Edward Gal
Encyclopedia
Edward Gal (born March 4, 1970 in Rheden
) is a Dutch
dressage
rider. He and his most recent mount, the stallion
Moorlands Totilas
(nicknamed "Toto"), were triple gold medalists at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games
, becoming the first horse-rider partnership ever to sweep the three available dressage gold medals at a single FEI World Games. Going into the 2010 Games, they had amassed multiple world-record scores in international competition, leading one American
journalist to call them "rock stars in the horse world".
at age 14, beginning with ponies and graduating to larger horses at age 20. However, when he discovered his horse did not like jumping, he switched to dressage. While enjoying solid success in national and international competition, he did not become a truly dominant rider until he began competing with Totilas in 2008. Gal would later say that he and his team understood that Toto was a special horse after their first Grand Prix competition.
Since then, Gal has replaced his countrywoman Anky van Grunsven
as the dominant rider on the world dressage circuit. In July 2009, he and Toto broke van Grunsven's world record score in Grand Prix Freestyle with an 89.50% mark at Hickstead, England
, and shortly thereafter followed it up with another record score of 90.75% in the same discipline at that year's European Championships
. In December 2009, at the fourth leg of the 2009–10 FEI World Cup Dressage
series at Olympia
in London
, they extended their record in GP Freestyle to 92.30%, more than 10 points above the second-place finisher. While not setting a world record, they easily won that season's FEI World Cup final in GP Freestyle at home in the Netherlands, winning by more than 7 points with a score better than their first world record. The pair also have a world-record score in the Grand Prix Special discipline to their credit, having recorded 86.460% at Aachen
in July 2010.
Gal and Totilas were installed as the overwhelming favorites in the 2010 FEI World Games in Lexington, Kentucky
, USA
, their first competition outside Europe. Klaus Röser, head of the German dressage team that has long dominated the discipline, said about Gal, "That we can beat Edward; I don't think so, I don't believe so. We have to be realistic." Röser's assessment proved correct, with Gal and Toto first leading the Dutch team to gold in the team competition, and then easily winning gold in Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle.
In a piece in The Courier-Journal
of Louisville, Kentucky
that ran before the 2010 Games, dressage trainer Susan Posner pointed out that Toto was only in his second year in dressage despite being 10 years old, and said that his success illustrated how capable Gal was as a rider.
. Gal has been interviewed in several Dutch media outlets about his homosexuality and his relationship with Minderhoud.
Rheden
Rheden is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.- Population centres :*Velp *Dieren *Rheden *De Steeg *Ellecom *Spankeren *Laag Soeren -Transportation:...
) is a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
dressage
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
rider. He and his most recent mount, the stallion
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
Moorlands Totilas
Moorlands Totilas
Totilas, also known from 2006-2011 as Moorlands Totilas, and nicknamed "Toto", is a Dutch Warmblood stallion standing high who is considered to be one of the most outstanding competitive dressage horses in the world, the first horse to score above 90 in dressage competition, and the current holder...
(nicknamed "Toto"), were triple gold medalists at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games
2010 FEI World Equestrian Games
The 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games were held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky from September 25 to October 10, 2010. This was the sixth edition of the games, which are held every four years and run by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports...
, becoming the first horse-rider partnership ever to sweep the three available dressage gold medals at a single FEI World Games. Going into the 2010 Games, they had amassed multiple world-record scores in international competition, leading one American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist to call them "rock stars in the horse world".
Career
Gal began his equestrian career as a jumperShow jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
at age 14, beginning with ponies and graduating to larger horses at age 20. However, when he discovered his horse did not like jumping, he switched to dressage. While enjoying solid success in national and international competition, he did not become a truly dominant rider until he began competing with Totilas in 2008. Gal would later say that he and his team understood that Toto was a special horse after their first Grand Prix competition.
Since then, Gal has replaced his countrywoman Anky van Grunsven
Anky van Grunsven
Theodora Elisabeth Gerarda van Grunsven is a Dutch dressage champion who won the gold medal in the 2000 Olympics with her horse Bonfire and gold in the 2004 Olympics and in the 2008 Olympics with Salinero.Van Grunsven has also dominated World Cup Dressage competition, being named the World...
as the dominant rider on the world dressage circuit. In July 2009, he and Toto broke van Grunsven's world record score in Grand Prix Freestyle with an 89.50% mark at Hickstead, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and shortly thereafter followed it up with another record score of 90.75% in the same discipline at that year's European Championships
2009 FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships
The 2009 FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships, also known as the 2009 Alltech FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships, is the 30th edition of the European Show Jumping Championships and the 26th edition of the European Dressage Championship. It is being held at Windsor Castle in...
. In December 2009, at the fourth leg of the 2009–10 FEI World Cup Dressage
Dressage World Cup
The Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage is an annual international dressage series among the worlds best dressage horses and riders. It is held since 1985.- History :...
series at Olympia
Olympia, London
Olympia is an exhibition centre and conference centre in West Kensington, on the boundary between The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, London, W14 8UX, England. It opened in the 19th century and was originally known as the National Agricultural Hall.Opened in 1886,...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, they extended their record in GP Freestyle to 92.30%, more than 10 points above the second-place finisher. While not setting a world record, they easily won that season's FEI World Cup final in GP Freestyle at home in the Netherlands, winning by more than 7 points with a score better than their first world record. The pair also have a world-record score in the Grand Prix Special discipline to their credit, having recorded 86.460% at Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
in July 2010.
Gal and Totilas were installed as the overwhelming favorites in the 2010 FEI World Games in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, their first competition outside Europe. Klaus Röser, head of the German dressage team that has long dominated the discipline, said about Gal, "That we can beat Edward; I don't think so, I don't believe so. We have to be realistic." Röser's assessment proved correct, with Gal and Toto first leading the Dutch team to gold in the team competition, and then easily winning gold in Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle.
In a piece in The Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal
The Courier-Journal, locally called "The C-J", is the main newspaper for the city of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. According to the 1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook, the paper is the 48th largest daily paper in the United States and the single largest in Kentucky.- Origins :The...
of Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
that ran before the 2010 Games, dressage trainer Susan Posner pointed out that Toto was only in his second year in dressage despite being 10 years old, and said that his success illustrated how capable Gal was as a rider.
Personal life
In his personal life, Gal is in a long-term relationship with teammate Hans Peter MinderhoudHans Peter Minderhoud
Hans Peter Minderhoud is a Dutch dressage rider.Minderhoud won the VSN Cup in 2004 with his horse Gameboy and also succeeded in the Pavo Cup with Sandreo and Florencio. At the 2004 World Championships for 5-year old horses he won the World title in Verden with Florencio...
. Gal has been interviewed in several Dutch media outlets about his homosexuality and his relationship with Minderhoud.