her character.”
Another influential horseman who serves as a RUBEA member-at-large is Sam Landy, owner of Congress Hill Farm in Monroe Township, N.J., and operator of Special Strides, a nonprofit that facilitates healing for more than 130 disabled children each week through therapeutic riding and occupational therapy.
He emphasizes that “Equine science is more of a necessity than ever. Equine science can determine the health and happiness of horses. There are people who form opinions about equine and environmental welfare without any scientific knowledge. The only way to legitimately prevent people who wish horses not to be used by humans at all from getting their wish is through science and education.
“Dr. Malinowski championed the use of the Rutgers Equine Science Center to define standards of care for horses and horse farms. The expertise of Karyn’s students and the Equine Science Center is relied upon by the judiciary and legislature to create policy to preserve the horse, New Jersey’s state animal, as a partner to humans in athletic and recreational pursuits.”
Karyn Malinowski with Amy Butewicz and Dr. Michael Fugaro, the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board’s 2025 Horse Person of the Year.
Dr. Ellen Rankins, a post-doctoral research fellow at Colorado State University, did research for her doctorate under the guidance of Karyn and Dr. Ken McKeever.
She is starting a faculty position at Tarleton State University in Texas this autumn and notes her work at Rutgers “set me up for where I am now and the career path I am on. It gave me those research, critical thinking and writing skills that are necessity for a career in the academic world.”
Ellen emphasized Karyn “very much cares for her students as people and that they’re successful in life and that they’re happy in the work that they’re doing. Thinking about Dr. Malinowski’s career trajectory; she’s been a really strong role model, certainly for females. She set the stage for the rest of us who would follow her.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 6, 2025
Martin Fuchs spent the night before Sunday’s Aachen Rolex Grand Prix reviewing the way he had ridden Leone Jei in the 1.5 million Euro class during previous years.
The Swiss rider explained he “really tried to see what I could improve today and try to be better than the last years.”
It worked. Martin and his 13-year-old Dutchbred firecracker soared as they flew along the jump-off course in the vast grass arena, while 40,000 spectators were riveted on the action. Martin had to watch four more riders before he could be assured that his time of 50.21 seconds would be fast enough to take the class won previously by his uncle, Markus Fuchs, and his godfather, the late Willi Melliger.
Martin Fuchs savors his victory gallop on Leone Jei. (Ashley Neuhof Photo)
“I was very focused for the jump-off and was like `Okay, today could be the day.’ I don’t want to let him down again,” Martin recounted.
“Last year, I made a rider’s mistake in the jump-off,” the former European champion admitted.
“Leone Jei is such an incredible horse. In all the majors, he’s always there and always present. When I do a good job, usually he leaves the poles up. In a ring like this, he has a huge stride, which allows me to leave out some strides and really go full risk and still usually jump the fences clear. To be riding a horse like this is very fortunate and lucky.”
The starting field of 40 who attempted the first course designed by Frank Rothenberger was cut down to 18 competitors for a second round, with 11 making the tiebreaker.
France’s Nina Mallevaey, who quickly has burst out of the U-25 ranks to the top level of the sport, actually managed a faster clocking than Martin by finishing the jump-off in 50.01 seconds with Dynastie de Beaufour, but she had a rail at the A element of the troublesome golden double combination, flanked by cathedral window standards, to finish fifth.
As Martin watched, no one else came close. The USA’s Lillie Keenan toppled a rail with Fasther at the same fence as Nina, while Richie Vogel of Germany had knockdowns at both elements of the double with United Touch S.
Martin explained why he was so hard to beat.
“I had a very good plan for the jump-off, leaving out a stride into the double, which was a hard task, because the golden double was hard to jump.
“I said, `Okay, we try it and we take the last risk.’ From then on, it was just the last fence in front of us and go as fast as we could.”
Leone Jei was very enthusiastic about winning the Aachen Rolex grand prix.
At the end, it was all down to another U.S. rider, Laura Kraut, the final rider to go, aboard her Olympic team silver medal mount, Baloutinue.
But she wasn’t taking any chances at the double and went wide to approach it safely, then took back to steady before the final fence, finishing fault-free in 52.41 seconds to claim the runner-up spot on her Hanoverian gelding.
“I am very happy with second place,” said Laura.
“When there are 11 in the jump-off, which is a lot, the fastest riders in the world, I thought `Ooh, this could end not so well.’ The golden double was the thing to jump, it was very difficult and many people were quick until that.”
She decided not to take all the risks Martin did, but rather, to “play it safe and not have it (the double) down.”
That worked, but there was “no chance” she realized, that she could go to the final fence as quickly as he had.
Even so, her careful strategy paid off.
“I was pleased to have gone as quick as I did,” commented Laura, who ended a great week for the U.S. on a high note after riding on the winning Nations Cup team Thursday.
Laura Kraut and Baloutinue, second in the grand prix. (Shannon Brinkman Photo)
Martin’s compatriot, European Champion Steve Guerdat, who went two rides before Martin in the jump-off, had a longtime goal to win the class. But was glad to end up third with the Selle Francais mare Dynamix de Belheme (0/52.59).
“I knew that I had no chance to win today. You needed a huge-strided horse, which my mare is not. I was lucky to end up on the podium,” he commented.
The 2012 Olympic individual gold medalist is known for giving other riders tips on how to improve their placings, but he was out of tips for himself.
“There was no tip to give because there was nothing to do,” explained the three-time FEI World Cup champion.
” `Hold your reins and kick as much as you can.’ There were no options. I knew before I started that it was not possible to win.”
After his victory lap, Martin took a ride in a carriage driven by Australian Boyd Exell, who won the show’s four-in-hand competition. He was in a position to give the driver a big gratuity–first prize amounted to 589,000 in U.S. dollars. Martin said the money will go to his horse’s owner, Adolfo Juri, and his parents. He noted his parents are very generous with him, and he was hoping his mother would cook an “exquisite” dinner to celebrate.
Two U.S. riders thought to have a good chance of taking the top prize were McLain Ward and Kent Farrington. But it didn’t happen.
McLain, a close second last year, had a rail in the first round with Imperial HBF and wasn’t qualified for the second round. Kent, the 20019 winner, and Greya came through among the top 18 but dropped a pole at the dock oxer, the third-to-last fence in that round, and finished fifteenth.
Britain’s Ben Maher, the Tokyo Olympics individual gold medalist, was leading international jumper rider and his mount, Dallas Vegas Batilly, earned champion horse.
Click here for grand prix results. Click here for four-in-hand driving results. To read about the dressage freestyle, click this link
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 5, 2025
The drama of running cross-country as the last phase at the Aachen UBS Cup eventing Saturday kept the tension at high velocity, as the lead switched back and forth over Giuseppe Della Chiesa’s roller coaster of a course that asked intriguing questions non-stop.
In the end, after 40 riders had jumped through the brush-covered “owl hole” final fence, New Zealand earned team honors for the first time since 2018, but second place went to the U.S. — which ably rose from fourth after Friday’s stadium jumping. Great Britain, which held the lead for much of the day, sank to third after Bubby Upton and Laura Collett had refusals.
Aachen is the equivalent of a 5-star Short in terms of its difficulties, including the unconventional format, and Giuseppe proved to be an ample replacement for longtime course designer Rüdiger Schwarz, who retired.
The New Zealand team led by Tim Price (left). (Photo CHIO Aachen, Jasmin Metzner)
Individually, the USA’s Will Coleman, the 2021 Aachen winner, just missed the podium in fourth place with Off the Record. He was only two seconds behind the optimum time of 6 minutes, 35 seconds, which no one was able to make. Closest was New Zealand’s Monica Spencer on Artist (a thoroughbred!), a frustrating one second over.
Asked if he expected anyone to make the time, Giuseppe said, “To be honest, no. But the riders did a good job, they came very close. They looked at the jumps first, then at the time, the influence of which had a corresponding effect on the ranking.”
World number three Tim Price of New Zealand on the Holsteiner Vitali, tied for the lead after dressage and holding it on his own after show jumping, took individual honors. He was followed by Great Britain’s Tom McEwan (Brookfield Quality) and Gemma Stevens on the impressive gray, Flash Cooley, an Irish-bred mount, like Tom’s horse.
Speaking about how it felt to win at Aachen, Tim said, “It is taking time to soak in. First of all, you are just focused; then there is the team aspect, that is the primary thing.”
As he finished his trip around the course, he recalled, “I wasn’t sure if I’d won because everyone claps, however well you have done. I was really happy to discover that I had won with this cracking horse. He is a fantastic horse to ride cross with. I picked up on the atmosphere from the first jump onwards. It gave us a feel of the atmosphere all round the course. It was a very enthusiastic crowd.”
Tim Price on Vitali going cross-country. (Equestrian Sports NZ/Libby Law Photography)
The USA’s Boyd Martin, fifth on Commando 3, called second place for the U.S. team “a great honor,” noting it was “a fantastic contest.”
His Aachen debut was “an amazing experience” at the legendary German venue and, he admitted, “a bit nerve-wracking for me” because “my mother-in-law lives down the road. So a bit of extra pressure there.”
He added the U.S. “will have gained a lot of experience” that it can build on for next year’s world championships at Aachen.
The U.S. team has never won at Aachen, but has been second several times. The competition was the first team event for Leslie Law since the former development coach became head man and high performance manager.
“It’s everything we could have hoped for,” said the 2004 individual Olympic gold medalist, noting, “I couldn’t be happier.
Boyd Martin and Commando 3 at the Owl Hole. (U.S. Equestrian photo)
“We had team training at Boyd Martin’s and more training when we arrived. There’s been great atmosphere. It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with these professional riders. We all know it takes a village. Their people they’ve got behind them, they’re 100 percent professional. We couldn’t have asked for a better team as far as looking after the horses goes.”
Leslie said having Christina Vaughn as team leader was a big asset, since he had worked with her in his previous position. He also had positive words for Karyn Shuter, the high performance advisor.
Leslie noted, “We’re very excited for Aachen next year.”
He explained Boyd has “a great string of horses” and is trying to return to his number one ranking on the international standings. Although Will’s Timmy is getting older, he has other horses in his pipeline, Leslie said.
Will Coleman and Off the Record. (U.S. Equestrian photo)
While Caroline Pamukcu had the drop score on her Olympic horse, HSH Blake, Leslie pointed out the horse is only 10 years old, with time to develop for the future.
Leslie also was happy to see how well Phillip Dutton, 61, did on two inexperienced horses, riding for both the team and as an individual. He replaced James Alliston in the latter capacity after Karma was sidelined.
Cosby Green, who had two horses in the Luhmulen top 10 but wasn’t in Aachen, was also mentioned as a plus for the team looking ahead to the world championships. The Europeans have their championships in September, but this is an off-year for the U.S., with time for the riders to focus on qualifying without the pressure of an international championship.
Click here for team results. Click here for individual results.
Eventers didn’t have a monopoly on the drama Saturday. Belgian rider, Justin Verboomen and the black stallion he trained, the 9-year-old Zonik Plus, won the 5-star Grand Prix Special over Germany’s darling, Isabell Werth, and Grand Prix winner Wendy de Fontaine.
It was only the second Special for the Belgian combination, which turned in a personal best of 80.745 percent to make their debut in the Aachen winner’s circle.
Justin Verboomen, with Zonik Plus and Marina Meggle as he accepts the Meggle Prize for the Grand Prix Special (Photo: CHIO Aachen/Diana Wahl)
Mistakes in the one-tempis were the downfall of Isabell and Wendy, who were a close second on 80.106 percent, which was actually a personal best for the duo. It was a whole series of personal bests — third place went to British entry Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, with 78.404 percent.
Asked if the Special was Zonik’s real potential, the winner replied, “Not yet. But you will see it one day.”
Isabell called the Special, “great sport, and the strong competition makes it spicy. That is the reason I am still here.”
Noting that she had seen Justin in Lier, Isabell said, “it was clear to me that he wouldn’t try to be a gentleman. That is what we love to have: Exciting sport and competitive shows, that is what the spectators love.”
Becky, who was on the British bronze medal team at the Paris Olympics last year, noted, “It is something else to ride into this arena. The crowd are fantastic and so knowledgeable.“
That also increased Jagerbomb’s excitement level.
“He didn’t want to stand still, but it is precisely this energy that makes the rest of his test so special. That is what we are all striving for finding the balance between energy and relaxation,” said Becky.
We will see a rematch of the top three Sunday in the 5-star freestyle.
The two U.S. riders in the Special, Kasey Perry Glass (Heartbeat) and Benjamin Ebeling (Bellena) finished thirteenth and eighteenth respectively.
Click here for results.
Isabell and Wendy have been named to the German team for the world championships in August; no surprise there. Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth Old, Ingrid Klimke and Vayron (winner of the 4-star Special) and Katharina Hemmer (Denoix PCH) are the other members of the squad.
In the Intermediate I, U.S. riders Kevin Kohmann (Scala) and Marcus Orlob (J.J. Glory Day) were eighth and ninth as the class was won by the Netherlands’ Dinja van Liere on Mauro Turfhorst, a black stallion. It was a big day for black stallions.
Click here for results.
