The star horse King Edward, which von Eckermann has won the World Cup final on for two years in a row and took Olympic gold with in the team in 2021, has started to get on in years and had a tough autumn as well.
After three competitions where the gelding suffered from outbreaks in the jump-offs, it was decided that he would skip the rest of the indoor season.
It's three jump-offs, where he still jumped well in the first rounds. But in the jump-offs, it didn't quite work out, so then I felt that I wanted to take him outdoors instead, says Henrik von Eckermann.
However, this does not mean that King Edward is a candidate for this summer's European Championship in A Coruña, Spain.
Instead, the Olympic Games in Paris last summer became the last major championship for the pair.
Olympic Games became the last
He has always been best outdoors, even though he has done incredible things indoors as well. And he has felt really good lately.
But now that he has reached the age of 15, he has done his part in the championships. There is still a difference in effort compared to a grand prix competition.
World number one von Eckermann meets up with a black cast on his right hand due to a fracture in one of his hand bones.
But it should not hinder him in this week's jumping competitions in Scandinavium in Gothenburg, he emphasizes.
I've been a bit in the USA lately, where I have some horses with an owner, but I want to do the World Cup final and need to keep going with the horses that can come into question for it, says Henrik von Eckermann.
Last year, the choice would have been obvious. But this year, it's two other horses that have been brought along to Gothenburg's horse show, Gothenburg Horse Show.
Uncertain choice
Which horse will become his next star remains to be seen. In Gothenburg, Iliana and Azaria Dinero will get the chance.
Both horses are also candidates for the World Cup final in Basel in April.
In the longer term – including the European Championship this summer – the horse choice is still uncertain.
I have some other horses that are on their way up, so we'll see how it develops.
An important part that comes next year is the World Championship in Aachen, which is also our qualification for the Olympic Games. But at the same time, I don't just want to go to the European Championship to participate. So we'll see.
Born: May 25, 1981.
Lives: Kessel, the Netherlands.
Family: Wife Janika Sprunger and son Noah.
Horses: King Edward, Iliana, Azaria Dinero, and others.
Main merits: Olympic gold team 2021, World Championship individual gold 2022, World Championship team gold 2022, World Championship team silver 2018, European Championship team gold 2023, European Championship team silver 2017, European Championship team bronze 2013, World Cup final victory 2023 and 2024, World Cup bronze 2017 and 2018.
Other: Winner of Svenska Dagbladet's bragd gold and winner of the Jerring Prize together with the show jumping team for the Olympic gold in the team in 2021.
World ranking: First (since August 2022).
