#ThrowbackThursday: Revisiting the 2022 editions of Windsor & LGCT Madrid

From a weekend without five-star competitions, we immediately go into a weekend with not one, not two, but three five star shows to look forward to. Before looking ahead at the events to come, we take a dive into the past to have a look at how these competitions influenced the sport last year.

A Short Jump-off in Rolex GP at RWHS last year

Less than a week after the official Coronation of King Charles III, we head back to royal grounds for the Royal Windsor Horse Show, a CSI5* event with a Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday. The Royal Windsor Horse Show has been staged since 1943 but has only been a five-star event since 2017. While the first edition of the Rolex Grand Prix of Windsor in 2017 only had an Elo Field Strength of 584, by 2019 the beautiful venue attracted higher-rated combinations from all over the globe to stage a Grand Prix with an Elo Field Strength of 712. Due to the pandemic and Brexit, no doubt, there has since been a slight drop in the level of combinations that decide to travel to Windsor for the event. Last year’s Rolex Grand Prix of Windsor had an Elo Field Strength of 690, but therefore wasn’t any less thrilling.

There were no big surprises in the Rolex Grand Prix of Windsor last year, as all three podium finishers rated among the Top 5 highest-rated horses of the field. The biggest shock perhaps was the number of Round 1 clears, with only those three duos managing to keep all a clean scoreboard over a tricky track. Ultimately, it was Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet who took the win on Nevados S (then 736), ahead of Max Kühner on Elektric Blue P (then 736). As last to go in a small jump-off and with podium finish guaranteed, Daniel Bluman and Ladriano Z (then 738) risked it all to take the win, but four faults saw them settle for third.

Youth over Experience at LGCT Madrid in 2022

Just like last year, the Royal Windsor Horse Show runs simultaneously with the fourth leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour in Madrid, the first of the European-based legs. The venue has been a part of the LGCT since 2013. Last year’s edition was one for the books, when 23-year-old Sanne Thijssen took the biggest win of her career aboard the then 16-year-old Con Quidam RB (then 744). Sanne was the third-youngest rider ever to win a LGCT Grand Prix at that point in time. She beat more experienced riders like Marlon Modolo Zanotelli on VDL Edgar M (then 711) and Darragh Kenny on VDL Cartello (then 738), who clocked in at the exact same time in the jump-off and tied for second place. 

While last year’s LGCT Grand Prix had an Elo Field Strength of 695, the toughest LGCT Grand Prix to take place in Madrid had an Elo Field Strength of 714 and was held in 2019, when Martin Fuchs took the win on Chaplin (then 753).

A first five-star Nations Cup at San Juan Capistrano

There will be high-level sport in abundance this weekend as the second leg of the North American League of the Longines FEI Nations Cup will land at San Juan Capistrano, USA. While plenty of CSI2* and CSI3* have been organised at the venue previously, this is the first time they will host a CSIO5* event. 

As we gear up for another action-packed weekend of equestrian sport, we can't wait to share the thrilling highlights and incredible stories that are sure to unfold.