Welcome to Equiworld News, your weekly roundup of equestrian news from across the globe. We are based at Hayfield near Aberdeen in Scotland and strive to bring you the most comprehensive and up-to-date news on all aspects of the equestrian world. For those who like their news digitally, please bookmark www.equiworld.org and look out for regular updates throughout the week. This is our 271st issue and today we’re reporting from...
Europe:
Britain:
- Dressage: The British Dressage Championships were held at Hickstead last week, with Carl Hester and his new ride, Uthopia, taking the overall title. The pair put in a superb performance in the Freestyle, with Hester's artistic interpretation of his music proving to be a winning combination. “He was so wonderful”, said a delighted Hester after his win, "This horse has a truly exceptional future.” There was plenty of excitement too in the Pony Freestyle, where the tiny duo of Fiona Bigwood and Widcombe’s Woodpecker claimed the title, after the pair edged out an already strong lead in the last section. “The ponies were incredible!” commented judge Mary King. “It was just great to watch all those little horses performing like true professionals.”
- Show Jumping: There was a British victory in the Grand Prix at the Royal Windsor Horse Show last weekend, with Nick Skelton riding his brilliant stallion, Argento, to top honours. Skelton looked relaxed in the saddle throughout the course and his winning jump was met with roars of approval from the crowds. This is a fantastic start to the year for Skelton and Argento and a real sign of what we can expect to see from them both in the months ahead.
- Eventing: World Championship preparations continue in earnest for a large group of British riders, including the current World Champion, Blyth Tait and his stunning chestnut, Meshach, who continue to dominate the early stages of the season.
France:
- Endurance: French rider Pierre Lejeune dominated the 160km race at the Saumur International Endurance Riders Competition held last weekend. Lejeune rode his horse, Cabanier du Plessis, in a relentless pace which resulted in a comfortable lead over the rest of the field, a very impressive performance and a welcome return to form for this much loved rider.
Germany:
- Dressage: Germany dominated the opening weekend of the World Cup Dressage League, with both Isabell Werth and Anky van Grunsven topping the scoresheets at their respective venues.
- Show Jumping: Another impressive weekend for German show jumpers at the European Show Jumping Championship, held in the picturesque location of Gothenburg in Sweden. The class was tight throughout the final day and resulted in an unexpected victory for a newcomer to the scene, young Markus Ehninger, with his talented gelding, Valentino, giving him his first major European Championship win.
Other:
- The Dutch have shown real dominance on the world endurance scene over the last couple of years and continue to dominate the current competition, with the Dutch Endurance Team looking incredibly strong. This could well result in a formidable challenge to the existing French dominance at the coming World Championships.
Asia:
- The Asian Games are on the horizon with all eyes focused on the upcoming Games. China are undoubtedly a strong contender in many equestrian events but the dominance of the Japanese show jumping teams will need to be reckoned with, if any other country is going to take the gold.
North America:
The Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event: The biggest equestrian event in America is only a few short weeks away and expectations are running high with preparations already well underway. Last year’s champion, David O'Connor, is the obvious favourite, with several new names in the line-up hoping to grab a piece of the action, with eventers from all over the world vying for a spot at the prestigious event.
*USA: * Show jumper McLain Ward remains a powerful figure in the show jumping world despite a recent change of horse, moving from Sapphire to his new mount, Antares. With some brilliant performances over the past few months it appears this transition may be even better than expected and should be one to watch at the coming shows in Florida this year.
South America:
Brazil: There’s been growing support in Brazil for equestrian sports with more riders being sponsored by large international businesses. It is expected that Brazil’s profile in international competition will rise accordingly in the years ahead.
Australasia:
Australia: The Sydney World Cup Qualifier in show jumping held last week saw a great battle between the up and coming Australian stars. It was a hotly contested event that eventually ended in the victory of an exciting new prospect, Daniel De la Rue, riding his elegant chestnut mare, Belle. With a combination of style and technical brilliance the pair impressed all those watching and looked very promising for the future of Australian show jumping.
Coming up in the next few weeks…
The big event on our calendars is The Badminton Horse Trials. It’s always a highlight of the equestrian calendar and this year is no exception, we're excited to report back to you after all the action is done. There’s going to be something for everyone… show jumping, dressage, and the world famous cross country event - which is sure to be spectacular as usual. We'll also be keeping you updated on other news from around the world, including all the latest from the showjumping, eventing and dressage circuits. So, stay tuned for more!
* Equiworld is committed to keeping you updated with all the news from around the globe, bringing the equestrian community together and offering unique insights into this ever-evolving world. Thank you for your readership and see you again soon.*