Georg Kaehny awarded the Longines Owner of the Year for the second time in a row

Once again, Switzerland’s Georg Kaehny, owner of the horses King Edward and Iliana ridden by the Swedish rider Henrik Von Eckermann, Longines FEI World number 1 in the Longines jumping rankings, wins for the second time in a row the Longines Owner of the Year trophy. The award ceremony took place during the Longines CHI Classics Basel (SUI), in the presence of Bernardo Tribolet, Longines Vice President Marketing, and Dominique Mégret, Chairman of the Jumping Owners Club. This award, created in 2004 and approved by the FEI, illustrates the importance of recognizing the involvement of the owners in building an international career in show jumping. It is proudly supported by the Swiss watch brand Longines, which is the Official Partner of the Jumping Owners Club.

For many years, Georg Kaehny enjoyed international success with Paloubet d’Halong and Bacardi VDL, ridden by Swiss amazon Janika Sprunger. Now, thanks to her Swedish husband Henrik Von Eckermann, Georg Kaehny dominates the show jumping world. With the incredible King Edward and the promising Iliana, the current world number 1 in the Longines jumping rankings, he wins his second Longines Owner of the Year trophy in a row with a comfortable lead. Georg Kaehny is the second horse owner in history to win this award two years running.

Dominique Mégret, Chairman of the Jumping Owners Club, was very pleased with the success of Georg Kaehny for the season 2023, the second one in a row. “After just missing out on the trophy for several years, Georg Kaehny confirms his status as a major owner of our sport with this second trophy in a row.” Dominique Mégret said. “His unfailing support perfectly illustrates the state of mind in which owners of top-level horses find themselves. Through his investments, his patience, his judicious choices and the excellent relationship he maintains with his horses’ riders, Georg Kaehny is the archetypal sports enthusiast. This is based on a triptych composed not only of the owner, but also and above all of the athletic duo of horse and rider, an inseparable trio whose essential goal is the pursuit of performance with total respect for the horse. I am sincerely delighted to see the efforts of one of our most eminent members rewarded with a second trophy. This success corroborates the one won last year, and shows, as was the case in 2018-2019 with Luigi Baleri, that loyalty, trust and respect are essential to build stride after stride such a prize list.”

Ingmar de Vos, FEI President, said: “For the second year in a row, I have the pleasure of congratulating George Kaehny on winning the highly coveted Longines Owner of the Year award. Over the years, we have seen many of George Kaehny’s horses thrive in the sport of Jumping and carve their names into the history books, the most memorable to date being King Edward, who under Henrik Von Eckermann, in Tokyo became the third horse in history to complete all the rounds at an Olympic Games without incurring any penalties!

The commitment and passion horse owners bring to the table is phenomenal, and it is important that we continue to recognize and value their key role in equestrian sport. I am very happy and proud, that since 2004, we honour horse owners with this prestigious award. And finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Longines for their ongoing support and drive to celebrate the very best in our sport.”

The Award, an original bronze sculpture representing a jumping horse, has been awarded to Georg Kaehny by Bernardo Tribolet, Longines Vice President Marketing, and Dominique Mégret, JOC Chairman, on the main arena of the Longines CHI Classics Basel. Georg Kaehny also received a Longines watch.

The next two owners in the ranking are at the 2nd place, Gianluca Agustoni (owner of Dynamix de Belheme and Venard de Cerisy, ridden by Steve Guerdat for Switzerland), and at the 3rd place, Ariel Grange (owner of Legacy, Gisborne VDL and Quintin, ridden by Daniel Coyle for Ireland).