By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
AACHEN, Germany, Aug. 11, 2026–Frederic Wandres on his Olympic gold medal mount Bluetooth OLD led Germany to the lead half way through the dressage World Championships of six equestrian disciplines Tuesday. Great Britain was in second more than two percentage points back while Australia’s Simone Pearce turned in a performance that put the team Down Under in an unexpected third.
However, much of this could change significantly Wednesday when the “big guns” ride into the Main Stadium before up to 40,000 spectators–world No. 1 Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour of Denmark on Mount St. John’s Freestyle, Britain’s Charlotte “Lottie” Fry on the reigning word champion from four years ago, Glamourdale; Isabell Werth on Wendy de Fontaine for Germany, and Justin Verboomen of Belgium on Zonik Plus.
The USA is currently in 8th place and Canada one place further back among the 19 teams in this quadrennial championship.
The top standings essentially posted totals representing scores of one of two riders with the deciding results from two other team riders to come Wednesday.
The results so far: 1. Germany; 2. Great Britain; 3. Australia; 4. Sweden; 5. Denmark; 6. Portugal; 7. Austria; 8. USA; 9. Canada, and 10. Belgium.
Forty-four of the 45 horses and riders competing on teams and as individuals successfully completed the first day’s Grand Prix.
Frederic Wandres, well known on both sides of the Atlantic as a regular competitor for several years at Florida’s Global Dressage Festival as well as in Europe from his base in Hagen, Germany, posted the highest score of the day of 75.963% on Bluetooth, 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding. He was on the Paris Olympic team and the 2025 European Championship gold medal teams with Isabell Werth.
Becky Moody of Britain on her home-bred Jagerbomb that she rode to the World Cup victory earlier this year was second on 73.820%.
Fellow German Raphael Netz on the 15-year-old Great Escape Camelot placed third individually on 73.338%.
The Aussie Simone Pearce who has been based in Europe for more than a decade rode Will Marq, a 10-year-old CDE stallion owned by her personal partner, jumping rider Martin Fuchs of Switzerland, to a score of 72.391%.
Therese Nilshagen of Sweden, well known for her career competing the stallion Dante Weltino, rode Navarro, also 10-year-old stallion but a Hanoverian, to 5th place on 72.376%.
The highest placed Danish combination, in 6th place on 72.174%, was Carina Cassøe Krüth on Heiline’s Danciera.
Kasey Perry-Glass on Heartbeat W.P. and Meagan Davis on Toronto Lightfoot, two combinations added late as replacements to the USA. competed Wednesday.
Kasey, based in Wellington, Florida and the 14-year-old Dutch-bred gelding, scored 70.606% to place 11th. Kasey rode Dublet for team medals at the 2016 Olympics and the 2018 Tryon World Equestrian Games.
Meagan Davis in neighboring Loxahatchee, and Toronto Lightfoot, a Totilas offspring aged 13, was awarded 67.624% for 25th place. Meagan competed in North American youth championships for four years but this was her first senior championship.
Complete results of Tuesday’s Grand Prix are available HERE
