It's a wrap to this year's edition of the Spruce Meadows 'Masters'! As always Spruce Meadows delivered an incredible event. A weekend at Spruce Meadows is like a roller-coaster of emotions – not just for the competitors and grooms, but also for the audience that is very engaged in every horse-and-rider combination. We look back at another magic week at one of our favourite venues.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
It would not be the Spruce Meadows 'Masters' without at least one rider leaving the ring by foot....
... or at least one rider barely hanging in there....
... or at least one pole breaking...
... or horses giving their absolute everything to reach that back pole.
But Spruce is also tears of joy, pure happiness and proudness.
Spruce Meadows wouldn't be Spruce Meadows without Ian Millar. Although no longer in the saddle, Millar just belongs there. Here the legend is going through the course with Conor Swail.
Eric Lamaze is one of the absolute biggest stars at Spruce Meadows, and some very happy girls could catch his ribbon.
At Spruce there are always some horses waiting ahead of the prize giving, prepared to step in for the once that actually jumped. It was impossible to stop laughing when Willem Greve thanked one of these horses for the outstanding performance actually delivered by his own horse Zypria. Thanks for the laugh Willem!
Sweden ended fourth in the Nations Cup, and it was with disappointment that they went back to the stable ahead of the prize giving.
This doesn't look quite right...
Holger Wulschner sold his super-mare Dorette just a month ago, and was without a top horse for the 'Masters'. Then his friend Vladimir Tuganov stepped in and borrowed Wulschner Cosun to compete. The first class for Wulschner and Consun together was a 1.60m class at Spruce Meadows.
A treat for Fine Lady 5, also a horse that previously was ridden by Wulschner.
It is all about the details.
It is not easy to watch your student compete! Here Eric Lamaze watching Kara Chad.
Happy Team Mexico!
Belgium had a great weekend at Spruce. First they won the Nations Cup and then they had two riders qualified for the second round in the Grand Prix. Here Yves Vanderhasselt with the wonderful Jeunesse that ended 10th, while Francois Mathy Jr. with Uno de la Roque ended 4th.
It is not Eric Lamaze's Fine Lady that is small, it is Francois Mathy Jr.'s Uno de la Roque that is huge!
Kent Farrington had for sure hoped for more when coming to Calgary. As the Live Contender in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping he had to watch the second round from the sideline after having one rail down in the first round. Luckily, there are new chances in Geneva and Den Bosch.
Then