Dressage-News

April 14, 2022

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

The theme of the World Cup Final in Omaha a year from now will be the impact of the horse brought by new settlers in 1723 (2017-2023) on Nebraska’s native Indians.

Dressage is one of three Finals to be staged at the CHI Health Center in Omaha April 4-8, 2023. Jumping is one and the other is vaulting to be staged in the North America for the first time.

Omaha’s only previous Final in 2017 is recalled in Europe as well as the United States as one of the most successful in the history of the event, for the quality of the production and operation, friendliness and enthusiasm of spectators and legendary steaks.

The first dressage World Cup was in 1986 as the final of the indoor winter circuit in the Northern Hemisphere and to highlight what then was the innovative musical Freestyle. Initially, it was European dominated in both structure and results as it has remained with 11 of the 18 places reserved for that continent.

Only two non-Europeans have won the title, Americans Debbie McDonald on Brentina in 2003 and Steffen Peters on Ravel in 2009.

Steffen Peters has already set Omaha as a major goal for his Olympic and World Equestrian Games silver medal partner Suppenkasper. Adrienne Lyle, on both the same teams with Salvino, also has an eye on Omaha.

Omaha also launched the run of three straight titles by Isabell Werth and Weihegold that cancellations of the 2020 and 2021 Finals stymied a possible record of four consecutive championships.

Lisa Roskens, CEO of Burlington Capital Group LLC and driving force of the Omaha event and Julie Boilesen, Chief Executive Officer of the 2023 organizing group, recently outlined to dressage-news.com some of the plans for 2023.

A slight change will be made to the schedule, ending a day earlier than usual as the event will be on Easter weekend.

The dressage Final will be on Friday night instead of Saturday, vaulting will be Saturday afternoon and jumping Saturday night.

The theme is: What were horses doing in this part of the country in 1723?

Horses had just made it to the plains so Indians had horses for first time. How did horses change their culture, their religion, the way they hunted, the way they lived?

Indian tribes will be among the features of the opening ceremonies and doing things throughout to mark authentic and unique factors–Omaha is an Indian word for “upstream people” of the city at the juncture of the Platte and Missouri rivers. Nebraska is derived from the Oto Indian word meaning “flat water.”

In the six years between the Finals, Lisa said, “Omaha has changed. Omaha survived Covid better than most American cities. The state was open. Our city has really grown.”

Already known for steak houses, a new one has opened directly across from the competition venue.

The Hilton hotel across the street from the venue that was the center of activities outside of the horse show has been joined by at least four new full service hotels in the downtown area.

“We’re doing a lot of things that worked well,” Julie said. “Why change something that wasn’t broken. But we don’t want it to be same Omaha, different year.

“I think there’s going to be a lot you see when you come that you’ll remember fondly but also some things that are new and exciting. The downtown area is as vibrant as ever, if not more so.

“In 2017, the community supported it because it sounded like a cool thing. People are really excited to have it back. People understand it.

“I think the enthusiasm for the sport is going to be greater and the knowledge locally about it.”

“Hopefully we can get to that Gothenburg (Sweden) crowd and break records for the Final.”

A horse-friendly feature has been expanded–a second lunging arena will be available to the one that drew a lot of favorable remarks in 2017.