The approximately two hundred and sixty horses present at the Concourse Hippique International Officiel (CHIO) at the Kralingse Plas in Rotterdam were born with a golden spoon in their mouth. It is the only five-star event in equestrian sports in the Netherlands. “And a five-star hotel for the horses,” jokes press officer Anita Lussenburg. During the scorching heat that coincides with the four-day event, no expense is spared for the horses to keep it bearable. “When you see this treatment, everyone would like to be a horse.”
Once the horses have completed their short but intensive effort (dressage or jumping), they are led back to the stables via a shady forest lane. There are cooling elements in freezers that can be attached to their legs – to cool the tendons. They get a cooling shower. Maybe even a massage. The food they receive is brought from home. Water is diluted with apple juice. Time to graze quietly. There are fans everywhere, absolutely everywhere, in the stables. In a row, they pass on the generated wind to each other. And if it is still too hot, they get a wet towel on their neck.
To put the animals at ease, they all, really all, have their rosettes on the stable door and a cuddly toy that smells like home. “Those cuddly toys go all over the world,” says Lussenburg. It is not surprising when you consider that there are horses worth “2, 3, sometimes 5 million euros or even more” here, says Patrick van der Meer, Dutch national coach and Sporting Director of the CHIO. Sitting on a horse like this is like sitting on a castle or gigantic canal house.
Groom Sarah Brool with Cassina Dior.
Photo Saskia van den Boom
Kisses on the horse’s nose
So while in the rest of the country the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority is using drones for the first time during this heat to search for anonymous cows, pigs, goats and horses that have no shelter available, in Rotterdam everything is being pulled out for these horses. They all have their own ‘groom’. “This is my whole life,” says Irish groom Sarah Brool. She takes care of Cassina Dior, a mare from the Dutch team. “I’m just going to hose her down.” The horse seems to enjoy the cool spray from the garden hose. Meanwhile, Brool gives her kisses on her nose. “This horse is my child.”
The elite of equestrian sports will come together at this 77th edition of the event – Rotterdam’s oldest top sporting event, founded in 1948 but with two missed editions. Star jumping rider Maikel van der Vleuten is just riding away with one of his horses. Dressed in a uniform from fashion brand Massimo Dutti – the horse, not the man – the duo heads to the competition arena. In this world the horse always comes first. “Teams bring a physiotherapist. Not for the riders, but for the horses. That is much more important.”
The animals here are monitored very closely. Days before they travel to the competition, their temperature must be measured to ensure that they do not have a fever. Upon arrival they are checked by a veterinarian. The horse passport will be confiscated and the horses will not be allowed to leave the site for the four days that the event lasts. Van der Meer: “We are living in a bubble for a while.”
It is, in the Netherlands at least, the hottest edition to date. But, says the national coach: “There are also competitions in Abu Dhabi, so this isn’t too bad.” However, some adjustments have been made. For example, the Para Dressage, dressage for riders with disabilities, has been brought forward considerably. Another section, the 2FitHorses CHIO South Holland, has been moved from one o’clock in the afternoon to four o’clock in the afternoon. Fortunately, the Nations Cup, for which the best horses come from the stable, was already scheduled for later in the afternoon. “When the heat of the day is over.”
The public is also looking for ways to stay cool during the CHIO.
photo Saskia van den Boom
Fan with misting function
It is of course wonderful for the horses that this is a wooded area and close to the water. “You can feel the closer we get to the water, the cooler it gets.” Once riders have ridden their class, they ride back to the stable via the shady forest lane. “Perfect for cooling down.” Van der Meer says it is always a bit of a curse when all the gigantic trailers arrive here. While parking is very easy at all other competitions, on open spaces, this is a different story. “But when everyone has landed, it feels like a warm bath. This competition is truly unique. It is a fairy tale.”
This year, he points out, there are all kinds of water tanks along the forest path decorated with fairy lights because of the heat. “Not for drinking, horses don’t just drink on the road.” Horses can drink thirty to forty liters. “They can live on that for a while.” No, this has a different function. “These are there so that the groomers can cool down with sponges along the way.”
The horses are led to the stables via a shower. In many cases the Majestic Skycooler is running there: a fan with a misting function. It is wonderful to stay here. More and more products are also available for pets to keep dogs and cats cool: cooling collars and mats are growing in popularity due to the changing climate.
The winners will be presented with their prizes to thundering classical music that honors the fairytale surroundings of the Kralingse Plas. Meanwhile, NVWA drones fly over the meadows. Looking for ungulates that perform feats that are not rewarded with a medal or star treatment, to check whether they have a strip of shade at their disposal.
Cooling elements are stored in freezers that can be attached to the horses’ legs to cool the tendons.
Photo Saskia van den Boom