Marcus Ehning (GER) is the New World No 1

With 2800 points, Marcus Ehning is the new leader of the FEI Gandini World Riders Rankings. Member of the winning German team of the first Samsung Super League of the season in La Baule (FRA), he also won the Grand Prix of Aach CSI 4* (GER) and scored some 90 more points at CSI 4* Wiesbaden (GER).

Marcus Ehning, 30 since last April, started to ride at 8, and was six times team gold at European Championships for Ponies, Juniors and Young Riders. He was the 2003 World Cup Champion and earned the Team Gold and Individual Bronze medals at the European Championships in Donauschingen with For Pleasure. In a recent interview, Marcus Ehning was explaining that Ludger Beerbaum - who is also his trainer - was his most looked up rider, not only because he was on top of the World Rankings for such a long time, but also because of his style and professionalism.

More information on new World Number 1 on his personal website www.sportpferde-ehning.com and on the FEI biography website http://bios.horsesport.org

Ludger Beerbaum (GER) is now second of the World Rankings. He earned 300 points during the month of May and almost got back the 305 points dropped from the month of May 2003. He earned 110 points in La Baule with one clear round in the Samsung Super League and a 4th place in the Grand Prix. He also scored 150 points at CSI 4* Hamburg (GER) where he placed second in the Derby and in the Grand Prix.

Beezie Madden-Patton (USA) seized the 3rd position from the Swiss Markus Fuchs thanks to her 255 points won at CSI 4* San Juan Capistrano (USA) where she won the Grand Prix and the Derby. With 9 years old Dutch Warmblood gelding Authentic, she is now on the short list of the US Olympic Show jumping team.

Many changes can be expected at the end of June, as the four riders on top of the rankings will each drop an important number of points earned in 2003 at Spruce Meadows, Cannes and Aachen (Marcus Ehning will drop 375 points, Ludger Beerbaum 456, Beezie Madden-Patton 515 and Markus Fuchs 574). Rodrigo Pessoa, presently in 4th position in the rankings, 80 points behind Fuchs, might take advantage of the situation, as he will only drop 85 points at the end of the month.

Peter Wylde (USA) entered the Top Ten. He is now placed 9th, thanks to his good results in San Juan Capistrano. Peter Wylde, 39, living in the Netherlands, is on the short list of the US Olympic Show Jumping Team with his 13 years old Holsteiner mare Fein Cera. Beezie Madden, Peter Wylde qualified for the Short List by finishing first and second respectively in the six Olympic Selection Trials held on 14 and 15 May in Del Mar, California, and on 22 and 23 May in San Juan Capistrano, California.