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Kristaps Neretnieks has come a long way from the rural fields of Latvia.
“It’s a nice story,” the 35-year-old rider began. “A friend of my mother pushed her to buy a horse. My mother was riding when she was young but then she was working and family and kids. A two-year-old mare at our countryside house. I started to ride her, my brother started to ride. Two boys in a countryside house … middle of forest … there was nothing. We needed something to do. So we started to ride. I made fences from the trees and it all came out naturally. We started to go to shows.
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“There were two options … I win or I fall down. This was my start.”
Neretnieks has done enough of the former to warrant an invitation to the 2024 Spruce Meadows Masters – the first Latvian to compete at the grounds in 49 years. It is also his first visit to Canada.
“I’m happy to be here,’’ he smiled broadly. “First Latvian is not a surprise because there are not so many riders in the big sport. I’m surprised about everything, how beautiful and everything is in top shape.”
Currently ranked 107th in the world, Neretnieks is typical of riders making their debut at the Meadows. It’s big, big, big.
“It’s just the second day today,” he noted. “I think it’ll be bigger and bigger tomorrow and the next days, especially on Sunday. I’m looking forward to it. It’s not that the fences are big but they’re wide. They’re not like the ones we see every day in Europe. Yesterday, it was difficult for me to ride; I could not see the distance. The fences are so shiny and fresh coloured and the big grass … it was difficult to see the distance for the horse.”
Despite his difficulties on Day One, he still managed a third and fourth placing in the 1.45m Telus Cup.
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“The horse jumped great but my riding was not the best,” he shrugged.
Neretnieks has his own small stable in Latvia but because it isn’t close to central Europe, he typically rides in Germany and last year was in Poland. He insists the amateur horse scene in Latvia is pretty good, lots of kids riding. But in order to get better, he’s had to move around, gathering intel from various sources. And that includes right here this week, with many of the world’s finest competing.
“It was a dream for a couple of years to come here one day,” Neretnieks admitted. “My friend Martin Fuchs, the winner of last year (the grand prix), he helped me to get here. I have a nice six-bar horse for tomorrow.
“Of course, I want to show my best with every horse (he has three). See what we can do. Of course, I want to compete in the grand prix class, still fighting for qualification. That’s the main goal. The Rolex Grand Slam, I haven’t done it yet. I’ve been to the Olympics, World Cup finals but to jump in this amazing arena in a grand prix would be fantastic.”
One of those expected to vie for the CPKC International grand prix on Sunday is Germany’s Richard Vogel, the ninth-ranked rider in the world. On Thursday, he put his name on the Cana Cup trophy for the second consecutive year, triumphant once again with United Touch S.
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“I’m very happy and honoured to have United Touch,” said Vogel. “He’s a horse that suits that kind of ring and fences perfectly. The way he jumps, you can see he loves this place. He’s in good form and that made my job easier today.”
Vogel and his mount posted a super fast time of 41.60 in the jump-off. Britain’s Ben Maher and Enjeu de Grisien were second (42.06) while Austria’s Max Kuhner and Elektric Blue P took third. The win officially qualifies Vogel for the grand prix, one of the four legs of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Vogel and United Touch S won the Geneva stop in the series in 2023.
“It’s always good to have confidence and a good feeling and believe in your horse and yourself,” he noted. “Such a win is a good start into the week and good preparation for Sunday’s class. There is no doubt Sunday’s class is one of the biggest you can jump in your whole career.
“Very badly,” he added, asked just how much he wants to win it.
Vogel is also expected to be the fifth rider on Team Germany for Saturday’s BMO Nations’ Cup.
Thursday’s first foray into the International Ring saw Irishman Michael Pender and HHS Cornetta win the 1.50m ATCO Cup.
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