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News, Sports, Lifestyle. Everyday.From Mankini to Man of Steel: Olympic Eventer Shane Rose Has Come Through More Than the Qualifiers 26 Jul 2024, 2:47 pm
On Saturday, July 27, the top eventing athletes from around the globe will kick-off dressage competition at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Among them will be three-time Olympic medalist Shane Rose. And while he’s no stranger to the Opening Ceremonies, this Games may have a slightly different feel for the 51-year-old New South Wales native.
Across the world, Rose is perhaps best-known, of late, for making international headlines in February when he wore a Borat-inspired mankini in a just-for-fun class during a community competition. Rose was roundly chastised by Equestrian Australia, who even opened an investigation into his conduct, suspending him at a critical moment during the Olympic qualification season.
Thankfully, public opinion around the globe was largely in the eventer’s favor, and Equestrian Australia soon agreed to put their investigation to rest. At least symbolically, it should have been an “all-clear” for Rose—currently the 10th-highest-ranked Australian in the World Eventing Rankings—who was officially selected for the 2024 Paris Team a few weeks later.
Then, March came.
That month, after a successful week campaigning his Olympic partner Virgil in New Zealand, Rose suffered a serious fall off while schooling cross-country at a training camp after the horse he was riding landed on top of him. He was rushed to the hospital, where it was learned that Rose had broken 11 bones in 19 places, including his femur, pelvis, and ribs. He also suffered a serious concussion.
A video published by Australia’s ABC Sports on Instagram shows Rose, who had no memory of the fall, receiving the news from his wife, fellow eventer Niki Rose, in his hospital bed.
“When are the Games?” he asks.
“In four months,” Niki tells him, explaining that his horse, Bandit, fell on him.
“He fell on me?” Rose asks, adding dryly, “That’s not ideal.”
Not ideal for an Olympic appearance in less than a few months, to be sure. But not impossible. And for Shane Rose, “not impossible” was all that was needed.
For the next four months, the Australian eventer worked tirelessly at his rehab—a journey chronicled on his Instagram.
After being restricted to bed rest for six weeks, a wheelchair-bound Rose was shown visiting horses at his stable. Once cleared for rehab, he worked out on the bike and in the pool, eventually moving from sitting in his wheelchair to walking along behind it.
By May, the father of four was walking with a cane and was back to working out in the gym, while his wife, Niki, kept the Australian-bred Virgil in top form. Rose, himself, was back in the saddle by early June, even competing at the CCN4* S Melbourne International Three-Day Event on another horse.
If his warp-speed recovery seems unreal—super-human even—keep in mind that this is not the first major fall, or even significant health hurdle, that Rose has faced down in his career.
Not by a long shot.
In 2001, then in his late twenties, Rose was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. A long-time breaker of young horses, he’s been kicked in the head and face, needing plastic surgery to have it rebuilt. In previous falls, Rose has broken both arms, both legs, both wrists, and a thumb. He’s punctured his lung and split his liver, then earned a golden staph infection for his troubles.
Bob Seger may not have written his famous 1986 ballad Like a Rock for Shane Rose. But it’s pretty clear that Shane Rose makes even Chevy trucks look soft.
Rose was ultimately cleared for competition at the 2024 Games in Paris, where he’ll compete alongside teammates Chris Burton and Shadow Man and Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam.
At 19 years old, Rose’s horse Virgil is a fittingly stalwart partner.
He’s currently the second most senior mount in eventing competition in Paris (that honor goes to Ecuadorian entry Forever Young Wundermaske), but he’s also one of the most decorated equine athletes Down Under. In his 13-year career, in fact, Virgil has earned more international victories than any other Australian horse (since 2008).
In other words, if you’re looking for an eventing team to cheer on this weekend, consider dropping an “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!” for Shane Rose and Virgil. They’ve certainly done their work to get here.
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Attacks on French Railways Shake Paris Just Before Open Ceremonies 26 Jul 2024, 10:19 am
On the morning of the Opening Ceremonies, signaling the start of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, arsonists attacked the country’s main high-speed railways.
An investigation is ongoing into the attacks, but officials say the damage is done—transportation in and out of Paris is going to be tricky over the coming days, including for the Olympic athletes and spectators attempting to access sport venues.
Two out of four trains taking Olympic athletes to Paris on the western Atlantique high-speed line were stopped for hours Friday, officials with the rail operator told the press. German show jumpers Philipp Weishaupt and Christian Kukuk were on a train to Paris for the opening ceremonies but were turned back in Belgium because of the rail closures, the German news agency dpa reported.
Several Olympic sports and events—including the equestrian competitions being held at Versailles—are taking place outside the city of Paris. Additional Games sites are clustered in Nantes and Bordeaux, which are most commonly accessible by rail.
Eurostar trains, which connects cities like London to Paris are also affected by the attacks. French officials estimate the railway fires are impacting travel plans of 800,000 people.
Despite the delays, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told reporters that the attacks would have “no impact on the opening ceremony.” There were no reported injuries tied to the attacks.
It was “a premeditated, calculated, coordinated attack” that indicates “a desire to seriously harm” the French people, said the CEO of the national railway company SNCF, Jean-Pierre Farandou. SNCF officials were working diligently Friday to get the high-speed lines repaired and restored.
It is unclear who is responsible or the motivation behind the acts.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal described the attacks as “acts of sabotage” and “prepared and coordinated.” But he said the objective was clear: “blocking the high-speed train network” by strategically targeting routes from the north, east and west toward Paris at hours just before the start of the Olympic Games.
The Olympics opening ceremony will take place on the Seine River in Paris tonight (or 1:30 p.m. EST). Thousands of police, military and private security are expected to be deployed to secure the event. Some outlets have reported sniper agents on rooftops, fenced-in city streets with highly patrolled armed guards and drones flying overhead of Paris ahead of the Games.
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Canada’s Chris Von Martels & Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu Called Up to Paris Team 26 Jul 2024, 10:08 am
Changes are afoot on the Canada’s Paris Olympics dressage team.
With the pre-Games training camp coming to an end, Jill Irving’s Delacroix has been declared not fit to compete. No further details have yet been provided.
Irving and Delacroix will now be replaced by travelling alternates Chris Von Martels and Eclips.
Von Martels and Eclips previously represented Canada at the Tokyo 2021 Games, finishing 39th overall. In Paris they will ride alongside Camille Carier Bergeron and Finnländerin and Naïma Moreira Laliberté on Statesman.
Paris would have been the Olympic debut for Irving. But there is still a chance she may compete.
Irving was the seventh alternate for the Canadian team on her second mount Genesis. With the fifth combination declining travel to the pre-Games staging and logistical challenges prohibiting the sixth ranked combination from traveling to the staging camp in France from North America in time for competition, Irving and Genesis are now the traveling alternates and will join the team in Paris.
A change was also annoucned on Canadian dressage team leadership.
Chef d’equipe and team manager Christine Peters has stepped aside due to unspecified personal reasons. She will now be replaced by Olympian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu.
No statements have been issued by the Canadian team members on social at the time of publication.
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Will Coleman Is Out, Liz Halliday Is In 26 Jul 2024, 7:53 am
It’s been a rollercoaster week for Will Coleman.
With two horses named to the U.S. team for the Paris 2024 Olympics, the American eventer looked all but guaranteed to compete in what would have been his second Games.
On Wednesday, ahead of the move to the venue, US Equestrian announced the world no. 39 would ride Diabolo instead of Off The Record. On Friday morning, Diabolo was deemed unfit to compete.
Traveling reserve combination Liz Halliday and Nutcracker have now moved into the three-member team.
“The last 48 hours have truly been tough for our team, but particularly for Will Coleman. Off The Record looked well training camp, but Will’s direct reserve, Diabolo, continued to impress and was physically in such great condition, so we made the decision to place into the team roster before moving to the venue,” said American eventing chef d’equipe Bobby Costello.
“Diabolo trotted up great prior to shipping from training camp and arrived at the venue happy and sound. Unfortunately, shortly after settling into stabling he showed some significant signs of discomfort and the team immediately got to work to address a potential abscess in the right front foot.
“Team Farrier Beck Ratte, Dr. Susan Johns, Diabolo’s groom Hailey Burlock, and Will’s wife, Katie, were so diligent and excellent in treating Diabolo and he did in fact trot up sound last night. With that said, we felt after weighing the risk, it was not in Diabolo’s or the team’s best interest for him to move forward with the competition this week.
“We’re all just really devastated for Will and his entire team. It takes so much work to get to this moment and it’s just such an unfortunate turn of events. We’ve got to look forward though, and with that said, we’re heading into this competition with four very competitive horses, and l still feel very confident in this team’s ability to be successful here in Paris.”
Halliday will make her Olympic debut in Paris.
If there’s one team member that can relate to Coleman’s disappointment, it’s her. In 2020, Halliday was named to the Tokyo Olympic team, but had to withdraw her mount Deniro Z when bone bruising was detected at the final inspection.
“I’m feeling a lot of mixed emotions right now. I’ve been in Will’s shoes before and I know the pain and disappointment that comes with a last-minute change ahead of the biggest moment in your sporting career and life,” posted Halliday on social media.
“I’m devastated for their team—they’ve worked so hard and deserve to be here. I always knew this was the responsibility of the reserve role, and Bali and I are mentally and physically ready to step in and deliver our best for the team. We’re 100% focused and prepared to head down the centerline and represent our country on Saturday. The USA have an incredible team here in Paris—we are ready to fight hard and give it our all.”
Eventing kicks off on Saturday in Paris. Full schedule and live stream links are here.
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Abuse and Executive Function, a Brain Science Analysis of the Charlotte Dujardin Video 25 Jul 2024, 1:12 pm
British equestrian Charlotte Dujardin withdrew from the Paris Olympics on Tuesday when a video showed her abusing a horse.
The discovery marks a moment of deep sadness for horse lovers everywhere. Fortunately, the international and national associations governing equine events acted immediately to pull the three-time gold medal dressage rider from competition.
But the video deserves careful analysis. It shows a human prefrontal cortex overtaking a horse trainer’s better judgment—odd on the surface, since it is the prefrontal cortex that subserves human judgment.
Dujardin is revered in the dressage world for her London Olympics performance on Valegro in 2012 and remains one of the top riders in the sport. Her method of “training” the unnamed horse in the video is all the more disappointing for that reason.
The video shows her giving a lesson to a student who is riding a dressage horse at a very slow collected canter. The horse is performing well by most intermediate standards, but Dujardin complains that he is not lifting his legs enough. Leg action is a desired trait in high-level dressage competition.
To increase it, Dujardin follows horse and rider from the ground with a 12-foot longe whip, lashing the horse’s hind legs 24 times in one minute. The horse is clearly frightened and attempts to evade the whip but is held in position by the rider.
There are many ways to address a training “problem” of this sort.
One is to insist that dressage judges stop rewarding riders whose horses show extreme leg animation and boycott competitions until they do.
A second option is to select the correct horse for the job. Some breeds and individuals tend toward higher leg action than others.
A third is to place the horse in training with a more advanced rider who could encourage animation from the saddle, without the use of whips, spurs, or harsh bits.
Fourth, veterinarians should check a horse’s soundness to be sure he is physically capable of lifting his legs in the desired manner and without pain.
Fifth, humans have choices when horses do not—we can refuse to participate in lessons that demand high leg animation in a horse who isn’t bred for it.
Sixth, it helps to separate problem identification from problem solution. In other words, instead of reacting to behavior in the moment, observe and remember it. Then sit down later that day and think rationally about how to address it. Come back tomorrow and attempt a solution.
These six options come to mind immediately. The selection might be enlarged with more careful consideration and a deeper knowledge of the horse and rider in question. But the highest priority is to demand of ourselves—as trainers and riders, parents, coaches, athletes, adults—that our methods of education always uphold welfare as the ultimate aim.
The video is disturbing for several reasons beyond the fact that a horse is being whipped because a trainer selected the wrong training option. It shows a trainer teaching a student by her own example how to abuse a horse. That’s wrong.
The relationship between trainers and students is very close, similar to that of a parent and child, which lends special credence to the trainer’s lessons. Instead of learning kind and effective training techniques, this student is learning to educate an animal by punishment. Not only is punishment of this sort unethical, it’s also the least effective means of achieving a goal.
The video also demonstrates the sin of placing a horse in an impossible position, something good trainers try never to do.
This horse is being whipped on the hindquarters, driven hard to move forward, but he is simultaneously held back by the rider’s hands on a strong bit. While the furor has focused on Dujardin as the trainer, we might also evaluate the rider who is participating in the horse’s mistreatment. To demand stronger forward movement while preventing it is a Catch-22 that a horse’s brain cannot understand and that a human brain should not create.
Chuckling is heard in the background of the video, evidently emanating from observers just outside the arena. It’s more prominent when the horse kicks out in objection to the whip, as if his effort to evade needless punishment is amusing.
Many observers wouldn’t be aware of the horse’s mental position in this situation. I certainly hope they wouldn’t have chuckled if they understood it. And it’s important to remember that at least one audience member wasn’t chuckling, or at least not for long—the anonymous viewer who recorded the video and submitted it to authorities.
Why do these things happen?
Because sometimes the human prefrontal cortex fails. It takes over in an effort to achieve training goals at any cost, then gets tired and can’t generate all the options.
Dujardin admits she is “deeply ashamed” of her behavior and characterizes it as an “error of judgment.” Judgment is one of the primary capacities of executive function, along with goal setting, option selection, decision making, the regulation of emotion, and risk assessment. Clearly, Dujardin’s ability to assess risk was reduced at the time.
She also selected the wrong option and carried it out. Perhaps all of us have selected the wrong option at some point in our lives when cameras weren’t pointed at us. That doesn’t excuse our behavior, but it does give us the opportunity to correct it privately.
The same thing can happen when parents spank a child or husbands strike their wives. The prefrontal cortex wants to achieve a goal but selects the wrong option.
This can occur when people are not aware of other options, as is common among those who have been abused themselves and have experienced little kindness in their own lives.
Other times it occurs because we are in a hurry and do not give our brains time to retrieve and consider other options. We might be working in a distressed or tired mindset. We all get hangry at times. That’s why we need to develop good training options in advance and train our brains to select them.
On a personal note, I dislike having to add greater publicity to Dujardin’s behavior by writing this article. Many horse trainers and equestrian authors remain silent in the public eye, to save themselves criticism from within. But we cannot turn away from issues of equine welfare and social license.
Most of us ride horses because we love them, and we take pride in offering them the best possible care. Horse and human brains operate in radically different ways. When we understand how those brains interact—for better and worse—we can make more responsible decisions for equine welfare.
I’d like to issue a challenge to all of us, including myself.
Let’s vow to train our animals, teach our children, and manage our relationships without harsh methods. It might be hard to do and it takes more time, but we need to prove to ourselves and each other that we can succeed without demeaning others.
It is possible to train a horse without the extreme use of whips, spurs, or strong bits, just as it is possible to teach a child without the use of corporal punishment or emotional coercion. Learn gentler techniques; they’re available. The bond between horse and rider, child and parent, or loving couples is far more important than how high they lift their legs.
This article is reprinted, with permission, from the “Horse Brain, Human Brain” column at Psychology Today magazine, written by Janet L. Jones, PhD. Learn more at www.janet-jones.com.
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Meet ‘Forever Young’ Wundermaske, the 21-Year-Old Event Horse Competing in Paris 25 Jul 2024, 9:56 am
The concept of nominative determinism was first coined in an issue of The New Scientist back in 1994.
Basically, it means that individuals gravitate toward areas of work that fit their surnames.
British writer Daniel Snowman, who chronicled polar explorations in his book, Pole Positions, is one example. Sigmund Freud, the famed psychologist who studied pleasure (among other things), and whose surname translates to “joy” in German, is another.
And while no one has yet suggested that this concept could be extended to include Olympic horse-and-rider combinations, if they did, they might consider starting with Ecuador’s Ronald Zabala-Goetschel and the-very-aptly-named, Forever Young Wundermaske.
At age 57 and 21, respectively, Zabala-Goetschel and Forever Young are the most senior combination in eventing in Paris this summer. But this won’t be the first championship appearance for the pair, who competed as Individuals at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon in 2018. That competition made Zabala-Goetschel the first athlete from Ecuador ever to compete at a WEG.
The Quito-born rider is also an Olympic veteran, becoming the first Ecuadorian athlete to compete in eventing at the London Games in 2012 aboard Master Boy. Born second in a family of seven children, Zabala-Goetschel has said he was always ‘horse crazy,’ opting to make horse sounds at age three instead of talking.
He went on to earn a business degree at Boston University in the States and, in addition to riding, he continues to operate a variety of diversified companies (including previous ventures in saddle- and riding boot-making) in Ecuador and beyond.
Zabala-Goetschel has been paired with “Patchito” since 2016. The Irish Sport Horse gelding began his career under the USA’s Sharon White, with whom he competed up to the CCI4* level—including a clear run around the Kentucky Three-Day cross-country back in 2014. The pair finished 23rd overall.
Patchito and Zabala-Goetschel finished 21st this year in the CCIO4*-NC-S in Avenches, Switzerland. Last fall, they were 8th at the CCI4*-S in Fairburn, Georgia. According to Zabala-Goetschel’s Instagram, the pair were unable to gain enough points in 2019 to qualify for Tokyo in 2020/2021 after the Ecuadorian rider was injured, twice, in falls off another horse early that year.
At 21, Forever Young will be one year older than the most senior eventing horse at Tokyo, Chinese rider Thomas Heffernan Ho’s Tayberry, then 20. But he will be far from the only venerable equine competitor in Paris.
Jérôme Guery’s (BEL) Quel Homme de Hus, and Peder Fredricson’s (SWE) Catch Me Not S are considered competitive entries in show jumping at the age of 18. Meanwhile, the 17-year-old Dalera BB, currently ranked at no. 1 in the world with German dressage rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, will be vying for back-to-back team and individual Olympic gold medals.
“No horse of mine deserves more than him to compete at this Olympics !! He never gets sick… never has had an injury in his life… never calls in sick (hahaha). He is always there for me,” Zabala-Goetschel wrote of Patchito on Instagram.
“Thanking GOD every day for letting me be part of the story of this amazing horse.”
Watch Zabala-Goetschel and Forever Young Wundermaske prove that age is just a number when they take center stage in Paris on Saturday, July 27, during the opening day of eventing dressage competition. Here’s how to watch!
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Julia Krajewski Will Defend Her Olympic Title in Paris 24 Jul 2024, 2:06 pm
Germany’s Julia Krajewski made history at the Tokyo 2020 Games when she became the first female eventer ever to win an Olympic individual gold medal.
For the Paris Games, the world no. 36 was named the traveling alternate, but a late change on German eventing team has moved her onto the team proper.
On Tuesday evening at the final health check before the move from the training camp in Deauville to Paris, Sandra Auffarth’s mount, Viamant du Matz, was deemed not 100% fit. Krajewski and Nickel 21 will take their place instead.
“Up until then, the horse appeared to be in great training and condition, but was not quite clear on the last trot. It was clear to us that unfortunately they wouldn’t be able to come to Paris,” said national coach Peter Thomsen.
“This is very sad for us, but especially of course for Sandra, her horse owner and her whole team. We would have liked to have had Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz on the team as team world champions, team runner-up European champions and European Championship bronze medalists.”
Paris 2024 will be the championship debut for the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding. In 23 FEI appearances together since 2021, Krajewski and Nickel have finished outside the top 10 just five times. In July, at their last competition before the Paris Games, they won the CCIO*S at Aachen.
A two-time Olympic veteran, Krajewski helped Germany to the team silver at the 2016 Rio Games on Samourai du Thot and took individual gold at the 2020 Tokyo games on Amande de B’Neville.
The new reserve rider for Germany is now Calvin Böckmann with The Phantom of the Opera.
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Will Coleman Swaps Off The Record for Diabolo at Paris Olympics 24 Jul 2024, 12:27 pm
A Dab will do, ya.
Team USA’s Will Coleman has swapped his mount for the Paris Games. Originally slated to compete on his 2022 World Championships mount Off The Record, he will instead ride direct reserve selection, Diabolo, aka “Dab.”
The 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Diarado x Aljano 2), cared for by Hailey Burlock and Erin Jarboe and started in Australia, has competed relatively lightly in the U.S. since joining Coleman’s string in 2023.
In seven starts at the CCI4* level, the pair has finished inside of the top 10 five times and won their last FEI appearance, the highly competitive CCI4*-S division at the 2024 Kentucky Three-Day Event in April. In 23 FEI starts, Diabolo has just two finishes outside of the top 10.
No reason was given by US Equestrian or the rider for the horse change.
Coleman and Diabolo will compete alongside Boyd Martin and Fedarman B, and Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake in Paris.
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Bertram Allen Withdraws Pacino Amiro from Paris Olympics 24 Jul 2024, 1:17 am
Bertram Allen’s Olympic dream has been cut short.
The travelling alternate for Ireland has withdrawn his mount Pacino Amiro from the Paris Games due to a “minor” and unspecified injury.
“I’m saddened to share that Buddy (Pacino Amiro) has a minor injury and won’t be able to compete in the Paris Olympics. I was so looking forward to our second Olympics together, but Buddy’s recovery is our top priority,” announced Allen on Instagram.
“I wish the entire Irish team great success in Paris. They’re stronger than ever and ready to achieve amazing things.”
Allen and the 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding previously represented Ireland at the Tokyo 2020 Games, finishing 15th individually. They were also part of the fourth place finishing team at the 2022 Herning World Championships, subbing in for Darragh Kenny and VDL Cartello.
Denis Lynch on Brooklyn Heights and Mark McAuley with GRS Lady Amaro are the non-travelling reserves for this Games. Horse Sport Ireland has yet to announce which pair will replace Allen.
As the current leaders of the League of Nations, Ireland is a favorite to medal in Paris, but has never climbed the Olympic podium in team show jumping competition.
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Your Eventing Olympic Cheat Sheet 24 Jul 2024, 12:17 am
The big question going into the picturesque Versailles arena and surrounding French gardens ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games is, can anyone stop the Brits?
A total of 81 horse and rider pairs (including traveling reserves) from around the globe have descended upon France, with the hopes of making the podium and going home with an Olympic medal in three-day eventing in the coming days. That includes 16 nations for team competition and an additional 11 riders vying for individual medals.
There are seven top nations competing in Paris who made the rounds at the 2022 FEI World Championships in Pratoni, Italy. They include: Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand (bronze team winner), the United States (silver medal winner) and Germany (gold medal winner).
But who will take home gold?
The Brits dominate the FEI World Eventing Rankings going into the Games—Ros Canter holds the No. 1 spot. In third is Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Tom McEwen. To round out the British powerhouse team, the 2022 World Champion Yasmin Ingham ranks fifth and Laura Collett is 25th.
And they are, after all, the defending champions from 2021 in Tokyo. Can they do it again?
Canter, McEwen and Collett make up the British Olympic eventing team with Ingham in reserve. But it’s their mounts that really make it all sing with the experience and hard-earned results of Lordships Graffalo (with 2023 Badminton and FEI European Championship wins under his belt), London 52 (part of the gold medal winning Tokyo 2021 team) and JL Dublin (meticulously produced by the one and only Nicola Wilson).
It’s hard to envision someone other than Canter or Collett at the top of the leaderboard come show jumping day (Monday, July 29) given their resume and results.
But if anyone could shake things up, it’s Germany. Especially when you’ve got two-time Olympic gold medalist and Rolex Grand Slam winner Michael Jung and his seasoned partner, Chipmunk FRH on the roster.
Only one American rider cracks the top 10 in the FEI World Rankings ahead of the Games. And you guessed it, it’s Boyd Martin.
His story is one for the history books, as he pilots the late Annie Goodwin’s Fedarman B around his first-ever Games in her memory. Goodwin, an Advanced-level American event rider, died in 2021 following a cross-country schooling accident. Martin took on the ride shortly after.
But at No. 11 in the rankings is American team rider Caroline Pamucku who is about to make her first go around at an Olympic Games with failed sales horse/young superstar in the making, HSH Blake. She may be a rookie, but she took home individual gold at the 2023 Pan American Games and helped earn Team USA a silver medal finish.
And you can’t count out the scrappy Kiwis at No. 8 and No. 9 in world rankings respectively—Jonelle and Tim Price, no newcomers to the Olympics and podium finishes, will compete for New Zealand.
See a full list of all Olympic competitors here.
Among the dozens of horse and rider pairs bound for centerline on Friday is Ireland’s Susie Berry, who earned a spot on the team for her first Olympic Games with Wellfield’s Lincoln. At age 28, the rider had five Advanced-level horses in contention for this year’s Games and has certainly earned her spot alongside Sarah Ennis and Austin O’Connor.
But the beauty of eventing is it’s truly anyone’s game. These horses and riders are arriving in France in top form and will spend three full days in French countryside battling it out to be crowned Olympic champion.
This is it, my friends. You’ll want to be tuned in.
The Olympic format:
The Paris Games is a 5-star short test, which runs over three days. Individual and team competitions run during the same schedule. Three members make up a team with no drop score.
The top 25 individual riders qualify to compete in a second show jumping round (which takes place after the team show jumping round), which will determine individual scoring. That means top 25 riders who are also on a team will jump twice on the last day of competition.
How to watch:
Saturday, July 27:
Dressage: 9:30 a.m. start GMT+2 / 3:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EST
Sunday July 28:
Cross-Country: 10:30 a.m. start GMT+2 / 4:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. EST
Monday, July 29:
Show Jumping Team: 11 a.m. GMT+2 / 5 a.m. – 7 a.m. EST
Show Jumping Individual (top 25): 3 p.m. GMT+2 / 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. EST
* For U.S. viewers, all Olympic coverage is available via NBC or Peacock.
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German Dressage Reserve Ingrid Klimke Will Not Compete in Paris 23 Jul 2024, 6:40 pm
An unfortunate injury will prevent Ingrid Klimke and Franziskus FRH from competing as the reserve combination at the Paris Olympic Games.
This could have been a first appearance in dressage for Klimke, a five-time Olympic eventer in her own right with two gold medals and one silver in her trophy case. Currently ranked 23rd in the FEI World Dressage rankings, Klimke and “Franz,” a 16-year-old Hanoverian, have competed internationally together since the stallion’s 6-year-old year—and they’ve clearly established a special bond.
“I’m incredibly sad and I can’t even believe it myself,” Klimke wrote on Instagram, describing how she had given Franz a well-deserved break after their promising performance at CHIO Aachen in early July. In their next training ride together in the lead-up to Paris, however, the stallion was not himself.
“We immediately examined Franz and identified an injury that [needed] to be treated immediately. Unfortunately, this makes us lose out for Paris.”
The pair were previously part of the bronze medal-winning German team at the 2022 FEI World Dressage Championships in Herning, Demark, and finished fourth at FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha, Nebraska in 2023. At CHIO Aachen earlier this month, Klimke & Franz earned top placings, including a 2nd in the Grand Prix—to teammate Isabell Werth & Wendy de Fontaine—on a score of 76.043% .
In 2023, Franziskus FRH underwent surgery for a hairline fracture, but returned to competition the following winter in Aachen. He and Klimke went on to compete successfully this season at German competitions in Hagen a T.W. in April and München-Riem in May.
Klimke, as reserve, will be replaced by Sönke Rothenberger and Fendi. The rest of the German team includes world no. 1s Jessica von Bredow Werndl & Dalera BB, Frederic Wandres & Bluetooth OLD, and Isabell Werth & Wendy de Fontaine.
Olympic dressage coverage will take place July 30-August 4. Here’s how to watch.
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Charlotte Dujardin Withdraws from Paris Olympics, Suspended by FEI Pending Abuse Investigation *Updated* 23 Jul 2024, 2:31 pm
Six-time Olympic medalist Charlotte Dujardin has withdrawn from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games following the emergence of a video showing, what Dujardin calls, “an error in judgment.”
On Tuesday, July 23, the FEI provisionally suspended Dujardin pending the results of their investigation. The British Equestrian Federation has followed suit.
The video, received by the FEI on July 22, 2024, was taken at a private stable during a coaching session four years ago. Submitted by an undisclosed complainant, it shows Dujardin engaging in training conduct that the FEI calls “contrary to the principles of horse welfare.”
A snippet of the video has since been published on social media by The Guardian and shows Dujardin repeatedly whipping the legs of a student’s horse while someone off-screen chuckles. In the full video, Dujardin allegedly strikes the horse more than two dozen times in one minute.
Dujardin—who immediately acknowledged both that it was her that appeared in the video and that her conduct was inappropriate—requested to be provisionally suspended by the FEI on Tuesday pending the outcome of their investigation. She also voluntarily withdrew from the Paris Games, and any subsequent competitions, until the FEI reaches its decision.
“What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse. I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment,” Dujardin wrote in a statement released Tuesday on her social media channels.
I am sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors.”
Dujardin added that she will fully cooperate with the FEI, the British Equestrian Federation, and British Dressage during the investigation process.
This would have been the fourth Olympic appearance for Dujardin, one of the two most decorated British female Olympic athletes in history (alongside cyclist Laura Kenny). Aboard her longtime partner, the KWPN gelding, Valegro, Dujardin won three Olympic gold medals, the World Championship, and back-to-back Longines FEI World Cup Finals in 2014-2015.
Prior to her suspension, Dujardin was ranked fourth in the FEI Dressage World Rankings. She was slated to compete for Great Britain in Paris aboard the 11-year-old KWPN gelding, Imhotep, alongside teammates Carl Hester and Fame and Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale.
With her suspension now in place, Durjardin will be replaced by traveling alternate Becky Moody and Jagerbomb.
*This story has been updated to include footage from the video submitted to the FEI.
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Q&A: What are your do’s and don’ts for the under saddle? 22 Jul 2024, 6:03 am
A: When I train riders to compete in a hunter under saddle class, I try to ensure that they know what they are truly being judged on; so many people don’t understand what judges are actually looking for.
Being dressed, groomed, and turned out perfectly is important—horse and rider.
Your horse should shine and you should look clean and polished (wrinkle-free show shirt, sparkling boots, etc.). Slide your number to the side toward the booth so it is visible to the judge. And make sure (for pony riders) there are no bows covering it, and that it’s not flipped the wrong way.
While you ride, try to be relaxed and flat your horse in a way that makes him appear soft and not tense—that’s how the judge can see your horse at his best! It’s also important to get yourself alone and away from the pack, and in front of the judge as much as possible.
Another thing: know the pluses and minuses of your own animal. Make sure to show off your horse’s skills and hide their negatives when you can. If your horse has a great canter, look for opportunities to highlight it; if she has extra knee action at the trot, try to camouflage that gait where you can. In other words, know your horse!
On the other hand, there are also some things to avoid in the under saddle. Don’t be overly handsy or hold a crop obnoxiously if you carry one. It just distracts your horse (and the judge). Being seen is key, so avoid staying on the rail and barely showing yourself to the judge—it’s a waste of time.
Don’t go too slow or too fast, and maintain proper etiquette. For example, never assume you are the winner, or think of the under saddle as a ‘give-me’ class, even if you’re riding a great-moving horse. The view can be different from the judge’s stand!
Additionally, don’t talk to people outside the ring while the class is going on (that seems like common sense, but you’d be surprised what we see as judges!). Finally, be realistic about your chances. As a mom, I won’t make my kid’s horse do the under saddle if it’s a bad mover unless there are barely any riders in it.
Oh, and one last ‘do’… have fun and smile!
Dana Hart-Callanan is a successful hunter, jumper and equitation coach, an ‘R’ judge, and a sales broker. In this column, she answers common questions about A-level sport. Send your questions to news@horsenetwork.com for consideration in a future column.
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Kevin Staut Is Having His Best Year in a Decade 21 Jul 2024, 11:43 pm
France’s Kevin Staut is a staple in the world top 20.
For the past decade, the 2016 Olympic team gold medalist and 2014 world no. 1 has won one to two Grand Prix titles every year except 2018, 2020 and 2021 to stay firmly within the top sport.
This year, he’s won three Grands Prix—on three different horses—and there’s five months left on the calendar still to come.
That Jumpr stat puts him on par with the highest performing show jumpers of 2024. Only five other riders have won as many 4 and 5* Grands Prix this year—those are Conor Swail (IRL), Julien Epaillard (FRA), Martin Fuchs (SUI), Daniel Coyle (IRL), Christian Kukuk (GER).
The Frenchman’s win streak started just two weeks into January when he won the 5* Grand Prix of Basel aboard Visconti du Telman. In May, he topped the 4* Grand Prix of Normandy in Canteleu, France with Vida Loca Z. This Sunday in Dinard, he laid claim to the 5* Rolex Grand Prix on Beau de Laubry Z.
And it he did it decisively.
Stopping the clock at 41.41 seconds, Staut beat world no. 3 Steve Guerdat and Venard de Cerisy by a second (42.44) and world no 4. Max Kühner and EIC Cooley Jump the Q by two (43.61).
It’s the second 1.60m title for the 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding. The pair also won a 1.60m Grand Prix in Stuttgart in 2023.
Staut’s best year this decade was 2016 when he took home €1,101,171 in career earnings (Jumpr). Is 2024 the year he eclipses it?
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Thibeau Spits Rising in Riesenbeck 21 Jul 2024, 8:13 pm
Thibeau Spits has added his name to the LGCT Super Cup start list.
The 23-year-old Belgian and Impress-K van ‘t Kattenheye Z beat veteran combination Marcus Ehning and Coolio 42 to the finish line in the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) Grand Prix of Riesenbeck on Sunday—by nearly two seconds (41.93 to 43.57). LGCT Grand Prix of Doha 2024 winners Abdel Saïd and Bonne Amie settled for third with four faults in a speedy 41.04 seconds.
It’s Spits best finish to date and first five-star Grand Prix title.
“To win a Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix is for sure the biggest achievement of my career. Both my grandfathers were here and my sister, as it is close to home in Belgium, so it is nice to have my family here to support, it makes it more special,” said the U25 rider.
Also special is his relationship with the aptly named Impress K van ‘t Kattenheye Z (Indoktro K Van’t Kattenheye x Vagabond de la Pomme).
The 9-year-old Zangersheide has been under Spits saddle since age three and the pair had contested just six 1.60m rounds before Sunday’s win, jumping clear at a 50% clip and averaging just 1.6 faults (Jumpr Stats).
“He’s only 9 but I have ridden him for six years so we know each other inside and out,” said Spits
“I have always loved this horse, not everyone saw it, but the feeling he gave over every single jump. What he has done is amazing today, but I have the feeling it is only the beginning and he really will be the horse of my career.”
Spits joins a growing roster of young talent to qualify for the 2024 LGCT Super Cup in Riyadh this fall. He’s the ninth rider under 30 to add his name to the start list and third U25 rider.
Related reading: The 2024 LGCT Super Cup Is a Young Riders Game
He’s also the fifth rider to win their first five star title on the LGCT this season, following in the hoofsteps of Michael Duffy (LGCT Miami Beach), Gilles Thomas (LGCT Shanghai), Jeanne Sadran (LGCT Paris) and Ines Joly (LGCT Monaco).
If that sounds like a changing of the guard at top sport, Ehning feels it too.
“I just told Thibeau that us people who are older than 50 years old should get to start with minus two seconds on the clock, as these young guns need a handicap,” smiled the German maestro.
With stage 11 on the books and four to come, Max Kühner continues to lead the LGCT Championship race on 208 points followed by Andreas Schou on 192 points and Maikel van der Vleuten on 183 points.
The LGCT next heads to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, August 16–18.
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Cannes Stars Claim Back-to-Back GCL Wins 21 Jul 2024, 4:43 pm
Who run the Global Champions League?
Iron Dames!
The Cannes Stars powered by the Iron Dames claimed their fourth win of the season at the GCL Riesenbeck, Germany on Saturday.
Like in Monaco the leg prior, they were the only team on a clean sheet.
Germany’s Katin Eckermann on Iron Dames Cala Mandia Nrw and U25 rider Sophie Hinners on Iron Dames Singclair were the sole combination to find a clear path through the first round course. Riesenbeck international trailed by just one time fault and Rome Gladiators, Valkenswaard United and Doha Falcons, by a single rail.
Rome Gladiators managed came home on a double clear in Round 2, but a dropped rail by Riesenbeck gave Cannes Stars had a rail in hand.
Last to go, Hinners guided Iron Dames Singclair to another foot perfect clear. Eckermann repeated the feat, despite losing her stirrup half way round, punching the air as she crossed the finish line and taking a spontaneous lap of honor hand in hand with Hinners.
“It’s amazing that again we could deliver four clear rounds,” said Hinners. “It’s an unbelievable feeling here in Germany in front of our family and friends… we won in Monaco and we have shown we can now do it again, and we can all be so proud and thankful for our team standing behind us—without them, this could not be possible.”
“I am a bit lost for words,” conceded Eckermann. “It really was a lot of pressure with Riesenbeck International going straight before us, I knew I could have one down, but here at the top level we all know how fast a fault can happen… but both our horses jumped amazing, we rode very well—we were really fighting for it today. I can’t describe this feeling—just wow, this is woman power!”
Both horses are now owned by Pegase Equestrian BV as of this season and have seen their Jumpr stats rise in tandem with the Cannes Stars success.
Eleven-year-old Westphalian mare Iron Dames Cala Mandia Nrw (Capistrano 2 x Valentino 240), developed by Eckermann, has a 42% top 10 finish average over 14 rounds at 1.60m this season. It’s a 22% increase over 2023.
Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair made their 1.60m debut this season. The 9-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Singular LS La Silla x Cardento 933) is jumping clear at a 50% tick over 10 rounds and into the top-10 40% of the time with Hinners in the irons.
With 229 points, Cannes Stars’ have extended their championship lead to 26 points. Stockholm Hearts now sit in second on 203 points with Doha Falcons and Riesenbeck International in third and fourth place, respectively, on 196 points.
But the team championship title is far from clinched, according to Riesenbeck International’s Christian Kukuk.
“The Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames team have had a really, really good season, and they are quite far ahead, but, we were in the same position last year and they should not be too safe. We will try everything on the last shows—we are very optimistic and positive, so we will see what we can do.”
The GCL next heads to the iconic Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, August 16–18.
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How to Watch Eventing, Dressage & Show Jumping at the 2024 Paris Olympics (from Wherever You Are) 19 Jul 2024, 4:40 pm
Let the Games begin!
We’re less than a week away from the start of the Paris 2024 Games and, if you’re a horse sport fan in North America, some truly heinous watch times are ahead. (You should probably just go to bed right now so you’re ready on Games day.)
Here’s a handy schedule of events courtesy of the US Equestrian:
How to Watch:
Every country has a dedicated Media Rights Holder for the Olympics. Here’s where to watch by location:
USA: Every event from the Summer Olympics will be broadcast live on Peacock. Just want the highlights? NBC will offer least nine hours of daytime coverage of the Games plus a daily three-hour Olympics primetime show in the evening. Either way, you’re in for a long haul.
Canada: CBC is the exclusive Canadian broadcast and streaming home of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (and every Games through 2032). CBC’s Olympic coverage will feature live broadcasts from every venue and include every Canadian medal-winning moment in its 22 hours of live television coverage each day on CBC and partner networks TSN and Sportsnet, CBC Gem, and cbc.ca/paris2024.
Worldwide: For everyone else, a click here for a complete list of the Official Olympic Media Rights Holders for TV, online and app viewing.
On the go: Prefer your screen-time on the go? Watch live sports events as well as Olympic replays and highlights on the Paris 2024 Olympics App, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Where to Read:
Here, of course! Horse Network will have wall-to-wall coverage of all Olympic equestrian events, highlights, and more, mon amies!
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“Hey! She Belongs to Me!” 17 Jul 2024, 11:40 am
My own horses watch closely when they see me riding a horse in training.
One of my former horses ran the fenceline whinnying for an hour the first time he saw me ride a usurper. Cory was hot and nervous to begin with, but never produced that behavior around other horse-and-rider teams at a busy stable.
After a month or so, he became accustomed to seeing me on daily training horses and took it in stride. But the first few times, he was definitely upset. Along with all the frantic galloping, turning, and whinnying, he never took his eyes off of us.
My green warmblood True is a very sociable mid-ranking horse in his group. He was raised in pastures with other horses, is very friendly with new horses, and is neither submissive nor dominant.
On only one occasion, I saw him display a mildly negative reaction. He was barely three years old and in a new location when a familiar gelding (loose) sniffed True’s hip from behind. True lifted one hind leg and swiped the air with it in very slow motion, as if erasing a blackboard. The leg remained several feet away from the gelding.
In human translation, it seemed like a gentle message: “please don’t bother me back there right now.”
That’s the sum total of every negative interaction True has displayed to me during our daily time together over several years.
Until now.
The other day, I rode a horse in training past True’s run. True saw us approach and walked to the end of the run, where he would be closest to us. The training horse, Buff, was paying no attention; his focus was fixed on the barn door up ahead. As we walked by, True suddenly lunged over the fence with both ears pinned flat. Fast.
He reached out his neck, opened his mouth by nearly six inches, and snapped his teeth together so hard that the resulting “clack” could be heard throughout the barn. He missed taking a chunk out of Buff’s neck by about two inches.
Half an hour later, Buff was ready to load into a trailer to go home. His owner led him past True’s stall door, at the opposite end of the run. I was not involved in this interaction. As Buff walked past, True jumped toward his stall door, reached out the upper half, and performed the same pinned-ear, open-mouthed clack of giant horse teeth. This time he missed Buff’s croup by an inch.
Horses are pretty accurate, so it’s likely that True’s misses were purposeful. Given the circumstances, True could easily have connected and bitten both times.
Let me add that True knows Buff. On many occasions, they have been groomed near each other with no problems. The difference on this day was only that I was riding the horse.
We have to wonder what this sort of unusual behavior is all about. Or do we?
Those who avoid attributing human characteristics to animals would say it was mere coincidence. True just happened to dislike this particular horse on this particular day. It had nothing to do with me riding the horse or being involved in any way.
Others would notice that True’s behavior was reminiscent of human jealousy and/or protectiveness. They would argue that True’s behavior was purposeful and intentionally directed at the horse I was riding, not coincidental at all. It had never happened before because True had never seen me riding that horse before.
I can’t offer a definitive answer to the question, but it’s one I’m exploring in more scientific detail and hoping to answer in the future.
True’s behavior certainly seemed more than coincidental to me and to all of our barn friends who know True well. It wasn’t connected to food proximity or feeding time, no other horses were in the mix, and Buff did nothing to provoke True.
As a scientist, I observe closely and try to consider all factors.
First, this kind of behavior rarely occurs in horses when I am grooming, tacking up, or schooling another horse from the ground. It’s just when I hop on to ride that other horse—then, look out!
A second factor is that True was biting at the horse, not at me. Yet I was the one riding; it’s not like the horse in training had much choice.
Third, my past mounts have become accustomed to me riding other horses in training and lose their concern over time. So maybe their initial behavior depends on a lack of familiarity with the situation.
All three are good ideas to plop into the hopper for further consideration.
Related reading:
Brain-Based Horsemanship is a weekly column that chronicles Janet Jones, PhD, and her journey with True, a Dutch Warmblood she trained from age three using neuroscience best practices. Read more about brain-based training in Jones’ award winning book Horse Brain, Human Brain.
A version of this story originally appeared on janet-jones.com. It is reprinted here with permission.
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British Olympic Team Rider Harry Charles Injured at Aachen 16 Jul 2024, 3:14 pm
An untimely fall has put a wrench in Olympic hopeful Harry Charles’s pre-Paris training.
The newly-minted 25-year-old rider, who was named to his second Olympic team last month, suffered a fall on July 5th at CHIO Aachen. Charles was riding Bandit in the 1.60m CSIO5* RWE Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia when the 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse stallion lost a shoe in the middle of a combination.
He consequently stumbled in the landing, unseating his rider, who suffered fractures in his arm and wrist. But it could have been worse. According to Charles, who spoke with World of Show Jumping, “[Bandit] was very clever not to fall upon landing.”
He further added that he was planning to seek a second option about his condition when he returned to England.
Considered one of the most talented young riders on the international stage today, Charles has led the FEI U25 standings for the last two years. As the son of 2012 Olympic Team gold medalist Peter Charles (GBR), Harry has been a regular on the Global Champions Tour for the last five years. He and Sherlock also won the CSI5*-W FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier in La Coruña, Spain in December.
Charles’s breakout victories in the 2021 FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier in London (aboard Stardust), and the London Grand Prix one day later (with Borsato) helped to launch his *5 career.
In just over two weeks, Charles is set to compete in Paris, once again with the 15-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Romeo 88. The pair placed 10th with the British team in Tokyo and 2nd this year to Kent Farrington (USA) in the CSI5* Trophée de Genève at CHI Geneva.
Although Charles has not yet provided an update on his condition on social media, he detailed his excitement at being selected for the British squad on June 26. “The Olympic Games is the pinnacle of many [athletes’] careers—I’m beyond proud to be representing my country…” he wrote.
“Can’t wait to get to Paris with these boys and give it everything!!”
We wish Harry Charles a speedy recovery!
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All Eyes On Gilles Thomas & Ermitage Kalone in Paris 15 Jul 2024, 10:02 pm
Every major championship needs a feel-good story.
For show jumping fans, the story of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games might well be the much-buzzed-about partnership between Belgium’s Gilles Thomas and the 10-year-old Selle Français stallion, Ermitage Kalone.
In a sport where success follows top horses, and top horses are increasingly within the purview of those with the largest pocketbooks, home-grown success is hard to come by.
Yet in his short 26 years, Thomas—called “the best up-and-coming rider in the world today” by none other than Australian Olympian Edwina Tops-Alexander—has earned plenty of chops.
In 2022, he helped the Belgian team to victory in the Longines FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona with Calleryama. This May, he won the LGCT Grand Prix of Shanghai aboard Luna van het Dennehof. And Thomas, who competed in his first Junior Europeans for Belgium at the tender age of 13, has come up in the sport the old-fashioned way.
A rider for his uncle Marc Van Dijck’s Stal Nieuwenhof in Northern Belgium, Thomas got the ride on the Ermitage Kalone when the horse was a 6-year-old.
The stallion was discovered by Van Dijck’s nephew, Joris Van Dijck, in a printed French sales catalog before he was even two—despite the fact that the majority of top sales listings, then as now, are found online. By the time they’d free-jumped Ermitage as a three-year-old, the men knew they had something special.
And, in the seven years since, he has proved to be all they had hoped for—and more.
Last year, Thomas and Ermitage won the Belgian Championship for Seniors in Lanaken in September, launching them into the international spotlight. In early May, the pair made their Global Champions League (GCL) debut for Valkenswaard United, earning a win for the team alongside Great Britain’s John Whitaker.
Even more impressive is the fact that they’ve done it on their own timeframe.
As an active breeding stallion, the flashy chestnut is required to adhere to a different schedule than many of his fellow competitors, taking time off throughout the season to fulfill his breeding duties for Stal Nieuwenhof.
Fortunately, when it’s time to get back to work in the show ring, Ermitage rarely misses a beat.
“He had to breed a lot, that’s why he didn’t do so many shows,” Thomas told ClipMyHorse.TV. “But his mind is so good, he actually doesn’t need to do so many shows to be in good shape.
“He’s a clever horse. He learns really fast.”
Indeed he does. Watching the effortlessly smooth Thomas and Ermitage in action, it sometimes appears that they are executing a junior equitation callback, not a timed, 1.50+ track. (Unsurprisingly, Thomas considers Marcus Ehning’s riding style to be one of his biggest inspirations.)
And the higher Ermitage Kalone jumps, the more his quality becomes evident.
Just this May, the pair made the podium in their first CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix, taking third at LGCT Madrid. One month later, they jumped 0/0 for Belgium, helping the team to a fourth place finish in the Longines League of Nations Rotterdam. Two days after that, Thomas and Ermitage earned a fifth place finish in the CSIO5* Grand Prix.
According to Jumpr, the pair jump clear at 57% in seven rounds at 1.55m, also finishing in the top 10 57% of the time. In their four rounds together at the championship height of 1.60m, those numbers increase to 75% clear, finishing in the top 10 100% of the time.
At both levels, the stallion averages less than a single fault a round.
Unproven though they still may be at the very top of the sport, it appears Belgian Chef d’Equipe Peter Weinberg saw what he needed to see, selecting them for the Paris Olympic Games next month.
They’ve barely scratched the surface, but could Gilles Thomas and Ermitage Kalone be the next big thing in international show jumping? The sport’s heavy hitters seem to be throwing their weight behind them, and it won’t be long until we know.
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