The ‘Final Four’ Jumps into History
Top jumpers react to the change in the Final Four, which for decades served as the ultimate test in show jumping and determined the World Champion.
By Charlene Strickland F
or 61 years, the World Championship of show jumping was determined from a unique contest called the Final Four,
where the top four contenders exchanged their horses to determine the gold (World Cham- pion), silver and bronze medals. In 2016, the FEI decided to eliminate this contest from future World Championships at the World Equestrian Games (WEG). The Final Four, which began at the 1953
event in Paris, is where each rider would jump the course four times, on four horses. Each first jumped the course on his own horse. A draw established the start order and the horse rotation. The course was set at lower fence heights,
with fewer obstacles than the previous individ- ual qualifying rounds. After jumping the course on his own horse, the rider would change saddles to the second horse in the rotation. He or she had three minutes to ride this horse, with the chance to jump two practice fences. The warmup area, on the field adjacent to the course, contained a vertical and an oxer. Over the years, riders and national officials
often debated the value of a final day of jump- ing at the end of a heavy competition sched- ule. Horses and riders would have competed in three rounds of team competition, and then two individual rounds before the Final Four. We revisit reactions and opinions from par-
ticipants over the last 27 years at past champi- onships, sharing their comments at the time. We also present recent points of view from 2017, after the announcement of the FEI’s decision.
PRE-RIDE COMMENTARY Here are comments by riders and officials before a Final Four competition.
George Morris, 1998: I’ve always liked it because it’s a different
formula from the Olympics. It’s a real test of the rider to see if he can ride different horses. You have four superb horsemen and four world class horses this afternoon. Nobody can predict who is going to win because they are all fabulous. Franke Sloothak, 1998: I am very happy to be in the finals. It is
always something special. This competition is important for our sport. We should keep this specialty.
I think it is fantastic for our
sport that we have something like this for the people and the media. It is great to ride these other horses and feel them. Rodrigo Pessoa, 1998: It is a long
time that you work for this. Only someone who has been there knows the feeling. Eric Navet said he knew what I was feeling. Before this, I was watching everything and hoping I could one day be in the final. Peter Wylde, 2002: It’s a fantastic
feeling to be here. I am really thrilled. This is a lifetime dream for me. When I was a kid, I thought about the Final Four. I’ve worked all my life to get there. Conrad [Homfeld] said it’s testing
every part of your skill level, to see how you can deal with the pressure. It’s an incredible mind game. You’ve moved yourself to another category in show jumping.
It takes you to
another level. Eric Navet, 2002: It’s something
really fantastic for me to be in this situation again. It’s difficult for me to imagine I will do it again. I think Peter’s mare is fantastic, and I’m excited to ride her.
All photos by Charlene Strickland
Top of Page: Greg Best and Gem Twist (Good Twist xx x Noble Jay xx) on the victory gallop after winning the Best Horse Prize, World Championship, Stockholm, 1990. Above: George Morris being interviewed on the field at Stadio Flaminio, Rome, immediately before the Final Four competi- tion, October 11, 1998. Also present (backs to camera) are equestrians Raimondo d’Inzeo (ITA) and Marcel Rozier (FRA).
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