The 2021 show jumping calendar was filled with exceptional entertainment, featuring not only the sport’s most decorated competitors but also welcoming a new generation of future stars who shone brightly at the year’s four Rolex Majors. To warm up for these major events, Rolex Grand Slam sat down with Daniel Deusser!
2021 was a stellar year for you, what are your main ambitions for 2022?
"Having won the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen, my main ambition at the moment is to win the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters in March, as I am in contention to gain a bonus if I win there. So, all of my planning and preparation now is focused on going to 's-Hertogenbosch to try and win the Rolex Grand Prix there."
"With the pandemic it is difficult to plan, as many shows are being cancelled, but there are a few shows that I am really looking forward to, including La Baule which Rolex is now a partner of. I have not been there many times because of other Nations Cup competitions or other plans from the German Chef d’Equipe, so this year I am really looking forward to competing there. Of course, I always love jumping at CHIO Aachen, and I would love to win the Rolex Grand Prix there again."
How are you preparing for The Dutch Masters and which horses will you take?
"At the moment I am planning on taking Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z. I haven’t brought him out to Florida [to the Winter Equestrian Festival] so he will be fresh for the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. He is a very good horse for the indoor season, and he finished last year in great form. The Dutch Masters is such an amazing show for so many reasons, I always love going there, and the potential Rolex Grand Slam bonus makes me even more excited to return to 's-Hertogenbosch."
Looking ahead to the Majors this year, in your opinion what makes them stand out from other shows?
"The organisation of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors is phenomenal, the standards are always so high, and the facilities are the best for the horses and riders. Of course, the prize money also sets these shows above the others, which makes them very exciting for everyone; the riders, the owners and the fans of the sport. More fans come to watch the Majors than other shows, and that creates the most incredible atmosphere to ride in. Not many other shows have the capacity for such large amounts of spectators – the stadiums of CHIO Aachen and CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ for example are unmatched, and that definitely makes the Majors stand out from other shows. The Majors also have such rich history and traditions; the best riders in the world have competed at them, and now my generation of riders are part of their history, which makes them so special to compete at."
"I think that the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is absolutely comparable with the Grand Slams in tennis or golf; for example, CHIO Aachen is like the Wimbledon of the equestrian world. The Majors are in amazing locations and have incredible fans; I definitely think as a rider there is a motivation to want to perform your best at these four shows."
Killer Queen VDM is such a talented horse, do you have any new/young horses that will make their 5* debut this year?
"I have two very talented young horses here in Wellington competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival with me; Scuderia 1918 Mr Jones and In Time. I have had Scuderia 1918 Mr Jones for about two or three years now, but because of the pandemic I have not done that many shows with him. He is here in America to hopefully gain some more experience so that he can step up to the bigger classes. He jumped in a 1.50m class here the other day, and I think he is ready to make the step up soon. He has a lot of potential, has a very big character and is extremely scopey, so I am really looking forward to his future."
"In Time is a nine-year-old mare. I have only done one show with her, and that was at CHI Geneva, but I think a lot of her. She is very scopey, straightforward and wants to be careful. I have only had her for two months, but I really hope she will follow in the steps of Killer Queen VDM and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z and be able to replace them when they retire from the sport in a few years."
"They both need more experience and time to develop before they become the next ‘Killer Queen VDM’ but I think we are in good shape to have these talented young horses coming up. I think with more experience they both could be my next superstars."
Click here to read the full interview.
2021 was a stellar year for you, what are your main ambitions for 2022?
"Having won the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen, my main ambition at the moment is to win the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters in March, as I am in contention to gain a bonus if I win there. So, all of my planning and preparation now is focused on going to 's-Hertogenbosch to try and win the Rolex Grand Prix there."
"With the pandemic it is difficult to plan, as many shows are being cancelled, but there are a few shows that I am really looking forward to, including La Baule which Rolex is now a partner of. I have not been there many times because of other Nations Cup competitions or other plans from the German Chef d’Equipe, so this year I am really looking forward to competing there. Of course, I always love jumping at CHIO Aachen, and I would love to win the Rolex Grand Prix there again."
How are you preparing for The Dutch Masters and which horses will you take?
"At the moment I am planning on taking Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z. I haven’t brought him out to Florida [to the Winter Equestrian Festival] so he will be fresh for the Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. He is a very good horse for the indoor season, and he finished last year in great form. The Dutch Masters is such an amazing show for so many reasons, I always love going there, and the potential Rolex Grand Slam bonus makes me even more excited to return to 's-Hertogenbosch."
Looking ahead to the Majors this year, in your opinion what makes them stand out from other shows?
"The organisation of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors is phenomenal, the standards are always so high, and the facilities are the best for the horses and riders. Of course, the prize money also sets these shows above the others, which makes them very exciting for everyone; the riders, the owners and the fans of the sport. More fans come to watch the Majors than other shows, and that creates the most incredible atmosphere to ride in. Not many other shows have the capacity for such large amounts of spectators – the stadiums of CHIO Aachen and CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ for example are unmatched, and that definitely makes the Majors stand out from other shows. The Majors also have such rich history and traditions; the best riders in the world have competed at them, and now my generation of riders are part of their history, which makes them so special to compete at."
"I think that the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is absolutely comparable with the Grand Slams in tennis or golf; for example, CHIO Aachen is like the Wimbledon of the equestrian world. The Majors are in amazing locations and have incredible fans; I definitely think as a rider there is a motivation to want to perform your best at these four shows."
Killer Queen VDM is such a talented horse, do you have any new/young horses that will make their 5* debut this year?
"I have two very talented young horses here in Wellington competing at the Winter Equestrian Festival with me; Scuderia 1918 Mr Jones and In Time. I have had Scuderia 1918 Mr Jones for about two or three years now, but because of the pandemic I have not done that many shows with him. He is here in America to hopefully gain some more experience so that he can step up to the bigger classes. He jumped in a 1.50m class here the other day, and I think he is ready to make the step up soon. He has a lot of potential, has a very big character and is extremely scopey, so I am really looking forward to his future."
"In Time is a nine-year-old mare. I have only done one show with her, and that was at CHI Geneva, but I think a lot of her. She is very scopey, straightforward and wants to be careful. I have only had her for two months, but I really hope she will follow in the steps of Killer Queen VDM and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z and be able to replace them when they retire from the sport in a few years."
"They both need more experience and time to develop before they become the next ‘Killer Queen VDM’ but I think we are in good shape to have these talented young horses coming up. I think with more experience they both could be my next superstars."
Click here to read the full interview.