THE Haras National du Pin is hosting the 36th edition of the FEI Eventing European Championships next week, taking place from August 9th to 13th. The venue also hosted these championships back in 1969.

On that occasion, Britain won the team competition ahead of the Soviet Union and West Germany, while Britain also took individual gold through Mary Gordon Watson on Cornishman. Will we see another team and individual gold for Britain in 2023, like they also achieved at the last running in 2021? It certainly looks likely.

There is qualification for next year’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the line. The two best nations, excluding countries already qualified (France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland), will win their ticket to Paris. In the race for the two Olympic team slots are Austria, Belgium, Italy and The Netherlands.

Pierre Le Goupil takes control of designing the cross-country course, as he will do for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris, as well as for the Pan American Games in Quillota, Chile, in October.

Favourites

Who are the favourites? Britain have won 19 individual and 23 European team titles and have named a squad which includes the Badminton and Luhmühlen winners from this year, the current world champion and 2021 silver Olympic medallist riding the reigning European champion horse. The full squad is Ros Canter with Lordships Graffalo; Laura Collett with London 52; Yasmin Ingham with Banzai Du Loir; Tom Jackson with Capels Hollow Drift (ISH); Kitty King with Vendredi Biats; Tom McEwen with JL Dublin.

A difficult call for the British selectors to choose just four from that squad, but looking at the individual standings, Collett and Canter are both among the favourites for Paris glory next year with these two horses and will have to be well fancied here too. It could well be another all-British podium.

However, 11-time European medallist Michael Jung will of course have something to say about that and he rides his 2022 Kentucky CCI5* winner FischerChipmunk FRH.

Horse Sport Ireland’s Interim High Performance Director for senior eventing Dag Albert named his squad (below) a few weeks’ ago. He commented: “I have selected a very capable squad with some experienced squad members travelling mixed in with new talent, which is very exciting, and I am looking forward to seeing them all perform out there. I believe we can get a great result in Le Pin au Haras.”

As well as the four Irish-bred horses on the Irish team below, and the aforementioned Capels Hollow Drift (Shannondale Sarco St Ghyvan x Lucky Gift), bred by Jeanette Glynn, there are two more ISHs lining out - Black Ice (Vechta x Touchdown), bred by Judith McClelland for Germany’s Jerome Robine, and GRC Shiraz (VDL Arkansas x Flagmount King), bred by Rory Costigan for Italian rider Frederico Sacchetti.

All the action will be available to watch with English commentary on ClipMyHorse.TV.

Who’s on the Irish squad?

Rider: Susie Berry (27)

Horse: Clever Trick (Financial Reward (TB) x Bonnie Prince), bred by Vincent Cousins

Owner: Sue Wilkinson and Ann Marling

Form: Susie made her championship debut in 2022 and made a big impact, helping Ireland to secure a place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This 11-year-old mare stepped up to four-star long level at Boekelo last October when they finished in eighth place with clear cross-country and show jumping rounds. They have had three international starts this season, finishing 12th at Bramham CCI4*-L. Their show jumping record is excellent while the dressage is likely to be in the early 30s.

Rider: Ian Cassells (29)

Horse: Woodendfarm Jack O D (Jack of Diamonds x Ardcroney Lad VII), bred by Noel and Nuala Prendergast

Owner: Nuala Prendergast

Form: A first senior championship call up for Cassells and he takes the talented 10-year-old gelding who finished second in the CCI4*-S at Kilguilkey at the end of June on their dressage score (34.3), the same place where they were runner-up in the four-star long format in 2022. Will be aiming to put a cross-country 20 penalties at CCIO4* Jardy behind them on their championship debut.

Rider: Sarah Ennis (48)

Horse: Grantstown Jackson (Clover Brigade x Right Win), bred by Caroline Widger

Owner: Susanna Francke and Peter Cole

Form: Sarah is a seasoned championship campaigner for Ireland and with the 12-year-old gelding will bring massive experience to the squad. The pair have had an excellent season so far, finished second in an EI120 and winning an EI115 at Tyrella earlier in the season, before finishing second in the CCI4*-S at Ballindenisk from 36 starters, and then sixth in a competitive CCIO4*-S at Chatsworth in England. They won’t lead the dressage but make up for it in jumping.

Rider: Jennifer Kuehnle (21)

Horse: Polly Blue Eyes (Concinales xx x Strohmann), bred by Dagmar Hayessen

Owner: Hans Keuhnle

Form: A multiple medal-winner at underage level, this is a first senior championship call-up for Jennifer who rides her father’s 15-year-old mare who she rode at the 2019 (Junior) and 2021 (Young Rider) Europeans. Their dressage averages mid to high 30s but, apart from a blip at Millstreet in June, their international cross-country record is flawless going back to 2017. A recent trip to Luhmühlen for the four-star saw them finish 17th.

Rider: Joseph Murphy (46)

Horse: Calmaro (Carpalano x Elsurimo xx), bred by Hartmut Shack

Owners: Richard Ames, Joseph Murphy, Annette O’Callaghan, Claire Mayne and Charlie Mayne,

Form: Probably the most high profile combination in the squad, this pair have two five-star completions under their belt (ninth in Kentucky last year) and their most recent good result came at Aachen CSIO4* where they were ninth individually and before that, placed third in the CCIO4* at Millstreet behind Tim Price and Kirsty Chabert.

Rider: Felicity Ward (32)

Horse: Regal Bounty (ISH) (Orestus VDL x Senang Hati), bred by Miriam De Feu

Owner: James O’Callaghan

Form: Another with two five-star completions, most recently finishing 15th at Luhmühlen, the 12-year-old gelding made his championship debut at the World Championships last year. An excellent cross-country record, they finished second in the three-star short format at Ballindenisk to get the year started. Show jumping has been a bit hit and miss this season but Regal Bounty is a cross-country machine.