The 2022 FEI Jumping World Championships kicked off inside Stutteri Ask Stadium in Herning, Denmark, on August 10 with individual and team qualifiers. The 17-effort track was designed by Louis Konickx (NED) and Quintin Maertens (NED). It featured 1.55m fences, an open water obstacle and a triple-bar into a one stride. A total of 103 horse and rider combinations challenged the speed round, with four seconds added for every downed rail.

The Swedes Can’t Be Stopped in the 2022 FEI Jumping World Championships

At the conclusion of the first day of team competition, Team Sweden tops the leaderboard. They are followed by Team France in second and Team Belgium in third.

Team Sweden

First to go for the Swedes was Jens Fredricson and Markan Cosmopolit, an 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding owned by Interbreed AB and Strömsholms Marketenteri. They finished the track in 84.50 seconds.

Malin Baryard-Johnsson and H&M Indiana, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Stuteri Arch, followed them. Unfortunately, they racked up eight faults for a total of 94.62 seconds. The pair’s result will act as the team’s dropped score.

Third to go, current world number one rider, Henrik von Eckermann, lived up to his title with a fast round of 80.23 seconds. He rode King Edward, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Dufour Stables AG.

The team’s anchor, Peder Fredricson, nailed down the first place position for Sweden when he and H&M All In, a 16-year-old SBS gelding owned by Stuteri Arch, tripped the timers at 79.88 seconds.

Team France

Simon Delestre and Cayman Jolly Jumper, a 10-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Go Horses and Philippe Berthol Agriculture, were the first to test the track for France. They finished with a clear round in 84.93 seconds.

Gregory Cottard and Bibici, an 11-year-old Selle Francais mare owned by Ellla Construction SA, stepped up to the plate next, completing the course clear in 84.09 seconds.

They were followed by Julien Epaillard aboard Caracole de la Roque, a 10-year-old Selle Fracais mare owned by EURL Top Stallions Company. This pair were the quickest overall of the day at 79.08 seconds.

Last to go for the French was Kevin Staut aboard Scuderia 1918 Viking d’la Rousserie, a 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by SAS Finegal. They unfortunately had a fall at 5B, but horse and rider were fine. As a result, he was eliminated and his score dropped.

Team Belgium

Nicola Philippaerts and Katanga vh Dingeshof, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Team Philippaerts, Familie Lens and AMB Holding NV, were fourth in the order of go and set the bar high early on. The pair was speedy and clean in 81.02 seconds, a time that stayed in the top 10 for the remainder of the day.

Jos Verlooy and Igor, a 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Eurohorse BVA and Graziella Jannssen, followed up with another quick and clear time of 83.41 seconds.

Jérôme Guery and Quel Homme de Hus, a 16-year-old Holsteiner stallion owned by himself, Alexander Oancea and Eden Farm FARL, were the next Belgian team to challenge the course. They garnered yet another clear round for the nation in 83.78 seconds.

Last for the team was Gregory Wathelet aboard Nevados S, a 14-year-old PZHK stallion owned by the Nevados Group. They had four faults that resulted in a total of 84.12 seconds.

Fractions of a Second Separate Individuals in the 2022 FEI Jumping World Championships

France’s Julien Epaillard and Caracole de la Roque currently top the individual standings after day one of competition. The combo went fast and clear in 79.08 seconds, a time that the 36 remaining riders couldn’t beat. “I had a good start, and my horse felt relaxed today,” commented Epaillard. “I had my plan and followed it. She jumps everything with a great scope but can sometimes react to the public.” However, that didn’t seem to be a problem for the mare today.

Great Britain’s Scott Brash and Hello Jefferson, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham, made their way to the second place position in 79.54 seconds. “It feels amazing. Intuitive. I’ve felt that way for the last few months,” said Brash about riding Hello Jefferson. “There is still a lot of jumping to be done in a week, and I’m sure [the leaderboard] will change a lot. Yet, he’s at the top of his game right now. He loves doing a job. And he has a big engine.”

Reigning World Equestrian Games (2018) individual silver medalist Martin Fuchs rounded out the top three with Adolfo Juri’s 10-year-old KWPN gelding, Leone Jei. The duo stopped the clock at 79.79 seconds to move into podium position. “My horse has a massive stride. When I walked the course, I looked for where I could take out strides,” Fuchs shared about his strategy. He and rest of the Swiss team have their eyes on the prize. “We came here to take medals, and we have a very strong team,” he said. “We go on and hope we win medals!”

Team USA Ladies

First to enter Stutteri Ask Stadium to represent the U.S. was Lillie Keenan aboard Argan de Beliard, a 12-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Chansonette Farm LLC. Keenan laid down the example for the rest of the team with a clear round in 87.23 seconds. That put her in 38th place in the 2022 FEI Jumping World Championships. “I feel extremely lucky to have such an incredible horse,” said Keenan. “And I am looking forward to the rest of the week with Team USA!”

Following Keenan was Adrienne Sternlicht and Cristalline. This pair also represented the U.S. on the gold medal winning team at the World Equestrian Games in 2018. Sternlicht and Starlight Farms 1 LLC’s 14-year-old Bavarian Warmblood mare had the front plank down at fence 4, an oxer that proved challenging for many riders. They finished on a time of 93.07 seconds to move into 69th place. “My horse was fantastic,” said Sternlicht. “I knew today would be the most difficult round of competition for us. I made a technical error at the beginning – lining up the 8 stride line from [fence] 4 to [fence] 5 too directly. I’m super happy with the way she jumped and am very motivated to go clear tomorrow for the team and to do her justice.”

Team USA Men

Brian Moggre and Balou du Reventon, a 16-year-old Oldenburg stallion owned by Ann Thompson, were next in the ring for the United States. The duo produced the nation’s second clear round of the day, tripping the timers at 83.89 seconds. “He was fantastic. I am so, so happy,” shared Moggre. “My plan after watching the first two riders from my team was go giving it a shot. I was going for it and to finish like this is a very great start of the weekend.” Moggre and Balou du Reventon are the only U.S. pair currently in the top 20, sitting in 19th place.

McLain Ward and Contagious, a 13-year-old German Sport Horse gelding owned by Beechwood Stables LLC, anchored the team. Unfortunately, they had the same issue at fence 4 that Sternlicht experienced. “I had to take a real shot,” said Ward. “We were better in the end than in the beginning. [Contagious] really wants to jump clean and he trusts me, and even today where we had that early rail, I know he would keep on doing his best.” The pair finished on 83.05 seconds and currently hold 29th place.

How to Follow the 2022 FEI Jumping World Championships

For the time schedule and results, click here.

You can tune into the livestream of the 2022 FEI Jumping World Championships on FEI TV. Watch highlights, including winning rounds, on the FEI’s YouTube channel.