Omaha, Nebraska – April 03, 2023 – The first horse inspection took place yesterday as the 2023 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final got underway at the CHI Health Centre in Omaha (USA). A total of 40 horses from 19 nations came before the Ground Jury headed up by President Harry Braspenning (NED), and just one was held for further re-inspection tomorrow morning at 08.00 local time, Nurjon Tuyakbaev’s 10-year-old mare Lancelotta representing Uzbekistan.

The horses already took some time to exercise in the arena this morning, and tomorrow (Tuesday 4 April) they will practice over fences during the training session which begins at 13.00. The first Final competition, a 1.60m Speed and Handiness class will take place on Wednesday starting at 19.15 and the second competition, a 1.60m with jump-off, will follow on Thursday at the same time.

Friday will be a rest day before the 2023 champion is crowned on Saturday evening after a thrilling two-round contest in which the top 30 will go into round one and the best 20 then fight it out in one final round.

Many of the world’s top riders chose to trot their horses up themselves today including Great Britain’s Scott Brash with Hello Jefferson and Jur Vrieling (NED) with his lovely grey Long John Silver 3 who got a big hug from his rider when they were given the thumbs up. Fellow-Dutchman Harrie Smolders (NED) also showed Monaco NOP as did Ireland’s Denis Lynch (IRL) with Brooklyn Heights.

Presented

Defending champion, Martin Fuchs (USI), had not arrived so it was the Swiss rider’s popular groom, Irishman Sean Vard, who presented Leone Jei, the horse with which Fuchs won team gold and individual silver at the FEI European Championship in Riesenbeck (GER) in 2021.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Source: Press Release by Louise Parkes for FEI – Fédération Equestre Internationale

Photo: © FEI / Richard Juilliart

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