Olympic showjumping individual qualifer: Daniel Deusser rides Killer Queen

Daniel Deusser and Killer Queen VDM at the Tokyo Olympics — Daniel Deusser ( GER) riding Killer Queen during the Individual Jumping Qualifier for the Individual Final for the Olympic Jumping Competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held at Equestrian Park in Setagaya-ku in Tokyo in Japan between the 23rd July and 8th August 2021

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Killer Queen, the ride of world number one Daniel Deusser, showed just how much she enjoys her job in what looked like an effortless round in the Olympic showjumping individual qualifier at the Tokyo Games.

The Belgian-bred 11-year-old by Eldorado Vd Zeshoek produced a polished clear with her ears pricked the whole way as she navigated the course with her German rider. The combination have qualified for the individual final tomorrow (4 August).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

TOPICS

Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.

H&H’s horse of the day: Daniel Deusser’s Killer Queen – ‘She knew the competition started today’

“When I entered the ring she was quite excited,” said Daniel.

“It was the first time here in the stadium under the lights. The warm-up is different and the fences are smaller – she knew exactly the warm-up was a warm-up and the competition started today.

“I’m very optimistic and I’m looking forward to the final.”

Daniel explained Killer Queen is a forward-thinking mare who makes jumping big fences feel easy.

“In general she is a little bit aggressive [to the fences]. She always wants to go forward, rarely do I have to push her in the ring – I always have to hold her a little,” he said.

“In a championship or when the fences are getting bigger, normally I would say it’s an advantage for her. She’s very energetic and she wants to go forward. She’s very scopey, she jumps these fences very easily and she doesn’t have to push herself.”

Her jumping career began in 2016 under Belgian rider Walter Lelie, who bred her with Ann and Dirk Bruggeman-Carpentier. She won the four-year-old Belgian young horse championship with Walter, then Stephan Conter bought her as a seven-year-old and Daniel took on the ride.

You might also be interested in:

Bruce Springsteen’s daughter Jessica makes her Olympic debut: ‘You definitely get a little bit more jitters going in’

Ben Maher in pole position ahead of showjumping final: two Brits in the mix for individual medals

‘That’s what makes a championship’: Scott Brash and Jefferson qualify for Olympic showjumping individual final

‘He comes out, digs in and fights so hard’: Harry Charles on his Olympic showjumping individual qualifier round

‘He tests you from fence one’: riders reflect on Santiago Varela’s Olympic showjumping individual qualifier course