Latest from Horse & Hound in Mclain-ward

Sadness as former British team horse dies aged 13 despite ‘every possible effort to save him’

Becky Murray — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:35:45 +0000

Imperial HBF, the former British team horse who joined McLain Ward last year, has died aged 13.

McLain said “Paddy” was put down on Tuesday (10 February) following complications from colic.

“Paddy suffered a bout of colic and, despite two surgeries and every possible effort to save him, the incredibly difficult decision was made – by his owner Michael Smith, myself, and a devoted team of caretakers and veterinarians – that the kindest and most humane choice was to let him go,” said McLain.

“Paddy fought tirelessly, just as he did throughout his career as a competitor, and our entire family and team are devastated by his loss. During this challenging time, his owner, Mike Smith, exemplified true horsemanship, spending countless hands-on hours by Paddy’s side, doing everything possible to support his recovery and never wavering in his trust in the team caring for him.”

McLain added that the vets and support staff at Rood & Riddle Wellington along with Dr Tim Ober, “were nothing short of extraordinary”.

“As always, I am deeply grateful to my own team for their unwavering dedication and compassion throughout this process. Godspeed, Imperial,” he said.

Imperial HBF was bred by Laura Tinto of HBF Stud, in Glasgow. He was produced as a young horse by Alex Barr, picking up top placings at home and abroad. Tim bought the son of Glasgow VH Merelsnest in 2022 and he was put in the ownership of Unex Equestrian alongside Tim’s father Bill Gredley and Tim’s wife Rachel.

In a previous H&H interview Tim said: “We started quite small and worked our way up. It was a bit testing at times – I remember walking out of the grand prix at Wellington on my feet because he jumped so high – but when you know horses have that kind of quality and you have that belief in them, you’re always willing to put the time and effort into them. In the end he came good.”

Imperial HBF with Tim Gredley. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Tim and Imperial HBF jumped at the top level at prestigious shows around the world and Tim credited him for getting “my career back where I wanted it to be”. They represented Great Britain at Nations Cups, including in St Gallen, Barcelona and Hickstead, and Longines League of Nations events in Florida, Rotterdam and Abu Dhabi.

Imperial HBF was sold to McLain in March 2025. Tim said he was sad but described it as exciting for Paddy’s future – adding that his going to McLain “was a big part of the equation” and he believed the pair would be contenders for the Rolex grands prix and other big classes.

During their time together McLain and Imperial HBF proved an exciting combination with grand prix placings in La Baule, Dublin, and Aachen. Their last international appearance was at Traverse City, Michigan, USA.

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New rider for Olympic silver medal-winning horse who switches nationality

Becky Murray — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:49:04 +0000

Ilex, the “wonderful partner” of McLain Ward who helped Team USA to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, will be campaigned by a new rider for Brazil.

The 12-year-old Baltic VDL gelding has left McLain’s stable to return home to Bonne Chance barn, where he will be ridden by Olympic rider Marlon Modolo Zanotelli. Marlon represented his country at the Tokyo Games and the 2022 World Championships.

Ilex joined McLain in January 2024 as a potential Paris Olympic contender, having been successfully competed at the top level by Brazil’s Fabio Leivas Da Costa.

McLain and Ilex quickly built up a successful bond; they were part of the US Nations Cup team at Wellington in March 2024, and that month they finished second in the Wellington $500,000 Rolex grand prix. On 6 July McLain and Ilex were named on the US team for the Paris Olympics and the following day the pair finished runners-up in the Rolex grand prix of Aachen.

Their top form continued on to the Games, McLain’s sixth Olympic appearance, where he joined teammates Laura Kraut and Karl Cook. The USA won silver, behind Great Britain in gold. Following the Olympics, McLain and Illex continued to enjoy top placings at home and abroad, including being part of the winning US team at the CSIO5* 1.60m Longines League of Nations Ocala leg in March.

“Today our team said goodbye to the wonderful Ilex who after two great seasons will return to his home at Bonne Chance Farm to again represent Brazil,” said McLain.

“We are grateful for the opportunity that we were given to ride and compete Ilex to numerous five-star grand prix successes and to bring home the team silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.”

McLain thanked Gilberto Sayao and his team at Bonne Chance for the opportunity and “supporting our journey to achieve lofty goals”.

“A special thank you to Fabio Leivas da Costa, Lucia Rivas and Diego Perez Bilbao for their efforts in creating this partnership,” he said.

“Ilex has been a wonderful partner with an exuberant and kind personality and we look forward to seeing his continued success in the sport. While we will miss Ilex in our stable, we are pleased to see him with a rider and horseman of the quality of Marlon Zanotelli. Bonne chance Marlon.”

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Top rider confirms Olympic horse’s retirement with ‘a tremendous amount of pride and gratitude’

Becky Murray — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 13:39:17 +0000

McLain Ward has paid tribute to Contagious, his “championship star” who has retired aged 16.

McLain and Contagious helped the United States showjumping team to silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and team gold at the Pan American Games in 2023, where they also won individual bronze. They were part of the team that finished 11th at the World Championships at Herning in 2022.

“With a tremendous amount of pride and gratitude, we would like to announce the retirement of Contagious,” said McLain.

“Contagious came to us from Reed Kessler, who produced him beautifully through his early career. Through the incredible support of Beechwood Stables, Lise and Annabel Revers and Max Amaya, we acquired Contagious in 2018.”

McLain and Contagious recorded top placings around the world, including victories in Dublin, Aachen, Leipzig and New York.

McLain said he is “a horse who has always given his best, and at times more than that”.

“We hoped for him to be a successful grand prix horse. In the end he became a championship star, competing successfully at a World Games, two World Cup finals, a Pan Am Games, winning team gold and individual bronze,” he said.

“His crowning achievement was being a member of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team that brought home a silver medal. Contagious will enjoy his retirement at the beautiful Beechwood Stables in Weston, Massachusetts.”

McLain added a “special thanks to all our team who worked with him and cared for him so diligently over the years”.

“Especially our home team led by Lee and Erica McKeever, Owen Rogers and Virginie Casterman. Thank you for all the great moments,” he said.

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An iconic venue returns and USA team wins by the narrowest margin: ‘We live for days like this’

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 17:26:51 +0000

In this week’s international showjumping news round-up, we head to the iconic Grand Palais on the Champs-Élysées in the centre of Paris, where top-tier showjumping makes a welcome return after several years. There was much excitement across the pond too, where, in Florida, the second leg of the Longines League of Nations produced a high-pressure finale, resulting in the narrowest of winning margins.

Read on for a round-up of this week’s leading international showjumping news stories and results.

Showjumping news: iconic venue makes welcome return

After a hiatus of several years during which the Grand Palais was transformed into an Olympic sporting venue for Paris 2024, top-flight showjumping made a welcome return to the iconic venue, on the Champs-Élysées in central Paris.

Under the breathtaking glass roof, the prestigious Saut Hermès took place over three days and Sunday’s feature grand prix was won by Simon Delestre with Cayman Jolly Jumper, finishing just ahead of Great Britain’s Robert Whitaker riding the brilliant stallion Vermento.

Robert and the Blatchfords’ 12-year-old stallion were drawn first against the clock, producing a double clear in 41.70sec. But France’s Simon Delestre triumphed in a time of 41.21sec, marking a historic third victory in this prestigious class.

“You can sense the weight of history at this venue,” said the in-form Simon, who won the Rolex grand prix at the Dutch Masters the previous week.

Robert said: “Simon was too quick, but I have no regrets.”

Great Britain’s Allana Clutterbuck (Vykinbay) and Claudia Moore (Hardesther) finished second overall in the Les Talents Hermès team competition.

Saut Hermes results

USA claim victory in showjumping team thriller

With a vocal home crowd to propel them, the US squad of Lillie Keenan (Argan De Beliard), Aaron Vale (Carissimo 25), Laura Kraut on Dorado 212 and McLain Ward with Ilex delivered a dazzling victory in the second leg of the Longines League of Nations (LLN) in Ocala, Florida.

“To win on home soil and to have everyone see one of the best venues in the world is so special, because we all share an incredible sport,” said 28-year-old LLN debutante Lillie, who referred to Argan De Beliard as her “trusty team-mate”. “The more pressure the better for us.”

But in a dramatic evening of twists and turns, the contest remained nail-bitingly close at every stage and Germany were left ruing a first-round time-fault which kept them one point off the victors in the final standings. USA’s victory was only sealed with a final double clear from final rider McLain Ward (Ilex), marking a first LLN success for the United States.

McLain Ward and Ilex produce the double clear that clinched victory for USA in the Longines League of Nations in Ocala, Florida. (Image credit: FEI)

World number seven McLain, who spent four weeks on the sidelines after a fall in January said: “The drama at the end is a testament to the format – it makes for excellent sport and competition.

“When Sophie Hinners [Germany’s final rider] jumped clear, I got a smile on my face and thought, ‘OK, game on’. This is what we do – you focus and this is what you live for.”

Belgium finished third with 13 faults, equal with Ireland who missed out on the final podium place by just one second when the two teams were split by accumulated times.

“We set very high expectations of ourselves, so obviously we’re disappointed,” said Ireland’s chef d’equipe Michael Blake, who picked Darragh Kenny (Eddy Blue), Cian O’Connor (Bentley De Sury) and 20-year-old Tom Wachman with Tabasco De Toxandria Z as his trio for round two; Daniel Coyle and Incredible sitting it out after a four-fault tally in round one.

“Some of the poles that dropped were ones that we ordinarily wouldn’t have, but that’s jumping. There were some real positives out there and plenty to build on,” added Michael.

Great Britain repeated their Abu Dhabi result of sixth. Pathfinders Ben Maher and Dallas Vegas Batilly returned from an eight-fault first round to stay faultless in round two, while Jessica Mendoza (In The Air) hit a rail in each round and anchor rider Harry Charles (Casquo Blue) jumped clear in round one but added four penalties in round two. GB’s LLN team debutant Charlie Jones, 26, produced a super opener for just four faults on Capitale 6, but was on the sidelines for round two.

Chef d’equipe Di Lampard said, “It was a tough competition with strong teams and a strong course but everyone handled it well.

“The team were so unlucky; we were four faults away from third place and a clear from Jess or Harry in the second round would have clinched it.”

Di credited Charlie’s “unbelievable” performance.

“He had an early rail at fence two but kept it together to come home on four faults, all credit to him, he was outstanding.,” she said. “It is a shame with this format he couldn’t go again.”

LLN results

Olympic champion lands grand prix

After a nine-way battle between some of the titans of the sport, the reigning Olympic champion Christian Kukuk landed Thursday’s $350,000 Lugano grand prix at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.

Riding the hugely exciting mare Just Be Gentle, with whom he jumped double clear in the LLN, the German rider set an unbeatable target from first draw. Ireland’s multi-medallist Cian O’Connor came closest with his own Iron Man but next-generation talent was hot on their heels, with 25-year-old French rider Nina Mallevaey (Nikka VD Bisschop) and 20-year-old US competitor Mimi Gochman (Inclen BH) in third and fourth respectively, the top five rounded out by the mighty combination of Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward.

“She’s as sharp as a lion and in the ring she just wants to go fast,” said Christian of the Dutch warmblood by Tyson. “I’m excited for the rest of the year with her.”

Lugano grand prix results

Showjumping news: “We’re over the moon”

Finally in this week’s international showjumping news round-up, we head to Wellington, Florida. As the Winter Equestrian Festival reaches the final furlong, 20-year-old US rider Ansgar Holgers Jr landed the biggest success of his career in the $200,000 KASK CSI4* grand prix with Pixel-K Van’t Kattenhey.

“Any win feels nice, but this is definitely the icing on the cake,” he said, after beating Spencer Smith (HHS Seattle) and Shane Sweetnam (Gilona AO) to the top of the podium.

Ashlee Bond was among the other winners this week, riding Night Wish to victory in the WEF Challenge Cup. Their partnership hasn’t been plain sailing, however.

“He had a rearing issue and he was quite opinionated,” she said. “I worked with Leo Rauscher and he spent two weeks with him and completely turned this horse around. I’m really proud of the work because this was almost a lost cause. The fact that we’re here a year after he did his first 1.40m is really special. My goal is for him to do the FEI World Championships next year at Aachen, and the LA Olympics is my end goal. I think this horse has a good shot at jumping clear every day. I’m working backwards from three years to today.”

WEF results
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A long-awaited win and an incredible comeback in the battle for Olympic qualification

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 17:27:33 +0000

It’s been a bumper week for international showjumping news this week. Irish showjumper Shane Sweetnam is ranked number 12 in the world and has contested the World Cup Final but, somewhat surprisingly, had yet to win a World Cup qualifier. But, thanks to his flying grey James Kann Cruz, that all changed last week, when he won the feature class in Lexington, USA.

There was also a mighty comeback in the hard-fought battle for Olympic showjumping qualification, as well as the medals, at the Pan American Games. You’ll find all that and more British success in this week’s international showjumping news and results round-up.

Showjumping news: a long-awaited World Cup win

Irish showjumper Shane Sweetnam won the Longines FEI World Cup at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, USA, riding the brilliant grey James Kann Cruz with whom he won team silver at the European Showjumping Championships. The US-based rider held off the challenge of defending champion Daniel Bluman of Israel riding Gemma W, with US rider Devin Ryan finishing third for the second week running on Eddie Blue after an 11-way jump-off over Alan Wade’s track. This was Shane’s first World Cup success.

Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz make headlines by winning the World Cup qualifier in Lexington. (Image credit: LINDSAY ANNE BROWN)

“To win this class is a big deal,” said Shane, who piloted the scopey 10-year-old to the top of the leaderboard from fourth draw, despite a dramatic slip on the turn back to the combination. “It was always one of the classes I wanted to win. I really did as much as I could in the ring. James Kann Cruz had to show how amazing he was [after the slip].”

“He does spend a lot of time in the air, but obviously, that’s a help,” added Shane. “He’s a very smart horse. But I still think there’s more room there for us to go to another level.”

National Horse Show Lexington results

The name’s Bond Jamesbond De Hay

Spectators at the CSI5*-W Longines Equita Lyon in France were treated to a pulsating and eventful 14-way jump-off to decide the third leg of the Longines FEI World Cup Western European League series. Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet and the 12-year-old stallion Bond Jamesbond De Hay were neither shaken nor stirred when scorching to victory ahead of home hero Julien Epaillard (Dubai Du Cedre), with British riders Ben Maher (Dallas Vegas Batilly) and the world’s leading under-25 Harry Charles on Romeo 88 third and fourth respectively.

“My horse doesn’t have much experience with jump-offs, but I felt I had something to play with today,” said Gregory, who’s next leg will be at the London International Horse Show in December. “I am getting to know him more and more, and he is showing so much scope and quality over the fences. I did not think he was that agile when I started riding him, so I am very happy with how things are developing.”

Ben Maher added: “It would always be nice to have a second go! But Gregory was unbeatable, so well done to him.”

Equita Lyon results

A mighty comeback for Olympic qualification: ‘I needed the defibrillator!’

Also making showjumping news headlines this week were the USA squad of McLain Ward (Contagious), Kent Farrington (Landon), Laura Kraut (Dorado 212) and Karl Cook (Caracole De La Roque), who made a mighty comeback from fifth position after an eventful first round to claim gold at the Pan American Games in Chile. The Canadians also rallied to move into silver, with Brazil dropping from top spot to finish with bronze. With a ticket for the 2024 Olympics also at stake, there was delight for USA, Canada and fourth-placed Mexico, who are now Paris-bound.

“If you were watching it with nobody in the hunt, you’d have to say this was fantastic sport. But when you had somebody in it, it was very, very concerning at times because of course the qualification for Paris is such a big deal to every country and no team wanted to go home and say ‘guess what, we didn’t qualify!’” summed up Canada’s chef d’equipe Ian Millar. “I needed the defibrillator, but other than that I’m fine!”

American riders dominated the individual podium too, but gold went to Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barch after a brilliant performance with his quirky mare Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio, who makes a performance of going in the arena.

“To win this kind of championship in South America is a dream come true,” said Stephan, who was flanked on the podium by Kent Farrington in silver and McLain Ward, who secured bronze.

“Since I started this journey 25 years ago in Rio de Janeiro, I worked every day for a day like this – I want to just say thank you to everybody that has helped me during this journey.”

Pan American Games results

Showjumping news: ‘What a horse!’: British top three

Graham Gillespie paid tribute to his 15-year-old partner Veneno by saying “What a horse!” after the pair won the CSI2* grand prix in Vilamoura, Portugal, in another successful week for British riders. The grand prix podium was all British, with Guy Williams and Ernie Of Greenhill Z finishing second and James Smith (Tayvale Hunky Dory) third.

Villamoura Champions Tour results.

‘A privilege to ride on your wings’: top mare retires from competition aged 17

Becky Murray — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 15:39:17 +0000

HH Azur, the phenomenal ride of US showjumper McLain Ward, has retired from competition aged 17.

The announcement came yesterday (2 July) after McLain pulled HH Azur up during the first round of the Rolex grand prix, when the pair knocked down the second and third fences. Going into Aachen, McLain was the live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping, having scored back-to-back grand prix wins at CHI Geneva and then the Dutch Masters, with “Annie”.

“Dear Annie, I knew this day would come but somehow you always were able to reach deep inside and achieve greatness time and time again,” said McLain.

“We all know there comes a time when your mind and body disagree but it is still hard to let go. You have given all of us so much but it’s time to say goodbye to our sport and retire in good health.”

Annie was bred in Belgium by Nathalie Beaufort, and was competed in young horse classes by Nathalie’s husband Pedro Nolasco. When she was bought by Francois Mathy in 2014, Annie’s international career began with Francois’ rider Perez Bilbao, before she was flown to America in early 2015 to begin her career with McLain, under the co-ownership of Double H Farm.

McLain and Annie’s first international victory together was a CSI5* 1.50m at Spruce Meadows in June 2015. The pair’s first team event was the Rome leg of the Nations Cup the following year, where they won the grand prix and helped Team USA to second place in the team competition. They made their Olympic debut together at Rio that summer, where they won team silver and were ninth individually.

In 2017 Annie and McLain became World Cup champions. Annie was named US Equestrian’s international horse of the year, and McLain won equestrian of the year, after the pair had not a single fault in team competition in 2017. The following year they were fourth in the World Cup final, and had continued to rack up five-star wins and placings around the world since.

“I knew from our beginning you were better than me and that it would take every bit of my ability to not let you down. Your wings carried all of us whose lives you have touched on an incredible journey that is the epitome of why we seek such lofty goals and pursue them with such passion,” said McLain.

“You are the very definition of a queen. It was a privilege to have been the one to ride on your wings, to be your partner and to be part of your life.”

McLain added a “special thank you” to those who had been involved in Annie’s career; Lee, Erica, Virginie, Kirstie, the Mathy family, the Harrison family, and all the “incredible team”.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in Annie’s and my journey. Without each and every one of you the story we’ve written would not have been possible,” he said.

“I’m forever grateful for your contributions and I have no doubt Annie has touched your life in a positive way as she has everyone’s. Happy retirement, my Queen.”

‘She remains one of the most beautiful stories of my life’: meet the breeder behind this global superstar mare

Jennifer Donald — Sat, 27 May 2023 15:32:46 +0000

After winning back-to-back Rolex grands prix at CHI Geneva and then at The Dutch Masters with his “Queen”, the brilliant mare HH Azur, US rider McLain Ward is the current live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping.

Their Grand Slam journey will continue at CHIO Aachen next month, but how did all begin for this much-loved 17-year-old mare? Adriana Van Tilburg met HH Azur’s Belgian breeder Nathalie Beaufort to find out.

Nathalie Beaufort started to dream 18 years ago about breeding a foal. However, it did not go entirely without a hitch.

“My husband Pedro was competing HH Azur’s dam, Sion VD Zuuthoeve,” she says. “I asked Pedro if he could ask Sion VD Zuuthoeve’s owner if I could flush an embryo from the mare. Sion VD Zuuthoeve was actually meant to become a dressage horse, but Pedro was very successful with her in show jumping. It was agreed, so we took the mare to the vet to have her inseminated.

“I had already looked at possible suitable stallions and Pedro thought Argentinus would be a good choice,” she continues. “We tried three times and it just didn’t work. The vet said a son of Argentinus, Thunder Van De Zuuthoeve, was available. He was a young stallion and nobody knew of him, but when I saw him in the stable I instantly fell in love – he was fantastic to look at. He cost half the stud fee of Argentinus and we had fresh semen.

“She [Sion VD Zuuthoeve] became pregnant in one attempt and the embryo transfer went very well. The following year HH Azur was born, her birth name is Azur Garden’s Horses. She was a beautiful filly with long legs, and it was such a special feeling for me when she was born. She stayed with us as a yearling and two-year-old – I don’t like my young horses being reared in a big group of young horses as I am afraid of accidents. I have bred other foals and sometimes when they are weaned from their mothers, I let an older horse raise them. I have not bred another foal like HH Azur. When you breed a foal like HH Azur it is difficult to have a real eye to judge the other foals as she was just so special.”

Nathalie Beaufort and her home-bred horse Thor de Beaufort. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

‘It is very important for horses to be able to breathe in the field’

The next important chapter for HH Azur began when she turned three-years-old. She was broken-in and step-by-step she was prepared for a career in the sport. Nathalie recalls: “At three-years-old, we started her under saddle. It was incredible, every time you did an exercise that she hadn’t done before she made you feel like she knew that exercise. It was so easy for her to understand what we wanted from her.

“After a couple of months, I told Pedro we were going to stop her training and let her go back into the pasture, and when she was four-years-old we would pick it up again a bit. We took her to a competition maybe three times as a four-year-old, just as a learning experience. Then she went back in the pasture until she was five.

“As a five-year-old, we did the same again, and then as a six-year-old, she did a few international young horse competitions – not to win or place, but again for her experience,” explains Nathalie. “The most important thing for us was that she understood what we were asking of her and that she enjoyed it. We then built up to three-day shows. Even as a six-year-old, she was allowed to go out to pasture again after the season – it is very important for horses to be able to breathe and come into themselves in the field. HH Azur was fine with it all.

“As a seven-year-old, when we began again people started to recognise her and wondered why she was so good. We didn’t really want to show her to the outside world when she was five and six-years-old, we wanted to show her quality when she was seven. By then we were already getting offers from people who wanted to buy her. Pedro turned everything down because he thought she would be an Olympic mare – he had all this belief in her since she was three, but he realised he was not a good enough rider for her. He was a good rider for two-star level and we also didn’t have a sponsor or much money to ride at top level. Just riding well doesn’t get you there, everything around it has to be good too.”

HH Azur: ‘My heart is in my throat’

The success of HH Azur did not go unnoticed and the interest in her began to grow.

“At the end of her seventh year, François Mathy Sr came by and was very fond of her,” Nathalie recalls. “He thought we were asking a lot of money for her, but one day he came by with McLain Ward, who was very surprised by HH Azur’s quality. Pénélope Leprévost had also been to try HH Azur, no one really knows this, but François Mathy Sr also worked with Pénélope at the time. Initially, HH Azur was ridden in the international classes by François’s rider, Spaniard Diego Perez Bilbao. A few months after that, HH Azur left for America with McLain Ward. There, HH Azur’s next chapter began.”

It brings a lot of emotions for a breeder to see the horse that they bred and raised compete at the highest level. How does it feel for Nathalie Beaufort to see HH Azur compete at the highest level?

“I experience HH Azur’s success with two emotions,” she reveals. “The first is a great pride and an intense admiration for her when I see her jumping with McLain. But at the same time my heart is in my throat because she is no longer close to me. These two emotions often mix and bring tears to my eyes.

“Azur left at the dawn of her eighth birthday. We looked after her for over seven years and selling her was emotionally very hard. It creates a lot of emotional bonds when horses stay with their breeder for so long. I knew she had a great career ahead of her and that the financial means to get to that level are not insignificant. When she left for HH Farm with McLain Ward as her rider, I felt comforted. She was going to be fine in this new structure and today I can only continue to admire this magnificent mare. She remains one of the most beautiful stories of my life with my horses.”

As well as their magnificent recent success in the Rolex Grand Slam, McLain Ward and HH Azur have won grands prix all over the world, triumphed in the World Cup Final, represented USA in Nations Cups and won team silver at the 2016 Olympics.

With her brilliant success and fighting spirit, it is no wonder this wonderful mare has become one of the most popular horses of all time, thanks hugely to her wonderful upbringing.

British grand prix victor needs a scoreboard double-take, grand slam contender stunned and a six-bar flyer

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 18:04:54 +0000

Every once in a while a jump-off leaves you speechless and Sunday’s Rolex grand prix at The Dutch Masters was truly exceptional. The prospect of having another rider continuing their journey for the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping is brilliant news for the sport.

Elsewhere, we watched Irish riders clear 1.85m in a Spanish six-bar and win a Dubai grand prix, while Great Britain’s James Smith continued his simply astounding run with grand prix victory on the Sunshine Tour. Here is your weekly round-up of international showjumping news and results.

Fifty shades of scopey

Irish showjumper Ciaran Nallon rode the nine-year-old Fifty Shades Of Grey (pictured, main image) over a 1.85m final fence to win the six-bar on the Andalucia Sunshine Tour. Thirteen combinations lined up but the Irish duo were the only faultless performers after the fourth round. At the show, British rider Matt Sampson also won a ranking class riding the 14-year-old mare Ebolensky.

Andalucia Sunshine Tour six bar results

Breen’s grand prix success

Trevor Breen and the super mare Germaine W sealed a brilliant run in the UAE with victory in the final CSI2* grand prix at the Emirates Equestrian Centre in Dubai. Drawn fourth in the nine-way jump-off, the pair swooped home fastest of the four double clears.

“Germaine has been in super form the whole trip so I’m delighted,” Trevor told H&H. “She did two Nations Cups really well, we finished second in one, third in the other, we capped off the five-star competitions with a third in the grand prix, then she won the two-star grand prix here. I can’t ask for more than that.

“The time allowed was quite tight in round one and there were a few riders clear with time faults, my brother Shane Breen [Can Ya Makan] was one of them, so it was a tough first round. I watched a couple go in the jump-off, but I had my plan and there were a couple of fast guys after me which made me go for it. So I did a couple of leave-out strides from fence one to two and to the last fence, so I think I really nicked it there.”

Trevor describes Mandy Hall’s mare, a five-star winner in Dublin last year, as “a great horse for me”.

“She loved Dubai,” said Trevor, who plans to target Royal Windsor next with Germaine W. “She likes the sun and she just seemed to get better and better out there.”

CSI2* Dubai results

James Smith and Arkuga win the Andalucia Sunshine Tour grand prix (Image credit: creditUnknown)

British grand prix riders are separated by just one hundredth of a second

The CSI4* grand prix on week five of the Andalucia Sunshine Tour resulted in a British one-two, with James Smith (Arkuga) and Karl Robins (Equine America G Camille HBF) separated by just 0.01sec. James admitted he had to look twice at the score board after his round, not least because he thought he’d knocked the first fence down in the nine-way jump-off.

“It was close! Arkuga jumped a bit to the side over the first fence and I half had it in my head that he’d knocked it down, but when I came back round everyone was shouting for me,” James told H&H. “Luckily it worked out – I had to look twice at the clock though because I still wasn’t sure!

“I’m delighted to get a big win, he’s been so consistent,” James added of the Renwicks’ 12-year-old home-bred – by Arko III out of Laura’s multi-winning mare Beluga – who was named “Messi” by their football-loving son, Jack.

“Big thanks to the Renwicks for letting me ride him, he’s naturally fast which makes everything so much easier. That’s probably the biggest grand prix track we’ve jumped so far and he just takes it in his stride. He has a great attitude – he wants to do it.”

Arkuga is looked after by Nikki Park and delighted owner Laura said: “We are so incredibly proud to have bred this superstar who has formed such a brilliant partnership with James over the last few months. Over the moon is an understatement!”

Andalucia Sunshine Tour CSI4* grand prix results

McLain Ward and HH Azur win their second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam at the Dutch Masters (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Ward keeps his Grand Slam dream alive

All roads now lead to Aachen this summer for US showjumper McLain Ward and the outstanding mare HH Azur. They won a second consecutive leg of the Rolex Grand Slam at The Dutch Masters in the Netherlands after one of the sport’s most spectacular jump-offs.

“I am so proud of my team and my horse – and a little proud of myself,” said McLain, who is the first rider since Scott Brash in 2015 to claim two consecutive Majors in the now four-event series. “The Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping has truly raised the bar of the sport and winning a Major is one of the greatest moments in a rider’s career.”

From a stellar line-up that included eight of the top 10 riders in the world, a mammoth field of 16 jumped clear in round one of Sunday’s Rolex grand prix. The track set by Louis Konickx had championship dimensions but even in round two, these world-class combinations made light work of the challenge.

The jump-off ignited straight away with the opening riders coming out all guns blazing. Drawn fourth, McLain eclipsed the leading time set by Julien Epaillard of France riding Donatello D’Auge, rocketing home in 37.86sec. He had a few anxious moments as Simon Delestre (Cayman Jolly Jumper) scorched round in typical style and the Frenchman was up on the clock, only to hit the final Rolex oxer, dropping them to 10th behind the nine double clears. Less than a second split the top five riders, with Julien taking second and world number one Henrik von Eckermann finishing third on the incomparable King Edward.

McLain had travelled from the US, where he has been competing at Florida’s Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), for the event and was stunned by the turn of events, which keeps his Rolex Grand Slam dream alive in this, its 10th year.

“I don’t think it has quite sunk in yet – it was a lot of stress having to watch the remaining 12 riders in the jump-off,” said McLain, who picked up a hefty €330,000 (just shy of £292,000) first prize. “The level here is so high and I think later tonight I will realise what we have achieved.”

McLain’s previous success came in the Rolex grand prix of Geneva in December, again with “Annie”.

“She is smarter than everybody else and is truly a queen,” he said. “I think she understands what is happening and really rises to the moment. She loves her job and the partnership that we have created is truly so special.

“She is 17 now, so she does not compete as often any more – instead we just aim her at the most important competitions. She has an incredible physical ability, but what makes her truly stand out is her character. She is a warrior at heart. I use the term ‘Queen’ when referring to her, as she encapsulates every aspect of that term. Two years ago, I thought that it was the end of her career as she had several injuries, but she overcame them. At the beginning of the 2022 season, she was feeling better than ever, and we made the decision to keep competing her and then assess her later on in the season. She ended up having the best year of her career so far.

“As long as she is still in love with the sport and happy, we will continue competing. I love spending time with her, whether that is hacking, training or competing – she is such a brilliant horse.”

Young British superstars Harry Charles (Balou Du Reventon) and Joe Stockdale (Equine America Cacharel) both reached the jump-off for the Rolex grand prix, finishing with eight and 12 faults respectively, and both enjoyed a string of excellent placings throughout this five-star show.

Dutch Masters results

Daniel Bluman and Ladriano Z winning the WEF grand prix. (Image credit: Sportfot)

‘We live to have moments like this’

Daniel Bluman of Israel rode Ladriano Z to victory in the $425,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty CSI5* grand prix during week nine of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Florida, four years after winning the same event in 2019. Shane Sweetnam took second on James Kann Cruz, with Karl Cook third on the 13-year-old mare Kalinka Van’t Zorgvliet.

“I watched Shane’s round and his horse and mine are both big and scopey, so I tried to do the same as him and edge him in a couple places,” said Daniel.

“At this time of the year, you have some of the greatest riders in the world here for the season so it’s very intense. We live to have moments like this where you’re competing against people you really admire and horses you really like. It was just the right group in the jump-off and I was really motivated to win it and when I crossed the timers I had a feeling I had.”

WEF grand prix results

Jad Dana and After Eight winning at WEF. (Image credit: Sportfot)

‘I truly thought I had no chance’: milestone 5* win for Lebanese rider

Lebanese rider Jad Dana and 13-year-old After Eight enjoyed a milestone first five-star win in WEF’s 1.50m classic, beating speedy Irish showjumper Darragh Kenny, who finished second and third with Vancouver Dreams and Chic Chic respectively.

“Even though my mare is very fast, the riders today had so much experience and they are incredibly talented,” said Jad, who trains with US Olympic team gold medallist Leslie Howard. “I truly thought I had no chance. I was happy just to be in the jump-off. This mare tried her heart out for me today.

“She does everything because of her huge heart. I love her so much. I have no words. To win a five-star is absolutely a dream come true.”

Bertram Allen and Pacino Amiro winning at WEF (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Irish success continued at WEF when Bertram Allen and Aiden McGrory’s Pacino Amiro triumphed in Thursday’s CSI5* Challenge Cup. He was up against countryman Darragh Kenny on Vlock Show Stables’ Chic Chic and US rider Schuyler Riley (Robin De Ponthual) in a three-way jump-off and, from second draw, posted the winning time of 36.94sec.

“I’ve never seen a WEF Challenge here where only three were clear in the first round, so it was a much more tactical jump-off than normal,” said Bertram. “It was a huge advantage going after Darragh because I saw one or two places in his jump-off where I could get the better of him if I left the rails up.”

WEF results

Hickstead Derby victor makes winning return and London Horse Show heroes strike again

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 13:34:05 +0000

Equine golden oldies, including the 17-year-old Hickstead Derby winner Can Ya Makan, were making headlines from as far afield as Florida to the UAE and Spain as teenage horses captured grands prix, with US rider Mclain Ward stating his horses’ longevity was a “great testament” to his team.

Here, we celebrate these achievements and the rest of the past week’s international winners and showjumping news.

Ebolensky and Sampson top Spanish grand prix

Competing in her first grand prix since winning the final day’s feature class at the London International, Ebolensky proved she’s back to her brilliant best when winning the CSI4* Andalucia Sunshine Tour Horseware Big Tour 1.55m grand prix with the fastest of only two double clears (pictured top).

Matt and the Evison family’s 14-year-old Clinton mare stopped the clock in 39.68sec, beating Germany’s Kendra Brinkop (In Time) in a nine-way jump-off where their rivals all faulted. Scott Brash and new ride Hello Valentino finished runners-up in the medium tour equivalent in Vejer De La Frontera.

Andalucia Sunshine Tour results

‘He’s taken me to the Olympics and World Championships’

Bertram Allen and the brilliant 11-year-old Pacino Amiro (pictured below) landed Thursday’s five-star jump-off class at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Florida. From a starting field of 54, the Irishman won over tracks set by Frank Rothenburger, where a tight time allowed in round one caught out several combinations.

“I knew going in that I had to have a good round, but I didn’t want to overdo it today with the grand prix coming up on Saturday,” explained Bertram, who beat his countryman Conor Swail (Count Me In) into the runner-up spot with Laura Kraut third on Baloutinue. “My plan was to be quick early on because I knew if I caught the first two fences well that my horse is as quick as any other.

“He has really been a fantastic horse for me; he is only 11, but he’s already been to the Olympics, the World [Championships] and won a five-star grand prix here.”

WEF results

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Simpson’s speedy success and the winning return of Can Ya Makan

England-based Irish showjumper David Simpson landed the CSI2* Longines Sharjah grand prix in the UAE riding the exciting eight-year-old Pjotr Van De Kruishoeve. Shane Breen was also a winner earlier in the week riding his Hickstead Derby hero Can Ya Makan.

CSI2* Sharjah results

‘Their health is a great testament to my team’

US rider Mclain Ward landed a big class double at WEF with a pair of teenage horses, crediting the longevity of his top-flight string to his team’s careful management. His first victory came in Saturday night’s grand prix riding the 15-year-old Callas, the mare’s first success at this level. He beat Ireland’s Darragh Kenny (Volnay Du Boisdeville) into second with Kent Farrington third on Landon, who he considers to have a very bright future.

“She’s been knocking on the door, so it’s nice for us to break through and get a big win,” said Mclain. “The jump-off was built for us. She cuts a little left, so at fence one to two I could take a straight line. I needed the Hermès [oxer] to show up well off that rollback. Everybody had to make a sharp turn and it was a bit awkward, but I got away with that one.”

Mclain followed up the following day in the 1.50m classic riding the 13-year-old mare Alanine De Vains, becoming the first rider since 2014 to do the big class double.

“She should have won the class earlier in the week, but I made a mistake,” said Mclain, competing in just his second class with the mare. “She’s very careful and very fast, so that plays into my hand with a jump-off like this.”

Crediting his team, Mclain added: “We’ve worked really hard to build a great string of horses and to maintain them so that they last a long time. My top horses are 17 years old, 15 and 14 – they are experienced, which gives you such an advantage, and their health is a great testament to my team. We have great owners that allow us to show these horses the right amount and not put too much pressure on them.”

WEF results

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Irish victory in Belgium

Irish rider Jason Foley won the CSI2* grand prix at the Flanders Horse Xpo riding the nine-year-old mare Rockwell RC. From nearly 60 starters, 10 came forward for the jump-off. Best of the Brits was Robert Whitaker and Vermento, who just picked up four faults in round one.

Flanders results

‘We thought she was in the sunset of her career; she’s been reborn’: 16yo mare helps top rider become new Grand Slam contender

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 12:34:00 +0000

USA rider McLain Ward and the 16-year-old mare HH Azur triumphed in the Rolex grand prix at the CHI Geneva horse show on Sunday (11 December) to become the contenders for the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping.

Shedding a few tears in the aftermath of his incredible first victory in a Major grand prix, McLain said: “This has been 30 years coming. It’s been a long and difficult story, but I think that’s what the sport does for us, it’s the struggle reflected in life, the fight, the perseverance, the trying to do better, and that’s something I’m very proud of. My career has been not all ups – although I’m fortunate to have had plenty – but there have been some very difficult ones, some here in Geneva [where McLain was disqualified from the 2010 World Cup Final], but this has always been a very special place for me and somewhere I’ve wanted to have excellence.

“This is the mecca of our sport so I’m proud to be here, proud to win.”

From last draw, McLain just pipped home rider Martin Fuchs (Leone Jei) into second and Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam (James Kann Cruz) into third in a thrilling 13-way jump-off in front of a passionate and vocal crowd.

A coveted rug for the new Rolex Grand Slam contenders

The US combination have been in tremendous form this year and came to Geneva on the back of a podium finish in the Super Grand Prix at Prague a fortnight earlier. HH Azur, who is owned by Double H Farms, left Geneva adorned in the coveted green and gold Rolex rug which signals the start of McLain’s next adventure as Rolex Grand Slam contender.

The double Olympic team gold medallist revealed the pep talks he always gives his incredible partner of the past seven years.

“At this point in her career I always give her a pat on the neck and say ‘You don’t owe anyone a fence, but if we could jump another clear round today it would be nice,’ he said. “I really have that feeling for this wonderful mare.

“When I got on her for the jump-off, I actually said to her, ‘It’s only one more round – give me what you’ve got and if you don’t have enough it’s OK too. She jumped out of her boots, which was pretty remarkable.

“This story is particularly very special – Azur is owned part by Hunter Harrison and his family, who was a great mentor and supporter of mine, but is no longer with us, and Francois Mathy, who is like a father to me and was here today so that’s very special.

“At the end of last year I thought her career was probably coming to an end, she didn’t feel in great form and it felt like she was in the sunset of her career. But she has been reborn this year. She feels incredibly healthy and has jumped seven major grands prix, three of which were Grand Slam events, and she was clear in all seven – other than a time-fault, which was the rider’s fault! So yes, I was emotional, I wanted to win, to beat these guys is a great feat, to not let the horse down – it’s a great day.

“For all of us in the sport, we aspire to win these very special events – Geneva, Aachen, Calgary, Rome. These are the events I grew up dreaming of, jumping in my back yard pretending to win. I first came to this show nearly 30 years ago – I still think I’m one of the younger ones, but I’m not! This is our life, this is what we live, this is the dream.”

‘I took all the risks to win the hat-trick – but McLain had other ideas!’

There was a standing ovation for Martin Fuchs, who had bid an emotional farewell to his other great grey Clooney 51 earlier in the afternoon. His dazzling jump-off performance on Leone Jei would be beaten, just denying him a record third win in this class, but the Swiss rider was thrilled nevertheless.

“It was a pretty emotional day with the goodbye of Clooney,” said Martin. “Leone Jei always jumps great in this ring and I knew that the course suited me well. In the jump-off I tried to take all the risks I could to make the hat-trick, but McLain had a different idea for today!”

Drawn earlier than the top two, Shane Sweetnam had done all he could with the nine-year-old Irish-bred James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising) in only his first season at five-star level, and punched the air in delight after taking the lead.

“I got him last year as an eight-year-old,” said Shane. “We’ve had a great partnership from the start. The standard in this class is incredible, but I feel with this horse I can really compete with these guys. In the jump-off I went as fast as I could and I was winning coming out of the ring which is all you can really ask. Then the guys Martin and McLain took another step and took the class, it was great sport.”

Best of the Brits in the Rolex grand prix was jump-off trailblazer and reigning Olympic champion Ben Maher riding the nine-year-old mare Dallas Vegas Batilly, in the same ownership as Explosion W – Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright. They set off with the mare’s lovely big, swinging stride really covering the ground, but they stalled slightly on the turn back to an oxer at fence three and hit the back rail to post a score of four faults in 42.76sec.

In the first round we lost British hopes Joe Stockdale (Equine America Cacharel) who was competing in his first ever Rolex Grand Slam and Harry Charles (Romeo 88), both with faults at the tricky double of Liverpools.

Irish contenders Conor Swail and Count Me In hit the third part of the Rolex treble for a four-fault tally, while his countryman Denis Lynch and Brooklyn Heights also finished on the same score.

Previous Rolex Grand Slam contender Daniel Deusser finished sixth with a great double clear on Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z.

Two brothers (and a 15hh gelding) clear 6ft 10in puissance wall, winning cupcakes, and a rider takes seven CSI5* classes in a row

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 16:00:42 +0000

The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup qualifiers are coming thick and fast, with Irish showjumper Conor Swail and Frenchman Julien Epaillard claiming victories on either side of the Atlantic this week. The latter’s win in Lyon marked an astounding seventh consecutive five-star success for the world number three. Meanwhile Great Britain finished on the podium in the CSIO3* Nations Cup in Spain, where Tim Gredley returned to team duties for the first time in many years and Robert Murphy made a sterling debut.

Here is H&H’s weekly round-up of just some of the international action from the world of showjumping over the past week, plus showjumping results.

Irish brothers Daniel and Jordan Coyle, and US rider McLain Ward, all cleared 2.10m (6ft 10in) to share the $25,000 Defender puissance spoils at the Washington International Horse Show. This was the 10th time McLain has won or tied in the puissance at the show and he returned with his 15hh speed specialist Catoki, who tied for victory last year as well.

“I knew he was always brave, but he’s barely bigger than a pony,” he said. “He did the speed class [at this show] and was brilliant, almost won that. It’s incredible. I have barely any spur and the horse pulls you down there like a lion and I think he enjoys it. He’s an incredible winner.”

Daniel Coyle, who won the opening class at this year’s show with the great mare Legacy, was also a co-winner of last year’s puissance and entered the 14-year-old Oak Grove’s Carlyle, owned by Ariel Grange, “to give him a bit of heart” after a slow start to the week.

“He jumped great every round,” said Daniel. “That’s him; he’s one or the other, he’s either frantic or he just goes and does it very simply.”

Daniel’s older brother Jordan completed the trio of Washington’s puissance winners with Eristov (main image), a 13-year-old KWPN gelding with whom he finished fifth in the Hickstead Derby.

“He was my first big-time horse,” he said. “I’m thankful for everything he’s done for me. We gave him a break, planning to wind down and retire him, but he didn’t love that so much.

“By the end of tonight [puissance] it felt like I could have jumped anything.”

Daniel said of competing against his brother: “We’ve competed our whole lives together. We’re brothers, but when the helmet goes on, you become a competitor and that’s how it is. It’s great, we’ve learned a lot from each other over the years and it’s great now to be at the top of the sport together.”

WIHS puissance results

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup 2022/23 - Lyon (FRA)Julien Epaillard (FRA) rides on Caracole de la Roque - winner of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup 2022/23 - Lyon (FRA)Copyright ©FEI/Leanjo de Koster (Image credit: FEI)

Epaillard’s spectacular seven-timer

French star Julien Epaillard (pictured above) continued his superb run of form when landing a staggering four five-star classes in Lyon, France, including the Longines FEI World Cup qualifier and the Longines Grand Prix with the 10-year-old mare Caracole De La Roque. His remaining wins came with Donatello D’Auge, in the Equita Masters on Saturday and the opening two-phase

“You can never expect a weekend as good as this one,” said the 45-year-old, who had landed a hat-trick at St Lo the previous week, meaning that he has won all seven of the last five-star classes he’s entered. This also marked his 69th international win this year.

“I am lucky enough to ride outstanding horses, but there is always an element of luck involved too. You have to enjoy it while it’s there.”

Longines Equita Lyon showjumping results

‘We’ve gone through the roof’

Conor Swail landed his second World Cup qualifier in a row, this time riding Count Me In, and now holds a commanding lead at the top of the North American League.

His victory at the Washington International Horse Show presented by Mars Equestrian in Upper Marlboro, USA, came after a nine-way jump-off on the 15-year-old Count Grannus gelding, owned by Mannon Farm and Sandy Lupton, and known at home as Crosby, on whom he finished eighth in last season’s World Cup Final. It followed Conor’s success in the opening leg in Sacramento with Vital Chance De La Roque.

“This is his first five-star grand prix win with me and I’m just so thrilled for him,” said the Irishman, who triumphed with a slick clear in 35.76sec, just ahead of runner-up Daniel Bluman riding Gemma W. Barely a second separated the top four riders and third went to US rider Brian Moggre on his long-time partner MTM Vivre Le Reve.

“Count Me In has really changed my career,” said Conor, who just needs to win one more leg of the World Cup to match his record hat-trick from last season as we head towards the 2023 final in Omaha. “He’s brought me to a lot of places I’d never been and has been successful doing it. This year, I know he’s capable and [returning to the World Cup Finals] is something that I’m looking forward to doing with him.

“Since I got these two horses, Count Me In and Vital Chance De La Roque, we really hit it off and we’ve gone through the roof.”

WIHS World Cup qualifier results

Showjumping results: bronze for British team in Spain

Great Britain claimed third in the CSIO3* Nations Cup of Vejer De La Frontera, Spain, where the hosts were victorious, with Colombia taking the runner-up spot. Ireland finished on equal faults with Great Britain but were three seconds slower, placing them fourth. The squad consisted of pathfinder Robert Murphy, making his senior debut with How Easy, Joe Fernyhough and Calcourt Particle, Tim Gredley riding Medoc De Toxandria and Skye Higgin with the nine-year-old Djordania Du Tillard.

“They all worked very well together and the experience they gained here will stand them in good stead going forward,” said chef d’equipe Di Lampard. “It was a great result from 15 teams. Robert was on his first senior Nations Cup and jumped solid rounds, Joe, on his second Nations Cup after being on the winning team in Gorla Minore, Italy, put in good rounds. We needed clear rounds and Tim, on his first Nations Cup for many years, and Skye, who also jumped for clear and four in Prague, both handled the pressure extremely well and delivered.”

Nations Cup showjumping results

Irish success on the Andalucia Champions Tour

Niamh McEvoy and Templepatrick Welcome Limmerick landed the 1.55m CSIO3* grand prix on the Andalucia October Tour at Vejer De La Frontera, Spain, while Billy Twomey and Lady Lou took the two-star equivalent.

Niamh has racked up numerous victories and placings on the tour and sealed it with a superb grand prix performance on Sunday, beating countryman Cian O’Connor and Kilkenny.

“My mare has jumped phenomenally,” she said. “She was very strong in the first round, there were some very difficult lines, especially at the beginning of the test, but she put her heart into it as always and she succeeded.”

Andalucia October Tour showjumping results

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

‘The cupcakes are why I wanted to win here!’

US rider Laura Kraut landed Friday’s feature class, the $75,000 speed final, at the 2022 Washington International Horse Show riding Eugenie Angot’s and Stars And Stripes’ Calgary Tame (pictured above).

“He’s a new horse for me this year,” said Laura of the 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Old Chap Tame x Kashmir Van’t Schuttershof. “He’s been a fantastic horse for me so far, but this is the first class I’ve won with him, so I’m excited. The funny thing about this horse is that I’ve had a bit of steering issues along the way. Tonight you definitely needed all of your power steering. I thought, ‘I have nothing to lose and I’m going to have to give it a go. He’s super brave and he was just right on it for me.”

But the best prize of all for Laura?

“I’m dying for these Georgetown cupcakes; it’s why I wanted to win here!” joke Laura, who won the show’s leading lady rider award and tied for the international jumper championship.

WIHS results

A ‘wild’ mare, two Olympic eventers and a prolific British-bred: who won showjumping ribbons this week?

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 23 May 2022 14:42:01 +0000

Over the weekend, we had everything from five-star showjumping action next to the beach in the glamorous resort of Saint Tropez on the French Riviera, to two-star competitions on home soil, with some exciting sport to follow across the board.

Here is your weekly round-up of international jumping action.

1. “She was a bit wild”: Malin Baryard-Johnsson’s great mare H&M Indiana scorches to victory

Swedish showjumper Malin Baryard-Johnsson rode the brilliant 14-year-old mare H&M Indiana (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Animo’s Hallo) to victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour of Ramatuelle, Saint Tropez. The pair headed an electric 12-way jump-off in which all bar four combinations jumped double clear. The runner-up spot went to Dutch rider Harrie Smolders on Monaco with US rider Spencer Smith third with some fantastic turns on Theodore Maniais. The best-placed British contenders were Ben Maher (Faltic HB) and Scott Brash (Hello Mr President) finishing with four faults apiece. The new leader of the overall season rankings is Pieter Devos of Belgium, whose double clear with MoM Toupie De La Roque pushed him into sixth place in the grand prix.

“I am so proud, I am so happy, H&M Indiana is just amazing,” said Malin, who earlier in the show described her charismatic mare as “a bit wild” when helping GCL team Stockholm Hearts to a first-round victory.

“Indiana was quite wild yesterday in the warm-up and she was a little bit wild today as well, but she’s jumping her heart out and I’m super, super happy,” she said. “This arena is a big difference from last week [in Madrid] and the good thing is that it is a smaller ring so I have a little bit more control.”

LGCT of Ramatuelle, Saint Tropez, results

2. “You don’t owe me a single jump”: McLain Ward pays tribute to winning teenage mare HH Azur

US rider McLain Ward and the 16-year-old HH Azur won the $200,000 (£159,000) Empire State Grand Prix at Old Salem Farm, USA – this was McLain’s second successive victory in the class.

“I think she [Azur] still has some big wins left in the tank even though she’s more in the sunset of her career,” said the Olympian during a week of good wins. “I always tell her when I get on, ‘You don’t owe me a single jump, but if you could give me a few more, that would be nice’.”

Old Salem results

3. Two-star success on British soil

The winner of the 62-starter CSI2* grand prix at Wellington in Hampshire was the super consistent duo of Adrian Speight and the 16-year-old British-bred gelding Millfield Baloney, by Balou Du Rouet, collecting the £6,000 top prize. The pair held off a strong challenge from Louise Saywell riding Ian Dowie’s exciting nine-year-old Kingsborough Kasper, and further down the line-up in sixth, fresh from her appearance at Badminton Horse Trials, was Pippa Funnell with another talented British-bred Billy Kodak (Billy Mexico x Vechta).

Wellington CSI2* grand prix results

4. More eventers in the ribbons

Over at Sentower Park in Belgium, multi-gold medal-winning event rider Michael Jung landed the CSI3* 1.55m grand prix riding Edo Sandro. Darragh Kenny claimed the runner-up spot for Ireland riding Chic Chic.

Sentower Park CSI3* grand prix results

5. Home-bred wins first 1.50m

Speedy French rider Julien Epaillard has guided his nine-year-old home-bred Donatello D’Auge through the ranks and just a few weeks after winning their first CSI2* grand prix, the pair landed a five-star class at the LGCT show in Saint Tropez.

“This is his first 1.50m class and only nine years old,” said Julien. “I bred this horse with my wife so I am very proud to see him like this. The horse is not super fast and I was not expecting this win today.”

LGCT of Ramatuelle, Saint Tropez, results

Martin Fuchs wins his first Jumping World Cup title with ‘the horse of my heart’

Polly Bryan — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 17:02:30 +0000

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs came out on top of a thrilling final round at the FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Leipzig, Germany, while two Brits claimed spots within the top five.

This is Martin’s first World Cup title, having finished in an agonisingly close second at the last final, in 2019. He and the superb 15-year-old Verdi TN stallion Chaplin have been on winning form all week, topping the opening leg of the Jumping World Cup Final on Friday. Martin then swapped horses to the somewhat less reliable The Sinner for Friday’s second round, where a pole down dropped him slightly down the order. He came into the final leg, reinstated aboard Chaplin, lying joint third on the leaderboard with Britain’s Harry Charles.

A flawless first clear from the pair set up an exciting second round, and when Harry tipped the middle part of the enormous treble, Martin knew that a clear inside the time would mean a guaranteed podium position. His trusty little stallion duly delivered, and when The Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders, lying one point ahead, also rolled a pole, only the USA’s McLain Ward lay between Martin and victory.

It just wasn’t McLain’s day. He revealed that his Tokyo Olympics horse contagious had slightly lost his footing in the combination, and the pair ended up with two down. The title was Martin’s.

“This horse is just fantastic. He is really the horse of my heart. Every time he enters the ring he is the biggest fighter and when you’re riding it, there’s nothing else like it,” said Martin.

“The plan was perfect,” he added, of the strategy to ride two horses in the competition. “Honestly, after having a rail down on Friday I wasn’t so sure it was right. Afterwards, I walked back to the warm-up and was pretty upset, but Steve [Guerdat] came up to me and said, ‘Congrats’. He told me I could still win on Sunday, and I was still third, which was good. I knew that two clear rounds today and we’d stay on the podium.

“To end up winning this prestigious competition is a dream come true. Earlier I looked at all the names on the World Cup and they are the best of the best. To be able to add my name is fantastic,” he added.

Harrie Smolders hung on to his second-place with Monaco, here competing at his first championships – “it won’t be his last,” said Harrie – while Sweden’s Jens Fredricson moved up from fifth after today’s first round to fill the third spot on the podium at his first World Cup Final appearance since 2013.

It proved a brilliant week for the Brits but with a heartbreaking conclusion, as Harry Charles and Jack Whitaker finished in fourth and fifth respectively – arguably the hardest places to be. A spot on the podium, even perhaps atop it, was within touching distance for Harry in particular, but an unfortunate fence down aboard Romeo 88 left him in fourth. Jack finished fifth after a stunning clear on Equine America Valmy De La Lande – the horse’s fourth clear of the week — added nothing to his score.

“Fourth is where no one wants to be,” said Harry, who was one of three riders, including Martin Fuchs, to use two horses across the three rounds of competition. “I came here with high expectations and I knew I had a shot if everything went to plan, but we were just short of a bit of luck on the day. But I’m so proud of my horses – I just wish I could have given them the result they deserved.”

John Whitaker finished in 12th with Equine America Unick Du Francport, finishing on a high with a clear in the last round.

‘I never thought he’d be a championship horse’: overnight leader McLain Ward on his Jumping World Cup Final ride

Polly Bryan — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 16:25:05 +0000

The USA’s McLain Ward will head into the final round of the FEI Jumping World Cup Final in pole position with Contagious, after an impressive victory in today’s second round.

This is McLain’s 19th World Cup Final; he won the title in 2017, but he is trying not to let the pressure affect his gameplan for the rest of the competition.

“I’ve been in pole position before. I have sat here in the lead going into the World Cup Final and then blew it, but I’ve also sat here in this position and then won,” he said. “I try to use all those experiences to help me get my head right. You have to have a bit of good fortune to win one of these championships and understanding this helps you keep your head in the right place. I’m proud of my horse no matter what happens, and we’ll do our best on Sunday.”

McLain has brought his 2021 Olympic ride to Leipzig, the 13-year-old Contagio gelding Contagious, with whom he won team silver in Tokyo last summer. The chestnut has been hugely successful over the past year and McLain admits that he has exceeded expectations.

“In the beginning when we first had him he was very careful and I thought he’d be a nice level grand prix horse; I never actually thought he’d be a championship horse,” said McLain. “But he kept building scope and developing, and he has ended up jumping at the Olympics. He has been a different horse since then, too, he has come back stronger. His father was the same I think; him being so super careful outshone his natural ability at the start.”

McLain adds that the talented gelding, who is remarkably quick across the ground, is “a bit of a character”.

“He is a bit spooky, and a bit jumpy. But he is also an incredible trier.”

Jumping World Cup Final: who else is in contention?

Just behind McLain going into Sunday’s final round is the Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders, who finished in ninth position on day one with the 13-year-old Cassini II son Monaco, and took fourth place today, with just one pole down in the jump-off. Harry Charles sits just a single point behind on the leaderboard in joint third with Thursday’s round one winner Martin Fuchs.

“The most important thing to me coming into Sunday is that I’m not more than a fence behind the podium,” said Harry, who is certainly up on his goal in third, just five penalties behind the leader.

Gerrit Nieberg is the best of the German contingent coming into the final round, in fifth, while Britain’s Jack Whitaker has shot up the rankings following his third-place finish today with Equine America Valmy De La Lande, now siting joint ninth with Sweden’s Jens Fredricson. Jack’s uncle John Whitaker is just behind in 11th, 10 penalties from the top spot.

The final round of the Jumping World Cup Final takes place on Sunday (10 April) at 4.45pm (1.45pm BST).

McLain Ward wins round two at World Cup Final – but the Brits are right on his heels

Polly Bryan — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 15:08:11 +0000

The USA’s McLain Ward has won the second round competition at the FEI Jumping World Cup Final, with young British riders Harry Charles and Jack Whitaker joining him on the podium in second and third place respectively.

All three British riders jumped clear inside the time to be among the seven through to the jump-off. It proved a testing jump-off course, with defending World Cup champion Steve Guerdat having two down as first to go on Victorio Des Frotards.

Next in was John Whitaker, competing at his first Jumping World Cup Final in over 20 years riding Equine America Unick Du Francport. The 14-year-old Zandor son, whom John described as still “not having a lot of top level experience”, jumped well but hit the penultimate fence, a green upright that proved the mostly costly on the course.

Jack Whitaker’s ride, the sharp grey 13-year-old Equine America Valmy De La Lande, hasn’t yet rolled a pole here in Leipzig, and Jack said that he was “ecstatic” with his first round this afternoon: “He’s jumping his socks off. I have to keep moving him forward without making him too sharp, opening his stride without making him too fast.”

The pair took it steady round the jump-off course and it paid off as they delivered the first clear round. This was swiftly matched by Harry Charles, who was best of Brits from round one on Stardust, but has switched to ride his Tokyo Olympics partner Romeo 88 in the second leg of the final. Harry put in a beautiful clear at a good pace to take the lead and put the pressure on the final two riders.

“It wasn’t exactly the day I wanted yesterday,” said Harry, referring his pole down in round one with Stardust. “I’m happy to have made up for that today. Romeo was feeling very fresh and quite strong to be honest – he had a bit of a skip and a play between a few fences, but the feeling for me is so easy. It’s so nice to have him back and riding him at this level.”

With the Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders also bringing down the penultimate upright on Monaco, it was only McLain Ward, who finished fifth in yesterday’s opening round, who could get ahead of the Brits. He pulled out the stops with his Olympic silver medallist Contagious to beat Harry’s time by just over 3secs, taking today’s win and also securing himself the lead spot going into Sunday’ final round.

“I was able to see enough of the jump-off to see it wasn’t a fast course and Harrie’s fence down opened the door for me,” said McLain. “Contagious is a quick horse naturally, so we took the first few fences quite fast, we were a bit slower in middle, but then just stayed smooth to the last fence. He is a brilliant horse and an incredible trier.”

All of Friday’s top three finishers ended up down the order today with four faults apiece. Friday’s winner, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs finished down the order in 16th after opting to ride The Sinner in the second round. He is expected to bring forward his day one winner Chaplin to compete in the last leg. Ireland’s Conor Swail was 17th on Count Me In with Austria’s Max Kühner 18th on Elektric Blue P.

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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.

John Whitaker bids for a record-equalling third World Cup victory (his first since Milton in 1991!)

Jennifer Donald — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 10:36:32 +0000

In Leipzig, Germany, this week (7-10 April), 36 of the world’s best showjumpers will be battling it out for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final and, after a two-year hiatus owing to the pandemic, the excitement levels are sky-high.

Among this year’s contenders, who have qualified from six different global leagues and who represent 19 different nations, are a trio of British riders – John Whitaker, his nephew Jack Whitaker, and Harry Charles.

The legendary John, 66, will be bidding for a record-equalling third World Cup victory; his previous two wins came in 1990 and 1991 with the great Milton, and this year he is riding his newly prefixed top horse Equine America Unick Du Francport.

Rising stars Jack, 20, and Harry, 22, will be making their debuts. Jack — son of John’s younger brother Michael Whitaker — takes the reins on Equine America Valmy De La Lande, and Harry is bringing his Tokyo Olympics ride Romeo 88 and his victor of the World Cup qualifier at the London International Horse Show, Stardust.

“The reason I’m taking the two horses is because they are both super-consistent,” says Harry. “Stardust has an extremely high clear-round rate at 1.60m and Romeo has so much experience behind him.”

Among the other returning champions at this year’s final are the current title-holder Steve Guerdat, who Harry Charles says has “a bit of a magical relationship with the World Cup Final”. The Swiss rider lifted the trophy in 2015, 2016 and 2019 and he will be joined this year by countryman Martin Fuchs.

German star Marcus Ehning is another three-time winner, lifting the title in 2003, 2006 and 2010, and he brings his in-form partner Stargold for this year’s competition. McLain Ward is also back in a bid to regain the title he won in 2017, one of nine riders from USA this year.

Flying the flag for Ireland are Conor Swail, currently ranked number seven in the world, and Denis Lynch, who headed the standings in the Western European League.

Among the other big names are Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands, David Will and Christian Ahlmann for Germany and Belgium’s Jos Verlooy. But some new names are also in the mix representing the likes of Lithuania, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

This year’s courses are being designed by Germany’s Frank Rothenberger and the competition begins on Thursday (6 April) with the speed competition followed by a jump-off class on Friday. The final takes place on Sunday, when the 2022 World Cup champion will be crowned.

H&H will be bringing you all the action online with a full report in next week’s issue of the magazine, in the shops on Thursday 14 April.

Last chance to see the best at Winter Equestrian Festival including McLain Ward and ‘adrenaline junkie’ Catoki

Sarah Eakin — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 17:12:50 +0000

As the curtain prepares to come down on the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival, the statistics are almost finalised and McLain Ward is second in the prize money stakes with a total of $165,030. He may add to that today when he brings out the ‘adrenaline junkie’ Catoki in the $50,000 1.50m National Grand Prix – the closing class of the festival in the International Arena at Wellington International.

Ireland’s Bertram Allen tops the leaderboard of winnings with a current purse of $184,500 and he too has a chance to top that up riding Emmylou this afternoon. Britain’s Ben Maher will take home $156,280 from WEF unless he and Sentimiento LS La Silla land a podium spot, as 52 of the top showjumpers currently in Wellington vie for the final spoils.

Temperatures are expected to be more forgiving today after yesterday’s $500,000 CSI5* grand prix was impacted by the heat prompting course designer Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge – who now calls Wellington home – to rethink.

“I made some adjustments in the end because of the heat and the humidity,” he said. “I took the spread out of the last few oxers, because we were all feeling the weather a little bit. But, it was fantastic jumping and conditions of the field. Everything worked out very well, so I’m really happy with it.”

Daniel Bluman and Ladriano Z on their way to runners up in the $500,000 CSI5* grand prix (Image credit: Thierry Billet)

Daniel Bluman, winner of the 2012 edition of this finale grand prix, finished second behind Ashlee Bond on Karoline of Ballmore. Daniel was clear and just off the winning pace of 44.09, in 44.29 seconds with Ladriano Z, owned by Over The Top Stables LLC, which gave Israel a one-two finish. “The field looked beautiful,” he said. “And I think that the Rolex grand prix has to feel different than every other grand prix we jump at in Wellington. That was accomplished today, so congratulations to Gui for that.”

One final WEF class is scheduled at the Stadium Derby Field this morning at 10am as 46 horse-rider combinations contest the $50,000 CSI2* grand prix.

McLain Ward’s Noche De Ronda is feeling ‘quite well’ as she bounces back to winning ways after injury

Sarah Eakin — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 14:59:03 +0000

McLain Ward continued to add victories to the owner partnership of himself, Bob Russell and Marilla Van Bueren as he won on the trio’s Noche De Ronda in the featured class of the first day of the final week at the Winter Equestrian Festival, the $37,000 1.45m CSI5*.

So far the star of the season for the owners had been Catoki – the horse McLain describes as an ‘adrenaline junkie’ and when in competition mode is not ridden, unless he is competing.

Noche De Ronda, meanwhile, has had a quiet start to the year until yesterday when McLain and the 13-year-old black Oldenburg mare finished the course fault-free and with a time of 30.81 seconds as action at the Winter Equestrian Festival returned to the grass of the Stadium Derby Field.

Winning earlier at WEF on Catoki, McLain gets a fist pump from owner Bob Russell (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Bob, was briefly left speechless by the win, but when he found the words he simply said: “That was great”.

“She is just coming back from an injury she got last year,” said McLain, who had nursed the mare back into action, previously jumping round in the international ring to finish clear with time faults.

“We thought we would give her one more time out on this field this season, and she seems to be feeling quite well,” he said.

Course designer Brazil’s Guilherme Jorge made full use of the large field for the two-phase course that posed 15 obstacles including several double combinations as well as a water obstacle.

For McLain, the victory, over 53 of his peers, came at one particular place on the track. “I think where we took over was when we did the inside slice to the double combination,” he said. “If it had been a single it wouldn’t have been that challenging, but with it being a combination it was definitely risky. She’s also got a huge stride that I use to my advantage out here. It was a huge loss not having her in our string last year, but she looks like she has a good year ahead of her.”

Taking time to heal a horse is a subject close to Bob’s heart. “That’s one of those things, we old-timers try to tell the new people coming along,” he said. “When the horses need some time off, you’ve got to give it to them. We practiced what we preached with ‘Ronda’ and the results speak for themselves.”

Second-to-last to go, Sweden’s Petronella Andersson claimed the runner-up title with Nithard Van De Peerdenhoeve, the combination landing clear in 30.99 seconds.

Top showjumpers at the Winter Equestrian Festival auction lessons to aid Ukraine

Sarah Eakin — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 20:41:36 +0000

Leading riders such as McLain Ward, Cian O’Connor, Darragh Kenny and more competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival [WEF] are among many showjumpers who have offered lessons to be auctioned off in support of Ukraine. The online auction began today and bids are mounting for the chance to experience what it is like to be trained by the world’s best.

Belgian Equbreeding.auction team and Sébastien Boulanger orchestrated the event and are running it from their platform, waving auction fees. Registration for the auction is also free.

A total of 43 items will be auctioned. Aside from WEF riders there is a chance to learn from Dutch female showjumper, Sanne Thijssen, or Belgium’s number one Jérome Guery, as well as Britain’s John Whitaker. In addition, Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet’s Olympic saddle pad is up for grabs as well as a St Tropez Pirates polo shirt signed by Daniel Deusser.

A lesson with US rider and WEF competitor, Jessica Springsteen, gained traction early and as of the time of writing, the bid is €315 – all items start at €50.

Breeding is also included in the auction with a straw of Quel Homme de Hus also piquing interest in the opening stages of the event.

Earlier this season German dressage rider Frederic Wandres, sported a Ukrainian flag on the back of his jacket and donated his winnings at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival to support Ukraine, with the hope that others would follow suit. “I had hoped they would after the Derby,” he said. “Maybe others have, but I don’t know about them.”

The auction closes on 31 March 1.30pm EST and can be found online at https://equbreeding.auction/auction/

Five star – is five-star! Riders will be tested in the Saturday Night Lights’ grand prix

Sarah Eakin — Sat, 12 Mar 2022 21:10:51 +0000

Alan Wade’s courses begin with the use of a simple pencil and paper. But by the time the arena is lit and the course is ready for tonight’s Saturday Night Lights and the FEI CSI5* $406,000 grand prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival, the riders will walk the course to find a track that merits the occasion.

“Five star – is five star,” stated Alan, who has been the international arena course designer for the entire week 9. “People know what to expect.”

Alan was taught the craft of course design by his father, pioneering showjumper and former chef d’equipe of the Irish national team, Tommy Wade. “You have to be confident with what you do,” said Alan. “Course designers are all different – they have different things that they like and what they don’t like. I normally stick to what I was taught. My father was a good teacher.”

Alan designed the course yesterday that produced a victory for McLain Ward and Catoki in the $37,000 1.45m CSI5*.

“I’m a huge fan of Alan’s,” said McLain. “For me, he’s the best in the world but we have a situation here in Wellington where it’s not just five-star jumping, it’s kind of on the max of five-star jumping. Particularly this year, because America’s open and you can compete so you’ve had this funneling of the best riders in the world coming here, which has raised the standard and the level considerably. So you’re seeing the courses at the max and you’re also seeing people have fast rounds and going into 25th place.”

Saturday Night Lights brings a whole new atmosphere to the international ring. “It’s a well-lit ring,” said Alan. “It’s quite a special occasion at night time. Sometimes horses actually jump a lot better when they get used to the lights, it actually improves them and they brighten up and other horses, especially younger horses, sometimes get a little nervous the first time. But that is why they have the smaller grands prix.”

Alan began designing tonight’s course two weeks ago and it was almost finished by yesterday afternoon. “The material I haven’t quite decided what I’m going to use where,” he said. “But the course is set in stone.”

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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.

McLain Ward wins again with ‘adrenaline junkie’ who isn’t ridden between classes

Sarah Eakin — Sat, 12 Mar 2022 14:05:27 +0000

McLain Ward and Catoki claimed another win yesterday at the Winter Equestrian Festival in the $37,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.45m CSI5*.

“We have had to learn about him a bit because he is certainly a different type of horse, but once we did, he has basically been a winning machine,” said McLain of the petite 13-year-old Westphalian gelding, who is by Catoki out of a mare by Caretello B, that he owns with Marilla Van Beuren and Bob Russell.

“We never ride him. He turns out every day. He jumped the last five star two weeks ago and I didn’t sit on him again until the schooling area, and that’s a hard thing to trust and it took us a while to get to that place where we realised that’s what worked for him. He’s an adrenaline junkie and that’s what kind of keeps the RPM at a manageable rate.”

The contest saw an impressive 68 horse and rider combinations contending against the clock in the single round speed class, but they couldn’t overcome one of the fastest combinations in the world, Olympic team gold medalist McLain and Catoki.

“I thought Alan [Wade] did a great job with today’s course, and I just tried to go fast but take a moment where I needed to and trust his footspeed,” said McLain.

Wednesday’s five-star class winner, Ireland’s Darragh Kenny with Gourvernante VDL looked set to add another victory to his name for the week, until compatriot Bertram Allen and Emmylou took to the course. Darragh’s previous leading time of 59.19 seconds lasted until Bertram shaved almost two whole seconds off the clock to jump ahead with a time of 57.69 seconds. The victory looked in the bag for Bertram, but nothing was certain as McLain and Catoki went third from last and took the lead in 57.15 seconds.

“He has been unbelievable this season, and I think he’s won something almost every time we’ve brought him out,” said McLain.

“I had known Catoki when he was with a rider from New Jersey and we thought he could be really competitive,” said McLain. With several five-star speed class wins and success in the $75,000 Rosenbaum PLLC Grand Prix already added to their title in the 2022 season, the pair has proved to be a force to reckon with.

McLain Ward’s Hall of Fame inductee Sapphire was bought with a simple phone call

Sarah Eakin — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 12:58:38 +0000

In this day and age buying a horse untried and unvetted is unheard of, but McLain Ward’s Hall of Fame inductee, the world-renowned mare Sapphire, was purchased without either – simply with a phone call. The day the mare stepped off the trailer in 2002, was the first time McLain saw her and the first time he sat on her.

“She arrived. She was kind of a heavy horse, but she defied type – she had blood,” McLain said of the chestnut Belgian Warmblood. “I was leaving for California the next morning and I wanted to jump her,” he recalls, having purchased the mare in conjunction with his sponsor Harry Gill, having heard about her through his friends the Leone brothers.

“We were jumping a combination – about 1.30m – and I clearly remember that at the top of the jump there was a butterfly flying around. She struck out at the butterfly and killed it, then took the next step like nothing had happened. And that’s how fast that horse’s instincts were. It was always a moment, looking back, the quality and the sharpness and the incredible athletic feat that was. Right on day one – it was a sign.”

McLain has had many top horses since but with hindsight he realises, Sapphire was beyond exceptional.

“It’s always interesting to look back,” he said. “One characteristic with top riders, is no matter how good their horse is at the moment, they always think there’s a better one around the corner. And I can’t say that I’m immune from that either. But when I look back now on Sapphire’s career, not that I didn’t appreciate and realise how great she was at the time, I think I realise even more so now.”

Sapphire competed at two Olympic games, two world championships and numerous World Cup finals. For at least a nine-year period she was headlining in the sport.

“Her greatest asset was that she was a very smart horse,” said McLain. “She had the ability to do it and she kind of understood in the best way that we can say, what we were asking of her and she got it. Looking back on it now, I’ve had some great talents since then, but I’ve never had a horse that put it all together the way she did.”

Sapphire will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Gala on Sunday 6 March coinciding with the Winter Equestrian Festival.

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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.

Young British rider shines at Winter Equestrian Festival in front of her advisor McLain Ward

Sarah Eakin — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 22:07:47 +0000

Great Britain’s Nation Cup team alternate, 18-year-old Grace Debney rode to victory at the Winter Equestrian Festival today in the FEI $37,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m sporting a field of 49 riders including one of her advisors, McLain Ward.

“It was very good,” McLain said of Grace’s winning jump off round on Zarina De Vidau. “She was actually very unlucky not to win the WEF [Challenge Round] yesterday – a very unlucky four faults at the end of the course. She’s really doing great. She is young, but she’s got a great brain and a lot of talent to go with it and a great team behind her in Sam Schaefer and her stable Shadow Ridge. With support and guidance from our experience – it’s a great combination.”

Grace, who has also a two-star grand prix win and an under 25 grand prix win this season, is well aware that she is now competing against riders like McLain, whom she admired growing up. “It’s a little intimidating for sure,” she said. “But it makes me hungry for it. It kind of fuels us. I know my horse so well, I have a lot of confidence in her and she has a lot of confidence in herself. That relationship really helps me get it all done.”

Britain’s chef d’equipe Di Lampard selected Grace – whose family hails from Buckinghamshire, England – as first alternate for Saturday’s Nations Cup team at the Winter Equestrian Festival. “It was a great performance,” Di said, having been there to witness the victory today. “She’s just so confident. She rode in the ring as though she owned it.”

“This is definitely one of the biggest steps up for me this weekend,” said Grace. “To be an alternate for the Nations Cup is an unbelievable experience. I’m so glad that I’m able to be a part of it all and then to have this ranking class win, really just tops it off.”

Grace’s bravado early in the jump off could have sealed the win as her time of 56.1 was shadowed closely by Mexico’s Tanimara Maria Macari Currillo, who finished on 56.76.

“I was really proud of my turn from one to two. I think that’s where I won the class,”she said.

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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.

‘The highest quality athlete I have ever ridden’: top mare retired owing to injury

Becky Murray — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 19:03:17 +0000

US Olympic showjumper McLain Ward has paid tribute to the “highest quality” horse he has ever ridden, as top mare Clinta is retired from sport.

The Oldenburg mare by Clinton enjoyed success at grand prix level with German rider Phillip Ruping, before McLain took on the ride in early 2018. The pair quickly became a formidable partnership; that year they won the New York CSI5* grand prix in April, the Prize of North Rhine-Westfalia at the Aachen Nations Cup in July, and the Rolex Grand Prix de Dinard in August. In September 2018 they were part of the USA gold medal-winning team at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, where they were also fourth individually.

Yesterday (2 December) McLain announced with “disappointment” that the decision had been made with Clinta’s owners, Deborah and Brian Sweeney of Sagamore Farms and Susan Heller, to retire the 14-year-old mare from sport following a year of “great efforts” to bring her back from an injury.

“It’s a decision not filled with sadness, just disappointment as she is healthy and sound but we feel is unable to physically take on the stresses of the highest level of competitions,” said McLain.

“Clinta is without question the highest quality athlete I have ever ridden and has a heart and competitive spirit to match. Her owners and I are looking forward with great anticipation to breeding her in the coming spring. With much of the breeding world following the current trend of new technology to produce higher numbers of foals we have jointly made a decision to take an old-school approach and breed Clinta naturally and have her carry and raise her offspring.”

McLain added the team hopes Clinta’s competitive spirit and “giant heart” will come through in her foals, and the mare who has given them “so much” will enjoy a happy and healthy retirement.

“I would like to say thank you to the people who have made my journey with Clinta possible, the Sweeney family, Sagamore farm, Susan Heller, Fiona Dowley, Paul Schockemohle, Joseph Klaphake, Francois Mathy, Lee & Erica Mckeever, Virginie Casterman, Tim Ober, Mikey Boylan and all of the other countless people along the way who have touched our story together, in some way,” he said.

Meet the 15.1hh speed horse who turned his hand to puissance – and won

Jennifer Donald — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 08:32:38 +0000

“Who would have thought – puissance specialist Catoki?” says US showjumper McLain Ward of his legendary 15.1hh speed horse, who turned his hand to the big, red puissance wall at the recent Washington International Horse Show and ended up sharing the spoils.

The wall was raised to 1.95m (nearly 6ft 5in) for the third round of the $25,000 puissance class where the three remaining contenders, McLain with the diminutive 12-year-old Catoki, Daniel Coyle on Imar and Brazilian Santiago Lambre riding The Diamant Rose Z, all faulted.

However, as you can see from the video below, the trio agreed to return for the fourth and final round where all jumped clear and the winner’s purse was split.

(Click “Watch on YouTube” to see this video)

All three horses were making their puissance debut, but for pint-sized Catoki it was a radical departure from his normal routine as he’s better known as a renowned speed horse on the international circuit, and had even won the previous day’s accumulator at the show, held at Tryon, North Carolina.

“He’s 15.1hh and he’s a speed horse,” stresses McLain. “We thought we’d maybe jump a couple of rounds. Honestly, he was jumping it easy and felt very in-hand.

“I saw a couple had trouble in that third round and I really over-rode it. I was a bit upset with myself. So when we had the opportunity to go again, he jumped it beautifully.

“We’re all a bunch of top, competitive riders and the horses were doing it pretty handily,” he adds. “It was worth a try.”

McLain’s co-victor, Irishman Daniel Coyle, hadn’t jumped in a puissance for four years, last contesting one in Dublin.

“I wasn’t nervous, but I felt old going in!” he says. “The crowd loves it, so it always makes it better for us, no matter what happens.”

Of Ariel Grange’s promising eight-year-old Imar, he explains: “He actually doesn’t jump walls particularly well. Usually when you do it once or twice, you get a little more confident.”

(Image credit: Reader)

Watch 14.2hh intermediate eventer showjump without a bridle

Prepare to be amazed — watch this superstar pony jump bridle-less with four-star eventer Imogen Murray

(Image credit: Reader)

‘Every athlete’s dream’: Sweden, USA and Belgium reflect on their Olympic team showjumping medals

Becky Murray — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 15:11:02 +0000

The riders from Sweden’s Olympic showjumping gold medal-winning team at the Tokyo Games have described the victory as a “dream come true”.

Peder Fredricson and All In, Malin Baryard-Johnsson and Indiana, and Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward clinched the gold in a tense jump-off against McLain Ward and Contagious, Laura Kraut and Baloutine and Jessica Springsteen and Don Juan Van De Donkhoeve for the USA.

Peder, the final Swedish rider to jump, said coming to the last he “did what he could”.

“The pressure was on, my god. It’s not that you don’t want a silver, but in these situations when you are two teams, you really want to win,” he said.

“McLain [Ward] was fast but All In is also fast. I saw [McLain’s] round, and I knew what I had to do. Today the poles stayed up and the time was on my side this time.

“It’s unbelievably satisfying. I really think my horse deserves it. I’m so happy for him, his owner, his groom, my teammates – it’s a great feeling.”

Peder, who also claimed individual silver earlier in the week, said a lot of mental preparation took place ahead of the Games.

“It’s a bit like running a marathon; you have to train and physically be fit – and it’s the same with the mental pressure, you have to be prepared,” he said. “You can’t lie on the sofa, then show up and do it, it’s a lot of hard work.”

Malin said to win an Olympic gold medal is “every athlete’s dream”.

“We have a team behind us that’s incredible; everyone is involved in this medal. The way we have ridden shows how confident we’ve been and they’ve all made it possible for us to totally focus on what we had to do in there,” she said.

Henrik von Eckermann missed out on an individual medal with King Edward on Wednesday (4 August) and said taking the team gold was “even more special now”.

“It was frustrating [placing fourth individually], but I’m so happy with myself. I took myself together and said ‘leave what I can’t change behind me and focus on this – we have an unbelievable chance’.” said Henrik.

“No one can say we didn’t deserve it. Somehow when we went into the jump-off we felt so prepared.”

King Edward was the only horse in the Olympic showjumping competition to produce clears in every round.

“They should have two medals – one for the horse,” he said. “He’s a tribute to himself, the way he does it, he’s unbelievable.

“I knew he had the possibility to do what he did, but to do it, is completely out there. It’s amazing. There’s so many people to thank. We had a fantastic team from the beginning to the end.”

Team USA’s McLain Ward said it was “great to be in the battle” with Sweden.

“Sweden has been lights out – it wasn’t unexpected here, but they took it to another level. We would have had to have had an incredible day to beat them,” he said.

“I think we pushed them right to the limits, and in competition when you push them to that limit and they still win, you’ve got to be proud.”

Jessica Springsteen, who was second to go for USA in the jump-off, said collecting a medal at her first Olympics felt “unbelievable”.

“Watching the last couple go, wondering if we’re going to have to jump-off or not you definitely start to get the jitters but it was also super exciting,” she said.

Laura Kraut added “this is what we do it for”.

“It’s a lot of work and a lot of sweat and tears but I’m thrilled, and I’m so fortunate to have a great team,” she said.

“Kent Farrington [USA’s alternate rider in the team competition] has also been an incredible teammate. He was here supporting us the whole time and he was ready to step in if we felt any of ours were not up for the job.”

The Belgian team of Pieter Devos and Claire Z, Jerome Guery and Quel Homme De Hus and Gregory Wathelet and Nevados S took bronze.

Gregory said the team had done “something amazing” for their country: “Everyone is proud and part of it.”

Pieter said there was “huge pressure” under the new Olympic format.

“It will be an Olympics that will be remembered forever. You have responsibility towards the team so nothing can go wrong. We proved together we could handle that pressure,” he said.

“It was my first Olympics so I didn’t know what to expect, but I can say it was tough sport at the highest level possible. The course designer did fantastic job that’s for sure, and it was a fantastic venue.”

Jerome added he was “really happy“ with the team’s bronze medal.

“You represent a lot; all the people who work behind us, the country, horse sport in Belgium. We worked for it and it feels amazing,” he said.

Legendary rock star’s daughter heads to Olympics on US showjumping team

Becky Murray — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 15:43:05 +0000

Jessica Springsteen will make her senior championship squad debut as she joins an experienced US Olympic showjumping team in Tokyo.

Yesterday US Equestrian announced the following combinations had been selected for the Tokyo Olympic Games:

Kent Farrington and Gazelle, owned by Kent and Robin Cleary Parsky
Laura Kraut and Baloutinue, owned by St Bride’s Farm
Jessica Springsteen and Don Juan Van De Donkhoeve, owned by Stone Hill Farm
McLain Ward and Contagious, owned by Beechwood Stables LLC

The reserves will be be:

Brian Moggre and Balou Du Reventon, owned by Ann Thompson
Lucy Deslauriers and Hester, owned by Lisa Deslauriers

The Tokyo Games will be McLain’s fifth Olympic showjumping appearance, having been part of the team at Rio 2016, London 2012, Beijing 2008 and Athens 2004. Laura was a team member in Beijing and at the 2000 Sydney Games, while Kent rode on the Rio squad. The US team won team gold at Beijing and Athens, and silver at Rio. Jessica has been a member of several Nations Cup teams, including the winning team at the CSIO4* at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Laura said she was “very proud” to have been selected.

“First and foremost, I’d like to extend a huge thank you to Baloutinue’s owners Barbara and David Roux of St Bride’s Farm. Your support and encouragement has been unmatched,” she said.

“Furthermore, I’m thankful for all our sponsors backing us every step of the way and making sure the horses remain healthy, happy, and protected. It’s an honour to be on the team among these top equestrians. Finally, thank you to Baloutinue. This would not be possible without you!”

Jessica, daughter of legendary rock star Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen, said she had been “dreaming of this since she can remember”.

“Endless gratitude for my team, friends and family for helping me make this a reality. We are Tokyo bound,” she said, adding she was “honoured” to be part of the team with Laura, Kent and McLain.

“There’s no horse in the world I’d rather be on this journey with, thank you Don! You’re my horse of a lifetime.”

Continued below…

(Image credit: PA)

British Olympic showjumping team announced

The four riders who will carry British hopes at the London 2012 Olympic Games have been named

(Image credit: PA)

New faces join established star on Australian Olympic showjumping team

(Image credit: PA)

Chef d’equipe Robert Ridland said last week’s CSI5* grand prix events in Rotterdam and at the Royal Windsor Horse Show completed a “long and productive” selection process for the Games.

“Following a very competitive winter circuit in Florida, American riders competed successfully against the world’s best in five major CSI5* events in Europe over the past couple months. I feel very confident the seasoned group of riders that we will be sending to Tokyo is in top current form and peaking at just the right time,” he said.

“Backing them up as reserves will be Brian and Lucy, two of the young stars on the international circuit who made a mark for themselves with their one-two finish in the CSI5* grand prix of Sopot. We’re looking forward to the next few weeks ahead and are aiming to deliver a strong performance for Team USA in Tokyo.”

What is showjumping?

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 to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Battle for Tokyo spots is on as US showjumping team announces shortlist

Becky Murray — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 12:40:05 +0000

Kent Farrington, McLain Ward, Beezie Madden and Laura Kraut are among the 10 riders shortlisted for the US showjumping team for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

On 15 April US Equestrian announced the riders that will undergo “continued observation” ahead of the team selection. Also on the list are Jessica Springsteen, Lucy Deslauriers, Bliss Heers, Brian Moggre, Devin Ryan, and Adrienne Sternlicht.

McLain Ward riding Contagious (Image credit: Imago/PA Images)

If selected, the Tokyo Games will be McLain’s and Beezie’s fifth Olympic appearance, having both been part of the team at Rio 2016, London 2012, Beijing 2008 and Athens 2004. Laura was a team member in Beijing and at the 2000 Sydney Games, while Kent rode on the Rio squad. The US team won team gold at Beijing and Athens, and silver at Rio.

The other five riders will be making their Olympic debut if selected. Adrienne and Devin were part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, and 20-year-old Brian has enjoyed a number of youth team appearances. Jessica has been a member of several Nations Cup teams, including the winning team at the CSIO4* at the Winter Equestrian Festival along with Brian, and Bliss.

The possible combinations for Tokyo are:

McLain on Contagious, HH Azur or Kasper Van Het Hellehof
Beezie on Breitling LS, Chic Hin D Hyrencourt or Garant
Laura on Baloutine, Confu, or Goldwin
Kent on Austria 2 or Gazelle
Jessica on Don Juan van de Donkhoeve or RMF Zecilie
Adrienne on Bennys Legacy, Cristalline, or Just a Gamble

Bliss will be considered on Antidote de Mars, Devin with Eddie Blue, and Lucy on Hester.

Continued below…

Olympic showjumper crowned international equestrian of the year

The Olympian’s mare Gazelle took the international horse of the year honours

‘Two great ladies’: Olympic rider and top mare inducted into US Showjumping Hall of Fame

Induction into the hall of fame takes place annually based on individuals whose contributions to the sport have “set them

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

A USEF spokesman said riders and horses will compete in designated CSIO/CSI observation events, including the CSIO5* Nations Cups in Sopot, Poland, (17-20 June) and Rotterdam, the Netherlands, (24-27 June).

The final Olympic team selection will be announced on 5 July. All nominations to the team are subject to approval by the US Olympic and Paralympic committee.

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 to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

‘Two great ladies’: Olympic rider and top mare inducted into US Showjumping Hall of Fame

Becky Murray — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 17:36:34 +0000

US Olympic rider Margie Engle – and McLain Ward’s top former ride Sapphire – have been inducted into the US Showjumping Hall of Fame.

Induction into the hall of fame takes place annually based on individuals whose contributions to the sport have “set them apart and whose influence has had a significant impact” on the sport and the equestrian community.

“It is because of their talents, efforts, accomplishments, and what they have brought to the sport, that the election committee – comprising some of the nation’s top riders, trainers and officials – selected Engle and Sapphire as the class of 2020,” said a spokesman for the hall of fame.

Margie’s many achievements including competing in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and being on the silver medal-winning team at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen. She is also a three-time Pan American Games medallist, has ridden in 17 World Cup finals and has won more than 200 grands prixs. Margie was awarded the American Grandprix Association’s (AGA) rider of the year award 10 times and is the only rider to have won it more than four times.

“In 2004, Engle had 11 grand prix wins despite a broken hip bone that sidelined her for two months. She added another 11 wins in 2005 and seven more in 2006 when she won the AGA award for the 10th time,” added the spokesman.

Also inducted for 2020 is McLain Ward’s Olympic medal-winning mare Sapphire. The pair were on the gold medal-winning teams at the 20004 Athens and 2008 Hong Kong Games. They were also part of the silver medal-winning team at the 2006 WEG and took seventh individually at the 2010 WEG in Lexington.

Sapphire retired to McLain’s farm in spring 2012 and died in 2014 aged 19.

Article continued below…

(Image credit: SPORTFOT)

Meet Amanda Steege: the rider who bagged top honours in one of the biggest hunter jumper competitions

Meet Amanda Steege, the newly crowned $50,000 World Champion Hunter Rider

(Image credit: SPORTFOT)

David Broome recalls the great Mister Softee: ‘the thrill of riding him is still with me’

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McLain said he was “very proud” to have been in Sapphire’s life.

“Her greatness never fades,” he said. “My congratulations to Margie as well, the strongest competitor I know. Two great ladies”.

Margie and Sapphire join a stellar list of the sport’s legends including top horses, former Olympic medallists, farriers, officials and owners. The hall of fame is located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, where plaques are on display in honour of the inductees.

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 to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Young showjumping fan inspired to compete after meeting her hero

Becky Murray — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 12:06:25 +0000

A young rider who was inspired by her showjumping hero when he gave her his baseball cap is to compete at the same show she met him at.

Then 10-year-old Evangeline Wasser, from New York was inspired to take up showjumping after she met US Olympic gold medallist McLain Ward at a press conference at the Hampton Classic, New York, in August 2017, where the top rider had won the speed derby and placed third in the grand prix.

Evangeline’s father Jesse told H&H: “I took Evangeline and her twin sister Annabelle to the press room and I asked McLain what he does to inspire young people and what he could say to Evangeline.

“McLain’s response was a bit underwhelming but later he asked if he could answer the question again.”

Jesse said McLain walked over to Evangeline, who had started riding lessons earlier that year, and placed his Longines baseball cap on her head and said: “This is how I inspire young people.”

“Evangeline was thrilled,” said Jesse. “McLain spoke with Evangeline afterwards and she told him she would like to compete and he told her: ‘Do it!’.”

A few months later Evangeline started competing in showjumping on ponies owned by Skye Acres riding school, winning her first two competitions. In August 2018 she returned to the Hampton Classic with her father where she again met McLain, who had won the $300,000 CSI4* grand prix.

“I told McLain Evangeline had been competing and winning and asked if he had anything to add from last year,” said Jesse.

“McLain was thrilled and the photographers asked Evangeline to have her photograph taken with him.”

After the press conference McLain spoke to the twins, giving Annabelle his Longines winning sash.

Article continued below…

(Image credit: Jesse Wasser)

Top British riders head to Tokyo to test Olympic 2020 facilities

‘This will be one of life’s great opportunities’

(Image credit: Jesse Wasser)

‘They tried their little hearts out’: young dressage rider scores 95.8% on team debut

‘We had hoped for a top-10 result so when she won on both days we were just over the moon’

(Image credit: Jesse Wasser)

“McLain told them it’s not about winning but about showing devotion to the sport. He’s their hero. He is real a family man, he understands children and he goes out of his way to inspire them,” said Jesse.

Jesse said Evangeline and Annabelle, who has also now taken up showjumping, are to compete at the Hampton Classic 25 August to 1 September in the ‘Short Stirrups’ class (a small showjumping class) and they hope to have their own horses in the future.

“Evangeline still has the baseball cap – hopefully she sees McLain again this year and there will be a third chapter to the story,” said Jesse.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

USA claims team gold in thrilling jump-off at WEG: ‘I’m proud to be American today’

Pippa Roome — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 22:47:57 +0000

The USA beat Sweden to team gold in a jump-off in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon this afternoon (Friday, 21 September).

All four riders for both teams had to compete in the final showdown, which came down to time after three from each nation went clear.

The home side’s final rider, McLain Ward, put in the fastest round of the jump-off in 32.58sec on Clinta. He was backed up by Laura Kraut (Zeremonie) — whose clear was the high spot for the US in the first round — Adrienne Sternlicht (Cristalline) and Devin Ryan (Eddie Blue).

“This team, this group, the people behind us all the way through — this is what’s great about America,” said McLain. “There were many different people and personalities fighting to do their best. I’m proud to be American today.”

Silver medallists Sweden moved up from fourth overnight to secure a place in the jump-off thanks to clears from Henrik von Eckermann (Toveks Mary Lou), Malin Baryard-Johnsson (H&M Indiana) and Fredrik Jönsson (Cold Play). Peder Fredricson had eight faults in the first round today, but went clear in the jump-off.

“We had a great team and great team spirit. We did it together today and we should be very proud,” said Malin.

Germany took the bronze, with clears from Simone Blum (DSP Alice) and Marcus Ehning (Pret A Tout) sealing the deal. Student Laura Klaphake (Catch Me If You Can OLD) had four faults and Maurice Tebbel (Don Diarado) five. Simone now leads the individual standings.

“I am totally happy with this young and inexperienced team and to win here a medal means a lot to me,” said chef d’equipe Otto Becker.

Switzerland led going into today’s competition, but had a disastrous time when Werner Muff’s 13 faults on Daimier had to count because Janika Sprunger was eliminated for two refusals at the second fence on Bacardi VDL. They did secure Olympic qualification with fourth place, alongside The Netherlands in fifth and Australia in sixth.

Article continues below…

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Horse & Hound’s bumper magazine reports from WEG will be in the issues dated 20 September (dressage and eventing) and 27 September (showjumping and para dressage).

Elite sport ‘isn’t all roses’: top showjumper talks frankly about the pressure

Madeleine Silver — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 11:35:20 +0000

Current world number two showjumper Mclain Ward shares the struggles he has faced caused by the pressure of his sport — and how he has learnt to cope with it over the years

“I have struggled with the pressure of big championships a lot over the years,” reveals American showjumper Mclain Ward, when we catch up at Tryon International Equestrian Centre in North Carolina, the venue for next year’s World Equestrian Games.

“Early on in my career I definitely blew a few World Cup finals for example. But the year before the 2008 Beijing Olympics I tried to take stock of it (Mclain was part of the gold medal-winning team in Hong Kong aboard Sapphire).

“I’d actually had a terrible Florida circuit, I was very distracted, I needed to change and I needed to address it. And I started working with a very good sports psychologist and it changed my career significantly,” says the 42-year-old.

“It’s not easy for me. I want to be successful so badly and I have quite an intense personality so I have to keep that in check and keep everything flowing the right way. I’m proud that I’ve mastered it more than I did before, but it’s a work in progress. I love it when people say ‘I’ve got it’. No, you don’t ‘have it’. You just have it better today than you did yesterday.

“But that’s just my challenge in the sport, and I share that very openly with people because I think people do struggle with it and they have this view that it doesn’t affect athletes who are successful at the highest level, but it does, they just learn how to handle it,” he says.

Continued below…

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

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Tunnel vision

“Having a child gives it some perspective, but I still am who I am. It makes the recovery after a difficult moment easier and in your more clear moments you realise your priorities. But in the heat of battle, on the field of play, I see it with very tunnel vision and that’s something I have to address.

“When I go home at night and I’ve had four faults, and I go and see my daughter in her bed, I take a breath and think ‘life goes on tomorrow’.

“But in that moment you have to learn a set of skills if it’s something you struggle with. And there are some riders who are very blasé about it while others I know really have to work at it.

“There are people that can help you with it. I’ve worked with [sports psychologist] Bob Rotella, and it’s been career changing. And in being career changing, it’s life changing — because we don’t clock out at 5pm, it comes home with us.

“It’s a wonderful, wonderful privilege being able to make a living out of doing a sport, but that doesn’t mean to say it’s a simple existence — it’s not all roses,” he says.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

Mclain Ward: why hosting WEG in America has its pros and cons

Madeleine Silver — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 11:48:23 +0000

We caught up with the world number two showjumper at Tryon International Equestrian Centre in North Carolina, the venue for 2018’s World Equestrian Games (10-23 September), to talk about the advantages — and disadvantages — of a home games

What did you make of the announcement last year that Tryon International Equestrian Centre would host the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG)?

“When I found out that WEG was coming here last year, I was so excited. To be able to allow my supporters in my own country to really have an up-close-and-personal view of the sport at that level is fantastic — it builds excitement and it builds enthusiasm. It’s great for the sport here.”

What are the advantages of it being on home turf?

“I like to go to Europe to compete at the major venues, not only because they’re great events, but also to see where I am in the sport against different riders. But my life is in America. My business is here and my family is here — I can’t just pick up for eight months and camp out in Europe, it’s just not a reality. So to be able to have high end sport here in the United States, and throughout North America, is brilliant for me personally and I think it feeds the level getting better and better internally. I’ve always believed that for the United States to be successful on the world stage, you have to have good internal sport.”

And how about the disadvantages?

“Having the championships in our own country is wonderful for the promotion [of the sport], but as a team, there’s on the one hand the home court advantage and there’s also distractions. We have a lot of friends and family here, and owners and clients, and so you have to find that balance, and that comes with maturity.

“I think that was something in Lexington [WEG 2010, when America finished outside the medals] that we as a team didn’t handle well. So as an athlete you have to find that balance.”

How do you cope with the distractions of a multi-discipline championships like WEG?

“With my experience level it doesn’t impact me so much. Obviously the logistics for everybody is much more difficult but as individuals we have to concentrate on what our job is and everything else gets pushed to the side, and I think that’s something you learn.

“We’re here to do a job and the Olympic experience has been phenomenally helpful in that because they do a lot of seminars and tutorials on how not to get distracted. They talk in the Olympics that 80% of athletes that have disappointing performances come about because of outside distractions.

“At any championship, you set the schedule for what’s best for you. For some people that might be coming out and watching the three-day eventing and for some people that might be spending two hours in the gym in seclusion — so you have to find what works best for you. And for me it’s the gym. That’s why Kent [Farrington], Beezie [Madden] and I are good team mates because we all just seclude ourselves somewhere.”

Continued below…

(Image credit: Nancy Jaffer)

World Equestrian Games tickets for individual sports now available

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How do you rate your chances for a spot on the podium next September?

“Of course I want to be on the podium next year and I’m lucky enough that HH Azur (who Mclain won the 2017 World Cup final on in April) is young and fit. Our first goal over the next year is the World Cup final in Paris (April 2018) and then there’s a nice break period before WEG which works out very well for us, and it’s reasonable to think that a horse can do both.

“This is a beautiful setting at Tryon with spectacular conditions, the weather I think is going to be very good at that time of the year and you have a community not only locally but in the United States [as a whole] that is going to rally behind it.

“If you look at WEG in Kentucky or the World Cup finals in Omaha, the American fans come out to support.”

The World Equestrian Games will run from 10-23 September 2018 at Tryon International Equestrian Centre in North Carolina, United States. Book your tickets here

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

McLain Ward clinches World Cup Jumping victory on home soil

Horse & Hound — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 07:08:37 +0000

Words and picture by Nancy Jaffer

On his 17^th attempt to win the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final, McLain Ward finally broke his jinx in style, leading with HH Azur through five rounds of jumping to take the title that had eluded him for so long.

“I’ve been very close so many times and in one way or another messed it up,” he said on an emotional afternoon. Noting that he has had many supporters behind him who helped his career over the years, he explained, “to try to pull one off for them was very, very important to me. I just took a breath, believed in my horse, had a little luck and it came off. I owe a lot of people thanks.”

The competition in Omaha, Nebraska’s CenturyLink Center on Sunday 2 April marked the first time since 1980 that an American had won the cup at home. The US victory was a fitting way to christen a new venue for the sport. It drew rave reviews for everything from the stabling, warm-up and arena all under one roof, to the way the competition was presented.

Azur, an 11-year-old Belgian mare by Thunder vd Zuuthoeve, who was McLain’s team silver medal mount in Rio, never dropped a rail. McLain’s closest competitor was Switzerland’s Romain Duguet on a 10-year-old mare, Twentytwo des Biches, who was competing in her first championship.

That Selle Francais by Mylord Carthago had nearly as good a record at the final as Azur, toppling only one pole in the course of the week. Had McLain dropped a rail, it would have forced a jump-off, but Azur was jumping beautifully as the crowd of 7,860 cheered her on through the final two rounds on the last day of the show.

Continued below…

(Image credit: Nancy Jaffer)

You saw them here first — top showjumpers’ baby-faced appearances in Horse & Hound

From John Whitaker to Ben Maher, today’s leading

(Image credit: Nancy Jaffer)

10 things you didn’t know about showjumper McLain Ward

Showjumper McLain Ward took some time out in

(Image credit: Nancy Jaffer)

Mclain Ward retires Olympic-gold winning showjumper Sapphire

The talented 17-year-old warmblood disproved the old adage

Interestingly, the top three finishers all were mounted on mares. Henrik von Eckermann of Sweden, who finished third four penalties behind Romain, was aboard an 11-year-old Westfalen, Mary Lou by Montendro.

No British riders competed. The only Irish rider, Denis Lynch, finished 17^th with 24 penalties after coming into the final day with 15 penalties on All Star, a 14-year-old Hanoverian stallion by Argentinus.

Don’t miss the full report from the World Cup jumping and dressage finals, in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 6 April.

WEG showjumping: top 4 riders for Sunday’s final

Jennifer Donald — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 15:35:57 +0000

We have an absolute treat in store for us in Sunday’s horse-swapping final for the individual jumping championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

From Saturday’s thrilling decider, the top class quartet who will battle it out for the medals are:

Patrice Delaveau of France riding the 12-year-old Quick Star stallion, Orient Express HDC
Beezie Madden of USA riding the 12-year-old Randel Z gelding, Cortes C
Rolf-Goran Bengtsson of Sweden riding the 14-year-old Caretino stallion, Casall Ask
Jeroen Dubbeldam of the Netherlands riding the British-produced 10-year-old Rash R gelding, Zenith SFN

Just missing out on the final four were fifth-placed McLain Ward (USA) and finishing seventh in the world was the teenage Irish sensation Bertram Allen riding Molly Malone V.

All four riders will start on a clean slate for Sunday’s unique final where each rider jumps a round of fences on his or her own horse, before swapping on to each of the other three horses to jump the same track in turn. The world champion will be whoever has the fewest faults at the end of four rounds.

It’s going to be a thrilling conclusion, so tune in via twitter @horseandhound and don’t miss the full report in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out 11 September.

Gold medal-winning showjumping mare dies

Ellie Hughes — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:33:31 +0000

US showjumper McLain Ward’s former top horse Sapphire has died following complications from colic.

The 19-year-old mare was retired from the sport in 2012 after a glittering career at the highest level that included winning 2 Olympic team gold medals in Athens 2004 and Hong Kong 2008, and team silver at the 2006 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen.

A statement from the rider on his Facebook page read: “With a very heavy heart I have to share that Sara [Sapphire] has passed away this morning.

“The entire Castle Hill family and every person she has touched has lost a great friend. Thank you Sara not just for all the dreams you made come true but for simply being who you were. You always will be my champion in every way. God speed good friend.”

Mclain Ward retires Olympic-gold winning showjumper Sapphire

Charlotte White — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:16:12 +0000

US showjumper Mclain Ward has retired his two-time Olympic gold-medal winning partner Sapphire.

Mclain has ridden 17-year-old “Sara” for 10 years and they have competed in two Olympics, two World Equestrian Games, six World Cup finals and numerous grands prix.

Sapphire strained a check ligament in March 2011 and was out of action for the rest of the season.

But she returned to competition and was long-listed for the 2012 Olympics – which would have been her third Games.

Then in January this year Mclain had to undergo surgery for a fractured kneecap.

The decision was made earlier this week to retire her.

Mclain wrote on Facebook: “While it is the end of her incredible career, I refuse to be sad. Sara is retiring healthy, happy and at her best.”

Sapphire and Mclain won team gold at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.

The pair were at the centre of an investigation for hypersensitivity of the legs in the 2010 World Cup jumping final, but their elimination was later overturned.

American showjumper McLain Ward shatters kneecap

Horse & Hound — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:45:36 +0000

US showjumper McLain Ward – a strong contender for the 2012 London Olympics – has shattered his kneecap in a fall.

The accident happened on Saturday night (14 January) at the opening show of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

Mr Ward’s mare relatively inexperienced mare Oh D’Eole, ran out at the combination and veered into a wing in the $30,000 ( £19,000) Surpass Grand Prix.

She was unhurt, but Mr Ward suffered a compound fracture of the patella and was operated on that night by US team doctor, Craig Ferrell.

Mr Ward, 36 – a member of the American gold medal-winning Olympic team in Hong Kong – now faces a fight to be fit enough to take part in the US Olympic trials, which start on 21 March.

His Hong Kong ride, Sapphire, has just returned to competition, after straining a check ligament in March last year.

McLain Ward accepts ruling that his horse was “incorrectly eliminated”

Horse & Hound — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:59:52 +0000

The International Equestrian Federation’s (FEI) has admitted that US showjumper McLain Ward’s horse was “incorrectly eliminated” from the FEI World Cup final.

Mr Ward has said he is satisified with the decision and welcomed news that the protocol used to disqualify his mount, Sapphire, had been revised (see below).

The prize-money and points Mr Ward won in the event’s second round will be restored to him.

The ground jury eliminated Sapphire, who was leading after the second round of the 2010 final in Geneva, Switzerland, after vets claimed the horse showed signs of hypersensitivity.

Drug tests and swabs were later found to be negative and Mr Ward filed an appeal/protest with the FEI.

New guidelines issued

Following this case, the FEI has provided further clarification of the rules surrounding the examination of horses’ legs for potential hypersensitivity and the disqualification process that would follow a positive result.

The new guidelines state that all horses tested for hypersensitivity will continue to undergo a thermographic examination as part of the evaluation process.

It also states that no horse can be eliminated from a competition for hypersensitivity after the competition has taken place.

It clarifies that the rider (person responsible) for a horse that is disqualified for hypersensitivity will receive a written description of the examination process and the rights of the person responsible under the circumstances.

If a horse is disqualified more than 12hrs before a competition, the rider may submit a written request to the ground jury for the horse to be re-examined. The horse will then be re-examined on the day of the competition.

If the horse is not showing signs of hypersensitivity, then it will be allowed to compete, but remains eligible for examination for signs of hypersensitivity throughout the entire competition.

The new guidelines are effective immediately.

Read the guidelines on the FEI website

McLain Ward files protest with FEI over Sapphire disqualification

Horse & Hound — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:00:50 +0000

A protest has been filed with the FEI — the governing body of international horse sport — following the disqualification of American showjumper McLain Ward’s horse Sapphire at the World Cup Final in Geneva last Friday (16 April).

McLain Ward, the US Equestrian Federation (USEF) and American team vet Dr Tim Ober have filed the appeal/protest with the FEI.

McLain Ward said: “This is, without question, the most incredibly unjust decision in the history of show jumping.”

McLain Ward and Sapphire were leading overnight at the FEI Showjumping World Cup Final, when the show’s ground jury disqualified the horse from the second round as “unfit to compete” following a positive hypersensitivity test.

McLain presented Sapphire to a press conference at the event. He said the horse disqualified after three tests with a thermography camera — to check for heat and a possible problem — and clinical examination.

The first was done before the pair jumped, and the last performed at 12:15am after the horse’s leg had allegedly been palpated (felt) 57 times.

McLain Ward stated at the conference: “This is a situation where the FEI is not democratic — there is no logic being used.

“It’s just a completely corrupt decision on their part.”

Mr Ward, the US team vet Dr Tim Ober and the USEF lodged an appeal against the disqualification on Sunday 18 April — which was denied.

Under FEI rules there is no appeal against the decision of the ground jury to eliminate or disqualify a horse from an event for abnormal sensitivity.

The FEI tribunal chairman Ken Lalo said he did not have jurisdiction to overturn the ground jury’s decision.

The FEI said in a statement: “There was no indication or evidence of any malpractice by Ward or his team.”

An FEI spokesman told H&H: “An appeal has been filed with the FEI and is being processed according to the usual procedures. The parties will now agree on a timeline for exchange of submissions and the scheduling of a hearing date before the FEI Tribunal.”

Watch the press conference on FEI TV here.

Watch McLain Ward’s press conference in response to Sapphire’s disqualification

Video provided by Cavadeos.com / L’Eperon

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