August was a true championship month. The beginning was entirely dominated by the World Equestrian Games in Herning, where the Swedish show jumpers made history with their unmatchable performances, and also the youth battled among themselves to determine which riders deserved the championship titles.
The beginning of August was all about the World Equestrian Games in Herning. The dressage riders got to start the competition here, with the Danish team ensuring a brilliant home victory, leaving behind reigning champion Germany in second place and the UK in third. The gold in the Para Dressage team competition went to the Netherlands, ahead of Denmark and team USA.
From the show jumping camp came two less good messages, with Ben Maher forced to travel to Denmark without Olympic champion Explosion W due to fitness issues, and Darragh Kenny also had to withdraw his VDL Cartello due to a veterinary problem.
The Swedish showjumping team gave the competition no chance in Herning, jumping to unapproachable gold at the Nations Cup final. The Dutch team followed second on the podium, ahead of the UK. Individually, Sweden also left no margin. The undisputed new world number one became Henrik von Eckermann on the Belgian bred King Edward! Belgium's Jérôme Guery followed second with his majestic Quel Homme de Hus, while Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z jumped for the Netherlands up the ranks to the bronze medal.
The European Ponies Championships also took place this month. In Strzegom, Poland, Ireland took team gold in both jumping and eventing, and the German riders scored in dressage. In addition, the FEI North American Youth Championships for Jumping (NAYC) was held in Traverse City, where Zayna Rizvi won the Young Riders final.
There was even more sport with the CSIO5* Dublin Horse Show where Ireland won the Nations Cup on home soil, the LGCT of Londen, the LGCT of Valkenswaard, and the CSI5* of Brussels.
Furthermore, this month we saw Pieter Devos' 17-year-old Apart disappear from the jumping scene after his official retirement was announced by Devos' stable.
Source: Equnews