USA’s Anna Buffini Kicks Off World Cup Final, Olympic Gold Medalist Jessica von Bredow-Werndl Wraps Up Grand Prix in First Annual Championship in 3 Years

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USA’s Anna Buffini and Davinia la Douce at Leipzig World Cup Final, first championship for rider. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

LEIPZIG, Germany, April 6, 2022–Anna Buffini of the United States and Davinia la Douce kick off the first World Cup Final in three years while Olympic gold medalist Jessica von Bredow -Werndl wraps up the short Grand Prix Thursday.

Anna,  27, of San Diego, California and the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare are competing in their first senior championship. Ashley Holzer of Wellington, Florida will ride Havanna, also a 15-year-old Hanoverian mare, will also be in her first championship wearing the Stars & Stripes though she rode for Canada at four Olympics and the 2009 Final centered on the Grand Prix Freestyle.

Ashley Holzer jogging Havanna at Leipzig. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Isabell Werth who won three straight titles on Weihegold OLD beginning in Omaha, Nebraska 2017 is back with the 17-year-old Oldenburg mare hoping to make it a record four straight. Covid-19 forced cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 Finals.

Isabell Werth with Weihegold OLD at the World Cup veterinary inspection in Leipzig, Germany. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Among those in her way is Olympic team mate Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on TSF Dalera BB, a 15-year-old Trakehner mare, looking to complete a golden cycle of championships–World Equestrian Games in 2018, European Championships in both 2019 and 2021 and the Tokyo Olympics. She’s pregnant with her second child and won’t be at the world championships in August.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with TSF Dalera at the World Cup in Leipzig. Jessica has competed in four previous finals, all on Unee BB, taking bronze three times. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Helen Langehanenberg, also of Germany with Annabelle,  makes up the maximum of three rider and horse combinations allowed from one country. Helen won the title on Damon Hill NRW in 2013. She also developed to Grand Prix Suppenkasper that American Steffen Peters rode on the silver medal teams at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and the Tokyo Olympics.

Helen Langehanenberg laughing at the clearly very fit and feisty Annabelle, a 14-year-old Holsteiner mare. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Denmark also qualified three combinations, none of whom have competed at a previous World Cup Final.

World No. 2 rider Cathrine Dufour brought Vamos Amigos to these championships and not Bohemian, her top mount. The Westfalen gelding is just 10 years old and in its first championship under the two-time Olympic rider.

Cathrine Dufour with Vamos Amigos. © 2022 Ken Braddick,dressage-news.com

Nanna Skodborg Merrald of Blue Hors has been successful with Atterupgaards Orthilia since beginning international competition with the horse 15 months ago. Orthilia, now 17 years old, was ridden for Great Britain by Fiona Bigwood at the 2016 Olympics and the 2015 European Championships.

Nanna Skodborg Merrald with Orthilia. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

 

The Danish Olympic team partnership of Carina Cassøe Krüth and Heiline’s Danciera, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood mare. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Patrik Kittel of Sweden is among the most experienced World Cup riders in his eighth final with five different horses. This year he is on Blue Hors Zepter, that he rode in one qualifier. The 14-year-old Oldenburg stallion was ridden by Daniel Bachmann Andersen for almost five years when he was with the Danish stud.

Patrik Kittel with Blue Hors Zepter. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry, the second youngest rider at the age of 26 in the Final. She will be on Dark Legend that she partnered in both European Young Rider and Under-25 Championships and the 2019 senior Europeans. Charlotte also comoetes Everdale, Glamourdale and Chippendale at Big Tour.

Charlotte Fry with Dark Legend, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Juan Matute Guimon, the youngest rider in the Final at 24, will ride Quantico that he competed for Spain at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and the 2017 European Championships. Juan was raised in Wellington, Florida and has American citizenship, but lives in Madrid and rides for Spain as did his father on three Olympic teams before moving to the U.S.

Juan Matute Guimon with Quantico that he qualified in both Europe and Florida for his first World Cup Final. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

Yvonne Losos de Muñiz of the Dominican Republic is competing Aquamrijn in their second World Cup Final. She also competed Foco Loco in the Final in 2018. She rode Foco Loco at the 2016 Olympics and Aquamarijn in Tokyo.

Yvonne Losos de Muñiz with Aquamarijn. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

 

Morgan Barbançon of France with Sir Donnerhall II OLD that competed at last year’s Olympics and the 2018 and 2019 World Cups. She previously competed Painted Black at ther 2012 Olympics and 2015 Final. Morgan may win the award for best sweater. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

 

Rodrigo Torres of Portugal has the sole Iberian-bred mount in the competition, the 12-year-old Lusitano Fogoso Horsecampline. The duo competed at the Tokyo Olympics last summer and the 2019 European Championships.© 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

 

Yessin Rahmouni is competing All At Once in the Moroccan rider’s first World Cup Final. He competed the 12-year-old KWPN stallion at the Tokyo Olympics. Yessin rode Floresco NRW at the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 World Equestrian Games. The World Cup Final is the first for the rider. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

 

The eye-catching Hexagon’s Ich Weiss with Dutch rider Thamar Zweistra showed off his passage in the veterinary inspection. The nine-year-old stallion is a Dutch riding and pony breed (NRPS) within KWPN. © 2022 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

The lineup for the short Grand Prix Thursday, all times are local, six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time.

https://results.hippodata.de/2022/2083/docs/startlist_-_dre_leipzig_wcf_gp.pdf