Show Jumping World Cup

On Sunday, April 18, the U. S. Equestrian Federation lodged a formal protest against the disqualification of McLain Ward’s horse, Sapphire at the 2010 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final.

No one was more surprised than Marcus Ehning to find himself on top of the podium in today’s Rolex/FEI World Cup Final in Geneva, Switzerland. He’d pretty much written off his chances after a conservative Round 1 left him 10^th, but sheer will and a dash of luck boosted the German rider to his third World Cup title today, April 18.

Ehning finished just ahead of a tie for second between fellow countryman Ludger Beerbaum and the Swiss Pius Schwizer. Portugal’s Luciana Diniz finished fourth in her first individual championship just ahead of Dermott Lennon from Ireland.

In an effort to explain the controversial decision to eliminate Sapphire from the Rolex/FEI Show Jumping World Cup Final, the Fédération Equestre Internationale held a press conference this afternoon, April 17, at the Palexpo Arena in Geneva, Switzerland.

A huge crowd that included journalists, riders, trainers and other curious equestrians packed in to hear why late last night the FEI decided to disqualify McLain Ward’s mount from Round 2 following a hypersensitivity test. 

On April 17, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, the president of the Federation Equestre Internationale, released a statement concerning the disqualification of McLain Ward's Sapphire from the Rolex FEI World Cup Final.

In response to the disqualification of Sapphire, McLain Ward’s mount in the Rolex/FEI Show Jumping World Cup Final in Geneva, Switzerland, following a thermography and clinical exam yesterday April 16, the U.S.

McLain Ward’s mount in the Rolex/FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final, Sapphire, was eliminated from the Round 2 of the Final in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday, April 16, and has been disqualified from the rest of the event following a positive hypersensitivity test.

The horse was selected for thermography testing on her legs yesterday and U.S. Team Veterinarian Tim Ober, DVM, was notified in the late afternoon that the horse would be tested shortly before Round 2 of the Final.

After a disappointing 2-rail performance in Round 1 of the Rolex/FEI Show Jumping World Cup Final in Geneva, Switzlerland, Steve Guerdat came back to the Palexpo Arena tonight to give his countryman a performance to cheer for. Guerdat won Round 2 of the Final today, April 16, after a speedy jump-off aboard Tresor V.

“I don’t think [this win] is revenge from yesterday—it’s just the sport,” said Guerdat. “Yesterday I wasn’t good enough, and I was better today. I was good enough to win the class.”

Two years ago a U.S. rider that few Europeans had ever heard of showed up in Götenburg, Sweden, with a tiny chestnut horse, then amazed the continent by jumping to second in the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final.

And he’s on his way to doing even better this time around.

Rich Fellers and the bounding Flexible tore up the ring at the Palexpo Arena in Gevena, Switzerland, to claim the first round of the Rolex/FEI World Cup Final. Fellers edged out U.S. compatriot McLain Ward and Sapphire in the speed round today, April 15, with Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa taking third.