Dressage-News

LYON, France, Nov. 1, 2019–Isabell Werth and Emilio won the World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle Friday in the first qualifier for the reigning champion campaigning to defend her title at Las Vegas next April.

Iabell and the 13-year-old Westfalen gelding, the No. 9 combination in the world, scored 87.090% for the highest freestyle score in five musical performances since posting their best of 87.625% in July 2018.

The crowd clapped in time to Isabell and Emilio marching down the final centerline, and afterward said of the competition which pitted two of the leading riders against each other:
“Welcome back Charlotte! It’s good to have the best in the field, and that is also what the public like to see! It’s great to have Charlotte away from her island–now the World Cup season will be really exciting!”

“I’m really happy and very proud of Emilio,” said Isabell, the most decorated equestrian Olympian in history. “I think we are going in the right direction.”

Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St. John Freestyle, who had captured the Grand Prix Thursday, were second on 83.925%, well under the British pair’s best result of 87.600% posted at Hartpury, England four months ago. Charlotte, World Cup champion on Valegro in 2014 and 2015, rode Freestyle, a 10-year-old Hanoverian mare, to a new Snow Queen Freestyle.

Germany’s Frederic Wandres on Duke of Britain were third on 80.015%, the second highest score for the pair. Frederic and the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding produced a result of 80.030% at the World Cup event in London Olympia last December.

Charlotte described Freestyle as “a little tense,” and despite efforts to reassure Freestyle, she felt mistakes.”

“I’m sure she’s a mare of the future,” said Charlotte of the horse she won team and individual bronze medals at the 2018 Tryon World Equestrian Games, “and she’ll be tough to beat when she’s gained experience. That’s also why I’m on the circuit.”

The next qualifier for the duo will be Olympia in London the week before Christmas then Amsterdam at the end of January with the Las Vegas Final in mid-April as the goal.

Isabell is world No. 1 on Bella Rose and No. 2 on Weihegold OLD, her mount in winning the last three World Cup titles that took her total of the annual championships to five. As the titleholder, she needs only to start twice on the horse she takes to Las Vegas. She is expected to compete Weihegold in Stuttgart, Germany in two weeks, the third of 11 West European qualifiers.

Hans Peter Minderhoud of the Netherlands on Glock’s Dream Boy placed fourth on 79.725% and the 15 points he earned boosted his total so far to 43 points and the top of the Western European standings. Frederic Wandres with 37 points now is standing second.

Results:

CDI-W World Cup Freestyle

Judges-E: Francis Verbeek-NED H: Dr. Jean-Michel Roudier-FRA C: Isabelle Judet-FRA M: Susanne Baarup-DEN B: Dietrich Plewa-GER