(Photo: The Dutch Masters / REMCO VEURINK)
The Dutch Masters – the first Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major of the calendar year, and the final Major to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the concept – takes place from 7–10 March and will welcome the world’s best horse and rider combinations to the city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch. In total 44 riders from 12 nations, including the six top-ranked riders in the world, will contest the international show jumping classes, with the coveted Rolex Grand Prix taking place on Sunday afternoon.
Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping live contender, Richard Vogel, will be making his debut at the show, and will be aiming to keep his Rolex Grand Slam dream alive. The young German rider, together with his remarkable stallion United Touch S, stormed to victory at the CHI Geneva. However, Vogel has made a tactical decision to bring the 10-year-old Cepano Baloubet, with whom he has had several 5* victories, as his partner for this Major.
Vogel will be joined by five other German riders, including three-time Major winners, Daniel Deusser and Marcus Ehning, both of whom are likely to challenge for the top placings. Another notable German rider in action at the Indoor Brabant Horse Show is Christian Kukuk, who will be looking to build on his impressive third place at the CHI Geneva in December last year.
Leading the group of Dutch riders looking for a home win is World No. 10 Harrie Smolders, who will be joined by 13 of his compatriots, including Leopoldo Van Asten, a previous winner of the Grand Prix at the venue (pre-Rolex Grand Slam era) and Lars Kersten will be looking to build on his victory in the final FEI Jumping World Cup™ Qualifier at Gothenburg last week. The passionate and enthusiastic Dutch crowd is sure to create a sensational atmosphere as the local riders canter into the main arena in the Brabanthallen.
Great Britain will be represented by three riders, including Scott Brash – the only rider to have won the prestigious Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping title. World No.2 Ben Maher, who is still looking for his first Major victory, comes to The Dutch Masters off the back of a number of impressive results at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida. Meanwhile, at only 24-years-old, Robert Murphy will be making his Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping debut. As a member of the Rolex Young Rider Academy, Murphy is sure to be one to watch over the coming years.
World No.1 Henrik von Eckermann, winner of this pinnacle class in 2019, is always a threat to the top of the leaderboard, and is sure to be a favourite heading into this year’s edition. Another past winner looking to reclaim his title is Max Kühner. The stalwart of the Austrian team will bring EIC Up Too Jacco Blue who won the Audi Prize at the show last year. Frenchman Julien Epaillard came close to securing his maiden Major at the 2023 event, and will be looking to improve on his second place from last year. Known as one of the fastest riders in the world, the French rider is always one to set the crowd alight if he makes it through the jump-off.
Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs are sure to present a strong Swiss challenge for the title. Guerdat, who has competed in every Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Major since its initiation, had a sensational 2023 which was topped off with a victory in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final at the CHI Geneva. Both Guerdat and Fuchs – who between them have won six Majors – will be hoping to claim their inaugural Dutch Masters title.
Other noteworthy entries include Rolex Testimonee Bertram Allen from Ireland, Belgium’s highest-ranked show jumper Gregory Wathelet, and the stylish Italian rider Lorenzo de Luca.