Olympic medallist bows out, Carl Hester on modifications to dressage, and extra issues the horse world is speaking about

Suppenkasper bows out

Connections of the Olympic and world silver medal-winning dressage horse Suppenkasper have paid tribute to the 16-year-old gelding, as he bows out of competitors as probably the most profitable campaigners within the US sport. Steffen Peters partnered “Mopsie” to assist the US to workforce silver on dwelling soil on the 2018 World Equestrian Video games, and on the Tokyo Olympics, the place he was dubbed the “Rave Horse” by non-equestrian followers. The gelding will retire to his proprietor Akiko Yamazaki’s 4 Winds Farm. “The person victories have been superb, however I at all times felt the proudest delivering for our workforce, and it meant the world once we completed that in Tokyo. Mopsie turned the Rave Horse; that’s nonetheless particular to me as a result of he linked so many individuals,” mentioned Steffan.

Learn the complete tributes to Suppenkasper

Making modifications in dressage

H&H columnist Carl Hester displays on the LeMieux Nationwide Dressage Championships and makes options to maneuver dressage ahead in his unique column this week. Carl shares an alternate of concepts that he had with Kyra Kyrklund on the nationals, saying that “with the quantity of criticism thrown at dressage – rigidity, not in self-carriage, that horses aren’t completely satisfied or assured” – each agreed that “that one thing has to alter”. “Kyra has a number of concepts however this one I believe can be sensible. Because the FEI younger horse checks have a give and retake the reins in trot, why don’t we introduce it at prix st georges and grand prix stage?” he says. “Kyra’s considering is that as a substitute of getting three trot extensions within the grand prix, the ultimate one might be changed by two half circles over X in trot, the place the rider permits the horse to elongate its neck, exhibiting it’s carrying itself.”

Discover out extra about this suggestion

An “unforgettable” class

Olympic, European, world and Dutch nationwide champions are set to change horses in a particular class on the Dutch Masters subsequent spring. Henrik von Eckermann, Christian Kukuk, Steve Guerdat and Willem Greve have agreed to recreate the “last 4”, which was a part of the World Championships from 1978 to 2014. Dutch Masters sports activities director Jeroen Dubbeldam, the final world champion to win within the previous format, is behind the transfer, with Yvonne van Bergen. “We’re nonetheless discussing which horses they’ll begin with, however it is going to be a critical class at 1.45m/1.50m stage. We actually suppose it will catch on, so we will broaden this class additional sooner or later,” mentioned Jeroen.

Uncover extra on the plans

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H&H senior information author

Lucy is an skilled information journalist, reporter and presenter. Since becoming a member of the Horse & Hound workforce in 2015, Lucy has reported from main world sporting occasions together with the Tokyo Paralympic Video games and a number of European Championships, in addition to Badminton, Burghley and London, to call a number of. She has coated present affairs and sports activities information throughout the complete spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, in addition to human and equine welfare, business information and court docket instances.