5* Show Jumping and Dressage on Tap in Rotterdam This Weekend

The Rotterdam CDIO 5* is an important stage in the 2017 elite equestrian season. Indeed, numerous chefs d’équipe will use it as an ultimate test of their horse-and-rider pairs as they look toward the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, taking place from August 22-27. This year, the Dutch organizers are offering more prize money than ever before, whether for the Nations Cup or for the Dressage Freestyle. 

And the Dutch delegation, on home soil, will count numerous excellent combinations out on the course, including Adelinde Cornelissen on Aqiedo, Edward Gal on Glock’s Voice and Hans Peter Minderhoud with Glock’s Johnson. Sweden will be represented by Juliette Ramel and her phenomenal Buriel, but also the newly-crowned Swedish champion Rose Mathinsen and Zuidenwind 1187. Finally, the United States have also sent a team, featuring Laura Graves and Verdades and Dawn White-O’Connor on Legolas 92.

For CSIO 5* show jumping, Rotterdam, whose history goes back to 1270, represents the fifth leg of the Europe Division 1 qualifying circuit, after Lummen, Belgium, La Baule, France, Rome and St. Gallen, Switzerland. Many of the top international show jumpers on the continent at the moment will be in Holland for the event, including the very strong home side. Subsequently, teams will be aiming to qualify for the Final Barcelona at the end of September through qualifiers in Falsterbo, Sweden, Hickstead, Great Britain, and Dublin.