The audience in Oslo witnessed a technical Jumping competition on a course that demanded both agility and power—two qualities Bond Jamesbond de Hay clearly possessed and fully utilised. “Bond has great scope and a lot of flexibility, which is rare given his big, massive body. He makes showjumping feel very easy for me. Ever since we became a combination, we’ve been delivering clear rounds almost every time,” says Wathelet.

Despite his victory, Wathelet believes he can improve his performance. “A win is always wonderful, and it’s not every day that I ride a World Cup competition,” he said jubilantly after his win. “Still, I think there’s room for improvement. This was Bond’s first indoor event after the outdoor season, and I believe he could get into a bit more routine. However, I chose to give him some rest before this competition because we just finished 3 days of competition in Brussels (CSIO5*)”