In Rio de Janeiro Nick Skelton was the best. The British show jumping 'veteran' managed to complete his attempt of four years ago in London, with the same horse: Big Star (by Quick Star). Nick Skelton was the man in form in Rio. After his victory, Skelton was nominated for plenty sport awards, among others the FEI Award (read here).
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Not only Skelton took an epic win in Rio. The dressage and eventing winners ensured top level sport as well as the Paralympic Games. All showed the importance of the equestrian sport and value of the different disciplines.
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2016 was also a year of change. A year were the JumpingClash Challenge got introduced after a justified criticism of the old fashioned show jumping format we still use. At the Madrid Horse Week the new format was tested in a CSI2* class. In 2017 the JumpingClash Challenge will kick-off in Belgium's Jumping Antwerp in April, 2017.
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America was surprised and happy with Kaley Cuocco's nomination as Horsewomen of the Year in the United States of America. The Big Bang Theory-Star was awarded, and is a vast invite at the Longines Los Angeles Masters.
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On the other hand, France's Pénélope Leprévost got under fire after an incident at the warm-up, taped by a spectator. The short and subjective video got viral on social media, after Leprévost justified her reaction. Nevertheless the incident raised some questions about the use of social media and people that act like know-it all.
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Just a couple of months, 2016 was the year were we said goodbye to one of the most iconic horses in the equestrian world. Steve Guerdat's championship and Grand Prix horse albführen's Paille.
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Also iconic show jumping rider Ludger Beerbaum decided to no longer participate in major Nations Cup events and championships. His last championship, the Longines Nations Cup Finals in Barcelona, were a perfect moment to quit as the German team took the team victory.
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