With the year quietly coming to an end, the Longines Global Champions League and -Tour season also came to its conclusion this month. Furthermore, there were some elections within the FEI, and the FEI Awards Gala and GCL Season Award Ceremony celebrated their winners.
Excitement built as we got closer and closer to the denouement of the Longines GCT and GCL season in November. In the run up to the LGCT Super Grand Prix, Malin Baryard-Johnsson had to forfeit due to a minor injury to H&M Indiana, as well as Ludger Beerbaum who decided with his team to focus on the GCL Super Final a day later. Final victory in this breathtaking 1,250,000 euro Super Grand Prix went to Daniel Deusser and Tobago Z, who were followed on the podium by compatriot Katrin Eckermann, ahead of USA's McLain Ward. A day later, the Miami Celtics were the ones to claim victory in the thrilling GCL Super Cup Final. In addition, Prague celebrated the third edition of the GCL Season Awards, where Christian Ahlmann was awarded as best GCL rider of the season.
With the World Cup season in full swing, top international riders further traveled to Verona, Stuttgart, Toronto, Las Vegas, and Madrid, among others.
Moreover, Belgian's Igmar De Vos managed to convince an overwhelming majority to re-elect him for a third and final term as President of the FEI, and Rodrigo Pessoa was elected as FEI Athlete Representative for the jumping riders. The FEI committee welcomed yet another new face with Jessica Kürten, after the rider was elected as the new chairwoman of the Athletes' Commission. At the FEI Awards Gala of 2022, it was a night to go down in the history books with an all-female line-up of winners.
Some iconic champions left the international show jumping scene this month. The horses that were allowed to enjoy their well-deserved retirement from then on included Enrique Gonzales' Chacna, Niels Bruynseels' Jenson van't Meulenhof, and Edwina Tops-Alexander's California. From horse breeding station Prince came the news that Vérité Une Prince would no longer compete, but would begin her second life as a broodmare. In addition, the equestrian sport also had to say goodbye to Luciana Diniz's former World Cup horse Dover, among others, who left for the eternal green pastures at the age of 33. Harrie Theeuwes top broodmare M.Unellie 15 also lost her life at 28, as did the 20-year-old KWPN stallion Vleut.
In November, we also received the sad news that Breido Graf zu Tantzau, the well-known President of the German Equestrian Federation for 16 years, had lost his life following an illness.
Source: Equnews
