SPEAKING at the conclusion of a ‘hectic’ international eventing season, eventing High Performance manager Dag Albert said, while there were some disappointments and challenges, he remains very positive about the future.

“We had plenty of highlights, we had a good Saumur, a good Badminton, Bramham was very good, then Millstreet where we had a young team achieve a Nations Cup win, then Luhmuhlen where we had two in the top 10 in the five-star and we had a team third at Aachen,” Albert said, after the season officially ended with Pau five-star last weekend.

“Paris was one of very few competitions where we performed under par. It was no disaster, but not as good as we were doing before or after. I thought after Bramham, ‘here we go’, but it didn’t quite work our way. Then this Autumn, Burghley was okay, followed by a great Blenheim, where we had first and second in the eight and nine-year-old class and three young horses in the top 15 in the long class.

“We had first and second in the Ballindenisk four-star short and then a very very good Boekelo, where we outclassed all the other nations in the Nations Cup final. Le Lion d’Angers was okay, six in the top 20 in the seven-year-olds, no podium places but very solid performances, then finished off in a very, very wet Pau, with good performances from young horses.”

Challenges

In terms of challenges, Albert said financial backing was something he would like to see addressed. “We need more backing to do a proper programme that we can stick to for the whole season. We need money for proper training, we are running a bit on a shoestring to be honest, so to have done what we have with what we had is really good. It was great to have sponsors Agria come to the table, but it was still tight. The finances weren’t there to travel a vet or a dressage coach to Boekelo for example.

“Over the past few years, we got used to begging and borrowing, but it would be easier for the riders to have our own people with us. If everything is going fine, it’s fine, but usually a little work is needed, but if we can’t afford to bring the coaches, how are we going to improve?

“But, we do the best we can - we have a great group or riders, who all muck in. The group is in good form, they all get on extremely well and support each other. The Boekelo win raised the spirits in the whole camp and makes us realise we can do it.”

Contract

In terms of plans for next year, Albert said his contract expired - like all HSI High Performance managers - this week and the mandatory process of advertising for the role has begun.

“Hopefully, the process will be quick, so we can get planning for next year and the LA Olympic cycle. The riders in particular are keen to know, as it’s really coming together with how we work together, so hopefully we can carry on, I really hope so.

“There have been challenges, but we are now seen as one of the better nations on the circuit and we have good numbers and some younger combinations with huge potential, so I’m feeling very hopeful about the future.

“It helps that many of the horses are secured thanks to good owners, who support the riders and want to see the horses at the top level rather than sell them. You’ve got to have the horse power and they are all going the right way there.”