Avenches in Switzerland will host this year’s FEI Eventing European Championship, with the 2023 edition allocated to Haras du Pin (FRA)

Host venues for these two important Championships and other key events were made by the FEI Board at its videoconference yesterday, with the full support of the FEI Eventing Committee and the European Equestrian Federation (EEF).

“We are pleased to have the Swiss venue of Avenches hosting the 2021 Championships,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “Following last year’s postponement of the Tokyo Games, the FEI had originally cancelled European Championships in all three Olympic and Paralympic disciplines so that the focus could remain on the Games in 2021, but our community encouraged us to review that decision and we listened to those voices.

“After carefully reviewing three strong bids, which also included Boekelo in the Netherlands and Montelibretti in Italy, the FEI Board voted to allocate this year’s FEI Eventing European Championship to Avenches.

"We are happy to be able to give our community something to look forward to during these difficult days as we tackle the EHV-1 outbreak and work to put in place protocols to get our horses and athletes back to competing again.”

The 2021 edition of the FEI Eventing European Championship will run from 23-26 September.

Haras du Pin (FRA) was named as host for the FEI Eventing European Championship in 2023. The FEI Board had originally allocated the 2021 Championship to the French venue and, when there were discussions last year about the possibility of rescheduling the event away from the Olympic Games period, the Haras du Pin organisers were unfortunately unable to find an alternative date in 2021. However, they put forward a proposal to the FEI to host the Championships in 2023 and this was agreed by the FEI Board this week. Dates for the Championship in 2023 are yet be confirmed.

The FEI Board also allocated the FEI Jumping Ponies Trophy Final 2021 to Mechelen (BEL). An experienced Organiser of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League, the Belgian city will hold the Trophy Final from 26-30 December.

Kronenberg (NED) will host the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth Final 2021 from 23-26 September.

The FEI has imposed a further two-week extension of the shutdown of all international events in mainland Europe until 11 April 2021 due to the ongoing outbreak of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). The FEI had previously announced a 28-day shutdown on 1 March 2021.

The move, which aims to minimise the further spread of the very aggressive strain of the virus, was unanimously approved at an emergency FEI Executive Board meeting today. The extended lockdown applies to all FEI disciplines.

The decision is based on detailed scientific risk assessment conducted by world leading epidemiologist Dr Richard Newton and the FEI Veterinary Department.

The extended lockdown applies to all countries that have international scheduled events in the period to 11 April – Austria, Belgium, Spain, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Sweden. However, the FEI again strongly recommends that all National Federations in mainland Europe cancel their national events in order to minimise horse movement.

The shutdown will mean the cancellation of the FEI World Cup™ Finals for the second consecutive year following the loss of the 2020 Finals in Las Vegas (USA) to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final and the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final were scheduled to be held in Gothenburg (SWE) from 31 March to 4 April 2021.

“The extension of the lockdown is difficult for everyone, and the loss of the FEI World Cup Finals for a second year is particularly devastating, especially for the qualified athletes and for our loyal Top Partner Longines,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “We know how much work Tomas Torgersen and his incredible team in Gothenburg have put into organising the 2021 Finals, which would have been part of the 400^th birthday anniversary celebrations for the city, so this is a desperately bitter blow.

“We cannot eradicate EHV as it is endemic in many countries, but we need to work together to minimise the transmission of this particular strain, which has already caused the death of 12 horses in Europe. All of the original in-contact horses from Valencia, Vejer de la Frontera and Doha are already blocked on the FEI Database, but the whole community needs to be on the alert and monitoring their horses. We strongly urge all European-based FEI athletes to avoid travel with their horses during this prolonged shutdown, as travel is a very clear risk factor.

“Sadly this additional lockdown is crucial to slow down the spread of the virus so that we can preserve the rest of the season, get our athletes and horses back competing safely and allow as long a period as possible for those aiming for Tokyo to earn their Minimum Eligibility Requirements and confirmation results, and of course to prepare their horses for the Games.

“Nobody wants to see an outbreak like this ever again. There will be a comprehensive and fully transparent investigation into every aspect of this outbreak and the way it has been handled, and the findings will be published so that, together with our community, we can all learn from this.

“We will be putting in place enhanced protocols to allow for a safe return to play once this outbreak is under control, and we will advise our community on those well in advance of the resumption of international events, but the priority right now has to be the treatment of sick horses and getting healthy horses back to their home countries in a safe and biosecure way. We all need to focus on safeguarding not just FEI horses, but the wider European horse community.”

Work on identifying the gene sequencing of this strain of the virus is already underway, and the FEI is continuing to monitor the evolution of the virus through the FEI Veterinary Epidemiology Working Group, which was formalised this week. The Group is composed of world-leading EHV specialists, the FEI Veterinary Director and FEI Senior Veterinary Advisor, supported by the Chair of the FEI Veterinary Committee. Reports and recommendations from this Group will be published on a weekly basis.

The FEI is also publishing daily updates on the dedicated EHV-1 hub.

Jean-Philippe Camboulives (FRA), has been appointed as Solidarity Director for the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the global governing body for equestrian sports.

Already a well-known figure with National Federations and Continental Associations, Mr Camboulives, 55, will move into the role of Director after almost 10 years as Development Officer within the Department. He will take up his new position on 1 April, replacing Ms Jacqueline Braissant who will be retiring after 29 years of service with the FEI.

“It is an honour to be appointed as FEI Solidarity Director,” Jean-Philippe Camboulives said. “Together with the team in Lausanne, I am looking forward to building on the foundations that we have created together since the department was set up in 2011. Equestrian sport has always been my passion and I am wholeheartedly committed to the development of athletes and coaches around the world, and to growing the structures that allow National Federations attain their ambitions and achieve their goals.”

A former French international Eventer and licensed coach, Jean-Philippe Camboulives has extensive coaching experience with the Ukrainian, Russian, Brazilian and South African National Eventing teams. He took Brazil to a bronze medal win at the 2007 Pan American Games, earning the home team a place at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He has a degree from the National Equestrian French School in Saumur and is a graduate of Sport Science from the National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance (INSEP) in Paris (FRA).

Before joining the FEI Solidarity Department in 2012, Mr Camboulives held various national and regional Technical Director positions with the Ministry of Sport in France where he was responsible for the development of professional courses for instructors and trainers, as well as the training and selection of regional athletes.

During his time with the FEI, he has been deeply involved with the creation and development of the FEI Coaches Education System as well as projects related to athlete development. As the technical advisor for FEI Solidarity projects, his knowledge and know-how have been highly sought after by National Federations.

“We are delighted that Jean-Philippe Camboulives is now moving into the role of Director,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “This will guarantee a smooth transition at the FEI Headquarters and also with the extended National Federation community who have come to know and trust Jean-Philippe well over the years.

“His in-depth understanding of the needs and requirements of National Federations combined with his intense passion for developing our sport made him a natural successor to Jacqueline Braissant. We know that Jean-Philippe will carry on developing the amazing work that Jacqueline has done till now, and that he will uphold the values that have guided their work for so long.”

The FEI Solidarity Department will continue to be supported by Projects Administrator Céline Starbanov and Programmes Leader Andreina Wipraechtiger.

The FEI has cancelled international events in 10 countries on the European mainland with immediate effect and until 28 March 2021 due to the rapid evolution of a very aggressive strain of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), which originated in Valencia (ESP) and has already resulted in related outbreaks in at least three other countries in Europe.

This decision applies to all FEI disciplines, but in order to prevent huge numbers of horses simultaneously departing the Jumping Tours on the Iberian Peninsula, in Italy and Belgium that have been ongoing for a number of weeks, these specific Tours will be allowed to continue as individual “bubbles” on the condition that absolutely no new horses are allowed to enter the venues and no positive cases of EHV-1 are confirmed.

The Jumping Tour venues in Vejer de la Frontera (ESP), Vilamoura (POR), San Giovanni in Marignano (ITA) and Gorla Minore (ITA) will have stringent biosecurity protocols in place and additional FEI Veterinary Delegates onsite. Horses will only be permitted to leave these venues when they are in possession of an official health certificate from the local Veterinary Authorities. Any horses leaving these venues without this documentation will be blocked on the FEI Database. It is also illegal to transport a horse without an official health certificate.

Oliva Nova (ESP) had already advised the FEI this afternoon that it has decided to cancel the rest of its scheduled competitions in the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour III. Opglabbeek (BEL) has also informed the FEI that it has cancelled its events in March.

A number of countries, including France, have already cancelled all their events to minimise transmission of the virus.

The decision, which covers events in France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Poland, Netherlands, Germany and Slovakia, has been made in accordance with FEI General Regulations Article 112.3, which state: The Secretary General shall have the authority to remove any Competition and/or Event from the Calendar if justified circumstances relating to a Competition or the Event are established.

“This was not an easy decision to block events in mainland Europe, particularly after the major disruption to the FEI Calendar caused by the Covid-19 pandemic”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said, “but this EHV-1 outbreak is probably the most serious we have had in Europe for many decades and our decision is based on clearly identified epidemiological risk factors.

“This strain of EHV-1 is particularly aggressive and has already caused equine fatalities and a very large number of severe clinical cases. We need to keep our horses safe.

“We are also aware that a large number of horses left the venue in Valencia without an official health certificate, meaning they had an unknown health status. Some horses were already sick, and the risk of transmission from these horses is a major concern.

“Cancelling these competitions in mainland Europe, with the exception of the ongoing Jumping Tours in the Iberian Peninsula and Italy, limits the number of horses travelling internationally and therefore reduces the likelihood of this very serious virus being transmitted on an increasingly wider scale. We also strongly recommend that the affected member Federations should also cancel their national events.

“We are very conscious of the fact that this is a very stressful and distressing time, and that this is potentially hugely disruptive for those athletes aiming for their Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) or confirmation results for Tokyo, but we are looking at ways to alleviate that in order to assist athlete/horse combinations in getting their MERs or confirmation results once the events in mainland Europe are allowed to resume.”

The FEI is aware that some athletes have already arrived on competition venues or are en route, and is directly contacting all impacted athletes entered in Events between now and 28 March 2021.

Notes to Editors:

Previous FEI updates since the FEI was first notified of the EHV-1 outbreak on 20 February are available here. Please scroll down to the Updates from the FEI Veterinary Department section.

The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decisions in the following cases involving Prohibited Substances.

The Guatemalan veterinarian Dr Mariajose Camas (FEI ID 10093995) treated the Horse Dolly Palo Blanco (FEI ID 104PR65/GUA during the Central American & Caribbean Games in Bogotá (COL), 25-29 July 2018 with a Banned Substance.

As Support Personnel under the FEI Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations, and in accordance with Article 2.2 of the FEI Equine Anti-Doping Rules, it was the personal duty of Dr Camas and the Person Responsible (the Athlete) to ensure that no Banned Substance entered the horse’s body. Dr Camas directly admitted the anti-doping rule violation.

In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached between Dr Camas and the FEI, ruling that she bears no significant fault or negligence for the anti-doping rule violation. A 17-month period of ineligibility was imposed on Dr Camas, backdated to Dr Camas’ last appointment as an FEI Veterinarian (20 January 2020). She was also fined CHF 1,500.

The full Decision is available here.

In the second case, the horse Snowrunner (FEI ID 105JX73/THA), ridden by Preecha Khunjan (FEI ID 10089939/THA), tested positive for the Banned Substance Desoximethasone and the Controlled Medication Substance Isoflupredone following samples taken during the Asian Games in Pattaya (THA), 2-5 December 2019.

The athlete believed the Desoximethasone may have come from using a Leovet Cold Pack on the horse on 30 November 2019, but he could not explain the origin of the Isoflupredone in the horse’s system.

In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal disqualified the horse and athlete from the event, and imposed a two-year suspension on the athlete. The period of the provisional suspension of the athlete, which came into effect on 22 January 2020 is credited against the period of ineligibility imposed in the decision, meaning the athlete will be ineligible until 21 January 2022. He was also fined CHF 7,500 and asked to pay costs of CHF 2,000.

The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision.

The full Decision is available here.  

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 those 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.

Specified Substances

The FEI introduced the concept of Specified Substances in 2016. Specified Substances should not in any way be considered less important or less dangerous than other Prohibited Substances (i.e. whether Banned or Controlled). Rather, they are simply substances which are more likely to have been ingested by horses for a purpose other than the enhancement of sport performance, for example, through a contaminated food substance. Positive cases involving Specified Substances can be handled with a greater degree of flexibility within the structure of the FEI Regulations.

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

Host cities for the FEI Youth Jumping Competition* 2022 and this year’s FEI Dressage European Championship U25 have been finalised, with allocations agreed by the FEI Board at its videoconference meeting yesterday.

These important Youth Championships will both be hosted in Germany, with the FEI Youth Jumping Competition 2022 allocated to Aachen, and the FEI Dressage European Championship U25 to Hagen, two venues with enviable track records for organising top level events.

Following the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decision to postpone the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2022 in Dakar (SEN) until 2026, the FEI sought IOC agreement for a replacement competition. The new FEI Youth Jumping Competition 2022 will mean that young Jumping athletes aged 14-18 will still have the opportunity to participate in a global competition based on the unique YOG format.

“We were delighted the IOC supported the FEI initiative for a replacement equestrian competition for the Youth Olympic Games in 2022 and that it will be hosted at the world-famous showgrounds in Aachen”, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “The Youth are our future and we need to safeguard the development of youth engagement in equestrian sport and continue inspiring this new generation of athletes.

“Participation at the YOG is a significant motivating factor for athletes to stay in elite-level sport. Now we can offer the FEI Youth Jumping Competition 2022 as an alternative to the next YOG generation, which they would otherwise have lost with the postponement of Dakar 2022. And it allows us to promote the Olympic values with these young athletes in a truly global environment.”

The FEI Youth Jumping Competition (28 June to 3 July 2022) will follow the same format as the Equestrian Competition at the Youth Olympic Games, with 30 athletes from 30 nations across six continents participating in a continental team competition and an individual competition. As with YOG, all Athletes will compete on borrowed horses provided by the Organiser.

The FEI Dressage European Championship U25 in 2021, originally scheduled to run in Donaueschingen (GER), has been reallocated to Hagen (GER). Host of multiple championship-level events, Hagen was the venue used for the test event for the new Olympic formats in Jumping and Dressage in 2019.

The U25 Championship will run concurrently with the Senior FEI Dressage European Championships from 8–12 September 2021.

Notes to Editors:

*The final naming of the FEI Youth Jumping Competition 2022 is still to be confirmed.

The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a case involving Prohibited Substances.

The horse Gucci (FEI ID 106GE04/MEX), ridden by Jefferson Martins Maquieira (FEI ID 10027611/MEX), tested positive for the Banned Substances Boldenone and the related compound Boldienone following samples taken at the CSI2* in San Miguel de Allende (MEX), 3-6 October 2019.

The athlete, who had a strict anti-doping protocol in place, stated that Boldenone was contained in the product Equigan, which was given to the horse against the Athlete’s specific instructions on at least two occasions by the horse’s owners and their employee (at the owners’ request), as it was thought that this product would improve the semen quality of the stallion.

In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached between the athlete and the FEI, stating the athlete bears no significant fault or negligence for the Rule violation.

The horse and athlete have been disqualified from the event, and a one-year ineligibility period has been imposed on the athlete starting from the date of the Final Decision (25 January 2021). The Provisional Suspension of the athlete, which came into effect on 22 January 2020, is credited against the period of ineligibility imposed in the decision, meaning the athlete is now eligible to compete. The Athlete was also fined CHF 1,500.

The full Decision is available here.

Separately, the FEI has announced a new adverse analytical finding (AAF) involving equine Prohibited Substances. The case involves a *Banned Substance under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).

In the following Jumping case, the athlete has been provisionally suspended until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horse has been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.

Case 2021/BS01

Horse: GISELE III PARISOL (106PY18/POR)

Person Responsible: Rafael Dinis (FEI ID 10046681/POR)

Event: CSIO3* - Vilamoura (POR), 16-19.11.2020

Prohibited Substance(s): Nandrolone

Date of notification: 12 January 2021

Details on this case can be found here.

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 those 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.

Specified Substances

The FEI introduced the concept of Specified Substances in 2016. Specified Substances should not in any way be considered less important or less dangerous than other Prohibited Substances (i.e. whether Banned or Controlled). Rather, they are simply substances which are more likely to have been ingested by horses for a purpose other than the enhancement of sport performance, for example, through a contaminated food substance. Positive cases involving Specified Substances can be handled with a greater degree of flexibility within the structure of the FEI Regulations.

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

Dr Brian Sheahan (AUS), former Chair of the FEI Endurance Committee, passed away peacefully on 25 January in his hometown of Samford, Queensland in northeastern Australia. The FEI Honorary Board Member, who was a highly respected veterinarian and a well-loved figure in the international Endurance community, was 69.

He joined the FEI Endurance Committee as a member in 2008, taking over the Chair in 2012 until 2018, during which time he was a member of the FEI Board. He was highly respected for his work with the Endurance Strategic Planning Group and the Endurance Task Force. He was instrumental in creating the FEI Endurance Forum and Conferences, which provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas and voice their opinions.

“The FEI family and the international veterinary community have lost, not just a passionate advocate for Endurance, but also a unique man and a real friend,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“Brian often described himself as a ‘humble country vet’, but he was so much more than that and his passing is being felt everywhere he left his mark. As well as his brilliant ability to work with people, and with horses, he will be remembered fondly for his legendary wit and infectious good humour. His family, and huge circle of friends and colleagues will have no shortage of entertaining anecdotes to keep his memory alive. The equestrian community is certainly better off for having known him.”

As Chef d’Equipe for the Australian Endurance squad, Dr Sheahan led the bronze medal-winning team at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Jerez (ESP) 2002.

He began officiating as a veterinarian at Endurance events in 1975 and was six times Head Veterinarian for the Tom Quilty Gold Cup 160km Championship in Australia. He was an FEI Treating Veterinarian for Endurance, Jumping, Eventing and Dressage, and was a Course Director, both for the FEI and the Australian Endurance Riders Association.

Dr Sheahan and his wife Christeen started the Samford Valley Veterinary Hospital in their hometown in 1976. What began as one-man practice has grown into a renowned Veterinary Hospital, which he led through to his retirement in 2015, after 41 years in practice.

“Brian was a fearless and talented veterinarian, developing his skills at a time when the only teacher was himself,” said his wife in a touching tribute. “Brian’s drive, skills, leadership and ethics are carried forward by today’s talented and dedicated veterinary team.”

The FEI extends its sincere condolences to Dr Sheahan’s wife Christeen, children and grandchildren, to the Australian Equestrian Federation and the global equestrian community.

The Equestrian Australia tribute to Dr Brian Sheahan can be found here.

(© FEI/Richard Juilliart)

Defending champions Werth and Weihegold have to settle for second as Germans scoop top four placings

It has been a long wait since the first leg was staged last October, but the resumption of the 2020/2021 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League didn’t disappoint when Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB swept to victory in Salzburg, Austria today.

In a cracker of a competition, the pair who helped claimed team gold at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ threw down a superb performance when second-last to go in the field of 13. And their score of 87.960 ousted the partnership that have claimed the coveted FEI Dressage World Cup™ title on the last three occasions, Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD who had to settle for runner-up spot on their mark of 84.720. 

Reminding the world that German dressage is in great shape, Helen Langehanenberg slotted into third with Annabelle when putting 81.340 on the board while Dorothee Schneider filled fourth place with Faustus when posting 80.650. Only one other horse-and-rider combination managed to break the 80 percent barrier, Swedish star Patrick Kittel steering Delaunay OLD into fifth on a mark of 80.125.

Halfway stage

It was another Swedish pair who held the lead at the halfway stage, Antonia Ramel and Brother de Jeu who were on the bronze medal winning side along with Kittel and Well Done de la Roche at the 2019 FEI European Championships in Rotterdam (NED). 

Ramel produced a lovely test from the 15-year-old gelding to score 77.460 today but, third to go after the break, Werth moved things on to a completely different level when scoring more than seven percent higher. And when both compatriot Langehanenberg and then Kittel couldn’t get close to bettering that, it seemed the writing was already on the wall. 

But von Bredow-Werndl had other ideas.

“I was really ready for it today because Dalera already felt amazing yesterday”, she pointed out. In Saturday’s Grand Prix she finished second to Werth, but that didn’t blunt her ambitions. 

“I came in today with the hope to win! We had a very stupid mistake yesterday when she fell into trot before the one-tempis because she thought it was already the last line for the extended trot, and that was more than expensive because the one-tempis count double. Today I knew if we got things right then we had a really good chance!”

And they got it absolutely right, the 34-year-old rider and her 14-year-old mare nailing it with a superb test that secured pole position by more than three percentage points over Werth who may not have been all that surprised, as she clearly wasn’t happy with her own performance, shaking her head as she left the arena. 

Today’s winning partnership had already beaten Werth and Weihegold twice before - at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifier in Stuttgart (GER) in 2019 and at last year’s German Championships. Werth knew perfectly well that she needed a mistake-free test to keep the pressure on her fellow-countrywoman who is always a strong challenger, so when she didn’t get that she was always going to be vulnerable.

Season

Instead of a full season of qualifiers, the Western European League has been severely curtailed by the effects of the pandemic, and today’s leg at Salzburg was only the second in the lead-up to the 2021 Final which is scheduled for Gothenburg (SWE) from 31 March to 4 April. In this virus-ridden era it is difficult to predict anything anymore, but another qualifier is planned for ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in March and under the revised qualifying criteria the best two results from the Western European and Central European Leagues will count towards qualification.

Today’s result leaves von Bredow-Werndl at the top of the qualification table with Langehanenberg in second, Kittel in third, Morgan Barbancon from France in fourth and The Netherlands’ Thamar Zweistra and Ireland’s Anna Merveldt sharing fifth place.  Austria’s Christian Schumach lies seventh while Denmark’s Carina Cassoe Kruth, who collected eight points when finishing tenth today with Heiline’s Danciera, is in eighth place. A total of nine athletes will make the cut to the Final and Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour, who won the opening on home ground at Aarhus last October, at this stage shares that ninth spot with Germany’s Benjamin Werndl.

Environment

As von Bredow-Werndl pointed out today it’s not an easy environment for either horses or riders these days.

“Dalera was a bit nervous yesterday but I have to admit I was too! I realise now that it is too long for me to have a competition break for over three months - I really need to compete and so do the horses. Riding the test at home and going to a competition are two completely different things. You need to measure yourself against the other competitors, and it’s a more honest way to look in the mirror if you do it at a competition”, she said.

She complimented Show Director Josef Goellner and his team for staging the Austrian event in such a difficult times. The show is taking place without spectators and with rigorous restrictions. “I’m so grateful that the organisers managed to do such a great job and that it was perfectly organised. Everyone feels safe here, everyone is wearing a mask and there is hand sanitiser everywhere - it’s strange, but I’m so glad to be here!”, she said.

She would like to compete in ’s-Hertogenbosch, but brotherly love may get in the way of that. “I want my brother (Benjamin Werndl) to have a chance to go there because he already won one qualifier (at Zakrzow, Poland in October) and he needs to go to another one, and there are usually only four Germans allowed to ride”, she explained. 

When it comes to the Final in Gothenburg however, nothing will hold her back. “Oh yes, I’ll be going there for sure - and with all guns blazing!”, she said.

Result here 

Standings here 

German big guns out in force

Reigning five-time series champion and World No. 1, Germany’s Isabell Werth, heads the sparkling start-list for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifier in Salzburg, Austria this weekend.

She will partner Weihegold OLD, the 16-year-old mare with which she claimed the prestigious title at the last three Finals, in Omaha (USA) in 2017, Paris (FRA) in 2017 and Gothenburg (SWE) in 2019. 

And the German challenge will be mighty one, as Werth is joined by compatriots Jessica von Bredow-Werndl who holds the World No. 3 spot and Olympians Dorothee Schneider and Helen Langehanenberg. 

Only one other leg of the 2020/2021 Western European League qualifying series has taken place so far, at Aarhus in Denmark in October where the host nation’s Cathrine Dufour and Bohemian came out on top. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has played havoc with the sporting calendar worldwide for almost a year now, but there is great excitement about the resumption of the prestigious FEI Dressage World Cup™ series that is now in its 36th season - the 35th cut short by effect of the virus.

10 nations

A total of 14 athletes from 10 nations will compete this weekend including Swedish showman Patrick Kittel with Delaunay OLD, the 15-year-old gelding with which he finished sixth at the 2018/2019 Final on home ground in Gothenburg. And also flying the Swedish flag will be Antonia Ramel and Brother de Jeu who, alongside Kittel and Well Done de la Roche, helped claimed team bronze at the 2019 FEI European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam (NED). 

Anna Merveldt and her 12-year-old Lusitano gelding Esporim went into the history books when helping Ireland to Olympic qualification in Dressage for the very first time at those Rotterdam Championships, and they come to Salzburg with some strong results. They were runners-up behind the French duo of Morgan Barbançon and the 15-year-old stallion Sir Donnerhall ll OLD in the Freestyle at Budapest-Fót (HUN) in October where the French pair, who will be back in the ring this weekend, also dominated the Grand Prix.

Germany’s von Bredow-Werndl brings the horse with which she holds the No. 3 spot in the World Rankings, the 14-year-old Trakehner mare TSF Dalera BB. Schneider will partner the 13-year-old gelding Faustus who won the CDI4* Grand Prix Special at Oldenburg (GER) in November and Langehanenberg will ride the 13-year-old mare Annabelle which won the CDI3* Grand Prix Special at Aarhus last October.   

Represented

The Netherlands will be represented by Thamar Zweistra and the 13-year-old stallion Hexagon’s Double Dutch who finished third in the Grand Prix and Freestyle at the CDI-W fixtures in both Mariakalnok (HUN) last June and at Pilisjászfalu (HUN) in August 2020. 

Italy’s Francesco Zaza (Wispering Romance), Denmark’s Carina Cassoe Kruth (Heiline’s Danciera), Belgium’s Simon Missiaen (Charlie), Australia’s Simone Pearce (Destano) and Austria’s Franziska Fries (Atomic) are also in the mix. So it is going to be a truly international cast that takes centre-stage at the Messezentrum Arena in the city so closely associated with both revered composer, Mozart, and the much-loved 1965 film “The Sound of Music”.

The FEI World Cup™ Dressage Grand Prix is scheduled for 08.00 local time on Saturday 23 January, while the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Freestyle will take place on Sunday 24 January starting at 11.00.