A Final Selection Event for USA and Prospective Olympic Medal Teams from Denmark, Holland Kicks off at Rotterdam CDIO5* Nations Cup
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By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, June 19, 2024–A final selection event for the United States and prospective Olympic medal teams from Denmark and the Netherlands kicks off here Thursday with the CDIO5* Nations Cup a little more than five weeks to the Paris Games.
All horses including three from the U.S. passed muster at the veterinary inspection in this forested show grounds where the international dressage and jumping nations cup is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
Haute Couture, the 12-year-old KWPN mare ridden by Katherine Bateson Chandler will compete against the previous rider, Dinja van Liere who will ride Hermes on the Dutch team.
Ashley Holzer will ride Hansel, an 11-year-old KWPN gelding, a few days after being added to the U.S. short list following strong performances at recent shows in Hagen, Germany and Florida.
Kevin Kohmann on Dünensee, a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding, that he rode at the World Cup Final two months ago.
Isabell Werth came to Rotterdam with Wendy de Fontaine, the 10-year-old mare that she withdrew from the German championships in early June with a minor injury. If Wendy performs well here, the horse may compete at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany the first week of July as a prospect for the German team in Paris. Isabell took over the ride on what was called Queenparks Wendy when half owner Andreas Helgstrand was suspended.
A powerful Danish team includes Carina Cassøe Krüth on Heiline’s Danciera, Daniel Bachmann Andersen on Vayron, Nanna Skodborg Merrald on Blue Hors Don Olympia and Lone Bang Zindorff on Thranesgardens Rostov.
Missing is Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour on Mount St. John Freestyle, the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare previously ridden by Charlotte Dujardin, that’s out with an injury. In four starts since taking over the ride, the pair have scored above 80% in two Grand Prix and two Specials. The horse was previously competed by Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain, including team and individual bronzes at Tryon World Equestrian Games in 2018.
Edward Gal is on the Dutch team with Glock’s Total US, thew 12-year-old Hanoverian stallion that he competed at the Tokyo Olympics but since then has shown only once, at a CDI3* in the Netherlands last month.
