Three-time Olympic dressage champion Anky van Grunsven is recovering after breaking her pelvis in a riding accident.

The Dutch rider was injured in a fall on 31 December, two days before her 57th birthday.

“Unfortunately my year didn’t start well. [On] New Year’s Eve I had a serious fall from a horse. It seems like if I fall, I’ll do it right,” said Anky, who was taken to hospital by ambulance where it was confirmed that she had broken her pelvis.

“Lucky accident; no surgery required. I won’t be on horseback for a while and will try to walk again first.”

Anky’s first Olympic appearance was at the 1988 Seoul Games on Prisco. She went on to compete at every Olympics up to and including London 2012, winning her first medal, team silver, with Bonfire at Barcelona in 1992. She went on to win eight further Olympic medals; four team silvers and a bronze, an individual silver, and three individual golds.

Anky made history when she became the first rider to win individual Olympic gold three times in a row; with Bonfire at the Sydney Games in 2000, and with Salinero at the 2004 Athens Games and in 2008 in Hong Kong. She has also won six world medals, and 14 Europeans.

She and Salinero set a freestyle world record at ’s-Hertogenbosch in 2006, scoring 87.925%, and followed it up with individual gold at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen that year. They also won four World Cup Final titles.

The London Olympics was Anky and Salinero’s final international dressage competition, after which both retired from the sport. Salinero died in 2022 aged 28.

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The double Olympic dressage champion Salinero has died at the age of 28.

The partner of Dutch rider Anky van Grunsven, Salinero (Salieri x Lungau) became a true legend of the sport, winning individual gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

Anky shared the news on social media, saying that her heart was broken.

“Salinero, my hero, left us in tears behind. Memories will never fade away,” said Anky, herself a triple Olympic champion.

The pair set a world record for the freestyle at ’s-Hertogenbosch in 2006, scoring 87.925%, and followed it up with individual gold at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen that year. Over the course of his career, Salinero won five individual gold medals – at every consecutive championship from 2004 to 2008 – as well as four World Cup Final titles.

Salinero was officially retired after a glittering career in March 2013, aged 19, less than a year after finishing sixth individually at his final championship, the London Olympics, where he and Anky were members of the bronze medal-winning Dutch team.

He had enjoyed a sedate retirement in the years since, going out each day with Shetland companions.

Salinero: a career of challenge and triumph

Anky first rode Salinero when he was six. Despite his jumping bloodlines, he had been identified as a potential dressage talent by her partner Sjef Janssen, who coached the Dutch national team for eight years.

“Sjef was riding him and kept saying I should sit on him,” said Anky, at the time the Olympic champion with her previous top horse Bonfire, whose huge shoes were always going to prove difficult to fill.

“But I thought he was way too big for me and looked very strong. I like sensitive horses, like Bonfire, and I thought Salinero wasn’t my type.”

But when she finally did give in and get on board, she realised immediately her first impressions had been wrong.

“Within one round I knew. I thought, ‘OK, that’s it. I need to have this horse, no matter what it takes’. It was not based on looks, but on feeling,” she said.

“When you saw him he looked strong, but to ride he had such an amazing natural hind leg and was incredibly powerful.”

The pair made their international grand prix debut in 2002, and although Salinero quickly proved just how talented he was for top-level dressage, he struggled with confidence, being highly sensitive and prone to stress. It took a long time for Anky to fully gain his trust, with prize-givings a particular challenge for him.

But his sensitivity and the electricity to his work was also what stood him apart from others; top FEI judge Stephen Clarke said: “The picture of energy, lightness and harmony is what I remember best about him.”

Salinero was a jumping-bred horse who became a global dressage sensation.

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Behind the gawky facade of this sensitive soul lay an outstanding talent. Alice Collins uncovers the story of a powerhouse who set global dressage alight

How Salinero, a jumping-bred horse who hated halting, became a double Olympic dressage champion is no mystery to his long-time rider, Anky van Grunsven.

In fact, the gelding’s renowned inability to stand still in tests was also the foundation of his strength: energy in bucketloads and an ever-brimming desire to work. That, coupled with his extraordinary movement, was a glorious cocktail.

It was never the rigours of the dressage itself that taxed Salinero, but the peripheral stresses that accompany it.

“I trained him with a heart monitor for a while to see which exercises made it beat faster,” explains Anky. “And the only time it really went up was when I walked him out of the gate for what I thought was a relaxing hack. For him, that took more energy than all the grand prix work.”

And even though he was a scaredy-cat, Salinero trusted Anky enough to become Olympic champion in Athens and Hong Kong.

“He was made for grand prix,” she enthuses. “The fact that he did three Olympics [finishing sixth individually in London 2012] and was still fit and sound and happy at 18, that tells you. When it’s too difficult for them, it costs a lot of energy and horses can’t stay healthy and fit that long with the additional stresses. For Salinero, it was always playful.”

Five-star judge Stephen Clarke concurs.

“The length of his career is testament to the horse’s management,” he says. “That he could be so successful for so many years and retire sound says so much about the way he was trained and looked after. Many of Anky’s other horses had lengthy careers too, like Bonfire.

“What really sticks out is Anky’s ability to interpret the music in those amazing freestyles with Salinero. The personalised music and her interpretation of it was quite unique.”

A gangly but powerful youngster, Salinero had a circuitous route to Anky. He was originally destined to jump, but was identified by Anky’s partner Sjef Janssen – who coached the Dutch national Olympic dressage team for eight years – as a potential dressage horse, aged six. He’d jumped a bit and “got really low scores for his trot” in young dressage horse classes. But Sjef saw something in him, bought him on behalf of American client Tess Guilder and started to train him.

“Sjef was riding him and kept saying I should sit on him,” says Anky, who was reigning Olympic champion with her previous top horse, Bonfire. “But I thought he was way too big for me and looked very strong. I like sensitive horses, like Bonfire, and I thought Salinero wasn’t my type. In fact, I thought he was really ugly when he first came and I didn’t want to sit on him.”

Sjef kept nagging Anky, and eventually she relented and climbed aboard.

“When I finally did, within one round I knew. I thought, ‘OK, that’s it. I need to have this horse, no matter what it takes.’ It was not based on looks, but on feeling.

“When you saw him he looked strong, but to ride he had such an amazing natural hindleg and was incredibly powerful.”

But the gawky gelding wasn’t for sale, and it took some persuasion for Anky to get her hands on him.

“I really had to make a lot of calls to convince the owner that she should sell him to me,” remembers Anky. “In the beginning she said I could ride him, but she wanted to own him still. We ended up agreeing that I’d buy 99% of him and she’d keep 1% so that she was still involved in his progress.”

And what a journey Salinero undertook.

“Small tour was not the greatest success, because he was wild,” says Anky of their first forays into the competitive sphere. “He didn’t want to halt, but he did want to passage and piaffe. I rode him at small tour in Aachen – it was a horrid week and we came somewhere at the back end of the results. Although it didn’t help in the beginning, he was so willing to go and with so much energy all the time. That became his greatest strength.”

So Anky decided to throw Salinero in at the deep end and entered a grand prix in Moscow just a week after Aachen.

“It was a bit wild and unsteady, but he had no problems with any of the exercises,” she says. “The grand prix is better for a horse like him.”

Her gamble paid off, and Salinero had found his groove. What was so remarkable about him was that even in the most pressured of situations, in the arena he was in harmony with his rider, waiting for the most minimal aid and performing with grace and expression.

Despite Salinero’s talent for dressage movements, it remained a challenge for Anky to maintain his trust. At the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen in 2006, Salinero bolted in the team prize-giving.

“He got so scared there,” explains Anky. “He was not a naughty horse, just very, very sensitive. I could never ride him with a whip and only used small spurs. After Aachen, prize-givings were really scary for him. His heart was so small, so I had to make a strong bond with him to make him trust me and listen in the arena. The issue was never the exercises.

“In the grand prix in Athens, he got so scared in one corner where there was a huge umbrella, he turned way before the centre line for the zig-zag. He was so willing, but would be frightened of the weirdest things, like a chair in the wrong spot.”

Despite Salinero’s fears, it was his freestyle performance to his bespoke L’Esprit Chanson soundtrack for individual gold in Athens that captured British dressage rider Spencer Wilton’s adulation.

“Athens was the first time I’d seen him in the flesh,” says Spencer, who subsequently won Olympic team silver on Super Nova II in Rio. “I’d seen the video of the making of his freestyle – the one that Anky sang on – and I was mesmerised by the detail they went into with the whole process. When you watched that video, then saw Anky able to replicate the test in such detail – the rhythm, the timing – in that environment, at an Olympic final, riding for a gold – it was spellbinding.

“I was in Athens supporting Carl [Hester] and Escapado, but I kept sneaking off to watch Salinero,” Spencer adds.

Athens judge Stephen Clarke was also bowled over by Salinero, despite his aversion to the umbrella.

“I remember that turn,” he laughs. “While he was always listening to his rider, you could see that the horse was so alert to everything going on. But it was the picture of reaction coupled with lightness, with the horse always so alert, that gave him so much presence. His positive electricity really drew the crowds.

“It was a magical picture that the two of them presented. The partnership was outstanding and set the standard for what’s come afterwards in global dressage.”

Anky remembers an incident that sums up the apprehensive gelding. Salinero had already retired and Anky had been out of the saddle with a bad back, but she took him on a walk hack to see how her back held up. When they were almost home, a tarpaulin by the road stopped Salinero dead in his tracks.

“He just wouldn’t go past it. I couldn’t get off because of my back and I couldn’t call because I’d left my phone behind,” she laughs. “I was stuck there for at least 20 minutes before I could persuade him to pass it. It was always about persuading him that he was brave enough to do things.”

Salinero is the one horse Spencer pinpoints as longing to ride – in theory.

“In my imagination I’d have loved to have ridden him, or at least felt a bit of what I witnessed,” says Spencer. “But in reality, I imagine that it was all down to Anky’s skilled way of riding. My guess is that he was really a one-person horse and it would have probably been a disaster if I’d sat on him.”

Anky confirms Spencer’s suspicions.

“If he didn’t know you, you’d better not go in his stable,” she cautions. “He really hated people he didn’t know and he’d attack them.

“He was definitely not for everyone,” she adds, “but you knew when he did come to you that you had a bond. He really was a one-person horse.”

SO with three Olympics and a glut of medals to his name, what was Anky’s standout moment with Salinero?

“You’d think it would be the Olympics, but it isn’t,” reflects Anky. “It’s all the time spent at home training together. We built such a bond and we know and trust each other so well. He’s such a big horse and I’m tiny, but he still wanted to do everything for me. That was the best part, and you can’t force that. It’s the journey towards the results – not just the results themselves – that’s the best bit.”

Salinero officially retired in a lavish ceremony in ’s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, in March 2013. He performed his Hong Kong gold medal-winning freestyle, Dance of Devotion, one last time under a spotlight and to a live piano. The crowd waved their handkerchiefs. Many of them cried.

Salinero now enjoys life at a more sedate pace at Anky’s yard at age 27, going out every day with his Shetland companions.

“I’m so thankful that he is still happy in his retirement,” adds Anky. “Still now I think, ‘Wow, I am so lucky that I sat on him.’ Imagine if I’d never tried him. I would never know what he felt like. You can’t always tell in the beginning how things will turn out.”

Salinero’s last competitive centre line – and Anky’s, as it stands – was at the London Olympics. But don’t let that fool you.

“I didn’t officially retire – he did,” she grins cryptically. “I said before London that I was never going to do the Olympics again but I did, so I’d better say nothing and see what happens. I might still make a comeback.”

Salinero’s origins

By Salieri out of Luna (Lungau)

Salinero’s dam Luna produced 10 foals, seven of whom were by Salieri. All were fillies apart from Salinero and Seven Up 15. Seven Up became a grand prix showjumper and competed at the Athens Olympics.

Salinero’s sire, Salieri, had 15 international showjumping wins and topped the prestigious “Sires of the World” competition in Hanover, Germany, in 2000.

Salieri’s sire, Salvano, produced the influential stallion Sherlock Holmes (out of an Akzent I dam), who went on to sire talented dressage horses and made a particular name for himself as a damsire of useful sport horses.

Ostensibly jumping bred, it’s remarkable that Salinero fell into the hands of the most famous dressage rider in the world at the time, who moulded him into the megastar he became.

Salinero’s greatest achievement

● 2012 London Olympics: team bronze and individual sixth (82%)

● 2009 Windsor Europeans: 87.25% for freestyle bronze and team gold

● 2008 Olympic Games Beijing: 82.4% in the freestyle for individual gold and team silver

● 2008 World Cup Final in ’s-Hertogenbosch: 85.2% for individual gold

● 2007 European Championships in Turin: kür gold, special silver and team gold

● 2006 WEG Aachen: individual special silver, freestyle gold (86.1%), team silver

● 2006 CHIO Rotterdam: 81.33% in the grand prix and a new world record

● 2006 World Cup Final in Amsterdam: 87.75% for individual gold

● 2006 CDI in ’s-Hertogenbosch: 87.925% in the freestyle for a new world record

● 2005 Europeans in Hagen: 83% in the kür for individual gold, team silver

● 2005 World Cup Final in Las Vegas: 86.72% in the freestyle for gold

● 2004 Olympic Games Athens: 85.82% for individual gold

● 2004 World Cup Final in Düsseldorf: 83.45% freestyle for gold

● 2003 Dutch National Championships: winner

From the judge’s box

Stephen Clarke was judging in Athens when Salinero captured the first of his two individual Olympic golds and “can still see every footfall” of the pair’s majestic performance.

“In Athens he was phenomenal,” he recalls. “The freestyle was completely outstanding and proved that Anky’s more than just a dressage rider, she’s a complete artist.

“Salinero’s lightness coupled with his lightning reactions to Anky’s riding made the whole picture so exciting to watch. In Athens she had her own vocals in her freestyle, and it made the hair on my neck stand up. The picture of energy, lightness and harmony is what I remember best about him.”

The emotional prize-giving in Athens is also sharp in Stephen’s mind, not least because it moved him to tears.

“Anky’s father had died just before the Olympics and in the prize-giving she accepted the medal and looked up to heaven. I knew what she was thinking and it dissolved me. That was the thing about her riding – it was emotional and emotive. Her freestyles with Salinero stuck in people’s minds and brought an emotional feeling to the crowd – and the judges.”

Ref: 21 January 2021

● Do you have a special memory you want to share about Salinero? Write to hhletters@futurenet.com

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We have rounded up some of the greatest, most memorable dressage freestyle performances of all time. Turn the volume up, and enjoy...

Andreas Helgstrand on Blue Hors Matiné (DEN) at WEG 2006

This pair shot to fame after winning individual silver in 2006 with this electrifying performance to a pop medley that scored 81.5%. The enormous Aachen crowd were unable to resist joining in for the final section, as this enchanting mare passaged up the centre line perfectly on the beat to their Lady Marmalade music.

Isabell Werth on Gigolo (GER) at Atlanta Olympics 1996

At the inauguration of dressage freestyle into the Olympic Games programme, it was this routine that won Isabell Werth her first – and, to date, only – Olympic individual gold medal, as she edged out arch rival Anky van Grunsven to take gold on 76.6% with the legendary Gigolo. It set the standard for grand prix kürs, with a soundtrack really designed to enhance the horse and tell a story, rather than just acting as background music.

Edward Gal on Totilas (NED) at Olympia 2009

Who could forget this world record-breaking freestyle by Edward Gal and the one-and-only Totilas? The legendary black stallion produced a performance unlike anything anybody in the dressage world had seen before and blew the judges away with 92.3%, finishing at the top of the leaderboard with a 10% margin.

Laura Bechtolsheimer on Mistral Højris (GBR) at London Olympics 2012

Possibly one of the most well choreographed and befitting freestyles of all time, this performance from Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer (now Tomlinson) and Mistral Højris earned them 84.339% and individual Olympic bronze. The catchy Lion King medley suits “Alf” down to the ground, and Laura’s emotion and pride in her horse at her final halt is a delight to see.

Anky van Grunsven on Salinero (NED) at WEG 2006

She’s long been known as the “Queen of the Kür”, and has a plethora of standout freestyle performances, including with her Olympic champion Bonfire. But this one of Salinero’s, entitled L’Espirit Chanson and created by Dutch composers Cees Slings and Victor Kerkhof, may well be the best of all. It also features Anky’s own vocals accompanying her canter half-pass sequence. This particular performance earned her 86.1% and the world championship title.

Carl Hester on Nip Tuck (GBR) at Olympia 2016

This intricate freestyle was set to music by Tom Hunt, and based on Mr Selfridge. A masterclass in how to use a floorplan to really show off a horse’s strengths, it suited the quirky “Barney” down the ground, with the eye-watering level of difficulty really highlighting the tall gelding’s straightness and talent for the collected work. He may not be as flamboyant a mover as many top horses, but with the first centre line alone featuring a full piaffe pirouette, passage and a double canter pirouette, this routine certainly has plenty of wow factor, scoring 84.669% for the win here.

Juan Manuel Muñoz Diaz on Fuego De Cardenas (ESP) at WEG 2010

A freestyle full to the brim with energy and Spanish flair, this thrilling performance earned the pair a resounding standing ovation in the giant Kentucky stadium, as well as fifth place with 81.45%. The Spanish flamenco-style music, composed by Michael Erdmann, was superbly suited to this PRE stallion, and the excited and very vocal American crowd went wild for Juan’s one-handed centre lines.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on TSF Dalera BB (GER) at Rotterdam Europeans 2019

This exquisite, more recent performance, which earned Jessica her first ever individual medal – bronze, with 89.107% – is sure to go down in history. The beautiful music from La La Land really suits the tall elegant mare, and her equally elegant rider, perfectly and the sheer harmony between the combination is a delight to witness.

Charlotte Dujardin on Valegro (GBR) at London Olympics 2012

And finally, arguably the greatest of them all! Charlotte and Valegro produced so many dazzling freestyles, setting new world records at Olympia in both 2013 and 2014 along the way, but it is their gloriously British performance from London 2012 that will always stick the most firmly in so many minds. Having already lead Britain to a historic team gold, they stunned the Greenwich Park crowds with their memorable routine featuring Land of Hope and Glory and the chimes of Big Ben to score 90.089% and become Olympic champions.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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At the recent Global Dressage Forum held at the Bartels Academy in Holland (26-27 October), seven horses were put forward as the best the sport has ever seen. Find out why Bonfire made the cut

Rider: Anky van Grunsven

Breed: Oldenburg

Breeding: Welt As x Praefectus xx

Sex: gelding

Career: 1983-2013

Great dressage horses: Bonfire

Bonfire made appearances at 15 major championships, including three Olympic Games (one at which he won individual gold – Sydney 2000) and six World Cup finals, five of which he took gold at.

Anky remembers that the horse would stand in his box like a hackney, with his front legs out in front of him and his hindlegs way out behind.

“He dug a hole in the front of his box and stood with his front legs in it,” she says. “We thought something was wrong at the beginning.”

His track-record proved otherwise and he ranks among the soundest grand prix horses ever recorded.

Conformationally, he had a very strong topline, back when not many horses did, as specialist breeding for dressage had not yet begun. He had strong and active hindlegs, with strong, short pasterns, which was also quite unusual. What he lacked in the conformation department, he made up for with the power of elasticity; that is what set him apart from his rivals. That and his willingness to always go forward and offer more.

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“He didn’t start out as a winner,” says Anky. “I came last as often as we won in the early days. With him I had the highest score and the lowest — one test we got 45% because he wouldn’t walk at all.”

Once his grand prix career took off, Anky was offered a blank cheque for the horse. He wasn’t for sale.

During his retirement there was a course at Anky’s yard and Bonfire’s x-rays were taken. The vets couldn’t believe how clean they were; as if from a much younger horse.

He died at age 30 at Anky’s yard after a happy retirement.

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https://youtu.be/K-f0iKCvcKQ

At the recent Global Dressage Forum held at the Bartels Academy in Holland (26-27 October), seven horses were put forward as the best the sport has ever seen — including Salinero. Find out what made the gelding so special

Rider: Anky van Grunsven

Breed: Hannoverian

Breeding: Salieri x Lungau

Sex: gelding

Born: 1994

Great dressage horses: Salinero

In the early days, Anky thought the large, black Salinero was “too big, too strong and too ugly”. But she persevered with the ultra-sensitive gelding as his talents emerged.

He was always a hot horse and Anky used to ride him for at least an hour a day — sometimes an hour and a half.

“He always had a lot of energy,” says Anky, who still rides the horse in his retirement, his last test having been in London 2012 during which he helped the Dutch team to bronze.

When he was fairly new to grand prix, in Rotterdam, the pair’s grand prix test was badly marred through tension because the horse was frightened of the clicking of the photographers’ cameras.

Before the next test, Anky remembers taking him into the warm-up and asking everyone she knew with a camera to come and click near Salinero.

“We clicked and clicked away and even right next to his ears until he thought it was totally boring,” she says. “We put a lot of energy into fixing that.”

He was 10 when he went to his first Olympics.

“I didn’t plan on the 2004 Olympics, but managed to qualify at the last minute and we were selected,” remembers Anky. “I was thrilled with how he managed despite his young age and I had no expectations.”

The pair won individual gold.

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Remarkably, the horse went to three Olympic Games and never came away without a medal. He attended four World Cup finals between 2004-2008 and won them all.

He has a fantastic front for a dressage horse, with high withers, a long shouler and a naturally arched neck.

“The way he moved, it was really his inner qualities on show, because he really wanted to do the work,” says Anky.

His conformation certainly made the horse’s job as a dressage performer easier, despite his showjumping pedigree. He has all the willingness and attitude to perform.

However, halts were never his strong point, and extremely brief or non-existent halts are now referred to as “doing an Anky” as a result.

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Britain narrowly missed out on a podium spot at the FEI European Reining Championships in Aachen on Friday (14 August).

Italy reversed the places from the 2013 Championships, by claiming team gold ahead of Germany in silver. The Netherlands secured bronze, with the British reiners just behind in fourth.

Italian team coach, Filippo Masi De Vargas said he was “simply thrilled”.

“This squad is made up of young riders, the future of our discipline, and they were just great, very professional and full of enthusiasm,” he added.

British rider Francesca Sternberg and Ten Reasons finished joint eighth in the team competition with a score of 215.5 — enough to advance automatically to the individual competition on Sunday (16 August).

“Ten Reasons just gave me another reason why my husband Doug chose him,” she said.

Francesca finished best of the Brits in ninth individually, while Doug finished 15th.

Meanwhile dressage champion Anky van Grunsven swapped her top hat for a stetson and was on the bronze-medal winning Dutch team. She partnered her own Whizashinningwalla BB.

Anky had previously competed in the reining competition at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, but this was her first medal in the discipline at an FEI event.

“It’s amazing, so much fun and I’m so excited about it,” said Anky.

“I know I can do dressage but to be on a bronze medal-winning reining team that’s something else. Earning a medal at the FEI European Championships is so good for this sport and the reason that I enjoy this discipline is firstly because I’m not good at it and I like the challenge, and secondly, I love the atmosphere both in and outside the arena.”

Italy’s Giovanni Masi De Vargas and Dance Little Spook won individual gold, while Germany’s Grisha Ludwig and Shine My Gun took silver. Fellow German Elias Ernst and Uss N Dun It claimed bronze.

“I started competing in 2009 in junior competition and this is my ninth FEI medal,” said Giovanni. “This is the first time I’ve competed in a senior championship and it’s been an amazing experience.”

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Top Dutch dressage rider Anky van Grunsven will be swapping a top hat for a Stetson today (Friday 14 August) as she takes part in the FEI European Reining Championships.

The three-time Olympic gold medallist and dual world dressage champion is a familiar face at Aachen, but this year she’s a member of the Dutch reining team.

Anky joins Jurgen Pouls, Olivier van den Berg and Rieky Young representing Holland.

Anky took up reining in 2000 but has been riding in western competitions since 2009.

“After so many achievements, I was looking for new challenges. I found them in reining,” Anky told H&H when she took up the sport.

In 2010 she went to the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky as a reiner. She had previously been named a reserve on the team, but after Jurgen Pouls had to withdraw due to an injury to his horse, she received the call-up.

She didn’t reach the individual final, but is hoping to go better this time, and is a regular on the podium at Aachen.

Representing Great Britain in the competition will be Francesca Sternberg, Doug Allen, Shane Borland and Josh Collins.

Meanwhile, Michael Schumacher’s daughter Gina opens the reining competition. Gina will enter the arena as the official “guinea pig rider” before the decisive team competition starts.

She will ride the manoeuvres, which then have to be performed by the European Championships competitors.

Her ride will be commentated and explained to the spectators.

The Formula 1 driver’s daughter is following in her father’s footsteps as a champion in sport, as she took home two gold medals from the FEI European reining championships for juniors and young riders earlier this year.

The 17-year-old took the individual junior gold was also part of the German gold medal-winning team at the event, which took place in Givrins in Switzerland (2-3 July) at Gina’s mother, Corinna Schumacher’s, ranch.

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Fan of Valegro? Love Salinero? Or is Totilas your dressage star?

Dressage lovers are being urged to vote for the world’s greatest dressage horses by next Wednesday (1 July).

The final six selected will be celebrated at the Global Dressage Forum in Hooge Mierde in the Netherlands on 26-27 October.

The programme committee of the Forum and the dressage community have selected ten horses for the voting.

Only those who had won an individual gold medal at the Olympics, World Championships or have won the World Cup Final were eligible for selection.

The horses to vote for are:

· Rembrandt ridden by Nicole Uphoff

· Matador ridden by Kyra Kyrklund

· Valegro ridden by Charlotte Dujardin

· Corlandus ridden by Margit Otto-Crepin

· Totilas ridden by Edward Gal

· Salinero ridden by Andy van Grunsven

· Ahlerich ridden by Reiner Klimke

· Granat ridden by Christine Stuckelberger

· Gigolo ridden by Isabell Werth

· Bonfire ridden by Anky van Grunsven

Voters can nominate their top three “greatest dressage horses ever” by visiting: www.globaldressageforum.com

All those who vote will have the chance to win a ticket for the Global Dressage Forum 2015.

“We will honour and look back at the great achievements of six of these horses. We will invite the rider, owner, breeder and/or groom and learn all about their personal story and the real character of these elite stars,” said a spokesman for the forum.

The factors that made the selected horses so special and better than their opponents will be analysed.

The speakers confirmed so far for the 15th Global Dressage Forum include international rider and trainer Wolfram Wittig, former rider and national coach of the US jumping team George Morris, international trainer and long reins specialist Paul Fielder, German rider Uta Graf and feeding and hydration specialist vet Chloe Bristow.

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Following the sad news that Olympic dressage star Bonfire was put down earlier this week, we look back through the H&H picture archives at his career highlights with Anky van Grunsven.

What is your favourite memory of this special partnership? Tell us about it below…

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Anky van Grunsven’s Sydney gold medal-winning horse Bonfire has been put to sleep at the age of 30.

Anky announced the news on Twitter and simply said: “My heart is broken. Bonfire is dead”.

Bonfire suffered from Cushing’s disease and was euthanased yesterday (28 October)

A statement on Anky’s website explained: “He already had problems with his adrenal glands for a while and in the last weeks he also had inflamed hooves.

“On Sunday it became so bad that we had to decide to put him to sleep.”

The Oldenburg gelding by Welt As had an international career spanning 9 years.

The combination helped the Dutch team secure silver at the 1992 Olympics and then went on to take team silver and individual silver at the 1996 Olympics.

Bonfire and Anky then won individual gold at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Alongside their Olympic achievements they were also four times World Cup champions and took part in the World Equestrian Games twice — winning it once at the Hague in 1994 (video below).

Britain’s Olympic gold medallist Carl Hester is one of many riders who have paid tribute to the horse since the news broke last night.

“So sorry to hear Anky’s Bonfire has gone to horse heaven,” Carl said.

“They were a partnership I will never forget.

“I still remember the Hague World Games which changed the world of dressage forever! Gallop on Bonfire.”

Bonfire was retired in 2002 and spent his retirement at a field at Anky’s yard in Erp, The Netherlands. There is a statue of the horse in the village to mark his achievements.

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Salinero, the horse with whom Anky van Grunsven won two individual Olympic gold medals (in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008), was officially retired in a ceremony at s’Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, last week.

The 19-year-old Hanoverian gelding played his part in securing team bronze for The Netherlands in London 2012, and in doing so made Anky the most-medalled Olympic rider in history.

Salinero followed in the footsteps of his famous predecessor, Bonfire, Anky’s Olympic gold medallist in Sydney 2000, but he became a star in his own right, winning countless grand prix and helping his rider to become the most prolific winner of the World Cup title. Anky won it nine times over a 13-year period between 1995 and 2008.

The combination were pioneers of the modern freestyle test. Anky was the first rider to commission her own music — the pianist Wibi Soerjadi, who composed their 2008 Olympic medley, “Dances of Devotion”, accompanied the pair during their swansong in front of the crowds on Thursday (14 March).

Despite exuding great power and scope, Salinero was never the easiest of rides. He was a sensitive horse and, especially during the early stages of his grand prix career, could become very tense.

With time Anky learnt how to get the best out of him, although she rarely managed to persuade him to stand still in halt.

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The picture desks of two national red-tops should be hanging their heads in shame this morning after headlines trumpeting Team GBR’s dressage gold appeared over pictures of the Dutch team.

The Mirror printed a giant picture of Edward Gal, Anky Van Grunsven and Adelinde Cornelissen under the banner “Only Golden Horses”.

And the Daily Express also printed a picture of the grinning Dutch trio on its front page, under the headline “Happy and Glorious”.

However the only gold in the pictures is the Dutch team’s collars.

The pictures should, of course, have shown the gold medal-winning Brits – Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer and Charlotte Dujardin.

“You’d think they could tell the difference between red and orange,” said a disgusted Winnie Murphy of British Dressage, who branded the coverage “sloppy” and “offensive”.

“We dress our riders in beautiful red, white and blue uniforms – isn’t that enough of a clue for them?”

The Express has apologised to the British Equestrian Federation and reprinted its front page, with the correct picture.

And Express editor Hugh Whittow asked British Dressage to pass on his apologies to the riders.

He said the mix-up took place after a picture agency mis-captioned the pictures it sent out.

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Anky Van Grunsven is aiming her 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning Salinero at selection for Greenwich.

Many had thought the 43-year-old dressage rider was out of contention for the Dutch team at this summer’s Games, as her new horse IPS Upido is recovering from injury.

But last week Anky said her 18-year-old world-beater is “fit and ready“. She plans to compete him at the CDIO Saumur (26-29 April) and the Dutch Olympic selection event, the national championships in Hoofddorp in June.

“Salinero is still fit,” she said. “The media is calling it a comeback but he has been competing since last summer at international level, for example in Salzburg, where he won both tests.”

However, visitors to the 2012 indoor Brabant CDI-W in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, who had hoped to see the Olympians compete last Thursday (19 April), were disappointed when Anky withdrew her old-stager, citing a fitness issue.

“Salinero is not in shape. I’ll do it next week in Saumur,” she told a Dutch newspaper.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (26 April 2012)

Are you looking to buy a dressage horse? View our online database of horses for sale

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Reining is the fastest-growing equestrian sport across Europe.

Even top dressage rider Anky van Grunsven is a convert and interest increased substantially in Britain in 2011.

In the past three years, UK competitors have quadrupled to more than 200 and riders registered with the ruling body for international horse sport, the FEI, have increased by 130.

The number of FEI competitions has also ballooned, from just three in 2001 to 59 in 2010.

Peter Lane, chairman of British Reining, told H&H: “Interest is enormous. I regularly get calls from people wanting to try the sport, but we have been held back in the past by not having a large number of reining horses in the UK.

“However, in the past year or so, we have been able to find yards where people can go to try a

reining lesson.”

One yard offering reining lessons is David and Sarah Deptford’s Sovereign Quarter Horses in March, Cambs.

Sarah said: “People come to us to try Western riding and find reining through that. It is fast paced and exciting.”

She said they teach 20 lessons on average a week, a quarter of which are in reining.

The best-equipped centre in the country is GB team riders Francesca Sternberg and Doug Allen’s Sterling Quarter Horses in East Sussex, which has an international-standard arena.

“Four of the six riders on the GB team at the last World Equestrian Games [WEG] live in the south of England, because that’s where the facilities are,” said Anne Clarke of the British Equestrian

Federation (BEF).

“It is interesting that it took Anky [van Grunsven] nearly four years to reach the standard to compete at WEG, when we know what a fabulously talented rider she is,” added Ms Sternberg.

Anky told H&H: “After so many achievements, I was looking for new challenges. I found them

in reining.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (5 January 2012)

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Make a smart entrance to the dressage arena with the new Anky ladies’ tailcoat from Classic Dressage, as worn this season by Charlotte Dujardin.

The jacket is tailored from a wool, polyester and elastane mix fabric for superior comfort, flexibility and durability whilst riding.

The sleeve inserts are stitched in the riding position for optimal fit and the collar is secured to the main body to stop it flapping.

It is finished with a treatment that makes it dirt and water repellent and it has weighted tails to ensure your first impression is the right one.

The jacket is available in navy with gold points, buttons and collar trim or navy with silver points and silver buttons and costs £325

For further information or to order please visit www.classicdressage.com or tel: 01442 834536.

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Dutch dressage supremo Anky van Grunsven will go to the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky later this month as part of the Dutch reining team.

Anky, who was named as a reserve on the reining team last month, will now take part in the competition after teammate Jurgen Pouls had to withdraw due to an injury to his horse.

Dutch chef d’equipe Caspar de Jonge asked Anky to replace Jurgen yesterday (Tuesday 31 August).

She will compete on her quarterhorse Whizashiningwalla BB.

“I’m very excited,” said Anky. “Although it’s a shame that Jurgen is not able to go. As a reserve you always have to be on standby, so I’ve already made a lot of preparations including extra vaccinations for Whiz.

“I really hope that I can help the team by getting a good score and will put 100% into it.”

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Olympic dressage gold medallist Anky van Grunsven’s grand prix ride IPS Painted Black has been sold to Spanish young rider Morgan Barbançon, 18.

Painted Black is a 13-year-old breeding stallion by Gribaldi and is approved by the KWPN (Dutch) and Anglo European Studbooks. Last year, he won the World Dressage Masters show in Wellington and a World Cup qualifier in Amsterdam, finishing third at the World Cup final.

Painted Black previously belonged to Joop van Uytert, IPS and Equestrian International BV. He currently stands sixth in the FEI world rankings.

Anky said: “I will miss this top horse, but I’m glad that he will stay at my barn and I’ll coach Morgan to help her know him. We agreed that Painted Black will be available as the reserve horse for the Dutch World Equestrian Games team for Kentucky and that I can compete him at a few more shows.”

Morgan, a student, has contested European championships as a pony and junior rider and won Addington international in May this year.

Anky’s top grand prix horse, Salinero, is back in training following an injury to his withers that took him out of contention for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky this September.

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Three-times Olympic gold medal-winning Dutch dressage rider Anky van Grunsven has been named as reserve in the Dutch reining team for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) this September.

And British Olympic dressage rider Emma Hindle has recently taken up reining, too.

Anky was named as team reserve after finishing reserve champion at her first FEI event, the CRI* Swedish National Championships in Bökeberg in April.

“I’m very happy to be reserve for the reining team, but I’m not expecting to go to WEG,” Anky told H&H.

“Reining’s quite similar to dressage, especially the speed control. Of course the exercises are different, mainly because you’re not allowed to have any contact with the reins. But I really enjoy it and it helps make me a better rider.”

But Emma Hindle has no plans to compete — yet.

“We had Andrea Gembe’s European champion Big Time Rooster collecting at Brookhouse Stud and she asked me if I wanted to have a go. I really enjoyed it. But it’s something fun for now — I wouldn’t compete until I’m at a standard where I could do well,” she said.

Anky has been reining for about 10 years, but, when she was given a western saddle after the 2008 Olympics, she became more competitive.

The 42-year-old originally rode a horse called Hilda, but has since been riding Whizashiningwalla BB, who, she says, is a “better match” for her.

In June, Anky decided to opt out of the WEG dressage selection process after her Olympic horse Salinero injured his withers and she did not want to rush his recovery. She is now riding the horse once more.

“I don’t really have a plan for Salinero yet as he is the only one who can say when he is ready to compete, but I would like to do more shows with him soon,” said Anky.

And, after mixed results with her other top horse Painted Black, she decided he would not be a top-five contender so would not aim him at WEG either.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (12 August, ’10)

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Olympic dressage gold medalist Anky van Grunsven will not contest the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky this September.

Her top horse, Salinero, injured his withers in his stable two months ago and it is now thought the gelding will need at least another four weeks of rest to recover.

Anky explained that she did not want to rush the horse’s recovery in order to get enough training in prior to the World Games.

She has also decided not to aim for Dutch team selection on her second horse, IPS Painted Black. This stallion has had mixed results in international competition and Anky does not feel he would be a top five contender. He also has a “light injury”.

Even without Anky, the Dutch are still in a strong position to take team gold, with world number one Edward Gal on Moorlands Totillas, Adelinde Cornelissen (Jerich Parzival) and Imke Shellekens (Hunter Douglas Sunrise) among those up for selection.

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Anky van Grunsven, the Dutch Olympic dressage champion, speaks to Horse & Hound about her life, her horses and her new reining career

When did you first… choose dressage?

At the age of 12, but that was only because my horse Prisco couldn’t jump. I decided I wanted to ride professionally after I finished school.

What is first… on your list of ambitions?

I don’t have ambitions any more — I want to have fun.

When did you first… become interested in reining?

I have been doing reining for about 10 years, but it’s only since the last Olympics that I’ve really had time for it. I have one reining horse, Whizashiningwalla BB, and I’ve learned a lot from him.

What is the first… word you would use to describe yourself?

Busy, always busy. With riding, teaching, management, administration, children…

When did you last… score a 10?

I often get a 10 with Salinero — and used to with Bonfire, too — for piaffe, passage and the transitions in between.

When did you last… lose your temper?

While I was having an argument with Sjef [Janssen, Anky’s husband and Dutch dressage team trainer]. It does happen.

What was the last… thing you bought?

Clothes for the children — they were far too expensive.

When did you last… feel like giving up horses?

Honestly? I never have.

This extract is from an interview first published in Horse & Hound (13 May, ’10)

Paul Tapner

In our exclusive interview, Paul reveals he owns an “endless supply of self-help books”, which he listens to on his ipod.

Anky van Grunsven

Did you know that the Dutch Olympic Champion has a passion for reining and used to enjoy working in her father’s DIY store?

Tina Cook

H&H’s eventing columnist adds her voice to those riders against the four-star dressage and grassroots cross-country taking place on the same day at Badminton, and believes that the grassroots restrictions should be tightened up to ensure rider are “true amateurs, not professionals returning after a break.”

Pammy Hutton

Our dressage columnists is thanking devine intervention, as a visit by the Pope changes the date of the national dressage championships. “Thank you, God” she says.

Graham Fletcher

Graham is impressed by the efficiency of French show organisers and remembers Harvey Smith’s rather drastic “get ’em in and get ’em out’ solution at the Great Yorkshire when classes were running late.

Find out what else is in this week’s magazine

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The Netherlands’ Anky van Grunsven’s Olympic dressage and World champion Salinero will be out of action longer than predicted following an injury to his withers.

The gelding was found in his stable with swelling around his withers 10 days ago. Anky said at the time that he would need just three weeks off, but since there has been no improvement he will now not be able to carry a saddle for at least a month.

Husband and trainer Sjef Janssen explained on Anky’s website [www.anky.nl]: “The capsule around the protrusions of the vertebrae of his withers is damaged. After one and a half weeks it’s not much better so Anky won’t ride him for a month.”

Anky is campaigning Salinero for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky this September.

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Dutch Olympian Anky van Grunsven’s gold medallist and Kentucky World Equestrian Games prospect Salinero is out of action for the next three weeks having injured his withers.

Anky believes he incurred the injury when rolling in his stable and getting cast in the night.

She announced on her website (www.anky.nl): “In the morning, the right side of his withers was sore and swollen. The vet examined him and it seems that the capsule around the protrusions of the vertebrae of his withers is damaged.

“This in itself is not very serious, but because the saddle can’t go on, he is out of training for [about three] weeks.”

This should not interfere with her campaign for the World Equestrian Games. The final Dutch selection trial is set to take place at Hickstead in July.

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Nine-times World Cup dressage champion Anky van Grunsven has missed out on qualifying for this year’s final in S-Hertogenbosh, the Netherlands.

At the final qualifier in Goteborg, Sweden on 27 February, Dutchman Edward Gal had already secured his place on European gold medalist Moorlands Totillas. The pressure was on Anky and compatriots Imke Schellekens and Adelinde Cornelissen to fight for the remaining two places available to the Dutch.

Adelinde stormed home in the lead with Jerich Parzival, who was far more relaxed than in his previous few qualifiers including at London Olympia in December.

Imke slotted into third place on her Olympic partner Sunrise, pushing Anky on second-string Painted Black into fourth and out of the final.

Imke said: “For me this is fantastic — I had to kick out Anky and I’m sorry about that, but I’m happy I have made it to the final!”

Also through to the final from the Western European League are Germany’s Isabell Werth, Matthias Alexander Rath and Carola Koppelman and Sweden’s Patrik Kittel, who secured his place with an impressive second-place finish in Goteborg.

They will be joined by Michal Rapcewicz (Poland), Brett Parbery (Australia), Tavares de Almeida (Brazil), Jeroen Devroe (Belgium), Acs Robert (Hungary) and Nathalie Zu Sayn Wittgenstein (Denmark).

No British riders have qualified for the final.

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Read the latest Anky van Grunsven news

Anky van Grunsven, born on 2 January 1968, is a Dutch dressage rider.

She has won an astonishing nine Olympic medals, including team bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games, making her the most decorated Olympic rider in history.

Her most well known equine partners are Bonfire, who retired in 2000, and her current top horse, Salinero.

A rider from an early age, Anky became interested in dressage when she used it to help control the power of her first show jumping horse, Prisco.

Prisco went on to became her first Olympic dressage horse at Seoul in 1988 and Anky’s conversion to dressage was absolute.

Anky became Dutch champion for the first time in 1990, a feat she has repeated 12 times since.

Anky is married to her trainer, Sjef Janssen, and has two children, Yannick and Ava Eden.

Sjef and Anky have formed a formidable partnership, coaching other riders up to grand prix level at their yard in the Netherlands. Anky also teaches clinics abroad.

In April 2009, Anky and Painted Black were beaten into second place at the World Cup final grand prix k ¼r in Las Vegas by American rider Steffen Peters.

Salinero, her top horse and 2008 winner, was absent after being denied a wild card entry.

The partnership then missed the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky after Salinero injured his withers in the stable. Anky still got to compete at WEG, as a member of the Dutch reining team instead.

Anky van Grunsven videos

Anky’s major achievements

• Has won a total of eight medals at the Olympic Games

• Won gold at the last three Olympic Games

• Part of the 2005 Dutch Nations Cup team in Aachen that stripped Germany of their world leader title in dressage

• Twice world champion

• Four-times European champion

• 13 times Dutch national champion

• Nine-times winner of the World Cup finals

• Honoured as sportswoman of the year in the Netherlands in 1994

Anky van Grunsven pictures

World number one Anky van Grunsven heads the line-up of pre-entries for the Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI***** at Hickstead (23-26 July).

Anky will be accompanied by Olympic compatriots Hans Peter Minderhoud and Anne van Olst, plus Edward Gal riding his exciting new big tour horse Totilas.

British international dressage events have struggled in the past to encourage big names to cross the channel to compete. But this five-star event is part of a well-supported league developed in 2008 and extended this year to include Hickstead. The €100,000 prize fund per event is helping attract top names to each destination — the plan being this will in turn encourage TV interest. Other venues are Canne, France, and Palm Beach, USA.

Leslie Morse of the USA is also set to attend Hickstead CDI***** — a full list of definite entries will follow in July.

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Latest dressage news

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has denied Dutch World Cup dressage titleholder Anky van Grunsven a wild card with last year’s winner Salinero for the final in Las Vegas (16-19 April).

Anky has qualified on her second horse, Painted Black, but would sooner take Olympic gold medallist Salinero.

As reigning champions, they would have been granted a wild card had they contested two qualifiers — they completed one, at ’s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands (19-21 March), finishing third to Isabell Werth of Germany.

Anky’s husband and trainer, Sjef Janssen, is likely to appeal the decision.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (26 March, ’09)

Read the latest dressage news

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Anky van Grunsven will not be competing in the Dressage World Cup qualifier at Olympia tomorrow as she has injured her back.

On her website Anky said: “It [the injury] is not very bad but the famous Dutch sport doctor Peter Vergouwen has advised not to ride for a couple of weeks.

“For me it’s hard not to ride but I never have trouble with my back so I take his advice seriously and hope I will never have this again.”

She said she has had an MRI scan and hopes to compete at Mechelen.

Anky was also due to take a dressage masterclinic at Olympia on Wednesday evening however British Olympic riders Richard Davison and Carl Hester have agreed to step into her boots.

The British duo will demonstrate some of the ‘whys and wherefores’ of dressage in the clinic that takes place before the freestyle to music competition.

The draw of 16 riders has taken place for tomorrow night’s qualifying dressage grand prix.

Carl Hester and Leibling II will be the first combination into the arena followed by fellow Briton Richard Davison and Artemis for who it will be a grand prix debut.

British duo Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris are among those expected to do well although Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival will now, after the withdrawal of her compatriot, be the favourite to win.

The combination who won the Dutch championships earlier this year won the first World Cup qualifier of the season in Stockholm last month.

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Fans of Anky van Grunsven will have the chance to learn from their idol this December, when she presents a dressage masterclass at Olympia, the London International Horse Show.

The Olympic gold medal-winning star will be hosting the masterclass on Wednesday (17 December) at 6.30pm, before the freestyle to music class.

She will focus on specific test movements required for the freestyle and demonstrate on one of her young horses how she teaches them to execute flying changes, the half pass, piaffe, passage and extended trot.

Anky won the freestyle to music class at Olympia in 2007 and will be competing in the FEI World Cup dressage competition again this year. She said: “I always enjoy Olympia and have been lucky enough over the past few years to compete as well as take part in such demonstrations.”

Watch Anky van Grusven’s winning test at Olympia 2007

For tickets visit www.olympiahorseshow.com or call 0844 4124630.

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Isabell Werth kicked off her 2008/9 FEI World Cup dressage campaign in impressive form by winning the first leg of the Western European League in Odense, Denmark.

The silver Olympic medallist won both the grand prix and the freestyle with Warum Nicht, who she rode to glory in the world cup final in Las Vegas two years ago, to pick up the first World Cup points of the new season.

“I was very pleased with my Hannes”, said Isabell. “He was not distracted in his first indoor show and was very concentrated on his job. Although I had some mistakes, I was happy with his performance.”

Their mistakes included a change behind in the extended canter, and an error in the one-time tempi changes. But the judges were impressed with Warum Nicht’s flair and impulsion and praised the risks that Isabell took in both classes.

Reigning World Cup champion Anky van Grunsven finished second with her black stallion IPS Painted Black. The pair improved in the freestyle, where the stallion was more cooperative with a good contact and uphill appearance.

“Only at the CDI3* in Lingen I had higher marks than this time. I am very happy with him”, said Anky. “I do regret, though, the mistake in the two tempi changes, which might have prevented a record score with this horse.”

Third place also went to The Netherlands. From an almost impossible position and an early start after the 8th place in the grand prix, Olympian Hans Peter Minderhoud had a ride of a lifetime aboard the mare Exquis Nadine to take 3rd.

Results

1. Warum Nicht FRH (Isabell WERTH, Germany) 80,70%

2. IPS Painted Black (Anky VAN GRUNSVEN, The Netherlands) 79,60%

3. Exquis Nadine (Hans Peter MINDERHOUD, The Netherlands) 77,45%

4. Nartan (Jeannette HAAZEN The Netherlands) 77,10%

5. Whisper (Monica THEODORESCU, Germany) 76,90%

6. Digby (Nathalie ZU SAYN WITTGENSTEIN) 75,20%

7. Exquis Clearwater DWB (Anne VAN OLST, Denmark) 74,55%

8. Björsell Briar (Jan BRINK, Sweden) 74,10%

9. Donatha S (Ellen SCHULTEN BAUMER, Germany ) 69,90%

10. Withney van’t Genthof (Stefan VAN INGELGEM Belgium) 72,20%

11. Baldessarini 3 (Gina CAPELLMANN LUTKEMEIER, Germany) 72,05%%

12. Galliano (Maria ERIKSSON, Sweden) 72,00%

13. Kaiser Wilhelm (Anke TER BEEK, The Netherlands) 70,40%

14. Ovation (Christa LAARAKKERS, The Netherlands) 70,20%

15. Otto (Heather BLITZ, USA) 69,95%%

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Anky van Grunsven has made Olympic history by winning three consecutive individual gold medals: in Sydney on Bonfire, in Athens on Salinero and, again, here in the electric atmosphere of Hong Kong, another gold on the same horse.

“I must be the most spoilt rider in the world,” she said.

The Dutch rider’s hugely superior mark of 82.4% for a demanding kur gave her an overall mark of 78.86% and a nearly 2% lead over her old rival, Germany’s Isabell Werth.

The pair have been in hot competition since Isabell won gold in Atlanta in 1996, but this was Anky’s night after Isabell’s enigmatic Satchmo again put in a violent disobedience in the piaffe-pirouette, and thereafter had some tense moments.

Anky said: “After my grand prix special, I thought the gold was gone, but then I realised that the competition was open again and, when Isabell made the mistake again, I knew I didn’t have to take all the risks.”

Germany took bronze too, a first individual medal for Heike Kemme, and the USA’s Steffan Peters just missed out in fourth, despite having the better freestyle.

Emma Hindle finished seventh on a final score of 72.34% after an upbeat and rousing performance, which scored 74.25%, later disclosing to a shocked audience that she had undergone surgery to remove an ovarian tumour in June.

“My team mates made me go for a check up, and it was the British team that got me back, because I couldn’t even walk at one stage. I’m not a good patient!

“So I’m proud of my horse, proud of my team, and proud of my friends.”

Anky van Grusven photo gallery

Emma Hindle photo gallery

Read Horse & Hound’s full report on the individual dressage competition, on sale 28 August ’08

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Isabell Werth brought the individual grand prix special dressage test at the Olympic Games to a dramatic conclusion when Satchmo reversed violently a few steps into a piaffe movement in front of the judges’ boxes.

The error may have cost her the individual gold medal, as before it occurred, she was scoring over 80% and would have established a lead of around 8% more than Anky van Grunsven.

Instead, the pair are now just 0.24pen apart and, knowing Anky’s renowned superiority in the freestyle, Isabell could see the gold medal disappear.

“I really don’t know what happened,” said Isabell, who put a brave front on what must be a devastating moment.

“I was really upset, but I knew I just had to hold it all together. It has cost me about about 8 or 9%.”

Heike Kemmer is in 3rd place for Germany on 72.96%, and many people would like to see her elegant appearances on Bonaparte rewarded with a first individual medal.

America’s Steffen Peters lies fourth on 71.8%, while the failure of some of the big names, such as Nadine Capellman who is only 17th with 67.24 on Elvis, to score higher, has given prominence to 2 new faces.

Russia’s Alexandra Korelova is 5th on her “pink” stallion, the former police horse Balagur, and Mexico’s Bernadette Vincent is 6th on Vincent.

Emma Hindle produced an excellent test, though perhaps not with quite the zest as her outstanding grand prix exhibition 3 nights earlier, and is lying 9th. She will be Britain’s sole representative in the freestyle on Tuesday.

Laura Bechtolsheimer was careful to keep cool before her test this time, only putting on her top hat and tails at the last minute and wearing cooling wristbands, but was disappointed to score only 67.16%, her only real mistake being a “miss” in the piaffe.

“I’m pretty disappointed with my mark — I would have expected around 70% for that — but I’m thrilled that I’ve come back into the ring and pulled off a good performance,” she said.

Olympic dressage photo gallery

Stay in touch with all the news from the dressage competition in Hong Kong on HorseandHound.co.uk

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Germany has won a third Olympic gold medal in Hong Kong, as the dressage team retained its unbeaten record since 1976, chiefly thanks to the supreme performance by anchorwoman Isabell Werth (pictured) whose test was a cheering climax to a hot and steamy evening.

The Netherlands is second, after a brave challenge from Anky van Grunsven, whose Salinero had a few shaky moments.

“A little calm would have been better, but this is Salinero,” shrugged Anky. “I forgot about the team gold medal, when neither of our first two horses were good enough. We had an unfortunate draw.

“I don’t like the new format [of three riders in a team], because you have some teams getting two riders on the first day, and others on the second, and if you have a disaster, the team if out. Let’s hope it’s the last year!”

With many horses performing below-par in 27-degree heat and 81% humidity, such as Jan Brink’s Briar (68.87%) and defending bronze medallist Debbie Macdonald’s Brentina (63%), Britain had a great chance to challenge Denmark for the bronze medal, especially as Emma Hindle was only overtaken by Anky and Isabell.

A medal looked a thrilling reality at the beginning of Laura Bechtolsheimer’s test. She began by scoring 73 and 74% for magnificent work, but Mistral Hojris was getting hot and became difficult to contain.

Laura, who was endearingly honest afterwards about being overwhelmed, lost her way in the piaffe-passage transition, ending up in the wrong place and was forced to do a half-circle to get back on track.

After this, the performance deteriorated to a final score of 65.91%, though, in 24th place, she does make the cut for the individual grand prix special on Saturday and a second chance to show what she undoubtedly can do.

“My hands were full and I lost my bearings,” admitted Laura. “I can’t really explain it. He was going for gold, but I wasn’t really with him.”

Britain thus finished sixth, behind the USA and Sweden, but the final team averages were actually very close, with Britain just 2% off bronze.

Olympic Games dressage photo gallery

Stay in touch with all the dressage action as it happens on HorseandHound.co.uk and in H&H magazine

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Anky van Grunsven took an incredible ninth World Cup title on home soil at ’s-Hertogenbosch, Holland (30 March) riding IPS Salinero.

The places were reversed following the qualifying competition, when Germany’s Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht had pushed Anky and a tense Salinero into second place.

Salinero was more relaxed for the freestyle to music, the decider for the cup, and produced a mistake-free test to their new kür composed by Dutch pianist Wibi Soerjadi.

Anky said: “In the grand prix on Thursday I was happy with the way Salinero was going, but he lacked concentration at times. Today I couldn’t be happier — normally I am quite critical of myself but I don’t think anything could have been better at the moment.”

Isabell had a mistake in the one-time changes that ruined their chances of victory.

She said: “Warum Nicht has really improved in all the exercises and the mistake was mine not his. I am pleased with the way he has worked all weekend and satisfied to be second today.”

British-based Kyra Kyrklund of Finland took third place riding Max to their upbeat cabaret kür.

“You always ride to win but I am realistic and did not expect to beat Isabell or Anky — to be sitting here in third place I am really very happy,” she said.

For a full report and pictures of all the drama at the World Cup dressage final see Horse&Hound 3 April issue.

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Germany’s Isabell Werth goes into Saturday’s FEI World Cup final in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Holland, with the winning edge, having stolen the lead from her long-standing Dutch rival Anky van Grunsven in today’s qualifying competition (27 March).

The competition was incredibly close. Anky went first to score 74.75% and throughout her test Isabell crept ahead and fell behind on marks by just a fraction.

Three times their scores were identical, including at the final halt. So it was collective marks that put Isabell ahead on 75.083.

Isabell said: “I was really happy with ‘Hannes’ today, he had a lot of power but was not as looky and spooky as he can be in a test. He was concentrating on me and had no big mistakes.”

Anky’s Keltec Salinero struggle more to relax in the arena, where the audience are seated close by. In the halts, for example, Warum Nicht stood, whereas Salinero failed to stand at the end of his test.

Anky said: “Salinero got a little nervous in the noisy arena. He got tense in the canter and I wanted to make sure he relaxed for the extended canter but we relaxed too much and he trotted for a stride. So we had little mistakes because he was unsettled and I hope he calms down in that arena by Saturday.”

Third place went to Anky’s pupil Imke Schellekens-Bartels of The Netherlands on Hunter Douglas Sunrise. Imke admitted she also had a few mistakes in her test because Sunrise was a little tense.

“Sunrise was in good shape today but she was a bit surprised and distracted by the audience at times,” she said.

Isabell took the World Cup title last year, while Anky was on maternity leave, but Anky has owned this competition for the past seven years and has the advantage on home soil.

No British riders have qualified for this year’s final.

Visit Horseandhound.co.uk over the weekend for further updates for the World Cup final, and don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound for a in-depth report on how the competition was won and lost.

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Anky van Grunsven remains on great form in the 2007/2008 World Cup qualifying series, as she picked up her third win in Amsterdam.

Riding her new kür composed by Wibi Soerjadi, Anky and IPS Salinero scored 83.85% to finish ahead of Imke Schellekens-Bartels on Hunter Douglas Sunrise. Third was British-based Finnish rider Kyra Kyrklund on Max.

The chairman of the judges Wim Ernes said: “The first three riders were of a very special level. Anky, Imke and Kyra were top of the bill.”

This was the first time that Anky had ridden her new freestyle in front of her home crowd and she received a typically enthusiastic response.

“After a bit of an insecure start due to the crowd and some flashlights, I felt very happy with my horse and my test,” Anky van Grunsven said. “I am totally happy with my new freestyle music now. We have changed it a little after my first ride in London. Together with the continuing development and growth of Salinero, I cannot think of a nicer piece of music now than this one.”

Imke Schellekens-Bartels blamed herself for a mistake in the second pirouette, which dropped her score to 79.00%.

“I made an expensive mess around the second pirouette,” said Imke. “Hunter Douglas Sunrise is not to blame, she gave me a great feeling.”

Kyra Kyrklund will now head to Neumünster after impressing the judges in Amsterdam. “It looks like I have a good chance of competing in the final after a good ride in Neumünster as well,” she said.

“The relaxation and harmony of Max and Kyrklund was outstanding,” said chairman Ernes, who was “surprised” by the performance of Dutch-based British rider Camilla Sygall, who finish seventh riding D.J. on 71.90%. This was Camilla’s best performance to date in a World Cup qualifier.

Amsterdam World Cup qualifier results

1. IPS SALINERO Anky van Grunsven NED 83.85%

2. HUNTER DOUGLAS SUNRISE Imke Sxchellekens-Bartels NED 79.00%

3. MAX Kyra Kyrklund FIN 78.80%

4. RIGOLETTO Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein DEN 74.30%

5. JEFF Stéphanie Peters NED 73.70%

6. GREDSTEDSGARD CASIMIR Andreas Helgstrand DEN 72.00%

7. D.J. Camilla Sygall GBR 71.90%

8. PAGANINI Jeroen Devroe BEL 70.80%

9. BMC KIGALI Marlies van Baalen NED 70.40%

10. GUINESS 888 Louise Nathhorst SWE 69.95%

Top dressage rider Anky van Grunsven’s horse box, holding top horses IPS Salinero and IPS Painted Black, was involved in an accident in the early hours of this (Wednesday) morning on their way home from Olympia.

At 2am driver Jo van den Oetelaar was driving Anky’s truck near Dover when the lorry crashed into a car which had been involved in a previous accident and was in road with no lights.

A comment on Anky’s website said: “There was no way he could have seen the car on the road. Fortunately nobody was hurt or injured and the horses were okay.

“The drivers of the car stood on the refuge lane. They had gone out of their car because they were afraid their car would go on fire after the first crash.”

The horses were taken to a nearby vet and spent the remainder of the night there, being cared for by Anky’s groom Willeke.

This morning another of Anky’s trucks was sent over to Dover to pick up the horses. The other lorry is being repaired.

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Anky van Grunsven impressed the judges when she unveiled her brand new freestyle at the Olympia Horse Show yesterday (Tuesday 18 December).

Composed by Wibi Soerjadi, the new performance is called ‘Dance of devotion’ and earnt her a score of 83.050% on IPS Salinero.

Second was British-bred Finnish rider Kyra Kyrklund with Max, who score 76.500% for their easy on the eye Cabaret Freestyle, with Denmark’s Anders Dahl in third with Afrikka on 73.550%.

Carl Hester was overjoyed with fourth position in his first competition with Ann Cory’s Dolendo since 2001. The partnership produced a nice swinging test to score 73.100%.

Anky van Grunsven admitted to feeling nervous before riding her new freestyle in front of the Olympia crowds.

“Normally I only have to take care of my horse IPS Salinero before entering such a packed arena. But now I had to take care of one my horse, two my new choreography, three my new music. It was quite a challenge!”

Chairman of the judges Dr Volker Moritz was full of praise for Anky’s performance.

“It was a very special atmosphere tonight and I was very impressed by the new freestyle of Anky van Grunsven. It fitted the horse very well and I rewarded it with very high marks.”

Judge Stephen Clarke added: “It was very subtle, very clever, very difficult. I think this Freestyle has every chance to grow as it needs a little exposure and probably practice.”

RESULTS

1. IPS SALINERO Anky van Grunsven NED 83.050%

2. MAX Kyra Kyrklund FIN 76.500%

3. AFRIKKA Anders Dahl DEN 73.550%

4. DOLENDO Carl Hester GBR 73.100%

5. MISTRAL HOJRIS Laura Bechtelsheimer GBR 72.450%

6. PAGANINI Jeroen Devroe BEL 72.200%

6. LUXFORM’S NIMBLY Alex van Silfhout NED 72.200%

8. PREMIER Aat van Essen (NED) 72.050%

9. MR PRESIDENT Stephanie Coxford GBR 71.150%

10.ZANCOR Anna-Katharina Lüttgen GER 70.650%

11. QUANTUM TYME Evi Strasser CAN 70.450%

12. CALIMUCHO Julia Chevanne FRA 70.050%

13 DREAM OF HEIDELBERG Emile Faurie GBR 68.300%

14. RANDON Michal Rapcewicz POL 67.800%

15. PROBLESK Iryna Lis BLR 66.400%

www.olympiahorseshow.co.uk

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WORLD number one Anky van Grunsven (NED) and IPS Salinero predictably won the grand prix dressage at Olympia, London, on 17 December with 78.042%.

“This is a difficult arena with the crowd so close and Salinero was a little afraid in the first extended trot, but after that I had a very good feeling with him,” said Anky. “His flying changes were the best he’s ever done.”

The favourites for tomorrow’s FEI World Cup Qualifier will debut their new kür, a classical piece featuring a large orchestra that has been composed by Wibi Soerjadi.

Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer was not only best of the British, second on Mistral Hojris, she also scored a personal best of 75.33%. This is the highest score any British rider has ever achieved in international grand prix. Her Danish-bred 12-year-old contained his nerves to produce consistent eights from all five judges and no big mistakes.

“He’s been gaining confidence all the time,” said Laura. “I’m able to trust him in the arena now and allow him to get those higher marks.

“How tomorrow goes is up to the gods, there’ll be more atmosphere and I’ll be nursing him through the test.”

Laura had her hands full after her final halt and salute when Mistral Hojris set off around the arena at speed when the audience clapped.

Third place went to Holland’s Aat van Essen and Premier. The former carriage-driving champion turned to dressage six years ago and Premier is his first international grand prix horse.

“He loves the public and the public here seemed to love him,” said Aat, who couldn’t believe his luck at being given the chance to come and compete in London.

“There are many good riders in Holland so it is difficult to get a place,” he said. “I only found out on Wednesday that I was coming and I’m very happy to be here.”

The remaining three British riders, Stephanie Croxford, Carl Hester and Emile Faurie, have all qualified for tomorrow’s FEI World Cup Qualifier.

Don’t miss next week’s Horse&Hound for the full report for Olympia

Olympia dressage grand prix results

1. IPS Salinero (Anky van Grunsven) NED 1873 points

2. Mistral Hojris (Laura Bechtolsheimer) GBR 1808 points

3. Premier (Aat van Essen) NED 1733 points

4. Max (Kyra Kyrklund) FIN 1704 points

5. Luxform’s Nimbly (Alex van Silfhout) NED 1684 points

6. Afrikka (Anders Dahl) DEN 1667 points

7. Mr President (Stephanie Croxford) GBR 1661 points

8. Dolendo (Carl Hester) GBR 1640 points

9. Paganini (Jeroen Devroe) BEL 1631 points

10. Zancor (Anna-Katharina Lüttgen) GER 1611 points

14. Dream of Heidelberg II (Emile Faurie) GBR 1563 points

www.olympiahorseshow.co.uk

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Many of the world’s best show jumping and dressage riders will be at this year’s London International Horse Show at Olympia.

The show jumping classes have attracted such big names as Switzerland’s Markus Fuchs and Beat Mandli, Ireland’s Jessica Kurten and Cian O’Connor, America’s Beezie Madden and Germany’s Marcus Ehning and Alois Pollmann-Schweckhorst. These foreign raiders are among the riders who will be battling it out against Britain’s brightest jumping stars, including five members of the Whitaker family.

In the FEI World Cup Dressage Qualifier, all eyes will be on Anky van Grusven as she aims to repeat her 2005 victory. Among the riders hoping to rain on her parade are Britain’s Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer and the crowd’s favourite Steph Croxford with Mr President. Foreign challengers include Spain’s Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and Finland’s Kyra Kyrklund.

Show director Simon Brooks-Ward said: “Olympia always attracts world class entries but even by our already high standards we will have a glittering line-up of stars at this year’s show.”

Tuesday evening’s dressage performance will include a masterclass from Anky Van Grunsven before the main FEI World Cup Kür, sponsored by The Berkeley Group and supported by Horse & Hound. Other highlights to look forward to include the Shetland Grand National, dog agility, Ukranian Cossacks and musical ride of the Household Cavalry, who will entertain daily from Monday 17-Saturday 22 December. The Riding Club quadrille takes place on Wednesday morning and Mountain and Moorland showing is on Thursday morning.

Ticket prices and availability

Although Thursday, Friday and Saturday are sold out, tickets for all performances on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are still available. Tickets cost £21, £31, £41 and £47, and are subject to a £2.25 booking fee. A 40% discount for senior citizen group bookings is available for Monday evening and both performances on Tuesday.

Getting there

• By tube: Kensington Olympia station on the District Line is adjacent to the venue.
• By bus: Hammersmith Road bus numbers 9,10, 27, 28; Holland Road bus number 49, or North End Road bus number 391. London Transport information: 020 7222 1234
• By rail: Kensington Olympia mainline station has direct services to and from Clapham Junction, Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Rugby. Rail information: 08457 484950
• By car: some parking is available near to the venue. You can pre-book by calling 0871 871 9809

Visit Horse & Hound

H&H has teamed up with its sister magazines Eventing and Horse at stand (GH4) at Olympia. There’s a chance to win over £2,000 worth of show jumps from Jump4Joy, one year’s free insurance from Amtrust, and a Rambo duo rug as well as lots of instant freebies in our tombola.

Make sure that you get to the stand early so you don’t miss out on great subscription discounts and a free Masta rug with every new subscription, available while stocks last, and pick up a free copy of Eventing and HORSE magazine. The first 200 visitors to the stand each day will also get a goody bag.

Can’t make it?

Log on to www.horseandhound.co.uk for the latest news and reports from our on site reporters, or watch on TV: Olympia TV listings

For more information

Visit: www.olympiahorseshow.com or call the box office. Tel: 0870 1432202

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full Olympia preview, on sale tomorrow (Thursday 13 December), which includes a guide to the dressage competitors plus 25 fascinating facts about the show’s history

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International dressage competition organisers have been asked to invite only the top three riders to line up at prize-givings for safety reasons.

The request, made by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), is a result of moves to regulate dressage award ceremonies following some recent potentially dangerous incidents.

At last year’s World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Anky van Grunsven’s horse Keltec Salinero (pictured) bolted when the crowd went wild during the mid-week team prize-giving.

“There has been the odd dodgy moment, and we don’t want any danger to welfare,” said Richard Davison, vice-president of the International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC), which has been working on the proposals with the FEI.

“This is just part of the discussions we’re having about prize-givings — the proposals are by no means finished yet. We need a formal system — there is currently none in place.”

But he said that although only the top three would line up, the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-placed riders would be introduced by a commentator and walk on horseback round the arena and out again first.

“We need a trial period; this has to happen in consultation with organisers, because they’re the experts at selling the sport,” Davison added. “We need a more special prize-giving that’s safe.”

The FEI has also reminded organisers not to encourage loud music at these ceremonies.

Aachen showground’s chief executive, Frank Kemperman, said he was positive about the recommendations.

He told H&H: “Dressage horses can’t stay as still in the line ups, so if something can be done to keep them safe, to avoid a repeat of what happened with Salinero, we support that.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (29 November, ’07)

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Reigning Olympic dressage champion Anky van Grunsven will be giving a masterclass again at Olympia, on Tuesday 16 December.

Anky is also one of the riders entered for the FEI World Cup qualifier later that evening. With the Beijing Olympics just months away, all eyes will be on the Dutch star to see whether she is on track to win Olympic gold for the third time.

For more information or to book tickets, visit www.olympiahorseshow.com or (tel: 0870 143 2202).

This news in brief was first published in Horse & Hound (18 October, ’07)

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Isabell Werth restored German pride by taking the grand prix special individual gold medal at the European dressage championships in Turin (1 September).

Despite a mistake in the two-time changes, for which she scored fours, Isabell completed on 78.36% riding her 2006 world medallist, Satchmo. The pair scored a 10 from judge Leif Toernblad (DEN) for the left trot half-pass that had caused them grief in yesterday’s team competition.

Isabell said: “I was really happy with Satchmo, particularly in the early trot work and passage tour — he showed a lot of energy and elegance today.”

Anky van Grunsven (NED) was second on Keltec Salinero scoring 77.48% with no big mistakes.

Anky said: “My trainer Sjef [Janssen] said that I had Salinero’s passage too short today, so tomorrow I will try to make the passage bigger and hopefully beat Isabell.”

Anky’s Dutch team-mate and pupil Imke Schellekens-Bartels took bronze with the 13-year-old mare, Hunter Douglas Sunrise.

“Sunrise was in great shape today, even better than in yesterday’s grand prix,” said Imke. “To me the whole test felt fluent and easy.”

First time championship contender Anna Ross-Davies was best of the British today. She scored 68.04% riding Donald McTaggart’s Liebling, which was good enough for 16th and a place in tomorrow’s kür.

Fiona Bigwood improved on her team test performance with 67.36% on Mr G de Lully, just missing out on tomorrow’s finally in 18th.

Laura Bechtolsheimer had mistakes in the changes on Mistral Hojris, which put them in 20th position, just ahead of Emma Hindle on Lancet, who also had problems with the changes.

View the full results

Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound for a full report and pictures from the European dressage championships (6 September)

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For the first time in 40 years, The Netherlands beat Germany at the European dressage championships held in Turin, Italy (30 August – 2 September).

Top performances from Hans Peter Minderhoud (Exquis Nadine), Imke Schellekens-Bartels (Hunter Douglas Sunrise) and Anky van Grunsven (Salinero, pictured right) were enough to put the pressure on Germany’s Isabell Werth, who was the last to go.

Isabell needed 78% on Satchmo in order for Germany to win again, but they fell short of this with 76.71% after a mistake in the first trot half-pass in an otherwise solid performance.

Anky said: “We thought before we came here that team gold was a possibility. We had a really good team and apart from Laurens [van Lieren — the drop score with 68.54%] we had no real mistakes. You have to have no mistakes if you want to beat Germany.”

Isabell Werth added: “It was very close and I’m sorry we lost gold, but The Netherlands have been fighting for this medal for a long time — congratulations to them. Today it is their show and tomorrow is another day.”

Britain finished in fifth place, meaning they have qualified for the Olympics in Hong Kong 2008.

Laura Bechtolsheimer was best of the Brits riding Mistral Hojris to 69.583%, despite a mistake in the one-time changes. Their highlights were the passage and extensions. Team-mate Emma Hindle scored a respectable 68.042%, but also had a mistake in the one-time changes, plus the canter zig-zag.

All four British riders finished in the top 30 and so are through to tomorrow’s grand prix special (1 September).

The fight for bronze was close and Sweden took the honours, finishing 3% ahead of Britain. Switzerland just pipped Britain to fourth place by 0.3% after a stunning 74.58% test by Silvia Ikle and Salieri, who scored consistent nines for their piaffe/passage tour.

The Danes fought hard but their top rider, Andreas Helgstrand, was missing his world medallist Blue Hors Matine. He scored 70.25% on the eight-year-old Gredstedgaards Casmir, but the team still had to settle for sixth place and so do not qualify for Hong Kong.

Individuals are still able to qualify, with riders being selected from the world rankings until all the places are filled.

Don’t miss the full report from the European dressage championships in next week’s Horse & Hound (6 September)

Team result

GOLD: The Netherlands 222.083

SILVER: Germany 220.792

BRONZE: Sweden 208.000

FIFTH PLACE: Britain 205.042

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Dutch team chef d’equipe Sjef Janssen has resigned with immediate effect.

“I’m a 200% professional and I expect that from my A and B squad, too,” said Janssen. “If I don’t get full commitment from them all and can’t get them all on the same line one-and-a-half years before the Olympics, then I think it is better for me to concentrate on Anky and the other individuals in the team who I train privately anyway.”

Under Janssen’s management, The Netherlands beat the German team for the first time in 28 years of competition at Aachen 2005.

George de Jong, the Dutch Equestrian Federations director for Top Sport expressed his disappointment at Janssen’s decision, saying: “We had a good feeling that we were on the right road for the preparations for Hong Kong. Janssen gave new stimuli to the management of the dressage team and worked on a very professional level.”

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On International Women’s Day (8 March), the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has paid tribute to the large number of women involved at the top level of equestrian sport.

Equestrianism is one of the few sports where men and women compete on equal terms – and with Meredith Michaels Beerbaum leading the World Jumping rankings, Anky van Grunsven as world dressage champion and Zara Phillips as World Eventing Champion, it would seem they are leading the field.

Women also make huge contributions to equestrianism from the ground. The FEI itself has been presided by women for the past 20 years: HRH The Princess Royal from 1986 to 1994, followed by HRH The Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón (ESP) 1994 – 2006 and now HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein (JOR). Both The Princess Royal and the current FEI President are Olympic athletes.

Women have not always been able to compete against men in equestrian sport – up until World War I they were still riding side-saddle. The military organised and competed in competitions and women watched from the sidelines. In the 1920s smaller competitions were organised for the wives and sisters of famous riders. It was only in the 1950s when civil authorities began to run equestrian events that female riders began to be taken seriously.

In the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, four women were allowed to compete against men in the Dressage discipline. Lis Hartel of Denmark — who eight years earlier had contracted polio and only partly regained the use of her limbs — won a silver medal. Women were included in the show jumping for the first time at the Stockholm Olympics in 1956 and in 1964 they competed in the eventing section of the Tokyo Olympics.

www.horsesport.org

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Anky van Grunsven has given birth to a daughter. The dual Olympic gold medallist was admitted to hospital yesterday, suffering from mild pre-eclampsia. At 8:15pm she gave birth to Ava Eden van Grunsven.

The new baby, which weighs 3100 grams, is a sister to Anky’s son Yannick, who was born in November 2004.

According to Anky’s website (www.anky.com), mother and baby are both doing well.

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