78 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Sophie St. Clair
Imagine if the sport of show jumping was as popular as watching
the Superbowl, Wimbledon or the World Cup. For Christophe
Ammeuw, this would be a dream come true.
As a young Belgian boy, he had to give up his own riding
ambitions when he was just 17. This, however, would not deter
him from sharing his passion for the sport with the world. As the
creator of the Masters Grand Slam Indoor, he’s realizing that
dream and changing the world of show jumping. While his dream
is big, he has the skill and determination to make it happen. And
he does it one amazing show at a time.
The Masters Grand Slam Indoor is one of the most globally
recognized show jumping competitions in the world. The concept
of the Masters Grand Slam, with three iconic events on three
continents, was inspired by the Grand Slam in tennis. A four-
day event, it showcases the top 25 riders in the world vying for
$1million in prize money. It combines the best riding competition
in show jumping with the lifestyle elements of fashion, cuisine,
high-profile celebrities and even a charity component. It attracts
the finest in luxury-brand partners, with Gucci as the title sponsor
in Paris and Longines as the title sponsor in Hong Kong.
The first event was established in Paris, the second in Hong
Kong and, soon this fall, the newest event will take place in Los
Angeles. The Masters partnered with Eurosport to establish a
broadcast of the events. They reach a global audience of 500
million households in 120 countries across the globe. Since its
establishment in 2004, the Masters has attracted the likes of
Olympians, World Champions and equestrian household names
from every corner of the world. For horse show organizers, it’s a
marvelous example of what can be done to showcase equestrian
e
Christophe
Ammeuw
Mastering
His Dream
Christophe Ammeuw
All photos courtesy of EEM World
Longines Hong Kong Masters
