Text © World of Showjumping

“We all had a chance to get into the week with a nice round and show our horses the ring and the set-up, and probably from now on it is only going to get bigger,” the 2025 European Champion and current world no. four, Germany’s Richard Vogel said after winning the CSIO5* 1.55m Cardel Homes Cup at Spruce Meadows with Phenyo van het Keysersbos (Corydon van T&L x Heartbreaker).

“Phenyo is a very cool horse in our string,” Vogel said about the 10-year-old stallion. “He is always very motivated for the sport and especially going fast. I thought I take a chance with this class and right away put him in a big class. Probably a horse like him would have also suited to do the first class, a smaller class as the first class, but he was here last year and he actually felt really comfortable, so I thought we just build up on that – and luckily it paid off well. He gave me a super feeling already in the first round, he jumped super and did a very good job in the jump-off. He is naturally fast already, but we had some good roll-backs and good ground speed, which I think kept us in front.”

The CSIO5* 1.55m Cardel Homes Cup on Wednesday afternoon saw 60 competitors enter the International Ring at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ 2025 in Calgary, Canada. Fourteen horse-and-rider combinations jumped clear over the first-round track designed by Leopoldo Palacious (VEN), that counted 11 obstacles and 15 efforts in a time allowed of 72 seconds. 

“I thought it was a very nice course, nice and inviting for the first day,” Vogel, who took the win with a time of 38.93 in the jump-off, analyzed afterwards. “We had three doubles, but nothing very crazy, I think all the horses handled it pretty well. Time allowed was short enough, but all of us coming here, we know Leopoldo good enough to kind of have an idea that the time would be short. I think he did a super job.”

The 2023 European Champion, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat – currently ranked 8th in the world – and Albführen’s Iashin Sitte (Bamako de Muze x Tinka’s Boy) had to settle for second when the clock stopped on 39.29 for the Swiss duo, while Sophie Hinners (GER) and Iron Dames Singclair (Singular LS La Silla x Cardento 933) took third in 39.58. The 2024 team Olympic Champion Ben Maher (GBR) and Enjeu de Grisien (Toulon x Andiamo) finished fourth in 40.22, followed by Lillie Keenan (USA) and Kick On (Warrior x Caretino Glory) in fifth in 40.42.

“I think we are all really excited to be here,” Vogel said about being back at Spruce Meadows, a venue that this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. “I really love this show. It’s my third time showing here and especially with the anniversary, it is something special. Once we got here, we could feel that the organizers have put so much thought and effort into this anniversary. Luckily, me personally with my horses are off to a good start, it is always a nice feeling.”

With Saturday’s CSIO5* 1.60m BMO Nations' Cup and Sunday’s 'CPKC International' Grand Prix, presented by Rolex still ahead, Vogel was happy to get the week going with a win. “It is always nice, to go confident into those big classes,” the 28-year-old explained. “I think our sport is a very mental sport, so if you have good confidence and you feel everything is going well for you, it is definitely easier to ride those big tracks that we are going to face throughout the week.”

“I think the whole world thinks that what makes it special is what is happening inside the ring,” Vogel said when asked what he thinks makes Spruce Meadows so special. “We see it is very traditional material, the obstacles have not changed so much. Of course, every year we have some additions from the championships, but those long poles and those massive fences and fillers, it is something we don’t see week in and week out – it is quite unique. This is what the whole world sees, but once you actually get to the show, it is so many things also outside the arena that makes it so special. The place itself I think has a very special environment, a kind of chemistry that is here that you really feel once you step into the venue. It is always very nice to come back and I think our horses really like it too.”