PrintAttending every World Show Jumping Championship since 1978 has left this author with countless memories.
We are rapidly approaching the start of the first U.S.-hosted Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. This particular event, which hosts the World Championships in every Fédération Equestre Internationale discipline, happens to be the event I anticipate and enjoy most within our sport. I am honored to be a member of the ground jury for show jumping and the show jumping expert for eventing this year, but there is no way I would miss it even if this weren’t the case.
I attended my first World Championship for jumping in 1978 in Aachen, Germany, and I haven’t missed a single one since. Watching, whether in the role of spectator or official, has provided more opportunities to learn about the sport and its evolution than just about anything else I could imagine. Each one brings back clear memories of special pairings and the courses they jumped.
That trip to Aachen was a real eye-opener, as it was my first time live at a European event. Although I viewed it all from a seat toward the back of the immense grandstand, I won’t forget watching the then-new combos of Paul Schoeckemohle and his soon to be great Deister, or Hugo Simon and the amazing little chestnut Gladstone.
I watched in awe as Conrad Homfeld (this year’s WEG course designer) on Balbuco nearly fell to trot on the approach to the largest and toughest triple combination I had ever seen and jumped out clear—unlike the large number who came to grief at the huge vertical/oxer/oxer effort.
It was thrilling to watch four superlative yet very different riders with totally different horses in the Final Four. No one thought the big, strong German, Gert Wiltfang, could ride Michael Matz’s fine Thoroughbred, Jet Run, but a surprisingly sensitive ride brought the gold home once again to Germany. Michael finished with bronze despite leading coming into the final day.
The next championship meant traveling to the horse-crazy country of Ireland and its famous Royal Dublin Society grounds. Aachen’s huge grass field is equaled only by Dublin’s monstrous arena. I watched Norbert Koof win the change of horses thanks to his giant dark chestnut, Fire. Everyone else found him so very difficult to master. Malcolm Pyrah, a great rider in his own right, struggled with the nearly 18-hand German horse so different from his own more nimble Anglezarke. Norbert’s victory was a timely one since he suffered severe paralysis in a fall not that much later.
This was the first time I witnessed the superb horsemanship of Frenchman Michel Robert. Michel, now in his 60s and still riding at the top of his game, is one of the smoothest riders I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch. He was a successful eventer before focusing strictly on jumping, and his forward yet smooth style is a joy to watch.
A Personal Stake
Four years later, the championships returned to Aachen. Watching the event unfold had a new meaning for me since this was the first team selected by a new selection committee on which I served. Conrad Homfeld, Katie Monahan (now Prudent), Michael Matz and Katharine Burdsall made up the team.
