Early on Friday morning at the airport in Liege, Belgium, 27 jumping horses – along with dressage and vaulting horses, making it a total of 44 horses on board – departed on their journey towards the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2023 in Omaha, USA. The Horse Inn at Liege Airport in Belgium is specialised in handling horses and has permanent stables connected to a loading space.
As the horses arrived at the Horse Inn on Thursday evening, settling into their boxes for a rest while the equipment got loaded to the aircraft, World of Showjumping was allowed to hang along. At 2.30AM, the loading of the horses began, and three hours later all was set for take-off.
A special thanks to Peden Bloodstock for having us!
All photos © Nanna Nieminen for World of Showjumping.
The horses started to arrive at Liege Airport on Thursday evening. David Honnet flew to Omaha with Scott Brash's Hello Jefferson for what will be his first World Cup Final with the British rider.
Hello Jefferson getting ready to board.
Gerrit Nieberg brought Blues d’ Aveline CH to the airport himself.
German team vet Jan-Hein Swagemakers accompanied the horses on the plane...
...as did Victoria Gulliksen, who has qualified for her first World Cup Final after a fantastic 2022/2023 season.
Denis Lynch's Brooklyn Heights arriving at the Horse Inn.
Hand luggage – but make it equestrian. Each horse got a hay net, water and food prepared for them for the flight, as well as kick pads if needed.
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Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ.
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Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ.
Jur Vrieling was the only rider from Europe that opted to bring two horses to Omaha – here Long John Silver arriving at the airport.
While the equipment was loaded, the horses had some down time in their boxes and could go out for hand walks. Here, Gerrit Nieberg and Victoria Gulliksen out walking their horses prior to the flight.
Victoria Gulliksen and Papa Roach.
Daniel Deusser's Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z and Martin Fuchs' groom Sean Vard. Flying horses is always a great team effort; some of the grooms have to fly ahead and count on those at the airport to look after their horses. Needless to say, no problems here!
This time, all the horses traveled in pairs and were loaded on to containers of two. Once the horses get in the container, they get a hay net and water, and the grooms flying with them feed and check on them during the flight.
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While some opted for bandages...
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...some trusted nature.
Marcus Ehning's groom Mel Jobst and Priam du Roset waiting to load.
Even in a crowded space, Balou du Reventon caught our attention...
...just because – Balou du Reventon.
Making sure everything is ok before going into the container; Long John Silver and Sean Vard.
A moment between Andreas Schou's Darc de Lux and Hanna Carlsson.
Edouard Schmitz's beautiful Gamin van't Naastveldhof.
Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann's Messi van't Ruytershof waiting for his turn.
Still smiling...
Time to go!
Last but not least on the plane; Julien Epaillard's Donatello d'Auge and Caroline Belouet.
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Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ.
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Photo © Nanna Nieminen/WoSJ.
At 5.30 AM on Friday morning, all the horses were loaded and ready to go. See you on the other side of the pond!
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