Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping crossed the Atlantic Ocean for the third Major of the calendar year – the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament. Taking place from 4–8 September, the world’s leading horses and riders are gathered in the breathtaking venue for five days of top international sport.

As one of the most anticipated competitions in the equestrian calendar, Thursday’s pinnacle class – the CANA Cup – brought together 44 combinations in a thrilling display of skill, precision, and stamina. The world-class field were not only aiming to claim this prestigious prize but also hoping to earn a spot in Sunday’s coveted CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex.

It was a star-studded line-up that included the current Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping live contender, André Thieme, three-time Olympic gold medallist, Ben Maher, as well as last year's victors of CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei.

First to master Leopoldo Palacios’ beautifully crafted course was Canada’s Erynn Ballard – much to the delight of the home crowd. She was soon joined by teammate Tiffany Foster who ensured there would be a jump-off after a faultless and fast round. At the first break, eight additional riders had successfully produced clear rounds including Rolex Testimonees Kevin Staut and Daniel Deusser, as well as the American duo of Mclain Ward and Lillie Keenan.

As the competition so to did the clear rounds, with impressive performac produced by numerous riders such as last year’s winner of this class Richard Vogel. However, several class favourites including Britain’s Scott Brash – the only rider thus far to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – and Ireland’s highest-ranked rider, Daniel Coyle, did not quite produce the rounds they would have desired with time faults and one pole respectively.

In total 17 riders cleared the 1.55m course faultlessly, with one rider –  Armando Trapote – electing not to jump-off. Entering the ring in the same order that they jumped in the first round, it was first to go, Erynn Ballard who once again set the standard for the following riders with a clear in a time of 43.41 seconds. Known for his speed, Britian’s Matthew Sampson and his grey stallion Daniel, looked to have beaten Ballard's speed however added strides down to the final white CANA oxer left combination in second place.

Ballard held the lead, until thirteen to enter into the iconic International Ring, Max Kühner came home 0.76 seconds faster than the Canadian. His lead was quickly usurped by next to jump, Rolex Testimonee Richard Vogel and the huge-striding stallion United Touch S who took the lead by over one-second. The remaining three riders which included Steve Guerdat and Ben Maher, the World No. 2 and 3, could not match the performance of the young German, meaning that he claimed the class once again.

Speaking on his victory, Vogel stated: “I am thrilled with how United Touch S jumped – he loves the atmosphere and the arena here. He felt very good, and so we will be trying to continue this form into Sunday’s Grand Prix. I don’t have to push him too much in the jump-off as he has such a powerful stride and gallops very easily. It is our biggest advantage – he can just jump out of his rhythm. We try to use this advantage as much as possible, and today luckily it turned out well.”

Can you explain to us how special the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament is, and what makes it so unique.

Spruce Meadows is a very traditional venue that preserves the tradition of equestrian sport. We try to be as natural as possible, with the venue actively recycling and protecting the environment. The fences we use at the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament set it apart from other competitions, with our signature long poles. The speed at which horse and rider combinations jump the fences here is faster than at other competitions, and the horses tend to jump really well.

For me, Spruce Meadows is one of the nicest venues to build courses. The Southern family, who own and manage it, are incredibly dedicated to the sport – they do so much. Rolex are also long-time supporters of Spruce Meadows, even before the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping started in 2013. I love designing courses for the Rolex Grand Slam, and I am fortunate to have witnessed the only time the title was won, here at Spruce Meadows, when Scott Brash triumphed in 2015. It was one of the proudest and most memorable days of my life. I have designed courses for two Olympic Games and worked at several others, but that day when Scott won was a very special day for me. The atmosphere in the International Ring was incredible – Scott was the last rider to jump and during his round you couldn’t hear a pin drop. However, when he cleared the last fence and it became clear he had won the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, the crowd went wild. I got goosebumps in that moment.

You have received a number of fences from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with the Pont Alexandre III Bridge in use for this edition of the ‘Masters’ Tournament. Could you tell us about these fences, and how special the iconic group of fences are at Spruce Meadows.

The Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament boasts the best collection of fences in the world. The Southern family have collected fences over the years, some dating back to Olympic Games in the 1970s, and we still use them today because they have been so well maintained. We have fences from most Olympic Games and World Championships since then, creating a fantastic collection. In this big arena, we use long poles which we create specifically for the fences, and I am very excited to use the fences from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this year.

The CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex at the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament is often considered to be one of the most challenging courses in the world, what makes it so tough to win?

I consider myself quite a traditional course designer. I use a variety of distances – short, long, and normal, and incorporate both ‘heavy’ and ‘light’ fences, aiming to test horse and rider combinations in every way. The tools I have to design the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, are perfect for this. The collection of fences is incredible, and the team I work with here is brilliant. I have been working with some of the team members for over 20 years; we function like an orchestra.

This allows me to create a challenging course for the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, which is designed to really test the horses without ever compromising a horse’s welfare. Striking the right balance between building a tough course and safeguarding the horses is always my top priority – the welfare of the horses is always at the forefront of my mind. The exceptional talent pool of riders that come here allows me to design such challenging courses – they bring their best horses, ready to tackle what’s often regarded as the most difficult course in show jumping.

Throughout the week at the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, I prepare the horse and rider combinations for the Grand Prix on Sunday, getting them used to the ring and the fences. I don’t aim to scare the horses but instead to build their confidence leading up to Sunday. I am famous for designing tough courses, especially for the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, and people often think all my courses are really hard. That isn’t the case! I just know this ring, I know the fences, and I know exactly how to use every spot.

Can you tell us a little bit about the course that you have designed for CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex?

In the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex on Sunday, we will be using many wide oxers, more than most shows. The reason for this is the long poles we have, which allow the horses to jump with more width – they can fly!

In my opinion, incorporating width into show jumping makes the courses technically challenging. Another standout feature of Sunday’s competition will be the use of natural fences in the ring. For example, we have a real ditch and a real water jump, unlike the artificial ones used at other shows. This makes the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix, presented by Rolex, a very special class.

This year, in the first round of the class, the triple combination in a difficult place, and I have designed other tricky lines as well. In the second round, when the top 12 combinations compete, I will build the course based on how the horses are jumping and the conditions. For instance, today’s conditions are perfect; clear skies, no rain, and excellent light – which helps the horses jump better. However on Sunday, I will need to assess how the first round goes before determining the level of difficulty for the second round and how hard a course I can build.

What are the main things to consider when you are designing a course, and what do you hope to achieve?

For me, the foundation of designing a course is always the horses. When building a show jumping course, it is essential to consider that some horses jump better on the right rein, while others jump better on the left. As a result, I design half the course on the right and half on the left. Some horses jump vertical combinations better, whilst others prefer oxers, so I never repeat the same setup. Bigger horses like longer distances, while smaller horses like shorter ones, so when I design courses I incorporate a mix of long, short, and normal distances. I try to test horses and their riders in different ways, ensuring that no single aspect or test of the course dominates the challenge.

How do you think the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament developed into one the leading equestrian venues in North America?

Ron Southern was a visionary of the sport, possibly the biggest in the world. He looked to the future and always tried to do the best for Spruce Meadows. Linda and the family continue this vision, also trying their upmost to make Spruce Meadows the best venue in the world, which is what makes it so special. Ron taught me a lot, and Linda as well, sharing their visions and ideas with me that I wouldn’t necessarily have had. Linda thinks 10-years into the future, and that has really helped Spruce Meadows as a venue to grow and develop. The entire team here wants to make it the best venue in the world, which has developed the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament into a place of excellence. We try to be the best, and that makes this venue very special.

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping was formed in 2013 – over 10-years-ago now. In your opinion, how big an impact has the concept had on the sport?

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping has completely transformed the sport. Before its introduction, show jumping sport was good, but somewhat static. The Rolex Grand Slam has had a profound impact because the four Majors are different to all the other shows – they are the pinnacle of competition. Rolex has always been important in equestrian sport, even before the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping started, but I think the introduction of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping elevated the sport to a new level. It challenges and pushes riders to achieve the highest levels of excellence across the four different venues.

Each of the four Majors that make up the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping – The Dutch Masters, the CHIO Aachen, the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, and the CHI Geneva – are all very different. This diversity adds excitement to the sport. You never know who the winner will be, everyone has a chance, and very few riders win these big Rolex Grands Prix often.

Do you have any other passions away from show jumping?

My biggest passion away from show jumping is my family. I have three grandchildren, one from my son and two from my daughter. They make my life complete, I joke with my friends that if I had known how good having grandchildren was going to be, I never would have had children! I also like fishing and sailing boats. I don’t have that much time to do it anymore, but I used to do it a lot and I would do sailing races as well. When I was young, I had time to do many things, but now I am older, not so much! 

Please could you introduce yourself, and tell us your role and what this entails

My name is Will Lyles, and I am one of Rodrigo Pessoa’s show grooms. My job is to travel to shows across the world, and take care his horses.

How did you begin your career in the industry?

I started off riding and competing myself, and then I decided that I could travel the world and go to better shows if I became a groom for a top rider. So, I change my path and now I get to travel to the best shows with Rodrigo, such as here at Spruce Meadows.

We are here at the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament – could you tell us about the facilities here for not only the horses but also for the grooms?

It is my first time here, and so far everything has been excellent for the horses – there are numerous wash bays and we have access to everything we need to be able to look after our horses. In addition, the groom’s hotel is quite close, so that makes everything easier.

Can you tell us about the horses that you currently look after and their different qualities

We have Major Tom, who is Rodrigo’s top horse and together they competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games just a couple of weeks ago. He has a lot of character and likes to be the centre of attention! He is a very capable horse and so I think he deserves to be the centre!

Then we also have our 10-year-old mare, Dhalida with us this week. She is a big girl, but she is our speed horse, and is very easy to deal with and look after.

Just having two horses is much easier when you are on your own, generally their schedules do not clash too much, and so you can care for them both properly without having to rush around.

How do you ensure that your horses are fit and ready to perform, especially after they travel?

I try to make sure that they do not get stressed, and try to keep their routine the same no matter where they are or what they are doing. I try to keep everything simple so they do not have too much change happening around them.

Do you have any superstitions or a certain routine that you have to do at an important competition?

I am not overly superstitious, but if I have saddlecloth that a horse jumped clear in then I will put it on the second horse so that one will hopefully jump clear as well. To be honest, that is about the only thing I do.