November 10, 2025 
The third qualifier leg of the Western European League in Italy proved to be the charm for Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Otello de Guldenboom during the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Verona.
The son of Deusser’s former stallion Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z—who retired at age 17 this August—Otello and Deusser took not one but two wins this weekend, having also jumped to the top of the podium in Friday’s 1.55m CSI5* speed class.
“I’m super delighted with my horse Otello de Guldenboom today! This weekend for him could not have been better,” Deusser said after their win in Sunday’s FEI World Cup Verona—the German rider’s first qualifier of the 2025 season.
Seven combinations advanced to the jump-off on Uliano Vezzani’s technical, 16-effort, first-round track. There, Deusser’s time of 36.31 seconds just bested Alain Jufer of Switzerland with Dante MM on 36.92 seconds. Deusser’s countryman, reigning Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk, was third on 37.31 seconds with Just Be Gentle.
Second-to-last to go on the first-round startlist, Deusser returned second-last in the jump-off, as well, explaining that the added wait time caused him to fall victim to a classic, show jumping pitfall: overthinking his jump-off plan.
Despite still weighing the options for his stride choices after the jump-off bell had rung, the two-time Olympian and former World No. 1 made the most of his longstanding bond with Otello—as well as the 11-year-old Belgian warmblood stallion’s impressive turning ability.
“We stated jumping 1.50m classes together and we grew together into the Grand Prix sport. And now, in the last [year-and-a-half], he’s actually won quite a few classes,” Deusser said after the pair’s first victory on Friday, having managed a tricky inside turn that no other rider—save Christian Kukuk and Cepano Baloubet—had attempted.
“[Otello is] naturally not the fastest horse, but he’s very sweet, and has a good character,” he added.
And the stallion is also remarkably consistent, according to the numbers. Together, Deusser and Otello jump clear at 58% in 26 rounds at 1.55m, finishing in the top 10 50% of the time (Jumpr Stats). Their growing success at higher heights—including a career first 5* 1.60m Grand Prix win for the stallion in the Rolex Grand Prix Ville de La Baule in June—indicates we still have plenty left to see from Otello de Guldenboom.
Next up: the FEI Jumping World Cup season moves on Stuttgart, Germany November 12-16. Norway’s Johan-Sebastian Gulliksen, who placed 7th in Verona with Equine America Harwich VDL, currently leads the Western European League standings with 25 points. Sanne Thijssen (NED) is second on 22; Ben Maher (GBR) third with 21.
Deusser and Olivier Perreau of France currently tie for fourth place on 20 points.
