Welcome to the Tryon World Equestrian Games 2018, brought to you by Horse & Hound. Our reporters Pippa Roome and Polly Bryan were on site in North Carolina, United States throughout the Games (11-25 September 2018) to report all the highs and lows. The World Equestrian Games (WEG) brings together the world championships of eight disciplines to a single location once every four years, and once again this proved to be a very challenging undertaking, made more so by the arrival of Hurricane/Storm Florence at the end of the first week of competition.

How to watch World Equestrian Games on TV

Latest from Tryon

Para dressage

Showjumping

Driving

Vaulting

Eventing

Dressage

Endurance

Reining

The World Equestrian Games (WEG) may be separated into individual world championships due to a dearth of bids to host the 2022 event.

The FEI announced the decision at its general assembly in Bahrain on Saturday (17 November).

A number of previous hosts have found holding the games expensive and logistically difficult.

A statement from the FEI bureau said the organisation has twice opened the bidding process for the 2022 games, but this has “not resulted in any realistic bids”.

The governing body will open the bidding process for individual world championships and preference will be given to multi-discipline bids.

“The president stressed that this does not necessarily mean the end of [WEG] bids to host the full seven-discipline games for 2022 and 2026 will be considered,” added the statement

“However, he made it clear that securing world championships for 2022 in the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines was crucial as these serve as qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Games.”

The ill-fated endurance saga

A report into the endurance failings at WEG 2018 by the independent Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU) found there was “no single reason” for the chaotic scenes during the competition.

It concluded the problems arose from multiple issues, mainly a lack of communication between officials — particularly a lack of radios — and between the organising committee, national federations and athletes.

There were also troubles with delays to the preparation of the vet gate and the endurance trail, plus the decision to maintain a full schedule of events at Tryon that “stretched an already under-resourced team required to deliver both these events and the games”. The ride was cancelled part-way through.

A second report, regarding allegations of misconduct, will be reviewed by the FEI legal team to decide whether further disciplinary proceedings will be brought before the FEI tribunal.

FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez presented an overview of the games, including their delivery, communication, the management structure of the organising committee.

“To be completely honest we, as a community, were fortunate that Tryon were courageous and willing to take on the enormous challenge to host the Games only 22 months prior to the event,” said Ms Ibáñez. “Without them we would have had no WEG 2018.”

For more detail and reaction to the WEG news, don’t miss this week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out Thursday (22 February).

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

The president of the FEI has cast doubt over the future of the World Equestrian Games (WEG) as he prepares for his next term in office.

Ingmar de Vos has pledged to review the FEI’s games and championships “with an open mind in order to make the best choices for the future and sustainability of our sport”.

“Although we have further strengthened the minimum eligibility criteria, we must recognise that due to the successful development of our sport in many regions it is more and more difficult to find organisers that are capable of organising an event of such magnitude,” said Mr de Vos.

“It is also increasingly difficult for [national federations] to send athletes in all the disciplines for which their athletes achieved the minimum eligibility requirements.

“We must have the courage to look at the future of our World Championships and ask if the WEG is still the best format.”

He added while the FEI would promote multi-disciplinary bids, the organisation needs to ask itself it is “realistic to impose a model integrating all our disciplines in one event”.

“If we want to be successful we need to have a model that creates competition and can interest a lot of organisers rather than having to fight to find and motivate one organiser for WEG,” said Mr de Vos.

A number of previous WEG venues have found hosting the event challenging, particularly on the financial side.

This year’s WEG faced huge challenges, including Storm Florence.

Tryon stepped in with less than two years to prepare for the Games, which were originally to be hosted at Bromont, Canada. But in a mutual decision between Bromont and the FEI, the Canadian venue pulled out of hosting WEG 2018 due to financial issues.

Mr de Vos’ comments were made as part of his presidential programme for 2018 to 2022, in which he sets out aims for the sport for the next four years.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

‘We made a ton of mistakes’ admits WEG boss

The boss of Tryon International Equestrian Center has praised his team’s efforts in helping towards ‘some of the best sport

Top sport, soaring emotions and a dazzling haul of medals — 17 golden moments from WEG 2018

We thought it was time to re-live some of WEG’s golden moments one more time…

Support for grooms

The president has also pledged to do more to “understand and support” grooms.

“I strongly believe that we must reach out more to a group that often has been neglected, namely, the grooms,” he said.

“As they take care of our horses, day in and day out, and travel with them from event to event, we should make more effort to better understand and support them.

“Several preparatory meetings have been held with representatives of the grooms. We will continue these efforts and will help them create their own international association in order to have a representative body with whom we can interact.”

He added the “ultimate goal” is to register grooms with the FEI and provide them with a certificate after an online course and exam in order to “recognise their crucial role in the equestrian world”.

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

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

Andrew Hoy recently finished fourth individually at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, riding Vassily De Lassos. The event marked 40 years since his championship debut at the 1978 World Championships in Kentucky and Andrew is aiming for his eighth Olympics at Tokyo 2020.

We caught up with Andrew to find out a few things you didn’t know about this 59-year-old star and some secrets of his success and you can read the full interview with him in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out today (11 October)…

1. He is conscious of his horses’ weight. Andrew says Vassily De Lassos went into WEG 20kg lighter than he wanted him to be, having lost weight due to the travel involved in the final few weeks of his build-up. He didn’t ride the horse on the day he came out of quarantine at Tryon, conscious that he didn’t want him to tie up, but also that he didn’t want him to lose more weight.

2. Andrew doesn’t believe in humanising the horses. He says: “People say, ‘Well, the horses really know you, you’ve got such good experience, they know what you do.’ But I say, ‘There’s not a horse in my stable that knows what I’ve done with my life so that’s why I don’t humanise them — there’s no horse that reads Horse & Hound or goes on Instagram or Twitter or Facebook. They only ever treat me the way I treat them.’ I think that’s something that a lot of the lower level riders try to do — humanise their horses, thinking we’ve got a wonderful relationship. We have, but it’s a professional relationship, it’s not a spiritual relationship.”

3. Andrew says Vassily is at his best at the big events — and so is his rider. He says: “The bigger the event, the more calm I am. I’m just focused on that one horse and that one event, and not going to a one-day event where you’ve got four rides and you’re trying to do so much and think of each horse individually.”

4. And he really, really enjoys those major competitions: “I get so much joy and thrill from riding around something like WEG or Aachen, where there are beautifully built fences and the ground is good. I just want to be somewhere where it brings the best out of the horses.”

5. He has some smart young horses coming along behind Vassily. Basmati, another nine-year-old, was 11th at Millstreet CCI3* in August. Others to watch out for include a pair of seven-year-old mares — Byebye Brisquenouille and Bloom Des Hauts Crets — and a seven-year-old gelding called Brigant, as well as a five-year-old named Flipper De Ravelle.

6. Andrew has had some of his greatest rides going early in the competition, so he wasn’t fazed when he was told he was the pathfinder for the Aussie team at WEG. For example, at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Andrew was the pathfinder for the Australian team which won gold and in the individual event — a separate competition at that time — he went second on Swizzle In and ended up taking silver.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Andrew Hoy reveals his WEG prospect — an ‘extraordinary’ rascal, who made him think outside the box

Meet the horse that has got the triple Olympic gold medallist very excited...

All hail Pippa Funnell! 18 moments that helped define her stellar career

Legendary event rider Pippa Funnell added another Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials victory to her list of achievements yesterday (8

11 things you might not know about eventing world champion Ros Canter

Here’s a run down of some facts you might not know about eventing’s first lady...

7. Andrew trains for cross-country with Mark Phillips, who is an old friend from the days when he was based at Gatcombe. “Good coaches are psychologists — they have the ability to say the right thing at the right time,” says Andrew. “On Friday evening at WEG, we were walking up the hill on the cross-country and Mark was in a golf buggy going as fast as he can in the opposite direction. I called out to him and stop him and I was just talking through the course. He just made one comment to me and it just actually stuck. He said, ‘Don’t do the Andrew Hoy where you see an absolutely flyer at a fence. If you get deep to the fences, that horse will jump all day, but if you have him away from the fences, it might come unstuck.’”

8. Andrew’s wife Stefanie used to event — she was based at the German national centre at Warendorf while she was at university. She doesn’t have much time to ride now as she runs her own communications company and the couple have a one-year-old daughter, Philippa, but she is aiming to get back into it and ride five times a week this winter.

Read our full interview with Andrew Hoy in today’s issue of H&H, dated 11 October.

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

What a spectacle! We were treated to a feast of equestrian action at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, North Carolina — and experienced the whole spectrum of emotions during that rollercoaster of a fortnight. Did it really have to end? But now the last set of glittering medals have been presented and the final curtain has come down on this equine extravaganza, we thought it was time to re-live some of WEG’s golden moments one more time…

1. Clinched it!

Ros Canter and Allstar B showjumped clear to secure Great Britain’s team gold medal. Minutes later, Ros also claimed the individual title

2. Sterling work

Lee Pearson and Natasha Baker celebrate team silver for Great Britain in the para dressage

3. Making a splash

Australia’s Boyd Exell makes a splash as he scores his third successive individual WEG gold medal

4. Back in the medals

Charlotte Dujardin shows her sheer delight in securing individual and team bronze with the nine-year-old Mount St John Freestyle

5. A class act

Championship debutantes Amanda Derbyshire and Luibanta BH prove best of the British showjumpers, finishing 17th individually

6. Reining it in

Francesca Sternberg and Spook N Sparkle fly the British flag in the reining

7. Gold!

The USA’s anchorman McLain Ward seals the deal in the most nerve-wracking of jump-offs to claim showjumping team gold for the host nation

8. Thank you to the equine superstars

Britain’s double gold medallist Sophie Wells and groom Lewis Coppin praise C Fatal Attraction after a top performance in the para dressage

9. Golden girl

Isabell Werth’s 14-year-old Bella Rose, off injured since 2014, repays her rider’s faith in her with two gold medals shortly after her return to competition

10. Team selfies

The Dutch para dressage riders celebrate their historic gold

11. Balancing act

Germany’s vaulting squad successfully defend gold with a magical performance

12. Storming to victory

Gemma Tattersall celebrates a cracking cross-country round on Arctic Soul as the British team gold medal-winning pathfinders

13. High five

Chester Weber celebrates finishing the cones phase en route to helping USA secure team gold in the driving for the first time

14. ‘She’s all you could wish for’

The newly crowned showjumping world champion Simone Blum of Germany, pays tribute to her mare DSP Alice, who didn’t hit a pole in four days of championship jumping

15. Flying the flag

Great Britain’s Tom McEwen, Gemma Tattersall, Ros Canter and Piggy French adorned in their glorious gold medals

16. Making history

Ireland’s Padraig McCarthy and Mr Chunky move up the leaderboard to take the individual and team silver — providing his country with its first senior medal in 23 years

17. We did it!

Summing up everything it means to jump clear for your country, Colombia’s Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo (Admara) celebrates his ascent from 26th — as a last minute substitute to the individual jumping final — to finish fifth

Don’t miss the latest issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out now (dated 27 September), for all the news and features from the second week of the World Equestrian Games action from Tryon, USA

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

While the remnants of Hurricane Florence caused disruption and disappointment at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, with the cancellation of the dressage freestyle and postponement of the eventing showjumping, one rider knows all too well the far more damaging effects hurricanes can have.

Grade V para rider Lee Frawley (pictured riding at a competition at Hartpury) hails from the US Virgin Islands, a cluster of islands scattered in the Atlantic ocean, not far from Puerto Rico, that were devastated by two Category 5 hurricanes in September 2017.

“The place is still wrecked,” says Lee, 64, who was brought up riding on the beaches of the Virgin Islands, but now lives in the UK. “First we had Irma, which brought the winds, and then two weeks later Maria just dumped so much rain. My brother’s house was destroyed and my father’s badly damaged.

“It’s been such a journey to get to WEG, and it’s huge for me,” says Lee, her voice cracking. “We’re such a small team but to have the support of the islands is really special — they have other, more important things going on.”

Lee competed at the 2012 Paralympics and 2014 WEG with her old horse, Rhapsody, but has only had the ride on Anneke De Vree’s 18-year-old PS Panta Leone for a year.

“He came to me with the reputation of being a hot horse, but he’s much better in his mind than he used to be,” says Lee, who sadly had a disappointing ride in the individual after the gelding became unsettled towards the end.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Tales from Tryon: gold medallist talks about the ‘battle to overcome my own mind’

Adrienne Sternlicht, who was part of the gold medal-winning US showjumping team last week, talks about the mental struggles she

Tales from Tryon: ‘This horse has given my life purpose and meaning again’

Meet the former eventer who has put her life back together after a horrific accident

Tales from Tryon: ‘I had lost my legs but they lifted me back on board my horse’

Meet the brave Brazilian rider who couldn't hold back his emotion when he secured his first medal.

“I overrode the extended canter and it blew his brains,” rued Lee, who suffered complications from a badly broken leg after a riding accident 20 years ago.

“From my knee down I don’t have any use of my leg, and I can’t totally bend or straighten it,” she explains. “It’s mostly fine when riding, but I can’t do a Pony Club kick!”

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

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

Opinion

I rushed back from work to watch Sophie Wells fight for her individual grade V title online at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon. To be able to watch world-class para dressage live is a dream.

Across all grades, from a walk-only test to the advanced movements of the grade V, the overall picture needs to be harmonious. A para judge will forgive lack of expression and power if it makes them smile.

It was easy to forget that Natasha Baker has only had the ride on Diva for 8 months. I’m excited to see what the future holds with the partnership, as test riding and experience will easily tidy up the places where she can gain marks. The spook in the freestyle was really unfortunate and reminds us that we are working with living animals and nothing can be taken for granted.

I really hope that Natasha has started something new for British para riders by teaming up with Mount St John’s Stud.

Horsepower has shot up massively and we can no longer afford to buy the calibre of horse required to defend our titles. We need to bring in owners and breeders to the sport, and think about how we fundraise.

Erin Orford also did amazingly, considering the wrong freestyle music was played. I’m not sure I would have been so cool and collected!

It takes quite a lot to impress me, but Denmark’s Stinna Tange Kaastrup always does. To do leg-yield with no legs is quite something. Talented and articulate, she is a brilliant ambassador for para dressage. I remember her bursting onto the scene at Kentucky in 2010, where she won silver. She is now world champion.

Interesting judging

There were 17 riders in the grade I, which was great, though I predicted the top three beforehand. Italy’s Sara Morganti on the faithful Royal Delight was consistent and correct, meaning the judges couldn’t give her anything below a seven. Laurentia Tan and Elke Philipp’s horses have more impressive walks, but as the movement gets bigger, it is more difficult for us as the most disabled athletes to keep the consistency.

The judging was interesting in the grade I — the top four competitors were ranked from first to eighth across the five judges.

The judges need to collectively decide what they are looking for in a walk test, which it appears they did for the rest of the week. But it also begs the question whether we should drop the highest and lowest score when we have five judges.

This would have meant that the USA’s Roxanne Trunnell, who came fifth, would have won individual bronze to add to her freestyle medal.

Finding Horsepower

The Brits did remarkably well to hold on to the silver medal. When Rixt van der Horst and Sanne Voets won the individual titles in grades III and IV, and with Frank Hosmar not far behind Sophie, I did think it was going to be tight.

The Dutch have been knocking at the door since 2015 and with new combinations on our team this year, it was a tough ask to hold on to our undefeated record.

But this should be the wake-up call we need to keep on pushing for those marginal gains, and we need the help of the public in finding and financing horsepower for the talent we have in this country. The squad has gone through change recently and it will take time to build up experience.

With two years until Tokyo we have work to do, but I’m ready for it!

Ref Horse & Hound; 27 September 2018

Adrienne Sternlicht, who was a member of the US showjumping team which won gold at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) last week, talked about the mental struggles she has gone through to compete at the top level.

“For me, it’s been a battle to overcome my own mind,” said the 25-year-old championship debutante, who works with sports psychologist Peter Crone and is trained by her team-mate McLain Ward.

Adrienne’s strongest day was the second round of the team competition, on Thursday, when she finished with just one time-fault.

“I think I was crying after the round,” she said. “McLain always makes fun of me for how much I cry, but I said yesterday I was rubbing off on him. He teared up when I went into the ring.”

The rider explained she had to set an average performance in the speed leg on Wednesday behind her.

“I woke up this morning and had some sort of epiphany that I needed to relax, so that was exciting and I think that translated into my ride,” she said.

“It’s surreal riding here and I’ve had the whole array of emotions. Today I definitely knew that what I did yesterday —the intensity I was trying to channel, gritting my teeth when I went into the ring — wasn’t productive for me, so I took a new approach and tried to relax and trust my horse and the love we have for each other.

“Yesterday I was so exhausted when I got home — mentally preparing myself to jump, jumping and then being disappointed in myself — so I went to be bed at 9pm, slept, woke up refreshed and thought, ‘How can I handle this better today?’

“Cristalline picks up on my energy so much, we’re so close. My sports psychologist [Peter Crone] is here and he met her yesterday and he said he’s never seen two beings that love each other so much, so I just tried to think about that today — how grateful I am to have her and to be here riding in front of this crowd.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

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

The showjumping World Championship went down to the wire when Sweden and the home side had to jump off for

Britain and Ireland miss out on Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualification in WEG jumping

There was disappointment for both nations in this afternoon's team final, although each country has one rider through to the

Tales from Tryon: ‘I don’t want to have to earn money from horses — I go to the stables and that’s my gift’

The achievements of the 24-year-old World Championship competitor are even more impressive because she is not a professional rider

Adrienne also talked about her relationship with her team-mates Laura Kraut — who has also trained her in the past — and McLain Ward, her current mentor.

“Laura is a perfect example of a Nations Cup rider — she has so much grit in that capacity so I look up to her. She really seems to fight when it matters most and so I try to take that from her,” she said.

“McLain and I are really close so that means that at times it’s quite tense between us. He knows when to support me, when I need that love and also when I need to be yelled at honestly.”

Pick up this week’s magazine (dated 27 September) for H&H’s full report on the showjumping from WEG, including exclusive opinion from British team member William Funnell and Rio Olympic champion Nick Skelton.

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

A horse who has won two world and one European gold medal retired last week at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA.

Poivre Vert, who is 15 years old, was the gold medal-winning horse in the individual male category in the Christie’s International Real Estate vaulting at this WEG with Lambert Leclezio of France. Back in 2014 at the WEG in Caen, the horse was the winning partner of another French vaulter, Jacques Ferarri, with whom he also won European gold in 2013. Poivre Vert has been lunged throughout his international career by François Athimon.

“I have had him for 10 years and he is an absolute warrior. He is mentally very strong and the most incredible horse — unbelievably reliable,” said François.

Lambert said: “I had the honour to finish his career. He is an amazing horse and by far the best I have competed with. I spent one year with him, it was short but really intense.”

In vaulting, the horse is marked as well as the vaulter, plus a vaulter can perform better on a more reliable horse, so the horse is a vital part of success in the sport.

This year’s WEG featured a nations team vaulting competition for the first time, with the top honours going to Germany. The team comprised individual female Kristina Boe, individual male Jannik Heiland and the German squad, Team Norka des VV Koeln-Dunnewald.

Kristina Boe also landed the individual female individual gold medal, working with lunger Winnie Schlüter and horse Don De La Mar. She now holds the European, World Cup and World Championship titles.

“As a result of the new nations team championships, it is the first time that it is possible to win two medals for an individual. To come away from Tryon with two gold medals makes me speechless and more than grateful,” said Kristina.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Bluffers’ guide to vaulting at WEG

Horse & Hound explains all you need to know to follow the vaulting at WEG

Tales from Tryon: ‘I had lost my legs but they lifted me back on board my horse’

Meet the brave Brazilian rider who couldn't hold back his emotion when he secured his first medal.

‘He’s given me everything’: Sophie Wells sets another WEG record for freestyle gold

Britain’s Sophie Wells topped 80% today in Tryon to take the grade V freestyle gold medal, using a new soundtrack

German domination continued in the squad championship when they took the gold, lunged by Patric Looser — the individual male world champion in Kentucky in 2010 — and with their horse Danny Boy. Their “Now You See Me freestyle” was laced with big lifts and eye-catching dismounts.

There was a form turnaround in the pas de deux when the Austrian pair, Jasmin Lindner and Lukas Wacha (lunged by Klaus Haidacher on Dr Doolittle 5), who won gold at the last WEG, were overtaken by Italians Silvia Stopazzini and Lorenzo Lupacchini (lunged by Laura Carbanuci on Rosenstolz 99), in the final freestyle.

British results

Britain fielded two individual female vaulters, Lucy Phillips, lunged by Julie Newell on Ben Aucott’s Demezza, and Rebecca Norval on Deborah Bentzen’s Edinburgh 23, lunged by Saacha de Amborossio. Lucy lay 20th and Rebecca 26th after the first freestyle, so they did not progress to the technical test and second freestyle, which only the top 15 contest.

Lucy said: “I had a few challenges, but I felt like I got over them; I’m happy with the score and the end result and I have really enjoyed the experience.”

Rebecca, a WEG debutante, said: “The horse was quite unsettled, so I did adapt it and change it around a bit but overall I was really happy with it.”

The English Vaulting Squad also competed, again lunged by Julie on Demezza. The squad finished eighth overall.

Team member Ricky Davies said after their final freestyle: “We felt that was much better than the first round. We all relaxed and got into the routine and performed it well. The atmosphere was louder today but we had a lot of time to relax before we went in and I think we did really well; the crowd really showed their appreciation in there.”

Lunger Julie Newell added: “I am so proud of them. This has been three-and-a-half years of real hard work and I am very, very pleased with how we performed.”

Lucy, Rebecca and the English Vaulting squad also combined to contest the nations team competition, in which they finished seventh.

Julie said: “Today’s been brilliant; we’ve had a great time and it’s been fantastic to be here with all the other disciplines. It’s educated the children so much, to be able to see all the other combinations competing.”

More news from WEG in the Horse & Hound magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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

“We made a ton of mistakes,” the boss of Tryon has conceded, but he is “unbelievably proud” of what has been accomplished at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) venue.

Mark Bellissimo, of Tryon Equestrian Partners, spoke to reporters at WEG on Saturday (22 September).

He spoke of the challenges faced by the venue, which had had less than two years to prepare for the Games, having stepped in when original hosts Bromont, Canada, pulled out.

“I’m so very proud of all the things that have happened in the last two weeks with the exception of the things we started on [early problems such as with grooms’ accommodation] I take responsibility for, I made mistakes along the way,” he said.

“If that’s what’s remembered about this WEG then shame on me, shame on all of us, as I think what we’ve seen is probably some of the best sport WEGs have had.

“All the people who said this would never be done: they were wrong. What’s most important to me is that we’ve stepped up in difficult circumstances and did our best. It wasn’t perfect but perfect is the enemy of the good. We accept the fact we’re human and we make mistakes but in the end they’ll hopefully become afterthoughts.”

Mr Bellissimo said WEG is a “very tough” event that “has to be restructured”, suggesting that in future it could be shared between two or three venues running the Games on a cycle, and that he would not decide on whether or not to run the event again until he had talked to his team.

Continues below…

BREAKING NEWS: Hurricane Florence forces cancellation of WEG dressage freestyle

The grand prix freestyle will not go ahead at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon

BREAKING NEWS: all Sunday sport at WEG postponed due to Hurricane Florence

The eventing showjumping and the grand prix freestyle have been postponed

WEG competition cancelled due to extreme weather

High humidity after heavy rain forced cancellation of the competition today

“We made a ton of mistakes,” he said. “Great organisations take those mistakes and learn. If we ran it again, would it be unbelievable? Absolutely.”

The FEI has said there have been no bids to run the 2022 Games yet, but there has been interest from various countries, and that the organisation is to review the event’s cost-effectiveness, sustainability and format.

Horse & Hound had two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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

The USA secured a stunning victory on home soil in the driving team competition, sponsored by Polaris Ranger, to bring the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon to a close. But Australia’s Boyd Exell proved he remains in a league of his own within the sport of four-in-hand driving by securing his third successive individual WEG gold medal.

Despite the valiant efforts of crowd-favourite Chester Weber, who lead Team USA to gold and claimed individual silver, no one was able to rival Boyd from the moment he entered the dressage arena on day one.

First in the dressage, third in the marathon despite being hampered by broken brakes on his vehicle and second in the closing cones phase, Boyd finished on an overall score of 154.14, almost 10 points clear of Chester. Edouard Simonet, the 29-year-old Belgian who was once a back-stepper for Exell, took the bronze medal with a final score of 174.15.

“I love training horses,” said Boyd. “It is a relief to win. I have a huge team of people who have been with me 20 years.”

Chester, who also finished second to Boyd at the 2014 WEG in Normandy, France, was overjoyed to take an unexpected team title in front of the delighted home crowd.

“I can tell you it was a surprise, I thought we came here with a chance of a medal but if you had asked me if I was going to have a bet on whether we were going to be world champions, I would have said I am not sure,” said Chester, whose USA team finished with a winning score of 353.39.

Teammate James Fairclough, who introduced Weber to the sport as a young teenager, already has an eye on the future after the USA beat the Netherlands, the 2010 and 2014 champions, into second. Belgium finished in third.

“I hope it’s going to inspire a lot of people to come forward and try the sport. It’s a great boost for us,” said James.

Continued below…

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

The showjumping World Championship went down to the wire when Sweden and the home side had to jump off for

Female world showjumping individual gold medallist crowned for first time since 1986

Germany’s Simone Blum put in a fabulous performance today to take home the individual gold medal in the showjumping World

History made as US beaten to reining gold at WEG

‘Every time we show, he gives me all he has and every time it gets better and better’

Basking in the glow of winning a World Games bronze medal to go with their 2017 European team bronze, the Belgium team also made clear their intention to change driving’s established order.

“We are the future not only of Belgium driving, but of international driving,” said Glenn Geerts, who like individual bronze medal winner Simonet is 29 years old, while Dries Degrieck, the third member of the team, is just 23.

In comparison, traditional driving powerhouse the Netherlands finished Tryon lamenting unexpectedly disappointing marathon performances from their often all-conquering father and son duo Ijsbrand and Bram Chardon. The pair did come out firing on the final day, with 25-year-old Bram Chardon producing the only double clear round in the cones, but it was not enough to deliver a third successive team gold, leaving them in silver.

Britain did not send any representatives to Tryon to compete in the combined driving world championships due to costs.

World Equestrian Games driving results

Team medals

Gold: USA (James Fairclough, Misdee Wrigley-Miller, Chester Weber) 353.39

Silver: The Netherlands (Bram Chardon, Koos De Ronde, Ijsbrand Chardon) 356.79

Bronze: Belgium (Dries Degrieck, Glenn Geerts, Edouard Simonet) 364.09

Individual medals

Gold: Boyd Exell (AUS) 154.14

Silver: Chester Weber (USA) 163.38

Bronze: Edouard Simonet (BEL) 174.15

Full reports and analysis of the World Equestrian Games action from Tryon, USA can be enjoyed in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 20 and 27 September.

Simone Blum took the individual gold medal in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA, today (Sunday, 23 September).

The German rider added just one time-fault to her score today, in the second round, riding the chestnut mare DSP Alice.

Simone is the first female individual world showjumping champion since Canada’s Gail Greenough in 1986 and the first woman to take the title at a WEG, as the 1986 championship — held at Aachen — was the last of the standalone World Championships.

“I’m so grateful to be here — I cannot describe my feelings. It’s unbelievable,” she said. “For me it doesn’t matter if it’s a woman or man, we are the same. But today was a perfect day.”

Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs claimed the silver, moving up from third coming into today’s competition. He and Clooney also cleared all the fences today, adding two time-penalties in the final showdown.

Fellow Swiss rider Steve Guerdat rose from ninth to take home the individual bronze on Bianca. The pair put in two faultless rounds today.

Martin said: “I didn’t think too much about time allowed — I knew it wouldn’t matter too much because Steve was quite a few points behind. I knew with a time-fault I could still be in front of Steve, so that’s what I did.

“Watching Simone, I obviously hoped she’d knock a rail and I could be world champion, but she was far away off even touching a pole and that’s why she is the world champion today.”

Austria’s Max Kühner retained second place with a clear in the first round today, but Chardonnay had fences nine and 10 down in the last barrage to drop to sixth.

Britain’s Amanda Derbyshire missed out on the second round, which is for the top 12 only, when she finished 17th. She and Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Luibanta BH had the second part of the double at fence eight and the oxer at fence 12 down.

“The first rail was a bit unlucky, the second I’ll definitely take as my fault — I needed to get up there more on the six strides,” she said. “But overall I’m super proud of her.”

Ireland’s Cian O’Connor also did not progress to the second round as he and Good Luck had the oxers at fence six and 11 down to finish 13th.

“Good Luck has been in good form all week, but maybe he’s a bit out of gas today,” he said.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Britain and Ireland miss out on Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualification in WEG jumping

There was disappointment for both nations in this afternoon's team final, although each country has one rider through to the

‘I don’t know what got into her’: dramatic fall for British para rider at WEG

The Team GBR rider had barely started her freestyle test at the end of the afternoon when things unravelled in

Pippa Roome’s WEG blog: So it’s home tomorrow — and I’m going to miss this

As the World Equestrian Games draws to a close, H&H’s Pippa Roome reflects on what she’ll miss about Tryon

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

Horse & Hound’s bumper magazine reports from WEG are in the issues dated 20 September (dressage and eventing) — on sale now — and 27 September (showjumping and para dressage).

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

There was a protest today (Saturday, 22 September) over the medals in the Adequan-sponsored para dressage grade IV individual freestyle at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA.

Brazilian chef d’equipe Rodrigo Bezerra Braga lodged the protest on behalf of rider Rodolpho Riskalla, who took the silver on Don Henrico behind the Netherlands’ Sanne Voets (NED) on Demantur NOP.

The protest stated that, contrary to article 8421.2.4.7 of the para equestrian dressage rules, Sanne had executed one sequence change of four-tempis, instead of five-tempis.

Following a review of the official video footage of Sanne’s test, the ground jury unanimously agreed that there was no attempt by Sanna at a deliberate sequence change of four tempis and that she had in fact made a mistake at the end of the movement, which they had taken into account in their original scoring.

As a result, the protest was denied and the placings remained unchanged, with Sanne in gold, Rodolpho in silver and the home side’s Kate Shoemaker in bronze with Solitaer. Sanne scored 79.645%, with Rodolpho on 77.78% and Kate on 73.23%.

There was drama in the grade III freestyle today too, when the penultimate competitor, Britain’s Natasha Baker took a fall near the start of her test on Mount St John Diva Dannebrog.

The para dressage at WEG concluded this afternoon. The individual showjumping final and the cones phase of the driving will take place tomorrow to finish the 2018 WEG. Britain has one rider in showjumping, Amanda Derbyshire on Luibanta BH. She is currently lying in 15th place.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

‘It just doesn’t make any sense’: combination eliminated in WEG para dressage

A heart-breaking end to the WEG para dressage for this combination

‘He’s given me everything’: Sophie Wells sets another WEG record for freestyle gold

Britain’s Sophie Wells topped 80% today in Tryon to take the grade V freestyle gold medal, using a new soundtrack

‘I don’t know what got into her’: dramatic fall for British para rider at WEG

The Team GBR rider had barely started her freestyle test at the end of the afternoon when things unravelled in

Keep up to date with all the final day news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

Horse & Hound’s bumper magazine reports from WEG are in the issues dated 20 September (dressage and eventing) — on sale now — and 27 September (showjumping and para dressage).

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

The starting list has been revealed for the individual final of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping competition at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA, tomorrow (Sunday, 23 September).

Tomorrow marks the end of WEG, with the driving cones phase taking place as well as the individual showjumping final.

The top 25 riders after the three rounds of jumping so far will start in round A of tomorrow’s competition, which begins at 9.45am (2.45pm) in the US Trust Arena. They start in reverse order of merit, carrying forward their penalties from the previous days.

The leading 12 combinations will then go through to the final showdown, round B, which starts at 12.35pm (5.35pm British time).

One British rider has qualified for the final. Amanda Derbyshire lies 15th with Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Luibanta, so she will be the 11th rider into the arena, at approximately 10.07am local time (3.07pm).

Ireland also has one pair through to tomorrow — reigning European individual bronze medallist and team gold medallist Cian O’Connor on Adena Springs and Ronnoco Jump Ltd’s Good Luck. He is sitting in sixth place and will be the 20th rider into the arena, so will jump around 10.25am local time (3.25pm British time).

Update: Amanda and Cian both had eight faults so they sit 17th and 13th after the first round. Neither of them progress to the last round today.

Germany’s Simone Blom leads the rankings going into tomorrow’s final riding DSP Alice, on a total of 2.47 penalties. In second place is Austria’s Max Kühner, who rides Chardonnay, on 2.97, with Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs sitting third with Cooney on 4.68.

Just 9.34 penalties — a little over two rails down — separates the top and bottom riders heading into tomorrow’s final.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Britain and Ireland miss out on Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualification in WEG jumping

There was disappointment for both nations in this afternoon's team final, although each country has one rider through to the

‘I don’t know what got into her’: dramatic fall for British para rider at WEG

The Team GBR rider had barely started her freestyle test at the end of the afternoon when things unravelled in

Protest lodged over WEG para freestyle result

The team in the silver position lodged a protest about the gold medallist's test, requiring a review of the official

Keep up to date with all the news from the final day in Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

Horse & Hound’s bumper magazine reports from WEG are in the issues dated 20 September (dressage and eventing) — on sale now — and 27 September (showjumping and para dressage).

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

There was a dramatic conclusion to the Adequan-sponsored para dressage at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon today (Saturday, 22 September), as Britain’s Natasha Baker suffered a nasty fall during her final test.

Natasha was in the early stages of her grade III freestyle with Mount St John Diva Dannebrog, with whom she took individual and team silver earlier in the week, when the mare suddenly leapt forward and fly bucked. Natasha was unhurt in the fall.

“I actually have no idea what happened — it’s so out of character for her as she’s an angel,” said Natasha of the nine-year-old mare she has leased from the Mount St John stud since January.

“As we were coming down the slope to the 10 minute box we passed [Australian rider] Emma Booth who had just finished her test and the Australian mascot, a bright yellow kangaroo, was following, which set Diva off a bit. Then we walked in and the crowd were massively cheering for Rixt [van der Horst] and that set her off in the tunnel.

“I’m fine though — my ego is bruised and probably my bum too, but what a way to do it,” joked the multi-medalled Paralympian.

“I don’t know what got into her today but it’s out of character. We’re going to sit back on her now to give her some confidence back as I think she’s a little shell-shocked about what happened as well.”

Natasha exited the arena on her electric wheelchair and was a good enough sport to give the crowd a wave and a thumbs up on the way out.

The class was won by Dutch pair Rixt van der Horst and Findsley, with Britain’s Erin Orford finishing fifth with Dior.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

‘He’s given me everything’: Sophie Wells sets another WEG record for freestyle gold

Britain’s Sophie Wells topped 80% today in Tryon to take the grade V freestyle gold medal, using a new soundtrack

Tales from Tryon: ‘This horse has given my life purpose and meaning again’

Meet the former eventer who has put her life back together after a horrific accident

The Netherlands ends Great Britain’s unbeaten para dressage run: ‘We will come back stronger’

The Netherlands makes history as Britain’s 23-year reign as champions of para dressage finally comes to an end

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

Britain’s Sophie Wells and C Fatal Attraction collected their second individual gold medal of the World Equestrian Games (WEG) today (Saturday, 22 September) in Tryon, USA. She topped the grade V freestyle in the Adequan-sponsored para dressage with a massive 80.755% — another WEG record.

Her technically difficult floorplan was set to a new soundtrack — an original composition by Tom Hunt which suited the expressive Fidertanz gelding down to ground.

“He was a little bit tense today and on edge but he’s come out this week and given me everything,” said Sophie, for whom this was the first time she has taken double individual gold on Charlotte Hogg’s 11-year-old, having been forced to settle for a pair of silvers at the Normandy WEG in 2014.

“When you miss out on an individual gold like at WEG 2014, after training everyday and putting everything into the sport, it’s hard, but to achieve this after a big gap like I’ve had is amazing,” she added.

Their only real blip was a trip during their half-pass zig-zag in canter, but Sophie quickly resumed the rhythm.

“He was on edge in there and I did feel like I was having to deal with him rather than show him off,” she said.

Freestyle gold in grade III ranks went to the Netherlands’ Rixt van der Horst and the eight-year-old Belissimo M mare Findsley, whom she has only partnered for a matter of months.

This win was Rixt’s third world title of the week, having also taken individual and team gold.

“She felt amazing in there — she was a little bit tired so I did have to help her through the test, but I really gave it my all, and we had no mistakes,” said Rixt.

Britain’s Erin Orford finished fifth with Dior, while Natasha Baker was sadly disqualified after a fall from Mount St John Diva Dannebrog.

The grade IV gold went to the Netherlands’s Sanne Voets, riding Demantur NOP, on a mark of 79.645 %. In the grade I, victory went to Italian rider Sara Morganti on Royal Delight. She scored 78.867 %. Danish rider Stinna Tange Kaastrup ruled in the grade II contest, taking gold with 78.947% on Horsebo Smarties.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

‘I don’t know what got into her’: dramatic fall for British para rider at WEG

The Team GBR rider had barely started her freestyle test at the end of the afternoon when things unravelled in

Polly Bryan’s WEG blog: why para dressage is the dream sport

Why H&H’s dressage editor thinks para dressage is such an underrated sport

The Netherlands ends Great Britain’s unbeaten para dressage run: ‘We will come back stronger’

The Netherlands makes history as Britain’s 23-year reign as champions of para dressage finally comes to an end

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

It’s the last Saturday at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon and it feels like the beginning of the end. My colleague Polly Bryan heads home tonight and our photographer Peter Nixon and I will be on the equivalent plane tomorrow night. The press room is starting to clear out. There are notices about final press conferences. I’ve read the check out instructions for our Airbnb.

I drove down to the venue at lunchtime today, having spent the morning writing my showjumping team copy at our WEG home. I called in at the supermarket and bought enormous bags of American sweets for the Fat Shelf in the office. And then I drove through the sun to Tryon, and parked in “lot C”, which is conveniently near the press room and arenas, even if parts of the terrain in it still resemble “the surface of the moon”, as Polly said yesterday.

And as I cruised down the freeway, or whatever they call motorways in the USA, I thought about my whole WEG experience and whether I’ll be sad to go home. And the answer is, undoubtedly, yes.

Championships are hard work — this is the 36th web story I’ve written since we’ve been here, 5000 words on the WEG eventing for the magazine and 2500 on the showjumping so far, with another 2000 to come tomorrow. But they are also a break from real life. I completely forgot for the first 10 days we were here that something on our car isn’t working properly and I need to chase up the garage about the spare part for it. Because I’m an organisation nut, I use an app for my to-do list, which allows you to put on regular tasks that need doing each week or month. Each day here I’ve gleefully ticked off the normal week to week tasks that have popped up — some I did before I came, some I passed on to colleagues.

Reporting a big championship is a huge buzz. You feel incredibly close to the centre of the action when you stand in the mixed zone and speak to riders when they are still high from a good performance or utterly deflated by a bad one. You make a million in-the-moment decisions about who to watch and who to interview, and it makes me feel… alive. And the writing is a buzz too. I write something pretty much every week of my working life, but it’s rare to get the luxury of writing 5000 words about a single class, to plan and execute and craft and tweak.

I like America. I know that can be an unfashionable view — and god knows, the country has its problems — but the people are generally friendly and welcoming, there is a lot of good, very reasonably priced food to be eaten and there is a sense of space and air. Our bedroom in our Airbnb (don’t worry, my husband is here, also working — I haven’t shacked up with a random stranger for a championship fling) is bigger than our entire flat in London.

I like Tryon. Yes, WEG has not been entirely smooth — boss Mark Bellissimo said last night he would give the venue a B, the execution of the event a C — but there’s no doubt that in the future this will be a beyond-amazing venue. They will level out the surface of the moon in the carparks, sweep up the construction dust, clear away the rubbish and finish the fencing. If you ever get the chance, go to Tryon. Maybe just give it a couple of more months.

It is hot. Sometimes it’s too hot. Standing in the showjumping mixed zone, sun burning down on the backs of our legs, sitting in the stands watching, broiling in somewhere around 30ºC. But I’m well aware I will regret every having said I’m too warm when I’m back home. Mum has given our sports pony his first clip and I know this is the the last outing my summer clothes will have this year.

And so, this is it for WEG 2018. I am here to help Polly finish up the para dressage today so she can dash to the aiport, then it’s back tomorrow for the individual showjumping final. And then home, farewell to medals and mixed zones. Back to real life.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Pippa Roome’s WEG blog: Ros Canter, world champion? I still can’t quite believe it

I was shaking so much I could hardly hold my notebook. It was the kind of moment when everyone needs

Britain and Ireland miss out on Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualification in WEG jumping

There was disappointment for both nations in this afternoon's team final, although each country has one rider through to the

Pippa Roome’s WEG blog: when Hurricane Florence meets cross-country day…

H&H's eventing editor reports in from Tryon, where the team are riding out the storm with doughnuts, torches and a

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

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…

You might also be interested in:

Britain and Ireland miss out on Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualification in WEG jumping

There was disappointment for both nations in this afternoon's team final, although each country has one rider through to the

The Netherlands ends Great Britain’s unbeaten para dressage run: ‘We will come back stronger’

The Netherlands makes history as Britain’s 23-year reign as champions of para dressage finally comes to an end

Tales from Tryon: ‘I don’t want to have to earn money from horses — I go to the stables and that’s my gift’

The achievements of the 24-year-old World Championship competitor are even more impressive because she is not a professional rider

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

There was devastation at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon for one para dressage team rider, who was eliminated in today’s grade III team competition.

Italy’s Francesca Salvade was nearing the end of her test on the 11-year-old Muggel (pictured, above) when the bell was rung. She was spoken to by the judge at C, Marc Urban, and the pair were eliminated due to the Carabas gelding being deemed unlevel. Their score had been trending on around 63% at that point.

“This just doesn’t make any sense,” the Italian chef d’equipe Luigi Ferdinand Acerbi told H&H. “It’s not fair that, if the judges thought the horse was not sound, they still gave points of between six and seven all the way through. Why didn’t they ring the bell sooner in the test?”

Luigi said that there was an “evident mistake from the rider”, who lost the balance coming through the corner into the second medium trot.

“The horse didn’t perform a perfect medium trot but it is an extreme movement, and the horse was perfect again after it. It was a clear technical mistake, and they should have given a low mark for that, but you can’t compare a technical error with the well-being of the horse,” added Luigi.

The Belgian judge at C, Marc Urban, told H&H: “The horse was irregular in the first medium trot and I gave a low mark for that, but it was very clear that the horse was unlevel in the second medium trot and I rang the bell just after that movement.

“The welfare of the horse is the most important thing and I had to eliminate them.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

The Netherlands ends Great Britain’s unbeaten para dressage run: ‘We will come back stronger’

The Netherlands makes history as Britain’s 23-year reign as champions of para dressage finally comes to an end

‘I had a painful three hours to wait’: Natasha Baker adds to Britain’s medal haul at WEG

Natasha Baker and Mount St John Diva Dannebrog land their first medal together

Tales from Tryon: ‘This horse has given my life purpose and meaning again’

Meet the former eventer who has put her life back together after a horrific accident

Muggel was one of two horses held overnight at the first para dressage horse inspection on Monday morning, but was passed when re-inspected on Tuesday morning. They went on to score 66.68% in the individual championship on Wednesday, finishing 11th and outside the qualifying places for tomorrow’s freestyle championship.

Francesca, 29, and Muggel have been competing internationally in para dressage since 2013, and have represented Italy at European Championships in Herning (2013), Deauville (2015) and Gothenburg (2017), as well as the 2014 WEG in Normandy and the 2016 Rio Paralympics. They competed as a grade II combination until 2017, when they were re-classified into grade III.

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

Britain and Ireland both missed out on qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping team competition finished this afternoon (Friday, 21 September) at the World Equestrian Games (WEG).

Britain finished in eighth. The lead-off horse, The Billy Stud’s Billy Buckingham, was tired today and had three fences down under William Funnell, plus a time-fault.

“Obviously it’s very disappointing, it’s not what we wanted,” said William. “It’s easy to make excuses but it’s not good enough.”

The next two rounds brought hope to Britain. Holly Smith hit top form with Hearts Destiny, who belongs to TJ Hall Limited, Holly and her husband Graham, and finished with just one time-fault.

“He was jumping the best he has all week and I let him down with the time-fault,” she said.

Amanda Derbyshire was over the moon to put in a clear for Britain with Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Luibanta BH.

“I wasn’t nervous but I was a bit stressed because I knew every score counted after William and I didn’t want to let the team down,” she said.

William Whitaker stayed clear up to fence 11, but both that and fence 12 came down for him and Ludwig Criel’s Utamaro D’Ecaussines. Only a fault-free round would have pushed Britain up to sixth and secured the Tokyo 2020 ticket.

It was a similar story for Ireland, who finished seventh. Shane Sweetnam (Chaqui Z) had nine faults, with four apiece for Shane Breen (Ipswich Van De Wolfsakker), Paul O’Shea (Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu) and Cian O’Connor (Good Luck).

“I’m delighted for myself but we need clear rounds,” said Shane Breen. “I’d have liked to take a bit of pressure off the lads.”

Britain and Ireland will now have to try to qualify for the Olympics at next year’s European Championships.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

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

The showjumping World Championship went down to the wire when Sweden and the home side had to jump off for

The Netherlands ends Great Britain’s unbeaten para dressage run: ‘We will come back stronger’

The Netherlands makes history as Britain’s 23-year reign as champions of para dressage finally comes to an end

Tales from Tryon: ‘I don’t want to have to earn money from horses — I go to the stables and that’s my gift’

The achievements of the 24-year-old World Championship competitor are even more impressive because she is not a professional rider

Amanda Derbyshire is through to Sunday’s individual final, for which the final 25 competitors qualify. She is currently lying 15th. Cian O’Connor goes through to the final in sixth place.

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

The Netherlands made history at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon today by becoming the first team ever to beat Britain at a para dressage championship.

Britain have taken gold at every championship since para equestrian became a Paralympic sport in 1996. However, the Dutch team of Frank Hosmar and Alphaville NOP (grade V), Sanne Voets and Demantur NOP (grade IV), Rixt van der Horst (pictured, above) and Findsley (grade III) and Nicole den Dulk with Wallace NOP (grade II) produced remarkably consistent performances to edge the Brits off the top spot by just 0.6%, with Germany taking bronze ahead of last year’s European silver medallists, Denmark.

“This result is simply unbelievable; it is so exciting,” said the Dutch national coach, Joyce Heuitink. “I am so incredibly proud of them all, and not just the riders, but the whole team. They all had their form at the right time. That is something special. It is so difficult to get that done, just at the right time.”

Britain’s Sophie Wells put in a phenomenal performance with her individual gold medallist C Fatal Attraction (pictured, below), laying down a personal best and WEG record of 77.23% in the grade V division. Natasha Baker also achieved a personal best with her new ride, Mount St John Diva Dannebrog, in the grade III, putting 74.12% on the board for Britain.

Lee Pearson recovered well from a disappointing ride in the grade II individual championship — when he had to retire the nine-year-old mare Styletta — and posted 71.6% for the team. Erin Orford also improved on her score in the grade III individual, earning 69.03% with Dior.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Tales from Tryon: ‘I had lost my legs but they lifted me back on board my horse’

Meet the brave Brazilian rider who couldn't hold back his emotion when he secured his first medal.

‘This means such a lot’: Britain’s Sophie Wells crowned world champion in Tryon

Britain's Sophie Wells claims gold on day one of the para dressage in Tryon

Tales from Tryon: ‘This horse has given my life purpose and meaning again’

Meet the former eventer who has put her life back together after a horrific accident

“We came here with a relatively new and inexperienced team, and my sense is that we were not at our max everywhere because some of these horses, particularly Lee and Natasha’s horses, are new to this, and are very new combinations,” British chef d’equipe Sarah Armstrong told H&H.

“At some point this was going to happen, and all this will do is make us come back stronger. It’s great that the competition is there — we had really tough competition and that’s so good for the sport.”

Britain’s Sophie Wells and Natasha Baker will be in action again tomorrow (Saturday, 22 September), contesting the freestyle championship in grades V and III respectively.

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

Britain is through to the final round of the team competition in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping at the World Equestrian Games (WEG). Team GBR finished ninth today (Thursday, 20 September) and the top 10 teams will return tomorrow to fight for medals and Olympic qualification, which goes to the top six teams.

Amanda Derbyshire starred for Britain this afternoon with five faults — four for a foot in the water and one for time — on Gochman Sport Horse LLC’s Luibanta BH.

“I’m so proud of her, she was brilliant,” said Amanda. “For a little horse to jump all those big jumps when it’s hot and keep going to the end is incredible.”

Britain’s final rider William Whitaker had eight faults on Ludwig Criel’s Utamaro D’Ecaussines, at the upright at fence six and the second element of the difficult double at 13.

“It was a tough course and that’s what you expect, but it’s still disappointing,” said William. “I need to have a look at the video and work out where it all went wrong.”

William Funnell (Billy Buckingham) had five faults this morning and Holly Smith eight, so with one of Britain’s eight-fault scores discarded, the team score from today and yesterday is 31.04. This is some 12.95 points behind the medal zone, but less than one pole (four faults) behind sixth place, which would secure a ticket to Tokyo 2020.

Ireland currently sits sixth on 27.12. Paul O’Shea had eight faults this afternoon on Skara Glen’s Macchu Picchu, at the final part of the treble at four and the second element of the double at 13.

“I don’t know know what I’d do differently — we needed a bit of luck. He tried his heart out and gave us everything,” said Paul.

Cian O’Connor secured Ireland’s position in the final with a fantastic clear on Good Luck, one of only five today.

“I’m really happy. Yesterday I made a mistake and today I rode better and he went clear,” said Cian.

Cian currently lies fifth individually, with Amanda Britain’s best rider in 25th.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Britain’s qualification for tomorrow’s WEG showjumping hangs in the balance

Find out what William Funnell and Holly Smith said after their rounds for Team GBR in the World Championships showjumping

Tales from Tryon: ‘I don’t want to have to earn money from horses — I go to the stables and that’s my gift’

The achievements of the 24-year-old World Championship competitor are even more impressive because she is not a professional rider

Sophie Wells smashes WEG record to put Britain into gold medal position

Sophie Wells breaks a WEG record riding C Fatal Attraction in Tryon

Switzerland, the USA and Germany hold the team medal spots at the end of today. Switzerland’s effort is led by Janika Sprunger on Bacardi VDL, who just had a time-fault today.

Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca holds the individual lead now, after a clear today on Irenice Horta.

“She’s jumping amazingly and we’ll keep trying our best,” said Lorenzo, who has only been riding the mare since June.

McLain Ward is second for the US, having added a single time-fault to his score today, and Sweden’s Peder Fredricson sits third with H&M Christian K.

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

A fantastic performance from Britain’s Sophie Wells has catapulted Britain into an early lead in the para dressage at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA.

Sophie and Charlotte Hogg’s 11-year-old C Fatal Attraction (pictured, above) dominated the grade V division for a second day, topping the leaderboard with 77.23% — the highest grade V team score at a WEG to date.

“I knew I need to up my game for the team today,” said Sophie, who was crowned individual world champion on Tuesday. “He was amazing in the individual but I knew he could go better; we sat down and analysed the video, and I just wanted to get back in there.

“We’ve worked so hard over the winter and he’s come out like a different horse this year. Today was what I came here to do, and this was the best test to do it in — we need it for the team.”

Britain’s Lee Pearson also put in a solid performance for Britain in grade II ranks. He and his nine-year-old home-bred mare Styletta (pictured, above) didn’t get their WEG campaign off to a good start, being forced to retire in their individual test as the mare was unhappy. But they were back on form today, recording 71.6% to add to Britain’s tally.

“I was not worried about the placing today. I rode calmly and passionately in there, and said thank you to her on every transition,” said Lee who, like Sophie, is competing at his third WEG.

“I’m over the moon; it’s not the highest score in the world, and not the way I can ride, but the way I should have ridden today. I do believe that she will be a fantastic championship horse for the future.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

‘This means such a lot’: Britain’s Sophie Wells crowned world champion in Tryon

Britain's Sophie Wells claims gold on day one of the para dressage in Tryon

Tales from Tryon: ‘This horse has given my life purpose and meaning again’

Meet the former eventer who has put her life back together after a horrific accident

Polly Bryan’s WEG blog: why para dressage is the dream sport

Why H&H’s dressage editor thinks para dressage is such an underrated sport

The team competition will continue this afternoon with the grade IV division, while Britain’s remaining team members will compete in the grade III tomorrow. Natasha Baker will ride her individual silver medallist Mount St John Diva Dannebrog at 10.15am (3.15pm UK time) on Friday, 21 September, and Erin Orford will compete Dior at 11.22am (4.22pm UK time).

Britain sit at the top of the leaderboard at this early stage, with Denmark in silver thanks to a 74.85% grade II test from Stinna Tange Kaastrup and Horsebo Smarties. The Netherlands currently hold bronze, with two riders left to compete, while Germany lie fourth.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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

Laura Klaphake put in a fantastic round for the German team this morning (Thursday, 20 September) in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping at the World Equestrian Games (WEG).

But the 24-year-old’s cool performance for just one time-fault is even more impressive when you discover that she is not a professional rider.

“Riding is my hobby — I’m studying for a masters in real estate management,” explains Laura, who gained her undergraduate degree in international management and marketing two years ago.

Laura’s ride Catch Me If You Can OLD — a 10-year-old she has ridden since she was six — belongs to Paul Schockemöhle and she is able to juggle riding with her studies through the support of her family. Her mother Gaby shares the riding of Laura’s horses (she has five to eight at any one time) while her father Joseph has worked for the Schockemöhle operation throughout Laura’s life.

Laura has one more year of studying ahead of her and says she would like to combine riding and work in the future.

“Riding is my passion and I want to keep that passion and not have to earn a living with horses,” she said. “I’m not always motivated to study but then I go to the stables and that is my gift.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Tales from Tryon: ‘This horse has given my life purpose and meaning again’

Meet the former eventer who has put her life back together after a horrific accident

Tales from Tryon: ‘I had lost my legs but they lifted me back on board my horse’

Meet the brave Brazilian rider who couldn't hold back his emotion when he secured his first medal.

Laura has two younger brothers — 18-year-old Enno is a successful junior showjumper and was a pony team gold medallist in 2013 riding Pepper Ann 7, while her 22-year-old brother is a strong soccer player and is currently studying in Mexico. He is in Tryon supporting Laura.

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

Britain’s participation in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) after today (Thursday, 20 September) hangs in the balance with two riders still to go.

Only the top 10 nations at the end of today progress to jump again tomorrow and fight for medals and Tokyo 2020 qualification, which goes to the top six teams

Britain’s pathfinder, William Funnell on the The Billy Stud’s Billy Buckingham, had four faults for a foot on the tape at the water and a single time-fault this morning.

“I didn’t envisage I was anywhere near the water but apparently he just put one foot back. I’ll obviously have to make sure I give him a kick there tomorrow,” said William. “But for his first championship I’m very pleased with him. The time is always a problem and we knew that before we came, but he’s proved he can do it. Let’s hope he can do the same tomorrow.

“I think clear rounds are going to be at a premium, let’s hope we can jump one or two.”

William’s team-mate Holly Smith had two fences down with Hearts Destiny, who belongs to TJ Hall Limited, Holly and her husband Graham.

“I think the horse was foot perfect up until those mistakes and he is inexperienced,” said Holly.

Britain appears 14th on the team leaderboard at the lunchbreak, but with two riders to go from each team, much can still change. Amanda Derbyshire (Luibanta BH) and William Whitaker (Utamaro D’Ecaussines) will ride for Team GBR this afternoon.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Find out when Britain and Ireland’s riders jump in the individual final at WEG

The individual showjumping final at the World Equestrian Games takes place tomorrow, on the final day of the combined equestrian

Event horse who pulled up lame after WEG cross-country put down

The horse who finished lame after the cross-country at the World Equestrian Games has been put down after developing circulatory

William Whitaker best of the Brits as Team GBR 16th after first day of WEG showjumping

Switzerland leads the way in the team and individual standings after the first day of showjumping at the World Equestrian

Ireland currently sits one rank below Britain in 15th.

Shane Sweetnam had eights faults for the front rail off the spread fence at number two and the second part of the double down in the difficult final line (13) on Chaqui Z.

“It’s a lot more difficult than yesterday,” said Shane. “The horse jumped well. It was a bit of a cheap fence at the end, it’s a difficult line and he just shifted a bit right and gave it a little rub. I’m a bit disappointed because he’s been on form and we needed a good round for the team, but we’ll just have to go step by step and see where we are at the end of today. Then if we’re in position to come back we’ll give it a go tomorrow.”

Shane Breen had 14 faults with Ipswich Van De Wolfsakker for a foot in the water, two fences down and two time-penalties.

“He is inexperienced and this is another level,” said Shane. “I’m disappointed for myself and the team — he did jump great, but we made silly mistakes.”

Switzerland is currently heading the team leaderboard, with the USA second, the Netherlands third and Germany fourth.

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

Britain’s vaulters will be competing for World Equestrian Games (WEG) medals on Saturday (22 September), having had a good start to their campaign.

The squad – Imogen Bexon, Ricky Davies, Romilly Hayton, Carys Morgan, Lucy Phillips, Sara Shortland and Luke Smith, with Ben Aucott’s Demezza lunged by Julie Newell, have already taken part in the first team competition round.

In their freestyle routine, the second of two competitions that make up the first round, the squad performed to a futuristic soundtrack and was unlucky to have a few mistakes for a final score of 6.936.

Julie said: “Today’s been brilliant; we’ve had a great time and it’s been fantastic to be here with all the other disciplines. It’s educated the children so much, to be able to see all the other combinations competing. It was quiet yesterday with the compulsory but today’s been really exciting, and by Saturday the atmosphere is going to be electric in there.”

As 12 teams go forward to the final, and 12 were competing, Britain will be one of the squads performing another freestyle routine on Saturday, when the marks for that test and the previous two will be used to calculate an average final score, on which the final standings will be decided.

Lucy Phillips, on Demezza lunged by Julie, and Rebecca Norval, on Edinburgh 23 lunged by Saacha de Amborossio, (pictured) have also represented Britain as individuals but finished just outside the top 15 who qualified for the next round of competition.

Lucy, who is at her fifth WEG, finished on a score of 7.054.

She said: “I had a few challenges, but I felt like I got over them; I’m happy with the score and the end result and I have really enjoyed the experience.”

Rebecca, at her first WEG, finished on 6.438.

Continues below…

Top rider’s terror as Calais migrants attack horsebox

Men surrounded the lorry, banging on the sides and smashing a window as they tried to get on board

WEG vaulting gallery [PICS]

From intricate costume design to mind-blowing gymnastic movements our WEG vaulting gallery is a feast for the eyes

How to watch the 2018 World Equestrian Games on TV

If you’re not making the trip to Tryon for the World Equestrian Games and are worried about missing out on

“I thought it went really well, but the horse was quite unsettled, so I did adapt [my routine] and change it around a bit but overall I was really happy with it,” she said.

The squad – the team and the two individuals – also took part in a separate Nations Team competition in Tryon, in which they finished in seventh place. This was won by Germany, with Switzerland in second place and Austria in third.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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

Witnessing the bond between Australia’s Emma Booth and her 16-year-old Danish warmblood gelding Mogelvangs Zidane is quite special.

The pair finished just outside the World Equestrian Games grade III individual medals in fourth, but the feeling Zidane gave Emma during their test was worth the huge effort involved in shipping him all the way from Australia to Tryon in North Carolina.

“I’m so stoked with how he went; he was focused and with me every step of the way,” said Emma, 27. “His willingness to work and to please is incredible and his cheeky personality makes the job really fun.”

As well as bringing her success on the world stage, the Blue Hors Hertug son Zidane, has also played a huge role in helping the former eventer regain her life after a horrific car accident in 2013, that left her paraplegic after devastating spinal cord damage.

“I was a passenger in the horse float on our way home from an event when we had the accident, which killed both the horses we had in the back,” remembers Emma. “It was a pretty horrific experience.

“But I just knew straightaway that I wanted to get back to riding. Two weeks after the accident I started googling the Paralympics in Rio, and I made that my goal.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Tales from Tryon: ‘I had lost my legs but they lifted me back on board my horse’

Meet the brave Brazilian rider who couldn't hold back his emotion when he secured his first medal.

Polly Bryan’s WEG blog: why para dressage is the dream sport

Why H&H’s dressage editor thinks para dressage is such an underrated sport

‘This means such a lot’: Britain’s Sophie Wells crowned world champion in Tryon

Britain's Sophie Wells claims gold on day one of the para dressage in Tryon

It was finding Zidane, sourced by her trainer, that made the Rio dream a reality for Emma, and since finishing fifth individually there, the partnership has gone from strength to strength.

“Zidane played a huge part in my road to recovery after the accident, helping me get my life back on track and giving it purpose and meaning again,” says Emma, with tears in her eyes.

“I can’t thank everyone who has helped us get here enough WEG has been a great experience — I’ve loved having the chance to ride with all the other Aussies here, including the eventers! The whole thing is a pretty amazing turn of events.”

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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

I admit, I have a real soft spot for para dressage. The first championship I ever reported for H&H was the Rio Paralympics and even since then I’ve been fascinated by the sport. So far, the para dressage at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon has kept me on the edge of my seat — and we still have the team competition come, in which Britain will be pushed to the very edge as they attempt to maintain their unbeaten run.

But it frustrates me that para dressage often suffers from empty seats at competitions, and that world champions can often go unnoticed by the non-specialist media. It can be a tricky sport to understand and follow, with athletes split into five grades according to their disability, and the individual, team and freestyle championships to make sense of. But those who choose not to get involved are missing out — especially the media. Para dressage is the dream sport for a journalist — our job is to hunt out the very best stories, and convey the drama of the action, and here is a discipline absolutely bursting at the seams with drama, emotion and characterful competitors.

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to great stories — from the tragedies many riders have suffered, to the triumph over adversity and almighty challenges faced when it comes to riding and competing on the world stage. Para dressage receives little funding in comparison to other horse sport, and so riders are often battling against the odds just to get to a championship, doing everything possible to be able to fulfill their passion.

And then there are the horses. At this level of the sport, the field is full of top quality horses, in every grade, with temperaments to die for and paces that wouldn’t look out of place in a grand prix. For a para rider, finding the perfect dancing partner is such a challenge, not to mention training the horse to respond solely to weight or voice aids, and maintain their balance and rhythm no matter how their rider’s body moves in the saddle. It results in incredible and unmistakable harmony between horse and rider.

The tests are far from easy, too — imagine performing a perfect half pirouette without the use of your legs, or nailing a four-loop serpentine without your sight. Then there’s the unpredictability that comes with having a disability — most of us are lucky enough to be able to predict how our bodies will feel and perform on a given day, but for a para rider, they have to be able to adjust to whatever the conditions and their body might suddenly throw at them in the ring. Watching someone with a disability perform technical movements better than most able-bodied riders can never fails to impress.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Tales from Tryon: ‘I had lost my legs but they lifted me back on board my horse’

Meet the brave Brazilian rider who couldn't hold back his emotion when he secured his first medal.

‘This means such a lot’: Britain’s Sophie Wells crowned world champion in Tryon

Britain's Sophie Wells claims gold on day one of the para dressage in Tryon

Polly Bryan’s WEG blog: ‘There were many things I expected from my first WEG — Hurricane Florence was not one of them’

H&H's dressage editor and WEG rookie reflects on a dramatic first week in Tryon

I always come away from interviews with para riders feeling hugely inspired, with a valuable dose of perspective on life, and these World Championships are no exception. It’s only day two of the para competition here and I’ve already cried three times. These are people who have been through things most of us are lucky enough not even to be able to imagine, yet are overflowing with excitement, purpose and joy. Their horses and this sport means everything to both the riders and their enormously important support teams, and the para community is one big happy family, that I feel extremely privileged to have an insight into. That’s not to say it isn’t extremely competitive — every rider enters the arena with their game face on, desperate to get on that podium, and it makes for thrilling sport. Just with an extra dose of elation and emotion.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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

Box Qutie, the ride of Sweden’s Anna Freskgård in the Mars-sponsored eventing at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA, was put down at 4.21pm this afternoon.

The 12-year-old mare by Quite Easy pulled up lame after the cross-country on Saturday (15 September) and was surrounded by screens at the finish before being transferred by horse ambulance to Tryon Equine Hospital, the official referral hospital for WEG.

Soft tissue injuries were diagnosed and initially Box Qutie was improving, but despite receiving the best veterinary care, her condition worsened yesterday due to circulatory complications. As a result, the horse’s owner, Therese Örup, together with Anna Freskgård, her groom and the vets elected for euthanasia today.

In line with the FEI veterinary regulations, a post mortem will be conducted. Samples had already been taken from the horse on cross-country day after the injury occurred.

Box Qutie had been competing at international level since 2013 and had 34 FEI starts, 31 in eventing and three in two-star showjumping competitions. She and Anna won the CIC3* in Strzegom, Poland, in April of this year, one of 11 top 10 finishes in Box Qutie’s career.

WEG was Box Qutie’s second senior eventing championship as Anna rode the mare as an individual for Sweden at the European Eventing Championships in Strzegom last year, where the pair finished 33rd.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Update on the two horses injured during WEG cross-country

News has come in about the Norwegian and Swedish horses who were taken away from the cross-country course in horse

20-year-old horse put down after WEG endurance

The horse was pulled up and treated for kidney problems but the decision was later made to put him down

The eventing competition at WEG concluded on Monday morning (17 September) with the showjumping phase, which was originally scheduled for Sunday but was delayed due to bad weather associated with Hurricane Florence.

H&H has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon. Keep up to date with all the news from WEG on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

Britain lies 16th after the first leg of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon today (Wednesday, 19 September).

Britain’s anchorman rider, William Whitaker on Ludwig Criel’s Utamaro D’Ecaussines, had a great round, with just four faults at the oxer into the double at fence 11 for a score of 82.62sec. He finished 28th in today’s competition.

“I was really pleased with him, he jumped a great round over a tricky course,” said William. “It’s difficult to get the balance between being quick and not taking too many risks. I should have helped him a bit at fence 11, but I couldn’t be happier with how he jumped and it gives me confidence going into tomorrow.”

At the end of today’s competition, riders’ scores are converted into penalties which they take forward into the next days of jumping. The best three scores will count for each team.

Britain’s third team rider, Amanda Derbyshire, finished on 85.3sec after Luibanta BH, who belongs to Gochman Sport Horse LLC, plunged into the water jump at fence eight. Amanda managed to get things back together, although the pair did also have the back bar off the oxer at fence nine.

“You can’t get yourself down about it — it’s a long week and we just have to do the best we can,” said Amanda, who lies 46th. “She’s never done that before and I don’t think she’ll do it again.”

Britain’s first two riders jumped this morning — William Funnell (Billy Buckingham) finished the day in 60th and Holly Smith (Hearts Destiny) in 59th.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Britain off to a solid start in showjumping at WEG: ‘These aren’t speed horses; they will come into their own tomorrow’

William Funnell and Holly Smith made a good start for Britain this morning, while a Colombian rider currently holds top

‘This means such a lot’: Britain’s Sophie Wells crowned world champion in Tryon

Britain's Sophie Wells claims gold on day one of the para dressage in Tryon

Ros Canter’s showjumping clear secures fantastic double gold for Britain at WEG

Britain claimed the team and individual gold medals in the eventing at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, this

Ireland sits 10th in the team standings. This afternoon Paul O’Shea took the back bar off the first fence, a triple bar, with Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu to finish on 87.33sec in 62nd.

“I was too slow to number one and left him too much to do — I have to take the blame for that, but he jumped very good,” said Paul.

His team-mate Cian O’Connor finished on 81.72sec in 23rd after Good Luck just knocked down the back rail of the oxer at fence 12.

The penultimate rider into the arena, Steve Guerdat of Switzerland, won today’s competition riding Bianca in a time of 76.33sec. Switzerland also holds top spot in the team competition, ahead of the Netherlands in second and Brazil in third.

“I think it’s an advantage in a speed class to go towards the end,” said Steve. “I walked the course and it was nine hours later until I get on my horse so it was a long day, but we knew that before we came and were ready.”

Temperatures were touching 30ºC today in Tryon, but Steve said it didn’t bother the horses.

“All the horses I’ve had like the heat — they feel better, they are looser than when it’s cold and they get a bit tight in the body,” said Steve.

Brazil’s Pedro Veniss (Quabri De L’Isle) took second with Rowan Wills third for Australia riding Blue Movie.

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

British para dressage rider Natasha Baker has landed the silver medal in the grade III individual championship at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina.

The multi-medalled Natasha piloted Emma Blundell’s nine-year-old mare Mount St John Diva Dannebrog to a score of 72.47%, just behind Dutch pair Rixt van der Horst and Findsley, who took gold.

Natasha teamed up with the Don Schufro mare at the end of January this year, and this is their first championship together. Their test was active and rhythmic, with just a little restlessness in each of the three halts.

“Diva is just epic. To go first is so hard, and it was such a long class — I had a painful three hours watching the rest,” said Natasha, for whom this is the first medal since her triple gold at the Rio Paralympics in 2016 with Cabral.

“I can’t believe we’re second best in the world and it wasn’t even a clean test. I’m still getting to know her so it’s all a learning curve, but today will have given Diva confidence for the next few days and I’m just excited to get back in there.”

Britain’s Erin Orford finished ninth in a field of 17 with Amanda Whittet’s 15-year-old Dimaggio mare Dior, scoring 68.85%.

“I’m disappointed with the performance, for my team and everyone who’s supported me — it’s not what we came here to do,” said Erin. “She’s a super talented horse and has felt great all year and in training out here so I wanted to show that in the test but unfortunately that wasn’t possible today. I hope that experience will help to build her confidence so that we can perform the test for the team that I know we’re capable of.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

‘This means such a lot’: Britain’s Sophie Wells crowned world champion in Tryon

Britain's Sophie Wells claims gold on day one of the para dressage in Tryon

Britain tops World Equestrian Games medals table

Britain has already notched up three golds and two bronzes

Tales from Tryon: ‘I had lost my legs but they lifted me back on board my horse’

Meet the brave Brazilian rider who couldn't hold back his emotion when he secured his first medal.

Italy’s Sara Morganti took an emotional grade I victory riding the 13-year-old Royaldik mare Royal Delight (pictured, below).

“My horse was really wonderful and it all came together today,” said Sara, who won gold at the 2014 WEG in Normandy, but suffered heartbreak in Rio when Royal Delight failed the trot-up. “It was quite an easy ride in a way because we were very prepared for this championship. We worked really hard for it and this is just incredible for me — she was beautiful all the way.”

The para dressage team competition gets underway tomorrow, with Britain hoping to continue their unbeaten run. The British team of Natasha, Erin, Lee Pearson and Sophie Wells will be put under strong pressure by the Dutch, German and Danish teams in particular.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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

Britain is off to a solid start in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch-sponsored showjumping at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA, after two team members jumped in the speed leg this morning (Wednesday, 19 September).

William Funnell led off for Team GBR and put in a clear round with The Billy Stud’s Billy Buckingham in 87.25sec. He currently lies 30th out of 62 competitors.

“Speed is not his strong point as he’s a big strong horse,” said William. “Hopefully we have three faster horses for the time today. The main thing is that he jumped well and as the jumps get bigger later in the week, he’ll come into his own.

“I was lucky to go early — it’ll be warmer for the others. It’s good to have a good start and get everybody’s heads up a bit and hopefully we won’t be far away [in the team standings].”

Britain’s second rider, Holly Smith, had just the second part of the green double at fence 11 down with Hearts Destiny, who belongs to TJ Hall Limited, his rider and her husband Graham. They finished in 83.17sec and then added 4sec for the pole down and hold 29th place at the lunchbreak.

“I needed to be faster than William as we wanted him to be our discard score today, so the tactic was to have a go without upsetting the horse. We are banking on him to jump the big tracks,” said Holly. “He felt amazing in there for such a green horse and we just had one mistake. Di [Lampard], British chef d’equipe] was pleased with the horse.”

At the end of today’s competition, riders’ scores are converted into penalties which they take forward into the next days of jumping. The best three scores will count for each team.

Colombian rider Carlos Enrique Lopez Lizarazo is the current leader on Admara, in a time of 77.96sec.

“He’s a fighter and fast — I don’t think it’s enough to win, but hopefully it’s enough for my target, which is to be between first and eighth,” said Carlos.

The Netherlands’ Marc Houtzager is currently second Sterrehof’s Calimero, with Japan’s Karen Polle third on her own With Wings.

“I’m in shock — I never expected this in a million years,” said Karen. “It’s a really special moment and I’m just trying to enjoy it because you work so hard for this.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Find out when Britain and Ireland’s riders jump in the individual final at WEG

The individual showjumping final at the World Equestrian Games takes place tomorrow, on the final day of the combined equestrian

Tales from Tryon: ‘I had lost my legs but they lifted me back on board my horse’

Meet the brave Brazilian rider who couldn't hold back his emotion when he secured his first medal.

Ros Canter in individual bronze and British team in silver after WEG eventing dressage

A mistake-free test from the ultra-consistent Allstar B and Ros Canter rounded off the British effort in the eventing dressage

Ireland’s pathfinder Shane Sweetnam set an early target with his own and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Chazqui Z and now lies fourth on 80.19.

“He’s not a speed merchant, but you can trust him on turns and options,” said Shane.

Shane Breen was Ireland’s second rider with Ipswich Van De Wolfsakker, who belongs to Breen Equestrian and Jos Lansink Horses. He had the second part of the double down at fence 11 to finish on 88.26.

“I’m not disappointed, I’m very pleased — he just got a bit wound up,” said Shane.

Keep up to date with all the news from Tryon on horseandhound.co.uk

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).

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

Britain is in the lead in the World Equestrian Games medals table as the second week of competition in Tryon is well under way.

Sophie Wells and C Fatal Attraction’s gold in yesterday’s individual grade V para dressage took the British tally to five; three gold and two bronze. Germany and the US are also on five each but as fewer of these are gold – two for Germany and one for the US – Britain is at the top.

The other two golds were of course the individual and team medals won by Ros Canter and the British team in the eventing which concluded on Monday, while Charlotte Dujardin and the dressage team took bronze in their individual and team events.

Team GBR’s chef de mission David Holmes said: “It’s a credit to the hard work and professionalism of the athletes, grooms, owners, their home teams and the UK Sport National Lottery-funded World Class Programme support staff, on their WEG campaign.

“All the team have worked with the single goal of creating an environment for success, to enable our athletes to achieve medal-winning and personal best performances.”

The British showjumpers will start their bid to add to this tally this afternoon (19 September) in the speed leg of the competition, from which riders’ penalty scores will be carried to the next stage.

Continues below…

Find out when Britain and Ireland’s riders jump in the individual final at WEG

The individual showjumping final at the World Equestrian Games takes place tomorrow, on the final day of the combined equestrian

Ros Canter’s showjumping clear secures fantastic double gold for Britain at WEG

Britain claimed the team and individual gold medals in the eventing at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, this

Charlotte Dujardin clinches brilliant dressage bronze for Britain at WEG

Germany maintain their golden run, with the USA claiming silver and Britain securing bronze

Britain’s para dressage combinations Natasha Baker and Mount St John Diva Dannebrog, and Erin Orford on Dior are also in grade III individual action this afternoon, with the team competition starting tomorrow. The vaulting competition also continues until Sunday, the last day of the Games.

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

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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

Sophie Wells added to Britain’s gold rush with victory in the grade V individual championship at the World Equestrian Games, in Tryon.

The multi-medalled para rider piloted Charlotte Hogg’s C Fatal Attraction (below) to gold with 75.43%, in a test filled with harmony and power. It didn’t get off to an ideal start however, when Sophie and “Jorge” cantered out of their first halt, instead of trotting.

“I think he was a little bit nervous and it would have been helpful not to have a blip, though it does bring you back down to earth. But as we went along it got better and better,” said Sophie, who took gold with the 11-year-old Fidertanz gelding at the Gothenberg Europeans in 2017, but has not had an individual world title since 2010.

“This feels amazing, I’m so chuffed,” said Sophie. “I missed out on gold in Normandy in 2014, and it feels like a long time to get a chance to try again. I’m just so proud of Jorge — it’s been a long journey and this means such a lot. He came out today and he wanted to work and wanted to do it. But I think there’s even more in the tank for later in the week.”

Sophie’s long-time grade V rival, Frank Hosmar of the Netherlands, scored 73.17% to claim the silver medal with Alphaville NOP, while Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp took bronze on Look At Me Now in her first season of para dressage.

There was disappointment for Britain’s Lee Pearson, who retired his home-bred mare Styletta in the grade II individual earlier in the day, after the nine-year-old became unsettled.

“She seems to be struggling a bit with the humidity here. She’s only nine years old; she’s a spectacularly powerful horse and each day she’s been here she’s been feeling like she’s struggling a bit with the weather,” said Lee.

“I didn’t want to retire; I’m passionate about doing my best in the arena for my country but I felt that it was the right thing to do.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

How to watch the 2018 World Equestrian Games on TV

If you’re not making the trip to Tryon for the World Equestrian Games and are worried about missing out on

Polly Bryan’s WEG blog: ‘There were many things I expected from my first WEG — Hurricane Florence was not one of them’

H&H's dressage editor and WEG rookie reflects on a dramatic first week in Tryon

Tales from Tryon: ‘I had lost my legs but they lifted me back on board my horse’

Meet the brave Brazilian rider who couldn't hold back his emotion when he secured his first medal.

Denmark’s Stinna Tange Kaastrup took her first world title in the grade II, riding the Gribaldi gelding Horsebo Smarties. It proved a tight tussle between Stinna and Austria’s Pepo Puch, with a new championship ride, Sailor’s Boy. But Stinna’s 72.74% was just enough to clinch the title over Pepo, with the Netherlands’ Nicole De Dulk and Wallace NOP collecting bronze.

The grade IV championship went to the Netherlands, Sanne Voets leading from first draw with Demantur NOP, the talented Vivaldi gelding on whom she took freestyle gold in Rio and the European championship title in Gothenberg last year.

Rodolpho Riskalla landed silver for Brazil — his first championship medal — aboard another stunning chestnut, the Don Frederico stallion Don Henrico, while Denmark’s Susanne Jensby Sunesen won bronze with CSK’s Que Faire.

The individual para championships continue tomorrow, with Britain’s Natasha Baker and Erin Orford both in action in the grade III division. Natasha will ride Mount St John Diva Dannebrog at 9.30am (2.30pm UK time), while Erin will compete with Dior at 12.18pm (5.18pm UK time).

The full report on the para dressage from WEG will be in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out Thursday 27 September, including exclusive analysis and expert opinion

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

For Brazil’s Rodolpho Riskalla, winning an individual grade IV silver medal with Don Henrico at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon is the euphoric culmination of years spent adjusting to a new life.

In 2015, as a 31-year-old grand prix dressage rider with the Rio Olympics in his sights, Rodolpho relocated to Paris hoping that training and competing in Europe would boost his chances of competing at a home Olympics. But in August that year, he returned home to Sau Paulo to be with his family after his father died, and while there contracted bacterial meningitis.

He spent a month in a coma, lost his right hand and some fingers from his left, and had both legs amputated below the knee.

“Life changed for everyone, but the first thing I asked the doctor when I woke up was whether I would be able to ride,” Rodolpho told H&H. “It was actually when I went to visit my grand prix horse for the first time since my illness, before I had prosthetics and was still in a wheelchair, and his owner asked when I would be able to ride. I joked and said, ‘How about now?’, but then they lifted me on board, and that was such a great feeling.”

Despite having to adapt everything about his riding, Rodolpho returned to France and immediately switched his focus to para dressage. Incredibly, he achieved his dream of riding in Rio just eight months later, at the Paralympics. There, he finished 10^th individually with the horse he describes as “my best buddy ever”, the Weltmeyer gelding Warenne.

He’d had a taste of the world stage and, with Warenne retired after Rio, Rodolpho needed a new horse. Enter the stunning chestnut Don Frederico stallion, Don Henrico (pictured, above), offered to Rodolpho by the German Olympic gold medallist, Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff.

“Henrico is a really sensitive stallion, but I’ve had him for a year now and I really know him,” said Rodolpho, who works for Dior in Paris alongside his riding, and also now competes the 15-year-old Henrico in able-bodied dressage at international small tour.

“This medal means everything, after all the years of work,” said Rodolpho, who couldn’t hold back the tears when he realised his 73.37% was enough for the silver medal. “It shows that you never know what can happen in life, but that good things can always come out of the bad.”

The full report on the para dressage from WEG will be in next week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out Thursday 27 September, including exclusive analysis and expert opinion

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

Heavy rain has forced a change in location for the driving competition at the World Equestrian Games (WEG).

The driving dressage has been moved to training areas six and seven at 8.30am on Friday (21 September).

The marathon course is unaffected and will go ahead as planned on Saturday (22 September).

The driving cones test has been moved from the morning to the afternoon on Sunday (23 September) and will be held in the Tryon Stadium after the showjumping individual medal ceremony.

A statement from the organiers said the changes are due to “recent heavy rain and the fact that spectator viewing areas are no longer fit for purpose”.

Tropical storm Florence has caused a headache for WEG organisers, with heavy rain resulting in the cancellation of the dressage freestyle and rescheduling of the eventing competition’s final phase.

Now the storm has passed, weather conditions in Tryon are expected to improve this week.

However it is likely to be hot and humid — the latest forecasts are for sunshine and temperatures of around 29C to 32C in the daytime until Sunday and 20C at night, with windspeeds of around 9km/h, gusting up to 16km/h.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Potential medallist among two horses held overnight after para dressage trot-up at WEG

Find out who passed and who was held at the para dressage horse inspection

How to watch the 2018 World Equestrian Games on TV

If you’re not making the trip to Tryon for the World Equestrian Games and are worried about missing out on

Ros Canter’s showjumping clear secures fantastic double gold for Britain at WEG

Britain claimed the team and individual gold medals in the eventing at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, this

The first para dressage individual medals will be decided this afternoon (Tuesday) and today also marks the start of the vaulting competition.

The grade IV individual championship starts at 9.30am (2.30pm BST). This is followed by the grade II individual, which features the first of the British para riders, Lee Pearson, and the grade V individual, which will be contested by Britain’s Sophie Wells. Natasha Baker and Erin Orford start their WEG campaigns on Wednesday.

Britain’s vaulting squad are in action at 10.27am (3.27pm BST), with individuals Lucy Phillips and Rebecca Norval taking to the ring at 2.06pm (7.06pm) and 2.46pm (7.46pm) respectively.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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

I’ve been excited about reporting at my first World Equestrian Games (WEG) ever since I got the call-up for Tryon almost a year ago. I’ve been lucky enough to report at two fantastic championships for H&H already — the Rio Paralympics in 2016 and the Gothenburg European Championships in 2017 — but WEG is a different kettle of fish; this is the biggie. I’ve heard countless stories from previous Games — some positive, others less so — but I wanted to find out for myself what it would be like working at this enormous extravaganza of horse sport.

We’ve just hit the halfway point and it’s fair to say there’ve been more than a few surprises and plenty of emotion. Some are the sorts of things you expect you might encounter at a championship — such as Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin’s young, inexperienced horses exceeding expectations to lead the British dressage team to a brilliant bronze medal, plus individual bronze for Charlotte and Mount St John Freestyle. I was so excited I couldn’t stop myself throwing my arms around Carl in the mixed zone.

The conclusion of the team competition was the most exciting, nail-biting day of sport I’ve ever been lucky enough to report. I found myself shaking uncontrollably as the trending score for Sweden’s Patrik Kittel got closer and closer to the 78.3% he needed to deny the Brits a medal, and by the time it was confirmed at an agonising 78.2%, my heart rate was in the fat burning zone, according to my trusty Fitbit. Probably a good job really, considering the plentiful, delicious and free food we’ve been gorging on every day in the press office — another surprise, along with the three parachutists that made us all jump as they landed during the opening ceremony.

Other sources of excitement were much more unpredictable. There were many things I expected might happen at my first WEG, but a hurricane certainly wasn’t one of them. By the time we landed in North Carolina, Hurricane Florence was lurking with menace just off the US coast, and by Friday morning she had not only made landfall with catastrophic consequences, but had also adopted a highly unusual path and was hurling herself directly towards Tryon. Great.

By Friday lunchtime I reckon I had earned a promotion to Hurricane Editor. I’d downloaded a hurricane tracking app and was checking it at every opportunity, weighing up our chances of survival. Pippa and I spent a morning stocking up on hurricane essentials, during which we discovered it is easier to buy archery equipment and engagement rings in Walmart than torches, especially when every shop assistant is too enamoured by your accent to direct you to the right part of the store. We soon had a dedicated hurricane cupboard, though, filled with torches, candles, granola, tinned fruit — and a 24-pack of beer, plus wine. We were ready.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

BREAKING NEWS: Hurricane Florence forces cancellation of WEG dressage freestyle

The grand prix freestyle will not go ahead at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon

Pippa Roome’s WEG blog: food, friends and medals — five reasons I’m enjoying Tryon

Spirits are high for Team H&H in the USA as another day dawns in Tryon, with doughnuts, new clothes and

Ros Canter’s showjumping clear secures fantastic double gold for Britain at WEG

Britain claimed the team and individual gold medals in the eventing at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, this

As it was, the dressage was not so lucky. With biblical rain quite literally on the horizon the plug was pulled on the freestyle. It was a sensible decision, but there was an awful lot of disappointment for everyone involved — I for one was gutted not to see Charlotte and Carl perform once more. I was cheered up by the jokes doing the rounds on social media though, that Charlotte was the only person to ride a Freestyle that weekend…

Thoughts quickly turned to our own safety; as the rain began to fall the international press centre slammed its doors and we raced Florence home to our cosy Airbnb in Hendersonville. A strange 24 hours followed. Cooped up inside, fuelled by coffee and Oreos — following a lengthy and still unconcluded debate about whether they should live in the fridge — we furiously churned out thousands of words of magazine copy with torches at arm’s reach, prepared to be plunged into blackness at any moment. I coud add to the drama and say that Florence raged with terrifying ferocity outside, but tucked away in the mountains we somehow managed to cling to our power, and really had no more in the way of rain than on a particularly soggy autumn day in England. We were the lucky ones though — my heart goes out to all those who have lost their lives, homes and livelihoods to Florence.

By Monday, it all seemed like a dream as order was restored and we watched Ros Canter and the British eventing team crowned world champions under a blazing hot sun. But there’s still a week to go and this is Tryon, the place where, it seems, anything can happen.

Full report on the eventing from WEG in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out Thursday 20 September, including exclusive analysis and opinion.

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

Ros Canter showjumped clear today (Monday, 17 September) in the final phase of the Mars-sponsored eventing at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) to secure team gold for Great Britain — and individual gold for herself.

By the time Ros entered the arena on her own and Caroline Moore’s Allstar B, she had a fence in hand to secure the team gold, but only a clear could ensure she kept an individual medal. She kept her cool to deliver a fault-free performance.

“It’s a surreal day for me — I’m proud for my country and excited for the whole team around me and everyone who’s put so much into this,” said Ros.

The leader after cross-country, Germany’s Ingrid Klimke, looked like keeping her spot right up until the very last fence — when SAP Hale Bob OLD hit the front rail of the parallel. She dropped down to take the individual bronze.

Ireland kept the team silver and achieved individual silver, with Padraig McCarthy and Mr Chunky coming through with a clear round to secure individual second, from seventh place after the cross-country. Sarah Ennis (Horseware Stellar Rebound) was second coming into this phase, but she had the second part of the treble at fence five down to drop to fifth individually.

France held onto team bronze, with Japan fourth. Olympic qualifications went to Germany, Australia and New Zealand in fifth, sixth and seventh.

Piggy French was the second-best British team member when Jayne McGivern’s Quarrycrest Echo had the first part of the double at fence five down for 10th place individually.

“I had a different horse to what I’ve ever had before — he felt good outside but was spooky and a bit tight in there,” she said.

Tom McEwen suffered a similar fate when Toledo De Kerser — who belongs to Jane Inns, Tom and his mother Ali — hit the upright at fence 11.

“He jumped a super round and was unlucky to have that one down as he’s usually a reliable jumper, but that’s the sport,” said Tom, who finished 12th.

Fourth team member Gemma Tattersall suffered disappointment today when Arctic Soul became tight through his back towards the end of the round and had three fences down.

Britain’s individual rider Tina Cook finished ninth with Billy The Red, who showjumped clear today.

“I’m thrilled with him — he’s a magical jumper and so consistent in this phase,” said Tina.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

It’s time — can Britain win WEG eventing gold? Walk the showjumping course that stands between them and victory

Take a look around the course to see what horses and riders will face...

Update on the two horses injured during WEG cross-country

News has come in about the Norwegian and Swedish horses who were taken away from the cross-country course in horse

Pippa Roome’s WEG blog: when Hurricane Florence meets cross-country day…

H&H's eventing editor reports in from Tryon, where the team are riding out the storm with doughnuts, torches and a

The showjumping was originally scheduled to run yesterday (Sunday, 16 September) but Hurricane Florence forced its postponement until today.

Full report on the eventing from WEG in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out Thursday 20 September, including exclusive analysis and opinion.

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

Two para dressage horses will be re-inspected after being sent to the holding box during this morning’s trot-up at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, North Carolina.

Denmark’s Hoennerups Beebob, who is ridden by grade I competitor Line Munk Madsen, was sent to the holding box, but the ground jury was not satisfied when he was re-presented a short time later. The 16-year-old Danish warmblood gelding, a son of Blue Hors Gertug, will be re-inspected tomorrow morning (18 September).

Having taken team silver at last year’s European Championships, Denmark are expected to challenge Britain for gold here in Tryon. The other three Danish horses, Horsebo Smarties (Stinna Kastrup), Davidoff (Caroline Nielsen) and CSK’s Que Faire ( Susanne Jensby Sunesen) were all accepted, although Horsebo Smarties, the 2017 European grade II freestyle champion, was asked to trot twice.

The ride of Italy’s Francesca Salverde, Muggel, was also sent to the holding box. The 11-year-old Carabas gelding, who competes at grade III, was re-presented, but will also be re-inspected tomorrow before the competition begins.

All four of the British horses — Mount St John Diva Dannebrog (Natasha Baker), Dior (Erin Orford), Styletta (Lee Pearson) and C Fatal Attraction (Sophie Wells) sailed through the trot-up.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

BREAKING NEWS: Hurricane Florence forces cancellation of WEG dressage freestyle

The grand prix freestyle will not go ahead at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon

How to watch the 2018 World Equestrian Games on TV

If you’re not making the trip to Tryon for the World Equestrian Games and are worried about missing out on

Time set for showjumping phase of WEG eventing; find out when Brits will jump

The time has been decided for the final phase of the WEG eventing competition, which had to be postponed due

Several other horses were asked to trot twice, including the 11-year-old KWPN mare Coco Chanel M, who won double Paralympic bronze in 2016 with Brazil’s Sergio Oliva. The ride of Britain-based Canadian Bert Sheffield, Bailaor, was also asked to trot again, and generated a lengthy deliberation, but the 16-year-old stallion by Minero VII was accepted.

Para competition gets underway tomorrow at 9.30am (2.30pm UK time) with the grade IV individual championship. This will be followed by the grade II individual, featuring Britain’s Lee Pearson, and the grade V individual, featuring Britain’s Sophie Wells.

Natasha Baker and Erin Orford will get their WEG campaigns off the ground on Wednesday with the grade III individual, after which the grade I will take place. The team competition takes place on Thursday and Friday, with the freestyle for all grades being contested on Saturday.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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

Belgian rider Bernard Fonck made history by becoming the first European to win world reining gold, taking the title in Tryon on Saturday (15 September).

Bernard and Gina de Pauw and Steve Vannietvelt’s American quarter horse stallion What A Wave scored 227 in the Johnson Controls individual final at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) to take the victory.

“This is the first time in history a European rider leaves WEG with the individual gold medal and I could not be any prouder,” said Fonck. “What A Wave is the sweetest horse I have ever had the pleasure of riding. I am very fortunate to have had more than one ‘once in a lifetime’ horse, and he is at the top of this list.

“Every time we show, he gives me all he has and every time it gets better and better. When I came here I knew that we could probably make it to the top five positions but I would never have imagined that we would claim the gold.”

The US’s Dan Huss took silver on eight-year-old Ms Dreamy, who also made history as the first mare to win an individual WEG reining medal.

“Mares are a little more sensitive so you have to be very good as far as technique and horsemanship are concerned,” said Dan. “They are not so forgiving but if you understand them, your better mares will step up and compete with the boys. [Ms Dreamy has] probably taught me more than I’ve taught her, and it’s been a great experience.”

A run-off determined the bronze medal as the US’s Cade McCutcheon, on Custom Made Gun, and Brazilian Joao Felipe Lacerda aboard Gunner Dun It Again both scored 225.

Joao came back in to record 227, his highest score of the Games, but 18-year-old Cade and seven-year-old Custom Made Gun reached 228 to take the medal.

Continues below…

‘I’m so proud’: British rider records personal best in Tryon

The combination’s seventh-place finish was just not enough to qualify for the individual final

British hopes high as rider progresses to second round at WEG

One of the two British riders has progressed in Tryon

Time set for showjumping phase of WEG eventing; find out when Brits will jump

The time has been decided for the final phase of the WEG eventing competition, which had to be postponed due

“I was a little disappointed with myself after my first ride so I let him catch his breath and, when we went back in, I tried to perform a cleaner run,” said Cade.

“He was incredibly good for me and I am thrilled to have represented my country and to have won the team gold and individual bronze medals. I could not have done this without my team, my coach and my family and I still cannot believe that I made it to the podium. It will take a while before it sinks in!”

Britain’s Francesca Sternberg and Spook N Sparkle missed out on qualifying for the final by two places, while Alison Bucknell and her own Jac Barbee Dream had also competed in the first round of competition, finishing in 54^th place.

In the team competition, the US won gold, Belgium took silver and Germany the bronze medals.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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

If you’re not making the trip to North Carolina for the Tryon World Equestrian Games (11-25 September) and are worried about missing out on the action — don’t panic. Our guide on how to keep up with the Games on TV and online from back here in the UK contains all you need to know to plan your essential viewing.

World Equestrian Games TV schedule

BBC red button (Freeview 601, Sky 980, Freesat 981, Virgin 990) and BBC sport website

Friday 14 September: live coverage of the grand prix special dressage, with commentary from Nick Luck and Bobby Hayler. first session 3.20pm – 6.25pm BBC Sport website, app and connected TV only; second session 7.20pm – 10.30pm BBC Red Button

Saturday 15 September: live coverage of the cross-country phase of the eventing, with commentary from Nick Luck and Ian Stark: 3.50pm – 10.00pm BBC Sport website, app and connected TV only. 5.30pm – 10.00pm on BBC Red Button

COMPETITION CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE FLORENCE Sunday 16 September: live coverage of the dressage freestyle to music, with commentary from Nick Luck and Bobby Hayler

*Updated* Monday 17 September: live coverage of final showjumping phase of the eventing, with commentary from Nick Luck and Ian Stark: on BBC Sport website, app and BBC Red Button, plus iPlayer. 2.50pm – 5.45pm

Thursday 20 September: live coverage of showjumping team competition, with commentary from Nick Luck and Andy Austin: 1.50pm – 5.30pm & 6.20pm – 10.00pm BBC Red Button

Friday 21 September: live coverage of showjumping team competition final, with commentary from Nick Luck and Andy Austin: 6.20pm – 9.55pm BBC Red Button

Sunday 23 September: live coverage of showjumping individual final, with commentary from Nick Luck and Andy Austin: 2.35pm – 3.55pm BBC Sport website, app and connected TV; 5.25pm – 6.30pm BBC Red Button

BBC2

Monday 17 September: 1pm to 3.30pm: Clare Balding presents World Equestrian Games highlights from the first week’s action.

Sunday 23 September: 4.30pm to 5.30pm: Clare Balding presents World Equestrian Games highlights from the second week of competition, including the final showjumping phase of the eventing

Monday 24 September: 1.00pm to 2.00pm: Clare Balding presents World Equestrian Games highlights

NB: The above information may be subject to change

FEI TV

FEI TV is an online subscription service. FEI TV will be providing live streaming of all the disciplines, which will then be available as video-on-demand after the competition finishes. They are also broadcasting a daily live show called Live@Tryon (12-23 September). Memorable moments from previous World Equestrian Games will be available as video-on-demand. Find out more >>

Follow online with H&H

Find reports, news stories, blogs, cross-country course pictures, dummies’ guides to each sport and more on H&H’s dedicated world equestrian games microsite.

We will be sending out frequent email newsletters rounding up the WEG action throughout the Games — sign up for the newsletter now!

Our full WEG preview was published in Horse & Hound magazine, 30 August issue

Eurosport

Thursday 13 September: 2100-2305 LIVE dressage on Eurosport 2

Friday 14 September: 1005-1140 eventing dressage on Eurosport 2

Friday 14 September: 2100-2235 LIVE dressage on Eurosport 2

Saturday 15 September: 1005-1135 eventing dressage on Eurosport 1

Sunday 16 September: 1000-1135 eventing cross-country on Eurosport 1

Tuesday 18 September: 1700-1845 eventing showjumping on Eurosport 2

Wednesday 19 September: 2005-2220 LIVE showjumping on Eurosport 1

Thursday 20 September: 0835-0930 showjumping (replay) on Eurosport 2

Thursday 20 September: 1500-1600 showjumping (replay) on Eurosport 2

Thursday 20 September: 1910-2220 LIVE showjumping on Eurosport 1

Friday 21 September: 1205-1300 showjumping (replay) on Eurosport 2

Friday 21 September: 2000-2150 LIVE showjumping on Eurosport 1

Saturday 22 September: 0830-0930 showjumping (replay) on Eurosport 2

Saturday 22 September: 1205-1305 showjumping (replay) on Eurosport 2

Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 are available on BT TV, Sky, Virgin Media and Virgin Media Ireland. Eurosport channels also available online and on mobile via Eurosport Player.

Eurosport 1: BT TV 513 | 521 (HD); Sky 410 (HD); Virgin Media 521 | 522 (HD); Virgin Media Ireland 423 | 424 (HD)

Eurosport 2: BT TV 514 | 522 (HD); Sky 411 (HD); Virgin Media 525 | 526 (HD); Virgin Media Ireland 425 | 426 (HD)

H&C TV (Sky 184, Virgin TV 298)

WEG 2018: Daily Review show will be broadcast on H&C TV each day (excluding Monday 17 September) throughout the Games, starting 13 September at 5pm and 8pm each day, as well as being available on the H&C TV website.

Highlights from each of the disciplines will be available to watch as below:

• Dressage grand prix: Thursday 20 September at 9.30pm
• Dressage grand prix special: Friday 21 September at 9.30pm
• Reining: Saturday 22 September at 10.30pm
• Eventing: Tuesday 25 September at 8pm
• Team showjumping: Saturday 29 September at 8pm
• Para dressage: Monday 1 October at 8pm
• Vaulting: Monday 1 October at 8.30pm
• Driving: Tuesday 2 October at 7.30pm
• Individual showumping: Tuesday 2 October at 8pm

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

Yesterday’s cross-country day at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon was one of the oddest days of my life.

On the one hand, it was a championship cross-country day. There was the excitement of standing in the mixed zone with a bunch of other journalists watching the action on TV, there were the thrilling moments when the Brits pulled out all the stops to go clear, there were the heart-stoppers as riders fell, there was the fun and interest of talking to riders as they came to be interviewed.

On the other hand, it was the day it seemed like I was going to experience the first hurricane of my life as Hurricane Florence swirled her way threateningly towards us. And as such, it was an extraordinary, bizarre, odd day.

So, here are eight things I’ve never experienced before on a cross-country day…

1. A strange sensation that this is the end of the world. After I’d written my dressage copy for the magazine in the morning, I popped out of the media centre to head to the end of the course and see the fences which had been tweaked. I saw Julia Krajewski and Ingrid Klimke doing their final course walks and had a look at the finish area and mixed zone. So far, so normal. But the sky and the very air seemed to be tinged with an odd colour — somewhere between grey and yellow. It felt like the hue you get in a zombie film when the end of the world is nigh (I don’t watch zombie films. But I imagine that’s the case).

2. Having no idea where I would be spending the night. We left our Airbnb in Hendersonville, 40 minutes drive from the Tryon International Equestrian Centre, unsure where we would spend the night. Would we make it back to our WEG home? Or would the roads be flooded? Would we end up sleeping on the floor of the media centre? In one of the safe areas at Tryon mentioned in the press conference earlier this week? Or would we decide to get in cars and flee the area once the action finished, looking for a hotel a few hundred miles away for two nights?

3. Taking an overnight bag and emergency food in the car “just in case”. Yes, we all took changes of clothes and our wash bags with us. We bought hurricane food for our Airbnb early last week, deeming it a sensible precaution to lay in a stock of bottled water and things that could be eaten without an oven and would keep without a fridge. I did not plan to starve if I had to sleep on the floor of the media centre — we would live on cereal bars, cheese biscuits, dried fruit and nuts.

4. Taking my passport “just in case”. What if we really had to get out suddenly?

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Pippa Roome’s WEG blog: food, friends and medals — five reasons I’m enjoying Tryon

Spirits are high for Team H&H in the USA as another day dawns in Tryon, with doughnuts, new clothes and

Horse in individual medal position held at final trot-up for WEG eventing

There were tense moments for three nations at this afternoon's final horse inspection for the World Equestrian Games eventing

Time set for showjumping phase of WEG eventing; find out when Brits will jump

The time has been decided for the final phase of the WEG eventing competition, which had to be postponed due

5. Being desperate to leave the venue once the action was over. Normally I will whack up a website story as soon as possible after the action finishes, go to the press conference and then probably make a start on my magazine copy before heading back to wherever I’m staying. Not yesterday. The rain was starting by the time the press conference was over and we headed for our cars as quickly as possible, keen to be on our way home.

6. Sending “just in case” copy. Back at our Airbnb, it made sense to write as much of my magazine copy as possible. Yes, there was a day off to come — a blissful idea, in theory, a whole day to contemplate and check notes and craft a masterpiece. But would we have power? Would we have internet? Would the house fall down in the night? Before I went to bed, I wanted the bones of my magazine cross-country copy written and sent to someone safely in the UK, a back-up copy which was not to be used unless for whatever reason, I could not do my tweaking the next day. Our dressage editor, Polly Bryan, was doing the same with her copy, while our photographer Peter Nixon sent his pictures back. Yes, we would go through and choose our favourites tomorrow if we could, to help speed up the workflow in the office on Monday (H&H’s press day), but we wanted those pictures to be sent before we went to bed.

7. Keeping everything plugged in at all times. With losing power among our major concerns, we wanted to have all our laptops, ipads, phones and kindles fully charged.

8. Working with a torch beside your doughnut, cross-country times sheet and notebook. Self-explanatory.

In the event, we seem to have been very lightly affected by Hurricane Florence here, with just heavy rain through the night and in bursts today. Even quite locally, we have heard reports of considerable flooding and people losing power, so we have been lucky — let’s hope we are not misreading the weather maps and that there isn’t worse to come. As we start to focus on the second week of sport at WEG, our thoughts are with those seriously hit by this storm.

Keep up to date with all the action from WEG on horseandhound.co.uk and don’t forget to buy next week’s H&H magazine (dated 20 September) for our full report on the eventing and dressage, including exclusive analysis and opinion.

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

The showjumping for the Mars-sponsored eventing competition at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA will take place from 10am tomorrow (Monday, 17 September).

The showjumping phase of a three-day event usually takes place the day after cross-country, but the jumping at WEG was put back from its original time of Sunday afternoon due to Hurricane Florence.

The riders showjump in reverse order of their individual placings, so the competition builds to a thrilling climax.

Britain has five riders and horses still in the competition and all are well placed. Working on the basis of two minutes per round, the approximate times for the British pairs will be as follows…

British team:

• Gemma Tattersall and her own and The Soul Syndicate’s Arctic Soul — lying 18th, jumps at approximately 11.46am local time (4.46pm British time)
• Tom McEwen and Jane Inns, his own and his mother Ali’s Toledo De Kerser — lying 10th, jumps at approximately 12.02pm local time (5.02pm British time)
• Piggy French and Jayne McGivern’s Quarrycrest Echo — lying eighth, jumps at approximately 12.06pm local time (5.06pm British time)
• Ros Canter and her own and Caroline Moore’s Allstar B — lying in individual silver, jumps at approximately 12.16pm local time (5.16pm British time)

British individual

• Tina Cook and Elisabeth Murdoch and Keith Tyson’s Billy The Red — lying 14th, jumps at approximately 11.54pm local time (4.54pm British time)

The showjumping fences are 1.30m high and will be designed by Ireland’s Alan Wade, who is also designing the courses for the pure showjumping competition at WEG this week.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Horse in individual medal position held at final trot-up for WEG eventing

There were tense moments for three nations at this afternoon's final horse inspection for the World Equestrian Games eventing

Update on the two horses injured during WEG cross-country

News has come in about the Norwegian and Swedish horses who were taken away from the cross-country course in horse

British team are ‘class acts’ to rise to gold after WEG cross-country; Ros Canter in silver

Britain’s riders are all ‘class acts’ to rise to the top of the leaderboard on an eventful World Equestrian Games

Britain currently has two fences in hand over Ireland to take team gold, while Germany’s Ingrid Klimke does not have a fence in hand over Ros to claim the individual gold on SAP Hale Bob OLD. Ros is also within one showjump of Ireland’s Sarah Ennis and Horseware Stellor Rebound, who are sitting in individual bronze position.

Keep up to date with all the action from WEG on horseandhound.co.uk and don’t forget to buy next week’s H&H magazine (dated 20 September) for our full report, including exclusive analysis and opinion.

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

Two horses who are vital to Ireland’s medal challenges in the Mars-sponsored eventing at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) were sent to the holding box at this afternoon’s final horse inspection (Sunday, 16 September).

Horseware Products Ltd, Niki Potterton and Orla Ennis’s Horseware Stellor Rebound (Sarah Ennis) and Belinda Keir’s Horseware Ardagh Highlight (Sam Watson) were both accepted when re-presented, although there were tense moments when Horseware Stellor Rebound was asked to trot up twice and the ground jury then deliberated before passing him. He and Sarah Ennis currently hold the individual bronze medal spot, as well as contributing to Ireland’s team silver position.

The other Irish team horses — Christopher and Sarita Perkins, Huw Lloyd and Lucy Wiegersma’s Mr Chunky (Padraig McCarthy), Margaret Kinsella’s Rioghan Rua (Cathal Daniels) — were accepted.

One of the Brazilian team horses, Magnum’s Martini ridden by Nilson Moreira Da Silva was also held and passed on reinspection, as were Dutch team horses Rumour Has It NOP (Merel Blom) and Jane Z (Renske Kroeze).

Sweden’s Box Qutie, ridden by Anna Freskgård, was withdrawn before the trot-up today. He was taken away from the finishing area after his cross-country round yesterday by horse ambulance and has sustained a soft tissue injury.

South African rider Victoria Scott also withdrew Valtho Des Peupliers before the horse inspection.

The British team horses — The Soul Syndicate’s Arctic Soul (Gemma Tattersall), Jayne McGivern’s Quarrycrest Echo (Piggy French), Jane Inns, rider Tom McEwen and his mother Ali’s Toledo De Kerser, Caroline Moore and rider Ros Canter’s Allstar B — were all accepted. The British team lie in the gold medal position after the cross-country, with Ros in line for individual silver.

British individual competitor Tina Cook’s ride Billy The Red, owned by Elisabeth Murdoch and Keith Tyson also passed without problems.

France holds the team bronze slot after cross-country, represented by Pivoine Des Touches (Donatien Schauly), Opium De Verrieres (Maxime Livio), Qing Du Briot ENE HN (Thibaut Vallette) and Tresor Mail (Sidney Dufresne). All the French horses passed the inspection too, as well as fifth-placed individual horse Vinci De La Vigne, ridden by Astier Nicolas.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

British team are ‘class acts’ to rise to gold after WEG cross-country; Ros Canter in silver

Britain’s riders are all ‘class acts’ to rise to the top of the leaderboard on an eventful World Equestrian Games

Update on the two horses injured during WEG cross-country

News has come in about the Norwegian and Swedish horses who were taken away from the cross-country course in horse

WEG eventing trot-up to run Sunday and jumping Monday: ‘We will finish this thing’

Find out rider reactions to the decision to postpone the eventing showjumping at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon to

The individual overnight leader, Ingrid Klimke of Germany, is also through the trot-up without problems with SAP Hale Bob OLD.

Keep up to date with all the action from WEG on horseandhound.co.uk and don’t forget to buy next week’s H&H magazine (dated 20 September) for our full report, including exclusive analysis and opinion.

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

Two horses who were injured during today’s cross-country in the Mars-sponsored eventing at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) are receiving veterinary treatment.

Euforian, ridden by the only Norwegian rider in the competition, Heidi Bratlie Larsen, went lame on course and was pulled up by the ground jury after fence 21. He was taken by horse ambulance to the onsite veterinary treatment centre.

The 13-year-old gelding has been diagnosed with a soft tissue injury and is being cared for in the treatment centre.

Box Qutie, ridden by Swedish team member Anna Freskgård, pulled up lame at the finish of the course and was shielded with screens and then transferred by horse ambulance to Tryon Equine Hospital 4km from the venue for assessment.

The 12-year-old mare has been diagnosed with soft tissue injury and is being treated at Tryon Equine Hospital.

Sweden is sitting in seventh place in the team competition, counting scores from Ludwig Svennerstål (Stinger), Louise Svensson Jähde (Waikiki 207) and Niklas Lindbåck (Focus Filiocus).

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

20-year-old horse put down after WEG endurance

The horse was pulled up and treated for kidney problems but the decision was later made to put him down

British team are ‘class acts’ to rise to gold after WEG cross-country; Ros Canter in silver

Britain’s riders are all ‘class acts’ to rise to the top of the leaderboard on an eventful World Equestrian Games

WEG eventing trot-up to run Sunday and jumping Monday: ‘We will finish this thing’

Find out rider reactions to the decision to postpone the eventing showjumping at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon to

The eventing competition schedule has been disrupted by Hurricane Florence. The showjumping should have taken place tomorrow (Sunday) to bring the event to a close, but with torrential rain expected the final horse inspection is now scheduled for tomorrow and the showjumping for Monday. The British team are currently in team gold position, with Ros Canter also holding individual silver.

The cross-country today was run at three-minute intervals rather than the planned four minutes, so that the action would be finished sooner. There were a few showers, but the conditions were generally horse friendly, with temperatures much lower than on the dressage days.

Keep up to date with all the action from WEG on horseandhound.co.uk and don’ forget to buy next week’s H&H magazine (dated 20 September) for our full report, including exclusive analysis and opinion.

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

The trot-up for the Mars-sponsored eventing at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) is scheduled for 2pm on Sunday, 15 September with the showjumping on Monday (16 September).

The bad weather associated with Hurricane Florence has forced major issues at WEG, including the cancellation of the Helgstrand-sponsored dressage freestyle, which was due to run tomorow (Sunday).

It was announced on Friday night that the eventing showjumping would be moving from Sunday to Monday — believed to be a first at a major eventing championship — and on Saturday evening in the press conference after cross-country, eventing discipline director Jim Wolf said the trot-up would be likely to happen on Sunday. The time of 3pm was announced just before 10pm on Saturday, before being changed to 2pm on Monday morning.

“We have no intention of cancelling the competition — it’s likely we’ll have to jump on Monday and have a horse inspection but we’re going to finish this thing,” said Jim at the press conference.

FEI eventing director Catrin Norinder added: “We have to finish, this is Olympic qualification for the [top six] teams, we will try to make it happen. The freestyle was cancelled because horses need to go home. We will finish this competition with showjumping.”

The European dressage horses are scheduled to fly home on Monday, which was a factor in it not being possible to re-arrange their freestyle to that day, while the eventing horses are scheduled to fly home on Tuesday anyway, making this new schedule feasible.

Catrin and Jim did not answer the original question posed, which was whether medals would be awarded to the cross-country leaders if it was impossible to run the showjumping.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

BREAKING NEWS: Hurricane Florence forces cancellation of WEG dressage freestyle

The grand prix freestyle will not go ahead at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon

British team are ‘class acts’ to rise to gold after WEG cross-country; Ros Canter in silver

Britain’s riders are all ‘class acts’ to rise to the top of the leaderboard on an eventful World Equestrian Games

BREAKING NEWS: all Sunday sport at WEG postponed due to Hurricane Florence

The eventing showjumping and the grand prix freestyle have been postponed

“I’m not sure how it’ll be jumping on Monday — I’ve never jumped a horse on Monday [after a three-day],” said British rider Tom McEwen. “It’s great they took the decision so early and the horses may come up a bit fresher, depending on the weather and what we can do tomorrow.”

US rider Lynn Symansky was among the riders who said that an extra day may actually not be advantageous for horses: “If you go out and run a really long race, you can have more muscle fatigue two days later. Part of horses’ care after cross-country is to keep them moving which may not be easy with the storm.”

But New Zealand rider Jonelle Price said: “I think it’s absurd. It really worries me who’s calling these shots, maybe I’ll be made to eat my words if it’s absolutely pouring tomorrow but I think it completely changes the game. The whole point of jumping on the day after cross-country is it’s the horse that can recover the best and come out and close their stride and be careful. Giving them an extra day is a whole different kettle of fish.

“So here and now I think it’s really sad and I really hope that it is as bad as they say it is come tomorrow otherwise it’s going to look very stupid for our sport.”

Keep up to date with all the latest from WEG on horseandhound.co.uk and read our full eventing report in Horse & Hound next week (20 September issue).

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

Britain has moved up to the team gold position after cross-country in the Mars-sponsored eventing at the World Equestrian Games today (Saturday, 15 September).

In a superlative performance, all four British team riders put in clears inside the time.

“It’s absolutely fantastic, unbelievable,” said chef d’equipe Dickie Waygood. “They were class acts — I can’t wait to watch the videos back and see the performances. They sat beautifully, the horses reacted to them and the way they came up the hill at the end was superb.”

Gemma Tattersall, the pathfinder on The Soul Syndicate’s Arctic Soul, said: “Arctic Soul is a complete cross-country machine. My job was to go out and go clear inside the time. Luckily I was able to set the tone for the day and these guys followed, so that was brilliant.

“I was 15 seconds down at the bottom of the hill [at the end of the course] and was back on time at on my eighth minute marker. I was pulling up from the second to last fence to the end, which shows what a fast horse he is.”

Piggy French went out second for the team riding Jayne McGivern’s Quarrycrest Echo. She now lies eighth individually.

She commented: “I’m proud of my horse — he had to get really gritty and dig very deep. It was harder work than it walked, a bit like being in a tumble drier.”

Tom McEwen piloted Jane Inns, his own and his mother Ali’s Toledo De Kerser and has moved up to 10th.

He said: “My horse was class, I couldn’t have asked any more from him. As a team we had a plan right off from start and don’t think we ever wavered, we knew what we were doing and everyone seriously delivered.”

Ros Canter’s performance with her own and Caroline Moore’s Allstar B elevated her from bronze individually to silver.

“Today was all about the team, as was yesterday — that’s my number one focus and will remain so,” she said. “The fact I’m in silver is a bonus and very exciting, but I’ve got to thank the whole team and support team. Going fourth I had all the information and it really helped me.”

British individual Tina Cook also jumped clear on Elisabeth Murdoch and Keith Tyson’s Billy The Red, finishing with just 2.4 time-faults for 14th after this phase.

“On the first walk of the course, we were a bit dismissive, but the more times we walked it the more problems we could see,” she said. “It was a bit more undulating than it looked and proved a proper championship track.”

Ireland has moved up from seventh after dressage to the team silver position. Sarah Ennis on Horseware Stellor Rebound is also holding the individual bronze slot.

“I’m delighted. I was down on the clock bottom of hill, but he went off like a racehorse — Rocket by name, Rocket by nature,” she said, referring to the horse’s stable name.

France is now holding the team bronze position, their effort spearheaded by Thibaut Vallette (Qing Du Briot ENE HN) who has held onto individual fourth.

The Germans, team gold medallists after dressage, had a disappointing day and Julia Krajewski and Chipmunk lost their individual gold spot due to a run-out at the combination of corners at fence 14, the CSX Junction. But Ingrid Klimke has moved up from second to first individually on SAP Hale Bob OLD.

“I had a lovely round and enjoyed the course a lot. ‘Bobby’ was really fit, he really cantered up the hill and got his second wind so I could ride for the time,” she said.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

BREAKING NEWS: Hurricane Florence forces cancellation of WEG dressage freestyle

The grand prix freestyle will not go ahead at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon

BREAKING NEWS: all Sunday sport at WEG postponed due to Hurricane Florence

The eventing showjumping and the grand prix freestyle have been postponed

See the World Equestrian Games cross-country course in photos

Check out photos of the fences the riders will tackle on the cross-country course at the World Equestrian Games in

The US team effort also fell apart, with their best-placed rider after dressage, Boyd Martin (Tseterleg), having a stop at the boat in the middle of the Mars Sustainability Bay at fence 10.

With Tropical Storm Florence approaching Tryon, the cross-country was run at three-minute intervals rather than the planned four minutes, so that the action would be finished sooner. There were a few showers today, but the conditions were generally horse friendly, with temperatures much lower than on the dressage days.

Keep up to date with all the latest from WEG on horseandhound.co.uk and read our full eventing report inHorse & Hound next week (20 September issue).

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

The Helgstrand-sponsored grand prix freestyle competition at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina, has been cancelled.

“Following yesterday’s announcement of the intention to hold the Helgstrand dressage freestyle competition on Monday morning due to extreme rainfall forecast for Sunday’s original time slot of 8.30am, further discussions have been taking place to review the options available to reschedule,” read a statement.

“Despite the best efforts of the whole Tryon 2018 team and the officials, who have been working on plans for rescheduling since yesterday evening, including meetings with the chefs de mission and chefs d’equipe, the logistics of putting all necessary elements into place in time have proved insurmountable. As a result, and very regrettably, the dressage freestyle will now be cancelled.”

Britain’s Carl Hester, who helped secure team bronze on Thursday (pictured above), told H&H: “It’s really sad, but with increasing weather problems it has to be horses first and it’s the right decision.”

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

BREAKING NEWS: all Sunday sport at WEG postponed due to Hurricane Florence

The eventing showjumping and the grand prix freestyle have been postponed

Charlotte Dujardin claims ‘unbelievable’ individual bronze at WEG

Charlotte Dujardin claims an individual medal at WEG with Mount St John Freestyle

Charlotte Dujardin clinches brilliant dressage bronze for Britain at WEG

Germany maintain their golden run, with the USA claiming silver and Britain securing bronze

The president of the Tryon 2018 organising committee, Michael Stone, added: “This was not an easy decision, but we have explored every option, including trying to reschedule the horse departures, and even looking at moving the competition into the indoor with a change of footing, but the logistics of making all this happen are just not possible.

“We know this is desperately disappointing for the 15 athletes who had qualified their horses for the Freestyle, and of course for all the spectators who had bought tickets, but the weather has simply left us with no choice. Horse welfare has to be the top priority and flying the horses out on the same day as competition doesn’t work, so sadly the decision to cancel the freestyle had to be taken.”

“Although we are devastated that this decision has had to be taken, we’ve had two absolutely world-class competitions here at Tryon, including yesterday’s grand prix special.”

The decision does not affect the Olympic qualification process, as this was completed on Thursday. The teams that have earned their ticket to Tokyo 2020 are Germany, USA, Great Britain, Sweden, Netherlands and Spain.

A separate notification will be sent to ticket holders.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and read the full reports on the team and individual dressage competitions, plus the eventing, in the 20 September issue.

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

All sport scheduled to take place at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina, on Sunday, 16 September, has been postponed due to Hurricane Florence.

The Helgstrand-sponsored grand prix freestyle was due to begin at 8.30am (1.30pm UK time) on Sunday, with the Mars-sponsored eventing competition due to conclude on Sunday with the showjumping phase scheduled for 3.15pm (8.15pm UK time).

“The latest weather forecast from the National Weather Service, which has an onsite weather station here at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), shows heavy rain starting on Saturday evening through Sunday. As a result, it is planned to move the final jumping phase for eventing to Monday, 17 September (starting time to be confirmed),” said the organisers.

“Saturday’s cross-country remains unaffected and will start at 11am as planned, but the interval between horses will be reduced from four to three minutes. The cross-country distance is unchanged at 5,700 metres but there are modifications to two fences — 23A and 24B.

“Saturday’s individual reining final will be brought forward to 3pm.

“Depending on further official weather updates, it is the intention to reschedule Sunday’s dressage freestyle to Monday. The dressage horse inspection for the 15 horses qualified for the freestyle will remain unchanged at 8am tomorrow (Saturday, 15 September).

“Starting times for the dressage freestyle, eventing horse inspection and eventing jumping will be confirmed as soon as possible.

“Ticket holders will be notified by email and social media.”

Hurricane Florence made landfall on the North Carolina coast on Friday morning with catastrophic consequences, and is forecast to pass extremely close to Tryon, in western North Carolina. Previously a category 4 hurricane, Florence has been downgraded to a tropical storm since reaching land, but is predicted to cause widespread and destructive rain and flooding.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

Two fences removed from WEG cross-country course due to weather conditions

Mark Phillips' World Equestrian Games cross-country track has been tweaked in deference to the extraordinary weather conditions

WEG eventing cross-country times: find out when the British and Irish riders start

Find out all the vital cross-country times for tomorrow at the World Equestrian Games, including starting times for the Brits

20-year-old horse put down after WEG endurance

The horse was pulled up and treated for kidney problems but the decision was later made to put him down

Saturday’s cross-country phase is due to begin at 11am (4pm UK time), with Britain currently lying in the silver medal position.

Earlier in the Games, Britain secured the team bronze medal in the dressage, with Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Freestyle going on to win individual bronze in the grand prix special on Friday, 14 September. As well as Charlotte, Carl Hester has also qualified for the freestyle riding Hawtins Delicato.

Britain has no reining competitors through to Saturday’s final.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September

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

A 20-year-old horse competing in the World Equestrian Games (WEG) Meydan-sponsored endurance has been put down, the FEI has confirmed.

Anglo-Arab gelding Barack Obama, ridden by New Zealand’s Jenny Champion, was transported back from the second loop of the 120km ride on Wednesday (12 September) and treated for kidney problems at Tryon International Equestrian Center.

He was later transferred to Tryon Equine Hospital but his owner Mark Round, after consultation with Jenny and vets, yesterday (14 September) decided to put the horse down.

Barack Obama had been competing in international endurance events for nine years and had 16 FEI event starts, including six 160-kilometre rides. Jenny Champion took over the ride on the horse in 2014 and together the partnership had won six times.

Equestrian Sport NZ high performance director Sarah Dalziell-Clout said the team was devastated by the loss.

“Jenny and her team prepared the horse exceptionally,” she said. “As with all New Zealand horses at WEG, Barack was under the best of care for more than 18 months prior to the Games to ensure he was at optimum health.

“He passed a comprehensive vet test prior to leaving NZ and was in good health leading into the race, passing the first two vet checks at the competition. Leading into the race the team vet Nick Page was confident the horse was race-ready.”

Mrs Dalziell-Clout said Jenny felt Barack was not right and pulled up immediately, well before the race was cancelled, to seek veterinary assistance.

“Our thoughts are with Mark, Jenny, Shane and John, Kirstine and the entire endurance community in NZ who will be devastated by the news,” she said, adding that the team thanked the on-site vets and those at the equine hospital for their “exceptional” care and advice.

In accordance with FEI rules, a post mortem will be conducted and samples taken from the horse.

 Cancellation reaction

IN a press conference at Tryon yesterday, FEI president Ingmar de Vos said an “immediate” investigation will be carried out into the misdirection of some riders that led to the endurance competition’s being restarted.

He said the subsequent cancellation of the ride was a “very difficult” decision to make, citing the riders’ and horses’ training and preparation for the event but adding that he understood competitors’ frustration.

“But officials have saved our sport,” he said. “They put horse welfare first and this is our priority. We saw scientific data coming in and clinical signs at vet gate, called an emergency meeting with the ground jury, technical delegate, vet and organisers; the decision to stop the ride was in the interests of our sport and welfare.”

An appeal lodged by the Spanish team was dealt with by a three-person committee, which upheld the ground jury’s decision that no medals will be presented.

Thomas Timmons, president of the endurance veterinary commission, said the heat and humidity and their effects on the horses made it “very clear it was time to stop the competition”.

“We knew full well what the consequences would be but welfare was number one [priority] without question,” he added.

“At the vet gate where the stop was put in place, more than 53 horses were having metabolic problems; conditions were extreme enough you have to consider the risk and the risk was not worth it.”

FEI vet director Goran Akerstrom added that 53 horses were treated in the vet clinic, 52 for metabolic issues. Of these, 32 needed intravenous fluids and two suffered minor colic but recovered quickly.

Continues below…

Chaotic early scenes during World Equestrian Games 160km endurance ride

An unprecedented decision has been made to re-start the ride due to competitors being directed the wrong way by officials

How to watch the 2018 World Equestrian Games on TV

If you’re not making the trip to Tryon for the World Equestrian Games and are worried about missing out on

WEG competition cancelled due to extreme weather

High humidity after heavy rain forced cancellation of the competition today

Saudi rider Tarek Taher said “multiple” mistakes were made and all involved must learn from them and “create a vision of what we have to do in future”. He said he was following an orange sign to the right during the ride and ignored the person, who “did not look like an FEI steward”, telling him to turn left.

“Why don’t we try to identify this guy?” he asked.

Mr De Vos answered: “I agree, we need to find solutions. We have already organised some conferences to have this communication and work together.”

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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