January 1, 2022 was kicked off for many with high hopes and statements such as "from now on, let those bubbles stay in the Champagne alone." Whereas the previous year closed on a somber Covid-19 note, fortunately, as the months of 2022 progressed, this ubiquitous problem did eventually give way to carefree equestrianism at the highest level. To recap everything, we are giving a daily summary of the highlights of the past year from now until Christmas Day. Today: January.
While quite a few international competitions were canceled due to Covid, the Winter Equestrian Festival and Global Dressage Festival in Wellington proceeded with public again! However, there was less good news for Jumping International de Bordeaux, Gothenburg Horse Show, and The Riders Tour finals in Neumünster, among others, which saw their program cancelled or postponed due to the precautions imposed.
January was not a great month for Ludger Beerbaum either. After German broadcaster RTL made videos public showing the show jumper poling his horses during training sessions, the public opinion was not soft on him. Beerbaum responded to the allegations, stressing that the well-being of his horses is always the top priority for him and his team. Later an investigation into this will also be conducted, after which the Münster public prosecutor's office had to drop the charges against the German. A precarious side effect of this case was that equestrian sports were once again cast in a bad light, which prompted animal rights organization PETA to once again call on the IOC to ban equestrian sports from the Olympic Games.
January was also the month when the FEI decided to penalize time violations more heavily, and where it also elected Martin Fuchs' champion horse Clooney 51 as "Horse of a Lifetime". In addition, British show jumper Harry Charles took the lead in the FEI U25 rankings this month, a place he has not let go of since.
The equestrian world lost a phenomenon with Willy Taets (83), best known as the breeder of the legendary gelding Hello Sanctos, after he lost his life in a fatal accident. Hallundbæk stables in Denmark mourned the death of Jørgen Hallundbæk, of which his children Clara and Emil are great talents in the showjumping world. Further sad news after the passing of 33-year-old breeding stallion Tinka's Boy, and with Kevin Staut's former top horse Qurack de Failaise dying of colic at age 18.
Moreover, German Maurice Tebbel made the decision to join the team at Jan Tops in January, after which Nisse Lüneburg followed his compatriot to Valkenswaard in The Netherlands as well. As a last highlight, Geir Gulliksen retired his 21-year-old European Championship horse Edesa S Banjan. The BWP gelding was still in great shape, and was allowed to enjoy a well-deserved retirement with daughter Victoria Gulliksen in Belgium.
