Photo Credit – FEI
Dylan Bibby is amped and ready to go at the 2022 Youth Equestrian Games which are being held at the iconic CHIO Aachen in Germany.
He’s just finished three days of training with Chasseur Ask Z and says things are looking good.
“We did flat work the first day, with a couple of small fences up to 1m the 2nd day, and today we jumped a 1m-1.1m course,” said Dylan. “He jumped well. I am so happy. He is a very nice gelding with a big forward way of going, and while he is a smaller horse, he easily gets the distances.”
Chasseur Ask Z has competed up to 1.5m internationally with his best results coming when he was campaigned by Swiss rider Simone Buhofer. He is currently competing up to 1.45m in Germany with Christoffer Lindenberg. The 11-year-old chestnut is by Casall.
Dylan is riding as part of Team Australasia, alongside Maleah Lang-McMahon (AUS), Abdulaziz Fahad Aleid (KSA), Aya Hamcho (SYR) and Khaled Ahmed Al Hammadi (UAE).
Coach Lucy Olphert says Dylan and his horse are gelling nicely, and “absolutely nailed” a round in the main stadium at Aachen.
The 30 teenage riders – aged between 15-18 – have had a couple days to get to know their horses, with competition getting underway on Wednesday (June 29) with the first round of the team competition and running through until July 3. Combinations will compete in both team and individual competitions. All are riding borrowed and unfamiliar horses and taking part in a specially-designed education programme in their ‘down time’.
At Wednesday’s team event, just the best three results count, with the individual competition starting on Saturday (July 2).
The chance to compete at CHIO Aachen – an impressive show that is considered to be second only to the Olympic Games and World Championships – came with the postponement of the Youth Olympic Games, which led to the Youth Equestrian Games. They are based around the same principles as the Youth Olympic Games, which have always been an important stepping stone for many youngsters.
The Jumping Team – 27 June 2022