Despite the heat, a top-fit Hermès stands in second place after the first Grand Prix day. The KWPN stallion is just below Blue Hors Zepter, who, with Nanna Merrald, was the second to start.

With 77.764%, Dinja van Liere and the KWPN stallion Hermès (Easy Game out of Bukkie elite pref prest EPTM-dres D-OC by Flemmingh, breeder G. Gijsbers from Loosbroek) put on a very solid performance in Paris. Dinja was especially happy and relieved that her first Olympic test is done. “There were a hundred thousand scenarios in my head why it wouldn’t work out, I wanted it so much! But it worked: we are Olympians.” Read Dinja van Liere’s full reaction.

Fame Benefits from the Heat
In that strong first group, Carl Hester and Fame (Bordeaux out of Bonaventura ster prest sport-dres by Rhodium), bred by Maja Gerritsen-van Klei from Leerdam, also started. This son of Bordeaux, as his rider had expected beforehand, coped well with the heat and delivered a strong Grand Prix. Although it is likely with his 77.34% that Hester will also start in the freestyle to music, where besides the top two per group, the remaining six combinations may also compete, he was not automatically qualified.

Jägerbomb Leads Last Group
Becky Moody and her self-bred Jägerbomb are directly qualified. The British pair almost reached 75% in the last group, but led their group, which she could barely believe herself. The Dante Weltino son (out of Udysee by Jazz) moved beautifully through the arena without mistakes. “I’m so proud of him,” the rider exclaims afterwards. Read Becky Moody’s full reaction.

Helix Shows Potential
Apache son Helix (out of Zeester T elite pref prest sport-dres D-OC by Jazz) did not directly qualify for the freestyle with 72.59%. The chestnut gelding, bred by Angėle Toonen from Odiliapeel, had some tension at the entrance, but improved throughout the test. “He is a very talented horse with a lot more potential, but I’ve only had him under saddle since January. The future is very promising for him, especially for the piaffe and passage,” says the rider.

Flambeau at 72.12%
With 72.12%, we see Flambeau a spot lower in the ranking. Belgian rider Larissa Pauluis was quite emotional after her test. A few years ago, it was not so certain that the Ampère son (out of Lakarla elite pref prest sport-dres PROK by Zeoliet) would perform this well. Read Larissa Pauluis’s full reaction and the story of his breeder Jose Eijkelenburg from Oisterwijk.

Third Olympics for Buriel K.H.
Juliette Ramel and her Buriel K.H. (Osmium out of Ronja K.H. ster pref prest by Krack C, breeder P. Bakker from Oterleek) are competing in their third Olympics in Paris. With 71.55%, the duo is in twelfth place. “We are here because Buriel always enjoys his work. He has a strong personality, but I’ve had him since he was seven, and there’s never been a day he didn’t want to work,” the Swedish rider says afterward.

Gotilas du Feuillard
With mistakes in parts that are normally his strong points, Corentin Pottier and his Gotilas du Feuillard (Totilas out of Vital Hit ster PROK by Ferro, breeder Unlimited Stables from Lunteren) did not achieve the score he had hoped for. Still, the French rider focuses on the positives: he is at his first Olympics, and in his home country. A 70.68% score is unlikely to qualify him for the final event.

Ecstatic Abigail Lyle
Abigail Lyle is ecstatic after her performance. She has worked for years and is competing with a horse she bought as a four-year-old. She never doubted whether Giraldo (Rousseau out of Valenza elite pref prest IBOP-dres PROK by Flemmingh, breeder G. Eggink from Lochem) would reach Grand Prix level, although some people thought his trot was too ordinary. “He was very rideable from the start, and naturally forward and responsive. I came here with low expectations. I’m very proud of my horse,” she says. Under the Irish flag, Giraldo scored 69.44%.

No Personal Record
Honnaisseur SJ (Connaisseur out of Arilena elite pref prest IBOP-dres PROK by Jazz, breeder J.M. Sanders from Beilen) scored 67.14% with Venezuelan rider Patrica Ferrando. Just below, with just under 67%, is Chris von Martels and his Eclips (Apache out of Kebora ster prest by Ferro, breeder J.T. Hoeks-Erdkamp from Zeeland). “I had hoped to set a personal record here,” the Canadian rider says afterward. “The heat was more challenging than we expected, and I could tell Eclips struggled with it too. But he always gives his all on the final centerline, and he did it again today.”

Jane Disqualified
For American rider Marcus Orlob, the Games ended abruptly. Desperado daughter Jane Jane (out of Zandra ster by Metall, breeder H.J. van Oort from Eck and Wiel) was tense before entering the arena. Blood on the leg ended their test.

Results

Media Guide Olympic Games

Source: KWPN
Photo Hermès: Dirk Caremans