We catch up with some familiar faces on the international showjumping circuit about what they consider to have been the best of the best of the year that soon comes to an end.
Sean Lynch, Daniel Deusser's groom:
"Highlight of the year? Well, there were two of them actually: The weekend in Oslo, winning both the Grand Prix and World Cup after an awful few months and then Cornet d'Amour's first five-star Grand Prix back and win in Paris!
The horse of the year would be Don VHP Z in my opinion, and the rider of the year Harrie Smolders. As to the groom of the year, well that’s hard, there are so many good ones! I’m gonna go with Alex Tyler-Morris who works for Harrie for what can only be described as a year to never forget!
The show of the year for me is Treffen, always Treffen! But more so this year as it was my last show with First Class."
Madelen Isaksson, Douglas Lindelöw's groom:
”We had a great year, with the team silver medal at the Europeans as a highlight. Also the Nations Cups season went well for us, and Zacramento was double clear in Rome. We have been waiting for that for quite a while, so that was a great feeling. We always knew that he is a really good horse, so it is fantastic that he starts to show it now.
We got Zacramento about 1,5 year ago, and he has had a real development on a personal level. He was quite shy when he came, and now he really knows he is a star and takes his place. I really like when you cannot only see a development on the results, but also with the horses' personality.
For next year I hope we will go to the US and the World Equestrian Games as well as to the World Cup Final in Paris. Then we have a lot of nice horses that turn eight and nine next year. I have big hopes for Jezebel that is eight now, and then we have Envalira des Dames that will be eight next year. So I hope we have some young ones making a step up next year. “
Terri Fitton, Eduardo Alvarez Aznar's groom:
"Winning the World Cup in Zürich is my best memory from 2017, it was a great start to the year and Edu’s biggest win to date. All the work and preparation we put in every day was really paid back.
The horse of the year is in my opinion Don VHP: Such consistency through the whole year in the Globals and in the Nations Cups. The rider of the year would for me be Alberto Zorzi, he is super stylish and natural as well as very consistent on many different types of horses.
As groom of the year I would like to pick Lisa Parkko, who works for Maikel van der Vleuten. She is super dedicated, and always puts her horses first. She does everything for them, and is always working to the highest standard.
The show of the year would be Olympia, for the special atmosphere and crowds as well as the Nations Cup show in Rome as they have good facilities for the horses and grooms."
Text © World of Showjumping // Pictures © Jenny Abrahamsson and Tiffany Van Halle
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