Dressage-News

Dec. 30, 2015

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

Thirty-eight nations organized 158 dressage shows around the world and offered a total of $5,246,250 (€4,798,798) in prize money in 2015, but more than 75 per cent came from five Western European nations and the United States.

Germany offered the lion’s share of $1,521.776 (€1,396,000) for its 20 CDIs and championships, an average of $76,088 (€69,750) per show.

The United States with 22 shows, more than any other nation, ranked second in total prize money with $761,650 (€698,101) but the average per CDI was $34,620 (€31,732), eighth in the world. However, if Florida was a separate country, the Adequan Global Dressage Festival total purse of $665,400 (€610,059) would rank second in the world and the average $95,057 (€87,151) for its seven CDIs would make it easily the highest. (see separate story)

France ranked third in the world with total prize money of $556,555 (€509,500), the Netherlands fourth with $481,049 (€440,800), Austria fifth with $364,780 (€334,300) and Sweden sixth with $325,570 (€298,450).

The combined purses of the top five Western European countries and the United States accounted for 76.6 per cent of the entire global prize money.

The three richest dressage events in the world in 2015 were the World Cup Final in Las Vegas with $273,105 (€250,000) in prize money, the European Championships at Aachen, Germany with $240,348 (€220,000) and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CDI5* event with $230,000 (€210,540).

Other big purse events were the Falsterbo, Sweden CDIO5* Nations Cup $178,626 (€163,500); the Aachen CDI5* with $168,218 (€154,000); Wellington’s Global CDI4*/3* $150,000 (€137,284); the Hagen, Germany Nations Cup CDIO5*/CDI4* $135,329 (€133,000); Vidauban, France CDI5*/3* $131,130 (€120,000); Rotterdam, Netherlands Nations Cup $124,554 (€114,000); Munich CDI5*/3* $123,478 (€113,000); Stuttgart German Masters CDI-W/CDI4* $111,459 (€102,000), and Austria’s Villach, Treffen $109,276 (€100,000).

The prize money for all shows in the world was calculated by dressage-news.com based on International Equestrian Federation (FEI) approved schedules for the entire year. The FEI requires organizers to detail prize money.

Only four nations that held CDIs or championships did not offer any prize money while some countries offered both generous purses and shows with no purse. Among them was the United States that had a lineup of seven events from one organizer that were the richest circuit but eight of the 22 international competitions on the calendar had no prize money.

The top prize money countries with at least two competitions from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2015:

1. Germany–$1,521.776 (€1,396,000) total for 20 CDIs, average of $76,088 (€69,750) per show;
2. United States–$761,650 (€698,101), 22 CDIs average of $34,620 (€31,732);
3. France–$556,555 (€509,500) 14 CDIs average $39,753 (€36,392);
4. Netherlands–$481,049 (€440,800) nine CDIs average $53,450 (€48,978);
5. Austria–$364,780 (€334,300) eight CDIs average $45,597 (€41,787);
6. Sweden–$325,570 (€298,450) five CDIs average $65,114 (€9,690);
7. Spain–$188,642 (€172,720) seven CDIs average $26,949 (€24,674);
8. Great Britain–$165,038 (€151,287) five CDIs average $33,000 (€30,257);
9. Belgium–$153,845 (€141,000) two CDIs average $76,922 (€70,500);
10. Denmark–$109,905 (€100,730) three CDIs (combining two competitions on subsequent weeks with different classes) average $36,635 (€33,576);
11. Australia–$65,367 (€59,855) 10 CDIs average $6,536 (€5,985);
12. Poland–$44,070 (€40,400) three CDIs average $14,690 (€13,467);
13. Russia–$43,488 (€39,865) five CDIs average $8,698 (€7,973);
14. Italy–$39,323 (€36,000) three CDIs average $13,107 (€12,000), and
15. Canada–$32,920 (€30,164) seven CDIs average $4,703 (€4,309).