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Previous Issue

SUMMER 2015
Scott
BRASH
Daniel
DEUSSER
talk World
Rankings
The
rise of
Olivier
Nicola
Philippaerts
and
Bertram
ALLEN
Madden
writes on
young success
Voorn
debate the
FUTURE
of our SPORT
LUCY, GEORGINA & JESSICA
the Next Generation
premiere issue
noellefloyd.com1
introducing
our PREMIERE ISSUE
Summer 2015
www.noellefloyd.com
in this issue
FEATURES
COVER
In PHOTOS
10
On Top of the World
56
To Have It All &
Strive For More
18
The 10 Expressions
of Luciana Diniz
Upon winning the Longines Global A Conversation with Scott Brash and Daniel Deusser
Davis | Bloomberg | Springsteen
FEI Ranked No. 1 & No. 2 riders Scott Three show jumpers of the millennial generation Champions Tour Grand Prix of
Brash and Daniel Deusser meet to discuss show that what they’re made of is more than some Madrid CSI5*
what it means to be the best in the world.
may think.
15
Lilie Keenan 2.0
54
Writing His Own Legend
In EVENTS
The journey to and joy of claiming victory in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen CSI5*
28
World Equestrian Festival
CHIO Aachen
MAINSTAYS
Longines Global Champions Tour
5
LETTER from the EDITOR
6
Summer CALENDAR
8
Q & A with
On Growing Up and
Moving Forward
One of the USA’s most decorated
junior riders and freshly minted young professionals examines the changes
that come with moving on to a new
30
phase in life.
20A Revolutionary
Character
Hamburg
La Baule
32
Jumping International
34
Brushing Shoulders with
the Architect of the Longines Global Champions Tour
Jan Tops is a difficult man to pin down, but it’s no small wonder given all he
coordinates within his empire. Get to 38
know one of the most influential figures
Madrid
in show jumping.
40
66
Up for Debate
42
John Madden and Albert Voorn offer two perspectives on the subject of proposed changes to the structure of international Shanghai
36Jumping Lummen
Great discussion begets great change. Albert Voorn and John Madden on Changing the Sport
competition.
2noellefloyd.com
SUMMER 2015 | issue 01
24An OPEN LETTER
Bertam Allen
48
STABLING with
Olivier and Nicola
Phillipearts
2015 Longines FEI
44
Saut Hermès Horse Show
Marcus Ehring
Antwerp
World Cup
Jumping Final
46
Miami
72
LAST WORDS
Francois Mathy Jr.
noellefloyd.com3
Letter from the Editor
behind the scenes
I started NoelleFloyd.com in
2012, one of my goals was to
one-day launch a magazine that would be in line with the future of equestrian sport
NOELLE FLOYD
and the richness of culture, intellect and character within show jumping. As someone
Executive Editor
beauty to a magazine created for the sport of show jumping. One does not need to
Noelle Floyd
be sacrificed for the other. Therefore, the mission of this magazine will be to embody the
who was brought up to appreciate the power of the written word as well as the impact of a captured moment, I believe that we can bring both intellect and visual
current state of mind within the sport of international show jumping, to resonate the
Features Editor
tone and temper of its participants, and to offer room for discussion and observation.
Erin Gilmore
We are amidst an interesting evolution. Never before has our sport had a more intense five-star calendar, more cutthroat competition or more global outreach. Many
Design Director
would say the sport changed in 2005, when Jan Tops initiated the Global Champions
Charlotte Falk
Tour. The GCT altered the course of the sport; riders are now able to compete in
locations as far reaching as Shanghai, China; Miami, Florida and Doha, Qatar.
Publisher
RR Donnelly
became the youngest rider to win a Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in 2013, it paved the way for her to represent
The GCT has also provided a platform for the current, and future Top 30 riders of the world. When Lucy Davis
the USA at a number of FEI Nations Cup events and subsequently go on to win Team Bronze at the Alltech FEI World
Cover Photographer
Grayson Hoffman
Equestrian Games last year.
Davis is among the riders who fall into the Millennial Generation – those born between the early 1980s to the
early 2000s. I designed our debut issue to focus on these next generation riders because we want the world to demand
Contributing Photographers
Stefano Grasso | Tiffany van Halle
more of our sport. We can and are evolving with the times, and no one is more motivated by this evolution than the
Millennial Generation of show jumpers. Sure, competition is more intense, demands on our riders are higher, horses
Michael van de Velde | Erin Gilmore
need to be faster and stronger than ever before – but this is what we’ve wanted all along.
Noelle Floyd
Nineteen year old Bertram Allen of Ireland, who writes in this issue of initiative and ambition as the utmost re-
quirements for those sought-after five-star invitations, finished 3rd in his debut appearance at this year’s Longines FEI
Contributing Writers
Noelle Floyd | Erin Gilmore
World Cup Final in Las Vegas, that after winning his debut World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix last winter in Verona, Italy.
Allen made some unmistakable statements over the last year to project his ambition and talent across country lines.
He’s come out a sensation, and yet his career has only just begun.
Hair and Make-up
Allen and Davis join fellow Millennials Jessica Springsteen, Georgina Bloomberg, Olivier and Nicola Philip-
Steven Hoeppner | Paola Orlando
paerts, Scott Brash, Daniel Deusser and Lillie Keenan in this issue as we examine what sets their generation apart.
Sonia Leal-Serafim
We also look to the future and the changes we face. The FEI’s John Madden and show jumping veteran Albert
Voorn discuss possible changes in show jumping’s evolution towards increased appeal to the masses and an assured
Additional Contributions
future in the Olympic Games. Do we wish to continue to change and evolve with the times or will we hold on to what
ABTP Agency | Michelle Falvey
makes show jumping the sport we know and love?
Gina Hole | They Bookings
ity to offer, and I for one have confidence that the increased intensity of these factors that make our sport tick, will
Samantha Moray | Hermès USA
produce some of the greatest moments we has ever seen. Let this generation show us what they’re made of and make
Sacha Floyd | Floyd Media
The Millennial Generation is facing some of the greatest opportunities that show jumping has ever had the abil-
the statements they wish to make. History is fascinating, but the future is compelling.
Noelle Floyd
4noellefloyd.com
noellefloyd.com5
June 3rd – July 13th
June 25th - 28th
June 25th - 27th
July 3rd - 5th
July 9th - 12th
SPRUCE MEADOWS Summer Series
KNOKKE HIPPIQUE CSI5*
Furiisiyya FEI Nations Cup
In association with Rolex, the long-standing
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Knokke, Belgium
Paris, France
Falsterbo, Sweden
Spruce Meadows Summer series offers five
The magical backdrop of Port d’Hercule and
Following the success of last year’s Stephex
The halfway point and 8th leg of the 2015
The third season of the Furusiyya FEI Na-
weeks of international competition in the
the Prince’s Palace in Monaco will once again
Masters in Belgium, CEO of Stephex Group,
Longines Global Champions Tour season will
tions Cup™ Jumping series is filled with so
Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta. Many
be the spectacular venue for the 7th round of the
Stephan Conter, will host a brand-new, high-
be hosted by Paris for the 2nd consecutive
much promise. Falsterbo is the sixth Nations
riders from all over the world will flock to
Longines Global Champions Tour. This three-
ly anticipated five-star event in Knokke, Bel-
year. The Longines Global Champions Tour
Cup event of the European Division 1 series.
Spruce Meadows to start their summer sea-
day feast of world-class show jumping held directly
gium, named Knokke Hippique. This five-
- Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping will offer all
Falsterbo Horse Show comes with plenty of
son. The five weeks in Canada offers riders
alongside the famous harbor of Monte-Carlo will
star event, in the heart of Belgium, will offer
sorts of French style amidst the heart of the
history. The first horse show was held in 1920
plenty of opportunity to climb up the World
deliver fantastic entertainment for all. Often at-
a perfect combination of Belgian charm,
City of Lights. The show is locates at the top
and the first show jumping derby was held
Rankings, and over $6 million in prize mon-
tended by one or more members of the Royal
European efficiency and that terrific Stephex
of the Champ de Mars, the beautiful greens-
in 1969, giving Falsterbo a cult-like following
ey to be won during the 2015 season alone.
Family, LGCT Monaco always proves to be one
hospitality.
pace located in the seventh arrondissement,
with an incredibly passionate and informed
of the most talked-about society events of the
between the Eiffel Tower to the northwest
Swedish following. Falsterbo is certainly an
international show jumping calendar.
and the École Militaire to the southeast.
event well worth attending.
Calgary, Canada
MONACO
Presented By Stephex
PARIS
FALSTERBO
what’s on:
SUMMER
2015
July 16th - 19th
July 22nd - 26th
July 23rd - 25th
August 19th - 23rd
August 13th - 16th
T
Ocean this year only continue to grow.
The Longines Global Champions Tour is back
style competition for athletes from all na-
The city of London will host the 11 round
Valkenswaard, the spiritual home of Jan
Championships in five equestrian disciplines
The sport of show jumping will arrive in
on French ground in the elegant town of
tions of the Americas. They are conducted
of the 2015 Longines Global Champions
Tops’ Global Champions Tour, is always a
will be carried out at one venue. Forty-four
some of the most exclusive and exciting
th
Chantilly, just outside of Paris. Host of the 10
every four years, always one year before
Tour. One of the most visited cities on the
favorite with riders, owners and sponsors
years after the first European Jumping Cham-
locations around the world including
leg of the Tour, Chantilly is famous for its im-
the Olympic Games. The first edition of the
planet, London played host to the Tour for
alike. Living legend Ludger Beerbaum says
pionships in 1971 and 33 years after the first
Monte Carlo, Paris, and London. In July,
pressive, beautiful château that serves as the
Pan American Games was held in 1951, in
the first time in 2013 and the Grand Prix has
it’s his favorite show of the season, and this
European Dressage Championships in 1983,
many of North America’s best riders
backdrop to the competition arena, its pre-
Buenos Aires. Equestrian sports first made
since been dominated by Britain’s very own
year, Stal Tops’ private equestrian estate will
the continent’s best equestrian athletes will
will be venturing to Toronto, Canada
mier racetrack and, of course, Chantilly cream.
an appearance at the Pan American Games
Ben Maher and Scott Brash. Last year the
host the 12 round of the Tour. The superb
travel to Aachen, Germany in August of this
for the Pan American Games while
But it is Chantilly’s reputation as France’s
in 1951. This year’s Pan American Games
event took place at the iconic Horse Guards
facility, located in the region of Northern
year. With an incredible equestrian history
Europe’s top-ranked riders will travel
‘Capital of the Horse’ that makes it the perfect
will take place in Toronto, Canada. Ian Mil-
Parade, right under the balcony of Prime Min-
Brabant, will premiere a new, multi-million
dating back to 1924, Aachen is regarded as
to Aachen, Germany for the much-
venue for this Longines Global Champions
lar, also known as “Captain Canada,” will
ister David Cameron’s office. This summer, the
Euro stadium during this year’s GCT event in
a mecca within the sport of show jumping.
anticipated European Championships
Tour event. Known for its hot summer tem-
be looking to add to his historic record in
Tour moves to a new location in London’s Syon
Valkenswaard, and is sure to impress every-
The location holds a richness of history that
this August.
peratures during this time of year, Chantilly is
the sport this year of nine previous Pan Am
Park along the River Thames.
one within the sport.
cannot be matched anywhere in the world.
a spectacle of sport amidst some of France’s
medals (including two gold) – more than
Watching European’s very best battle it out
richest history.
any show jumping athlete, ever.
in August should be on everyone’s list.
he collection of five-star show
jumping events taking place
on both sides of the Atlantic
2015 PAN AMERICAN GAMES
FEI EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Chantilly, France
The Pan American Games are an Olympic-
London, United Kingdom
Valkenswaard, Netherlands
For the first time ever, the FEI European
CHANTILLY
Toronto, Canada
LONDON
th
VALKENSWAARD
th
Aachen, Germany
with
Marcus Ehning on the shifting
landscape of the FEI’s World Rankings.
Marcus
Ehning
T
here is no rider as familiar with the World No.1 FEI ranking
at the time gave me an unbelievable season. Also, at that time
position as rider Marcus Ehning. From 2005 to 2006, the Ger-
we didn’t have as many shows that offered a lot of ranking
important, and maybe more important to also stay in the top
man star reigned over the sport of show jumping – setting a
points, so I didn’t have to go [to a show] every week to main-
30, because of the Global Champions Tour. I think that makes
record that still stands for most consecutive months as the No.
tain the ranking.
things a bit more interesting.
1 show jumping rider in the world.
I won’t say that it’s harder now, but it is different. There are
His string of horses at that time – For Pleasure, Sandro Boy,
more shows now, with more chances to get points. When I was
Giania and Noble Savage H – were untouchable, as were
No. 1, I didn’t go to all the really big shows. Back then, I could
the spectacularly consistent results he logged during the 18
stay at home a few weeks each month and still be number four
months that he held the World No. 1 position.
or five in the world. Now, I’m on that same schedule and in
Ehning, who achieved his record with a “less is more” atti-
April of this year I was ranked World No. 13.
tude, discusses the current world rankings format, how things
“I didn’t have to go
[to a show] every week to
maintain the ranking.”
have changed in the last ten years, and why he has never got-
Q: As a German, you must have been proud to see countryman
Q: Do Europeans have a slight advantage in World Rankings
ten caught up in the rankings race:
Daniel Deusser capture the World No. 1 ranking. In your opinion,
over North Americans because there is a stronger Nations Cup
what are Daniel’s best strengths as a rider?
circuit in Western Europe?
Q: Do you arrange your season with the world rankings in
A: Yeah for sure I am proud. I congratulated him straight away
A: No, for sure not. In Wellington, Florida and Calgary, Canada
mind?
[when the April rankings were announced], and for me he is
you have really amazing shows that offer a lot of points. And
A: No, not at all. There so many shows you can go to, that for
also like Scott Brash, they are both really amazing riders and
you can also see in the rankings they are moving up.
me going to all of them just for ranking points would be too
they both deserve to be number one.
But, what does make it harder in North America is the cost.
much, for myself and also for my horses. It’s why I just try to
Daniel is a very competitive rider – he can ride nearly every
If you are Top 30 in the world and you go to the Global [GCT]
make a good plan for the horses, so that they have a few good
horse. You can see it in the horses he has: a lot of different
shows, you don’t have to pay the entry fees, and everything
shows with rest in between, with not too much traveling. That
types of horses and he handles each one brilliantly. He’s a re-
is free for us. But if you go to Wellington or Calgary you have
is how I organize my season.
ally complete rider.
to pay huge amounts of money in entries, and for me, that
It also depends a bit on each particular horse’s talents, but
8noellefloyd.com
The focus used to be more on the top ten, but now, it is just as
makes it not the same quality of competition. It is the way
for me, I planned the first half of this season with fewer big
Q: Would you change anything about the World Ranking format,
those North American shows are structured that hold riders
shows because I have a couple of horses at the moment that
if you could?
back more than how many there are.
I want to bring up through the levels. And I have my family at
A: One thing I would like to see would be that the really good
I think it would be better, and fairer if you would take the
home, so I don’t like being away at a show every single week.
grand prix classes count for more ranking points. Or for ex-
entry fees off the prize money, and then give better ranking
ample if you have a big 1.50m, to have it count a bit more for
points for that show. We have a rule in Europe with the five
Q: You hold the record for most consecutive months at World No.
the money you get.
star shows; instead of giving more prize money everything is
1. What were the factors that allowed for that?
If you look at the world rankings now, there are more
paid for the Top 30 riders. Doing it that way makes sense for
A: First of all, I had a couple of really, really good horses, who
changes among the list, even more so than in the last year.
everybody. It makes for better sport.
noellefloyd.com9
Daniel Deusser (right) wore
the Longines No. 1 armband for
the month of April
On
Top
of the
World:
I
It was beginning to seem that
statuses on the world ranking list with
switch up was still new, when it seemed
Great Britain’s Scott Brash would
natural ability, a small, talented group
that anything could happen, the two
of horses and committed supporters.
top riders took the time to meet in Par-
break, or at least match, the re-
cord for most consecutive months as
10noellefloyd.com
Scott Brash
and Daniel Deusser
a conversation with
They are also friendly with each oth-
is, discuss the jostling for world rank-
the FEI World Number One ranked
er, interacting more as colleagues than
ings, what it means to be the best, and
show jumping rider. He’d held the slot
as rivals; if anything the difference that
what it takes to gain –and keep– such
for well over a year, reigning supreme
now separates the best two riders in the
an achievement:
with the help of a stellar, consistent
world is cause for friendly competition.
string of top horses. But when updat-
During the second week of April,
Q: Scott, you held the number one
ed Longines FEI Jumping Rankings
the Longines number one armband
Longines FEI world ranking for 16 months,
for March were released in early April,
made its first – albeit brief – appearance
just two months short of matching the re-
Brash’s standing had been usurped
on Deusser’s hunt coat at the Saut Her-
cord of 18 months. What were you thinking
, when the new rankings were announced?
by German rider Daniel Deusser, ef-
mès CSI5* horse show held in the center
fectively breaking the Scottish rider’s
of Paris, France, where Brash was also
16-month streak at the top of the world.
competing. Deusser would be best in
for a long period of time. It’s a bit of a
Both riders are young, hardwork-
the world for just one month before
shame that I didn’t get the record, but it’s
ing horsemen who began their profes-
Brash’s results relieved Deusser of his
tough to stay there for all that time.
sional careers early on and gained their
brief hold on World No. 1. But when the
Scott Brash: Yeah, it was nice to be there
noellefloyd.com11
Q: And Daniel, upon reaching the World No. 1 ranking for
SB: Sanctos was unbelievable, but to be fair you need other
DD: If you plan your shows, you don’t really consider the
the first time in your life, how did it feel? horses as well, you can’t [be world number one] with just one
world ranking. You’re trying to go to the best shows with the
Daniel Deusser: Like Scott said, to achieve it is really really
horse. Every horse plays its part and contributes to you be-
best prize money. If you see a chance to be number one, one
nice and it’s something you can look back to. I’ll say it was not
ing there and staying there.
time, maybe you try to win one more class which you nor-
really a goal in my career to be number one, but the closer
mally wouldn’t try to win. But I would say that in planning for
you come to it, you start to say ‘oh, maybe I can do it’, and
Q: Daniel, you’re in a position, like Scott, where you have one
the more you want to try for it.
particularly strong horse over the rest of your string. How big
the whole season it doesn’t affect it so much.
Q: Scott, you were able to maintain the top position in the
of a role does Cornet play in your new position as World No.1?
Q: Marcus Ehning holds the record for the most number of
consecutive months at World No.1. What would it take for
one of you to meet or overtake that record?
SB: I think it’s very, very hard. Like Daniel said, when you’re
not close to it you don’t even think about it, and when you’re
close to it you start thinking about it. It’s very hard to stay
there for that period of time.
DD: I’m not thinking about the record, and after what Scott
has won lately, I’ll probably end up down the ranking again!
“When I first started, I
had loads of horses, and
now I only have 10 in my
yard, with two of them
being young horses. I like
it far better, I think you
can manage them better
and spend more time
with them.”
DD: Cornet is the best horse in my stable, and has been for
two and a half years already. If you look back the biggest
results I had, the biggest classes, they were with Cornet. But
you cannot ride the same horses every weekend, so just like
Scott, it’s thanks to the other horses that I am number one.
But without Cornet, to be even in the top 20 would not have
Deusser (left)
been possible.
and Brash in Paris
Q: Scott, how do you feel about the World Rankings versus
DD: Maybe I try to win one more class at the show that I
winning a Grand Prix?
wouldn’t have done usually to try to be number one. A cou-
SB: To achieve [the number one ranking] it’s a really nice feeling,
ple of months ago, when I saw there was a chance to be num-
to be number one in your sport. It’s more lasting than winning one
ber one, I wanted to try to do it.
grand prix. It’s just a wonderful thing to look back on your career
and say ‘you know, at one time I was number one in the sport.’ So
Q: Scott, does it go without saying that Hello Sanctos was
I think it’s a great achievement, but it’s not like you get paid any
the major contributing factor to your ranking?
more money or anything like that for being number one!
world with a smaller selection of top horses than some other
riders, how is that?
SB: When I first started, I had loads of horses, and now I only
have 10 in my yard, with two of them being young horses. I
like it far better, I think you can manage them better and
Daniel Deusser
& Cornet d’Amour
spend more time with them. For me I prefer [having less
horses], I think you do a better job at it with each horse.
Q: Your success over the last 16 months would suggest that
Q: When you organize your season, do you have the world
if you have one incredible horse, you can do great things, do
rankings in mind?
you believe that?
SB: No I don’t think you can get that caught up in it. I think
SB: Sanctos makes my life pretty easy. He’s so clever; I think
to get there, everyone wants it, but then you just have to
that’s what makes him such a great horse. His ring craft is just
look after your horses and try and stay consistent. Everyone
amazing, and now he just totally understands what I want.
wants to be at the top end of their sport at some point in
He just understands everything. I must agree that Sanctos is
their careers.
very credible to that ranking.
“Within the ranking there
are so many good riders.
Everyone is capable of
winning a five star grand
prix, if they have a good
horse, and if they have a
couple good horses, they
also could be number one,
one day.”
12noellefloyd.com
Scott Brash &
Sanctos
Q: Daniel, just under three years ago, when you started with
DD: Yes, and in the top 5, maybe even more, top 7, 8, 9, I
Stephex Stables, you were ranked 73rd in the world. What fac-
don’t know how close they are now, but when you talk about
tors would you say were crucial to your ascent to number one?
Scott and I, maybe if we both have one down tomorrow and
DD: One of the reasons I went to work with Stephex Stables
Ludger wins the class tomorrow, maybe next month he’s
was to have the horses to compete on at the top level. At the
number one. If you talk about results, sometimes it’s just half
beginning, it took nearly a year before I tried all the horses,
a second slower or faster to win. Now I think I am just 30
rode a lot of young horses, and built up some young horses
points ahead of Scott, but it’s really really close.
and jumped some two star and three star shows. So for a
while, I was between the 30th and 50th place in the rank-
Q: Do you think there are some great riders whose world
ing. But really, in the last six months I had a couple of very
ranking position does not reflect their abilities? If so, who
good horses, horses that could really jump the big grand prix
and why?
classes. That was crucial.
Q: What do your goals look like for the
rest of the 2015 season?
DD: We have the European Championships in Aachen, and as a German it’s a
show that is very important to me. The
Rolex Grand Prix is one of the best grand
prixs in the world so that is a big goal.
SB: For me as well, Aachen is very, very
important for me. My initial plan for the
European championships was to take
Ursula, but she’s not going to be available. To be honest Aachen is the only
ring where Sanctos has felt uncomfortable, so he wasn’t my first choice for it.
But we’re going to go to the show in
May, because it’s very important for me
as a contender for the Rolex Grand Slam,
so we’ll go there and see how comfortable I can get in the ring.
Q: You see riders ascend, like you did, quickly through the
SB: Oh absolutely. I think there are many people who can
Top 100 and into the Top 50, but once you break the Top 20, it
be number one that haven’t been number one yet. There
is much harder to move into the Top 10 and Top 5. Why is that?
are so many talented riders. You need the horses, you need
SB: You have to have a fantastic team behind you, not just a
the backing, you need so many things to be right.
fantastic team of horses but your grooms, your blacksmiths
DD: It’s difficult to not forget one rider because if you see
and your vets, they all play a massive part. And then, you
within the ranking there are so many good riders. Everyone
have to be consistent. And then, nothing can go wrong!
is capable of winning a five star grand prix, if they have a
You cannot have anyone getting hurt so it’s very, very tough.
good horse, and if they have a couple good horses, they also
It’s the horses that keep you at the top end of the sport,
could be number one, one day.
without them, you’re nowhere.
14noellefloyd.com
LILIE
Keenan
2.0
How one of the USA’s brightest
junior stars is approaching
the next step of her riding career.
by Erin Gilmore
M
ost professionals twice her age can’t match
come under O’Connor’s eye. She’s determined to change the
lows. Keenan already knows the horse show commute well
the composure that lies behind Lillie Keenan’s
way she approaches the sport of show jumping. “I want to try to
from a long junior career of commuting from former trainer
sky blue eyes. The 18-year-old, decorated
get some new ideas from a European program,”Keenan ex-
Dignelli’s New York farm, and up and down the eastern sea-
junior rider is well aware of the precipice that
plains. “I think I will end up sacrificing a bit of the school experi-
board to Wellington, FL each winter.
she sits on - that of leaving one stage of her life behind for
ence because I know this is what I want to do, and I don’t want
O’Connor’s summer and fall base is sizably farther away than
another. As this self-described “professional young rider” is
to fall too much behind. But I’m lucky that this fall, I will be able
New York –a literal ocean away– but Keenan is looking for-
beginning to know, big changes can and will accompany her
to take my time to concentrate on school.”
ward to using that distance to her advantage. She’ll train with
“When she left her junior
career behind, she left endless
catch rides, the certainty of the
equitation and medal divisions,
and the direction of others.”
O’Connor all summer, and concentrate on being a university
mer in the grand prix ring.
“Keenan doesn’t
miss a chance to
emphasize how
greatly her success
is due to Dignelli’s
influence.”
Another big announcement
Long Term Advantage
soon followed – after a dozen
years in training with her mentor
Andre Dignelli and his team at
move into freshman dorms at
Heritage Farm in Katonah, NY,
Harvard University at the end
A Vote of Confidence
news broke in May that Keenan
of August. She turned profes-
Hermès approached Keenan to become an official partner
would be transitioning to Eu-
sional almost immediately after
rider in 2013. It was a vote of confidence that would humble a
A Steady Eye
rope for the summer, to train
her 18th birthday last Octo-
rider of any age, and for Keenan, it proved to be an important
Keenan is well aware that with every change, comes new op-
with Ireland’s Cian O’Connor.
ber. With four years of college
first step in her path to becoming a successful professional.
portunity. When she left her junior career behind, she left end-
The Olympic bronze medalist
ahead of her, some questioned
“To start a partnership like that, especially from such a
less catch rides, the certainty of the equitation and medal divi-
why she didn’t choose to stay an
young age, that I would be honored to keep as long as I’m
sions, and the direction of others. Taking responsibility for her
amateur for a few more years.
riding, which is going to be basically for the rest of my life,
own schedule and priorities is a critical skill if she hopes to suc-
“If I had waited until after
was an incredible experience,” she says. “To have the support
ceed at the top level one day. For a perspective change, she
college to [go professional], it
of a brand such as Hermès is about a lot more than just the
spent the winter shadowing Kent Farrington –a master at multi-
would have changed the way
equipment offered. You feel like you’re representing more than
tasking and tight scheduling– at the Winter Equestrian Festival.
ascent beyond the junior ranks.
In a much-publicized April
sale, Keenan’s top grand prix
mount Pumped Up Kicks went
to fellow young rider Jennifer
Gates; the right move for both
parties, even if it did alter Keenan’s immediate plans of a sum-
“Big changes can
and will accompany
her ascent beyond
the junior ranks.”
student during the fall, before meeting up with him on a more
regular basis next winter.
Challenges like that roll off Keenan’s back. In the last year
“My partnership with Hermès, it’s really a partnership work-
she has grown up, carrying herself with more confidence and
ing back and forth trying to develop products and do what’s
the assurance of someone who’s grown up with a strong foun-
best for the horse,” Keenan details. “Every time that I have
dation underneath her feet.
feedback or input on what I want or what’s best for my horses,
It doesn’t hurt that Keenan is relaxing in Paris, France at the
it’s received so well [by them]. That’s invaluable.”
Saut Hermès CSI5* horse show when we talk. She’s quite liter-
Attending Saut Hermès is also invaluable for Keenan, who
ally in the house of those who were her earliest supporters; the
was invited by the fashion house to attend as a partner rider.
Keenan is ready to roll with the
fashion house was her first formal sponsor, back when she was
However, with her top horse no longer available, this year she
big changes as she prepares to
too young to even call them a sponsor.
found herself in Paris as a spectator only. While there are upsides to a weekend off, it’s clear that Keenan is itching to compete at Saut Hermès one day.
I was perceived, and the way I
just yourself. To know that a brand believes in you, especially
“Really, I want to be Kent Farrington – I don’t want to be that
is based in Germany and Ireland in the warmer months, and
approached the sport,” Keenan explains. “Of course while I’m
one that is so important to the sport, that brings a lot of confi-
client, I want to be him,” Keenan emphasizes. “So to be able
competes from Wellington, Florida during the winter.
in school, it has to be a bit amateurized, I can’t be with the
dence.”
to shadow him and learn from him was – awesome. He’s the
As for what she’s leaving behind, Keenan considers the Heri-
horses every single day. But I’d like to at least in the meantime
Other sponsors soon followed; Keenan can now count Kath-
person that really taught me, you pick your next big event, and
tage Farm team as close as family, and credits her entire career
try to start changing the way I approach the sport. Because
erine Cosmetics, Ogilvy Equestrian, Fabbri Boots, EquiFit Inc.
you work backwards from there.”
thus far to their guidance. Dignelli was by her side the first time
eventually, I want to do this on my own.”
and Samshield America among her official supporters.
So then, what’s Keenan’s next big event? She can’t say. She’s
she competed in the pony divisions, during her first grand prix
In that respect, Keenan looks at her upcoming college edu-
She’s become a poised, positive face for all, and approaches
on the hunt for a new horse, and has two up and coming jump-
win, and at her first Nations Cup appearance. Keenly aware
cation as a long-term advantage, even if it will be difficult to
her partnership with Hermès with reverence. As evidenced by
ers that she’s putting her faith and effort into at the moment.
of how rare that kind of longevity is, Keenan doesn’t miss a
balance in the short term. “For the challenges that I’ll face in
the five-star horse show organized and thoroughly branded
She’s getting to know a brand new training program. She can’t
chance to emphasize how greatly her success is due to Dignel-
the future, I think it will be worth it,” she says.
by the fashion house, Hermès doesn’t do anything casually,
quite predict what’s around the corner, but whatever comes her
li’s influence.
Her new home in Boston, Massachusetts will remove her
and the quality of everything they produce – from saddles to a
way, she’s ready to meet it head on with the steady eye of a
That said – she’s looking forward to the new lessons that will
from the daily interactions that having her horses close by al-
competition venue, is above and beyond the norm.
professional.
16noellefloyd.com
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10
the
Expressions
1
3
Luciana
of
Diniz
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Capturing the joy, concentration,
and celebration of Portugal's
Luciana Diniz when she won the
Longines Global Champions
Tour of Madrid with Winningmood
on May 2nd, Madrid, Spain.
18noellefloyd.com
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2
From left: Jan Tops, Bassem Hassem
Muhammad and Sheiki Ali bin Khalid Al Thani of
Qatar, and Edwina Tops Alexander of Australia.
A Revolutionary Character
Brushing shoulders
with the architect of
the Longines Global
Champions Tour
by Erin Gilmore
Weaving in and out of a horse show crowd means
brushing past all kinds of characters. There are the
slow moving couples, the ticket takers, the mothers
pushing strollers, the men and women clad in white
breeches who are always accompanied by their own
small entourage.
Omnipresent among the crush of people gathered
at a show on any given weekend around the globe is
a brown-haired man of average height. His round features and ordinary puff jacket paired with plain slacks
don’t give him away as a person of any special influence. More often than not, his eyes are half-hidden
behind a pair of modest aviator sunglasses, and his
phone is pressed to his ear or at the ready in his hand.
20noellefloyd.com
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Tops presides over award
proceedings at LGCT Madrid
“It became clear to me that a revolution
lored for the very wealthy, or very talented.
many straight from China and leaving a
he incorporated several of the key ele-
saw the debut edition of the Longines
was needed on a number of levels,” Tops
press conference early to catch a flight to
ments necessary to build a globally-suc-
Global Champions Tour Miami Beach in
says. “It was vital to ensure this fantastic
Italy – all within the space of three weeks.
cessful sports platform – the highest level
the US in April. The event was a remark-
Olympic sport was given a very ambi-
Consequently, he is a difficult man to pin
of competition in the sport, the world’s
able success, and showed that Tops and
tious turbo charge to ensure it did not rely
down. It doesn’t help that’s he’s a classic
top riders and horses, the most attractive
the GCT are more than keeping pace.
solely on its traditional model, but moved
overachiever – as if running a five star, $12
and intriguing venues on the planet, and
They are leading the charge.
confidently into a new era.”
million show jumping tour wasn’t enough
a certain style and flair that is universally
And let’s not forget about the strength
attractive,” McCourt shared.
of sponsor support. Watch brand Longines
It worked, and the Global Champions
to keep him busy, Tops also serves as
Tour is now so dominant on the interna-
coach to the Qatari Equestrian Team, and
became Title Partner and Official Time-
tional calendar that nearly to a one, the
to his wife, internationally-ranked Austra-
Keeping Pace
keeper of the GCT in 2013. In its pursuit
FEI-ranked World Top 30 riders plan their
lian show jumper Edwina Tops Alexander.
McCourt famously bought the Los Ange-
to attach its brand name to every area it
schedules around its various stops in 13
While he’s not the type to stand out at
les Dodgers when the franchise was op-
can reach in the international show jump-
countries around the world from April
a crowded horse show, it’s a safe bet that
erating at a loss, and sold it for a record
ing world, Tops welcomed the sweeping
through November. From a pier in Mona-
if you can spot the maroon hunt coat of a
$2.15 billion in 2012. That he saw such po-
commitment that Longines made to the
co, Monte Carlo to a city street in Vienna,
Team Qatar rider in a warmup ring, Tops is
tential in the sport of show jumping to buy
GCT. Could such a partnership cause a hit
Austria, the Global Champions Tour has
somewhere nearby. Despite the low pro-
half of the GCT can be credited in part to
to the sport if Longines one day elects to
made unique locations its calling card –
file figure that he keeps, the high stakes
Tops. McCourt is now an advocate for the
ramp down its support? It’s an idea that
the more exotic, the better. In 2014, after
plates he is responsible for spinning
sport, and believes that “over time, a rap-
makes some people nervous, but Tops is
years of behind the scenes negotiation,
means that he is never simply sitting idle.
idly-growing global show jumping com-
quick to confidently dismiss it.
Tops debuted a Global Champions Tour
When he taps a message into his
munity will translate into new and exciting
“Longines had a very clear strategy
stop in Shanghai, China. Opening the
phone while he’s waiting for his riders to
opportunities for owners, riders, trainers,
when it came to equestrian sport and un-
Chinese border to horses from overseas
arrive in the warmup, he could very well
grooms, event organizers, equestrian
derstanding the values of our sport,” he
was a feat that not even the 2008 Beijing
be orchestrating a high-stakes horse sale.
product manufacturers and retailers, and
says. “We are fortunate to have a partner
Olympic Committee had been able to
In 2013, he purchased the gelding Pallou-
so on.”
with such extraordinary commitment and
achieve.
bet d’Halong for $15 million, in what is still
Tops looks for partnerships like this,
passion for show jumping and equestrian-
“When we add a stop like Shanghai,
thought to be the most expensive pur-
that will benefit everyone on the pyramid
ism in general. It has been very rewarding
where it is necessary to fly horses to the
chase of a show jumping horse in history
from the high-dollar investors, to the ca-
to grow the Tour over the past couple of
event, then very great care is taken with
(initially believed to be a mount for Tops’
sual observer who comes upon a GCT
years with such a strong Title Partner.”
the schedule and the facilities and the
wife, Palloubet d’Halong is currently rid-
show by happenstance, and is able to
Strength. Confidence. Tops may be
But if you brush shoulders with Jan Tops,
They would attract the top riders in the
horses all travel in double stalls,” Tops ex-
den by Qatari rider Bassem Hassan Mo-
take a free seat in grandstands that are
able to move along the pathways of his
whether on purpose or simply in the pass-
world to compete in exotic locations that
plains. “We received tremendous appre-
hammed.)
open to the public.
own horse shows without causing a stir,
ing of a crowd, you’ve been closer than
had never seen a hoofprint before. They
ciation last year for our debut in Shanghai
Or, he could be answering an email
“It is essential to keep pace with the
but it doesn’t take long to realize that he
most are able to get to a man who is re-
would offer unbelievable prize money,
for the way the horse flights were handled,
from his business partner as he works on
dramatic changes in international sport
does stand out. He carries himself with
garded by so many as show jumping’s
welcome new fans to the sport, and be
the riders said the horses were in terrific
growing the Global Champions Tour. Last
that we have all witnessed over recent
the confidence of someone who knows
modern-day revolutionary figure.
broadcast into homes around the world.
shape on arrival. It is also important that
year, Tops partnered with baseball bil-
times,” Tops says. “[Those sports] in-
he has changed the world around him.
we try to bring the sport to city centres
lionaire and American investor Frank Mc-
spired my vision to take show jumping to a
The New Era
Behind those dark sunglasses, his convic-
and sites that might not have a tradition
Court, who purchased a 50 percent inter-
whole new level, to deliver show jumping
tion to his own path is total, and no one
After all, Tops can claim credit for attracting that crowd you must navigate
through, if you’re currently attending any
In 2005, this notion did indeed come off
with our sport, so that we continue to try
est in the GCT. Initially introduced to show
without frontiers.”
gets in his way. The throng of people may
one of the 15 Longines Global Champions
as outlandish, but Tops, who had retired
to grow interest in show jumping.”
jumping by his fiancé Monica Algarra, Mc-
While Tops remains thin-lipped on con-
not even realize why, but they step aside
Tour competitions. A decade ago, Tops
from his own epic career as an internation-
Tops is always sure to make an appear-
Court soon saw the business potential in
firmation of such, it is believed that with
when he approaches and part ways as
came up with what seemed like a fanta-
al show jumper for his native Holland, saw
ance at each Global Champions Tour stop,
the sport’s future, and became an engag-
McCourt’s partnership, the GCT will add
he passes, allowing him to move without
sy plan: to offer a months-long circuit of
his vision with crystal clear determination.
even if that means scheduling meetings
ing ally for Tops.
even more locations in coming seasons,
pause through the crowd.
show jumping competitions custom-tai-
The Global Champions Tour was born.
during his show in Madrid, arriving in Ger-
“When Jan created GCT a decade ago
including more US-based stops. This year
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An Open Letter
Bertram Allen
This time last year,
I couldn’t get into most five star shows.
It wasn’t so much my age; in fact, I don’t think age has much to do with it. If you’re 19 years old, or 50 years
old, and you’re just coming on with the horse you need, it’s still going to be hard to get to the top of the
sport.
Getting to the top depends on a lot of things really, you have to find the owners, and the right horses,
and then you have to try your best to get into the top shows – that can be the most difficult bit. You really
have to push and talk and ask. Sometimes, when someone is young and they really push, they will meet a
show organizer or two who like to give young riders a chance. But to get there, you have to do quite a bit
more than just send in the entry. You have to make contact with them yourself, and when you’re there, you
have to make an effort to meet them.
I wouldn’t say that I have the biggest personality in the world, but I had the drive to go in and get it
done. But really, it wasn’t until I competed on my first senior Nations Cup team for Ireland, at Llumen in
May 2014, that it got easier for me to enter five star shows.
During my first year in the two stars, I just had a couple horses. We spent a year or a bit more just
doing your normal, two star shows. Then slowly, the two stars started to give way to more three stars. Then
I got a win in a speed class at a five star, and four months later the same organizers gave me a chance at
their next show, another five star. I know I did it in as short a time as possible, but I still believe that there’s
no real shortcut to it. You definitely have to have the right horses, but you also have to go out and do it
yourself.
And by that I mean really going out by yourself – not only the riding and training, but the manage-
ment of your own yard and the networking with people. I’m very lucky I have Marcus Ehning giving me a
bit of help, and Billy Twomey early on, but I don’t think you can rely on the trainer too much if you want to
be thoroughly successful.
Sure, maybe some riders wouldn’t get as far as they have without somebody telling them what to do
all the time, and you can get to some level with someone telling you what to do, but then you have to go
on past that a bit to be truly successful.
With I left Ireland I’d just turned 16, and I was just going out to Germany for a few months. And as
things grew we just stayed on, my really good groom Marlene, and later my sister came to help. Now I
have a full yard and every week there’s something – something wrong with this horse or that one, something not as it should be, but you just have to adapt and find a way to keep going. The importance of
being involved and doing the work yourself only gets more important, not less.
To get into the top ten is something special no matter what age you are. But to be really good you
have to stay up there for years, and that’s what I’m trying to do.
Bertram Allen
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In EVENTS
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Aachen, Germany · May 29th to 31st
Marlon Módolo
Zanotelli
Awaiting the FEI jog
David Will &
Mic Mac Du Tillard
The 2015 CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival ended with a
dramatic, history-making finish when Scott Brash of Great Britain
World Equestrian Festival
won the €1 Million Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen with Hello Sanctos.
CHIO AACHEN
In doing so he became the first-ever rider to win two legs of the
Rolex Grand Slam in succession.
André Thieme
Jump & Drive
action
Scott Brash celebrates the win
Bertram Allen & Team Boyd Excell
Bertram Allen wins
with Quiet Easy
Daniel Deusser comes
out of the ring
Scott Brash
Scott Brash celebrates the win
Simone Delestre &
Ryan des Hayettes
Brash & Sanctos
Daniel Deusser &
Cornet d’Amour
Jur Vrieling & VDL Zirocco Blue
German
meeting
Ludger Beerbaum
checks the last
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Hamburg, Germany · May 14th to 17th
Kent Farrington
& Voyeur
Yuri Mansur
Guerios of Brazil
How to make an entrance
Amid the atmosphere of old Germany, in a region lauded for its
Hamburg
rich history in equestrian sport, the Longines Global Champions
Tour of Hamburg combined with the famous Hamburg Derby for a
weekend of top show jumping. The USA’s Kent Farrington stormed
Hamburg with several wins, including the LGCT Grand Prix.
Signs point the way
Philipp Weishaupt &
Lucky Luke O
Riders from over 20 countries
competed at Hamburg
Michael Duffy of Ireland
Warming up
Checking out the 1.50 m
single pole vertical
30noellefloyd.com
Italy’s Emanuele
Gaudiano &
Caspar 232
Great Britain’s
David McPherson
down the derby slide
Lauren Hough
& Ohlala
Pius Schwizer
A show of horsemanship
The Hamburg Derby trophy
Kent Farrington celebrates
his big win
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La Baule, France · May 14th to 17th
Steve Guerdat &
Nino des Buissonnets
Joe Clee
Top 3 in the Grand Prix
of La Baule; Steve
Guerdat, Bertram Allen,
Marlon Modolo Zanotelli
The second leg of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup season for the
Europe Division 1 and took place in La Baule. Four days of com-
Jumping International
petition saw a victory for Great Britain in the Nations Cup and
La Baule
a tremendous Grand Prix win for Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat
aboard Nino des Buissonnets.
Manuel Saro Fernandez
& Eliot DWS
Joe Clee’s Utamaro
D Ecaussines
Tiffany Foster & Artisan Farm’s Verdi III
Steve Guerdat
Aymeric de Ponnat &
Armitages Boy
Chef d’Equipe Di Lampard with her team
Michael Whitaker
& Amai
Michael Whitaker &
Amai finish fourth
Marlon Modolo
Zanotelli
Steve Guerdat &
Nino des Buissonnets
Paul Estermann’s
Castlefield Eclipse
Spencer Roe
victory gallops
Eric Lamaze
Michael Whitaker
& Beverly Widdowson’s
Cassianato
A big win for Guerdat
Bertram Allen &
Molly Malone V
Podium
pride
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Kent Farrington
in the winner’s circle
Shanghai, China · May 8th to 10th
Harrie Smolders celebrates
As China’s biggest city by population, Shanghai is renowned for
Shanghai
its record-breaking skyscrapers that have sprung up where just 20
years ago there was only farmland. Riders returned to Shanghai
this year for the second year of this LGCT stop, and Harrie Smolders took the Grand Prix of Shanghai title aboard Regina Z.
Fun with famous faces
Scott Brash with Hello M’Lady
Distinctive
awards
presentation
Race day style
the colors of Holland
Edwina Tops Alexander
Harrie Smolders
and his spoils
Smolders & Regina Z
Scott Brash
Fantastic fans
An incredible Shanghai skyline
Peter Devos and Harry Smolders
Ludger Beerbaum
Kevin Staut
A fashionable fascinator
Robin Parsky kisses
Blue Angel
Pius Schwizer
Victory gallop
34noellefloyd.com
Pius Schwizer
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Lummen, Belgium · April 29th to May 3rd
Gregory Wathelet’s
Conrad de Hus
Johnny Pals and
Joe Clee
Victory for Italy
Each year the Postelman family plays host every year to the
world’s top riders at their property in Belgium. Channeling tra-
Jumping
ditional show style of years past, Italy won the terrific Furusiyya
Lummen
Pieter Devos &
Dream of India
Greenfield
FEI Nations Cup, and Belgium’s Jerome Guery victorious in the
Longines Grand Prix aboard Papillon Z.
Belgium’s
Olivier
Philippaerts
and Niels
Bruynseels
discuss
Jerome Guery
& Papillon Z
Watching the
final Nations
Cup rounds
Harrie Smolders & the lovely Emerald
Team Netherlands
Switzerland’s Janika Sprunger &
Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci
Penelope Leprevost
& Flora de Mariposa
The colors of
Team Belgium
Italy’s Luca Maria Moneta &
Neptune Brecourt
Celebrating the win
Simon Delestre &
Qlassic Bois Margot
Team Italy
Chef d’Equipe Hans Horn, Lorenzo
deLuca and Daniele Augusto Da Rios
36noellefloyd.com
Italy’s Lorenzo
de Luca and
Stephex Stables’
Erco van T
Roosakker
Italy’s Daniele Augusto
Da Rios & For Passion
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Madrid, Spain · May 1st to 3rd
Laura Kraut & Cedric
Kent Farrington
& Voyeur
Spain’s capital city played host to the third leg of this year’s Global
Madrid
Madrid hosts this stop on the LGCT. Spanish riders performed
admirably for their hometown crowd, and Portugal’s Luciana Diniz
captured the Grand Prix of Madrid title aboard Winningmood.
Casa de Campo
Villa de Madrid
Top braids
Champions Tour season. The exclusive Club de Campo Villa de
Lining the path
The USA’s CarlyAnthony
likes what she hears
Manuel Fernandez Saro &
Enriques Of The Lowlands
Constant van Paesschen
and Darragh Kenny
Rogier-Yves Bost
won the King’s Cup
Alvaro de Miranda &
Athina Onassis de Miranda
Steve Guerdat
Scott Brash &
Hello Sanctos
Phillipe Rozier (left) & Manuel Fernandez
Saro help Diniz keep the trophy aloft
Bertram Allen &
Romanov
Team Canada /
Artisan Farms
Abdelkibir Ouaddar
Eduard du Rothschild
watches & celebrates
Coursewalk talk
Julia Hargreaves
& Blinky Bill 6
38noellefloyd.com
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Antwerp, Belgium · April 22nd to 25th
Blue on blue backdrops
Tiffany Foster
Ashford Farm’s Enda Caroll,
Marlon Zanotelli &
Angelica Augustsson
Home to Belgian stars such as Francois Mathy, Philippe Le Jeune,
Antwerp
and Ludo Philippaerts, as well as up-and-coming young stars Nicola and Olivier Philippaerts, Jos Verlooy and Constant van Paesschen, Belgium is a hotbed of talent. France’s Simone Delestre was
victorious in the LGCT Grand Prix aboard Ryan Des Hayettes.
Rodrigo Pessoa’s
Status
Tiffany Foster &
Zigali P S
Eric Lamaze &
Check Picobello Z
Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca
Hans-Dieter Dreher
& Embassy II
Accepting the
Golden Stirrup
Germany’s
Daniel Deusser
& Sweden’s
Henrik
von Eckermann
Christian Ahlmann’s
Cornado II
Sharing
a smile
Belgium’s
Nicola Philippaerts
The thrill of a win
Steve
Guerdat
Steve Guerdat, Rogier-Yves Bost &
Hans-Dieter Dreher
Podium honors
Simon Delestre
& Ryan
des Hayettes
Enjoying the limelight
A quiet moment with
Ryan des Hayettes
Champagne smiles
The medals
40noellefloyd.com
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Las Vegas, USA · April 15th to 19th
2015 Longines FEI
All those who qualified joined the outrageous atmosphere of Las
World Cup
Jumping Final
The WCF made
its 6th appearance
in Las Vegas
Jos Verlooy &
Domino
Vegas to conclude the 2015 FEI World Cup Season in the city
of sin. This year’s dramatic World Cup Jumping Final saw 2012
Olympic Gold medalist Steve Guerdat taking the prestigious title
aboard the stellar mare Albfuehren’s Paille.
Steve Guerdat’s proud
groom with her charge
Steve Guerdat &
Albfuhren’s Paille
Bertram Allen & Molly Malone
Henri Prudent,
Penelope Leprovost,
Kevin Staut
Rich Fellers &
Flexible
The trophy
Steve Guerdat &
Albfuhren’s Paille
Victory!
Penelope Leprovost
& Vagabond de la Pomme
McLain Ward
Bertram Allen &
Molly Malone
The Thomas &
Mack Center
Beezie Madden & Simon
Robert Ridland
The top finishers celebrate
42noellefloyd.com
Guerdat also won the
“Duel of the Desert”
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Denis Lynch
Paris, France · April 10th to 12th
Bertram Allen &
Romanov
Held annually in the iconic Grand Palais, “Le Saut” always presents
a beautiful spectacle of both sport and style. This year, Hermès
partner rider Romain Duguet of Switzerland won the prestigious
Saut Hermès Horse Show
Hermès Grand Prix of Paris CSI5* aboard Quorida de Treho after a
great jumpoff against Australia’s Amy Graham and Bella Baloubet.
High flying
performers
Amy Graham &
Bella Baloubet
Parisian style
Edwina Tops
Alexander
Grand prix winners
Romain Duget &
Quorida de Treho
Upon entry to the Grand Palais
Returning to
the stabling
Inside the stunning Grand Palais
Number one!
Course building
Julian Epaillard
Living Hermès
Daniel Bluman
Simple, elegant,
top ribbons
44noellefloyd.com
Henrik Von Eckermann
Casual chic
A full house
Morning hacks
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Miami Beach, USA · April 2nd to 4th
The Longines Global Champions Tour made its highly anticipated
Miami Beach
A grand ingate
American debut in Florida this year, debuting directly on the shores
of famous South Beach as an instant ”wow” event of 2015. Twotime LGCT Champion Scott Brash took home the Longines Grand
Prix of Miami Beach aboard his incredible partner Hello Sanctos.
British colors on
the big screen
Luciana Diniz
Lauren Hough
and Paris Sellon
Kent Farrington
& Voyeur
Sergio Alvarez Moya
Georgina & Jasper
Bloomberg
with Rob Jones
Marlon Monolo and
Andres Rodriguez
Audrey Coulter and
Harrie Smolders
The busy warmup
Brash & Sanctos
Scott Brash
shares news
of his win
Andres Rodriguez
and Rodrigo Pessoa
with friend
McLain Ward
and Scott Brash
Sheikh Ali Bin
Khalid Al Thani
Bassem Hassan Mohammed &
Paloubet d’Halong
Team Artisan Farm
deep in discussion
Bassem Hassan
Mohammed celebrates
46noellefloyd.com
Hardin Towell
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Stabling with
The Rise of a Star,
48noellefloyd.com
x2
How Olivier and
Nicola Philippaerts
are becoming show
jumping’s twin
faces of the future.
by Erin Gilmore
I
50noellefloyd.com
t’s a habit in many European stables to hang the proof of
see the walls for the awards photos and silver trophies that
success upon the walls of your indoor arena. The sight
crowd its perimeter. Their father Ludo Philippaerts is one of
his sons (the twins’ younger brother, Thibault Philippaerts, is
of life size jumpshots mounted along the interior of an
Belgium’s most decorated show jumping riders, and most of
proving to be an up and coming talent in the saddle as well).
otherwise bare indoor is an effective nod to the excellence
the trophies lining the floor to ceiling glass cabinet belong to him.
The Philippaerts family unit is tight; they work with each
that permeates the show jumping-rich region where Belgium,
Those awards were the background scenery of the twins’
other during the day, and sit at the same dinner table at night
Holland and Germany intersect. Square in the middle of that
childhood. While their parents were careful never to pressure
(a fourth brother, Anthony, enjoys riding but is leaning towards
region, near Bree, Belgium, the Philippaert family’s Stal Dor-
them to follow their father’s career choice, having grown up
a career in soccer) the boys’ mother Veronique, who manages
year, noting that he was happy to be passing the torch on to
perheide has its own collection of splashy photos, hung art-
riding their bicycles up and
much of the stable opera-
fully along the long side of the indoor arena.
down the stall aisles of the
tions, met Ludo when she
In addition to the glossy jumpshots there is a new fixture, an
barn, and with ponies and
went to work as his groom
eye-catching, larger than life photograph hanging high above
then horses always avail-
in the late ‘70s. After they
the big doors at the end of the ring. It warrants a double
able to them, there was a
fell in love and married in
take for what it isn’t – there’s no horse in this photo, just two
sense of inevitability to-
1980, Veronique continued
well-dressed young men against a black background, staring
ward the path they eventu-
to manage Ludo’s career
fiercely at the camera. The H&M logo stamped on one cor-
ally chose.
while enjoying a success-
ner indicates that it’s a win shot of a different type – when
“When I was younger, I
ful dressage career of her
Olivier and Nicola Philippaerts posed for that photo, they be-
did plenty of sports, tennis,
own. These days, she is a
came the first Belgian equestrians to represent H&M, a global,
swimming, soccer, anything
constant presence in the
mainstream fashion label.
you can imagine really,”
offices of Stal Dorperheide.
With their dark hair and etched features, it’s easy to see why
says Olivier. “But I always
the twin brothers were sought after by H&M, which has long
rode. And at a certain point,
looked to Swedish riders to strengthen their brand. The new
you have to make a bit of
sponsorship, which is reflected from the stylish coats Olivier
a choice. When I was 12, I
and Nicola now wear while competing to the names of their
stopped with other sports
horses, is extensive, and contracted for the next several years.
and began riding only.”
“That H&M will support me and my brother, it’s super,” says
Nicola followed suit.
Nicola. “The H&M team are very friendly and open, and they
Now, at age 21, the twins
are real horse people. They understand that you can go up
are managing their own
and down all the time in this sport.”
strings of horses (more
H&M, along with the other sponsors who have flocked to
than a dozen each), riding
the brothers, also understand the magnetic pull of the only
young horses that their fa-
The Competitive Drive
“Their father has been with
them every step of the way.
For four years, Ludo and his
sons rode together at the
international level.”
Inside the show ring may
very well be the only place
where Olivier or Nicola truly feel alone. For as long as
the round lasts, all eyes are
on just one horse, and just
one brother. But where one
of them is, the other is rarely far away, and if he is far,
he is following his brother’s
grand prix riders in the sport of show jumping who also hap-
ther’s breeding program
pen to be twins (although their looks are so similar that they’re
churns out by the herd, and capably picking up wins at the top,
They prefer to ride against each other in the same class. Nicola
often thought to be identical, they are actually fraternal twins,
international level of show jumping. In 2012, Olivier became
describes their omnipresent rivalry as the thing that pulls the other
born 15 minutes apart).
the youngest rider ever to win the CN International Grand Prix
up to a higher level. Olivier describes it as two chances to win –
competition results closely.
Insofar, they are unpretentious about the attention they attract,
at Spruce Meadows. In 2013, Nicola competed at his first FEI
when one does well, the other shares in the accomplishment.
and laid back when it’s mentioned. Being a young professional
World Cup Final, placing inside the top ten.
Regardless, they share the same competitive drive.
in their world has few downs, and many ups to it.
Their father has been with them every step of the way. For
“We make each other better when we’re together, either
four years, Ludo and his sons rode together at the interna-
in competition or just when we’re riding together,” Olivier
A Sense of Inevitability
tional level, most memorably representing Belgium together
explains. “I’m always happier when we are riding together,”
At the moment, the twins are both on an “up.” They are be-
as three quarters of the Belgian team at the FEI Nations Cup
Nicola adds.
tween horse shows, and sitting comfortably in Stal Dorperhe-
in Rome in 2012, where they placed 3rd. Ludo made the an-
That said, Olivier recently relocated his horses down the
ide’s lounge, a room that is so heavy with success it’s hard to
nouncement of his retirement from competition earlier this
road to a separate stable. A move like that could be construed
noellefloyd.com51
“Their biggest problem
is the same as everyone
else’s in the sport: finding that next big horse.”
in many different ways, but Olivier explains that it was due to a
knew that they weren’t to get attached to any of their horses.
gium still has to qualify to compete in next year’s Rio Olym-
open book and easier with his smile, while Nicola takes a bit
simple need for more space – the main stables at Dorperheide
Stal Dorperheide was and still is a dealing barn. That meant
pics, at this fall’s European Championships. The twins hope to
longer to warm to the conversation. Olivier was the first to
were filled to capacity with over 50 horses in training, and now
every horse had a price tag, but today, Olivier is thankful for
contribute to that effort and represent their country, so at the
break out in a big way at the international level, but lately,
Olivier’s string are part of an additional 20 based at the over-
the lessons that the sales barn mentality taught him.
moment, all focus is on that end goal.
flow property.
“Because we are in a dealing stable, we don’t always ride
Nicola has had stronger results.
They’ve been playing off each other’s talent and personali-
Even with what might seem like an endless flow of horses,
the best, top horses,” he explains. “We have all kinds of hors-
Dreams for Every Rider
ties their whole lives. They share that trait with all twins, and
both bred by the Philippaerts and purchased as young pros-
es, but I think it’s very good for your riding when you don’t
Olivier acknowledges the significance of both he and his
have brought it into their riding careers for the better. In a
pects coming into the barn, Olivier explains that their biggest
always have the kinds of horses available that you like to ride.
brother finding the level of success they’ve started to enjoy in
sport that’s often misconstrued as a solo competition, the
problem is the same as everyone else’s in the sport: finding that
It’s good because then you become able to ride all different
their sport. With the 2012 CN International Grand Prix trophy
Philippaerts brothers have each other to count on, no matter
next big horse. The Philippaerts are always on the hunt for that
kind of horses at the bigger levels.”
sitting within arm’s reach on a nearby table, Olivier talks goals
what the future may bring.
horse, and always times two.
Those skills have molded the brothers into the profession-
while his brother nods assent.
“Everyone is going to every stable looking for that next big
als they are today. Without fanfare, they’ve accepted how the
“Everyone in the sport has these goals, like the Olympics
horse,” Olivier says. “Then if you find it and get it, it’s difficult
media has come to regard them as “future stars”; “the next
and the World Cup Final,” he says. ”If you don’t have these
to keep it. There are a lot of people who are willing to spend
generation” of show jumpers. Unsurprisingly, their looks and
dreams, I don’t think you’re really riding.”
a lot of money now to get that special horse.”
talent have earned them a hefty following of young, female
“For sure, it’s a dream for every rider, the Olympics,” Nicola
fans as well.
echoes. “For me, the Olympics are the biggest goal in the sport.”
Lessons of a Dealing Barn
But even as their own faces stare down at them from that
The brothers often talk in this manner, with Olivier making
The price of a horse is something that the brothers understand
H&M banner on the arena wall, Olivier and Nicola shrug off
his point, and Nicola backing him up. The more time spent
very well. From an early age, Ludo made sure that his sons
the titles to talk about the toughness of the road ahead. Bel-
around them, the easier it is to tell them apart. Olivier is an
52noellefloyd.com
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Writing
His Own
Legend
With Aachen victory, the
Rolex Grand Slam is now in
sight for SCOTT BRASH
54noellefloyd.com
Scott Brash pulled off an epic win in Aachen, Germany
on May 31 when he claimed victory in the €1 Million Rolex
Grand Prix of Aachen, part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show
Jumping. Two full rounds and a jumpoff at the five-star level
presented one of international show jumping’s most difficult
tests, but in front of 43,000 spectators and against 40 of the
world’s best horse and rider pairs, Brash guided the incredible Hello Sanctos to a thrilling, confident performance.
Great Britain’s Brash, already winner of the first leg of the
Rolex Grand Slam (CHI Geneva, 2014), made history when
he won the second leg in Aachen. Since Rolex made the offer
in 2013 to award riders a €1 million bonus if they could win
all three legs of the Grand Slam, the third being at Spruce
Meadows ‘Masters’ in September, no rider had won two legs
in succession. Not until now, that is. It was an unbelievable
feat, and as Brash circled the vast Aachen arena after jump-
ing that final fence clear, the smile on his face made it clear
that he couldn’t quite believe it, either.
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by Noelle Floyd
noellefloyd.com57
Lucy Davis
t’s 7:00 am on a Friday in early April, and a hair and makeup team has arrived in
Age: 22
Georgina Bloomberg’s room. As the team gets underway with their duties for today’s
Hails from: Los Angeles, California
debut cover photo shoot for this magazine in Miami, Florida’s famously glam South
World Ranked: #81
Beach, Georgina Bloomberg sits quietly in her chair, holding a coffee as her hair is
USEF Ranked: #9
teased and styled. It is clear this is a process Bloomberg is used to.
Top Horse: Barron
Jessica Springsteen and Lucy Davis arrive shortly after and everyone falls into
Claim to Fame: Team Bronze
place while the hair and makeup crew buzz around each of the girls. As I look around, I real-
Medal, 2014 Alltech FEI World
ize there is something unique and gracious about this next generation of riders. They are
Equestrian Games
young, beautiful, accomplished women who have everything they could ask for and work
for everything that they want. These three women in their twenties to early thirties; one a
mother, one a recent Duke graduate and one a recent Stanford graduate, all offer a refreshing representation of the next, and best generation in show jumping
Each of them is committed to the sport 100 percent and yet Bloomberg, Davis and
Springsteen are all strongly aware that international show jumping is but one aspect of their
very large lives. They are fiercely competitive and incredibly dedicated, and yet each of
these women understands the importance of higher education, charitable causes and family. Davis recently earned a degree in Architecture from Stanford University and is the most
academic of the three. As Bloomberg describes her, Davis, who took home Team Bronze at
last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, carries an ‘older beyond her years’ energy
that permeates through everything she does. Her calm demeanor elicits a strong capability
and a quiet intensity that has earned her a spot on many top Nations Cup teams for Team
USA, including last year in Aachen.
Whatever You Make of It
Springsteen checks her phone as her makeup is being done. Springsteen, who received
a vast amount of press attention early on in her international career, seems to handle it
all with an impressive level of casual confidence. It has always amazed me that no matter
“When you’re in the ring, there’s no time
for distractions, so as long as you stay focused
that’s all that matters.”
where we are around the world, the frequent demands and requests that Springsteen receives from the press for photos, especially with her famous mother and father, never seems
to affect her performance in the ring.
“I really try to just stay focused on the sport,” she says. “This is what I have always
wanted to do and I feel lucky to be where I am. I think in general, it is great that the sport is
starting to get more attention from the media so I am happy about that.
“It is whatever you make of it!” she continues. “All athletes have to deal with a certain
amount of media, and it is something that I am used to. When you’re in the ring, there’s no
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time for distractions, so as long as you stay focused that’s all that matters.”
Springsteen’s ability to deliver in a jump off and shave seconds off, with what her long-
Georgina Bloomberg
time mentor Laura Kraut described as flawless turns, is one of the many testimonials to this
Age: 32
young lady’s talent and strength of mind. Perhaps a credit to her down-to-earth upbringing,
Hails from: New York, New York
Springsteen is truly genuine and engaging in a way that is utterly charming.
World Ranked: #48
Bloomberg is finished with hair and makeup first, and she sits down on the brand new,
USEF Ranked: #5
oversized white sofa that takes up half of her large hotel room at the 1 Hotel on South
Top Horse: Juvina
Beach. Laughing with good friend Rob Jones, Bloomberg certainly comes across as the
Appropriately Won: The 2014
most seasoned of the three. Having experienced the same demands from the media as
$210,000 Central Park Grand Prix
Springsteen throughout her life, she has gone through the whirlwind a time or two and has
in New York City
come out the other end with a tangible level of perspective.
“In this sport,
you have to develop
a thick skin and
do what you know
is right.”
“In this sport, you have to develop a thick skin and do
what you know is right,” Bloomberg says. “People are
always going to criticize you. That is something I am certainly used to in life and I just tune that criticism out. If
you start letting it get to you, it’s only going to affect you
negatively.
“I’ve always faced the criticism that comes with having a famous last name,” Bloomberg explains. Her father,
Michael Bloomberg, is the former mayor of New York
City, and an internationally respected political figure.
“Jessica has accomplished great things, not because of
her last name, but because she is a talented rider and she works very hard. She deserves
everything that she gets. People want to say, ‘oh she has it easy’ because of her last name or
because of who her father is, and I hope I could be a sort of role model to her in that regard,
to give her the determination to keep going and just tune all that out.”
Bloomberg’s protective nature comes across in an endearing way. Giving birth to her
son Jasper in 2013 has changed the USEF-ranked No. 5 rider in ways she could not have
foreseen.
“I’ve always been surrounded by a lot of animals, and I used to joke that a baby was
just another bowl at the end of the food line, and in a lot of ways there are a lot of similarities between taking care of animals and taking care of kids,” she explains. “But all the
clichés about how your child become the only thing that matters and your whole world
revolves around them and you put them first, that has definitely been true for me. You learn
fundamentally to put someone before yourself and you learn to be nurturing and caring.
“You know, this [sport] is super important to me and I am super focused when I am at
a horse show, but at the end of the day, there is nothing in this sport that will ever be more
important to me than my son,” she attests. “[Motherhood] has made me more emotional
and warmhearted. I used to not really have much sympathy for human beings; I was always
more of an animal person. Now I find myself empathizing towards humans more. I will read
a story about a sick child and I will start crying whereas before it just wouldn’t resonate with
me unless it was about an animal. “
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Before the Day’s
Demands
As the trio makes their way down to the
beach from the hotel, the girls laugh and
complement one another on their sprucedup appearances. Despite the early hour,
the temperature is already quite high and
the Miami sun beats down on all of us as
the photographer and his team set up for
the two-hour shoot. All three of our cover
subjects will be competing later on today,
in the Longines Global Champions Tour of
Miami Beach. Yet the concept of shooting a
magazine cover before the day’s demands
begin seems perfectly natural to them.
The setting is incredible, with an as-
sortment of South Beach locals already
spread across the white sand, watching on
“We are in the midst
of a shift within show
jumping, both internationally and within
the United States – it
has never had more
financial backing or
more global outreach
than it does today.”
Jessica Springsteen
Age: 23
Hails from: Colts Neck, New Jersey
World Ranked: #55
USEF Ranked: #15
Top Horse: Vindicat W
Breakout Moment: Winning
the 2014 $200,000 American Gold
Cup Grand Prix CSI4*
in bewilderment as three women dressed in bright pinque Team USA hunt coats, white
breeches and black boots navigate the deep sand.
The location and tone of the morning offer all of us a moment of reflection. We are in
the midst of a shift within show jumping, both internationally and within the United States
– it has never had more financial backing or more global outreach than it does today. Prize
money increases, more cities around the world welcome five-star events, and show jumping’s bubble expands. The sport within the United States is growing as well, with a powerful
collection of individuals working their hardest to expand show jumping’s reach and attraction to the American public. As the sport strives to become more modern, Bloomberg,
Davis and Springsteen offer their own generation and the ones to come a powerful image
of young equestrian talent. But with that image comes a certain responsibility.
“As the new generation starts to grow up, as individuals and professional riders, I think
becoming a professional is more of a challenge,” says Davis. “Being respected as such
means being involved in the whole process that relates to your horses, not just the show
ring. To treat the sport as the professional sport it is, to give the sport the dedication it
deserves and in turn to be treated as a professional is one of our generations’ challenges.”
Davis recognizes her learning curve as she becomes a professional herself, and she
doesn’t want anyone to assume she’s perfect. Just before her debut on Team USA at last
September’s World Equestrian Games, she injured her hand in what she described as a ‘silly
accident.’ It had the potential to affect her grip on the reins, and that had the potential to
affect Team USA’s performance at WEG. Suddenly, the stakes were much higher.
“If I had sliced my hand while at university no one would have cared,” Davis says. “The
opportunity to compete on the US Team comes with a lot of responsibility, and when you
do not respect that you can of course receive unwanted attention. This is true at any age,
but being young and acting accordingly doesn’t exactly help your cause.”
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“I think calling the sport elitist takes
in favor of riding full time, these three nev-
away from those people who didn’t start
er even considered that path as an option.
with very much and who have put in the
hard work and sacrifice,” Bloomberg says.
and riding,” says Davis. “It is possible to do
“I think some young riders can get discour-
both and you can do it, but to do it you
“I am a firm believer in going to school
aged when they feel they can’t partake
need help because you can’t ride every-
because they don’t have millions of dollars
day.”
and feel they don’t belong. But I think it’s
that attitude that will keep them from be-
the WEG team while also being enrolled
ing successful, not the lack of funding.”
at Stanford,” Springsteen says. “She set an
“I was so proud of Lucy for making
It’s clear that we’ve touched a nerve.
amazing example for young riders coming
Bloomberg, Davis and Springsteen have
up: you can study at an incredibly difficult
all benefited from the access to the type
school while also competing and being
of training and top horses that most rid-
successful at the top level of this sport.”
ers can only dream of. But from where this
trio is sitting, their accomplishments stem
ample herself as well. Her 2014 graduation
more from their shared competitive desire
from Duke University coincided with sev-
than any other factor.
eral top finishes in the United States’ most
“A lot of people want to say that
Springsteen, of course, set that ex-
difficult grand prix classes.
young riders now are more successful ear-
It’s All in the Attitude
lier because they were given things and
the other’s ability to perform within the
they have money,” Bloomberg adds. “Ab-
sport despite criticism about her name or
In speaking with Davis and other riders within the Millennial generation, many feel there
solutely, it is much easier when you have
her backing.
exists a double standard; they are expected to get the necessary funding to compete at
money and there is no question that things
the highest levels, but if they have the resources themselves, they then struggle to be taken
are easier if you have the money to go out
cludes, all three women grab what they
seriously.
All three ladies recognize and respect
As the morning’s photo shoot con-
and buy your own horse, but that does not
need for the day’s challenges. They will
But Bloomberg believes that no matter what a rider’s background may be, success
mean that a young rider without money
all be competing against the best that the
within the sport has everything to do with attitude, and very little to do with anything else.
cannot make it in this sport. It always bugs
Global Champions Tour of Miami has to
She is fiercely competitive and has displayed her ability to deliver those highly sought-after
me when people say this is a very elitist
offer, and although the morning’s activi-
double clears for Team USA both at home and abroad. And she has learned that true talent
sport. Yes, it is very expensive to keep a
ties have been a blast, it is tangible that all
comes from within, rather than the luck of being born into lofty resources.
horse and there is a lot of money in the
three riders now have their mind set on the
“I’ve heard so many people say over the last couple of years that there is this big gap
sport and celebrities and big names. But
task at hand: the day’s Grand Prix. Today,
coming and there are no top young riders coming up, but I think it is the exact opposite,”
that doesn’t mean there aren’t people who
like so many of their days, is first and fore-
she points out. “Right now in the United States, there are more top riders between the ages
have been successful who didn’t start out
most a day of intense competition at one
of 20 and 30 than there are between the ages of 30 and 50, which has never been the case
with all that.”
of the best shows in the world, and no one
before.”
She argues that the issue of funding, or lack thereof that prevents some talented riders
ried through to Bloomberg, Davis and
That desire to be taken seriously car-
from getting that top horse or that great sponsor is a longstanding issue, not anything new.
Springsteen’s determination in the arena
Despite the classic challenges, she believes that the sport is accessible to all – and that
of academics. Where some young profes-
exceptional focus is more important than an exceptional bank account.
sional riders forgo a university education
64noellefloyd.com
knows the challenges that lie ahead better
than Springsteen, Davis and Bloomberg.
Photography by Grayson Hoffman
noellefloyd.com65
Albert Voorn (NED)
Olympic Silver Medalist, Dutch Show
Jumping Champion 2000
Q: What are your thoughts regarding the new Olympic and World Equestrian Games
formats proposed by John Madden to the FEI?
A: We have to understand that the Olympic Games are the highest level of sport we
are looking to. If you go to watch a sport, you go to see the best - that is what you
want to see. You do not want to see horses falling into fences or having 24 faults.
Especially not in our case – because our sport deals with animals.
It would actually take away from the sport to involve more countries in the Olympics and WEG. The majority of countries do not have the ability of being competitive
at the level of the Olympic Games. So the moment you want to have more countries
involved, you have to lower the level to create a course that all the riders can jump.
Q: But this is just what the proposed new formats for the Olympic Games and World
Up for Debate
Albert Voorn | John Madden
Games are trying to do – to bring more countries into the sport. Can you further explain
why you disagree with this format?
A: Some of these countries cannot jump the big competition and do the job properly. So why should we as very good countries and very good riders, give a place
away for countries who cannot do it?
Riders competing at a level that is beyond their ability is a horse welfare problem.
in conversation with
Noelle Floyd
But of course, certain people don’t want to talk about this because it’s bad for business. The more amateurs that ride badly, the more money they spend to get the
chances they need, and the more horses can be sold for ridiculous money. That has
It is a given that excellence in sport is the product of hard work, careful training
and passion. And for any sport to ensure its strong future, its leaders must
always be examining it from within, and pushing the boundaries to put new
ideas on the table for positive change. When John Madden, FEI 1st Vice
nothing to do with saving our sport, it is only business.
When we talk about the World Equestrian Games, we are talking about the pinnacle of our sport. If you want to be taken seriously as a sport, then you cannot open
the doors of these championships to people who should not be there.
President Chair of the FEI Jumping Committee, announced proposed changes
Q: What do you think of the proposed format in regards to shortening the number of
to World Games formats in show jumping, it sparked intense discussion over
days and number of athletes on a team, for reasons such as the welfare of the horse and
the possibilities that such changes could bring to the sport. In their own words,
for the interest of the public?
Madden and Dutch show jumping veteran Albert Voorn offer their
A: The number of people on the team does not affect the welfare of the horse, be-
perspectives on the topic.
cause it is just a rider less and a horse less. When it comes to the welfare of the horse,
I think that changing the number of riders has no affect.
I would rather see four top riders from Germany of top quality than riders from
another country who don’t have the quality anyway. Why cut down the number of
riders in a team to increase the number of riders from other countries when those
other riders should not be there at all? This new format does not solve our problem.
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Q: How do qualifications standards enter into the equation in
has become such a big industry, especially now with the ama-
A day’s rest or two days rest makes the competition too
terms of more countries qualifying to compete at interna-
teur circuit. This sport is special to people who are not good
long. A competition needs to be maximum three days, except
tional games?
at it. Even if they are not good, they can still pay to compete
for events like Aachen. The first few days are not spectacular
A: When people who represent countries that have just one
at beautiful tournaments.
sport anyways because no one comes and watches, not be-
or two international riders move to Europe, they then have
So always, for that reason, people will not quit this sport.
cause they’re not interested but because they have to work.
to live up to certain qualifications. Finally when these people
Then it is a sport in which, when you have loads of money, you
People are free on Saturday and Sunday, so let’s not waste that
qualify, they do so due to their results. For that reason also, we
can reach the top level. If you have the money and also a little
time with a rest day.
cannot have qualification for the Olympic Games at any thing
bit of talent, you can reach the top level very, very quickly. You
Q: You think, also, that the qualification for events such as the
less than a five star show.
see countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, having no problem
Olympic Games should have nothing to do with the World Rank-
The Olympic Games, with a top rider and a super horse, are
reaching the top levels. You don’t need a horse culture in your
ings?
already nearly impossible to jump clean. Each rider that wants
country to be successful either. The Athens Olympic Games,
A: Yes, absolutely, because the World Rankings has nothing to
to compete at an international championship must qualify, at
when the South Koreans were based with Paul Schockemöhle,
do with going to the Olympic Games or not. If you have four or
a minimum, at an event such as Aachen or its equivalent. All
is one example. South Korea has no horse culture whatsoever,
five good horses, then you can do well on the World Rankings.
riders must all qualify at similar events to ensure equal sport.
but they had a program and had the money and I think three
What should change is the qualification of riders in the World
The qualifications that exist at the moment are not tough
of the four were placed for the finals due to a good program
Rankings. The ranking list should be counted by rider/horse,
enough. We have seen qualification events held in a backyard
and to a good management.
not just rider.
somewhere, with an official and a judge and a 1.55 m that is
Q: What in particular would you like to see changed?
Without his horse, a rider is zero. Currently, a rider in the
really 1.45m. They do this because they want more countries
A: I would like to now how is it possible that for the Olym-
Top 10 can have five horses to count his points from, but it is
to qualify and it’s the worst thing you can do for our sport.
pic Games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, you could qualify at the
the single rider and horse combination, that are the best in
Q: If the qualification standards were more rigid, would show
2014 World Equestrian Games two years before? In the year
the world. It is the horse that is the athlete, ridden by the rider.
jumping avoid the criticism it received after the first two days
of the Olympic Games, that country that prequalified may not
If World Rankings were counted from the pair, the rider and
of competition at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen,
have the right horse and rider combinations to compete at the
horse together, they would align more with Olympic Games,
when many riders and horses were over-faced?
Olympics, while another country may. And the other country
which, at the end of the day, is about the horse and rider com-
A: Absolutely. An international championship is always higher,
that might have the right horse and rider combinations at that
bination, and who at that particular time, is doing well.
wider than the normal qualification. At the World Equestrian
time will have to stay home because the team who pre-quali-
Q: You have said before that you think what Jan Tops has done
Games or the Olympic Games or the European Champion-
fied will take that spot. Riders and teams should qualify in the
with the Global Champions Tour is great for our sport. Can you
ships, those countries that normally cannot compete at the
year of the Olympic Games for the Olympic Games.
explain?
big grand prix or Nations Cup with a clear and four or a clear
Q: Do you think the proposal of having three riders per
A: At the end of the day, we speak about the development of
and eight, should not be there. It’s very simple.
team for the Olympic Games and World Games, with no
our sport. Our sport has never been bigger, with more prize
Compare this situation to dressage. In dressage, at the
drop score rather than four riders per team and a drop
money and top shows and at the end of the day much of the
World Equestrian Games, we saw so many dressage riders.
score is good?
credit for that goes to Jan Tops and the Global Champions
After the WEG they were saying we should change the dres-
A: No, because at every chance riders avoid riding as a team
Tour. In creating his series, Jan totally ignored the FEI, which
sage because it’s not interesting. Of course it’s not interesting
rider. They are only interested in riding on the Team when it
was against it in the beginning. Eventually, the FEI saw that
when you have people competing who normally cannot ride
comes to the Championships. All the Nations Cups are avoid-
they had to get on board because this man was going to hold
65%. Dressage at the World Equestrian Games, should only
ed as much as possible. The moment you will get them inter-
his Tour anyway. After what he’s done with the Tour, he de-
be for those riders and those horses that can normally ride
ested again is when you make an individual classification.
serves at least to give his opinion on this topic of qualification.
75%. If you cut down the riders in quantity, you have a much
Let’s say I ride for my team, and let’s say the Nations Cup,
Normally, Jan does not offer his opinion on these things be-
higher level and that’s what people want to see, nothing else.
it’s only 50 riders so everybody can ride the Grand Prix anyway,
cause he has an opinion that is often very different than all the
Q: However, the sport still needs to be welcoming to riders
no individuals and everybody rides the same class. That way
others.
who wish to reach the top levels. Do you think that the sport is
you have equal sport and then because they get an individual
But I think these people in their offices, they do not know
achieving that?
classification in the Nations Cup, the riders that ride in the
how our sport works. We are constantly negotiating with these
A: If you look at our sport today, you look at all the tours in
Team can get double prize money. For money, riders will do
people about how our sport should be run, and in my opinion,
Spain, United States of America, Italy, it is full everywhere. It
everything.
that is totally ridiculous.
68noellefloyd.com
noellefloyd.com69
John Madden (USA)
FEI 1st Vice President and Chair of
the FEI Jumping Committee
“I would like to preface these answers by commenting that in regard to the Olympic and
spective. Ensuring the welfare of the horse and the capability
In the same vein, what bookie would have had Saudi Arabia
of the combination is paramount. Ensuring horse welfare and
winning bronze at London? This is sport!
making sure that every horse and rider that qualifies is up to
Having said all of this, the FEI does of course have an obli-
the standard of international Games competition is a given.
gation to protect horse welfare, and requires athletes – both
For instance, if the determination is for three-rider teams
human and equine – to meet stringent standards to be eli-
with no drop score, National Federations will be incentivized
gible to compete. It is in the FEI Statutes that, as an additional
to use extreme caution in team selection, choosing only ex-
safeguard, National Federations are obliged to send to any
tremely fit horses and extremely reliable combinations. If the
international event only riders and horses that have the capac-
decision is for four athletes with a drop score, then minimum
ity for the task at hand. standards for certification of capability will have to be much
The Olympic Games have always been the epitome of high-
higher as National Federations can take more of a gamble.
decisions made at this point. The only decision that has been made is the decision that,
level performance and universality. The Olympic Games are
Q: Do you agree that qualification for an Olympic Games, which
like all sports, we need to continually strengthen our position in the Olympic Family.”
the most successful sporting event in the history of mankind.
is now possible to do two years before the Games are held, is an
FEI World Equestrian Games™ format changes being considered, there have been no
70noellefloyd.com
enough, who beat them all and ended up World Champion.
The IOC has been the steward of Olympism and is the most
accurate reflection of the best countries in the world? What if all
Q: Is horse welfare not affected when weaker show jumping countries qualify and com-
successful sports organization. We must cherish those Olym-
national qualifications were held in the Olympic year, with the
pete in WEG or Olympic situations that will quite possibly over face them?
pic ideals and use the knowledge and wisdom gained through
idea to qualify the best horses and riders “of the moment”?
A: Minimum eligibility requirements ensure that the so-called “weaker” nations have
past editions to improve our sport in its entirety. It is up to
A: National Federations, athletes, trainers and owners must
the necessary qualifications to compete at this elite level, and there’s no doubt that
us, the FEI, to maintain a minimum standard and uphold and
and should look at their Olympic endeavor in quadrennials
the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ has not just helped to globalize the sport, but
maintain the Olympic ideals.
(every four years). Don’t forget that individuals and teams in
with 18 teams at the Final, the series has also had to improve standards enormously.
Q: How are qualification standards going to be upheld, so that
this initial qualification determination qualify their National
When the Finals concept was developed, expert after expert told us that 18 teams
the FEI can ensure that every horse and rider who qualifies can
Federations, they don’t qualify themselves. The National Fed-
in the Final was too many and that not enough good teams existed. Evidence has
do so safely and competitively at an international Games level?
erations hold the Olympic Invitation and ultimately determine
clearly proven otherwise.
A: We have just discussed all this and more at the FEI Sports
the participants in the Games much closer to Games-time.
We need to look at our sport from a global perspective for worldwide events.
Forum and we are in the process of collecting information
The current system might need some adjustments, but in gen-
When you think in terms of the Olympics, due to Olympic groupings, many strong
through a survey of the National Federations. The NFs and
eral it works well.
teams have not had a chance to compete, as there may be two or three good teams
all other stakeholders also have the opportunity to provide
Q: How would FEI Jumping Rankings be affected if they were
in an Olympic group that is only able to send one team to the Olympics.
their input on the special online platform at http://www.fei.
counted by the results of a single horse/rider pair, rather than
Allowing more teams to participate fosters competition in the groups that have
org/forum. Once we have their feedback we will be able to
the single rider’s results on multiple horses?
historically been very limited in their possibility to qualify for the Games. And don’t
present a more concrete proposal for the Olympic and FEI
A: In general, the athletes qualified for the Olympic rankings
forget we are looking at 2020. Today’s five-year-old horses will be 10, and today’s
World Equestrian Games™ formats. This is a systematic, step-
are from the National Federations that haven’t qualified other-
under 25 riders will be 30.
by-step process and issues such as number of flags, number of
wise. Development is an important goal of the FEI and was the
Q: Albert Voorn suggested that no rider who can’t successfully negotiate the Grand
individuals, use of a drop score or no drop score, the number
driving force behind former FEI President HRH Princess Haya
Prix of Aachen, for example, should be allowed to compete at an international Games.
of athletes per team, and the method and timing of substi-
establishing FEI Solidarity, which is now overseen by the new
Do you agree?
tuting horse and rider combinations must be decided. Future
FEI President Ingmar De Vos. It is felt that riders aspiring to
A: I agree, but how do we know which riders worldwide would be successful at
format proposals will be presented and debated, both at this
compete at the highest level should develop a string of horses
Aachen or the like? Many North American riders that may not be known in the rest
year’s FEI General Assembly and next year’s FEI Sports Fo-
on which to acquire points for the rankings. This helps devel-
of the world cope quite well in the impressive Spruce Meadows venue. For example,
rum, to produce a final decision based on the vote at the 2016
op horses and riders worldwide. Developing riders, especially,
how much experience could Irish star Bertram Allen have in major venues in major
General Assembly after a fully consultative process. The last
must gain international experience. This should not be done
events given that he is only 19 years old? Would anyone feel that he should be
step, and obviously that’s a very important one, will be imple-
on one horse’s back! Experience has shown that ranking lists
excluded from Olympic competition? Other examples are Katherine Burdsall and
mentation.
limited to a single horse and rider combination put too much
Gail Greenough, two of the medalists at the Aachen World Championships in 1986.
Rule changes, certificates of capability, Olympic and FEI
pressure on each and every horse.
Katherine was on the gold medal US Team while riding in the first Nations Cup of
World Equestrian Games™ allocations will all have to be ad-
her life, and by the way, she was not the drop score. And the Canadian Gail Gre-
dressed. We cannot afford to look at this from a limited per-
noellefloyd.com71
Last Words
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