Weg Jumping Preview

Jumping (4-9 October)
Reigning  WEG  champions: Netherlands (team) and Jos Lansink/Cumano/BEL (Individual)

 The defending Jumping champions from The Netherlands had a tough year avoiding relegation from the top-level Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ series in 2010 so don't look the force they were four years ago.  Both Germany and France have won the World Equestrian Games team title twice, and the French are on form having claimed the Meydan title for  the second successive season this summer. However the host nation and reigning Olympic champions are the ones to be reckoned with on their home ground in Kentucky.  And never discount the Irish. They scored a surprise victory at Aachen in July and are fielding the same team.

 The USA will also challenge strongly for the individual honours, with McLain Ward and  Sapphire  in  sparkling  form  in  recent  months.  Frenchman  Kevin  Staut  is currently  leading the Rolex World Rankings and other major contenders include 2010 Rolex FEI World Cup™ champion Marcus Ehning from Germany and Olympic champion, Canada's Eric Lamaze. But the individual title is a wide-open affair. Riders must have a really talented horse to make it to the closing stages when it all comes down  to  horsemanship as the top four go head-to-head in the deciding competition during  which they exchange mounts.    Experience, and the ability to adapt to a horse you have never ridden, are key to victory.

(Courtesy FEI)