Tag Archives: Jessica von Bredow-Werndl

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Werth & von Bredow-Werndl Pick Up CDI Wins in First Euro Competitions Post Covid Shutdown

Leave a comment

Isabell Werth and Emilio. Photo by Michael Rzepa.

Mariakalnok, Hungary – July 9, 2020 – As the world begins to emerge from a global shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the international dressage community has slowly returned to the show ring with four FEI-sanctioned events. Taking place in Italy, Hungary, Austria, and Belgium, riders rode down the centerline in much smaller and socially distanced competitions.

During the last week of June, the first World Cup qualifying competition post-Coronavirus took place in Mariakalnok, Hungary with 14 entries in the CDI-W Grand Prix. Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl claimed the top prize with a 77.892% on Zaire-E. The third-place finishers at the 2019 FEI World Cup Dressage Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden and von Bredow-Werndl’s German A-Squad team member, Helen Langehanenberg and Leatherdale Farm’s Damsey FRH, followed closely behind, placing second with a 76.022%.

In the CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle, von Bredow-Werndl remained on top of the leaderboard on the 16-year-old KWPN mare with an 84.89%. Hot on her heels, Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH received an 83.865% from the judging panel in their freestyle performance.

At the CDI4* in Achleiten, Austria, six-time Olympic gold medalist Isabell Werth returned to her dominating fashion, picking up four wins out of her four starts in the competition. The competition kicked off July 3 with Werth breaking the show grounds record, earning a 79.5% on Emilio in the CDI4* Grand Prix for the Freestyle and later in the weekend they won the Freestyle with an impressive 86.2%. On Victoria Max-Theurer’s Quantaz, Werth picked up the win in the CDI4* Grand Prix for the Special with a 78.152% as well as earning a personal best of 80.149% in the Grand Prix Special.

“That was a very satisfying start after a longer break from competition,” Werth said. “Dressage shows are very important to stay in the competition rhythm. You need to take stock – especially when you compete with new horses.

“I am very pleased — both horses performed well. For Quantaz it was the first competition in a long time and I was over 80 percent for the first time today. We can still improve a few things, but the basics were perfect. It was a really good test,” Werth said, praising the 10-year-old Brandenburg stallion.

Quantaz’s owner, Victoria Max-Theurer, also had a successful show herself on two of her mounts, racking up multiple second place finishes behind her mentor Werth. In the CDI4* Grand Prix for the Freestyle, she had a great test back from the long pandemic break, earning a 73.565% on her 10-year-old stallion Rockabilly before going on to receive an 81.225% in his debut of his rock-themed Grand Prix Freestyle.

“You don’t get over 80 percent every day! Above all, this freestyle was a premiere for Rocky and me,” Max-Theurer said. “We practiced individual lines but we didn’t have the chance to rehearse the freestyle because we were fully focused on the Grand Prix during our preparation. Our last show was the World Cup in Salzburg in December – that was seven months ago.”

A new horse for her, Abegglen FH NRW, placed second in the CDI4* Grand Prix for the Special with a 76.457% and improved in his Grand Prix Special debut with a score of 77.702%.

“I would like to thank my team, my family, and Isabell Werth, who supports me so incredibly. Daddy would be proud of us,” said the 34-year-old Upper Austrian, whose father and coach Hans Max-Theurer died unexpectedly last year. “It was a great feeling riding the first Special with Abby. I am really happy with this test. Now we have to keep working on the set-up and improve from test to test and from show to show to gain even more confidence. It’s a great challenge to get back into the show rhythm after such a long break.”

After the successful first attempt of a much smaller show under corona restrictions, the manager of the CDI4* in Achleiten, Austria, Elisabeth Max-Theurer, was cautiously optimistic.

“Our safety concept worked; the individual teams did not mingle with each other and paid attention to the distance and hygiene regulations,” Max-Theurer explained. “This is really gratifying and I think that already at the second show at the end of July we will be able to invite about 30 to maybe even 40 riders instead of 15 as well as about 50 horses without endangering anybody. However, we do not know how the pandemic will develop. The most important thing is that everyone stays healthy.”

PS Dressage
www.psdressage.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, FEI

Delightful Dalera Gives Birthday-Girl von Bredow-Werndl Another Win in Neumünster

Leave a comment

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB. (FEI/Stefan Lafrentz)

When Jessica von Bredow-Werndl won the third leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League with TSF Dalera BB in Stuttgart (GER) in November, she described herself as “over the moon!” But she was even more thrilled as she celebrated her 33rd birthday with a superb performance from the 13-year-old mare who pinned reigning champion Isabell Werth and Emilio into runner-up spot.

“This was a Personal Best for Dalera and me! She’s a rockstar, and the cutest horse in the world! She was amazing today – in piaffe and passage she was just breezing along, so I could breathe, relax, and enjoy myself. There was such lightness, and it felt so easy and harmonious. I didn’t have to ask her for anything; all I had to do was just lead her through the test,” said von Bredow-Werndl after posting the winning score of 89.640.

Helen Langehanenberg and the evergreen 18-year-old Damsey FRH slotted into third ahead of von Bredow-Werndl’s brother, Benjamin Werndl, who finished fourth with the exciting 11-year-old Famoso, while the first of the visitors to get into the line-up was The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen who steered Zephyr into fifth place.

It was another of the powerful German contingent, 26-year-old Sonke Rothenberger, who led the way at the halfway stage when putting 79.285 on the board. But series double-champion Cornelissen overtook him when eleventh to go of the 15 starters, with a test that oozed energy and bounce as she racked up some maximum 10s along the way for a mark of 82.150.

Then 2013 champion Langehanenberg put Germany back in charge, starting out with a 9.5 for walk and collecting consistently high marks as she moved the target-score up to 85.220 with Damsey FRH. At 18 years of age, it seems this stallion loves his competition outings as much as ever. “He still feels so fresh!” said Langehanenberg who is also targeting the final leg of the WEL series in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) next month.

However, von Bredow-Werndl’s effortless performance with Dalera would be the winning one of the day, the fluency and quiet understanding between horse and rider presenting a lovely picture that saw them pick up lots of 10s and leaving them just shy of the 90 percent mark on a score of 89.640. For the second time this season, superstar Isabell Werth had to settle for second place behind her team-mate.

In Stuttgart von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB pipped Werth and Weihegold, who have won the last three FEI Dressage World Cup™ Finals. And von Bredow-Werndl did it again, this time with the mare she steered to team gold at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 in Tryon, USA and to team gold as well as Freestyle bronze at last summer’s FEI European Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. No wonder she has the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in her sights with this horse now.

“I won’t take her to the Final because I have Tokyo in mind, but I’ll bring Zaire to ’s-Hertogenbosch and decide if she will go to Las Vegas,” said the German rider who closely watched her brother, Benjamin Werndl, as he steered his rising star Famoso through a lovely balanced test to slot into fourth place on a mark of 85.165 when last to go.

As Benjamin pointed out afterwards, the Neumünster crowd is a bit special, and this competition was of the highest level.

“Here you are a bit scared to make a mistake, because the crowd is so knowledgeable, they will see it right away!” he joked. “Our sport is getting better and better all the time, so the competition is really tough. There are new riders coming up all the time and you think they can’t get better, but they do, so it’s really super!” he added. He shared the lead on the Western European League table with his sister, and although she has nudged ahead, his 65 points leave him more than comfortable in the race for a place at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2020 in Las Vegas in April.

Gothenburg in Sweden stages the penultimate leg of the Western European League qualifying series, with the last leg taking place in ’s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands on 14 March.

Result here.

Watch highlights here.

By Louise Parkes

Media contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, FEI

Dalera and von Bredow-Werndl Beat Weihegold and Werth in Classic Clash at Stuttgart

Leave a comment

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB. (FEI/Lukasz Kowalski)

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl was “over the moon” with delight after winning the third leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League on home ground at Stuttgart (GER). Riding the 12-year-old Trakehner mare TSF Dalera BB with which she claimed team gold at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 in Tryon (USA) and individual Freestyle bronze at this summer’s European Championships in Rotterdam (NED), she produced a breathtaking performance to pin defending triple-champions Isabell Werth and Weihegold into second place.

The host nation completely dominated the line-up with Helen Langehanenberg, Dorothee Schneider, and Benjamin Werndl finishing third, fourth, and fifth. For von Bredow-Werndl this was a very special result. “It’s like Christmas coming early!” she said.

Werth, winner with Emilio at the second leg of the series in Lyon (FRA) two weeks ago, looked set to march to victory once again after topping the Grand Prix in which von Bredow-Werndl had to settle for second place. But a couple of blips saw the legendary lady trailing her team-mate who set a massive target-score of 88.440 when second-last to go.

The Freestyle began with Ireland’s Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K putting 80.755 on the board, and this pair, who got the worst of the draw after finishing an uncharacteristic 11th in the Grand Prix, were still out in front with just five of the 15 starters – all of them German – left to compete.

Helen Langehanenberg demoted the Irish duo with a brilliant performance from her 17-year-old stallion Damsey FRH who danced up the centreline with foot-perfect tempi-changes to post 83.735. And when Dorothee Schneider and DSP Sammy Davis Jr slotted in close behind with 83.395 and Benjamin Werndl and Daily Mirror scored 80.900, then it was 2013 series champion Langehanenberg who was still in command with just two left to run.

But Benjamin’s sister, 33-year-old Jessica, turned the class on its head with a technically brilliant performance from Dalera that also sparkled.

“She gave me a feeling I’ve never had before! In Rotterdam she was already amazing but today it felt even lighter and easier. Every piaffe was amazing, every transition every passage and pirouette, every half-pass… I’m so excited about our future now!” — Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER)

As Werth set off with her last-to-go ride, it seemed only a matter of form that she would overtake her compatriot’s score. But Weihegold’s test wasn’t clean, and despite a confident one-handed passage to finish, their mark of 87.240 would only be good enough for runner-up spot. “I had super piaffe/passage but had two little mistakes. I maybe risked too much – Jessica deserves to win tonight,” said the five-time champion who is chasing down four titles in a row.

“Stuttgart is one of the toughest qualifiers for the World Cup, so it feels like winning at Aachen or at a Championship! I couldn’t be happier; I knew this was possible but it’s still like a dream come true!” said von Bredow-Werndl.  She’s aiming for the series Final in Las Vegas, USA next April but not with Dalera. “I want to take Zaire to Las Vegas, and I’m trying to prepare Dalera for the Olympics next summer. Tokyo is already for sure somewhere in my head, and I would be delighted to be part of Team Germany there,” she said.

The top nine on the Western European League will qualify for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2020 Final, and after the first three qualifiers the leading four on the league table are all Germans, von Bredow-Werndl and Frederic Wandres sharing pole position followed by Langehanenberg in third and Benjamin Werndl in fourth place.

The next leg will take place in Madrid (ESP) in two weeks’ time.

Result here.

Watch highlights here.

By Louise Parkes

Media contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, FEI

Another Glorious Day in Gothenburg for Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl

Leave a comment

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Unee BB. (FEI/Roland Thunholm)

Gothenburg (SWE), 28 February 2015 – For the second year in a row, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Unee BB reigned supreme at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Western European League qualifier in Gothenburg, Sweden today. In 2014 the pair scored 81.350 to pin the host nation’s Patrik Kittel and Toy Story into runner-up spot. But in today’s second-last leg of the 2014/2015 series, Kittel had to settle for fourth behind The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Voice, while Germany ruled the roost with Isabell Werth filling second spot with El Santo behind her fellow-countrywoman in pole position.

Her score of 81.650 was not von Bredow-Werndl’s personal best this season, but she was more than happy with it. Gothenburg’s Scandinavium Arena has never been for the faint-hearted as it is a tight fit to get the Dressage arena inside it, and the acoustics create a wall of sound. Many of the riders were much happier with how their horses went today compared to yesterday’s Grand Prix in which von Bredow-Werndl also came out on top.

Halfway point

Following some late withdrawals, a total of 11 horse-and-rider combinations lined out at this Reem Acra qualifier and it was Jennie Larsson and the 11-year-old Zircoon Spring Flower who led the way at the halfway point with a mark of 72.600. Denmark’s Lone Bang Larsen was her nearest rival when posting 72.525 with the 16-year-old Fitou, whose ears were happily pricked throughout his test.

The final five really raised the game, however, led by Kittel and Toy Story who demonstrated clockwork piaffe and passage and a floating extended trot to earn 77.050 to take the lead. Isabell Werth and El Santo swept that aside, however, with a brilliant performance. The horse she calls “Ernie” was in flying form as he swung to his musical score, and few other riders could have contained the energy and enthusiasm this gelding showed today. Werth always throws her heart and soul into every test, and Ernie responded by giving her his all for a new leading mark of 79.900.

Gal’s Glock’s Voice showed some lovely work but found it hard to settle, and when this pair posted a mark of 78.100 it seemed very possible that Werth might come out on top. But, when Sweden’s Paulinda Friberg and di Lapponia T posted 76.925, von Bredow-Werndl sealed it when forging ahead with the biggest mark of the day.

Complete agreement

The judges were in complete agreement about the performance of the elegant 14-year-old son of Gribaldi who has enjoyed a superb run of form over the winter months. A win at Kaposvar in Hungary, where they scored a hat-trick in the Grand Prix, Special and Freestyle, kick-started their march, and that was followed by runner-up spot on home ground at Stuttgart and third-place finishes at both Olympia in London (GBR) and in Amsterdam (NED).

“It’s super; I’m so happy. It’s hard to find the words. I want to go out and do it again!” said 29-year-old von Bredow-Werndl afterwards. “There were many good competitors here, and in the Grand Prix and Freestyle a lot depends on your communication with your horse and your daily relationship. My horse was completely with me. This was my best ride, we were really consistent, and when your horse is like that you can ask for a little more. He always wants to do a good job, and I’m also excited because I feel we have some more potential to improve!” she added.

Werth was also more than pleased with her result. “My horse was full of power today but we also had good collection and no mistakes. It was much better than yesterday, and now I feel really ready for Las Vegas!”

It seems she is on the way to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final as she lies third on the Western European league leaderboard, and German strength is clearly evident as her colleague, Fabienne Lutkemeier, lies one place ahead of her while von Bredow-Werndl has a big lead with just one last leg left to run.

Reservations

When asked if she had any reservations about taking Unee BB to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final in Las Vegas in six weeks’ time, von Bredow-Werndl replied, “No, definitely not! I want to take him; he’s never flown before but he’s a very cool boy!” And as for her plans over the coming weeks, she explained, “He’s done enough for now; we will do a clinic for the national team; that will be a good warm-up for him because he likes to go somewhere once a month. He’s very eager to drive somewhere and he’s not happy when he’s left at home for long!” she explained.

Apparently Unee BB is an intrepid traveller. “He’s pretty unusual, I suppose,” she said with a laugh. “Travelling actually relaxes him! After Amsterdam (in January) he went in the lorry and didn’t get home until 2.30 in the morning, but he was so fresh when we arrived back that I could have ridden him all over again!” she said. “I’ve never been to Las Vegas, so I’m really excited and I know BB will like it because he’s a real showman!” she concluded.

For further information on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 qualifier at Gothenburg, Sweden, check out website www.gothenburghorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Mayvor Thorin, Email mayvor-thorin@gotevent.se, Tel +46705 828420.

The ninth and last qualifying leg of the Western European League will take place at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands on Saturday 14 March 2015. For details of the Dutch fixture, visit website www.indoorbrabant.com or contact Press Officer Denise van der Net, Email denisene@xs4all.net, Tel +31 627 031 674.

Detailed result here.

Facts and Figures:

The Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg, Sweden played host to the second-last leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League.

11 horse-and-rider combinations from four countries – Denmark, Germany, Sweden and The Netherlands – lined out.

The winner was Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with Unee BB, and it was a back-to-back double for the pair who also won the Reem Acra qualifier at this fixture 12 months ago.

The result has further boosted von Bredow-Werndl’s lead on the Western European League leaderboard. Following today’s competition, she has racked up a total of 74 points, leaving her a full 10 points clear of her nearest rival and fellow-countrywoman Fabienne Lutkemeier while Germany’s Isabell Werth, who was runner-up today with El Santo, lies third on the league table.

The Ground Jury for today’s competition consisted of: At E, Maria Schwennesen AUS; At H, Isobel Wessels GBR; At C, Annette Fransen Iacobaeus SWE; At M, Katrina Wuest GER; At B, Magnus Ringmark SWE.

The last qualifier of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League will take place in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands on Saturday 14 March.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final will be held in Las Vegas, USA from 15 to 19 April.

Quotes:

Edward Gal NED: “I was very happy with Voice; he was better than yesterday but next time I hope we get some 10s!”

Annette Fransen Iacobaeus, Ground Jury member: “We have seen some very good dressage today, especially in the second group; there was a big lift in the scores there. The horses were definitely more relaxed than they were yesterday.”

Full standings here.

FEI YouTube

Reem Acra FEI Hub http://fei.org/fei/sponsors/reem-acra-and-fei gives access to extensive information about the series.

FEI World Cup™ Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, is now in its 29th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup™ Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

The complete rules, calendar, updated ranking and results are available here.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Gothenburg:

Mayvor Thorin
Press Officer
+46705 828420

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

Dressage, FEI, FEI

Von Bredow-Werndl Wins Reem Acra Qualifier at Gothenburg

Leave a comment

Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Unee BB stormed to victory in style at the seventh leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League in Gothenburg. Photo: FEI/Roland Thunholm.

Gothenburg (SWE), 1 March 2014 – Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl stole the show at Gothenburg in Sweden today when producing a superb victory in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League 2013/2014 qualifier with Unee BB.

“I didn’t expect it!” said the 28-year-old whose winter season has been nothing short of spectacular.  “This is my very first World Cup season, I had never done a World Cup competition before, but we have been steadily improving and I am so proud of Unee!” she pointed out after pinning Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Toy Story into second and Denmark’s Nanna Skodberg Merrald and Millibar into third.

Penultimate qualifying leg

A total of 13 horse-and-rider combinations lined out at this penultimate qualifying round for competitors in the Western European League region, and for many it has come to “make or break” time.

In a line-out of riders from seven nations, the host country fielded six horse-and-rider combinations and it was Sweden’s Sofie Lexner and the veteran 18-year-old Charming Boy who set the early standard when posting a score of 74.500.  This left her out in front until The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud scored 77.400 with his relatively new ride, the 12-year-old bay stallion, Johnson, but that was immediately overtaken by Swedish star Patrik Kittel whose steady and precise performance with Toy Story featured fluid transitions, solid piaffe and rhythmic tempi changes for a mark of 79.025.

This was now the score to beat, and Skodberg Merrald came close when awarded 77.950 with Millibar who has emerged as a real contender this season.  But, last to go, it was von Bredow-Werndl who pinned Kittel into runner-up spot with a beautifully executed and demanding floor plan that demonstrated flair, control, athleticism and accuracy, and more than a little daring.  The German rider’s performance gave her a well-deserved mark of 81.350, with strong artistic marks awarded by the Ground Jury.

Swedish Ground Jury member Gustav Svalling commented afterwards, “Jessica’s horse is absolutely fantastic and is capable of doing so much, and it is such a good looking horse as well!”

Confident

Today’s winner also topped yesterday’s Grand Prix, and when asked how confident she was going into today’s Freestyle, she replied, “Yes of course I thought I might have a chance to win, but everybody wants to win and in the end it comes down to the battle on the day.  I just gave it my very best; Unee did great; he listened to me and wanted to do a good job,” she explained.

The atmosphere in Gothenburg’s Scandinavium Arena is always electric, and Kittel described it today as “amazing!” He continued, “I thought yesterday was good but today was even more special. That’s the Scandinavium for you – a full house and a full crowd. They are so positive towards the riders and that’s what is so unique about it.  Of course it is amazing when they all come in and they are clapping and cheering – what kind of rider doesn’t want that? If you have a sensitive horse it can get tricky, but I try to do my best every time regardless. The crowd is there to support, but they aren’t the ones driving me. I don’t think the crowd makes my performance better or worse but it definitely contributes to making me feel good,” he pointed out.

Skodborg Merrald felt she raised her game following yesterday’s class in which she also finished third.  “I think I had a much better test today. My first piaffe was a little behind me but the last three were much better – I am really satisfied,” she said, adding that will not compete at the next and final qualifying round in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) because she feels she has already done enough to qualify for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final at Lyon, France in April.

Holiday planned

Today’s winner won’t be going either, as she has a long holiday planned for her handsome 13-year-old stallion after a long and busy winter campaign. Reflecting on the last six months, she said, “This season just fell into place.  We started by finishing eighth in Odense (DEN), then we were seventh in Stuttgart (GER), sixth in Stockholm (SWE) and sixth in Amsterdam (NED) and at Neumunster (GER) we moved right up to third.  Now today we have our first win!” she explained.

Unee BB’s natural poise and elegance really shone through today.  Talking about her horse, von Bredow-Werndl said this evening, “I have been riding him for two years now and he only did his first Grand Prix after I got him.  Then he did more Grand Prix last year and we decided he was ready.  We are becoming more and more like real partners and that’s what makes it so good to ride him now.  He has more power so that’s make it easier for him to find his self-carriage.  We work together as a team.”

Coming from a family background steeped in the sporting tradition she clearly understands the benefit and necessity of training and dedication to make it to the top. “I train every day with my brother, Benjamin, and when I am at shows our coach, Jonny Hilberath, is with me.  He came here to Gothenburg – we have been working together for the last three years,” she explained.

Challenge

When asked if her rapid improvement might present a challenge to defending champion , and fellow German, Helen Langehanenberg, von Bredow-Werndl laughed and said, “No, there is not really much chance of that! But Helen is a great friend of mine and she has texted me already to congratulate me on my win!”

As the qualifying leagues draw to a close the pressure is reaching boiling point. The top end of Western European League leaderboard reads like a “who’s who” of the sport right now with von Bredow-Werndl moving into third place behind fellow-German Isabell Werth in second and Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven at the head of affairs.  Denmark’s Anna Kaskprzak lies fourth ahead of The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud in fifth and Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald in joint-fifth place.

It is down to the wire for those attempting to make the cut to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup 2014 Final, and they have one last chance at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in three weeks’ time.

For further information on the seventh leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013/2014 Western European League series at Gothenburg, Sweden, visit website www.gothenburghorseshow.com or contact Press Officers Matilda Hjertstrand: matilda.hjertstrand@ridsport.se Tel + 46 709 79 56 31 / Mayvor Thorin: mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se Tel +46 705 82 84 20.

Detailed result here.

Facts and Figures:

The Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg, Sweden was the venue for today’s seventh qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2013/2014 Western European League.

13 riders from 7 nations competed.

The host country of Sweden was represented by 6 horse-and-rider combinations.

The Ground Jury was: At H, A. Fransen Iacobeaus SWE; At E, Dr E Eisenhardt GER, At C – G Svalling SWE; at M, T Lang AUT; at B, S Baarup (DEN).

Winning rider, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, has now moved into third place on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League leader board which is headed by Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven followed by Germany’s Isabell Werth in second place.

Gothenburg presents one of the most popular fixture on the international calendar, dating back to its first horse show in 1977.

Since then 2.5m spectators have attended the event which has staged 13 FEI World Cup Jumping Finals and 7 FEI World Cup Dressage Finals.

One further qualifying opportunity remands for riders in the 2013/2014 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League – at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands on Saturday 22 March.

The Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2014 Final will take place in Lyon, France from 17-21 April.

Quotes:

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl GER, talking about what her winning ride, Unee BB, will do  before the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final in April: “We will just try to play a bit and have fun together before we start working again a few weeks before the Final.”

Patrik Kittel SWE: “On behalf of all the riders I want to thank Reem Acra for her support towards the FEI World Cup Dressage Series as without her, none of this would be possible. I also want to thank the Organisers for their tremendous organisation and for putting on such a great show.”

Tomas Torgersen, Event Director: “We have always felt that being part of a series is a very big advantage. You get a good starting field and good performances which is something really important, something that the crowd really loves. To be in a position to present top sport and being part of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Series is very important for the Gothenburg Horse Show.  I am very happy with the performances of the riders today; we had some very big performances. I think the judges did very well as well.”

FEI YouTube: http://youtu.be/fG5v2HOZ4AE

FEI World Cup Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, has entered its 28th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

The complete rules, calendar, updated ranking and results are available here.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Gothenburg:

Matilda Hjertstrand
matilda.hjertstrand@ridsport.se
Tel + 46 709 79 56 31

Mayvor Thorin
mayvor.thorin@gotevent.se
Tel +46 705 82 84 20

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133