Dressage-News

Mar. 4, 2018

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

Cathrine Dufour and Cassidy jumped to No. 3 in the world in the latest rankings, swapping places with Isabell Werth and Emilio that the young star beat last month to become the highest ranked Danish combination in more than a decade.

Isabell, though, remained atop the standings with Weihegold OLD for the 17th straight month with her Olympic gold medal team mate Sönke Rothenberger and Cosmo at No. 2 since August, 2017, according to the standings.

America’s Laura Graves and Verdades stayed at No. 4 that she moved into during the Rio Olympics in August, 2016–climbing to the second spot in July, 2017 and third until November last year before again becoming No. 4.

The latest rankings, released Monday by the FEI, the International Equestrian Federation, come near the end of almost a year of qualifying competitions around the globe for the World Cup Final in Paris next month.

Defending champion Isabell Werth on the 13-year-old Oldenburg mare Weihegold will be challenged by Cathrine and Cassidy, the new world No. 3 who last month twice beat the German superstar on Emilio, and Laura and the 16-year-old KWPN that is the only couple to defeat the No. 1 pair since the 2016 Olympics. They did so at the World Equestrian Festival CDIO5* Grand Prix Special in Aachen, Germany last July.

The ranking for Cathrine, 26, and Cassidy, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding, is the highest for a Danish combination since Andreas Helgstrand on Matiné stood at No. 2 in April, 2007 following the pair’s success at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen the year before.

She will be going to her first Final to challenge Isabell on Weihegold, the 2017 World Cup champion, and Laura on Verdades, the reserve champion for the annual championship of the Grand Prix freestyle.

Fellow Danes Daniel Bachmann Andersen on Blue Hors Zack, who is also seeking to go to the World Cup Final, moved to 15th, up from 23rd the previous month while Anna Kasprzak on Donnperignon shifted to No. 23 from 22nd.

Isabell remained at No. 6 with Don Johnson FRH, and fellow German Olympic rider Dorothee Schneider on Sammy Davis Jr. was again in seventh.

Helen Langehanenberg moved up one place to No. 8 with Damsey FRH based on performances in February by the German Olympic rider and the American-owned 16-year-old Hanoverian stallion. Helen is taking a baby break from competition for the next few months.

Patrik Kittel, the three-time Olympian for Sweden, was in the top 10 with two horses–Deja at No. 9 and Delaunay at No. 10.

The biggest moves upward were Adrienne Lyle of the United States on Salvino to No. 27 from 56th the previous month, Great Britain’s Emile Faurie on Delatio to 34th from 157th and American Ashley Holzer on Havanna to 49th from 69th over the month.

The complete rankings are available here.

The top 30: