German & USA Combinations Continue to Dominate Top Rankings Ahead of World Cup, Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen First Dane With Two Horses in Top 10

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Daniel Bachmann Andersen on Blue Hors Zack. File photo. © Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

April 1, 2019

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

German and American riders and horses continue to fill upper levels in the latest world rankings posted Monday just days before the World Cup Final while Daniel Bachmann Andersen becomes the first Danish rider with two horses in the top 10 of the FEI standings.

Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD going to Gothenburg, Sweden to defend the global championship the pair have won the past two years is No. 1 for the 28th month, the second most ever and behind only Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro that were in the top spot for 38 months.

America’s Laura Graves and Verdades are again at No. with the Olympic team bronze and World Games team and individual bronze medalist looking to become the third American to become World Cup champion after finishing the latest two annual championships as runner-up to the German superstar.

Kasey Perry-Glass on Dublet is at No. 5 for the second month with Isabell on Bella Rose and Emilio again standing third and fourth, repectively. Don Johnson FRH, the 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding that Isabell has competed at Grand Prix for eight years, shot up to No, 14 from 90th.

Adrienne Lyle on Salvino is the third American in the lineup of 18 combinations to start in the World Cup Grand Prix Friday slipped 2 and seeking to No.  28 from 15th at the end of February.

Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg on Damsey FRH, owned by Louise Leatherdale and Susanne Meyer of Long Lake, Minnesota are in the sixth spot for the second month.

Benjamin Werndl, the third German who is going with Daily Mirror to his first World Cup Final, moves up two places to 19th.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen is taking Blue Hors Zack to Gothenburg as the ninth ranked pair in the world, up three places from the end of February. The 28-year-old rider is also ranked No. 10 on Blue Hors Don Olymbrio, jumping up 12 spots to overtake Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, sister of Benjamin Werndl, to the No. 11 on TSF Dalera BB.

Daniel is the first Danish rider ever to have two mounts in the top 10, according to a review of available records.

Cathrine Dufour, who is not going to the World Cup Final, made a big move up on Cassidy to No. 20 from 131st at the end of February when the duo that were one of the top combinaions in the world were out of the competition arena for more than a half year until last month.

Sweden’s Patrik Kittel on Delaunay OLD made a big leap up the standings to No. 12, from 71st theprevious month, while Olympic and World Games team mate Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén on Don Auriello are ranked 18th in what may be the last championship for the 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding. Don Auriello began his Big Tour career in Florida in 2011 and has since gone to two Olympics, two world championships, two European Championships and is heading to his fifth World Cup Final.

Hans Peter Minderhoud of the Netherlands and 2015 World Cup champion, moves up two places to No. 15 on Glock’s Dream Boy, while Emmelie Scholtens also of Holland on Apache slips two spots to 30th.

Ireland’s Judy Reynolds on Vancouver K climb three places to 21st as the Olympic and World Games combination heads to a third World Cup Final.