Olympic, world, European and nationwide champions to swap horses in ‘unforgettable’ class

Prime riders are to swap horses in an “unforgettable night” of showjumping on the Dutch Masters subsequent spring.

On the Thursday night of the 2025 occasion (13-15 March) on the Brabanthallen in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the world, Olympic, European and nationwide champions are to leap a course on one another’s horses.

Henrik von Eckermann, Christian Kukuk, Steve Guerdat and Willem Greve have agreed to recreate the “remaining 4”, which was a part of the World Championships from 1978 to 2014. The highest 4 riders within the particular person competitors would every leap a shorter course on the others’ horses, however the FEI introduced the format to an finish on the 2016 basic meeting.

Dutch Masters sports activities director Jeroen Dubbeldam, who was Olympic champion in 2000 and likewise the final world champion to win within the outdated format, in 2014, is behind the transfer, with Yvonne van Bergen.

“Everyone knows that the horse change has been taken out of the World Championship format. I’ve at all times thought it was a really fascinating check and likewise typically ridden it myself,” he mentioned.

“It’s fascinating for the viewers to see how the completely different horses work together with the completely different riders and the way the riders reply to this. Additionally exterior our scene there have been at all times a variety of optimistic reactions to this class, which is why I feel this class ought to keep in our sport.”

Jeroen Dubbeldam managed to safe all 4 reigning champions for the category.

“I began by sounding out European champion Steve Guerdat. He’s somebody with a imaginative and prescient and an opinion, and he was instantly very enthusiastic, as had been the opposite champions,” he mentioned.

“I feel it’s going to be very fascinating – you don’t typically expertise the champions all coming into the ring and leaping a course on one another’s horses. I’ll clarify to the viewers in the course of the competitors itself and ask the riders questions on their horses. We’re nonetheless discussing which horses they are going to begin with, however it will likely be a severe class at 1.45m/1.50m stage. We actually suppose this can catch on, so we will increase this class additional sooner or later.”

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H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Captivated with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all points of the business, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of selection is showjumping, wherein she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping exhibits by way of to worldwide championships.