Dressage royalty’s pregnancy, Cheltenham and other things the horse world is talking about

1. Reigning Olympic champion reveals pregnancy

Reigning Olympic and European champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl stunned the world with her beautiful, harmonious dressage mare TSF Dalera BB at both major championships in 2021, wining Olympic and European gold. Jessica has now announced the exciting news that she is pregnant with her second child. This does potentially open the door for another rider to take this year’s championship title – Jessica says that competing at the 2022 dressage World Championships, which are to be held in Herning, Denmark from 5 to 14 August, will be “difficult, as the estimated date of birth is in August.” Huge congratulations Jessica!

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl exits the ring after her freestyle at the European Dressage Championships

Learn more about Jessica’s exciting news

2. Excitement builds for Cheltenham Festival

Excitement is building for Cheltenham Festival, and on The Horse & Hound Podcast Barry Geraghty explains why success at Cheltenham “means more than any other winner”. “Riding at the Festival is much more intense because this is what the whole season is about,” he says. “There’s a lot at stake, on a personal level for any jockey, because they want success – it means more than any other winner – so the intensity is different.” The jockey rode a string of big winners – including Bobs Worth, Sprinter Sacre and Moscow Flyer – in all four championship races – the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle and Stayers’ Hurdle.

Read more from Barry Geraghty

Barry Geraghty on Sprinter Sacre jumps the final fence on his way to winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2013

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Sarah Jenkins

H&H editor-in-chief

Sarah has more than 20 years experience as an equestrian journalist and editor. She has reported from major championships including the Europeans and the World Equestrian Games. She has co-written books on equestrianism including The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. Sarah has ridden since childhood, owned horses and ponies for over 25 years, and worked for and trained with Olympic gold medallist event rider Leslie Law prior to going to university.