The hard push for our showjumpers towards the 2024 Paris Olympic Games moves up a level this week with a contingent competing at the Pferd International München CSI3*. It’s the first in a run of events that will bring together many of the nation’s hopefuls as New Zealand looks to qualify a team for the Games.

ESNZ high performance jumping manager Oliver Edgecombe says the high-ranking German event will be a great benchmark for the future. “It is one of the key events we are using in preparation for the Olympic Qualifier in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, in mid-July,” said Oliver. “These are very important for both riders and selectors. It is not often we get quite a few riders at the same show.”

Munich has been a happy hunting ground for Bruce Goodin, who will compete in the 3* with Backatorps Danny V and has won the Grand Prix at the event four times. Bruce will also have Azmir D’ Asbo Z in the top classes. Daniel Meech will compete aboard Ortolaan Van Het Ruytinxbox and Donjon D’Asschaut, while Richard Gardner is there with both Calisto 5 and Cromwell 32, and New Zealand’s latest World Cup finalist Phillip Steiner rounds out the four aboard Cassina Dior. The riders will be supported by German showjumper Markus Beutel.

Tom Tarver heads to the Hamburg CSI4* with Fiber Fresh Popeye. Sharn Wordley is lining up his new horse Bull Run’s Risen at the CSI3* in Lexington, Kentucky, with Kim Bird and Cera Cassina competing in the CSI4* in Old Salem Farm, New York.

ESNZ high performance general manager Jock Paget is also excited to see the new plan roll out. “It’s great to see the programme in a position to have such a coordinated approach as we head to the qualifier,” said Jock.  It is thanks to a very generous investment from the Plaw family and the ESNZ board working together to support the campaign. “One of the things we constantly hear is how hard it is for our riders to plan for big events when they are relying so heavily on wild card entries – doing this gives them far more surety and it is nice to see that coordination happening.”

WHAT: Pferd International München CSI3*
WHEN: May 18-21, 2023
WHERE: Munich, Germany
MORE INFO: http://www.pferdinternational.de    
Watch Online: CLIPMYHORSETV

The horse details:
Calisto 5 – owned by Gestut Jennissen, Gut Nechen Agrar GmbH and Richard Gardner
Cromwell 32 – owned by Gestut Jennissen, Gut Nechen Agrar GmbH and Richard Gardner
Ippolito – owned by Gestut Jennissen and Gut Nechen Agrar GmbH
Carl Otto 5 – owned by Gestut Jennissen and Gut Nechen Agrar GmbH
Ortolaan Van Het Ruytinxbos – owned by Karel Cox
Donjon D’Asschaut – owned by Darragh McCarthy and Ian O’Grady
Casalligo – owned by Whitney Stinges
Backatorps Danny V – owned by Backatorp Ryder AB, and Bruce and Ulrika Goodin
Azmir D’ Asbo Z – owned by Stal Aerts
Boateng 9 – owned by Pia Forssell and Goodin Sporthorses AB
Cassina Dior – owned by Phillip and Sally Steiner
Fiber Fresh Popeye – owned by Tom Tarver and Lucia Voss
Bull Run’s Risen – owned by Bull Run Jumpers Inc
Cera Cassina – owned by Kim Bird

By Diana Dobson