Press release from FEI, edited by World of Showjumping

An elated Willem Greve (NED) capitalised on his pole position of final draw in a seven-strong jump-off to take victory in the fourth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2025/2026 Western European League held in Stuttgart (GER) aboard the exciting 10-year-old mare Pretty Woman van’t Paradijs N.O.P. (Vigo d’Arsouilles x Bamako de Muze). In doing so he relegated Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida’s (POR) early target-setting round to second with Karonia.L (Harley x G-Ramiro Z) whilst Peder Fredricson (SWE) claimed the final podium position aboard Alcapone des Carmille (Diamant de Semilly x Heartbreaker).

Martin Fuchs (SUI) on L&L Lorde (Clyde Lvb Z x Elan de la Cour) was the first pair to provide all the answers to Christa Jung’s 13-fence track. Incorporating three combinations including a double of verticals, a vertical-oxer-vertical treble and a Liverpool-oxer to vertical double, her course demanded accurate riding, a fine balance of power and finesse. Testament to her course building prowess, four faults was par for the course and many brilliant rounds were denied a clear round with the dislodging of a rail.

Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida (POR), already a winner this week at Stuttgart and enjoying an incredible year which has seen him rise to 69th in the Longines Rankings, produced the second clean sheet with the 10-year-old Karonia.L from their 17th draw.

Two of the host nations’ pre-class favourites’ chances fell by the wayside in quick succession when both last week’s Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ of Verona (ITA) victors, Daniel Deusser (GER) – this time with Gangster v/h Noddevelt (Eldorado vd Zeshoek) – and Richard Vogel (GER) aboard his dual Stuttgart World Cup winner and reigning Individual European Champion United Touch S (Untouched x Lux Z) both succumbed to a rail down having looked certain of gaining a spot in the jump-off.

Max Kühner (AUT) on Blues d’Aveline (Baloussini x Coriall), Kevin Staut (FRA) with Visconti du Telman (Toulon x Dollar du Murier) and Peder Fredricson with Alcapone des Carmille showed their class and experience when producing clear rounds number three, four and five. But it wasn’t until the final few athletes of round one that the sixth and seventh combinations added their names to the start list for round two’s decider against the clock.

Yuri Mansur (BRA) showcased the experience of the ever-green QH Alfons Santo Antonio (Aromats x False Pass) as the spring-heeled gelding skipped around the track in a manner that belied his 18 years of age. Drawn 37th of the 40 pre-qualified athletes, Willem Greve then produced a textbook round that epitomised horsemanship and harmony between horse and rider to produce the seventh and final clear with Pretty Woman van’t Paradijs N.O.P. thus cementing their place with pole-position in the jump-off.

Jung presented athletes with an unusually long jump-off track comprising nine fences and ten efforts. Martin Fuchs set the pace with a classy quick clear aboard the 10-year-old stallion L&L Lorde in 47.00 seconds. The on-form Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida followed with his exciting partner, the 10-year-old grey mare Karonia.L. The clock stopped at 45.08 seconds to award them with a commanding lead.

Kühner faulted early in his attempt to catch the leading pair before Staut and Fredricson challenged with smart clears in 46.47 seconds and 45.29 seconds respectively; both falling short of the standard demanded by Giesteira Almeida. When Mansur faulted there was only one man that could deny the Portuguese of the greatest win of his career. Aboard another eye-catching 10-year-old mare in Pretty Woman van’t Paradijs, Greve was not about to throw away this golden opportunity of last to go in a Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ qualifier.

Ever the competitor, Greve set sail from the off and matched the tight turn back to the vertical at fence three and the six strides down to the wall that followed. Then he switched his mount into sports mode, setting a formidable pace on the run down to the oxer at fence five. He saw a risky forward distance to it a way back and committed, his decisiveness instilling such belief and confidence in the game chestnut mare that she didn’t have time to question him and took off a long way back from the fence amid gasps of disbelief from the sell out crowd.

Greve’s belief in Pretty Woman’s ability wasn’t misplaced as she grew wings to clear the fence, maintain balance and stole a good fraction of a second in doing so. As they followed Giesteira Almeida’s hoof prints for the remaining few fences all eyes turned to the clock. They broke the beam as the clock displayed 44.62 seconds and the stadium erupted with appreciation of the scintillating round that they had just witnessed. Greve could not hide his joy in sealing his second Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ victory within the space of the year.

An emotional Willem Greve summed up how much today’s win means to him and his team: “This feeling, this is what we do it for. The adrenaline is unbelievable and the relief. It's been a long week with just two horses here but winning as the last competitor in the jump-off for the amazing crowd here in Stuttgart is a dream come true.”

Greve expressed his gratitude to the crowd which he described as ‘full of horse people’: “For all the disciplines the stands were full which I think says a lot about the people,” he explained, before summing up the ethos of all horsemen: “We have an amazing sport, we work together with an amazing animal, and we are all here because we love that animal and nothing else. That is what bond us together here in this amazing show.” A sentiment shared by the 8,000-capacity crowd and needing no further explanation.

After four legs of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2025/2026 Western European League, Yuri Mansur (BRA) heads the standings with 28 points. Alain Jufer (SUI) takes over second position on 26 points just ahead of Daniel Deusser (GER) and Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen (NOR) who share third place with 25 points apiece. Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Sanne Thijssen (NED) lie in fifth and sixth place with 23 and 22 points respectively.

All eyes turn to A Coruña next month as the Spanish city will host leg five of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League on 7 December. London (GBR) and Mechelen (BEL) stage the festive favourite legs six and seven on 21 and 30 December to close out the calendar year.