The route to the World Championships 2018 passes via the GLOCK’s 5* Grand Prix

Only every four years do the world’s best equestrian sports nations have the chance to be represented in the World Equestrian Games. But 2018 offers another chance. The “FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018” are the highlight of equestrian sports this year and it will be terribly interesting to see, which teams and individual riders will be able to qualify for these World Equestrian Games from September 11th till 23rd, 2018 in Tryon in the USA. Various tournaments offer the possibility to qualify, but what are the criteria according to which riders decide where they will go with their four-legged partners?

The agony of choice
All over the world, riders are offered numerous qualification tournaments. In 2018 it will be a total of 138 show-jumping events in which show-jumpers can score for WEG qualification. However, the value of the result rises with the value of the tournament. Thus the best performances in the 35 CSI3* tournaments with WEG qualification score lower than the 26 CSI4* tournaments, or the 20 CSIO and the 28 World Cup tournaments in which riders also have the chance to qualify for the World Equestrian Games. Highly rated are those tournaments of the 5-star category, listed as a qualification event for the World Equestrian Games 2018. They take place in 14 countries in three continents. One of them is the International Show Jumping from June 8th till 10th at the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER Austria, which is Austria’s only 5-star tournament offering qualification for the World Equestrian Games 2018.

Successes are not all equal
The value of any given success is also measured in terms of World Ranking points, amongst other considerations. All international show jumping tournaments are assigned by the International Federation of Equestrian Sport (FEI) to one of 14 ranking groups, each involving different point schemes. The more prestigious a tournament is, the more World Ranking points are awarded. Alongside the category, the prize money also plays a decisive role. For example, if a competition involves prize money totalling at least 24,600 euros, this is placed in the lowest regular ranking group D, in which the winner has 50 points assigned to his or her account. In the highest regular ranking group AA, at least 268,800 euros of prize money must be allocated to the competition. Moreover, the winner can look forward to 150 points on the World Ranking list. So, with an allocation of 345,000 euros, the GLOCK’s 5* Grand Prix is at the maximum and the contest for victory will be correspondingly exciting.

A ticket to the World Equestrian Games in GLOCK’s 5* Grand Prix
Results achieved in the GLOCK’s 5* Grand Prix will be of enormous significance not only for World Ranking list points but also for the World Equestrian Games in Tryon 2018. With prize money totalling 345,000 euros, the 5-star Grand Prix at the Glock Horse Performance Center Austria counts as a qualifying competition for the championships in September. In order to qualify for a highly contested starting place, the task is to complete the GLOCK’s 5* Grand Prix on Sunday with a maximum of eight penalty points, because this is the minimum requirement to receive a so-called “Certificate of Capability” from the FEI for participation in the World and European Championships.

Strict selection, tough qualification
Strict qualification criteria are applied in the selection of the best rider-horse duos, albeit with the final decision resting with the team coach of each respective nation, who has to take into account  not only the hard facts of the best rider-horse duos’ sporting performances but also their soft skills. Which horse handles the long game better? Which rider has steadier nerves? Who is heading for their performance peak? How long will that hold and who might be heading for a downward trend in performance? So many questions arising during the qualification phase and needing to be answered. The corresponding deadline is 13 August 2018, which is when the teams and riders first have to be announced.

Mission World Equestrian Games at GHPC Austria
So the way to the World Equestrian Games may well be paved for some riders at the GHPC Austria. Whoever wants to support their own personal idol can do so at GHPC Austria from 8 - 10 June 2018. Because, once gain, it’s a big welcome to CSI5* International Show Jumping.

INFO BOX
What: International Show Jumping
When: 08-10/06/2018
Where: GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER Austria
VIP day-tickets: call +43 664 88 73 44 01
Free entry to all competitive events
www.ghpc.at

After two silver medals in the single and team competitions at the Olympic Games in London 2012, experienced GLOCK Rider Gerco Schröder was able to win team gold with his chestnut stallion GLOCK’s London at the last World Equestrian Games in 2014 in Caen (FRA). © Nini Schäbel

Elizabeth “Beezie” Madden (USA) isn’t only a “big hitter” in the contest for starting places in the World Equestrian Games. This US-American lady just celebrated overall victory in the World Cup Final and, alongside numerous championship medals, also took individual and team bronze in the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen. © Michael Rzepa