RT Inhalt 2017 web_Leseprobe

The surprise factor
“It’s fantastic when things take an unexpected turn!” You’d think that the DKB-Riders Tour
would have become more predictable over the years, especially because it always involves the
same processes and tour structure. This September it was obviously anything but predictable.
The 2017 series didn’t have a favourite with a comfortable points lead, followed by riders who
could close the gap with some top results, at any time between the first leg in April at Horses
& Dreams in Hagen and the end of the season at Munich Indoors in November.
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There were more riders within a few
points of each other at the top of the
leader board than there have ever
been since the international series was launched in
2001. Why is that? The DKB-Riders Tour reflects the
overall trend in the show jumping world. Every rider
is capable of beating every other rider, and the quality
of both horses and riders is extraordinarily high.
This is a development that started years ago and it’s
made the sport of show jumping – including the
outcome of championships – very difficult to forecast.
Horses and riders have to be at the peak of their
fitness, and even then the difference between gold,
silver, bronze or nothing at all often hangs on a
thread.
and rider in the world – Isabell Werth – in her saddle.
Isabell is a unique individual who unites talent, a
strong work ethic, intelligence and determination.
The retirement of Casall, the Holstein stallion that
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson turned into the legend he is
today, after a magnificent win in the Hamburg
Grand Prix was another historic moment. Even
Steven Spielberg couldn’t have written a better
script. Riders Tour & More also takes a look at the
next generation of jumping and dressage riders at
Future Champions, which is hosted by the Kasselmanns,
and the Young Riders Academy at the Redefin
Equestrian Festival.
Last, but not least, Riders Tour & More covers two
highlight events: the European Championships in
Gothenburg and Strzegom and the P.S.I. Awards
which pay tribute to people who have intrinsic ties
with the world of horses, breeding and equestrianism.
Most are people who spend their entire lives
dedicated to horses. They didn’t always plan it to be
that way, but, as I said at the outset, it’s fantastic
when things take an unexpected turn…
Fotos: J. Toffi (1), S. Lafrentz (1)
Riders Tour & More 2017 documents this development
with honest stories about the horses and riders
and the highlights of the equestrian sport year. The
series is covered from start to finish, with the winners
at each stage talking about their experiences,
plus texts and images that capture all the emotions
and unusual stories so that everyone who couldn’t
be there can read about them.
But this book isn’t just about the successful series.
We’ve also included other special events and features.
One is the success story of McLain Ward, the U.S.
World Cup winner – an exceptional rider with a very
unusual story. Another is about a ‘perfect student’,
Weihegold OLD, a mare with the best dressage trainer
RIDERS TOUR & MORE