On 19 April 2015, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro scored 94.196% to successfully defend their World Cup title in Las Vegas. Today (15 April), is the day that the dressage World Cup final should have been getting underway before the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic, so we’re taking a trip down memory lane instead...

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro performed a flawless grand prix freestyle this afternoon in Las Vegas to take the Reem Acra FEI World Cup dressage title for the second year in a row.

Carl Hester, Roly Luard and Ann Bar’s 13-year-old Valegro scored 94.196%, just short of their own world record of 94.3%. They finished nearly 10% ahead of the opposition.

“I’m living the dream,” said Charlotte. “Coming here and doing what I do in front of 12,000 people is an incredible feeling. I never knew how Valegro was going to cope with the clapping, but he loved the American crowd — every time they clapped, it was like he was saying ‘Woohoo, I did something good.’

“I don’t look at the expectations as pressure — if I did I’d get nervous and worry about things. I just go in to do my best and that’s all I can do.”

The Netherlands’ Edward Gal finished second with Glock’s Undercover NOP, as in Thursday’s grand prix. He finished on a mark of 84.696%.

Asked about being the senior rider on the podium, he joked: “I feel 25 and after a few operations I can look 25. It’s not nice she keeps in front of me — I’m older, she should treat me with more respect.”

On a serious note, he added: “Charlotte does an amazing job and when the best person wins it’s good for the sport — and when I’m second that’s also good. And I know how it feels, so that’s good too.”

Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl managed to upset the grand prix placings by pushing into third with 80.393% on Unee BB.

“For me today was a rollercoaster of emotions — I came in and he was a bit scared of the light on the trophy. We started with a mistake [in the two-time changes] so I thought, ‘Now I have to go for it.’”

Jessica slipped ahead of Steffen Peters (80.357%) — third in the grand prix — although this became irrelevant when the American rider was eliminated after blood was found from a spur on Legolas’ side.

This left up-and-coming rider Laura Graves on Verdades as the best of the home side in fourth with 79.125% on Verdades.

Results

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The greatest show on earth. If you’ve never been to Las Vegas I recommend it, but for a few days only.

The place lives up to its reputation as Sin City; gambling, drinking and smoking are not only not frowned upon but almost obligatory.

It was a week of drama. First, my flight made it into the Mirror online news. After nearly 11 hours we came in to land in Vegas as a sandstorm blew up. As the plane was buffeted sideways — not being the best of flyers anyway — my nails were buried deep in the headrest in front of me.

The pilot then aborted the attempt and flew on to Ontario (California, not Canada) where we waited to see if the storm had abated, before heading to LAX [Los Angeles], arriving at midnight.

Luckily, I met up at the luggage carousel with Nina Barbour, of Bolesworth fame, and her two intrepid friends Emma and Ellie. Thank God! The decision was made that the only option was to drive the five hours to Vegas armed with Red Bull and iced cappuccino.

So with Emma Blundell of Mount St John stud, Valegro’s co-owner Roly Luard and Spain’s Bobby Bobadilla, we loaded up a “Ute” and set off from LA at 2am, in what we hoped was the right direction.

Some of the horses were a little worse for wear after their journey from Schiphol [Amsterdam]. Valegro was quite off-colour with puffy legs from the heat and had hit that brick wall of jet lag.

But then he came out to score 85% in the grand prix — he makes me wonder if he were made on earth or another planet?

The crowd in Vegas is like no other: they whoop when you piaffe and there’s no putting a hand up for “quiet please”. This is show time.

Saturday’s final was brilliantly atmospheric. Although Valegro seems to have it in the bag, we never think like that. My admiration for the way Charlotte rides under such intense pressure cannot be underestimated. For me, it has become easier to watch her performances; I think back to Rotterdam in 2011 when I hid behind a pillar, in tears. Now, it is just a question of being able to relax and watch as Valegro creates history.

To win a World Cup final by 10% seems remarkable in these days of excellent dressage. The only downside of the competition was the elimination of Steffen Peters under the blood rule. He was extremely gracious and took full responsibility, even though it seems the spur mark happened when Legolas was spooked by the crowd’s reaction.

Rise of British Dressage

With the Rio Olympics looming, it’s exciting, refreshing and almost unbelievable that we have so many combinations breaking the 70% barrier needed to join the World Class Performance programme. Alice Oppenheimer in Vidauban, Hayley Watson-Greaves at her first international grand prix, Nikki Crisp at Addington, Lara Griffith and Fiona Bigwood with the talented and exciting Atterupgaards Orthilia. And that’s without the current team members’ horses!

Kim Moloney, British Dressage’s (BD) central region development officer, is leaving to run Chiltern Equine Clinic. Under her guidance, central has become BD’s largest region. Four hundred riders attended Kim’s camp, and last year her British Young Rider Dressage Scheme and seniors won their inter-regional titles at the home international.

Kim has been passionate about development and can be pretty persuasive. Whoever takes over her role will have big shoes to fill.

Ref: H&H 28 April, 2015

The FEI World Cup final never disappoints. In Las Vegas it was won on jumping ability, consistency over the three legs and who could hold their nerve.

For a competition packed with world-class combinations, an awful lot of fences came down, proving what a tight and difficult arena it was to ride in. Some horses — especially those more used to a staid atmosphere — were affected by the noisy stands so close to the ring.

In Europe, when it looks as if someone will go clear, commentators may ask the audience to “shh”. But not in America; the higher they jump and faster they gallop, the more they whoop and holloa.

I used to love riding in the States for this very reason. It’s totally over the top, and purists might say it’s inappropriate, but it turns our sport into a brilliant piece of theatre.

It was great to see three outstanding younger riders — Ireland’s Bertram Allen, Jos Verlooy from Belgium and Martin Fuchs — putting in great performances.

It could be said that the Fuchs family is Switzerland’s answer to the Whitakers, with Martin’s father Thomas and uncle Markus both being former top international riders. However, FEI TV commentator Steve Hadley made a very good point about Martin.

“It doesn’t matter how much training and support you have, you don’t ride like that without an awful lot of talent,” he said.

This World Cup final was the first I can remember without one British rider.

Not that long ago, there were so many riders clamouring to earn World Cup points that our team manager had to decide who could go to which shows with qualifiers. There was no such dilemma this year.

Scott Brash has opted to use his best horse Hello Sanctos on the Global Champions Tour; while Ben Maher has spent most of his winter in the States.

So not only is the queue of riders missing, but the fact of life is that we barely have a handful of horses in this country capable of jumping courses like those we saw in Las Vegas.

World Cup runner-up Penelope Leprevost was unlucky not to win. She and Beezie Madden rode so unbelievably well that to call them “two top lady riders” is nearly derogatory. They are world-class riders, full stop, end of… They’re as good as they come.

Full marks to Steve Guerdat; to become Olympic and World Cup champion on two different horses is masterful. He also gave hope to any aspiring young riders because the terrible stride he had to the last fence proved that even the best can occasionally make a total Horlicks of it!

Swallows get my vote

It’s a lovely spring day as I write. In the background, the TV is on and I can hear the babble of politicians.

Looking outside, I spot the first swallows looping low past my window. Back from their journey from the tip of South Africa, the survivors have returned to their home here at Foxglade Farm to nest and breed. But their beautiful motion of flight is interrupted as yet another politician makes another vacuous promise they won’t keep.

For a fleeting second it occurred to me that if just one politician had the intelligence and tenacity of those swallows, they could even turn Greece into a prosperous country.

Ref: H&H 30 April, 2015

Designer Anthony d’Ambrosio has told H&H he feels his courses were “appropriate” after criticism from top riders of the tracks at last week’s (19 April) Longines FEI World Cup final in Las Vegas.

US rider McLain Ward, who took 20th place after retiring in the first leg of the third round after a refusal, said on Facebook: “For me it was the worst sport I have seen in any championships in my career.”

He went on: “I am always to [the] first to look to myself for reasons why I did not succeed but I have to say this is the most beaten I have felt in any recent memory. I honestly felt I could not find a way to answer the test presented by riding well, forward and smooth. It seems that the majority of the other riders faced the same challenge as I did…

“I have never seen so many top horses stop, crash and seem totally lost or so many top riders having to pull and kick there [their] way to simply get in range of a good distance. The problem was not the height or width but was the approach to many of the fences.

“This week’s designer was a great rider and has been a top designer but just as we as riders and trainers must reflect on the job we do and our own performance so must course-desigers to create a test that not only challenges the best but also produced great and fair sport.”

McLain’s comments have had over 2,500 likes. Australian competitor Edwina Tops-Alexander — who retired after a refusal at fence three in the opening speed leg — commented: “Well your words definitely sums it all up. Thanks for the honesty and the professionalism.”

In an interview on showjumping website www.noellefloyd.com, conducted before the final leg of the competition, German triple World Cup champion Marcus Ehning — another who retired in the opening leg — said he was “not really happy” with the first two rounds.

He said the last line for the second leg of the competition (described as Thursday in the interview, but actually taking place on Friday) “was totally unnecessary for me”, “a bit more like a joke” and “a bit unfair”. This line consisted of a verticle (fence 11), five or six strides on a left-hand turn to the treble (fence 12abc) and on to the left to the final upright (fence 13). Twenty-three riders of the 35 who started in this leg had faults at the treble.

Some criticisms of the track, including on Horse Collaborative, have focused on the fact champion Steve Guerdat crashed through the final fence on the way to victory. The winner said afterwards he didn’t care if he had this oxer down because he knew he could afford to do so provided he didn’t have a time-fault, so he focused on reaching the finish line within the time, regardless of whether the fence fell.

American course-designer Anthony d’Ambrosio has defended the courses, telling H&H: “I have read the comments made by McLain Ward and Marcus Ehning, two individuals for which I have great respect. I truly wish it had gone better for both of them at the final.

“As to the courses, I stand behind them, and feel that although there were some tough questions asked, such as the triple in friday’s final II [second leg], they were appropriate for a World Cup final, and made the best of the confines of the arena.

“In the end, I believe we had a good result each day, and I am impressed with how many young riders finished in the top 12. The future of the sport looks very strong. I congratulate all of the riders who took part, and admire them for their efforts during the week. I am happy to have been designing when Steve Guerdat won the title that had eluded him so many times. He is a fantastic rider and horseman.”

Full report of the World Cup finals in H&H this week, out Thursday 23 April.

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Swiss Olympic champion Steve Guerdat held onto his lead to win the Longines FEI World Cup jumping final this afternoon in Las Vegas.

After his clear in round one on the chestnut mare Albfuehren’s Paille, Steve had the crowd on the edge of their seats in round two when he had two fences (5a and 12) down and finished within 1sec of the tight time allowed.

“It was an awful feeling coming to the last [12],” he said. “I wasn’t expecting to have the first mistake as I thought the four-stride distance [to the double at 5ab] was good for me, but it rode long. Then I was a bit worried because the triple [9abc] was not a good triple for my horse, so after that I thought I could not relax, but just not get any time-faults.

“I knew I could have the last fence down as long as I didn’t get any time-faults, so I just wanted to get to the finish line as fast as possible, regardless of the big fence in the way.”

Steve finished one penalty ahead of France’s Penelope Leprovost, who started the day in fourth but moved up with a first round clear and just the upright at fence 10 down in round two. Her ride was Vagabond De La Pomme, a 10-year-old stallion

Ireland’s Bertram Allen took third. After four faults in the first round, he hit fence two in round two. He then managed to leave all the other fences intact with the grey mare Molly Malone V, although he had fences six, eight and 10 bouncing in their cups, leaving supporters’ nerves in tatters.

Beezie Madden of the USA took fourth with Simon, another to match a first round clear with fence 10 down in the second round today.

“I’m so happy with the way my horse went,” said Beezie. “One rub today cost me quite a bit, but overall I’m pleased with the result.”

Jos Verlooy — who like Bertram is 19 years old — landed fifth place for Belgium. He too went clear in the first round today, then had fence 12b down in the second barrage.

Rich Fellers’ great veteran Flexible had two down in each round today and finished seventh, behind the Netherlands’ Maikel van der Vleuten.

There were no penalty-free performances in the second round today, although Gerco Schroder had a jumping clear with one time-fault on Glock’s Cognac Champblanc.

All H&H’s online World Cup finals coverage

Final results

Full reports from the dressage and jumping World Cup finals in Las Vegas in H&H this Thursday (23 April).

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Ireland’s Bertram Allen is tied for second place after the first round of the third leg of the Longines FEI World Cup jumping final in Las Vegas.

The 19-year-old and his grey mare Molly Malone V had just fence five – a 1.75m wide oxer – down.

Bertram now has five faults, as does France’s Penelope Leprovost on Vagabond De La Pomme. She jumped clear this afternoon, but carried five penalties from the previous two days of competition.

Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, the joint leader, is out in front on zero penalties after a clear with the chestnut mare Albfuehren’s Paille. He has twice finished second in the World Cup final but never won this prestigious competition.

The other joint leader, the USA’s Rich Fellers on the 19-year-old Flexible, had fences 11 and 13 down so he is now on eight faults. He is now in equal sixth with Maikel van der Vleuten of the Netherlands on VDL Groep Verdi Tn NOP, who went clear this afternoon.

Two riders on six faults are tied for fourth: the USA’s Beezie Madden (Simon) and Belgium’s 19-year-old Jos Verlooy (Domino). Both jumped clear today.

Sweden’s Douglas Lindelöw and Casello recorded the first clear today. They now share eighth with Martin Fuchs and PSG Future on 10 faults.

Six riders recorded a clear over Anthony d’Ambrosio’s course this afternoon.

The top 20 riders now return to jump again and Anthony said earlier that the second course would be a similar level of difficulty to the first one. If riders are tied for first place after this, there will be a jump-off for the title.

Check back later for a last update from the World Cup final, full report in H&H next Thursday (23 April).

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“I think a lot of European shows should learn from this — people are dancing and laughing. It shouldn’t just be about sport, but entertaining people.”

So said Steve Guerdat at last night’s World Cup press conference in Las Vegas and in doing so he summed up the “let’s put on a show” atmosphere here.

I didn’t really know what to expect on the way out, but I suppose it shouldn’t be any surprise that everything is done on a large scale.

“Don’t try to walk anywhere — the next hotel looks near, but everything is so big it’s actually half an hour away,” advised our driver on the way to the hotel, the MGM Grand, also the official riders’ residence.

And yes, he was right. I’ve never been in such a huge hotel. It’s more akin to a small town, with the ground floor a maze of casinos, restaurants, bars and theatres. The swimming pool complex is about 10 minutes walk from our room.

You know how usually when you go to a show, it sort of takes over the local area? Even in the fair-sized French city of Caen at last year’s World Equestrian Games, you couldn’t move in the main restaurant street without bumping into a rider, a chef d’equipe, a party of owners, some other journalists.

Not so in Vegas. This place could swallow 15 World Cup finals whole and not even notice. Yes, we’ve come across the odd equestrian strolling through the confusing neon-lit carpet corridors of the MGM, but most people — and every strata of society can see and be seen here — wouldn’t even be aware there’s a major horse show on just down the road.

But that’s not to say the show isn’t amazing. It is. And there are lots of people here. The arena has a capacity of 12,000 people and there have been over 7,000 at every session so far. People queued from 8am this morning for Charlotte Dujardin’s autograph and the first lady in the queue burst into tears when she met her (thanks to radio journo Rupert Bell for the photo below).

And, as I say, they put on a show. Each session starts with an opening ceremony, which begins with a celebrity singing the national anthem while an increasingly excited Western horse carries the star-spangled banner. Then there’s another act — an Elvis impersonator, a Lady Gaga lookalike, a man who performs terrifying airs above the ground in a spinning gyroscope, accompanied by lighting effects and fireworks — before the sport beings.

The halfway point of the showjumping classes, while the arena is being rolled, is a whole event in itself, too. There’s a man who can throw signed T-shirts fantastic distances into the crowd and who encourages people to “dance like me” to win one. And then there’s kiss cam, when couples (or perhaps they are father and daughter — cringe) are picked out on the big screen and encouraged to engage in a passionate smooch.

It’s different, it’s crazy, but what’s not to like? The more traditional elements of equestrianism might not like it, but it’s harmless. I’m inclined to agree with Steve that in this case, what happens in Vegas shouldn’t stay in Vegas. Kiss cam on the big screen at Badminton, anyone?

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Steve Guerdat won tonight’s second leg of the Longines FEI World Cup jumping final in Las Vegas. He sits joint first in the overall classification ahead of Sunday’s closing round.

Six riders reached the jump-off, as predicted by course-designer Anthony d’Ambrosio, and the USA’s Beezie Madden jumped the first clear on Simon, recording a time of 33.31sec. Dutch rider Steve managed to shave fractions off her target, finishing in 32.87sec on Albfuehren’s Paille.

Only the USA’s Rich Fellers could go ahead of Steve on the 19-year-old Flexible, but he had the first fence down, to gasps from the crowd. He finished fourth tonight, but sits equal first in the overall classification with Steve.

“My plan was to make up as many points as possible tonight — I wasn’t really focused on winning today but on the overall picture,” said Steve. “I knew Rich would be faster than me so my plan was just to catch Beezie. If I go a bit faster my mare doesn’t get hot for the next day and she responded very well, so I’m pleased.”

The Americans fielded four of the top six riders tonight and Lucy Davis took third. As the second rider to start the jump-off she made a bold bid for glory, including taking the inside turn to the final fence, but it didn’t quite come off and the fence fell.

“I planned to go for it a bit,” she said. “I was in 16th place going into today, so there was no room to be conservative. I tried to go as fast as I could without totally unravelling my horse for Sunday and I’m pleased as I think I’m now in a good place for Sunday [equal eighth].”

Bertram Allen still in the hunt

Young Irishman Bertram Allen, who won yesterday’s speed class, remains very much in the hunt, sitting third overall. He had the final element of the troublesome treble down in the first round today with Molly Malone V, so missed out on the jump-off, but as the fastest four-faulter he took seventh place.

The legendarily complicated World Cup final scoring system converts the riders’ points from yesterday’s speed leg and today’s jump-off class into faults, which are carried forward into Sunday. Steve and Rich start on zero faults, with Bertram on one.

French rider Penelope Leprovost is fourth on five faults, with the USA’s Beezie Madden, Belgium’s Jos Verlooy and Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs tied for fifth on six.

On Sunday, the top 30 riders jump in the first round, then the top 20 after that take on the second course. A jump-off can follow if there is equality after these two performances.

“It comes down to clear round jumping now, unless there is a jump-off,” said Beezie. “A lot can happen on Sunday and there is usually a lot of movement. I’ll try to think of it as a seperate class and jump a couple of clear rounds.”

Results of second leg

Overall standings

Check back on www.horseandhound.co.uk for more updates from the World Cup final. Full reports in H&H out next Thursday (23 April).

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Irish teenager Bertram Allen made an amazing start to his first Longines FEI World Cup jumping final when he won the opening speed leg in Las Vegas this evening.

The 19-year-old’s mount, Ballywalter Farms’ grey mare Molly Malone, seemed to float round the course, just touching the second element of the troublesome double at fence five. Nothing fell, though, and the pair recorded a time of 65.45sec.

“I knew I was going to try and win the class, but for it to come off doesn’t happen every time,” said Bertram. “She jumped super and the atmosphere in the arena is something different so I’m very pleased with her.

“She’s quite a strong character and I’ve had her a long time. She has her own special ways, this morning she was running away with me and I wondered what I was going to do, but this evening she was perfect.”

Designer Anthony D’Ambrosio’s course caused plenty of problems as horses struggled to get to grips with the combination of challenging distances, tight turns and big fences. In the end though there were 11 clear rounds from the 40 starters, with each fence down adding 4sec to a rider’s time.

“The course worked out as I thought and I think it was a good competition for the crowd so I’m pleased with how it went,” said Anthony.

Among the high profile victims were Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, who retired Fair Light Van T Heike after a refusal at fence three, and Germany’s Marcus Ehning, who had problems in the treble at fence eight with Singular LS La Silla before retiring.

Delaveau sets early target

France’s Patrice Delaveau, who had to withdraw from last year’s final mid-competition when he was sharing top spot, set the early target with Orient Express HDC on 66.44sec. He finished equal third with the Netherlands’ Jur Vrieling.

“The aim is to be within the first seven or eight riders to be well placed for the rest of the competition,” said Patrice.

The home side’s Rich Fellers sits second after recording a time of 66.11sec on Flexible – who, like Bertram, is 19. The horse suffered a bout of colic earlier in the week when his intestine got between his spleen and his kidney, but was back on top form tonight.

“He feels as good as he’s ever felt,” said Rich. “I think the crowd took four or five years off his age — as I came in they cheered and I felt his back, which has been dropping, rise up and off he went.”

Bertram now receives 41 points for his win, with runner-up Rich having 39, third-placed Patrice and Jur 38 and so on in increments of one. Riders will also receive points for their placings in tomorrow’s class, which are then converted into faults for the last leg on Sunday.

Results

Check back on www.horseandhound.co.uk for more updates from the World Cup final. Full reports in H&H out next Thursday (23 April).

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Charlotte Dujardin finished more than 5% ahead of her nearest rivals in the grand prix at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup dressage final this afternoon in Las Vegas.

Charlotte and Valegro scored 85.414%, a little short of their grand prix best of 87.46%. But the British pair were still head and shoulders above the competition, with second-placed Edward Gal achieving a mark of 79.057% on Glock’s Undercover NOP.

“Yesterday I was worried — he was quite flat and not himself,” said Charlotte. “He’d had a 24-hour journey, jetlag has hit him as well as the temperature change, and it’s all stuff he’s got to acclimatise to and myself as well. But I got on him today and he felt ready to go, I think he just knew what he had to do and he never lets me down.

“I think it took me a little while to get into the test, but the canterwork felt great and I really enjoyed it.”

Charlotte rode a little more conservatively than sometimes on Carl Hester, Roly Luard and Ann Bar’s Negro son, building up to the extensions rather than firing from marker to marker, but the only tiny blip was a loss of rhythm in the second piaffe.

“He was still a bit hot so I couldn’t get my leg on, then I touched him in the second piaffe and I think I got a few double beats, but otherwise I was really happy,” she said.

The atmosphere was testing for the horses today, with the crowd and judges very close — riders have to start their test from within the arena as there isn’t enough space to go round the edge of the boards. Glock’s Undercover NOP showed some tension, particularly with a mistake in the walk to passage transition, but overall Dutch rider Edward was pleased.

“I didn’t know what to expect after not riding him for three days while he went through quarantine,” he said. “Yesterday he was tense and the tension was up and down through the test, but if he was like this a year ago I wouldn’t have been able to ride him at all, so I was pleased.”

Two Americans in top five

The home side crowd were delighted to see the USA’s Steffen Peters finish third with 76.843% on Legolas, who he has been preparing especially for this atmosphere after he was “very nervous in an electric environment” at a show in Florida in January.

Steffen took 10sec of cheering from the end of a test and turned it into a 10min sound clip, playing it to Legolas over and over in his indoor arena.

“I’m so happy those long hours of relaxation and mentally preparing paid off,” he said, adding that the management of the show had been very fair to the horses in allowing the riders to do the sound check for the freestyle mounted so the horses can “get used to the correct decibels”.

Young American Laura Graves set the standard in the first half of the draw, scoring 74.286 on Verdades, whose only error was spooking at the trophy in one corner of the arena during the half-pass left. She finished fifth, just behind Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who had a mistake in the two-time changes with her smart Gribaldi stallion Unee BB.

Spain’s Morgan Barbancon-Mestre took sixth with the stallion Painted Black, who caused some excitement when he got loose at the trot-up earlier in the week.

The scores from this test do not actually count towards the final placings in this World Cup final, although they determine the starting order for the freestyle on Saturday.

Results

Check back on www.horseandhound.co.uk for more updates from the World Cup final. Full reports in H&H out next Thursday (23 April).

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Former World Cup winner Flexible has suffered a bout of colic in the build-up to this year’s Longines FEI World Cup jumping final in Las Vegas.

“For the first time in his life he colicked yesterday [Tuesday, 14 April] and was very sick,” said US rider Rich Fellers, who took the final in 2012 on the chestnut, who is now 19 years old.

“We could hardly get him to walk, he was just crumpling and trying to lie down. He had his first rectal examination — Dr Tim Ober, our team vet, did some magic there with his arm and moved things around, then we put him on a lunge line and got him jogging around. Little by little he got better and he was great this morning, he feels perfect.

“Because I know him so well, every time he has a problem I just think he’s going to overcome it because he always does. I was bit panicked when I saw him so sick. I know him well, obviously, and I could see he was in a lot of pain and was really uncomfortable.”

Rich explained that Flexible hasn’t been jumping clear rounds in his last few competitions before the final.

“You wouldn’t say he’s on his best form, but I just know that horse and I really believe he’s going to make adjustments as he doesn’t like having rails.”

Flexible starts as number 34 in the opening speed leg, which starts at 7pm tonight Las Vegas time (3am British time).

The draws for the jumping final and the Reem Acra dressage final took place yesterday at the Hakkasan nightclub in the MGM Grand Hotel. The nightclub usually has a lower age limit of 21, but an exception was made for the two 19-year-old showjumpers, Jos Verlooy and Bertram Allen.

Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro are the 12th pair to go in the grand prix, which starts at noon today (8pm British time).

Jumping draw

Dressage draw

More updates from Las Vegas on www.horseandhound.co.uk all week — full reports in magazine out next Thursday (23 April).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Getting one horse to an event at your local competition venue requires a fair amount of kit and logistical planning. So how about loading 40 of the world’s top sport horses onto a plane for the FEI World Cup finals for dressage and jumping in Las Vegas (15-19 April 2015)?

On Saturday (11 April) a hugely valuable cargo was loaded onto the Qatar Airways B777 aircraft at Schiphol Airport in The Netherlands — including dressage royalty Valegro (pictured below with his groom Alan Davies).

“We estimate there’s about €150 million worth of horses on the flight,” said Tim Dutta, the man in charge of transporting these elite equine athletes from Europe to America.

“Horses are just like you and me,” he said. “Some fall asleep before departure and snooze most of the way, and others start praying from the minute they take off and don’t stop until they’ve landed! But the majority of them are like seasoned CEOs, they’ve flown so many times that they just take it all in their stride.”

Flying horses to Las Vegas: facts and figures

• The horses were looked after by a team of 10 grooms, under the supervision of the Dutch vet Jan-Hein Swagemakers who works with the German showjumping team.
• Each horse is allocated “a stall and a half” in the cargo hold. “We like to keep them together by country,” says Tim. “There are two horses per box and it’s a business-class service. We pay attention to each horse’s little idiosyncrasies and requirements — do they like wet hay, or not? Do we use sea salt to encourage them to drink?”
• In all the horses spent 11 hours and 20 minutes in the air.
• The temperature on the flight was 17 degrees.
• There were 24 geldings, nine stallions and seven mares on board. 26 of these were showjumpers and 14 were dressage horses.
• 11 pallets of equipment were checked in — including tack, blankets and boots — weighing almost 12,000kg.
• On board dining included 120 pre-packed haynets, ad lib water (with optional sea salt), oat bran for mash, mixed feed, carrots and apples.

Stay up to date with the action from Las Vegas World Cup Finals on HorseandHound.co.uk and don’t miss our full report in Horse & Hound magazine, 23 April issue

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Ireland’s leading showjumper — 19-year-old Bertram Allen (pictured) — lines up as one of 41 riders heading to Las Vegas for the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final later this month(15-19 April).

Sadly no British riders have qualified for this winter finale, which returns to the USA city for the sixth time. But the teenager is one of the favourites to claim the title as he makes his debut in this prestigious competition.

The youngest rider ever to win the World Cup final was Mario Deslauriers, then competing for Canada, who was 19 when taking the title in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1984.

Riders from 19 countries have confirmed their attendance for this year’s competition, including reigning champion Daniel Deusser of Germany and current Olympic champion Steve Guerdat of Switzerland. The qualifiers are:

Western European league:

– Steve Guerdat (SUI)

– Bertram Allen (IRL)

– Kevin Staut (FRA)

– Marco Kutscher (GER)

– Marcus Ehning (GER)

– Maikel van der Vleuten (NED)

– Douglas Lindelöw (SWE)

– Jur Vrieling (NED)

– Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER)

– Martin Fuchs (SUI)

– Geir Gulliksen (NOR)

– Pénélope Leprevost (FRA)

– Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP)

– Luca Maria Moneta (ITA)

– Pius Schwizer (SUI)

– Gerco Schröder (NED)

– Jos Verlooy (BEL)

– Patrice Delaveau (FRA)

Both Lucy Davis (USA) and Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) also qualify as “extra athletes” from this league a they are both based in Europe for more than six months of the year and have picked up enough points to qualify along with the top 18 in the Western European league.

Arab league:

– Bassem Hassan Mohammed (QAT)

– Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT)

New Zealand league:

– Katie Laurie (NZL)

South America South league:

– Joao Eduardo Ferreira de Carvalho (BRA)

Central European league:

– Kristaps Neretnieks (LAT)

– Vladimir Beletskiy (RUS)

– Andis Varna (LAT)

North America East Coast league:

– Todd Minikus (USA)

– Laura Kraut (USA)

– Elizabeth Madden (USA)

– Jack Towell (USA)

– Kirsten Coe (USA)

– McLain Ward (USA)

– Katherina A. Dinan (USA)

North America West Coast league:

– Richard Fellers (USA)

– Karl Cook (USA)

– Vinton Karrasch (USA)

North America East and West Coast leagues: Canada

– Chris Sorensen (CAN)

North America East and West Coast leagues: Mexico

– Manuel Alvarez Ruigalindo (MEX)

– Everardo Hegewisch Diaz Infante (MEX)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro will defend their Reem Acra FEI World Cup title in Las Vegas next month (15-19 April).

The current World, Olympic and European champions were comfortable winners of the World Cup Final in Lyon in 2014, beating Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill by nearly 5% in both the grand prix and the kür.

Helen no longer has the ride on Damon Hill so will not contest this year’s final, but Charlotte and Valegro will face competition from the likes of Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover, who won the World Cup qualifier in ‘s-Hertogenbosch recently and who finished third at the final last year.

Edward, who took the title in 2010 on Totilas, is one of four former winners – including Charlotte – in the field. The others are Germany’s Isabell Werth, who has yet to choose between her two rides, Santos and Don Johnson, and the US’s Steffen Peters. Steffen won the World Cup final on Ravel when it was last held in Las Vegas in 2009, and this year has qualified Legolas by winning the recent CDI in San Juan Capistrano, Caifornia.

Laura Graves (Verdades) is the other US competitor, while German rider Fabienne Lutkemeier (D’Agostino), Spain’s Morgan Barbançon (Painted Black) and The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud (Glock’s Flirt) are among the other European entries.

The FEI has awarded four extra starting places – formerly wildcards – to Danish riders Lars Petersen (Mariett) and Mikala Gundersen (My Lady), to Finland’s Terhi Stegars (Axis TSF) and to Russia’s Inesa Merkulova (Mister X). Two other Russian riders had already qualified – Elena Sidneva (Romeo Star) and Tatiana Dorofeeva (Kartsevo Upperville).

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Las Vegas is to be the host city for the 2015 FEI World Cup jumping and dressage finals.

The city, in Nevada, USA, has already hosted the FEI World Cup finals five times — in 2000 and 2003 when it staged the jumping and in 2005, 2007 and 2009, when the jumping and dressage finals were combined.

FEI secretary general Ingmar De Vos said: “It will be good to be back in Las Vegas after a six-year gap and we are looking forward to really top class sport in this fabulous venue.”

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Rolex FEI World Cup Final I.— 1, Shutterfly (M Michaels-Beerbaum) GER; 2, LB No Mercy (C Liebherr) SUI; 3, Sapphire (M Ward) USA; 8, Robin Hood (B Maher) GBR; 18, Insul Tech Portofino (M Whitaker) GBR. Final II.— 1, Shutterfly; 2, Sapphire; 3, Oki Doki (A Zoer) NED; eq14, Insul Tech Portofino & Robin Hood W. Las Vegas GP.— 1, Kilkenny Rindo (R Fellers) USA; 2, Mobily Ashkur Allah Obelix (HRH Prince Al-Saud) KSA; 3, Eurocommerce Seattle (G Schroder) NED; Final III.— 1, Shutterfly; 2, Oki Doki; 3, LB No Mercy.

Steffen Peters and Ravel made history when winning the first ever World Cup final for the US on home soil — but only just. They had a 0.45 margin over Isabell Werth and Satchmo, with Anky van Grunsven third on the horse she did not really want to bring, Painted Black.

Watch Steffen Peter’s test

Ravel had won the grand prix deservedly, but even as Peters was soaking up the significance of his kur win, the mutterings had begun that maybe the judging had been a tad partisan.

Listen to Steffen Peters’ interview

Satchmo had been below par in Thursday’s grand prix, but he was exceptional in the kur, despite a mistake in the two-time changes. The technical wizardry just kept coming, with Isabell signing off with an exquisite one-handed passage sequence down the centre line.

Watch Isabell Werth’s test

They went into the freestyle lead but Ravel came next and the crowd were not going to have it any other way. Ravel’s test was a finessed version of his Hong Kong routine and there was much to like, though two judges including the American ground jury president gave him 87%.

Magnanimous in defeat, Anky said: “It is not good for the sport for everyone to say Anky’s going to win or Isabell; we need new winners. But this does mean we practice harder and beat Steffen next time.”

More direct, Isabell said. “Three of the judges placed me first. Maybe next time I just have to hope I get one more.”

Listen to Isabell Werth’s interview

View Dressage World Cup final pictures

Results

1. Ravel – Steffen Peters (USA) 84.950%

2. Satchmo – Isabell Werth (GER) 84.500%

3. IPS Painted Black – Anky van Grunsven (NED) 82.150%

4. Exquis Nadine – Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED) 81.050%

5. Pop Art – Ashley Holzer (CAN) 79.200%

6. Whisper – Monica Theodorescu (GER) 76.850%

7. Nartan – Jeannette Haazen (NED) 75.600%

8. Randon – Michal Rapcewicz (POL) 72.750%

9. Bjorsells Briar – Jan Brink (SWE) 71.650%

10. Regardez Moi – Heath Ryan (AUS) 70.300%

11. Diamore – Marco Bernal (COL) 66.750%

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DUTCH dressage sensation Adelinde Cornelissen had to withdraw her superstar Parzival from the World Cup final in Las Vegas (17-19 April) due to tendon injury.

The pair were joint favourites for the title, having won three qualifiers in the build-up to the event — including London Olympia (watch their winning dressage test) — beating world number one Anky Van Grunsven.

Adelinde and Pazival made it out to Las Vegas from home in Beilen, The Netherlands, only for the 12-year-old gelding to go lame during a warm-up. The show’s attending vet, Sjef Desmedt, diagnosed a tendon injury in the horse’s near foreleg.

The story echoes what happened to Denmark’s Andreas Helgstrand’s ride, Blue Hors Matine, two years ago. The mare, who won silver at the World Equestrian Games the previous summer, fell from the lorry ramp on arrival in Las Vegas, damaging a leg and putting herself out of the competition.

The grand prix, from which riders qualify for Saturday’s kür, takes place tomorrow afternoon in the following running order:

• Jan Ebeling (USA)
• Leslie Morse (USA)
• Marco Bernal (COL)
• Heath Ryan Regardez Moi (AUS)
• Minna Telde (SWE)
• Jan Brink (SWE)
• Ashley Holzer (CAN)
• Jeannette Haazen (NED)
• Michael Rapcewicz (POL)
• Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED)
• Isabell Werth (GER)
• Steffen Peters (USA)
• Anky van Grunsven (NED)
• Monica Theodorescu (GER)

Stay in touch with all the news from Las Vegas on Horseandhound.co.uk

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British hopes at the Rolex FEI World Cup show jumping finals in Las Vegas are being carried by Ben Maher and Michael Whitaker.

Listen to the interviews below to hear each riders share their thoughts on the challenge ahead. It sounds like they have got their hands full with Robin Hood (pictured) and Portofino, who are both feeling slightly full of themselves following their 10hr flight.

Michael Whitaker interview

Ben Maher interview

Stay in touch with all the news from Las Vegas as it happens on Horseandhound.co.uk

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The 2009 FEI World Cup Finals for dressage and show jumping get underway tomorrow (Thursday 16 April) in Las Vegas, and you can stay in touch with all the action on Horseandhound.co.uk through the show.

Dressage

Following the news that Anky van Grusven was not allocated a wild card entry with her top horse Salinero, Isabel Werth is favourite to lift her third world cup final trophy with Satchmo, ahead of Anky with Painted Black.

Listen to Isabel talking about the challenge ahead

Other competitors of note include Anky’s compatriote Adelinde Cornelissen, who has been in outstanding form with Parzival this season including winning the World Cup qualifier at Olympia in December.

America’s Steffen Peters will be sure of local support from his fellow Califorians and looks set to be in with a good chance of a medal after finishing fourth in last year’s Olympic Games. There are no British riders attending the dressage finals.

Show jumping

Some 45 riders will be doing battle for the prestigious Rolex World Cup show jumping title, which is currently held by Meredith Michaels Beerbaum. She will be competing against the best show jumpers in the world including Britain’s Michael Whitaker and Ben Maher.

Meredith reflects on her chances of retaining her title

Stay up to date with all the latest news from Las Vegas on Horseandhound.co.uk

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Latest dressage news

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has denied Dutch World Cup dressage titleholder Anky van Grunsven a wild card with last year’s winner Salinero for the final in Las Vegas (16-19 April).

Anky has qualified on her second horse, Painted Black, but would sooner take Olympic gold medallist Salinero.

As reigning champions, they would have been granted a wild card had they contested two qualifiers — they completed one, at ’s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands (19-21 March), finishing third to Isabell Werth of Germany.

Anky’s husband and trainer, Sjef Janssen, is likely to appeal the decision.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (26 March, ’09)

Read the latest dressage news

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Andreas Helgstrand’s (DEN) World silver medalist Blue Hors Matine has failed the initial vet check at the dressage World Cup final in Las Vegas.

The nine-year-old mare was unlevel in trot. Helgstrand can re-present her at 9am today — around 6pm GMT — but may choose not to.

All the other horses passed their inspection, including the only British representative, Wayne Channon’s Lorenzo CH.

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Malin Baryard-Johnsson has received a last-minute call up to compete at the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Las Vegas next week (19 – 22 April) aboard her top horse Butterfly Flip.

The Swedish rider, who was second on the reserve list after the final qualifying leg in s’Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands, received a call from the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) on Tuesday offering her a place.

Malin said: “I was very happy to be asked. I’ve had some success in Las Vegas before with Butterfly Flip and she is in good form right now so I am really looking forward to it.”

Malin is one of 18 riders to have qualified from the Western European League. This year’s competition boasts four former champions amongst its 43-strong field.

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Olympic gold medallist Rodrigo Pessoa is suing the organisers of last year’s Las Vegas World International (LVWI) on behalf of disgruntled show jumpers still awaiting prize-money.

The riders, including the UK’s Michael Whitaker and Nick Skelton, plus officials and contractors, also face bank charges after cheques issued at the show bounced.

The LVWI (14-15 October) offered US$1 million prize-money, and was touted at the time to be the “world’s richest” show.

“We’ve talked and talked with the organisers, but there comes a point when talking isn’t enough and we all need to be paid for what we did,” Rodrigo told H&H. “We are trying to collect on behalf of everyone who is owed money.”

As a result of the debacle, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) is to set a criteria for permitting new shows to enter the calendar.

“We’re in a difficult position — if we say these shows can’t run, the riders may be deprived of good prize-money, but if we give them the go-ahead without clear control the same thing could happen again,” said FEI sports director Michael Stone. “We’re looking at asking for prize-money to be lodged with us in advance.”

Mr Stone said the FEI was also considering asking new shows to run at a lower level for the first few years, to prove they can be successful.

“This is also difficult,” he said. “Princess Haya wanted to run a top-level show in Dubai [this January], and if we’d said she had to run a smaller one first she might not have done so and riders would have missed out.”

Mr Stone said the FEI jumping committee would be discussing the criteria at a meeting in Aachen in May.

“There are technical issues to be discussed as well — we want to make provision for things such as ground conditions,” he said. “This is a good opportunity to look at the whole thing.”

LVWI has courted controversy since October, with the organisers locked in a chaotic battle with investors for control of the fixture. As well as British riders, event manager Simon Brooks-Ward and his company, HorsePower International, are still waiting to be paid.

“We’re looking at filing an independent lawsuit, but might join forces with Rodrigo. We’re taking advice on whether it’s worthwhile,” said Simon, adding: “We’re owed a significant amount for our business and we’re keen to recover it.”

Michael Whitaker won about US$120,000 (£69,400) at the show. “It’s surprising because it’s so much money,” he said. “It wouldn’t have been so bad if it had been a domestic show, but to go all that way just for one show and win all that prize-money, then not get it — it’s really frustrating.”

• This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (23 March ’06)

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Riders in the US$1 million Las Vegas World Invitational (LVWI) are filing a lawsuit against the organisers to recover prize-money still owing to them six weeks after the event (14-15 October).

Olympic gold medal-winning show jumper Rodrigo Pessoa, who took the top prize in the show, is acting on behalf of all the riders.

“We’re now finding they’re having difficulty in paying,” Pessoa told Horse & Hound, speaking from Brazil. “I’m talking with people I know in the US to find out. We’re going to file a lawsuit on behalf of all the riders. It might be amicable, it might not.”

Contractors, officials and riders, including Britain’s Michael Whitaker and Nick Skelton, remain unpaid after the event — while the LVWI organisers are embroiled in a chaotic battle with their investors for control of the fixture.

Skelton, who earned $185,000 (£101,000) for second place in the grand prix, tried to cash his cheque — it bounced. “Rodrigo [Pessoa] is chasing it on behalf of all the riders,” Skelton said.

Whitaker, who won in the region of $US120,000 (£69,400) said: “My bank held the prize-money cheque for a while because it didn’t go through. The organisers contacted me to say they were going to wire the money through, but I haven’t had it or heard anything since then.”

Read the full story in the current issue of Horse & Hound (8 December, ’05)

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Most of the riders who participated in the inaugural $1 million Las Vegas World International (LVWI) show jumping competition in October were still waiting for their prize-money last week.

Although the US’s Lauren Hough said she was able to cash her cheque two days after the show ended, others who competed in the fixture at the Thomas & Mack Centre had not received their funds.

Show president David Shriner said he hoped to resolve the matter soon.

“We had some unexpected expenses, which cost us a whole bunch of money — there were some accounting glitches,” said Shriner, who felt the problem would not affect plans for 2006 “as long as we can handle this in a timely fashion”.

“It’s been a very unpleasant experience. It’s been very embarrassing for me,” Shriner said.

Michael Whitaker, who, with Nick Skelton, competed at the show, is not sure of the status of his cheque because he moved straight on to Washington and Syracuse shows. He said he hoped to return to Las Vegas in 2006, though if he is not paid, it would be “a different story”.

Meanwhile the Las Vegas World International is set to lose it’s place as the world’s richest jumping show, after the Dubai Equestrian Club announced The Maktoum Challenge, which will take place in January next year with a prize fund of US$1,250,000 (£717,000).

The top 20 international show jumpers will compete alongside an FEI World Cup qualifier for the Arab League from 11-13 January 2006. Former HOYS operations manager Stephen Renouard will manage the show on-site.

The show is the brainchild of Princess Haya Al Bint Al Hussein of Jordan, who is one of the three individuals currently in the running for the position of president of the International Equestrian Federation.

Princess Haya is married to the Dubai’s Crown Prince, General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She has been show jumping internationally since the age of 13 and competed at the 200 Olympics and the 2002 World Equestrian Games.

The other candidates for the presidency are Princess Benedikte of Denmark, who is the patron of the World Breeding Federation for Sports Horses, and the FEI’s current vice-president, Freddy Serpieri of Greece.

Read more on all these stories in today’s H&H (10 November, ’05)

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Meredith Michaels Beerbaum won the Budweiser World Cup for her adopted Germany in Las Vegas with Shutterfly on Sunday (24 April, ’05).

Meredith was on song throughout the show, and although a lapse in the penultimate round raised hopes of a British win, she regrouped to jump clear once more and claim the title — the first American-born rider and first woman to win since 1987.

Michael Whitaker was second on Portofino, after making quiet progress throughout. They were the only pair to jump faultlessly over both of Sunday’s separate courses and although they had one time fault in each, they did not cost the title.

“I knew I’d get [the time faults], but I had to take the risk to jump clear,”said Michael. “The second one could have cost me if Rodrigo [Pessoa, then equal first with Meredith] hadn’t had fences down and Meredith had, because we’d have had to jump-off. But I did the best I could – it was out of my hands. After all, Meredith did beat me every day!”

There was disappointment for Nick Skelton. Arko finished the first day in 16th place, but made a respectable climb to ninth in the jump-off class and produced a mesmerizing display of precision jumping in Sunday’s first round to rise to equal fifth.

Unfortunately, the final track included a double, the “in” being an upright over a water tray. Arko, who had been a little “stary” earlier in the week, had a look and paddled through the fence, stopping at the following spread and putting Nick on the floor.

This was the third time Las Vegas hosted the show jumping final and it saw Britain’s best representation in years. Third man, Richard Davenport with Laguina, acquitted himself well and rose from 28th to 19th.

Meredith said: “This is the biggest win of my career, and one that has been very special because so many people from California who haven’t seen me for years have come to Vegas to support.

“I knew I could win, because Shutterfly is on the best form of his life. I was a little worried after the fence down in the first round, but as we jumped the first fence in the second my confidence grew and I just knew it was going to be my day.”

• World Cup dressage winner Anky van Grunsven and her long time partner and trainer, Sjeff Jensen, took advantage of Las Vegas to finally tie the knot in the Elvis Chapel yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.
• Don’t miss this Thursday’s Horse & Hound for reports on all the Las Vegas action.

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Anky van Grunsven won an unprecented seventh World Cup dressage title in Las Vegas last night, scoring 86.675% and achieving four individual scores in the 90s for artistic impression.

Her fluid test, to a medley of French chansons, was not entirely flawless by Anky’s own exacting standards — Salinero made an awkward canter transition at K in the early stages of her kur and she seemed to dwell when setting up for a long canter section.

Axel Steiner, judging at the B marker, thought the test was only good enough for third. But the whole was simply sensational, beating compatriot Edward Gal — who with Geldnet Lingh had vanquished the reigning champion in the opening day’s grand prix — into second by more than a percentage point.

Van Gunsven said: “It is the most special win for me as I am not only proud of my own horse but also of Edward and Lingh. It’s very special to have two Dutch riders at the top here.”

The home crowd’s favourite, Debbie McDonald and Brentina, earned a tornado of applause and scored highly to lead in the latter stages of the class on 83.225, but with the two Dutch still to come it was inevitable she would be overhauled into third place. Veteran American Robert Dover, here on a wild card, was fourth with FBW Kennedy on 80.1.

Britain’s Carl Hester finished 10th, possibly anchored by being first to go. By his own admission, the freestyle has not been his number one priority and he tactfully combined a competitive test with giving Escapado priceless experience in this cavernous stadium.

Judge at ‘C’ Uwe Mechlem said: “The level was unbelievably high, each rider would come in and we’d think that test could not be beaten, but it kept getting higher. It was a hard job to find the winner for us, especially when the public anticipated, and we had to try hard not to be influenced by that, but we were so busy giving our marks.”

After the public appeared to expect Gal to emerge victor, Mechlem explained: “Anky has the most fascinating choice of music for her freestyle. I awarded a 10 for her music as I can’t imagine it could be better. Edward showed an example of effortless and elegant dressage — the rider always together with his horse — but for me the choice of music was slightly heavy for this horse.”

FEI Dressage Committee Chairman Mariette Withages said: “That was the best ever FEI World Cup Dressage Final. To have all the top riders score so high is unique.”

Earlier, Michael Whitaker and Nick Skelton were in the team which triumphed in a novelty competition, where European show jumpers took on the home side in their speciality discipline, the hunter jumper.

Despite the disappointment of faulting in the first two legs of the World Cup show jumping, Nick is confident that Arko, currently 13th, can figure in the placings in today (Sunday’s) finale. ”Two clear rounds is all we need — there’s all to play for,” he said.

FEI World Cup Dressage Final 2005 results

1. Keltec Salinero (A van Grunsven NED) 86.725;

2. Geldnet Lingh (E Gal NED) 85.225;

3. Brentina (D McDonald USA) 83.450;

4. FBW Kennedy (R Dover USA) 80.10;

5. Blue Hors Cavan (A Helgstrand DEN) 78.50;

6. Kingston (L Morse USA) 78.475;

7. Bjorsells Briar (J Brink SWE) 77.375;

8. Aramis (H Schmidt GER) 77.20;

9. Barclay II (S Rothenberger NED) 75.25;

10. Escapado (C Hester GBR) 73.475;

11. Hardthof’s Ludewig G (L Joergensen DEN) 72.275;

12. Aragon (G Seidel USA) 70.65.

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Meredith Michaels Beerbaum showed why she is the first woman to be ranked world number one when authoritatively winning the second leg of the World Cup show jumping final in Las Vegas last night (Friday).

Meredith and Shutterfly had the crowd on gasping in awe as the last of nine in the jump-off, negotiating Guillherme Jorge’s challenging track with almost disdainful ease to push the on-form Alois Schweckhorst and Candy into second place.

Meredith now leads the overall standings with 78 points. Disarmingly she commented that, with Shutterfly to ride, she “didn’t have any fears about what the course-builder will do on Sunday.”

Schweckhorst and Steve Guerdat are tied for second with 71, and Rodrigo Pessoa and Ludo Philappaets go into the finale on 70 each. Sadly, having won yesterday’s speed leg, Ludo once again was unable to keep it together and lost his grasp on the overall lead with Parco’s first round fault.

It was a case of so near and yet so far for Michael Whitaker (Portofino) and Nick Skelton (Arko), who both jumped immaculate first round clears but faulted in the jump-off to finish eighth and ninth. Arko lowered a wide white parallel while Portofino exasperatingly hit the final fence.

Britain’s third man Richard Davenport was thrilled with the relatively inexperienced Laguina, who had four faults in the first round but finished overall equal 10th.

Initially, the course looked impossible as the first three were eliminated. However, designer Guillherme Jorge was conscious that it was run in reverse order of merit. “I am pleased with the outcome. The class started a little scary, but I knew the best were coming,” he said.

• Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff and Renoir-Unicef won the consolation class for those not through to tomorrow (Saturday’s) dressage Kur final, scoring 76.150%.

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Nick Skelton, Michael Whitaker (pictured) and Richard Davenport have all qualified to compete in the FEI World Cup Final in Las Vegas (20 -24 April). Michael Whitaker picked up 20 points with a win aboard Portofino 63 in Florida at the weekend ensured his place in the final.

“Although I was pretty sure I had enough points to qualify for Las Vegas, [the win] secured my place and it’s been a good confidence boost prior to the final,” explained Whitaker. “[The World Cup is] a title every show jumper wants to win and to have three riders likely to compete in the final is great.”

Robert Smith, who was on flying form to win the last of the Western European qualifying rounds in Gothenburg last week, is just two places outside qualification and therefore still stands a realistic chance of making it to the final.

The top 18 riders in the Western European League are eligible to compete at the final, but should any of these riders drop out, then lower placed riders will take their place. Denmark’s Tina Lund, who lay at the top of the substitute list, has already benefited from the withdrawal of Toni Hassmann, who is joined on the sidelines by borderline qualifier Christophe Barbeau of Switzerland.

In addition to the 18 qualified riders, last year’s winner, Bruno Broucqsault of France, has received an automatic invitation to the final. Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa, who is based in Belgium and chose to attend the European qualifying rounds, is also through, having finished eighth in the standings. However, because Pessoa is not a European national he is not counted within the 18 qualifiers allowing the 19th placed rider, in this case Richard Davenport, to go through.

Wim Schroder is also a doubtful contender, having broken his leg a few weeks ago. Doctors are due to give their decision as to his fitness to ride next Monday. Should Schroder be unable to compete, then Robert Smith will require only one more withdrawals in make the final line up.

Nick Skelton remains unchallenged at the head of the Western European League standings on 83 points, a staggering seven points ahead of second-placed qualifier Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum of Germany.

Skelton’s chances of claiming a second World Cup title in Las Vegas should not be under estimated. Arko III is at the top of his game and is more than capable of following in the footsteps of Skelton’s 1995 winner, the great Dollar Girl. John Whitaker is the only other British rider to have won the competition since its inception in 1979, with victory in 1990 and again in 1991 with the infamous Milton.

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