Being a show jumping fan is not for the feint of heart.
Between the Longines FEI World Cup, the Longines Global Champions Tour, the newly launched Longines League of Nations and the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, not to mention Major League Show Jumping, you need a degree in logistics just to keep track of the 5* calendar.
Because the season? It. never. stops.
And apparently the addition of new series doesn’t either.
On Thursday, the Rolex Series was officially revealed at the CSIO Roma Piazza di Siena. The Rolex Series unites six of the most respected equestrian shows in the world: CSIO Roma Piazza di Siena, Jumping International de La Baule, the Jumping International de Dinard, the Dublin Horse Show, the Brussels Stephex Masters, and the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, USA.
What that means for fans and athletes is not entirely clear.
Unlike the Rolex Grand Slam, which links The Dutch Masters, CHIO Aachen, CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ and CHI Geneva, no bonuses have been announced for winning multiple legs of the Series.
It is perhaps a way for Rolex sponsored events to stand out in the increasingly busy 5* calendar and, according to the press release, “further enhances Rolex’s commitment to equestrianism and its mission to unite and inspire.”
One might argue that what would truly unite and inspire is one single show jumping series, like the NFL, NBA or PGA, with an off- and pre-season. But given the unlikelihood of that ever happening, what’s one more series among many?
We’ll be following along, Rolex Series.