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<p>Over the course of 2023, we were lucky to have seen multiple strong horses and riders produce incredible results around the globe. <strong>The <span style="text-decoration: underline;">EquiRatings Clears Against Standard</span> (CAS) metric compares each horse to their average competitors and establishes how far above or below average a particular horse is</strong>. As we discuss some of the most in-form horses of 2023, we look at the horses who have built up the highest CAS value at CSI4* &amp; CSI5* level over courses at 150 and above.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Odense Odeveld</h2>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Rider</span>: Emanuele Camilli</em><br><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Breeder</span>: Caroline de Laet (Stal Odeveld)</em></p>
<p>Odense Odeveld is without a doubt one of the breakthrough horses of 2023. Only making his five-star 160 debut in June, Odense Odeveld proved to be a quick learner. The following month, the pair represented Italy in the Nations Cup of Sweden in Falsterbo and produced a double clear round. To lock in their form, they then continued the weekend by climbing the podium in the CSIO5* Grand Prix of Falsterbo, which was only Odense&rsquo;s second ever five-star Grand Prix.&nbsp;</p>
<p>These results put the combination on the radar for the Italian team selection committee, as they were selected to represent the home nation at the FEI Jumping European Championships in Milan, where they secured a spot in the individual final, but decided to withdraw.</p>
<p>After a short break, the pair returned to upper-level jumping in stellar form. A flight to Mexico in November proved worth the trip as they picked up a 150 victory followed up by a runner-up finish in the CSI5* Grand Prix two days later. At their most recent outing, Emanuele and Odense collected yet another podium finish, this time in the World Cup of Riyadh two weeks ago.</p>
<p>Odense Odeveld is a great addition to the Italian team. Despite his young age, the bay gelding has picked up valuable experience in the past year, jumping <strong>44 rounds</strong> at CSI4* and CSI5* over 150 or above. As he remained <strong>clear in 2</strong>5 of them, and the average number of clears for those courses was only just under 12, Odense Odeveld has concluded 2023 on a <strong>CAS value of 13.3</strong>, higher than any other horse.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Dynamix de Belheme</h2>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Rider</span>: Steve Guerdat</em><br><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Breeder</span>: Frederic Aimez</em></p>
<p>Steve and Dynamix gave us one of the greatest sporting moments of 2023 as they produced a picture-perfect European Championship in Milan last summer. As the only combination to complete five rounds of jumping without knocking a single rail, they were deservedly crowned Individual European Champions.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Their consistency was not just reserved for the Europeans. With 18 five-star 160 rounds jumped in 2023 and 13 completed with a zero on the scoreboard, Dynamix maintained a clear rate of<strong> 72%</strong>. A number that very few have managed to match. The average clear rate for the courses Steve and Dynamix competed in is just over 28%. However, this pair produced almost 11 more clears than their average competitor.</p>
<p>What is interesting to observe is that, from 25 rounds jumped, Dynamix de Belheme produced 18 clears, while Dzara Dorchival jumped 19 clears. Still Dynamix is awarded a higher CAS value than Dzara. This is due to the average clear rate of the courses they competed in. <strong>The average clear rate of Dynamix&rsquo; rounds is 28%, while Dzara competed in classes where the average clear rate was 36%</strong>. Because Dynamix competed in tougher classes than Dzara, her CAS value will be higher.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Dourados 2</h2>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Rider</span>: Duarte Seabra</em><br><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Breeder</span>: Gretel Schulze-Buxloh</em></p>
<p>This is another young star that has shown great consistency throughout the 2023 season. This pair started their season off with great success in the Middle East where they had already picked up two podium spots in 4* and 5* World Cups, before they continued their travels to the Sunshine Tour and Europe to carry on their success. This allowed them to be selected for the European Championships in Milan to represent the Portuguese team.&nbsp;</p>
<p>While they were mostly active at four-star level this year, Dourados has proven to be able to hold his own around the world&rsquo;s biggest tracks, sporting a 40% clear rate at CSI5* 160 level (4/10).&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/279aba17-9c3d-4987-8b49-dce1512459a3?width=1640&amp;height=1892" alt="X C6oo the Most in Form Horses of 2023 at Csi4 Csi5 Level  (1)"></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Meet the most in-form horses of 2023

<p>Both the 2016 and the 2020 individual Olympic Champions had produced record-breaking seasons at the age of ten years old. If a successful ten-year-old season foresees future championship success, we look at the best ten-year-old horses of 2023, before next year&rsquo;s Paris Olympics.</p>
<h1>The Ten-Year-Old Class of 2023</h1>
<h3>James Kann Cruz: Leading since Day 1</h3>
<p><em><u>Rider</u>: Shane Sweetnam<br><u>Breeder</u>: Patrick &amp; Shane Connolly</em></p>
<p>This incredible Irish-bred gelding has been the talk of the sport for the last two seasons. After finishing his nine-year-old year as the highest-rated of his age, producing one of the Top 5 best nine-year-old seasons since recording started in 2010.</p>
<p>His success carried through in the following year when <strong>three podium finishes in five-star Grand Prix</strong>, got the Irish pair selected to represent their country at the <strong>Jumping European Championship</strong> in Milan last summer where they helped Ireland win Team Silver. This is also the year where Shane and JKC pick up their <strong>first ever World Cup victory</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>These results have allowed James Kann Cruz to keep his spot at the top of the ratings throughout the entirety of 2023. Finishing the year on an Elo rating of <strong>774</strong> also means that James Kann Cruz rates among the current Top 3 highest-rated horses in the world (of all ages!).</p>
<h3><br>Dubai du Cedre: A Shot up the Ratings</h3>
<p><em><u>Rider</u>: Julien Epaillard<br><u>Breeder</u>: Sylvain Pitois &amp; Perrine Cateline</em></p>
<p>Unlike was the case for James Kann Cruz, only very few people would have heard the name Dubai du Cedre 12 months ago. The ten-year-old mare made her 160 debut in January of this year after only being a part of Julien&rsquo;s string for 7 weeks.&nbsp;</p>
<p>While they had already picked up wins and placings at the lower levels, they started getting accustomed to the upper levels in May, when Dubai and Julien produced a <strong>clear round in the five-star Grand Prix of Rome</strong>. They followed up that performance with a <strong>double clear round in the Nations Cup of La Baule</strong> the following week.</p>
<p>Their real breakthrough came in the summer at the<strong> Jumping European Championships in Milan</strong>. An extremely fast first round immediately put them in a good position and they retained good form throughout the week to claim<strong> Individual Bronze</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Since then there has been no stopping these two. A win in the <strong>Lyon Grand Prix</strong>, followed by a runner-up position in the World Cup, as well as their <strong>superb victory in the LGCT Prague Super Grand Prix</strong> saw them shoot up the ratings and make a name for themselves among the world's best. In just 12 months, Dubai du Cedre has <strong>boosted her Elo by 129 points</strong> and now ranks among the current Top 5 highest-rated horses in the world.</p>
<h3><br>Dynamix de Belheme: Going for Gold &amp; Consistent Clears</h3>
<p><em><u>Rider</u>: Steve Guerdat<br><u>Breeder</u>: Frederic Aimez</em></p>
<p>Steve and Dynamix gave us one of the greatest sporting moments of 2023 as they produced a <strong>picture-perfect European Championship</strong> in Milan last summer. As the only combination to complete five rounds of jumping without knocking a single rail, they were deservedly crowned Individual European Champions.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Their consistency was not just reserved for the Europeans. With 18 five-star 160 rounds jumped in 2023 and 13 completed with a zero on the scoreboard, Dynamix maintained a <strong>clear rate of 72%</strong>. A number that very few have managed to match.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Most recently, we saw the pair finish in the Top 5 of the World Cup of Stuttgart and complete their 2023 season landing just shy of a podium finish in the <strong>Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva</strong>. With the experience of winning the Gold at the European Championships, Steve has a serious Paris contender in Dynamix.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/ff77156a-4e26-4112-90c9-1a068dd1b5ed?width=1240&amp;height=1712" alt="Xt Ll2 the Top 10 Highest Elo Rated 10 Year Old Horses of 2023 "></p>
<h1><br>Today&rsquo;s Top 3 Among the All-Time Top 10</h1>
<h3>Can we Name the 2024 Olympic Champion?</h3>
<p>If we look at the strongest ten-year-old seasons produced since we started recording in 2010. Only two horses managed to build higher Elo ratings than James Kann Cruz. It just so happens that those two horses are also the last two individual Olympic Champions.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In 2013, <strong>Big Star</strong> reached an Elo of 776 at the age of ten years old. Just three years later, the beautiful bay stallion would be crowned the Olympic Champion at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics with British rider Nick Skelton in the saddle.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Another young gun lined out for the next Olympic cycle. Aged ten in 2019, <strong>Explosion W</strong> broke the seal on the Elo ratings and became the first horse to reach the 800s. With a high of 804, the chestnut gelding not only held the record for highest-rated ten-year-old, no horse of any age would manage to match or improve on that rating until 4 years later. With the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, Explosion W was 12 years old when he brought home the Individual Gold Medal in 2021.</p>
<h3><br>Hopeful for Home Soil Success</h3>
<p>As next year&rsquo;s Olympic Games will take place in the French capital, Julien Epaillard will have his eyes set on a spot on the team to defend his country&rsquo;s honour on home soil. He has a superb partner in Dubai du Cedre, currently sporting an Elo rating of 770. On point higher than <strong>Flora de Mariposa</strong> managed in 2015, the year before she would go on to help the French team win Team Gold at the Rio Olympics.&nbsp;</p>
<h3><br>Among Accomplished Athletes</h3>
<p>This year&rsquo;s European Champion finished the season among the Top 10 highest-rated horses of 2023 thanks to an Elo of 769. Three other horses finished their ten-year-old season on an Elo of 769 and went on to have elaborate and successful jumping careers. Previously mentioned <strong>Flora de Mariposa</strong> is a Team Gold Olympic medalist, Peder Fredricson&rsquo;s <strong>Hansson WL</strong> is still among the current Top 5 highest-rated horses in the world and <strong>Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z</strong> is one of just three horses who has ever managed to reach an Elo rating of over 800.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/ea06abc2-999e-4301-b109-c010dff9fc3c?width=1240&amp;height=1776" alt="R02 Td All Time Highest Elo Rated 10 Year Olds "></p>

The Ten-Year-Old Class of 2023 & What that Means 

<h1>The Three Biggest Climbers</h1>
<h3>Olga vd Kruishoeve<br>+260</h3>
<p>This nine-year-old mare only joined Simon Delestre&rsquo;s stables in the latter part of the season but the pair have had fast success together. With multiple wins at 150-155 level on the World Cup circuit in Morocco and Verona, Olga quickly strengthened her Elo rating and now ranks among the Top 15 highest-rated nine-year-old horses in the world.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Mansini Ltd&nbsp;<br>+251</h3>
<p>Richard Howley only competed Mansini Ltd internationally for the first time in February last year in Bordeaux. The pair set off on the right foot as they immediately took the win and the runner-up spot the following day. They continued their success throughout the season, especially at the Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera where they picked up three more victories at 150 level.</p>
<h3>Deesse de Kerglenn<br>+214</h3>
<p>Another young star that shot up the rankings after being paired with a new rider. Harrie Smolders took over the ride on this ten-year-old in April and the pair have picked up several podium places at 150 level.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/da3d1821-21b6-4b50-9648-e33ac8f6481c?width=1430&amp;height=2638" alt="Ji8t4 Top 15 Elo Improvers in 2023 "></p>

These are the Biggest Elo Improvers of 2023

<p>After an injury sidelined him for several months at the beginning of the season, Ben Maher returned to the sport performing better than ever. Now at the end of 2023, the Brit ranks second on the Longines FEI World Rankings. With an extensive string of equine talent in his stable, could the Brit perhaps be on track to end Henrik&rsquo;s dominance and reclaim the title of world number one, which he had previously held in 2013?</p>
<h1><br>Depth in Equine Talent</h1>
<p>No other rider in today&rsquo;s topsport can equal the depth of Ben&rsquo;s string of horses, as he is the only rider to currently have 6 horses in his care that have an Elo rating of over 700. Despite losing the ride on his Olympic partner, Explosion W, due to injury, Ben has built an extensive team of horses that have allowed him to climb up the rankings and return to the spotlight in even stronger form than before Ben&rsquo;s own injury.</p>
<h3><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/cccf41fa-7c75-42c0-922c-d2ac6a13fff2?width=1140&amp;height=954" alt="I2g52 Ben Maher S String of Horses Rated Over 700 on the Elo Ratings "></h3>
<h3><br>Faltic HB</h3>
<p>Faltic HB has been Ben&rsquo;s flagship horse for the past two years. While he had already been Ben&rsquo;s partner for the Jumping World Championship in 2022, the pair clocked back in for championship duties at the European Championships in Milan last summer. Despite once again producing a superb championship, they landed just beside the podium in fourth place.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Dallas Vegas Batilly</h3>
<p>While Faltic prepared and recovered from the European Championships, Dallas Vegas Batilly didn&rsquo;t miss her chance to step up to the plate. From helping Ben win the CSI5* Rolex Grand Prix of Brussels to ensure he would be in the right headspace to tackle the European Championships the following week, to claiming the World Cup victory in Verona, this ten-year-old mare has solidified her place, not only in Ben&rsquo;s string, but also among the world&rsquo;s best.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Ginger-Blue</h3>
<p>While this mare had mainly been competitive for Ben in the 150 classes throughout the year, she really stepped up her game last weekend. In front of the home crowd at the London ExCeL arena, she was just 0.08 second shy of winning the Grand Prix at the London International Horse Show.</p>
<h3>Exit Remo</h3>
<p>This was Ben&rsquo;s horse of choice to represent the home nation at the Hickstead Nations Cup. A successful pick as they helped Team GB take the win on home soil for the first time since 2010.</p>
<h3>Enjeu de Grisien</h3>
<p>The youngest member of Ben&rsquo;s upper circle only made her World Cup debut last month in Madrid and immediately delivered with a double clear and runner-up finish. A performance she would improve on at her second attempt. With the encouragement of a home crowd, the nine-year-old mare sped to victory in the home World Cup leg of London last weekend. A mare that is showing great potential at such a young age, paired with Ben's talent, will be one to keep an eye out for.</p>
<h3>Point Break</h3>
<p>Also only ten years of age, but already jumped clear in the LGCT Grand Prix of London. At their most recent outing, jumped double clear to finish fourth in the CSI5* Grand Prix of Lyon.</p>
<h1><br>The String that Could End Henrik&rsquo;s Reign</h1>
<p>As Ben Maher is the only rider to dispose of 6 horses with Elo ratings over 700 and no other rider has more than 4, the Brit is at a serious advantage to collect more points and further climb up the ranking.<br>While the current world number one, Henrik von Eckermann has an exceptional partner in the record-breaking King Edward, there is no denying that with two horses short, Henrik will have less opportunities to gather points than Ben.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ben Maher might not be Henrik&rsquo;s only threat, as an additional 6 riders have a strong four-headed team of horses sporting Elo ratings in the 700s, among them <strong>Kent Farrington</strong> (current world #3), <strong>Martin Fuchs</strong> (current world #5) and <strong>McLain Ward</strong> (current world #7), but also <strong>Harry Charles</strong>, <strong>Darragh Kenny</strong> and <strong>Christian Ahlmann</strong> have a strong team of equine partners to support them in the upcoming 2024 season.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/4c8ed46b-99ed-4746-a147-601620e225af?width=1240&amp;height=2894" alt="Uf a B5 Riders With 4 Horses in Their String That Have an Elo Rating Over 700"></p>

How Ben Maher Could Replace Henrik as World Number One in 2024

<p>Equestrian fans gathered in Geneva last weekend for one of the most prestigious competitions in the world of showjumping. With a significant prize pot up for grabs and the prominence of winning on a stage like this, the greatest horses and riders gathered in the Swiss city. Naturally, this congregation of the sport&rsquo;s brightest stars has been reflected in the EquiRatings Jumping Elo Ratings. Who has managed to boost their Elo and who do we see drop down the ratings?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>The Climbers</h2>
<h3>Finn Lente<br>+20 | 723</h3>
<p>After a Top 10 finish in the Grand Prix qualifier on Thursday, Jos&eacute; Maria Larocca&rsquo;s Finn Lente left all the fences upright over a tough Rolex Grand Prix track. Unfortunately, the pair exceeded the time allowed and therefore missed their spot in the jump-off. Despite that, they finished 11th ahead of a number of strong competitors. A feat that offered them an Elo boost of 20 points, the highest we have seen this weekend.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>United Touch S<br>+ 18 | 749</h3>
<p>United Touch&rsquo;s victory in the Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva is one that will go down in history. With a jump-off round that has been cemented into the minds of any jumping enthusiast, Richard Vogel piloted the stallion to their first Rolex Grand Prix win. They had already finished eighth in the Grand Prix qualifier two days prior, which also contributed to their 18 Elo point boost.</p>
<h3>Toulayna&nbsp;<br>+ 15 | 721</h3>
<p>Toulayna&rsquo;s weekend in Geneva has been more than worth the trip overseas from the USA. At just nine years of age, Toulayna has gained, not only valuable experience, but also 15 Elo points. Thanks to their victory in the Grand Prix qualifier on Thursday, Toulayna&rsquo;s Elo boost has allowed her to enter the Top 100 Elo-rated horses in the world right now. She now ranks as the fourth highest-rated nine-year-old horse in the sport today.</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/9aba7ea8-2fa0-4e69-a59d-c5c00baf2d59?width=1740&amp;height=1108" alt="Ff L Dw the Biggest Elo Gainers of the Weekend (2)"></p>
<h2>The Sliders</h2>
<p>For some horses, the weekend in Geneva did not quite go to plan.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/e99ed99d-fbcc-426a-a454-e9e9c18f28e3?width=1740&amp;height=864" alt="4K V4 V the Biggest Elo Sliders of the Weekend  (1)"></p>

Rise & Fall: How did CHI Geneva affect the Elo Ratings?

<p>James Kann Cruz finished 2022 as the highest-rated nine-year-old horse of that year and by default entered 2023 as the highest-rated 10-year-old. The Irish-bred gelding has been lonely at the top of this rating and has been holding onto this title for almost 11 full months. Recently though, a number of his peers have started playing catch-up.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/c471d646-0d6a-4ed3-a742-0f6a56d9ee31?width=1240&amp;height=1860" alt="L Vg Gl Current Top 10 Elo Rated 10 Year Old Horses "></p>
<h2>Dubai du Cedre</h2>
<p><em><strong>European medalist &amp; Super Grand Prix winner </strong></em></p>
<p>The biggest threat to James Kann Cruz&rsquo; title is Dubai du Cedre. Julien Epaillard&rsquo;s chestnut gelding has been jumping into the spotlight on the world&rsquo;s biggest stages recently. The pair claimed the individual bronze medal at the <strong>Jumping European Championships in Milan</strong> this summer and continued this superb form into the indoor season. After winning the <strong>Grand Prix of Lyon</strong> on home soil, they claimed the runner-up spot in the World Cup the following day. This was the perfect preparation for their victory in the<strong> LGCT Super Grand Prix at the Prague Playoffs</strong> just 2 weeks later.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Stats at 5* 160</em></span><br><em>23 rounds - 17 clear - 48% clear rate - 4.7 CAS</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Dynamix de Belheme</h2>
<p><em><strong>European Champion &amp; consistent clear jumper</strong></em></p>
<p>Just one Elo point short of Dubai du Cedre, stands our<strong> Individual European Champion</strong>, Dynamix de Belheme. Under Steve Guerdat, Dynamix had a strong start to the year with a <strong>4* Grand Prix win at the Sunshine Tour</strong>, shortly followed by a fourth place in the prestigious <strong>Rolex Grand Prix of &lsquo;s Hertogenbosch</strong>. The mare&rsquo;s quality was confirmed at the European Championships in Milan. As the only horse in the field to not knock a fence throughout the entire championship, Dynamix de Belheme claimed individual gold.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Stats at 5* 160</em></span><br><em>17 rounds - 12 rounds - 71% clear rate - 6.7 CAS</em></p>
<h2><br>Donatello d&rsquo;Auge</h2>
<p><strong><em>Double LGCT Grand Prix winner</em></strong></p>
<p>Julien Epaillard has two of the strongest 10-year-olds in the world. Donatello d&rsquo;Auge has been a great partner for the Frenchman throughout the year, starting off with a World Cup win in Amsterdam in January. The pair was particularly successful on the LGCT circuit, taking home two Grand Prix titles. After claiming the <strong>win in Saint-Tropez</strong>, they followed it up with a victory in the <strong>richest Grand Prix of the circuit in Monte Carlo</strong>.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Stats 5* 160</em></span><br><em>22 rounds - 10 clears - 46% clear rate - 4.1 CAS</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><br>Ranking among the greats</h2>
<p><strong><em>James Kann Cruz among Olympic Champions</em></strong><br>While the aforementioned are definitely getting closer to James Kann Cruz&rsquo; Elo rating, he remains 6 Elo points ahead of Dubai du Cedre. As a matter of fact, only 2 other horses have recorded a stronger 10-year-old season than James Kann Cruz.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/72bb3a9f-e6f9-45a5-85e7-cac11d0c187b?width=1240&amp;height=1898" alt="A08 Jj All Time Highest Elo Rated 10 Year Olds"></p>
<p>Reigning Olympic Champion Explosion W holds the record for highest-rated 10-year-old with an Elo rating of 804. It is unlikely that James Kann Cruz would be able to match this in the remaining 5 months of the year. The 2016 individual Olympic Champion, Big Star, posted an Elo rating of 776 at 10 years old back in 2013. That is just 1 Elo point more than James Kann Cruz&rsquo; current Elo rating of 775.</p>
<p><strong><em>Dubai du Cedre equals championships stars</em></strong><br>Last weekend&rsquo;s Super Grand Prix victory has allowed Dubai du Cedre to enter a very elite group of horses. On a current Elo of 769, he has posted one of the Top 10 highest-rated 10-year-old seasons recorded, equalling the ratings of Hansson WL, Flora de Mariposa and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z at 10 years old.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

The 10-Year-Olds that are Narrowing in on James Kann Cruz

<p>Last weekend, the European-based showjumping enthusiasts flocked to Milan to crown their newest European Champions. Without reigning Champions, Andre Thieme &amp; DSP Chakaria among the contenders, we were sure to find a new European Champion.<br /><em>For which horses has this major Championship been a place to showcase their talent and potential? And which horses have seen a slight loss of form on the world stage?</em></p>
<h1><br />The Climbers</h1>
<h3>Zineday (+ 46)</h3>
<p>At just nine years of age, Philipp Weishaupt&rsquo;s Zineday took the Jumping world by storm two weekends ago to win the individual silver medal in Milan. The Junior of the German team produced a beautiful championship, knocking just one rail out of the cups over 5 rounds of jumping. This superb achievement gave Zineday&rsquo;s Elo a boost of 46 points, currently landing on an Elo of 740. That is the <strong>highest Elo of all nine-year-old horses in the world this year</strong>, and the 13th highest Elo achieved by a nine-year-old since 2015.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>GL Events Dorai d&rsquo;Aiguilly (+35)</h3>
<p>Entering the championship as an individual combination, Olivier Perreau &amp; his homebred GL Events Dorai d&rsquo;Aiguilly were perhaps the biggest revelation of the Europeans. The 10-year-old mare showed her quality by being <strong>one of just 4 horses that hadn&rsquo;t knocked a fence over the first three rounds of competition</strong>, only incurring 1 penalty for time. One rail in each of the Final rounds saw them finish in eighth place individually. A more than respectable finish for this pair&rsquo;s first championship together. It gave GL Events Dorai d&rsquo;Aiguilly an Elo boost of 35 Elo points, now ranking among the Top 10 highest-rated ten-year-old horses in the world.</p>
<h3>Dubai du Cedre &amp; Mila (+31)</h3>
<p>Two horses experienced a significant Elo boost of 31 Elo points thanks to their performances at the Jumping European Championships. Bronze medalist Dubai du Cedre has climbed up the ranks &amp; is now the <strong>6th highest-rated 10-year-old in the world</strong>, joint with Rodrigo Pessoa&rsquo;s Major Tom.&nbsp;<br />Eoin McMahon has only had Mila in his string for a couple of months but the pair have built up a strong partnership allowing them to finish in the Top 10 of their first major Championship together and boost their Elo.</p>
<h3><br />Dynamix de Belheme (+19)</h3>
<p>This list would not be complete without a mention of our newly crowned European Champion. At 10 years old, Steve Guerdat&rsquo;s Dynamix de Belheme was the <strong>only horse to not knock a single rail over 5 rounds and 4 days of jumping</strong>. With this incredible achievement, Dynamix&rsquo; Elo gained 19 points, now standing at <strong>765</strong>, which has allowed the mare to enter the <strong>Top 10 highest Elo-rated horses</strong> in the world right now.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/a7831b00-aeb2-4ef8-8844-c8839db18c5b?width=1240&amp;height=1882" alt="L Wf Yl Zineday S Amp Philipp Weishaupt S Performances at the European Championships in Milan Gave Them the Biggest Elo Boost of the Weekend Nbsp " /></p>
<h1>The Sliders</h1>
<h3>Kasanova de la Pomme (-13)</h3>
<p>Alongside the highs, we also see the lows. Koen Vereecke&rsquo;s Kasanova de la Pomme entered the European Championships with great hopes, but unfortunately luck wasn&rsquo;t on their side in Milan. A couple of rails saw their Italian fairytale end prematurely and cost them 13 points on Elo.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Dialou Blue &amp; Dexter Fontenis (-12)</h3>
<p>The French team riders also had a disappointing weekend in Milan. Seasoned championship riders Simon Delestre and Kevin Staut each brought forward their most promising 10-year-olds. It was not to be for these French talents as each of them lost 12 points on Elo after knocking a couple of rails.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Rise & Fall: How did the Jumping Europeans affect the Elo-ratings?

<p>James Kann Cruz finished the 2022 season as the highest-rated nine-year-old horse of that year. He has carried that over to the following age category and to this day remains the highest-rated ten-year-old horse in the world with a margin of 16 Elo points. Yet, he is still 33 Elo points short of the record-breaking ten-year-old season produced by Ben Maher's Explosion W in 2019.</p>
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<h1>Matching the greats</h1>
<h2>H&amp;M All In &amp; Hermes Ryan</h2>
<p>Although we are only 8 months into the year, the Irish-bred gelding has already achieved the fourth-highest Elo achieved by a ten-year-old horse in the sport since 2010, matching two-time Olympic medalist <strong>H&amp;M All In</strong> and multiple 5* Grand Prix winner <strong>Hermes Ryan</strong>.</p>
<p>By August of 2016, H&amp;M All In had already reached the peak of his ten-year-old year and didn't improve on his Elo of 771.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Hermes Ryan's Elo, however, followed a different trajectory in 2015. By the August of that year, the chestnut firecracker 'only' had an Elo of <strong>758</strong>. Hermes Ryan didn't reach the 771 Elo until the end of December, meaning he grew his Elo by 13 points in the space of under four months.</p>
<p>If James Kann Cruz were to follow in Hermes Ryan's footsteps and grow his Elo by 13 points before the end of the year, the grey would finish his ten-year-old season on an Elo of <strong>784</strong>, surpassing Big Star as the second highest-rated 10-year-old of all time. Yet, he would still be 20 Elo points short of Explosion W's record.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This huge margin begs the question: <em><strong>How did Explosion W build such a huge rating at 10 years old?</strong></em></p>
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<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/f676ca74-d27b-4fcf-bef0-8f82e7c8f148?width=1590&amp;height=1634" alt="Fn Yva  P the U All Time U Highest Elo Rated 10 Year Old Horses P " /></p>
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<h1>How he did it</h1>
<h3>Head start</h3>
<p>Just like James Kann Cruz, Explosion W finished his nine-year-old year as the highest-rated horse of that age. Finishing 2018 on an Elo of <strong>773 </strong>at nine years of age broke the record for highest-rated nine-year-old season by 13 Elo points,&nbsp; a record previously held by Big Star in 2012 (<strong>760</strong>). As a matter of fact, Explosion W completed his season as a nine-year-old with a higher Elo (<strong>773</strong>) than James Kann Cruz currently (771) has&nbsp;eight months into the season as a 10-year-old.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3>4 months - 9 competitions - 34 Elo points</h3>
<p>Yet, Explosion didn't start building his monumental ten-year-old Elo until May 17th 2019, when he entered the LGCT of Madrid on an Elo of <strong>770</strong>, one point short of James Kann Cruz's current Elo.</p>
<p>Knowing that Explosion W reached the record-breaking Elo of <strong>804 </strong>on September 28th of that same year meant that only took him exactly 4 months and 11 days to gain 34 Elo points. With exactly 4 months and 11 days of 2023 left, <strong><em>can James Kann Cruz replicate Explosion W's claim to fame?</em></strong></p>
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<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/3da6e9a4-db96-4bd8-9e32-3a9e2fa87101?width=1640&amp;height=1240" alt="8b Ju R How Explosion W Produced a Record Breaking 10 Year Old Season  (2)" /></p>
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Can James Kann Cruz Produce the Strongest 10-Year-Old Season of All Time?

<p>There was high-level competition over the weekend with the last leg of the Europe Division 1 of the Longines FEI Nations Cup circuit taking place at the Dublin Horse Show, simultaneously run along the 12th leg of the Global Champions Tour in London. At the four-star level, we saw competitions take place in Opglabbeek, Belgium and Deauville, France. How did last weekend affect the Elo ratings?</p>
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<h3>Bonne Amie (724)<br /><em>+ 34</em></h3>
<p>Abdel Sa&iuml;d's Bonne Amie has recorded the biggest Elo boost of the weekend. The just ten-year-old mare produced one of four double clear rounds in the Aga Khan Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show and followed that performance up with a clear round in the Grand Prix on Sunday as well to finish seventh. These superb performances added 34 points to her Elo, passing the 700-mark and settling on 724. This also sees her enter the competitive Top 15 of current highest-rated ten-year-olds in the world.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3>H&amp;M Miro (729)<br /><em>+ 21</em></h3>
<p>Abdel's teammate Olivier Philippaerts also put in a strong performance this weekend. At the LGCT of London, Philippaerts' H&amp;M Miro placed in Grand Prix qualifier on Friday and followed that up with a runner-up position in the LGCT Grand Prix on Saturday, just 0.89 seconds short of the win. This will serve as a great preparation for the European Championship in Milan in two weeks' time, where this pair is set to represent the Belgian colours.</p>
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<h3>Don Juan van de Donkhoeve (730)<br /><em>+19</em></h3>
<p>Jessica Springsteen and her trusted mount Don Juan van de Donkhoeve are officially back in business! After a long competition break for Don Juan in 2022, the beautiful stallion is back on full form. The pair had already produced a Round 1 clear in the LGCT Grand Prix of Paris in June, but four faults in the jump-off ruined their chances at the win. London, however, set the stage for this pair to shine. With two foot-perfect clear rounds, they claimed victory in the LGCT Grand Prix, boosting their Elo by 19 points.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/573ed836-d22f-4780-9d92-ea90d77a0fb4?width=1630&amp;height=1742" alt="T98ba Bonne Amie S Abdel Said S Performances at the Dublin Horse Show Gave Them the Biggest Elo Boost of the Weekend  (1)" /></p>

Shakers & Movers: Bonne Amie breaks through 700 Elo-mark

<p>The Longines FEI Nations Cup series continues the European circuit and lands in Falsterbo, Sweden this weekend. Who are the past heroes of this prestigious event, and can they deliver once more?</p>
<h3>Three three-time winners</h3>
<p>Since 2010, three nations have managed to claim victory in the Nations Cup of Sweden on three different occasions.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The home nation <strong>Sweden </strong>won with plenty of margin back in 2010 and 2012, but then suffered a seven-year wait before they were able to reclaim their crown. The Swedes lined up a strong team in 2019 and thanks to double clear rounds from Peder Fredricson on H&amp;M All In and Malin Baryard-Johnsson on H&amp;M Indiana found themselves on the top of the podium once more.</p>
<p><strong>Team NL</strong> have also shown strong form here in Falsterbo in recent year. The Dutch team won the team competition here in 2015 and then claimed consecutive victories in 2017 and 2018.</p>
<p><strong>Germany</strong> had been a strong contender for the Nations Cup of Sweden in the past topping the podium in 2011, 2013 and 2014. However, they have not put forward a team since 2017 and unlike Sweden and the Netherlands will not be coming forward this year either.</p>
<h3>Three deciding jump-offs</h3>
<p>Since 2010, three of the Nations Cups of Sweden have had to be decided by a jump-off.</p>
<p>In <strong>2012</strong>, the Swedish, British and French team all completed two rounds of jumping with a total of 12 penalties and had bring forward one rider each to contest a jump-off. France&rsquo;s Jerome Hurel knocked one rail on Ohm de Ponthual which would see France finish third. William Funnel and Billy Angelo produced a jump-off clear for Great Britain, but their time was beat by over 3 seconds by Sweden&rsquo;s Jesn&rsquo;s Fredricson and Lunatic.<br />The winners of the <strong>2017 </strong>and <strong>2018 </strong>Nations Cups of Sweden were also determined by a jump-off, both ruled in favour of the Netherlands. In 2017, it was Jur Vrieling and VDL Glasgow vh Merelsnest who took the win out of German and Irish hands. The following year, four nations finished on four penalties and went though to a deciding jump-off. Johnny Pals and Chat Botte E.D. kept the win in Dutch hands beating Ireland once again, but also the home nation Sweden, as well as Italy.</p>
<h3>Turning things around in Round 2</h3>
<p>Since 2010, seven of the winning teams of the Nations Cup of Sweden had already been leading or joint leading the competition after the first round.</p>
<p>The biggest change from the first round we have seen in the Nations Cup of Sweden since 2010 happened in 2014. Both the Netherlands and Sweden completed the first round with a clean slate and went into round two as joint leaders. Spain and the USA followed them closely as they completed the first round on a total of 1 penalty. With two penalties, Germany therefore entered the second round as the fifth ranked team. Despite this, the team came through to deliver a fantastic second round to ultimately take the win.</p>
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<p><img src="https://admin.equiratings.com/assets/332e9056-947f-4231-ad1d-c0622ef66c04?width=1240&amp;height=1208" alt="Kb Fqd the Previous Winners of the Nations Cup of Sweden Falsterbo (2)" /><br />&nbsp;</p>

Show jumping