The WoSJ Blog is back, and this week Lovisa Munter – Bertram Allen's show groom – takes us behind the scenes at the 2025 GC Playoffs in Prague. 

Prague, oh, Prague, you definitely brought all the drama for the grand season finale. From sketchy eliminations and tricky courses putting even the best to test to back-up-against-the-wall clear rounds and storybook endings.

But let's start with our trip to the GC Playoffs in Prague. This year we, once again, brought only Pacino Amiro, "Buddy", there. Buddy has always done exceptional in the O2 Arena with a win in the final with Miami Celtics three years ago and being just shy of the podium in fourth in the Super Grand Prix the year after. Last year we weren’t on a GCL team but this year we we're back with New York Empire once again.

For me personally, Prague is a highlight of the indoor season. It really is the grand finale; everyone has been travelling together like a circus to all those major cities the past year and it all leads up to this. While it may not have the feeling of history like, for example, the Rolex Majors, everyone knows what the Playoffs mean for our sport. The best riders go there, they bring their best horses and the sport is always exceptional.

I arrived at the venue on Tuesday evening, got myself and Buddy settled in and then we jumped our first class, a 1.45m, on Thursday before the Quarter Finals. The plan was to sit out the first team round and then get in for the Semi-Finals. Well, that would be if the team qualified which ended up not being the case. We were the first team out and I went to bed thinking I was gonna drive home the following morning.

But, then... I think no one following our sport has managed to miss out what happened after the Quarter Finals and it was, of course, the big talk in the stables the following day. For us in New York Empire it was mixed feelings; the elimination of Simon Delestre was a joke seeing the said rule hasn't been followed previously in the season, but for egoistic reasons we were obviously happy to get a second chance.

So... Semi-Finals. We were the first team out and Buddy jumped a fantastic round with a silly fault. The team finished on a score of 16 and we thought that we were out. Then the poles (and riders) kept falling. By what felt like a miracle we ended up third!

Saturday, resting day. Everyone’s focus on the Super Grand Prix later that night. Simon, the groom of Pieter Devos, arranges a very popular betting every year where everyone can put their money on whoever they think is gonna get on top of the podium. I always bet on my friends; this year it was Abdel. While a little disappointed in the first round, the second round really had everything you can ask for as a spectator! We filled up the groom’s lounge for the second round and everyone was on their toes. It really felt like a class where anything could happen and in the end my bet worked out – thank you Abdel, Malin and Big Bonnie!

And so came Sunday... It all leads up to this. Six teams, 18 riders and horses. We thought we had a good chance, but so does everyone who has made it into the Finals. Buddy did not have a great first round with three down which is very uncharacteristic for him, but Denis and Scott kept the dream alive with two great rounds.

I had zero expectations going into the second round and I was so, so relieved when Buddy and Berti pulled out a masterclass of a clear to round up our weekend. Scott and Jeff made another fantastic clear round but on a total of 28 faults we went back to the stable and thought any chance of a podium was far gone. And then again... The poles kept falling! Team after team kept ending up behind us on the score sheet and we got our horses ready in a rush and headed back to the warm-up. In the end we finished up in third and I couldn't be prouder of this team, all four riders, horses and grooms really contributed during the whole Playoffs and it was nice to see it pay off.

As for the winning team, Rome Gladiators, I couldn't be happier for them. I don't think many of us had them as the winners at the start of the day and I'm so happy for my friends Madde and Oona who are two of the hardest working people I know and a big part in their success.

Writing this, me and Buddy are finally home after beating both snow storms and icy roads. He's happy back in his stable and I'm happy I've got to be his person for the last five year. This was our last big show of the season and now a pretty easy December awaits before the next season kicks off in the early days of January. It's been a very busy year and I think we're all looking forward to some holidays!

– Lovisa –