Gerrit Nieberg: meet the Rolex Grand Slam contender

Meet Rolex Grand Slam contender Gerrit Nieberg — (Image credit: Jacques Toffi)

On Sunday (11 September) one of the toughest showjumping classes in the world, the CP International presented by Rolex, takes place at the CSIO Spruce Meadows Masters, Calgary, in Canada.

The competition boasts one of the sport’s richest prize-funds ($3,000,000), as well as acting as one of the four legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping, so it’s no wonder that an elite field of top showjumpers have descended on the historic venue this week.

“The Rolex Grand Slam is so traditional and unique,” says Gerrit, adding what a “real privilege” it is to be the live contender. “In our sport, there are so many shows each year and the Rolex Grand Slam is definitely a highlight as it consists of four of the best events. Everyone would love to be a winner at one of the Rolex Grand Slam events. It is viewed as a really important initiative among us riders and within the sport.

“My dad was the person who inspired me most when I was young due to all his experience and success. My dream has always been to be as good as he was, and still is, and maybe even a bit better one day! I still really look up to him in terms of who he is and how much he works each and every day. Although he is not showing competitively anymore, he is still riding every day at home. His motivation and support for everything that I do is unbelievable and very inspiring.”

“Occasionally, it can be quite difficult to handle him and keep him calm, but that is also a really positive thing because it means he is always fighting for you and trying to do his best at times,” he says. “He is tireless – for example after three rounds at CHIO Aachen, he was not tired and would have been able to do another one or two rounds. After the victory at Aachen, he also understood that he had done something special. There were lots of media commitments and so he received lots of attention – even more than before. Now he is always looking out of his window for more attention, so I think he feels like a superstar!”

“My team is hugely important – it’s not just me and Ben,” says Gerrit, who is based at the stables of former German showjumper Hendrik Snoek, who owns most of his horses. “We are in the ring together for 80 seconds but there is so much work that goes on behind the scenes. The whole team play a key role in enabling us to have success in those 80 seconds in the ring. Often everyone only talks about the rider and the horse, but there is so much more to it. All the others are just as, or even more, important. They are the true unsung heroes.

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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.

‘A week after I started riding, I decided to become a showjumper’: meet young rider preparing for one of world’s toughest classes

Gerrit Nieberg: working hard to ‘achieve this dream’

Top horse Ben 431: ‘He is always fighting for you’

Spectators at the London leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour will have seen Gerrit Nieberg in action with his top horse, the Aachen-winning 11-year-old Ben 431 (Sylvain x Quincy Jones), who he describes as “really over-motivated”.

Gerrit is quick to credit his team for his success.

“Success is what keeps me motivated,” he adds. “It is important to have a goal. I absolutely love riding, but I don’t know whether I could do it without the element of competition, the shows and something to work towards. I am working as hard as ever to enjoy more moments like this.”

All the tracks will be designed as always by course-builder Leopoldo Palacios, who has earned a great reputation for setting challenging yet fair tests for the world’s best horses and riders.

Horse & Hound will be bringing you all the action from the Spruce Meadows Masters tournament, both online and in next week’s magazine, in the shops on Thursday, 15 September.

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