US Olympians Laura Graves and Verdades first Americans to top FEI Dressage World Rankings

Olympic bronze medallist duo and American sweethearts, Laura Graves and Verdades (aka Diddy), have moved to the top of the FEI World Dressage rankings thanks to their double silver medal placings last month at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018. The famous combination has become the first American partnership to be ranked world number one after they took home team and individual silver in the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special, boosting their ranking points to 2,714, and placing them one point ahead of Germany’s Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD.

Isabell Werth (GER) has held the number one position for almost two years, taking over from fellow German Kristina Bröring-Sprehe in November 2016. This ground-breaking change to the top spot has now pushed the German back to second place with a total of 2,713 points, but she can also be found in three more positions in the ranking list, third with Emilio 107 (2,680 points, previously ranked second), fourth with Bella Rose 2 (2586 points, previously ranked 51^st) and 11^th with Don Johnson FRH (2,291 points, previously ranked eighth).

The FEI World Equestrian Games™ were an opportunity for several combinations to move up in the rankings, with Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Mount St John Freestyle moving from 10^th to sixth place (2416 points), whilst Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) and Goerklintgaards Dublet jumped from  20^th to 14^th (2,267 points).

A number of other well-known combinations have soared into higher ranking positions this month, with Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl (GER) and TSF Dalera BB moving from  53^rd to 22^nd (2,148 points) and Great Britain’s Carl Hester and his mount Hawtins Delicato made an enormous leap from 130^th to 23^rd spot (2,145 points). Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED) with Glock's Dream Boy N.O.P., previously ranked 211^th has moved up to  41^st  (1,891 points), and Sönke Rothenberger (GER) with Cosmo 59 has jumped to 43^rd from 256^th (1,884 points).

As the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League starts on 17 October in Herning (DEN), there will no doubt be some dramatic changes throughout the season, as these top international Dressage riders give good chase and maintain their world ranking positions.

The FEI Dressage World Ranking list can be found here.

Join us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook.