‘Once in a lifetime’ horse is King of the world
Agria FEI World Jumping Championships
Individual medals
0 rails down by the medallists on the final day
1 pole between Ben Maher and the podium
“I OWE him for this for life,” Henrik von Eckermann said of King Edward after they were crowned world champions. “I will remember this to my last breath.”
The world number one rider and the unassuming little chestnut, who already had Sweden’s team gold under their belts, saw off the best horses and riders in the world to win, nearly three penalties ahead of Belgium’s Jérôme Guery on Quel Homme De Hus, with Maikel van der Vleuten on Beauville Z NOP taking the bronze.
Henrik and the Edward 28 x Feo gelding were on the team that won gold in Tokyo last year, but came fourth individually, and Henrik has said that would always be the medal that got away. But this one was going nowhere.
“His brain is clever. He’s so careful but so brave, and such a sweet horse”
HENRIK VON ECKERMANN
They went into the final in the lead, Henrik knowing that one pole would mean the gold, or a medal of any colour, slipping through his fingers again.
“But I don’t think like that,” he said afterwards. “I had a really good feeling in the
