The Athina Onassis International Show is a mark in the history of the Brazilian Show Jumping and a part of the Global Champions Tour. The specialty in Rio de Janeiro is two separate Grand Prix-classes, both featuring an astonishing 275.000 € in prize money.
It's a familiar set-up on the tour: Noora jumps with Evli Cagliostro and Quinault, Mikael with Isaac du Jonquet and Evli Maike.'

Friday: paying close attention to the climate (change?)

Report

No expense has been spared in creating the GCT of Brazil with every detail considered. Unfortunately due to unforeseen and uncharacteristic rainfall for this time of year, the worst in 48 years, all international classes by time off Friday had been cancelled. The decision to use a sand based surface was to ensure that even the worse conditions would ensure the event would proceed, as a grass arena under these conditions would have rendered the event cancelled in any case.

Noora described the reality as a scene of the film Gorillas in the Mist. The factual ground situation as of Saturday morning, would have suggested that the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix would have been the first international class for the event. Not a very optimal situation, but luckily most of the GP-horses are very experienced. Also a second GCT-class is scheduled for Saturday.

The team has been in Rio since Sunday, as Brazil offers a number of challenges for our equine athletes. First of all we have another climate, but the bigger issues are the customs regulations, which totally forbid all import of horse feeds and supplements between EU and Brazil. Thus the horses has to adapt to a 100% new diet.

Official website:

1. Athina Onassis International Horse Show

Videofeed:

1. LIVE from Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro on Wikipedia:

1. Rio de Janeiro

Online results and start lists:

1. Rio de Janeiro Results Service