MV show jumper Andre Thieme celebrates exceptional success in the USA

Ocala/Rostock. Showjumper Andre Thiem will remember last Saturday (March 9, 2024) for a long time. In Ocala (USA), the former European champion from Plau am See had his most successful weekend so far on his tour of Florida this year.

First, he won the $75,000 (€68,000) jackpot in the HITS tournament. On the same night, he also won the Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Centre, which offered a total prize money of $200,000 (€183,000). Thiem's ​​share of the prize money amounted to $66,000 (60,000 euros). Even world-class riders rarely manage to win two high-level competitions in one day.

MV's show jumper took first place ahead of the former world champion

Thieme's victory in the main event was the first Grand Prix success in the return of his golden horse Chakaria. The Mecklenburg native adopted the mare for the first time after a break of more than six months.

The pair really accelerated the jump and sometimes rode very diagonally towards the individual jumps. They remained without drops in both rounds and finished first ahead of former world champion Rodrigo Pessoa (Brazil) with Dalida.

The break from the tournament was good for Shakaria, Team's best horse

Thiem won individual gold with Chakaria at the European Championships in Riesenbeek in 2021. Due to an injury to his horse, he was unable to defend the title in Milan last year. He used his first horse for the first time on his US tour in an easy test nearly three weeks ago.

“I'm very proud of my horse,” the 48-year-old said of his success. “The break from the tournament was very good for Shakaria, she is full of energy again. My goal is of course the Olympic Games in Paris, and we will prepare everything to achieve this in the next few months in consultation with the national coach.

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The Mecklenburg native had previously reached the jumping point with two horses in the National Grand Prix, where he remained faultless with both in the second round. The competition can't match his fast ride on Paule S. He has already won the $75,000 jackpot with the gelding on February 24. He rode his second horse, Chacco Heart, to third place.

Thiem is also being coached by national coach Otto Becker for the national team, which is scheduled to compete in the League of Nations tournament in Ocala on March 23. The German quartet also includes Richard Vogel, David Weil (both Marburg) and Christian Kukoc (Reisenbeek).

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