Text © World of Showjumping

In January, current world number one Henrik von Eckermann and the 14-year-old mare Glamour Girl (VDL Zirocco Blue x Caletto I) pulled off a hat-trick when winning the CSI4* 1.50m Hermès Classic, the CSI4* 1.55m Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 3 and the CSI3* 1.45m Dodd Technologies at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, USA – three consecutive wins over just as many weeks. “Having Glamour Girl win here in front of her owner Robin Parsky is special, it's nice to be able to give something back this way,” von Eckermann – who has opted to spend nine weeks competing at WEF this winter – tells World of Showjumping.

Von Eckermann got the ride on Glamour Girl when she was eight. “Robin Parsky was looking for a rider for her, and she knows Georg Kähny who owns several of my other horses,” von Eckermann explains about the story behind the extremely competitive mare. “That's how I came in contact with Robin, and got Glamour Girl in our stable.”

While von Eckermann and Glamour Girl have recorded many victories during their years together, it took time to hit the right notes with the sensitive mare. “In the beginning, it took some time for me to find my way with her,” von Eckermann recalls. “She's a special mare and has a mind of her own. Eventually, I figured out how she wanted to have it and once she started to win she has been at it ever since. She has 30 wins at 1.50m level and higher. When she goes in the ring, she is unbelievable. She is so competitive; she knows exactly where her legs are and basically the only thing I have to do as a rider is to guide her along. She's running by herself, I just have to lead the way and not do too much to interfere with her.”

“It's what I do every time when there is a new horse,” von Eckermann continues to explain about the process of finding the key to a successful partnership. “I try to find out what suits each horse the best – and every horse is different. In the end, Glamour Girl has a lot of power and her own will, and I have found a way to use that in my favour and have her on my side. I have to say that there are not many horses that I can go in a jump-off with and never ever think about the other competitors or worry if I'm going to be faster. With her, I know that even if I do the strides that the others do, she will be faster. She is just so efficient. That of course makes winning easier, because on her I feel very confident when I go in the ring.”

Keeping Glamour Girl at a certain level and not pushing her to jump the biggest Grand Prixs in the world has been another key to success. “When she goes to the show, she has to be motivated,” von Eckermann points out. “If you take that away from her, it doesn't work. Every once in a while, when everything suits her perfectly, I can do a Grand Prix with her. For example, she was third in Valkenswaard last year. I can build her up for something like that every now and then, and that ring is one where she has always been happy. But to keep pushing her on that level is not an option. Especially now that she's getting a little bit older, I want to be even more mindful of her. She is wonderful and we want to enjoy our time with her as long as possible. The funny thing with her now is that even though she has just turned fourteen, when she comes out and she's squealing you know that she's in a good mood – and she’s been doing that here in Wellington.”

“I took her to Wellington because I know she likes to be outside and she's amazing in big arenas. I don't take her to small rings anymore because I know they don’t suit her. By now, I know what type of shows she likes and where she feels comfortable and can do her thing – canter,” von Eckermann tells.

“She never needs training rounds or anything like that,” von Eckermann continues. “It is all about managing her so that she feels fresh, happy and motivated – then she's unbeatable.”

For von Eckermann, being pre-qualified for the World Cup Final as the title defender was another factor that spoke in favour of going to Wellington. “And of course, I could never do this without Robin who invited me here,” von Eckermann says. “I felt that this would be the perfect moment for this in many ways. Competing in big rings outside instead of doing the indoor season with the smaller rings is better for the group of horses I brought here. For Steely Dan, who is turning nine, it's too early to be really competitive inside. He is a horse I really believe in, and I want to see if I can step him up a little bit here. I believe it is easier for a younger horse to do this outside in bigger arenas.”

“After Geneva, I did a last-minute change to also bring King Edward with me. It's always a puzzle with horses; you are always trying to figure out what is best for them,” von Eckermann concludes. “And naturally, the owners also want to see their horses, so you're trying to find a way that suits everyone. Now I have these horses here, but I still have three horses at home who can do Gothenburg, ‘s-Hertogenbosch and hopefully the World Cup Final in Basel.”

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