FEI World Cup Dressage Finals This Weekend
The FEI World Cup Dressage Finals are taking place right now, March 25 – 27, at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. The competition, now celebrating its 25th anniversary, pits 15 of the world’s best riders from across 10 countries against one another for one of the world’s most presitigious titles in all of horse racing.
Last year’s FEI World Cup Dressage title was taken by American rider Steffan Peters who will be unable to show up and defend his title as the US and Canada jointly agreed to pull the North American League out of the running this year. This leaves two spots open, which are being taken by Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven of Sweden and Katarzyna Milczarek of Poland. Last year’s runner-up, Isabell Werth of Germany, is hoping to go all the way this time, riding Satchmo as she represents Germany’s league along with Matthias Alexander Rath and Carola Koppelmann.
Heading up the Western European League is Adelinde Cornelissen of Holland, winner of the initial qualifying leg, joined by her fellow Alltech FEI European Championship champions Edward Gal and Imke Schellekens-Bartels. Representing the Central European League is Michal Rapcewicz of Poland, representing the Pacific League is Brett Parbery of Australia, and representing South America & Asia is Luiza Tavares de Almeida of Brazil. Nathalie Zu Sayn of Denmark, Acs Robert of Hungary, and Jeroen Devroe will also be riding.
All bets are on Edward Gal, who’s riding the same black stallion, named Moorlands Totilas, that he rode last summer when he took the Alltech FEI European Dressage Championships and has been on fire throughout the indoor riding season ever since.
