A thrilling €27,000 Cayenne Puissance class CSI 5* had the crowd roaring with excitement at Olympia, The London International Horse Show CSI 5*-W when four combinations took on the 7ft 4in wall in the fifth and final round.

Only two, however, managed to leave all the bricks intact: Britain’s Guy Williams (GBR) on Mr Blue Sky UK (Chacco Blue x Cento) and French rider Mathieu Billot (FRA) on Dassler (Douglas x Cassini II), a horse that jumped in the 2017 Cayenne Puissance under the saddle of Louise Saywell (GBR).

The wall was at its highest since 2006, when John Whitaker (GBR), Robert Whitaker (GBR) and Markus Fuchs (SUI) shared first prize, also at 7ft 4in. Coincidentally, Williams, who lives in France, and Billot had shared the spoils in a puissance class in Rouen recently, jumping the same height.

Mathieu Billot (FRA) & Dassler

“C’est magnifique!” said an elated Billot, who was paying his first visit to Olympia.

Williams is considering trying for a record on Mr. Blue Sky because he jumps so smoothly. The horse has been taken slowly because of his height and has had some dressage training to calm him. “He makes it look easy but he’s actually quite sharp and nervous and he becomes strong to ride,” Williams explained.

Young rider Alfie Bradstock (GBR), riding H.d’Or (Catwalk van de Helle x Caesar van de Helle), and regular puissance specialists Karline de Brabander (BEL) and Fantomas de Muze (Sandro Boy x For Pleasure), also reached the final round but Bradstock hit the wall and de Brabander suffered an unfortunate fall.

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Source: Press release from Revolution Sports for Olympia – The London International Horse Show

Photo: © Horsepower / Kit Houghton