The Netherlands’ Zweistra will lead the way in Dressage Grand Prix

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.