Press release from Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping has once again returned to the picturesque city of Geneva for the final Major of the calendar year. The CHI Geneva, which is widely regarded as the premier indoor equestrian show in the world, has once more welcomed an elite field of horse and rider combinations to the Palexpo including 17 of the world's top 20 ranked riders. 

Although the CHI Geneva officially began on Wednesday, today marked the start of the 5* jumping classes, with the highlight coming the Trophée de Genève. This prestigious class offered riders not only the opportunity to earn valuable ranking points but also a coveted place in Sunday’s Rolex Grand Prix.

First into the impressive main arena, Barbara Schnieper, set the standard over Gérard Lachat’s challenging course with a faultless clear round, much to the delight of the home crowd. Her clear was quickly replicated by the next to go, Brazil’s Stephan De Freitas Barcha, ensuring the crowd would be treated to a jump-off...

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The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is considered the top event of this sport Do you feel under pressure when designing the Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva and what are the challenges?

The Rolex Grand Prix is a challenge every year, especially since it attracts the best horses and riders in the world, so there’s a certain amount of pressure. There is also money at stake, which adds a bit of pressure, but more importantly, it’s one of the biggest competitions of the year: the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is special! We have to make sure that the course lives up to the expectations of the riders, the public and the sponsors.

Can you tell us a little bit about the course you’ve designed for Sunday?

Well, at this moment in time it’s still being built! I already have a basic plan which I think will be similar to previous years. It is quite classic, since it’s a classic event with obstacles that are close together, and it will certainly be technical in terms of distances and heights. Of course, we are always looking to achieve maximum difficulty for this type of event...

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Can you tell us a little about how the Young Riders Academy supported by Rolex was created and what its core mission is? 

After being the director of the International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) for several years, I realized that to be a champion today that talent is not enough. You need to know how to manage a number of different aspects of the sport. This includes being able to manage the stables, be a good communicator, and be knowledgeable about veterinary issues and several other things. 

In addition, to give back to the sport you must know how the institutions in the sport such as the FEI and the IOC work. I began discussing the idea of a programme for young riders a number of years ago, maybe around 20 years ago, with the president of the German Federation. Then he told me, that with the institution you will not be able to build up something that is strong and for the future. 

Therefore, Young Riders Academy supported by Rolex (YRA) is a private project developed by Athenaeum, a non-profit organization, and we have worked together to build a programme that benefits the young rider...

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The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is considered by the sport to be the ultimate equestrian challenge, primarily due to the sporting prowess required to achieve this feat. It is a quest taken on by the world’s top riders, vying to secure the legendary status associated with winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

The format of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is simple: anyone who wins three Majors in a row receives the Rolex Grand Slam trophy and a €1 million bonus on top of the class’s prize-money. If that same rider then continues their success by winning a fourth Major in succession, they will be rewarded with an additional €1 million bonus.