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With 2023 about to reach its end, World of Showjumping sat down with Henrik von Eckermann – who has been world number one for the last seventeen consecutive months – to hear him reflect on what has been another exceptional year for him and his team.

“There are always ups and downs, but this year there have been many ups,” von Eckermann says. “It has been a fantastic year. What I am most thankful for, is having five horses for the high level who have all performed well and most importantly, they all feel – touch wood – great. All of them except King Edward have jumped and been placed in a World Cup; Calizi, Dzara Dorchival, Glamour Girl and Iliana. That is actually what I am most impressed about, that they all were so consistent and did a great job – like our whole team did.” 

“One big goal this year was the European Championship with Iliana,” von Eckermann – who was part of the winning Swedish team in Milan – continues. “Milan was a goal we started with very early. I knew I would not be jumping King Edward there, so I wanted to give Iliana the chance. I thought she would do it good, but you can never know for sure. We had a plan and we got team gold, and that it happened, was something very special.”

There are always ups and downs, but this year there have been many ups

While von Eckermann has celebrated many victories during the year, a few stood out. “To win the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ in Basel with King Edward at the beginning of the year, where his owner Georg Kähny lives, and then, in the summer, to win the LGCT Grand Prix in Stockholm in front of my home crowd – those were special occasions. And of course the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Omaha was another big goal as well. I have been trying to win the World Cup Final for many, many years and ended third two times, so to win it for once – that was the highest point of the year result-wise I think.” 

Von Eckermann’s good year did not happen by accident though; it was a result of hard work and careful planning – plus a little luck. “I always take a goal and then move backwards, to see which shows could suit each individual horse,” he explains about the planning behind it all.

It is complicated to find a balance of showing enough but not too much

“It is complicated to find a balance of showing enough but not too much. With years of having this team of horses, I think we have found a way that we believe in. Some horses need to go a bit more and then have a longer break, while some need shorter breaks more often. It is very individual, and the daily work is about finding the right balance and getting to know the horses, as they also keep changing and evolving constantly."

"Sometimes, small changes are needed in the plan according to whatever feeling I might have. For example, we made one big change in the build-up towards the World Cup Final, because I did not have the feeling I wanted with King Edward in Gothenburg. Therefore, I went to s’Hertogenbosch – which was not our initial plan – and there he felt great again. That was the one tweak I had to do with him, while with Iliana we had one plan and just stuck to it. With her, I did only grass shows and never took her on sand prior to Milan.”

Not all plans worked out – but only just. “I also wanted to win the Longines Global Champions Tour overall, but I didn’t – I finished third,” von Eckermann tells about one of the goals he did not reach in 2023. “The Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final and the LGCT Super Grand Prix were on my list to win as well, but I came second in both. However, looking at it now, I understand that it was actually a very good year – so I am happy. It is easy to forget the successes when you keep going from one show to the other and move your focus forward all the time. For me, the most important thing is that my horses are happy and sound, and despite how the shows go, as soon as I am at home on a Monday, I really appreciate what I have.” 

 For me, the most important thing is that my horses are happy and sound

While Christmas will be spent at home, von Eckermann has two clear goals for the new year ahead. “I will do less indoor shows and try to get King Edward outside as soon as possible,” he says. “I will do one World Cup with him so that he can go to the World Cup Final, but hopefully together with Iliana, so that it won’t be so heavy on him. And then after that, the big goal is Paris.” 

26.12.2023 No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.