The FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage series is now in its third pilot season, providing both valuable exposure for up-and-coming horse-and-rider combinations and the perfect stage for top teams to test out the form of their leading combinations.
6 events - 6 countries
1. Vidauban (FRA)
2. Wellington (USA)
3. Rotterdam (NED)
4. Hagen - NEW to the series
5. Falsterbo (SWE) - NEW to the series
6. Hickstead (GBR)
14 Participating nations
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, & USA
1 Winning team
Germany
| 1 | Germany | 39 Points |
| 2 | Netherlands | 35 Points |
| 3 | Sweden | 35 Points |
| 4 | USA | 27 Points |
| 5 | Denmark | 18 Points |
| 6 | Great Britain | 18 Points |
| 7 | Russia | 14 Points |
| 8 | France | 12 Points |
| 9 | Spain | 11 Points |
| 10 | Belgium | 9 Points |
| 11 | Canada | 8 Points |
| 12 | Switzerland | 7 Points |
| 13 | Italy | 6 Points |
| 13 | South Africa | 6 Points |
Designed to assess the appeal of this type of competition for organisers, athletes, National Federations, spectators, the media and potential sponsors, the FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage concept has been greeted enthusiastically since first floated in 2013.
Each event is of equal standing, and the best three results for each nation over the six events will decide the overall result.
This year, event organisers again were given a choice of competition formats, either counting results (best three scores) from both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special or counting the results of the Grand Prix and a split of a maximum of two combinations in the Grand Prix Special and two in the Freestyle, so the tension builds over three different competitions.
A minimum of four teams take part in each event, and there is no maximum limit to the number of FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage competitions in which athletes and horses can take part. A team consists of a minimum of three and a maximum of four athlete/horse combinations.
"Competing as part of a team is special because it brings people a lot closer together and presents another dimension to the sport. When I was in the arena today I knew if I did well and could come as close as possible to first place that our team was in with a big chance. When you're actually riding it's just you and your horse, but before you go in you know what needs to be done."
"This Nations Cup was the perfect practice ahead of the Europeans next month (FEI European Championships 2015). To ride like a team and work like a team together, it puts more pressure on, and particularly in front of the home crowd because there is so much electricity and atmosphere! There are about seven or eight of us competing here this weekend who are all candidates for the team."
"I love getting goosebumps when I watch rides (...) I feel not only extremely confident moving towards the Pan American Games and the European tour we are about to go on, but also on our way to Rio (Olympic Games 2016) with more and more depth in America in this sport than we have ever seen before."
