Top Swedish showjumper Rolf-Göran Bengtsson has confirmed that his Paris Olympic ride Zuccero HV will be for sale.

Last Thursday (13 February) 62-year-old Rolf and the 13-year-old Holsteiner stallion produced a double clear to top the 45-strong CSIO5* Emirates Jumping Cup presented by Longines, Abu Dhabi, UAE, in what “could be the last show” for the pair.

Only nine combinations made it through the jump-off, and the only other double clear came from Britain’s Tim Gredley and Imperial HBF, who stopped the clock on 54.10sec for second place. The fastest time came from Germany’s Katrin Eckermannn and Iron Dames Dialou Blue PS, who came home in 48.16sec but a pole down meant they had to settle for third, and Rolf and Zuccero won on 48.25sec.

After the class Rolf said Zuccero, bred by Hanno Koehncke, is a “really fantastic horse that’s reached the top”.

“But unfortunately the horse is going to be coming up for sale and that’s a real shame for me,” he said.

“This makes the win even more special, as this could be the last show. I don’t have a back-up horse at the moment, and it takes time to make a new horse again.”

Rolf, who was the oldest rider at the Paris Olympic showjumping last summer, added that “I’m not as fast as the younger generation, but I have two really great horses” in Zuccero, and 10-year-old gelding Caillan who picked up a fifth, a sixth and a 10th in Abu Dhabi.

“I love to come here and compete. Everything is great, from the organisation to the footing. The course-designer (Santiago Varela) has built a fair course suitable for the various levels of rider. It’s not easy, but it gave the right amount of clears,” he said.

Zuccero HV was produced as a young horse by the Netherlands’ Bart Van Der Maat before Rolf took over the reins in the summer of 2020. Rolf continued to produce him to top level; in 2023 they were part of the team that won gold at the European Championships, and last year the Swedish team finished sixth in Paris.

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Both young and older horse riders alike could learn plenty from the equestrians who made it to the top – and stay there – well into their 60s.

Even as the world becomes more and more progressive, there are still few truly mixed-sex competitive sports. The fact that all genders compete on equal terms is just one of the many special qualities of horse sport.

Another thing that sets equestrian disciplines apart is the lack of an upper age limit. While many footballers hang up their boots before their 35th birthday, in horse sport you’re truly only as old as you feel. Across the disciplines and levels, from local shows to the very top, older horse riders compete against those who are many years their junior.

In fact, advancing years can be an elite equestrian’s secret weapon. The more horses you ride, hours of training you put in and top competitions you complete, the more experience you gain – giving you the edge at the highest level. If a rider manages to avoid injury, they can remain effective in the saddle over many decades and continue to scoop medals, titles and international appearances well after pensionable age.

Older horse riders still at the top of their game

Whether it’s performing a near-perfect grand prix freestyle or sailing around a five-star track, we’ve picked out some of the world-class older horse riders defying convention and showing no sign of slowing down in their 60s.

1. Juan Antonio Jiménez Cobo, 65

The dressage rider became the country’s oldest ever Olympian at the Paris 2024 Games. He piloted striking grey Lusitano stallion Euclides MOR.

Born in Castro del Rio, Córdoba, in 1959, Juan Antonio is based in Madrid. His first Olympic appearance for Spain was in 2000 at the Sydney Games, where the dressage team came fifth overall. He represented Spain again in Athens 2004, where they earned the silver team medal.

Fresh off the back of his 2024 Olympic appearance for Spain, Juan Antonio headed to South Africa in early September to compete in the CDI3* at Ermelo with bright bay stallion Quartar. He finished sixth in the grand prix freestyle.

2. Phillip Dutton, 60

Born in 1963 in New South Wales, Australia, Phillip Dutton’s illustrious eventing career has included representing two nations across seven Olympic Games.

He appeared at three Games for Australia, where he helped the eventing team top the podium on two consecutive occasions, in 1996 in Atlanta and in the 2000 home Games.

Phillip became a US citizen in 2006 and earned his first individual bronze medal at Rio 2016 on board Mighty Nice.

Phillip has enjoyed success on the US eventing circuit and has placed in the top 10 at both Burghley and Badminton. He has won once at the top level, taking the 2008 Kentucky Three-Day Event crown with Irish Sports Horse gelding Connaught.

This year, Phillip had two rides at Kentucky. He finished 15th on second ride Azure, while his first ride Quasi Cool fell at the final fence on cross-country day. Phillip later released an update to say the gelding was “resting comfortably in his stall”.

3. Michael Whitaker, 64

Born in 1960 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Michael Whitaker is one of the founding members of the enormously successful Whitaker showjumping dynasty.

He has represented Great Britain in five Olympic Games. He first appeared at the LA Games in 1984, where he helped the showjumping team clinch the silver medal.

Michael’s numerous successes over the decades are too many to name, but include team gold and individual silver medals at the 1989 European Championships in Rotterdam with horse of a lifetime Monsanta. He also came third in the Netherlands World Cup final in 1994 atop Everest Midnight Madness.

In May 2024, Michael piloted Equine America Q Paravatti N – a ride he shares with his son Jack – to victory in the Longines Whitsun Tournament in Wiesbaden, a CSI4* competition.

4. Jill Irving, 61

The Ontarian was set to make her Olympic debut for Canada with top dressage mount Delacroix 11 this year, but she ended up travelling to Paris as the alternate with chestnut KWPN stallion Genesis.

Born in 1963, Jill began her career on Canada’s hunter jumper circuit before switching to dressage. She made her FEI debut in 2013, aged 50. She helped Canada top the podium at the Pan American Games in Lima in 2019 on Degas 12, a year after her first World Equestrian Games appearance.

In July this year, she competed at Hartpury CDI3* and finished eighth in the grand prix special with Genesis.

5. Rolf Göran-Bengsston, 62

The showjumper was the oldest in the discipline at Paris 2024. Competing for Sweden with 12-year-old stallion Zuccero HV, he helped earn a qualification for the team final. Sweden went on to finish sixth in the team jumping.

Paris marked Rolf-Göran Bengsston’s sixth Olympic appearance. He has earned a brace of Olympic silvers in his career: one team medal at Athens 2004 and one individual in Hong Kong at the Beijing 2008 Games.

Notable achievements include a spate of top-three placings in the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) in 2014 and 2015 with Caretino stallion Casall ASK, including wins in Doha, Chantilly, London and Rome. He was the LGCT Champion of Champions bronze medallist in 2015.

6. Andrew Hoy, 65

A stalwart of the international eventing scene, Aussie rider Andrew Hoy has clocked up an impressive eight Olympic appearances for his country – the most ever for a member of team Australia. His six Olympic medals include three team golds won at back-to-back Games from Barcelona 1992 to Sydney 2000.

In 2006, Andrew came within touching distance of landing the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. He finished in pole position at Kentucky on Master Monarch and repeated this feat at Badminton atop Moonfleet. At Burghley in the same year, leaders Andrew and Moonfleet could afford to knock one fence in the final phase. Sadly, the combination rolled two poles and so the 2006 title went to fellow Australian Lucinda Fredericks and Headley Britannia.

Andrew missed out on his ninth Olympic appearance at Paris this year, but it doesn’t mark the end of an era for this older horse rider, who said: “This chapter of ‘Paris 2024’ may be closing, but the book isn’t finished. We are excited to see what the future holds for us!”

7. John Whitaker, 69

This living legend needs no introduction. Five years older than his brother Michael, John Whitaker has represented Great Britain at six Olympic Games. He has won too many accolades to name, but has earned 24 Olympic, World and European Championship medals to date.

Synonymous with John is his world-famous and beloved mount Milton. The legendary grey gelding was the first showjumper to earn £1m in prize money and had a fan base to rival contemporary film stars in the 1980s and early 90s. The pair’s crowning achievement was double gold at the 1989 Europeans in Rotterdam.

Recent success for John includes a win in the Global Champions League of Madrid in May this year. Along with teammate Gilles Thomas and representing Valkenswaard United, John finished top with gelding Equine America Unick de Francport. While John recently said “holding my own against good young riders” was one of his proudest achievements, everyone knows this older horse rider is not to be under estimated in any type of jumping competition.

8. Mary Hanna, 69

This dressage rider is set to celebrate her 70th birthday in December this year. The Australian has represented her country at five WEGs and six Olympics, debuting at Atlanta 1996.

Mary took a break from competition in 2019 to be with her daughter while she recovered from a serious fall. The following year, she became the first Australian rider ever to score above 80% in a grand prix freestyle competition.

She travelled to Paris 2024 with stallion Ivanhoe as team Australia’s dressage alternate. After the competition, she took to Instagram to say: “I thought afterwards I might be announcing my retirement from the sport. However it is quite the opposite. I feel so inspired and motivated by the outstanding performance of everyone involved, that I plan to continue to follow my dreams.”

• Have we missed any older horse riders worth of inclusion in this article? Let us know about your favourite older equestrian athlete by email at hhletters@futurenet.com including your name, nearest town and county for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future edition of Horse & Hound magazine

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At the age of 62, Swedish showjumper Rolf-Göran Bengtsson is still several years behind Great Britain’s very own legendary veteran John Whitaker, who turns 70 next year and recently clinched victory for his country in the Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain.

But at Paris 2024, Rolf holds the honour of being the oldest rider competing in the Olympic showjumping – missing out only to 65-year-old Spanish dressage rider Juan Antoniio Jiminez Cobo of Spain as the oldest athlete competing at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Rolf has an enviable Olympic record, jumping at his first Games at Atlanta in 1996, winning team silver at Athens in 2004 and individual silver on the mighty Ninja La Silla in Hong Kong four years later.

He helped Sweden’s chances of a medal in Paris considerably during Thursday’s opening round of the team competition, producing a fantastic clear with Zuccero HV to ensure qualification for Friday’s team final.

“I cannot ask more of my horse, he really showed the quality he has,” says Rolf of the 12-year-old VDL Zirocco Blue stallion. “He was brave, he was careful, he let me ride him exactly like I wanted to have the horse going. I’m more than happy and he showed me what we can do.

“My only little thing was that after the water he went a bit longer than I walked it, so I had to push quite hard to reach that distance of five strides. But he did it well. He lived up to his quality and I’m super happy for him and it’s great for everybody around him.”

Sweden’s high-calibre team are defending Olympic showjumping champions

Sweden has reigned as European, Olympic and world showjumping champions for the past 12 months and, after many years as the country’s leading rider, Rolf revealed how difficult it is now to earn a place on the squad with so many high-calibre riders all vying for a place.

“I was maybe a little bit alone there for many years, but now we have a super strong team,” says Rolf, currently ranked 75th in the world.

Rolf was missing from Sweden’s championship roster for several years after Rio 2016, only returning to the fold in 2021. He and Zuccero were part of the squad who won team gold at the European Championships in Milan last year and he was picked as one of Sweden’s trio jumping for round one of the Paris Olympic showjumping alongside Henrik von Eckermann (King Edward) and Peder Fredricson on Catch Me Not S.

“It was hard to get in, like in Tokyo there was no chance to break into the three riders there, so I’m very happy to come back with a horse like Zuccero and he has proved now that he is also one of them,” says Rolf.

“He’s quite sure of himself, he’s brave, he’s careful, he’s nice to ride – all the good positive things and in a good mix. I just have to play my card in the best way and he can do the job.”

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All three of the riders – and two of the horses – who won gold in 2021 are named in the Swedish Olympic showjumping team as the country prepares to defend its title in Paris.

Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward, also the individual world champions, and Malin Baryard Johnsson and Indiana both jumped off for gold in Tokyo, and have been selected again. The final 2021 team member and individual silver medallist Peder Fredricson has retired the great All In but is in the squad with Catch Me Not S. The fourth combination is Rolf-Göran Bengtsson with Zuccero, who were on the team that won European gold last year.

The Swedish Olympic showjumping team go to Paris as hot favourites, as Olympic, European, and world champions. Sweden has won 11 Olympic showjumping medals including team gold in Tokyo.

Rolf-Göran is the oldest team member, aged 62, and made his senior team debut at the 1995 Europeans in St Gallen. He has contested 19 senior championships and Paris will be his sixth Olympics. The Games will be Malin’s sixth, Peder’s fifth and Henrik’s fourth. The final team of three will be decided at a later date.

Swedish Olympic showjumping team

Rolf-Göran Bengtsson with 12-year-old stallion Zuccero Hv

Owners: Holsteiner Verband and rider

Breeder: Hanno Koehncke

Breeding: by VDL Zirocco Blue out of a mare by Caretino 2

Henrik von Eckermann with 14-year-old gelding King Edward

Owners: Dufour Stables and rider

Breeder: Wim Impens

Breeding: by Edward 28 out of a mare by Feo

Peder Fredricson with 18-year-old gelding Catch Me Not S

Owner: Ebbar Berglöf

Breeder: Krister Svedberg

Breeding: by Cardento 933 out of a mare by Ramiro’s Son

Malin Baryard Johnsson with 16-year-old mare Indiana

Owner: Stuteri Arch

Breeder: Chloe Ruys and Christophe Van Turtelb

Breeding: by Kashmir Van Schuttershof out of a Animo’s Hallo mare

“We are incredibly charged,” said Swedish national team captain Henrik Ankacrona.

“It is a long process towards an Olympics and it is exciting now that we are approaching the championship. We go there to perform and we always aim high. But we know that everyone has to be at their best to make it all the way.”

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After a thrilling final decider to the team competition at the European Showjumping Championships at the San Siro racecourse in Milan, Italy (30 August-3 September), Sweden have come out as the new European champions.

Such was their dominance in the third and final round of team jumping, the gold medal was secured fairly early on, leaving their rivals to fight it out for the remaining medals. In the end it would be Ireland who claimed silver, with a real surprise in the bronze medal position as Austria earned a historic first European Showjumping Championships team medal.

Sweden won the gold medal at the World Championships in Herning last year, to add to their Olympic crown from Tokyo the year before. Somewhat surprisingly Sweden had never claimed the European crown, but in Milan, Italy, they conquered all once again, becoming the first nation since Germany 25 years ago to hold the world, European and Olympic titles at the same time.

“I’m lost for words,” said Swedish chef d’equipe Henrik Ankacrona. “It’s the first time Sweden holds the European title in showjumping.

“I’ve been trying to bring up new combinations and to get riders to try new horses and to look long-term. The big goal is the Paris Olympics, so these championships are very important. We knew that if everyone performed their best, and raised the bar a bit even, we could be on the podium, but to be here in the gold medal position is unbelievable.

“To be European, Olympic and world champions? I didn’t even realise, someone just told me about that. But it certainly doesn’t get much better than that.”

European Showjumping Championships: Swedish dominance

In the final day’s competition on Friday (1 September), Swedish pathfinder Henrik von Eckermann and Iliana, opened with four faults which would be the drop score because three clears then followed, from Wilma Hellstrom (Cicci BJN), Jens Fredricson on Markan Cosmopolit and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson riding Zuccero.

Despite just one penalty separating the top four teams coming into this medal decider, Sweden’s team total score of 9.51 ended up nearly nine points clear of Ireland, with Austria climbing up the leaderboard to finish third after both Switzerland and Germany both dropped out of contention. Great Britain finished in ninth place.

“We were having so much fun,” said Wilma Hellstrom. “Uliano Vezzani builds very fair courses – for sure the jumps are bigger today than yesterday. But that was absolutely amazing. My mare felt like she was jumping 1.40m. She was just playing around. I didn’t feel any pressure, I was actually feeling very kind of zen for some strange reason. Even when Henrik had one down I said ‘OK, I have to do this’. We know each other so well and I just had to go in and do my job. I have no words for this horse, she does everything for me, it gives me goosebumps.”

Jens Fredricson, who also leads the individual standings with Markan Cosmopolit, said: “That was just amazing. I’m so happy, this was a real team set-up.

“It is always a surprise when you win – you always you try to do your best, but you can do nothing about the other riders. So if the other riders were better than us, then they would have won. But this time we were the best.”

A remarkable plan for Team Sweden

Jens continued: “Championships are always unpredictable. I wasn’t worried that [final rider] Rolf would lose his concentration if we told him we’d already won gold, but actually he asked so he also knew and he did amazing. This is just great.”

Sweden have set out a remarkable plan looking ahead to the Paris Olympics and will surely be the ones to beat again next year.

“I think one thing that is so good about the Swedish team is that we each have a very early plan for our horses,” revealed Jens, who was part of the gold medal-winning team at last year’s World Championships alongside his brother Peder Fredricson.

“Even as far back as November, I knew what shows we were going to this year and that I was doing three teams – Rome, La Baule and Aachen, fantastic shows and I knew I was going to have my horse in the best form for these European Showjumping Championships. So that’s one thing we have – the best horses have a certain plan and we stick to that. I think that’s a very good thing.”

After a rest day on Saturday (2 September), the European Showjumping Championships conclude with the individual final on Sunday (3 September) where the top 25 individuals will jump in the first round, with just 12 going forwards to the individual medal decider.

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Making the headlines among this week’s showjumping results were some exceptional young horses at the FEI WBFSH World Breeding Championships, a victorious British pony team and a raft of winners from the Unex Competition Yard in Saint Tropez.

For John Whitaker fans, there was a moment to savour in front of the New York skyline, where Daniel Deusser also chalked up the incredible achievement of back-to-back five-star grands prix. A landmark first international win also came for 39-year-old Matthew Boddy, so congratulations to him.

Here is your weekly round-up of international action from the world of showjumping over the past week.

John Whitaker wins in front of the Statue of Liberty

Yorkshire’s very own John Whitaker saved the best for last when closing the Longines Global Champions Tour of New York with a sizzling five-star win aboard Equine America Unick Du Francport. With 10 combinations qualifying for the jump-off, this was always going to be a red-hot finale and, against the backdrop of the New York city skyline, fourth-drawn John (pictured above) flew home quickest, to beat Egypt’s Nayel Nassar riding El Conde.

“I am absolutely delighted,” said John, one of only three double clears. “This is such a special location and venue with the iconic Statue of Liberty behind us. We have come a long way, so to finish like this is top.

“Nayel was quick so when I beat him I knew I had a chance.”

• Showjumping results from Sunday’s CSI5* 1.55m jump-off class at the LGCT New York

World finals showcase Irish breeding…

The FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horses at Lanaken in Belgium once again put the spotlight on some exceptional Irish bloodlines, with both the five- and six-year-old finals won by Irish-bred youngsters.

The six-year-old title went to the outstanding Kannan mare ABC Saving Grace, ridden by Ethen Ahearne (pictured above) and bred by Patrick Kehoe out of Cruising mare Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser. Grace is a half-sister to the former Harry Charles ride ABC Quantum Cruise.

“I got ABS Saving Grace in November when I started my own stable and competed her for the first time in February or March,” said Ethen, who was making his debut at these world championships. “But so far she has only jumped at national level and last month in Dublin we were able to qualify for this World Championship. So this was actually the first time we competed at international level.”

A total of 40 combinations had qualified for this six-year-old final, with 14 jumping clear in round one, and the runner-up spot went to Garance De Vains, by Diamant De Semilly, ridden by Valentin Pacaud for France from breeder Christian Bihl. British rider Alex Gill had two horses through to the jump-off and took the bronze medal riding the VDL Stud’s KWPN gelding Lacoste VDL (VDL Zirocco Blue x Indoctro).

• FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horses six-year-old final results

… With a tremendous five-year-old also taking centre stage

The five-year-old champion at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horses was BP Goodfellas (Stakkato Gold x Obos Quality), bred by Kevin Babington and ridden by Ger O’Neill, who only took the reins four weeks earlier.

“I have nothing but admiration for this horse,” said Ger, who has won two championships at Lanaken in recent years.

The 1.30m track was set by Eugene Mathy and 18 of the 47 finalists progressed to the jump-off, where Ger and the quality gelding came out from late draw to post the fastest clear in 40.12sec.

“He didn’t need, in retrospect, to jump the double with the speed at which I entered,” said the Irishman. “But he did a great job. He is a nice horse to ride with a real winner’s mentality. I also rode his mother [Goodwins Loyalty] a long time ago, so that makes a nice story. And I expect this is only the first chapter for BP Goodfellas.”

• FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horses five-year-old final results

If at first you don’t succeed… First international success for Matthew Boddy

In New York, the CSI2* grand prix presented by Champagne Piaff at the Longines Global Champions Tour was won by British rider Matthew Boddy and the 14-year-old gelding Chameur 137, owned by Purple Road LLC (pictured in action, above). The pair were the fastest of just two double clears. This win was a landmark for the 39-year-old rider as it was his first international success.

“I owe so much to Georgina Bloomberg and [trainer] Jimmy Doyle; I’m not doing this without them,” said Matthew, who works for Georgina’s Gotham Enterprizes. “Representing them makes me proud as anything. I’ve been trying for two and a half years to win for them and I’ve been knocking on the door for a long time.

“I thought my mum and dad were going to have a heart attack at home! It’s a great first international win for me,” added Matthew, who was competing at only his second show on Chameur, who was previously ridden by Georgina. “Today was the result we wanted. We’ve been experimenting for a couple of days because I don’t really know him that well. We went in on the attack and it worked for us. He jumped so easy, nice and confident. It was cool to be here and win in New York, especially for Georgina. She’s so kind to me and gives me horses to ride. I like working for the team and wearing the badge.”

The runner-up spot went to US rider Emmanuelle Greenberg riding the 14-year-old Darco stallion Dublin Van Overis, while third was US-based British rider Amanda Derbyshire and her recent Hampton Classic victor Wonder If, a 10-year-old mare by Cevin Z owned by Gochman Sport Horse LLC. This pair produced the fastest jump-off time but with one rail down to beat fourth-placed finisher Mimi Gochman and Celina BH.

• LGCT of New York CSI2* grand prix showjumping results

‘Icing on the cake’ for impressive Casall seven-year-old

The champion seven-year-old at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses was the Casall-sired gelding Caillan, ridden by Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson for owner-breeder Gerd Ohlsen. The runner-up was the Zangersheide stallion Dourkhan Hero Z, ridden by Christian Ahlmann, with Cornet Obolensky mare Precious Dwerse Hagen and Olivier Philippaerts of Belgium taking third.

Great Britain’s James Whitaker reached the jump-off with the quality son of Argento, Just Call Me Henry, to take seventh in this coveted final.

Rolf, who rode the great stallion Casall to a string of great international successes during an outstanding career together, and Caillan flew from penultimate draw to secure the world title.

“We have had an incredibly good year – we already won the championship in Holstein and Warendorf and this is really the icing on the cake,” said Rolf. “If I compare him to his sire, Caillan is more explosive on the jump than Casall, but of course he still has a long way to go to match his track record!”

There was a British victory in the seven-year-old consolation final courtesy of Joe Trunkfield riding Harry Whall’s Uriah 4, with the runner-up spot going to Billy Utah, by Cevin Z, ridden by Jessica Burke of Ireland.

• FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horses seven-year-old final results

Back-to-back grands prix for Daniel Deusser

Germany’s Daniel Deusser followed up on his success at the recent CP International at Spruce Meadows by making a triumphant return with Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z in the Longines Global Champions Tour grand prix of New York. Less than a second separated the quartet of jump-off contenders and the runner-up spot went to London victor Pieter Devos riding Mom’s Toupie De La Roque, with Sweden’s Malin Baryard-Johnsson third on H&M Indiana.

This was Tobago’s fourth show back after a break.

“I’m happy and proud that he is finally getting back into form and I hope to enjoy him a little longer,” said Daniel. “If it works out like that when you’re last to go in the jump-off and you finish in first place, then it’s always fun!”

The golden ticket to the LGCT Super Grand Prix in Prague passed to fourth-placed Irishman Shane Sweetnam on Alejandro.

“This is Alejandro’s second time qualifying for LGCT Super Grand Prix so that shows what a great horse he is,” said Shane. “He was close in Miami so I thought I had a chance of winning today. I am very excited to have qualified and very excited about today’s result.”

Ben Maher and Faltic HB took sixth in the grand prix with four faults in round one and the Brit now heads to the season final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next month at the top of the overall season standings.

• LGCT of New York grand prix results

A triumphant British team

Great Britain’s pony team scooped victory in the FEI Youth Nations Cup Final in the Netherlands ahead of France and Ireland in a tight-scoring contest. The squad of Tabitha Kyle, who jumped the clinching double clear on Atomic Du Bary, Noora von Bulow on Elando Van De Eoshoeve, Harriet Hodge riding Little Charlie and Tilly Bamford (Lapislazuli) claimed victory on a score of six. Noora was also an individual winner on the pony small tour riding the 15-year-old mare Delflip and in the junior section with the prolific nine-year-old Interstar B, while Tabitha came home with a victorious four-timer with Oakley and the mare Nightgirl VH Sonnishof Z. Junior rider Eve McCoy also kept the British flag flying with a double of 1.30m win with her father Sir Anthony’s Cocktail D’Azur.

• Results of the FEI Youth Nations Cup Final

‘She’s going to be a big name for me’

The Irish flag flew proudly in New York, first for Eoin McMahon and the 16-year-old gelding Chacon, who triumphed in the opening CSI5* 1.45m two-phase at the Longines Global Champions Tour of New York.

“There were some spooky fences on the course today, but my horse handled it very well,” said Eoin of Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s Chacco-Blue son.

Chasing him home were German showjumper Hans-Dieter Dreher riding Cous Cous, with third place going to fellow Irishman Shane Breen and Haya, who went on to win Sunday’s CSI5* speed class (pictured above).

“She was fantastic in there,” said Shane of the 10-year-old KWPN mare (Mylord Cathargo x For Pleasure) he co-owns with Old Lodge and on whom he triumphed in the Queen’s Cup at the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead.

“She’s been wonderful all season. The plan is to build her up for the grands prix and, step by step, we’re getting there. Next year, she’s going to be a big name for me.

“I saw that they were doing seven strides quite easily to the last jump, so I thought if I kept up on the left-hand side, I could do six strides. I chanced it and it came off.”

He beat his fellow Irishman Darrah Kenny and Chic Chic into second.

• Results from the LGCT of New York

Team Unex prove unstoppable in St Tropez

In the CSI1* classes at Hubside Jumping in St Tropez, the Gredleys’ Unex Competition Yard was again well represented in the winner’s circle with Rachel Gredley (pictured above) collecting red ribbons on both Jalanna and Hobalo. Rachel’s sister-in-law Polly landed a 1.25m one-two on Jimmy Mack V Berkenbroeck and Baloubelle and, not to be outdone, stable jockey Joe Clayton headed a class on Sunday with Belinda. This seals a phenomenal run of form for the team over the past three weeks in the south of France.

Rachel said of the 10-year-old Hobalo, who was previously ridden by her husband Tim Gredley: “I’ve only been riding Hobalo for two or three months. He is a very respectful, courageous horse and it is great to see him win a class today. I think he has the potential to go to higher classes, just like [London LGCT winner] Jalanna, who has been running very well for three weeks at Hubside Jumping.”

French showjumper Julien Gronin landed the CSI5* 1.60m grand prix jump-off riding the 13-year-old mare Valou Du Lys. He was chased home by Ireland’s Billy Twomey and the stallion Chat Botte ED. The two-star equivalent went to Lorenzo De Luca riding Poden Farms’ mare Dirka De Blondel. Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano (pictured top soaring past a riskily parked red Ferrari) was also a multi-winner this week.

• Hubside Jumping results

Prague Lions triumph in GCL

GCL team Prague Lions produced the sole double clear to triumph in the Global Champions League of New York, held on Governors Island. The squad was represented by Niels Bruynseels aboard Matador and Pieter Devos and the super barefoot mare Mom’s Toupie De La Roque and this was the Lions’ third success of the season. This also fast-tracked them to the semi-finals of the GC Super Cup in Prague in November. Stockholm Hearts and Berlin Eagles head to the final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next month just one point apart at the top of the leader board.

• GCL results from New York

French-bred triumphs in the Sires of the World

The prestigious Sires of the World Class at the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses was won by the Selle-Francais approved Kannan stallion Drako De Maugre, ridden by Germany’s Patrick Stühlmeyer. Belgium’s Gudrun Pateet took second on the eight-year-old Sea Coast Enjoy Z (Emerald x Parco).

“I’ve been riding this horse for a while but this is only our sixth competition together,” said Patrick of the winning nine-year-old. “I’m confident he has more in store for us.”

The highest placed British contenders were Louise Saywell with Ian Dowie’s nine-year-old Kinsborough Kasper, by Kannan, in a very creditable 12th.

• Results from the Sires of the World at the World Breeding Championships

You may also be interested to read…

‘There’s nothing she can’t do’: 18-year-old Brit scores second five-star win with ‘game’ mare

A ‘big pony with a big heart’, a historic dead heat and a rider without a stirrup – who won showjumping ribbons this week?

Victory for a horse who recovered from a broken leg, and plenty of British success

Jubilant Irish and a mare’s miraculous comeback – who won showjumping ribbons this week?

‘It’s a real honour’: TV presenter claims a memorable victory at London LGCT

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Rolf-Goran Bengtsson produced a fairytale finish to the 2016 Longines Global Champions Tour in Doha, Qatar. On Saturday evening (5 November) in front of a buzzing crowd, the Swede took a resounding victory in the final grand prix of the season and was crowned champion of champions for 2016 by heading the overall points table.

“It was an evening you can dream of, but for it to come true you never think it is possible,” said Rolf, who secured the lion’s share of a one million euro bonus fund as title-holder, as well as nearly 150,000 euro for his grand prix win.

His closest rival in the overall standings, Edwina Tops-Alexander of Australia, finished in the runner-up spot after clocking a surprise eight faults in the opening round of the grand prix, with Germay’s Christian Ahlmann finishing third on the podium.

“I made it easy for you!” said Edwina.

With this coveted accolade in the bag, Rolf and the imposing 17-year-old Caretino stallion Casall ASK went on to jump a double clear before outsmarting six riders in a tactical jump-off to clinch grand prix victory from final draw.

“Casall still loves the job – he’s so competitive in every ring,” said Rolf. “He makes everything possible.”

German riders Daniel Deusser (First Class Van Eeckelghem) and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Fibonacci) took second and third respectively in this final grand prix of the 2016 season.

We bid farewell to a strong British and Irish contingent in round one, none of whom finished in the top 18. Michael Whitaker felt Cassionato simply wasn’t firing in the Qatar heat and retired. John Whitaker, who enjoyed an otherwise hugely successful show, did well to stay in the saddle after meeting the final vertical on no stride at all with his grand prix ride Ornellaia and Scott Brash just missed the cut for round two, finishing on four faults with Hello M’Lady. Ireland’s Cian O’Connor (Good Luck), Denis Lynch (Campino 344) and Bertram Allen (Hector Van D’Abdijhoeve) all came away with a rail or two down.

Don’t miss the full report from the Longines Global Champions Tour in Doha in next week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday 10 November.

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Scott Brash took second in the Longines Global Champions Tour series tonight (14 November) in Doha, as Portugal’s Luciana Diniz won both the grand prix and the overall title.

As first rider in for the second round, Scott knew he had to be fast to have a chance of a good placing and gaining points to help him win overall. And while they did indeed put in a speedy time, Scott and Lord and Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham’s Hello Sanctos rolled a pole off the upright at fence 11. They finished eighth in the grand prix.

“I’m happy but disappointed too,” said Scott after his overall second place was confirmed. “I had a silly fence in the first round and in the second round I felt I had to beat the other four-faulters to have a chance of getting points — that’s why I had the fence down.”

Four riders remained fault free after the second round and went through to a jump-off, including Luciana and Sweden’s Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, who was also in the running for the overall title.

Qatar’s Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani led off the jump-off on First Devision but ran into trouble with the first fence down and another further round.

Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, the second rider in, laid down a fast time with the grey Fibonacci 17 and Rolf-Göran could not better her target with the great veteran Casall ASK.

But Luciana shot round the course on the little chestnut Fit For Fun, scooting ahead by 0.45 of a second.

“I have no words – I’m just so happy,” said Luciana. “I never expected to even win the class and I’ve won the class and the series. Our win is down to teamwork and I’m so grateful to everyone – my horse and all my friends.”

Full report from Doha in H&H magazine this week, out Thursday, 19 November.

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Britain was denied a third consecutive home win by the narrowest of margins when Sweden’s Rolf Göran-Bengtsson took the Longines Global Champions Tour (GCT) grand prix of London.

Partnering his consistent campaigner Casall ASK (pictured below), he headed an unusually strong jump-off field of 12 with the quickest of four treble clears.

With an early fifth draw in the third phase, he went all-out to establish an unassailable lead on the 16-year-old stallion.

An exhilarating bid from John Whitaker, in penultimate draw on the 13-year-old Argento (pictured top), came within an agonising 0.08sec of the target time.

The crowd at Syon Park had one more contender to invest their hopes in — last to jump were Scott Brash and the inimitable Hello Sanctos — but they tipped a rail at the final fence to dash all hopes of a home victory.

Britain had a flawless track record at the first two runnings of the London leg. Ben Maher and Cella claimed the spoils at Stratford’s Olympic Park in 2013 while Scott and Sanctos were last year’s victors at Horse Guards.

While missing out on the €132,000 winner’s reward, Scott’s sixth place finish in this year’s London leg was enough to elevate him to the head of the Longines Global Champions Tour rankings, with four more events left to jump.

He knocked Portugal’s Luciana Diniz from the top spot as he added to points from three victories already this season — at Miami, Monaco and Estoril.

“It’s nice to be top at this stage,” said Scott, who also heads the FEI Longines world rankings list. “I’ll compete at the other venues from Rome onwards so I have a couple of extra chances.”

Jan Tops, president and founder of the Longines Global Champions Tour, said: “London is pivotal to the rankings and always an exciting leg: To have a jump off of 12 meant it was fast and a difficult class to win.”

Don’t miss Horse & Hound’s full report from the Longines Global Champions Tour of London in 30 July magazine

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Scott Brash has retained his title as the Longines Global Champion Tour winner for the second year in a row.

Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Casall Ask won the grand prix of Doha, Qatar on Saturday night (15 November) under the spotlights of the Al Shaqab stadium and finished the 2014 Tour with 243 points. Scott Brash finished fourth in this three-round season finale – which rumbled into the most nailbiting of competitions – with the 12-year-gelding Hello Sanctos, to complete the season on equal points with Rolf. However, Scott’s three wins over the season versus Rolf’s two, meant that the overall title went to the world number one. He collected a cheque for 294,500euro for his win, plus 45,000euro for his grand prix fourth.

“He’s a winner, a horse in a lifetime,” said Scott, who jumped a double clear but picked up an uncharacteristic time-fault in the opening round. “I could have slapped myself for that!

“I often wonder if he’s been jumping a lot, but his strike rate is phenomenal.”

Ludger Beerbaum came in to the final round as the Tour leader but, when his top mare Chiara had to be stood down after a mild bout of colic, the German rider had to rely on number two string Zinedine. A hefty 17 faults in round one meant Ludger had to sit back and await his fate while his two rivals Rolf and Scott progressed and he was resigned to finish third in the standings.

“Everyone can understand my disappointment, but what these two [Rolf and Scott] did today was world class,” he said.

Hello Sanctos’s owners Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham travelled to Qatar to witness their gelding help Scott to a second GCT championship, just a week after Scott celebrated holding the world number one spot for a whole year. Scott’s wins on the 2014 tour came in Cannes, Estoril and in front of his home crowd at the London leg of the Global Champions Tour.

We’ll bring you all the action, interviews and photos from the 2014 season finale in next week’s Horse & Hound (out Thursday 20 November) – don’t miss it!

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Scott Brash lines up tomorrow (Saturday 15 November) in a bid to retain the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) title he claimed 12 months ago — and claim the lion’s share of over €1.7 million in prize-money.

Forty of the world’s leading showjumpers are at the Al Shaqab stadium in Doha, Qatar, this week for the final five-star LGCT grand prix of the season. But all eyes are on the three riders who remain in contention for overall honours, to be decided in Saturday evening’s grand prix — worth a cool €450,000 to the winner.

The Scotsman, who has held his spot as number one in the world for a year now, brings his top horse Hello Sanctos while Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum, the world number two, takes the reins on Zinedine after his top mare Chiara was ruled out of the season finale. The final contender from the top of the LGCT rankings is Sweden’s Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, who rides the in-form stallion Casall Ask.

Coming into the final round Ludger holds the lead in the overall standings, with Rolf in second and Scott third. However, Scott has one less counting round which makes things tight at the top.

In order to retain his crown, Scott needs to finish fifth or higher — and have the mighty German rider behind him.

If Ludger finishes anywhere higher than Scott, the title is his, while the pressure is on for the Swedish rider, who has to win Saturday’s big class in order to earn enough points for victory.

Scott has already enjoyed a sensational season on the Tour, winning a record-breaking three grands prix with Lord and Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham’s 12-year-old gelding Hello Sanctos.

“I will do my best to win the Championship again this year,” said Scott. “I have had a fantastic season and Sanctos has been incredible, but Ludger is still in the lead at the moment and he will be a tough man to beat.”

Ludger added: “I will be watching him [Scott] closely.”

Rolf, who led the standings early on in the season, knows he has a tough job ahead.

“It’s not impossible, but both Scott and Ludger will be super-motivated,” he said.

See the full interview with the three riders ahead of Saturday’s Longines Global Champions Tour decider below:

Find out how who claims the title — and read the full report from the Longines grand prix of Doha — in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound (out Thursday 20 November).

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Does the “final four” still have a place in modern showjumping? Despite discussion surrounding the controversial horse swapping competition at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) the event looks set to stay, according to the FEI.

The unique format of the WEG showjumping competition — in which the top four riders swap horses in the final round to decide the medals — has always provoked debate.

However, this year the competition was praised by both riders and fans, and the FEI has confirmed to H&H that there are no plans as yet to change the format.

“The final four was very much appreciated by the public and by viewers watching on television,” said an FEI spokesman, adding that there were no plans to change it.

“However, the FEI Jumping Committee is always prepared to study suggestions coming from the National Federations.”

In Normandy Dutchman Jeroen Dubbeldam took gold as the only rider to jump four clears. Patrice Delaveau took silver and Beezie Madden bronze, leaving only Rolf-Göran Bengtsson medal-less.

The riders take their saddles with them as they ride a round on each horse.

“The four horses in the final, even the oldest one, were fit at the end, and that in itself is proof of the success of this competition,” said course-designer Frederic Cottier.

Another spectator told H&H: “They had to jump a lot, but they didn’t look tired at all.”

But there were rumours some riders would prefer not to jump, in order to save their mount for future competition and would rather not have someone else ride their horse.

But winner Jeroen Dubbeldam said that wasn’t the correct attitude.

“All our horses are very well-schooled and fit — if you don’t want to do the change then you shouldn’t be here,” he said.

In last week’s comment Graham Fletcher said the 2014 competition was “as good as anything the sport has to offer” but questioned the fact that the top horses have a lot of jumping to do.

“In theory it’s not really conducive to modern showjumping,” he told H&H when questioned further.

“However, it was riveting competition in Normandy and 20,000 fans were enjoying it.”

Graham added that prize-money could be a factor, with so many opportunities to compete for top money on offer elsewhere.

“It is a shame that if anyone wants to go the whole way at WEG they are not sufficiently rewarded financially,” he added.

“If people didn’t want to jump and save their top horses, I’d understand that. A younger horse would handle the competition better, an older one would benefit from a break afterwards, and more prize money would allow for that.”

Canadian Eric Lamaze backed this up, as when asked whether he’d rather win WEG or the Rolex Grand Slam — worth €1m — he chose the latter (report, 18 September).

This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 25 September 2014

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Jeroen Dubbeldam has been crowned Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games individual jumping gold medallist in Normandy.

The Dutchman took gold as the only rider to jump four clear rounds in the unique horse-swapping final. Jeroen punched the air in delight after producing some masterful rounds on his rivals’ mounts and was aboard the great stallion Casall Ask when the title was won.

This was dual gold for Jeroen, who was also part of the Dutch squad who won the team championship on Friday.

“The crowd was cheering for Patrice [Delaveau], which I understand, but compliments to all of them for supporting us all so well,” said Jeroen, Olympic gold medallist in Sydney 2000.

France’s Patrice Delaveau collected the silver medal as a result of a single time-fault with Casall Ask, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson’s great stallion, in an otherwise faultless afternoon of high-pressure jumping.

Olympic gold medallist Beezie Madden (USA) finished with bronze having jumped two clears and two four-fault rounds and the Swedish rider finished just off the podium in fourth.

Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound, out 11 September, for the full report and reaction to the championships.

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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.

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The 2011 European champion and 2008 Olympic team silver medallist Ninja La Silla will officially retire in front of rider Rolf-Göran Bengtsson’s home crowd at the Rolex FEI World Cup final at Gothenburg, Sweden, on 26 April.

The now 18-year-old chestnut Guidam gelding was one of the greatest showjumpers of all time and had a huge public following.

From 2006 to 2011, Ninja and Rolf competed at all six international championships. As well as their European title and Olympic silver, the pair finished seventh individually at the 2009 European Championships at Windsor and were sixth at WEG 2010 in Kentucky.

Rolf had hoped to ride Ninja at the 2012 London Olympics — with his sights set firmly on gold — but a virus picked up early last year proved a massive set-back to his preparations. The legendary partnership were last seen together when helping Sweden win the Nations Cup on home soil in July.

“It has been an honour for me to ride such a fantastic horse and I’m very thankful to [owner] Alfonso Romo for giving me the opportunity to ride him,” said Rolf. “To be part of the journey that Ninja La Silla and I have had together with such great results in the championships is something that every rider wishes for.

“Ninja La Silla has a fantastic personality and is not just a horse, he is a friend and he really deserves to be thanked off on home soil in front of the Swedish crowds at Gothenburg Horse Show.”

Rolf summed up his beloved 16hh gelding to H&H: “He isn’t the one that comes forward to people — they offer him candies but he’s a bit shy. He may be small, but he’s brave and honest.”

Ninja La Silla will spend his retirement in the fields at Stud La Silla in Mexico, where he will be looking after and taking care of the youngsters.

It was also annonunced that the partnership between Alfonso Romo’s La Silla Stud and Rolf will end after the World Cup final in Gothenburg. The decision was said be “agreed upon in a friendly mutual understanding and reflects changes in the business concept of both parties.”

The top stallions Casall La Silla and Quintero La Silla will remain with Rolf as he aims to defend his European title in Denmark this summer. All the other La Silla horses ridden by Rolf will return to Mexico as the owner wants them to be used to support the Mexican team.

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Swedish showjumper Rolf-G ¶ran Bengtsson was born in June 1962 and now lives in Breitenburg, northern Germany where he rents a yard of 35 boxes with business partner Bo Kristofferson.

Rolf learnt to ride on his father’s farm near Lund, Sweden on a Shetland pony.

As a teenager he evented, winning the national pony championships in 1977 and 1979, but turned to showjumping to enable him to ride more horses and compete more often.

He trained and worked as a mechanic for eight years after leaving school to fund his passion, riding in the evenings after work.

In 1986, aged 24, a training bursary allowed him to work abroad at David Broome’s yard in England where he stayed for a two-month stint.

He returned to Sweden with the hope of making a living from horses and spent the next 10 years as a test rider at stallion gradings to fund himself.

It was the gelding Paradiso that took Rolf onto the international stage competing at the World Championships in 1994 and the 1995 World Cup final.

In 1996 he was selected to ride in the Atlanta Olympics, where Sweden finished 10th.

Rolf met Dutch rider Jan Tops in Atlanta and went to work as his stable jockey in the Netherlands the following year, staying for five-and-a-half years.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics Rolf took team silver and individual fourth with Mac Kinley. But it is with Ninja La Silla that he has had the most success.

The 17-year-old KWPN gelding has taken Rolf to an impressive six championships. The pair won individual silver in Hong Kong – Sweden’s first individual medal in showjumping since 1932 – and European gold in 2011.

Rolf plans to take Ninja to London 2012 but his top stallion Casall La Silla is also being prepared.

Rolf is something of national hero in Sweden, winning the Swedish equivalent of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year – the Jerringpriset prize – at the end of 2011.

To read an exclusive interview with Rolf-G ¶ran Bengtsson, as well as a debate over jumping on grass and a look at all the latest riding boots on the market, see the showjumping special of H&H out today (29 March)

Do you want to read all the latest showjumping news?

View our gallery of Rolf at home and in action

A stellar field of international riders will be attending Olympia, which starts today (13 December) and runs until 19 December.

Sixteen nations are represented and the British challenge includes William Funnell, Ben Maher, John and Michael Whitaker and Guy Williams.

Seven of the world’s top 10 will also be in action including Rolf-Goran Bengtsson of Sweden, Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander and France’s Kevin Staut.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (8 December 2011)

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In an astounding and dramatic finale to the European Showjumping Championships in Madrid, Great Britain’s Nick Skelton won bronze with the mighty Carlo — adding to his team medal of the same colour won two days earlier.

But in a dramatic change around at the top of the leader board in the final stages of the competition, Sweden’s Rolf-Goran Bengtsson rose from fifth to snatch gold with his long-time partner Ninja La Silla while overnight leader, Germany’s Carsten-Otto Nagel, had to settle for silver on the wonderful grey mare Corradina.

“I am more than happy right now,” said the Swedish rider. “I thought I’d lost my chance on Friday [when he incurred four faults]. So today I tried to stay cool — and actually I have to thank my colleagues for making the mistakes that allowed me to sit here today!”

Rolf is referring to the four faults that both Carsten and Nick had in each of the final day’s two rounds — which seemed for a while at least to have knocked the latter off the podium.

And agonisingly, for the second time in a week, Dutch rider Gerco Schroder saw a gold medal slip out of his grasp. The last man to jump hit one, then two fences, in the fifth and final round, dropping him and Eurocommerce New Orleans to fourth.

“Two medals — we haven’t done that in a while!” said Nick Skelton, who was delighted but nevertheless rueful that, had 10-year-old Carlo maintained his wonderful clean sheet from the first three days, he would have won gold.

Britain’s performance manager, who was watching anxiously with Carlo’s owners Gary and Beverley Widdowson, and Laura Kraut, who discovered the horse, added: “I am extremely happy that Nick won a medal. I’d have been even more delighted if it had been gold, of course, but it is fantastic for the sport.”

Individual championship:

Gold: Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (Ninja La Silla) SWE

Silver: Carsten-Otto Nagel (Corradina) GER

Bronze: Nick Skelton (Carlo) GB

Also: 12, Tripple X III (B Maher), GB; 15, Tinka’s Serenade (B Twomey), IRL; 17, Amaretto Darco (S Sweetnam); 27, Peppermill (J Whitaker), GB; 31, Titus (G Williams), GB.

Don’t miss next week’s Horse & Hound (out 22 September) for the full report, pictures, analysis and comment.

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