Text © World of Showjumping

Simon Delestre’s 12-year-old gelding Cayman Jolly Jumper (Hickstead x Quaprice Bois Margot) – his ride for the 2022 World Championships in Herning (DEN) – returned to international competition at CSI2* Opglabbeek (BEL) this past weekend, after being absent for five months. 

“He had a bone edema, and it’s always difficult to know when it's safe to start and when everything is fully healed,” Delestre explained to World of Showjumping. “To be sure, we took our time with him and although he has already been back in work for a while, I have not wanted to compete him until now. Now I thought it was time to restart again as I have had a good feeling on him.”

The return of the feisty gelding went smoother than the former world number one expected. “This weekend he was really good,” Delestre says. “I would say even better than I expected. I expected him to be a little bit more excited, but he jumped really well – maybe as he gets older, he calms down… That would be good.” 

“Now I will take him to Madrid as my second horse next week,” Delestre tells about the plans for the rest of the season. “If everything is fine after Madrid, I will decide on how we move on.”