Furusiyya FEI Nations CupTM is one of the absolute highlights of Falsterbo Horse show and this year wasn´t any different, it was thrilling all the way until the last rider had reached the finish line!
Sweden and the Netherlands shared the lead after the first round after Douglas Lindelöw, Alexander Zetterman and Peder Fredricson all had 0 faults. Close behind was USA and Spain with 1 time fault each and Germany with 2 time faults. For the second round three of the fences was raised, putting even more pressure on the horses and riders. Germany had 5 further penalties, whilst all other teams got 8 faults or more.
This madeGermany the winner, just like last year! Sweden finished second with 8 faults whilst USA and Spain
shared the third place both with 9 faults. An Incredably tight race!
In the German team the audience could amongst others enjoy Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum riding Fibonacci 17, earlier ridden very successfully by Lisen Bratt Fredricson, then called Fendi.
– Fibunacci is treated like a rockstar here in Falsterbo, said Meredith. I am very happy to have him in my stable, he has an incredible jumping capacity and we have really got together so well in a short space of time. I think that we have a promising future!
Rolf-Göran Bengtsson came in on Unita Ask, which is still unexperienced on this level. In the first round she got tense, which led to two fences down (which Sweden could exclude from the result since the others were all clear with 0 penalties). In the second round though, she showed confidence, fighting spirit and agility leaving all the fences up finishing with 0 penalties.
Riding for the Swedish team was; Douglas Lindelöw–Casello; Alexander Zetterman–Cafino; Rolf-Göran Bengtsson–Unita Ask och Peder Fredricson–H&M Sibon