Brash joins top riders aiming for altitude in Madrid

In this highest capital city in Europe, 45 riders from 12 nations will be looking to soar clear over the 1.60m obstacles in the CSI5*-W [the CSI5*-W acronym stands for concours de saut d’obstacles (World Cup)]. And at the 5* level, the highest level in international Show Jumping, the riders at this year’s show have brought 104 mounts to the city’s IFEMA – Feria complex.

For his part, World No.9 Brash — who did not attend this past spring’s World Cup Final in Omaha, Nebraska (won by the U.S.’s McLain Ward on HH Azur) and is not guaranteed to take part in the Grand Prix in Madrid — is accompanied in Spain by the scintillating 11-year-old chestnut gelding Hello Forever and strong 8-year-old bay gelding Hello Shelby. Among many other distinctions in recent times, Hello Forever carried Brash to an explosive jump-off victory over compatriot Ben Maher at this year’s London Longines Global Champions Tour stop. For a head-to-head view of that showdown, see here. 

While Maher is not at this weekend’s competition, Scotland native Brash will have Brits Michael Whitaker (Calisto Blue and JB’s Hot Stuff) and Ben Talbot (Compromis, Everglade, Sacramento) at his sides in Madrid, a city whose name is said to be derived from the Arabic word “magerit”, meaning ‘place of many streams’. Also in the star-studded field are the current leader in the Western European standings, Steve Guerdat of Switzerland with Alamo and Bianca, France’s Kevin Staut (For Joy van’t Zorgvliet HDC, Reveur de Hurtebise HDC), Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum (Chacon 2, Chiara 222) and Italy’s Alberto Zorzi (Danique, Viceversa de la Roque).

Ireland has four riders at the 5* level in Madrid this weekend: Cameron Hanley with Eis Isaura and Quirex; Richard Howley with Billy Lemon, Chinook and Dolores; Denis Lynch with All Star 5 and Rmf Cadeau de Muze, and Mark McAuley with Miebello and Vivaldi du Theil. The full list, including nine riders from the home nation, is here. In all, there are 13 qualifiers in the Western European League, with the seven best results counting for the Individual standings. The next destination for the qualifiers will be La Coruña, also in Spain, in December, before the circuit heads to London for the Olympia show before Christmas.

Show Jumping is just one of the diverse activities happening at the 2017 Madrid Horse Week, which also features CDI5* Dressage, Vaulting and the Maestros de la Vaquera Cup. More information on the massive equestrian event is here.