It has not been in sync between the rider and the horse in the latest competitions. The national team rider and the 14-year-old gelding have been affected by outbreaks in the jump-offs in the World Cup, the Top 10 final, and in Sunday's GP jumping in Geneva.
"I have, of course, analyzed it carefully and we have also checked up on King Edward thoroughly from a veterinary perspective since the problem arose in three right turns. I basically didn't think it was a physical problem with him, but that's always the first thing we do when questions arise. But the examination has shown that he is 100 percent," says Henrik von Eckermann.
And adds:
"The explanation I have is that I unfortunately, through my mistake in La Coruna (World Cup), where I took too big a risk to the last obstacle, have created uncertainty in him."
Building trust
"Therefore, I'm interrupting the indoor season and won't be riding the World Cup final on him this spring. It will be a good opportunity to make a fresh start and build up his trust again."
He regrets pushing too hard to win the jump-off in Sunday's GP class in Geneva.
"Even though the distance wasn't wrong to the obstacle, I should, after what had happened, have given him a little more time to number two and been satisfied with a third place instead. But what has happened can't be undone, unfortunately. What I can do is learn from my mistakes and do better next time."
Enormously successful
The pair won the World Cup finals in 2023 and 2024. Together, they have been enormously successful in recent years, with, among other things, the Olympic gold in the team event in 2021 and World Championship gold both individually and in the team event in 2022. To that, they can add a multitude of other victories, such as the Top 10 final.
Iliana or Azaria Dinero will likely be the horse that gets to try to take the third consecutive World Cup title. The final will be decided in Basel in early April.
Before that, Henrik von Eckermann will be competing, among other things, in the World Cup in Gothenburg in February. Next, he will be jumping in the World Cup in London on Sunday.
