Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB threw down the winning Grand Prix score as the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023 Final got underway in Omaha (USA) today. But it was no walk-in-the-park for the pair that claimed the series title 12 months ago while on the crest of a winning wave.

The 16-year-old mare was a little overwhelmed when entering the arena this afternoon, and as the defending champion said “she gave her best but she was too excited today, that’s why the mistakes happened and they cost a lot of points and it’s a shame. I was surprised by how tense she was!”, she added, after putting what would still turn out to be the winning score of 79.922 on the board when ninth to go of the 15 starters.

Runner-up was her compatriot and five-time champion Isabell Werth who was very pleased with DSP Qantaz who earned a mark of 77.485, while Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald ensured the result would not be a German whitewash when steering Blue Hors Zepter into third ahead of Ingrid Klimke and Franziskus who lined up in fourth.

The field was reduced by the withdrawal of The Netherlands’ Dinja van Liere and Hermes NOP, double bronze medallists at last summer’s FEI World Championship, who were due to run second-last.

Dutch High Performance Director Iris Boelhouwer explained, “today the horse was not fit to compete. Horse welfare is always our number one priority so to respect the horse he was withdrawn.”

Leading score

First into the arena this afternoon, The Netherlands’ Thamar Zweistra and Hexagon’s Ich Weiss put 73.261 on the board and that was the leading score until von Bredow-Werndl took her turn. Dalera was clearly on full alert once she saw the crowd inside the stadium however.

“When I came down the centreline I felt very confident and I don’t know why she stepped back. She was just a bit over-excited and then in the walk that was super-expensive, she couldn’t wait and it cost too many points”, she said.

On reflection she wondered if lack of competition exposure might explain the reaction of the horse with which she was like an unstoppable force when sweeping all before her at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the 2021 FEI European Championship before lifting the coveted FEI Dressage World Cup™ title for the first time last April.

En route to this week’s Final she won both qualifiers in which she competed with Dalera, at Lyon (FRA) last October and in Basel (SUI) in January.

“Maybe I should have gone to more competitions in between because usually she’s used to competing, but I didn’t have to because I was already qualified (for the Final) after those two qualifiers”, she pointed out today.

“In the warm-up she felt super like always. But anyway she is amazing, she is extremely fit and that’s what she shows. There were mistakes, but what counts is how her form and performance was in total, and everything was great except the two expensive hiccups!”

Excellent start

In contrast Klimke got off to an excellent start with a perfect first halt from her 15-year-old stallion. A longtime superstar in the sport of Eventing, the German athlete was delighted with her score of 75.543.

“Yesterday was good for him that there was familiarisation with people everywhere, and the first day we were here they were already getting set up so there was lots of noise. Sometimes if noise is coming from above him he is a little bit scared, but this morning he felt so good and today he came into the arena and said here I am!”, she said proudly. She is already looking forward to Friday’s deciding Freestyle competition.

“The fact we are here in the World Cup Final is already a gift and I’m very happy to be here. I’m really looking forward to it because Franziskus really likes the music and knows it inside out so that’s our favourite part!”

She was immediately overtaken for runner-up spot however when Skodborg Merrald was awarded 76.165 for a lovely performance with Blue Hors Zepter.

“I think I had a really good test today. There were some expensive mistakes, I asked him for a little bit more than I have done before because I thought I could improve some things here and there, and then he got a bit tense in the canter which caused the two mistakes - in the two-tempis and before the first pirouette - but I’m really happy with him. He felt good and nice and soft and happy so that was great!”, she said.

The fact that she is acquainted with the 15-year-old gelding for a very short time made today’s result even more impressive.

“I’m only riding him since December so just three full months now and this is only our third show together - we have done just two qualifiers and then today! I really enjoy him, we like each other quite a lot and it’s good ground to be building something here”, she added. Clearly these two are still a partnership in the making.

Dislodged

However they too would be dislodged from that runner-up spot when Isabell Werth and Qantaz took their turn, putting 77.485 on the board.

“I’m really pleased with that because to have him right in shape after two days quarantine, that wasn’t easy and it was a first experience for him. Today I was completely happy because I could feel he was still a bit focused with the atmosphere, but he really tried very hard for me so it was better than I expected.”

She described Qantaz as “a very strong-minded horse, but he becomes more supple and focused and now we are more a team. We grew up together in the Corona time (during the pandemic) with no atmosphere at shows. And then we started with bigger shows in this atmosphere and that was quite difficult to bring him in and calm him down, because it was the opposite before where it was more like a training at home. It was a real challenge, but that’s why I say today I am really happy with the fact he was so with me and focused”, she explained.

She too is looking forward to Friday’s Freestyle finale which will decide the fate of the 2023 title. She knows what it is like to win in Omaha after her victory with Weihegold at this same venue back in 2017, and she’ll be giving it her best shot once again.

“The facilities for the horses here are fantastic, everything is under the one roof and it is just a short distance from the stables to the main arena so that’s fantastic. Now you feel the atmosphere building day by day, so by Friday it’s going to be really special!”

The Freestyle is scheduled for 18.15 local time on Friday evening, so don’t miss a hoofbeat….

 Result here

Protective measures prohibiting all Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses and Officials from participating in FEI Events, which had been introduced on 2 March 2022 following the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, will remain in place until further notice. The decision was taken by the FEI Board at its extraordinary teleconference held on 4 April.

 

“The FEI Board met to discuss the framework recommended on 28 March by the IOC for the return of neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competition,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

 

“While the IOC has not taken any decision regarding the participation of Russian and Belarussian Athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, it is the view of the FEI Board that at this stage neutrality cannot be defined and evaluated in a sufficiently satisfactory way. The Board agreed that the FEI does not have the necessary tools to evaluate in a fair and objective manner the conditions of participation for individual neutral athletes and support personnel as stipulated in the recommendations put forward by the IOC.

 

“Therefore all Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses and Officials continue to be prohibited from participating in FEI Events. In keeping with the sanctions imposed by the IOC, no FEI events organised in Russia and Belarus can be entered in the FEI Calendar for 2023. Any Officials’ course as well as any other FEI activities scheduled to be held in Russia and Belarus in 2023 have been cancelled or relocated and all FEI Solidarity projects in Russia and Belarus remain frozen.

 

“The FEI fully respects the decision of the IOC, however, until we have a practical system in place to apply the recommendations, we will maintain our current measures in place.

 

“The Board reiterates its full support to the people of Ukraine, who have suffered tremendously, and pledges its continued solidarity and support to the Ukrainian equestrian community through the FEI Solidarity Relief Fund,” President De Vos concluded.

Dutch athlete Thamar Zweistra and Hexagon’s Ich Weiss will be first to go in the Grand Prix when the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2023 gets underway at the CHI Health Centre in Omaha (USA) tomorrow afternoon.

At a special draw ceremony during which the song, dance and traditions of Native American tribes were celebrated, the draw was made by the USA’s Steffen Peters and Zweistra’s compatriot Dinja van Liere. A total of 16 horse-and-rider combinations will battle it out for the title that will be decided in Friday’s Freestyle competition.

Omaha Equestrian Foundation founder Lisa Roskens, who brought the FEI World Cup™ Finals to Omaha, Nebraska for the first time in 2017, talked before the draw about the effect the event has had on Omaha, and further afield.

“The sport is growing and the businesses around the sport are growing too…this event is a catalyst, and it means so much to all of us that people would come and make a difference in our region. And with that said I want to wish everyone an amazing week…particularly the athletes, I hope you have an incredible week of sport and we are looking forward to you inspiring us with whatever is to come!”

Defending FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, is drawn ninth to go, just ahead of Ingrid Klimke, while their decorated compatriot Isabell Werth - who won the first of three consecutive titles with her great mare Weihegold in Omaha six years ago - will start 14th partnering DSP Qantaz.

The Grand Prix begins at 13.15 local time tomorrow afternoon, so don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Full starting order here

Facts and Figures

Omaha 2023 presents the 36th FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final.

A total of 10 countries will be represented: Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden and USA.

The first Final took place in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in 1986 where Denmark’s Anne-Grethe Jensen and Marzog reigned supreme.

Olympic and European champions Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB will defend the title they won in Leipzig (GER) last year. 

Five-time FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion, Germany’s Isabell Werth, will be competing in her 23rd Final. 

At a draw during which the song, dance and traditions of Native American tribes were celebrated, the starting order for tomorrow’s opening competition of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2023 took place at the CHI Health Centre in Omaha (USA) this evening, and Ireland’s Denis Lynch will be first of the 40 athletes to enter the arena. 

America’s McLain Ward, winner with HH Azur when the Final was last staged at the Omaha venue back in 2017, was joined by 2022 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ champion Martin Fuchs from Switzerland to pull the names and numbers out of the hats. Ward is drawn in 32nd spot, this time riding Callas, while Fuchs will follow him into the ring when 33rd to go with Leone Jei.

Fuchs was asked how he felt about defending his title and replied, “I’m very grateful that I could win the World Cup Final once. Obviously I would wish to win it again but I’m here to do my best, my horse is in great shape so I hope to be able to beat McLain this year!”

Omaha 2023 presents the 43rd FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in the history of the series that dates all the way back to 1978. 

Tomorrow’s action gets underway at 19.15 local time, so don’t miss a hoofbeat…

Full starting order here

Facts and Figures

Defending champion Martin Fuchs rode both The Sinner and Chaplin to claim the trophy in 2022. This year he brings just one horse, Leone Jei.

There have been five three-time champions - Austria’s Hugo Simon (1979, 1996 and 1997), Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa (1998, 1999 and 2000), Germany’s Marcus Ehning (2003, 2006 and 2010), Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (2005, 2008 and 2009) and Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat (2015, 2016 and 2019). 

The first FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final took place in Gothenburg in 1979 where Austria’s Hugo Simon won with Gladstone.
 
This will be the eleventh time for the Final to return to the USA since the inaugural finale in 1979, and the second time for it to be held in Omaha. 

It was previously staged in Omaha (USA) in 2017 when the host nation’s McLain Ward came out on top with the brilliant mare HH Azur.

Ground Jury President is Harry Braspenning (NED), and the Ground Jury members are David M. Distler and Neil O’Connor (USA), Frances Hesketh-Jones -Trulzi (ITA) and Norma Angelica Rodriguez (MEX). Foreign Technical Delegate is Ireland’s Alan Wade and Course Designer is Portugal’s Bernardo Costa Cabral.

This week, more than 80 of the world’s top athletes from the disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Vaulting will congregate at the CHI Health Center Omaha in Nebraska (USA) for the FEI World Cup™ Finals, where, over the course of five days, they will compete for the ultimate honour of becoming FEI World Cup Champion in their respective disciplines - a title steeped in history - in front of an enthusiastic crowd and global media from around the world. 

But for the more than 1,000 elementary school students bound for the event through the Omaha Equestrian Foundation’s (OEF) field trip programme, the event might mark the first time several children ever get to lay eyes on a sport horse.

Thirty-eight schools and homeschool programmes will visit the Finals with a mostly academic objective—and a bit of homework.

OEF has partnered with Prairie Stem to create STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) kits for students to create prior to attending the Finals. Based out of Omaha, Prairie Stem is an education-based non-profit organisation that seeks to improve critical thinking and creativity in students, from Pre-Kindergarteners to high school seniors. 

The World Cup-themed STEAM Kits challenge students to create their own working horse carousel in one of four designs: Dressage, Jumping, Vaulting and Lakota painted horse—a nod to Omaha’s cultural history. 

The Lakota, a Native American people, were among Nebraska’s earliest settlers, and Lakota is a dialect of the indigenous language, Sioux. “Omaha” means “to go against the current” in Sioux, a nod to the Omaha tribe’s journey to the Nebraska territory. The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska thrived through the 1700s and were known for their hunting and farming. Today, the Omaha reservation, located in Macy, NE is home to about 3,000 residents. 

Among the field trip exhibits for visiting students will reference Omaha’s Native American roots, from a full-size fiberglass horse (to demonstrate Lakota symbology); Native American tribal artifacts; and live and visual storytellers. 

They will also be exposed to equestrian sport and horsemanship. Students will get hands on with grooming and receive an introduction to horse care; go on a virtual ride using Virtual Reality  headsets; and explore a variety of equine and agricultural career paths.

"We feel that a very important part of running such historically important events such as the FEI World Cup Finals is to inspire and educate the next generation of equestrian athletes and horse lovers” said Julie Boilesen, CEO of Equestrian Omaha. "The equine legacy in Omaha is deep-rooted in our culture and history, so we are proud to honour our equine athletes by introducing our youth to them in this way."

The legacy continues for Omaha after hosting the FEI World Cup Finals™ back in 2017, and they are providing the kids with undoubtedly one of the more unique types of classroom, as the young students will be learning in the arena and schooling area from some of the best equestrian athletes in the world.  As they experience horsemanship and our majestic equine athletes up close and personal - valuable lessons that will stay with them for a long time to come.

Perhaps it will mark the start of an equestrian pursuit for a few young, stargazing students.

The 2023 FEI World Cup™ Finals is set for 4-8 April 2023 in Omaha. To learn more, visit https://omaha2023.fei.org/

Photo credit: AJ Olnes

Following overwhelming support at the second in-person Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Task Force Meeting in Lausanne (SUI) on Tuesday 28 March, where the FEI presented a new framework and working concept for the historic series, the FEI Board has today approved a change to the FEI General Regulations deemed a necessary stepping stone in the makeover process.  

The new proposed direction for the prestigious team series is the culmination of a 6-month consultation process which began on 25 October 2022 with a first Task Force meeting in Lausanne for all key stakeholders involved in the Nations Cup series, followed by a number of online sessions with the relevant National Federations to further explore regulatory changes prior to the second Task Force meeting last Tuesday. 

From the fruitful discussions in October and the clear support of the Jumping stakeholders to revitalise and reinvent the series for 2024 onwards, the FEI had been tasked to “think outside the box” and deliver a concept which was global, easy to understand, a showcase for the very best venues and teams, whilst being attractive to athletes, National Federations, organisers, sponsors, broadcasters, media and fans, and full of storytelling opportunities. 

The new series concept, which the FEI has clearly expressed is a work in progress, still requires further details to be established with the involvement of the Technical Committee and will be subject to the final endorsement of Top Partner Longines. The concept includes a new proposed series name - the Longines League of Nations - in order to differentiate the top series from all Nations Cups, as well as a simplified format, where the same top nations compete over five qualifiers leading up to a Final.    

Competitive prize money and financial incentives for Organisers, Athletes and National Federations, as well as added opportunities to reward U25 athletes, grooms, chefs d’équipe, and owners, are all part of the concept which was hailed a “game-changer” at the recent Task Force meeting that was attended by 50+ participants representing over 20 nations, and received the full endorsement of the FEI Board earlier today.  

In order to deliver and develop the series to its full potential, the modifications of the FEI General Regulations will allow the FEI to directly select the Events that make up the series via the creation of a new category of CSIO, referred to as an FEI CSIO Series Event. With just a handful of qualifiers concerned by this new FEI CSIO Series Event denomination, the rule changes are not expected to affect the global calendar, however, the FEI CSIO Series Events will be subject to an additional date clash rule whereby an FEI CSIO Series Event cannot be scheduled on the same dates as an existing CSIO5* in the same country or continent.  

For the FEI President, while the change to the General Regulations “will have a limited impact on the FEI Calendar, it is an essential building block towards raising the profile of the prestigious team series and to guarantee its sustainability. Cooperation with the National Federations remains key for the success of the series but we now have more freedom to choose the Events that are part of it.  

“We are so fortunate to have a wonderful and loyal partner in Longines, and this opportunity to develop a historic series which holds such a special place in the heart of the equestrian community. Longines’ understanding of the sport, the values and the significance of the series is remarkable, and we are ecstatic to have them by our side for this exciting new adventure.  

“We set out to reinvent the series so that it would inspire and unite the equestrian community once again around top sport and the incredible sense of pride which goes hand in hand with the Nations Cup, and I believe together and through this intense consultation process, we have paved the way for a sustainable future for this iconic series. This is about a top series with top teams and top venues – the principle is simple but we believe really impactful. Of course, there is still a lot of work and details to fine tune, but we have the framework, and we have the strong support from the community, from the FEI Board, and from our Top Partner Longines. This was a good day for the sport.” 

Set to be launched for 2024, the next key phases for the series transformation include the development of the detailed technical sport Rules by the FEI Jumping Committee in consultation with key stakeholders, including qualification formulas to establish the top nations that will take part in the series, the competition formats as well as the launch of a bidding process to select the venues for the Series that will be open to all Organisers.

Photo Caption: Left to Right Stephan Ellenbruch, Chair of the FEI Jumping Committee, Ralph Straus, FEI Commercial Director, Sabrina Ibáñez, FEI Secretary General and Ingmar de Vos, FEI President, during the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Task Force Meeting held in Lausanne (SUI) on Tuesday 28 March 2023.

Photo credit: FEI / Richard Juilliart

FEI Contacts:

Olivia Robinson
FEI Communications Director
Olivia.Robinson@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 35

Didier Sebastián Montes
Sports Communications & Media Relations Manager
Didier.Montes@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 21

The first horse inspection took place today as the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2023 got underway at the CHI Health Centre in Omaha (USA). A total of 40 horses from 19 nations came before the Ground Jury headed up by President Harry Braspenning (NED), and just one was held for further re-inspection tomorrow morning at 08.00 local time, Nurjon Tuyakbaev’s 10-year-old mare Lancelotta representing Uzbekistan.

The horses already took some time to exercise in the arena this morning, and tomorrow (Tuesday 4 April) they will practice over fences during the training session which begins at 13.00. The first Final competition, a 1.60m Speed and Handiness class will take place on Wednesday starting at 19.15 and the second competition, a 1.60m with jump-off, will follow on Thursday at the same time.

Friday will be a rest day before the 2023 champion is crowned on Saturday evening after a thrilling two-round contest in which the top 30 will go into round one and the best 20 then fight it out in one final round.

Many of the world’s top riders chose to trot their horses up themselves today including Great Britain’s Scott Brash with Hello Jefferson and Jur Vrieling with his lovely grey Long John Silver 3 who got a big hug from his rider when they were given the thumbs up. Fellow-Dutchman Harrie Smolders also showed Monaco NOP as did Ireland’s Denis Lynch with Brooklyn Heights.

Presented

Defending champion, Martin Fuchs, had not arrived so it was the Swiss rider’s popular groom, Irishman Sean Vard, who presented Leone Jei, the horse with which Fuchs won team gold and individual silver at the FEI European Championship in Riesenbeck (GER) in 2021.

Vard talked about the 11-year-old gelding, and the part he personally plays as Team Fuchs prepare for this big week ahead.

“Always at Championships and big events Leone Jei has stepped up even though he is still young and inexperienced. He’s quite a hot horse so we try to keep him cool. For him the bigger the tracks the better he jumps and he was sensational in Geneva in December. After that he had a few weeks off while we were on the Sunshine Tour, and he was just hacking and doing conditioning work, and then he jumped at the Dutch Masters in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) where he finished fifth and gave a fantastic effort.

“We took him to Gorla Minore in Italy last week where he jumped three 1.25m tracks, but he’s always in shape, he’s a great horse for us and has done fantastic things and naturally being title defenders we have a really great feeling with him”, Vard said.

So how does it feel putting in all the preparation, knowing once Martin gets onboard it’s all out of his hands?

“It’s all very much in my hands until the horse goes through the start beams. It’s a team effort. Martin isn’t here yet, he had a late flight so I’ve ridden the horse five times already”, said the Irishman who rode up to international level himself before deciding to become a top groom. 

“I know how Martin rides the horse and the way I’ve ridden the last few days is exactly the way that he would have done. I know how to replicate what he does when I have to at shows like this where I fly ahead with the horse. He can arrive and the horse is 100% ready to jump. It’s a good feeling knowing that he trusts me to do it, and it’s also a good feeling knowing that I’ve played a huge part in it until he goes through that start beam”, he explained.

Character

So what about Leone Jei’s character? “He’s a fantastic personality but he’s a bit of a hot-head sometimes, it’s all about managing his energy levels. He’s a big horse and sometimes he can be too fresh so it’s a delicate balance between doing too much and too little. Especially after driving from Switzerland to the plane in Liege (BEL) and then quarantine after coming here over the last few days. He’s very nice and very easy to be around, and he has filled big shoes since Clooney (Fuchs’ legendary former ride) retired.”

There’s no shortage of powerful opposition to the defending champion however, and it’s all to play for when the action gets underway for real on Wednesday night.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….

For more information, facts and statistics around the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2023 – check out the dedicated press kit here

 

The FEI Tribunal has issued a Consent Award in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance.

In this case, the horse Eryn (FEI ID 105SX59/SUI), tested positive for Flufenamic acid, a banned substance, following samples taken at the CEI1*100 Oberstammheim (SUI) on 20 August, 2022.

The athlete, Melania Vanina (FEI ID 10160936/SUI), admitted the rule violation and accepted the consequences. The horse had been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification (26 September 2022 to 25 November 2022). 

In its final decision the FEI Tribunal disqualified the horse from the event and imposed an 18-month ineligibility period on the athlete; the provisional suspension she already served shall be credited against the imposed ineligibility period. She was also fined CHF 5,000.

The full Decision is available here.

Separately, the FEI has announced new adverse analytical findings (AAF) involving equine prohibited substances. The Endurance cases below involve *Banned Substances and in each case the athlete and trainer have been provisionally suspended. The horses have also been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.

Case 2023/BS02:

Horse: Intruso Del Reparo (106GW63/BRN)

Person Responsible: Abrahim Alyahya (FEI ID 10204085/KSA)

Trainer: Khalifa Saad Sharida Mubarak (FEI ID 10043686/BRN)

Event: CEI1* 100 - Sakhir, Bahrain International Endurance Village (BRN), 08–10.12.2022

Prohibited Substance(s): Boldenone

Date of notification: 12 January 2023

 

Case 2023/BS01:

Horse: Zaime (106SS76/QAT)

Person Responsible: Mohd Jubal Ahmed Sayadur Rahman (FEI ID 10093895/QAT)

Trainer: Jassim Hilal H Abuhadoud (FEI ID 10030706/QAT)

Event: CEI1*100 - Doha, Mesaieed (QAT), 11–12.11.22

Prohibited Substance(s): 5α-estrane-3β, 17α-diol, Cobalt

Date of notification: 13 March 2023

 

Case 2023/BS03:

Horse: Hera Durances (106FU45/BRN)

Person Responsible: Abdulrahman Mohammed Alzayed (FEI ID 10026481/BRN)

Trainer: Muhammad Abbas Khalid (FEI ID 10220213/BRN)

Event: CH-M-E- Butheeb (UAE), 20-26.02.2023

Prohibited Substance(s): Stanozolol, 16-beta-hydroxystanozolol

Date of notification: 20 March 2023

 

Notes to Editors:

FEI Equine Prohibited Substances

The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are medications that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) Substances should never be found in the body of the horse and are prohibited at all times.

In the case of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Banned Substance, the Person Responsible (PR) is automatically provisionally suspended from the date of notification (with the exception of certain cases involving a Prohibited Substance which is also a **Specified Substance). The horse is provisionally suspended for two months.

Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.

FEI Clean Sport - human athletes

The FEI is part of the collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport led by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The aim of this movement is to protect fair competition as well as athlete health and welfare.

WADA’s Prohibited List identifies the substances and methods prohibited in- and out-of-competition, and in particular sports. The substances and methods on the List are classified by different categories (e.g., steroids, stimulants, gene doping).

As a WADA Code Signatory, the FEI runs a testing programme for human athletes based on WADA’s List of Prohibited List of Substances and Methods and on the Code-compliant FEI Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA).

For further information, please consult the Clean Sport section of the FEI website here.

We would like to provide the equestrian community with a brief overview of the situation and measures that have been taken by the FEI, , in consultation with the Organising Committee and the Belgian National Federation, in relation to a confirmed case of EHV-1 in Opglabbeek (BEL).  
 
The affected horse, which had already left the venue, presented neurological signs for EHV-1 upon returning home which were subsequently confirmed through an EHV-1 test. The horse unfortunately died today on 31 March 2023 and the FEI is following up on the circumstances of the horse’s death.  
 
Over 30 horses deemed to be in-contact with the affected horse (stabled in the same stabling area since 22 March) have been blocked in the FEI Database as a safety precaution. This includes any horses that may have already left the venue.
 
The Persons Responsible (PRs) have all been notified, alongside their respective National Federations and National Head Veterinarians (NHVs).
 
All blocked horses have been isolated and will be prevented from attending any FEI events until they have fulfilled certain health requirements which are imposed in order to minimise any potential transmission of the virus, both to their own horses and the wider horse population. The mandatory biosecurity measures include isolation for a minimum of 21 days, taking twice daily rectal temperatures and conducting laboratory testing for EHV-1. Release from isolation can only take place on the advice of a veterinarian and in order to be “un-blocked” and have access to FEI Events, the horses will need to comply with all the return to competition protocols and have the restriction lifted by the FEI Veterinary Department.  
 
We are grateful for the community’s vigilance in all matters of biosecurity and once again reiterate the importance of the Horse Health Requirements, and the necessity to fulfil the Horse Health Requirements via the FEI HorseApp to ensure the maximum safety for all horses competing at international events.
 
All information in relation to the Horse Health Requirements is available on the dedicated Horse Health Requirements hub. Should you have any questions regarding this matter, don’t hesitate to contact the Veterinary Department.

Following a baby-break that meant she didn’t compete at last summer’s ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN), Jessica von Bredow-Werndl returns to centre stage with TSF Dalera BB when the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2023 gets underway in Omaha (USA) next Wednesday.

The German rider and her lovely mare were on a roll when taking the 2022 title on home ground in Leipzig (GER) last April having already bagged a full set of Olympic and European medals over the previous seven months. And they showed they had lost none of their sparkle when returning to action in this season’s Western European League, with wins in Lyon (FRA) last October and again in Basel (SUI) in January and each time posting an over-90% score.

If they maintain that form they seem well set to challenge for the double in a weeks’ time when 17 horse-and-rider combinations from 11 different countries will contest the title.

Repeat wins

Repeat wins are a theme of this Final, but nobody has ever come close to matching the nine posted by The Netherlands’ Anky van Grunsven with her two great horses between 1995 and 2008. Riding Bonfire she topped the podium in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000 and with Salinero, who only passed away last December at the age of 28, she won through in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008. 

On next week’s startlist is a lady who chased the Dutch star all the way to the line on many occasions. Isabell Werth has five wins under her belt and posted her first in Gothenburg (SWE) in 1992 which boasted an all-German podium of Sven Rothenberger in second place and Monica Theodorescu in third.

Over 30 years later this remarkable rider, known colloquially as “The Queen” and the most decorated athlete in equestrian sport, will line out in her 23rd Final. Currently lying third in the athlete world rankings and winner of the 2022/2023 Western European League series, she will mean business when strutting into the ring to chase down her sixth title with the feisty DSP Quantaz. 

Each country can only field three athletes, and third of the German contingent is Ingrid Klimke, daughter of Dressage legend Dr Reiner Klimke and best known as a five-time Olympian and multiple medallist in the sport of Eventing. With the 15-year-old stallion Franziskus she won the third leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League in Stuttgart (GER) last November and she will be sure to make her presence felt when the action gets underway next week.

Champing

However there are a host of others also champing at the bit including Dutch star Dinja van Liere who brings the 11-year-old stallion Hermes NOP with which she won individual double-bronze at last summer’s World Championship in Denmark, and Nanna Skodborg Merrald who was on the gold-medal-winning Danish team there with Blue Hors Zack.

Skodborg Merrald has opted to bring Blue Hors Zepter to Omaha and this is a new partnership that looks to have serious potential, finishing third at the Swiss leg of the Western European League in Basel and winning the ninth round of the 11-leg series in Neumünster (GER) last month.

The Netherlands will also be represented by Thamar Zweistra and Hexagon’s Ice Weiss and Marieke van der Putten with Torveslettens Titanium RS2 while Morgan Barbançon and Sir Donnerhall ll OLD will fly the French flag.

Lithuania’s Justina Vanagaite (Nabab), Moldova’s Alisa Glinka (Aachen), Singapore’s Caroline Chew (Tribiani), Australia’s Simone Pearce (Fiderdance), and Belgium’s Jorinde Verwimp (Charmer) will be joined by the sole Swede, Johanna Due Boje (Mazy Klovenhoj). And completing the line-up are the US contenders, headed by Steffen Peters whose win with Ravel in Las Vegas (USA) back in 2009 nearly brought the house down.

He pinned Werth riding Satchmo and van Grunsven riding Painted Black into second and third on that memorable day, and the five-time Olympian brings his Tokyo 2020 team silver-medal-winning ride Suppenkasper to do battle this time out.

Also flying the Stars and Stripes will be Alice Tarjan and Serenade MF who have posted consistently strong results over the last few months, and Anna Buffini and FRH Davinia La Douce who finished 12th in the Freestyle at last year’s Final in Leipzig. 

Officials

The officials for the Final include President of the Ground Jury Janet Foy (USA) and members Stephen Clarke (GBR), Hans Christian Matthiesen (DEN), Katrina Wüst (GER), Maarten van der Heijden (NED), Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA) and Magnus Ringmark (SWE).

The Foreign Technical Delegate is Gotthilf Riexinger (GER) and the Judges Supervisory Panel will consist of David Hunt (GBR), Evi Eisenhardt (GER) and Lilo Fore (USA).

The action will get underway with the Grand Prix on Wednesday 5 April and the 2023 FEI Dressage World Cup™ title will be decided by the Freestyle on Friday night, 7 April. 

Don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

More Facts and Figures:

Omaha 2023 presents the 36th FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final.

A total of 17 horse and rider partnerships will compete.

A total of 11 countries will be represented: Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden and USA.

At 28 years old America’s Anna Buffini and Belgium’s Jorinde Verwimp are the two youngest competitors at this year’s Final.

At 58 years of age, America’s Steffen Peters is the oldest.

The first Final took place in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in 1986 where Denmark’s Anne-Grethe Jensen and Marzog reigned supreme ahead of Great Britain’s Chris Bartle and Wily Trout while Switzerland’s Christine Stückelberger finished third with Rubelit von Unkelruf.

Stückelberger went on to win the next two editions partnering Gaugin de Lully.

Olympic and European champions Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB will defend the title they won in Leipzig (GER) last year. 

Five-time FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion, Germany’s Isabell Werth, will be competing in her 23rd Final.