From Semi-Final to Final: How Riders Prepare Their Horses for Avenches

Report: Emily Bevan

We are just days away from the 2026 Longines EEF Series Final in Avenches, Switzerland, where ten qualified teams will be aiming to arrive with their horses and riders in peak physical and mental condition.
 
But with eight weeks since the South-Central semi-final in Samorin, what have riders been doing to give their horses the best chance of being in their prime in Avenches?
 
There is no single formula for getting a horse to peak at the right time. Some horses need rest while others thrive on regular competition. The most important thing is to know your horse well enough to recognise what it needs.
 
“In my opinion, you always need to be able, by knowing your own horses, to find the right balance between keeping them trained and never overdoing it,” said Giulia Martinengo Marquet, who will represent Italy this weekend with Scuderia 1918 Calle Deluxe.
 
“Calle is a horse we've had for seven years, so we know him very well. He is a horse that needs to maintain a certain routine, but clearly, he knows the job.”
 
After contesting the semi-final in Samorin, the 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding had two weeks off before competing at two shows in Opglabbeek in Belgium, followed by another two quiet weeks.

“We tried to keep him in fit shape without overdoing it, allowing the right weeks of rest,” added Giulia, who was a member of the Italian team which lifted the Longines EEF Series trophy in 2021 and 2024.

“Between the Samorin semi-final and the Avenches final a good month and a half passed, so it would have been excessive to leave Calle at home. Therefore, we decided to do the show in Opglabbeek as to avoid having him spend too many weeks at home.

“That was his last competition. We felt the four-star Grand Prix could be demanding for him - knowing already that he had been selected for the final - so we kept him in medium classes so that his fitness would be maintained without tiring him out too much in the more demanding events.”

For Austria’s Katharina Rhomberg, however, a break was the better option, with Cuma 5 given some time off after the semi-final.

“My horse got a little break in between the semi-final and the final so I hope that he will come back with a lot of energy,” said Katharina.

“Some are better when they are showing regularly, and some are even better after some breaks. My horse doesn’t really need to show too often, and he doesn’t really need the smaller shows in between so he often gets little breaks of some weeks.”

Spain’s Ivan Serrano takes a different approach with his horse, Rain Man, who thrives on a busy schedule. Consistency is important for the 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding.

“We compete almost every week, we haven't made any specific increase in the intensity of his training,” said Ivan.

“Rain Man went to Aachen and, although he didn't compete there, the trip and the atmosphere were still useful preparation and allowed him to become familiar with that kind of environment.

“He came back in very good condition and has arrived here this week feeling fantastic, so the priority has been to maintain his usual routine rather than change it.”

Ivan believes turning Rain Man out in the field and keeping his daily routine as normal as possible helps him to remain mentally fresh.

“I try to make his daily life as relaxed and enjoyable as possible. I like him to spend plenty of time outside, moving freely and simply being a horse,” said Ivan.

“I want training to be just another part of his daily routine, rather than something that takes over his whole day. I think that balance helps him stay mentally fresh, happy and willing to work.”

Ivan’s aim is to have Rain Man arrive in Avenches ‘feeling very fresh and eager’.

“I want him to feel strong, sharp and even a little bit out of control. For me, that means he has plenty of energy, confidence and enthusiasm for the competition,” said Ivan.

“I would rather arrive with him feeling very fresh and eager than too quiet; the aim is then to channel all that energy in the right direction when we enter the arena.”

Spain’s Alex Codina is juggling his final preparation for the Longines EEF Series Final with competing at the Mediterranean Games this week.

“I normally start increasing the intensity of the flatwork around ten days before the competition. During the final week, I focus on the small details that each horse needs over the jumps,” said Alex.

“This time, things are a little different because I am competing with London Blue at the Mediterranean Games on Sunday 30 August and Tuesday 1 September. The final then starts on Thursday with Espoir, my other horse.

“This means I have to prepare both horses at the same time, while still following my usual approach: jumping during the week leading up to the competition, mainly to fine-tune certain details, as they are both experienced horses.”

Alex also believes in taking a flexible approach and adapting his preparation to suit the needs of his horse.

“My programme changes completely depending on how the horse is feeling because, ultimately, the horse tells you what kind of work it needs,” said Alex.

“If I feel that a horse has too much energy or is more nervous than usual, it may be telling me that it needs more work or a different type of work. On the other hand, if the horse seems a little unmotivated, it may be time to give it more space, take things more easily and change the type of work.

“I don't like to have everything planned in advance because horses are not robots; they are animals. I adapt each day's work according to what the horse has shown me the day before, alternating between the different types of training I mentioned earlier.”

The goal for Alex, as for the other riders, is to arrive at the Longines EEF Series Final with a horse in top condition.

“When we arrive at the final, I want my horse to be physically and mentally ready to give his best. For that, I believe he needs to arrive fresh, healthy and well trained, ready to perform at his best,” concluded Alex.

“We know it is not easy because these competitions are extremely demanding and the standard of the other competitors is very high. However, the goal is to arrive in the best possible condition and, hopefully, achieve a good result.”

Whether it means competing regularly, taking several weeks away from the ring or adjusting the programme from one day to the next, the riders agree on one thing: there is no substitute for knowing what preparation their individual horse needs. With the Series final on the horizon, each has followed a different route to the same destination: arriving in Avenches with a horse ready to give its best.

Where to Watch and Follow
For the latest updates, team announcements, and behind-the-scenes content throughout the 2026 Longines EEF Series, follow the Longines EEF Series website and the European Equestrian Federation. Join the conversation on the Longines EEF Series social media on Instagram and Facebook.

Download the Longines EEF Series press kit here.

Watch the all the live action and replays on ClipMyHorse.TV, the official livestream partner of the Longines EEF Series.

Full results from the regional qualifiers and semi-finals of the Longines EEF Series 2026 season can be viewed here.