Verdades, the former world number one US dressage horse who won double world silver and an Olympic team bronze with Laura Graves, has died aged 23.

“I never thought this day would come. You were invincible,” said his rider Laura Graves yesterday (22 December).

Laura’s parents Ron and Freddie bought Verdades (Diddy) as a foal from the Netherlands and Laura produced him up the levels. But this was not without its challenges; Diddy was known for his sensitive nature. He broke his jaw as a young horse when he caught a tooth on a metal bar and pulled back, and he was known to frighten himself when he flicked the arena surface onto his chest with his hooves.

“None of these things made sense, but the actual feeling you got from the day he was backed was like he was trained — he just came round and went forward and it was like he knew what to do,” said Laura, in a 2018 interview.

Laura and Diddy made their international grand prix debut in 2014, and the same year started training with Debbie McDonald, a turning point for the pair.

“I was riding a national grand prix. We missed all of our changes, the piaffes weren’t happening, I had no money and I was walking back to the barn feeling totally defeated,” said Laura.

“Debbie came running up behind me and said, ‘Laura, I want to train you.’ I had been taking some lessons with her but she was always so busy. She said: ‘Any time you want a lesson, you just call me.’ That was the day it all changed.”

Laura and Diddy made their championship debut at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, where the US team finished fourth. Two years later they were part of the team that won bronze at the Rio Olympics, and finished fourth individually.

The pair continued to go from strength to strength. They started 2017 with back-to-back World Cup wins on home soil, and that summer they helped the US team to victory in the Rotterdam Nations Cup leg, where Laura and Diddy won the grand prix and freestyle.

In April 2018 they posted a personal best 89.08% freestyle in the Paris World Cup leg, then went on to win team and individual silver at the World Equestrian Games, in Tryon. Following this, they became the first American combination to top the FEI dressage world rankings.

Laura and Diddy’s final international competition was the Gothenburg World Cup leg in April 2019, they were runners-up in the grand prix and freestyle, on 80.11% and 87.18% respectively.

“Thank you for choosing me and being my friend for 23 years. I don’t know what a day looks like without you,” said Laura.

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According to US Dressage development coach, Charlotte Bredahl, the future’s looking bright based on the caliber of the riders and their horses currently enrolled in the programme that is aimed at producing combinations for future international competitions. She has been observing many of them during the course of the 2022 Global Dressage Festival.

“Fortunately, the majority of the riders and horses come to Florida in the winter,” she said. “I make a point of watching them all season when they’re showing.”

Charlotte herself competed on five horses up to grand prix and has among many other noteworthy achievements, one team bronze Olympic medal and team silver medal at the North-American Championships.

“The programme is not age-related at all,” said Charlotte, who has been development coach for three years. “The horses have to be within a certain age range to be considered, but that does not apply to the riders and it’s really about upcoming combinations. It could be, for instance, an Olympic rider with a new upcoming horse.”

Leading rider, Laura Graves, is among the 20 individuals selected for the programme. “She was ranked number one in the world not too long ago,” said Charlotte. “And she’s coming up with a really really talented horse, SenSation HW.”

For Charlotte, the most satisfying aspect of the job is seeing the progress made by those on her watch. Ben Ebeling, 21, is a product of the pipeline, having started out as a young rider.

“One that stands out because he came up through the young rider programme and went very quickly up to the elite rider programme is Ben Ebeling,” she said. “He’s really been through the pipeline – that’s what we call it. We have the young rider programme and then we have the young horse programme and from there riders and horses can progress to the development programme and then hopefully on to the pre-elite and the elite.”

Currently, Charlotte believes the potential for results in finding international competitors is unprecedented. “We have many very talented combinations,” she said. “We’ve never had so many on their way up. Some of the combinations just need another year. All of them are showing that they will absolutely be at grand prix level. The majority of them are either getting really close to grand prix or they are showing grand prix.”

Next year’s Global Dressage Festival is going to be a benchmark for the progress of the development programme riders. “It will be very exciting to see them perform next winter season,” said Charlotte. “They are a super talented group.”

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It’s all thanks to the determination of his only rider that this sensitive gelding defied the odds to become one of dressage’s inspirations, discovers Alice Collins

WHEN Verdades landed on US soil for the first time, the long journey from Europe hadn’t treated the weanling kindly. In fact, the young horse who would go on to be an American dressage sensation spent the first weeks in his adopted country living in a vet hospital having pus drained from his skull.

For a horse who ended up as world number one, he overcame tremendous adversity. But where he finally found his groove was as a reliable, high-scoring international grand prix competitor. It was only through his young owner Laura Graves’ bloody-minded determination and unwavering belief in the talented, sensitive gelding that he became anything of note at all. Laura was his only rider and their steadfast bond was the foundation for their greatness.

The pair helped the US team to win medals at both the Rio Olympics in 2016 and the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon.

British Olympian Richard Davison, a big admirer of Verdades, says: “The story of Laura and ‘Diddy’ is magical and will continue to inspire many for years to come. It’s about a little girl’s dream finally coming true – but only after a journey of sacrifice, physical pain, doubt and dedication. It’s wonderful and it should be made into a film.”

WHAT was so remarkable about this particular ascendance?

Rewind to the first time Laura ever saw him, as one of a dozen foals in the Netherlands on a VHS tape. Laura was 15 and she and her mother were horse shopping on a limited budget.

“Mum and I were so excited about him,” she recalls. “But the others from the barn weren’t that into him – they were paying more for horses than us – and I was deflated.”

Still, they pressed on with the purchase. The gawky weanling landed in New York a few months later. Laura and her mother loaded a companion pony onto the trailer at their Vermont home and drove the six hours south to New York.

Back in 2002, communications were not as slick and when they arrived at the airport, they discovered that Verdades wasn’t yet being released from quarantine, so they scrambled to find somewhere to accommodate them and the pony. The following day, “a handful of men funnelled Diddy onto the trailer”.

“There was no time for hugs and it wasn’t romantic,” says Laura. “The trip had been stressful, and when the adrenaline wore off, we had quite a sick foal. He had an infection in his guttural pouches that had to be drained and flushed, and he had to have meds around the clock.”

Once healthy, it soon became clear that the young Verdades was no ordinary horse. He could not be pressured through any kind of situation and if he said no, that was that. Once under saddle, Laura had to employ some unusual tactics.

“If I knew I had to give him a kick, I’d do it away from the fence and I’d take my other foot out of the stirrup in preparation for him flicking me off,” she says. “Or if he flicked up the footing on to his stomach he’d buck, and he was so powerful I’d come off.”

Still, she persevered. The combination of Verdades’ atypical breeding, his resulting unusual movement and his extraordinary sensitivity made him a powder keg of talent and energy.

“People asked why he trotted like a hackney pony,” remembers Laura, who moved to Florida to train with Anne Gribbons in 2009 and took the seven-year-old Verdades along too. “I said, ‘I don’t know, but I think it’s cool!’ This was about the time that Totilas was winning everything and he moved a bit like that too, but it was all brand new and the shape of horses in dressage was changing.”

IT took Diddy a long time to figure out where to put his legs and he found life away from home stressful initially. So young horse classes were “not an option” and he accrued scant show experience. Yet by the end of 2013, Verdades was – remarkably, given everything – ready for grand prix.

Their first international at the level, in February 2014, was not a smash hit and gleaned 64.94%. But their scores quickly climbed that winter season.

Laura was by then training with Debbie McDonald and set off on a long road trip aiming for the American championships, with the pipe dream of selection for the upcoming World Equestrian Games in Normandy. It proved a pivotal journey.

“We trailered to New Jersey for the selections and decided to hit Kentucky CDI on the way,” recounts Laura. “They invite the top 15 to the championships; I was about 14th and training was going well. But our score in Kentucky was so low [64.92%] that it dropped us out of the top 15. So we were halfway there, with my dog and my whole life on the road, and it looked like we wouldn’t be invited.”

Laura dithered, eventually deciding to press on and pray for an invitation. After nail-biting days of uncertainty, the crucial email finally landed, confirming she’d made the cut by the skin of her teeth.

“I wanted the team slot so badly, but I was still under the impression that nobody was watching us,” says Laura. “I thought nobody cared if I flunked.”

Not so. The moment the young rookies finished runner-up to Steffen Peters in the grand prix, all eyes swivelled to them. They ended up reserve national champions, crowning the week with a thumping 78.425% freestyle. The result sealed them an invitation to Europe and, ultimately, a place on the WEG 2014 team.

There, they boosted the USA to a fourth-place finish and claimed fifth in the freestyle – best of the Americans – with a tremendous 82.036% that announced the nascent pair’s arrival in resounding fashion.

It was a portent of their mesmeric rise, often right in the mix of top horsepower including Valegro, Damon Hill, Parzival, Cosmo, Bella Rose and Mount St John Freestyle.

There ensued a consistent spell of high-scoring, high-profile appearances. Verdades was thrust to the forefront of American medal hopes, and their scores helped clinch a seismic team bronze medal at Rio 2016, where they finished fourth individually.

In fact, it was only Isabell Werth and her clutch of star partners that came between Verdades and a huge haul of gold medals over those years. She had to settle for silver to Isabell on Weihegold three years in a row at the World Cup Final.

Richard Davison watched the whole fairytale unfold in awe.

“What Laura went through is a shining example to every aspiring rider,” he says. “The fact that Verdades wasn’t easy to train should inspire so many and help identify the true qualities needed for success.”

WHATEVER the value of Diddy, Laura wasn’t open to any offers.

“Before the 2014 nationals, Debbie told me people would be interested in buying him,” says Laura. “She asked me if there was a number I had in mind. I told her, ‘There’s no number. He’s not for sale. I never want to hear a number.’

“It was no secret that I could have used a large chunk of change, but I was lucky to have people around me protecting me and we made it clear that I wasn’t selling. He’s such a strange horse anyway that he’d have probably come back like a boomerang,” she laughs.

Strange is one way to put it. Even in his late teens, with plenty of show miles on the clock, he’d often explode out of the ring after a prize-giving, carting Laura back to the stables. The fact that she was able to toe the line in tests – maximum power with controlled energy – was what made the pair so spellbinding.

Eventually, in January 2020, it was time to retire Diddy. He was rising 18.

“He told us he wanted to retire,” explains Laura.“I always promised I’d listen and make the right choice for him when the time came and it became clear he wasn’t going to return to his usual top form in 2020.

“I always rode every step full throttle; that was the pure joy of him. I never had to ride him with fear of injury and I’m proud to have retired him when I did, because I didn’t ever want to compete him with that fear.”

EVEN in retirement, Verdades is no dope on a rope.

“He’s always been serious, and he still is,” reports Laura, who still rides him three times a week.

“When you pick up the reins, he only has one gear: full-on. I’ve let a couple of people sit on him, but the feeling he gives is pretty scary – it can still even scare me sometimes. If his rider makes a mistake, Diddy feels guilty, so it’s important to respect him in his retirement.”

It’s a fitting end for a horse who has given his rider absolutely everything. And it’s not just the fans who’ll miss him.

Richard concurs: “Without their hard-hitting scores, the US team has lost its anchor. Verdades was a powerhouse on springs and as light as a feather. He was truly magnificent.”

When Laura looks back over the undulating landscape of a stellar career, what stands out?

“Diddy brought the feeling that everyone involved was part of his amazing journey,” she says, stifling tears. “I owned him myself, with no big sponsor, and he really brought people together. We relied on that support, all those people helped build our success; it was a puzzle of a million pieces.”

Laura’s highlights reel includes her breakout show in Normandy, her silver medal ride in front of a home crowd in Omaha at the World Cup Final (“that’s one of the few times where I will say Diddy was robbed”), breaking American records and his top form in Paris, Tryon and Rio.

“The whole journey’s so vivid,” she says. “He’s built my whole career, and he’s the reason that all the other stalls in the barn are filled. He was never a horse you’d stop and look at on the cross- ties and say, ‘Wow!’ but when he put it all together, he was magical.”

Verdades: the judge’s view

FIVE-STAR judge Isobel Wessels identifies Verdades as one of her favourites of all time. She spotted his talent early on when she judged him in Wellington in March 2014. Verdades had begun his international grand prix career just the previous month.

“He and Laura weren’t well known, but I was blown away and I had them so much higher than the other judges,” she laughs. “He had little mistakes, but I clearly remember the half-passes with their unbelievable bend, suspension and elasticity.”

Isobel had him to win on 71.3%, but the other judges’ scores dipped as low as 64.3%. It wasn’t long before judges the world over started dishing out chunky scores to Diddy.

“We saw this slim girl on a tall and powerful horse, yet it all looked so easy,” remembers Isobel. “He had so much inner willingness to go. Watching him was like the Totilas factor; it gave you that stir in your insides and goosebumps outside.”

She describes the pair as the embodiment of the FEI requirement that a horse should appear to do for himself what the rider is asking.

“Laura sat so beautifully and quietly and Verdades offered her everything. His mechanic and how he could bend his hocks and articulate all his joints was unbelievable; he looked like he was on a trampoline.”

Verdades’ breeding

THERE are no great surprises on the sire side of Verdades’ pedigree. He is by the Florestan son Florett As, who won the dressage portion of his stallion licensing and went on to compete at grand prix.

It is Verdades’ dam-line that delivers the surprise. His dam Liwilarda is a Dutch harness horse, bred for carriage driving. They typically have very high knee action and a high-set neck. Although they are extravagant movers, their high-stepping gaits don’t always mesh that well with upper level dressage.

But luckily for Verdades, he inherited extravagant movement from his dam coupled with dressage talent and conformation from his sire.

“Verdades brought his breeders, the Crum family, a lot of pride,” says Laura. “They only breed one foal a year, so for this to happen was really special.”

Verdades in numbers

3: The American record scores Verdades holds. They broke the grand prix record with 81.537% at Tryon WEG. At Aachen in 2017, they set a special record (81.824%) and they smashed the freestyle record with 89.083% in Paris in 2018.

6: Between 2015 and 2019, Verdades contested 37 tests in Wellington, Florida, and was only beaten in six of those.

1: Following their double silver in Tryon, they became the first American duo to sit atop the FEI dressage world rankings.

Less than $10,000 (around £7,000): The total cost of buying Verdades as a foal, including importing him to the USA.

H&H, 11 February 2021

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The multi-medalled Olympic dressage horse, Laura Graves’ Verdades, has been retired from competition with immediate effect.

The 18-year-old Verdades, known at home as Diddy, is the USA’s current top-ranked dressage horse who won team and individual silver at the World Equestrian Games in 2018. Currently ranked seventh in the world, the combination became the first American horse and rider to achieve a world number one ranking, which they held for two months in late 2018.

“It is with both a heavy heart and a grateful mind that today, I announce the retirement of my great friend, Diddy,” said Laura of the KWPN gelding, who is by Florett AS x Goya. “I’ve always promised that I would do my best to listen and make the right choice for him when this time came. It became clear in recent weeks that he was not going to be able to return to his usual top form in 2020.

“While nothing makes me happier than watching him play in his field and take him for hacks, it is still a very new and very sad realisation for me that this journey has reached its end.”

Laura and Diddy’s final competition was the 2019 World Cup final in April 2019, where they scored over 87% to finish second behind the reigning champion, Isabell Werth, for the third year in a row.

“This horse not only achieved every goal we ever set, but he fulfilled dreams that I never knew I had,” continued Laura, who also led the USA to Olympic bronze in 2016, finishing fourth individually.

“Not always the easiest, it was his generous heart and incredible sense of loyalty that made him one of a kind. Every time I sit in his saddle, I continue to feel honoured and humble that he allowed me to be his person. We have travelled the world together, many times over and cut our teeth at some the world’s greatest competitions.”

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Laura said: “While it will not be the same loading up the trailer without him, I am very much looking forward to the next chapter of my career with a stable full of young horses.

“The biggest thank you to Verdades, Diddy, Diddyman, Bugs, my buddy for the joy you have brought to so many.”

While many would have expected Laura and Verdades to lead the USA team at this year’s Tokyo Games, this now opens up opportunities for leading American riders including Kasey Perry-Glass, Adrienne Lyle and Stefan Peters to fill the three available team spots.

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Germany’s Isabell Werth once again proved unbeatable as she completed a phenomenal hat-trick of back-to-back World Cup titles — all on the same horse.

She and her superstar mare, the 14-year-old Weihegold OLD scored 88.82% to secure victory in Gothenburg, Sweden, ahead of the USA’s Laura Graves — runner-up for the third year running — and fellow German rider Helen Langehanenberg.

With this title, Isabell has matched Dutch rider Anky van Grunsven’s record of three consecutive titles aboard the same horse, and this is 49-year-old Isabell’s fifth World Cup win in total — fittingly having claimed her first one here in Gothenburg 27 years ago.

Despite a blip in their one-tempi changes, Isabell and the Don Schufro daughter dazzled the judges with some spectacular piaffe, passage and pirouettes.

“Weihe was fantastic today and she really deserves this — it was a nearly perfect ride, except I made a mistake myself,” Isabell said. “The piaffe and passage just couldn’t be better I don’t think.”

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In a repeat of the 2017 and 2018 result, the USA’s Laura Graves was snapping at Isabell’s heels all the way, but was unable to surpass her, finishing second with her 17-year-old gelding Verdades, on 87.18%.

“I was thrilled with how he went from the very second he went in; he was rideable and focused,” Laura said. “It’s so great to hear the crowd clapping along at end — you feel they are enjoying it as much as you are.”

At her first World Cup final since finishing second in 2014, Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg finished on the podium, having posted a personal best of 86.57% with her powerful stallion Damsey FRH — one of five 17-year-old horses in this final.

Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen gave his test everything he had to finish fourth on 85.47% with the partially blind stallion Blue Hors Zack, while Kasey Perry-Glass slotted into fifth for the USA with Goerklintgaards Dublet. Ireland’s Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K improved their grand prix score from yesterday by a huge 10%. They finished 11th with 79.35% in a class where the top 10 competitors all posted over 80%.

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Isabell Werth has made the perfect start to her World Cup title defence, winning today’s grand prix aboard the 14-year-old mare Weihegold OLD at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The Don Schufro daughter performed a mistake-free test to score 81.75%, enough to secure their place at the top of the leaderboard ahead of the USA’s Laura Graves and Verdades.

At last year’s final, Laura upset the formbook by beating Isabell in the grand prix, but the American’s 80.1% was not quite enough for the win here.

Not every judge had Isabell in front, however, with her scores ranging from 78.1% to 83.8%. The Finnish judge at K, Maria Colliander, had Laura on top with her compatriot Kasey Perry-Glass in second, and Isabell in third.

“Weihe was fantastic today; she’s in really great shape at the moment and she felt really focused and motivated,” said Isabell, who won her first World Cup title here in Gothenburg in 1992. “Tomorrow is a new game though and you never know what will happen. The others are all fighting for it — I can feel the breath on my neck!”

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This is Laura and the 17-year-old Verdades’ fourth World Cup final and they have finished second to Isabell in the last two.

“He’s known for being sensitive to atmosphere but he felt rideable and relaxed in there today so that gives me a good idea of how to ride him tomorrow,” Laura said. “I’m incredibly hungry to get to the top of the podium.”

Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen also made his intentions for tomorrow known with a super test for third aboard the 15-year-old stallion Blue Hors Zack. He finished fractionally ahead of Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet, who were fourth.

Germany’s Helen Langehananberg, competing at her first World Cup final since 2014, stood fifth with Damsey FRH, with Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Delaunay OLD sixth.

Ireland’s Judy Reynolds finished 14^th with Vancouver K on 69.8%, after tension and spookiness affected the Jazz gelding’s performance.

“I needed a bit of superglue at the beginning, but it was just unlucky timing with when people started clapping and where we were,” Judy told H&H. “He actually coped with it really well once we started, until the walk when he just bubbled over and it cost us about 10% at that point. But he came back to me and we got the score back up to just under 70% so in that respect I’m really happy.”

Today’s grand prix serves as a qualifier for tomorrow’s final, the grand prix freestyle, and it also determines the starting order. The class will get underway at 4pm (3pm UK time).

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All dressage horses have been accepted at today’s trot-up prior to the World Cup final in Gothenburg, Sweden.

There was drama when Russia’s Regina Isachkina, brought forward her World Cup ride, the 10-year-old stallion Sun Of May Life (pictured). The black San Amour son was very exuberant and unsettled, giving Regina a hard time as he reared and leapt about. She was asked to trot him for a second time, after which he was accepted.

The competition kicks off tomorrow with the grand prix which will determine the running order for Saturday’s grand prix freestyle — which forms the World Cup final.

Ireland’s Judy Reynolds will be the first dressage rider into the atmospheric Scandinavium arena tomorrow, competing at 1pm (12pm UK time) with her 17-year-old Jazz x Ferro gelding Vancouver K.

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Germany’s Isabell Werth will start her title defence campaign at 2.52pm (1.52pm UK time) riding the 14-year-old Blue Horse Don Schufro mare Weihegold OLD. Isabell will be attempting to take the World Cup title for the third consecutive year with this mare — her fifth in total — and the pair looked cool, calm and collected during today’s inspection.

Her closest rival is expected to be the USA’s Laura Graves, who came close to knocking Isabell off her throne in 2018, when she won the grand prix and finished second in the final. Laura will once again ride the 17-year-old Florett AS gelding Verdades, entering the arena at 3.28pm (2.28pm UK time).

Swedish hopes for the home victor lie with Tinne Vilhelmsen Silfven and another 17-year-old, the Don Davidoff gelding Don Auriello, who are on at 1.18pm (12.18pm UK time) and Patrik Kittel, who will ride Delaunay OLD at 2.46pm (2.46pm UK time).

No British riders qualified for the final this year. Richard Davison and his home-bred gelding Bubblingh came closest, finishing 16^th on the Western European League rankings.

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Britain’s Carl Hester has leapt up an enormous 107 places in the FEI world dressage rankings, which are updated on the 1st of every month.

Carl and his current top ride, the 10-year-old Diamond Hit son Hawtins Delicato, have risen from 130^th to 23^rd after their performance at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, where they helped Britain win team bronze and also finished ninth in the grand prix special.

Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Freestyle have also jumped up the rankings following their individual bronze in Tryon. Charlotte and the nine-year-old mare have moved from 10^th to sixth in the latest rankings, the highest position Charlotte has held since before Valegro was retired in 2016.

It’s all change at the very top of the rankings, with Germany’s Isabell Werth knocked off the top spot for the first time since November 2016, when she and Weihegold OLD took over from fellow German rider Kristina Bröring-Sprehe.

The USA’s Laura Graves has moved up to the number one position with her WEG team and individual silver medallist Verdades, overtaking Isabell by a single point. Laura and the 16-year-old gelding are the first USA partnership to be ranked world number one.

Isabell does hold the next three places, however; she is ranked second with Weihegold OLD, third with Emilio and fourth with her WEG double gold medallist Bella Rose, another who has made an impressive jump, up 47 places from 51^st.

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The top 10 is completed by Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy (fifth); Germany’s Dorothee Schneider and Sammy Davis Jr (seventh), and Helen Langehanenberg with Damsey FRH (eighth); the Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Zonik NOP (ninth) and Sweden’s Patrik Kittel with Deja (10^th).

Brits also feature heavily in the top 10 on the FEI para dressage rankings, with WEG gold medallist Sophie Wells maintaining her world number one status, both in grade V and in the combined rankings which cover all five grades.

After scooping team and individual silver at WEG, Natasha Baker has made an impressive leap from 68^th to fifth, and tops the grade III rankings, while Lee Pearson sits seventh overall and second in grade II.

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Charlotte Dujardin and the nine-year-old mare Mount St John Freestyle have landed the individual bronze medal at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina, their first championship together.

Charlotte produced an incredible grand prix special to score a personal best of 81.49% on Emma and Jill Blundell’s uber-talented Fidermark mare, who has only performed two specials before in her life. The pair also helped Britain secure bronze in the team competition yesterday.

“My ride today was unbelievable — I couldn’t have asked for any more from her,” said Charlotte. “I had nothing to lose today; yesterday I rode it a bit safe as I didn’t want to push and frighten her, but I knew I could go for more today. Freestyle upped her game and took on the challenge, and delivered! She’s such a fighter.”

For the second time at these championships, Isabell Werth finished head and shoulders above the rest, scoring 86.24% with Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s 14-year-old Belissimo M mare, Bella Rose. Last-to-go Isabell wowed the crowds and the judges with her performance, during which a late aid and start to her two-time changes was the only blip.

“I knew I had to give our very best today to get the gold,” said Isabell. “But I felt so safe and so happy on her in there — she had so much energy. From the start she was full of power and I thought, ‘wow, she really wants to go’.”

Laura Graves took silver for the USA, squeezing ahead of Charlotte and Freestyle by just 0.23% with a score of 81.71% on the Florett AS 16-year-old gelding Verdades,

Sönke Rothenberger finished just outside of the medals, though only a fraction behind Charlotte, with the 11-year-old Van Gogh gelding Cosmo.

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Britain’s Carl Hester produced another plus-77% score with his own, Ann Cory and Anne Evans’ 10-year-old Hawtins Delicato, posting 77.22% for ninth in the horse’s second ever grand prix special.

“I have to be happy with plus-77% in only his second special and his first championship; after all, he’s only a young horse,” said Carl. “I had a costly mistake in the one-time changes and in the heat and humidity the final centre line really took all his energy.

“But it’s only when you come to shows like this you learn about your horse and he’s also learned a lot here. I was happy with the team result as that’s what we came here to do but I’m equally happy today.”

The top 15 pairs from the special will go forward to contest the grand prix freestyle, scheduled for Sunday, 16 September.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September

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The Helgstrand-sponsored dressage competition at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon continues today (Friday, 14 September), with the grand prix special. All four members of the British team — who won bronze behind Germany and the USA yesterday — have qualified and will compete at the following times:

• Emile Faurie with Hof Kasselmann’s Dono Di Maggio — 11.10 am local time (4.10pm UK time)
  
• Spencer Wilton with his own and Jen Goodman’s Super Nova II — 3pm local time (8pm UK time)
• Carl Hester with his own, Ann Cory and Anne Evans’ Hawtins Delicato — 4.10am local time (9.10pm UK time)
  
• Charlotte Dujardin with Emma and Jill Blundell’s Mount St John Freestyle (above) — 5pm local time (10pm UK time)

The top 30 combinations from Wednesday and Thursday’s grand prix contest the special, which serves as a qualifier for the grand prix freestyle on Sunday, 16 September. The very first dressage rider into the arena will be Belgium’s Laurence Roos and Fil Rouge, at 10.30am local time (3.30pm UK time). Ireland’s individual competitor, Judy Reynolds with Vancouver K, will go at 11.20am local time (4.20pm UK time).

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For the newly crowned world champions Germany, the first rider into the arena today will be Dorothee Schnieder and Sammy Davis Jr at 3.10pm local time (8.10pm UK time) followed by Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with TSF Dalera BB at 3.30pm (8.30pm). Sonke Rothenberger and Cosmo, who finished third in the grand prix with plus-81%, will ride at 4.50pm (9.50pm UK time), with Isabell Werth and Bella Rose, who scored plus-84% to lead the grand prix, the last combination to ride the special, at 5.10pm (10.10pm UK time) on Thursday.

Silver medallists the USA will kick off with Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper at 12.50pm (5.50pm UK time). Adrienne Lyle and Salvino will follow at 2.40pm (7.40pm UK time), while Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet will compete at 3.40pm (8.40pm UK time). Laura Graves, who took second in the grand prix, will begin her test with Verdades at 4.40pm (9.40pm UK time), after which the medals will be awarded.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September

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Britain have secured the bronze medal in the Helgstrand-sponsored dressage at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina. Germany maintained their lead to claim an emphatic gold while the USA took silver.

Britain were sitting in the silver medal spot with Charlotte Dujardin still to go following very good tests from Carl Hester on Hawtins Delicato, Spencer Wilton on Super Nova II and Emile Faurie on Dono Di Maggio. Under blazing hot sun, Charlotte rode Emma and Jill Blundell’s nine-year-old Mount St John Freestyle (below) to a score of 77.76% at the mare’s first championship.

Freestyle displayed some super work, with her extensions garnering especially high marks, although the test was not blip-free — they had a small mistake in the one-time changes, and the piaffe was sticky at times. But Charlotte was delighted: “What an amazing horse to come here and do that — I’m so proud of her. I didn’t know how she was going to be in there as she’s never been in that sort of environment and she’s very young and inexperienced,” said the Olympic gold medallist, competing at a senior championship for the first time since the retirement of Valegro.

“We had a few little mistakes but they’re all things that are easy to iron out. She felt great and loved the atmosphere — it doesn’t make her afraid at all. You definitely wouldn’t think she’s only nine.”

The fight for bronze could not have been closer, however; Sweden’s anchorman Patrik Kittel needed a huge personal best of 78.3% to deny Britain a medal, and he and the 10-year-old mare Well Done De La Roche CMF came excruciatingly close, their score of 78.19% more than 2% ahead of their previous personal best.

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Germany’s Isabell Werth had the ride of her life on the dainty Belissimo mare Bella Rose (below), who has had nearly four years off with an injury. They charged to the top of the leaderboard with a fantastic test, posting 84.83%, another huge personal best on the mare she describes as her “dream horse”.

“This was so special,” said a hugely emotional Isabell, who has partnered Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s mare since she was a three-year-old. “We have worked together for so long and had so many ups and downs. It’s so brilliant to come back with this performance.”

Last-to-go Laura Graves also brought her A-game for the home side, recording 81.54% with an almost flawless performance on her 16-year-old gelding Verdades, to secure the USA the silver medal.

The Netherlands finished in fifth place with Spain sixth and Denmark seventh. The top 30 riders will go forward to compete for the first set of individual medals in the grand prix special tomorrow.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September

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A stunning performance by Carl Hester has thrust Britain back into the silver medal position at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, with one rider from each nation yet to ride.

At his first championship with his own, Ann Cory and Anne Evans’ inexperienced 10-year-old Hawtins Delicato, Carl Hester rode a superb test to score 77.23%. It was the Diamond Hit son’s fourth international grand prix, and his first time competing out of the UK.

“I knew I’d have to have the ride of my life today and I did,” said a delighted Carl. “I had 77% in my mind as my target, not that I told anyone that, so I couldn’t be more pleased but I am surprised! Earlier in the week I didn’t think he’d cope but I rode him early this morning in the arena in walk and he felt relaxed so I thought I might have a good ride. He absolutely put his heart into that test.”

Carl’s score has pushed Britain up the order into the silver medal position with just Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Freestyle yet to ride, at 3.51pm (8.51pm UK time). Germany have a firm grip on the lead, with Sonke Rothenberger and Cosmo (below) producing a dazzling test to earn a huge personal best score of 81.44%, and their final rider, Isabell Werth and Bella Rose will ride at 4.39pm (9.39pm UK time).

However, it could not be closer between the three chasing teams, with just one mark currently covering Britain, the USA and Sweden. The home side received a boost with 76.74% for Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet, and still have their flag-bearer, Laura Graves on Verdades, due to ride at 5.15pm (10.15pm UK time). A mark of 76% for Therese Nilshagen and Dante Weltino has slotted Sweden into fourth at this stage, with Patrik Kittel and Well Done De La Roche CMF on at 4.48pm (9.48pm UK time).

The Netherlands lie fifth after a slightly disappointing score from Emmelie Scholtens and Apache (72.73%); however their anchorman, Edward Gal, is yet to go and will ride Glock’s Zonik NOP at 5.06pm (10.06pm UK time).

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

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Charlotte Dujardin has re-entered the top 10 on the world dressage rankings for the first time since 2016 with Valegro.

Charlotte and her current top horse, Emma Blundell’s nine-year-old Fidermark mare Mount St John Freestyle, rocketed from 69^th up to 10^th position in the latest rankings update on 1 August.

Freestyle is in just her first year at grand prix but is currently unbeaten at the level, raking in points from her CDI wins in Joosland, The Netherlands, in April, Windsor in May, Bolesworth in June and her most recent outing to Hartpury in July. There, she posted 77.44% to top the grand prix, and 80.51% for victory in the mare’s second ever grand prix special.

Charlotte is no stranger to the top of the world rankings — she occupied the top spot from 2012 until 2015 with Valegro, until the Negro gelding was retired from competition in 2016.

Germany’s Isabell Werth remains at the top of the 2018 rankings with just six weeks to go until the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA (11-23 September). She holds the top spot with her triple gold medallist from the 2017 European Championships, Weihegold OLD, but has moved into the second spot with Emilio 107, with whom she won both the grand prix special and the freestyle at Aachen CHIO5* last month, and eighth with Don Johnson FRH.

It is, however, Bella Rose 2, ranked number 268, who is Isabell’s first choice of ride for WEG. The 14-year-old Belissimo mare returned to competition in July after nearly four years out, and is unbeaten so far on her comeback.

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The second-highest ranked Brit is Emile Faurie with Delatio; they have risen three places to 27^th after a successful Aachen. Lara Butler, who also performed well in Aachen, has risen to 33^rd with Rubin Al Asad, with Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubins Nite sitting just behind in 36th. Carl Hester and Hawtins Delicato occupy number 128 after just six international tests together.

Completing the top 10 are the USA’s Laura Graves and Verdades (third), Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy (fourth), Germany’s Dorothee Schneider with Sammy Davis Jr (fifth) and Helen Langehanenberg with Damsey FRH (sixth), Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Deja (eighth) and Holland’s Edward Gal with Glock’s Zonik (ninth).

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Several teams expected to fight it out for the medals have been announced for September’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, North Carolina. The battle will also be on to achieve one of the five qualification spots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The home side looks particularly strong, with current world number three combination Laura Graves and the 16-year-old gelding Verdades leading the charge after their grand prix victory in Aachen in July. Joining her are three combinations who all performed strongly in Aachen: Kasey Parry-Glass with the Diamond Hit 15-year-old Goerklintgaards Dublet, Adrienne Lyle with Salvino, by Sandro Hit, and Steffen Peters with the Rock Forever mare Rosamunde.

The Netherlands will also be sending a strong quartet to Tryon, hoping to win their first team medal since 2015. Edward Gal will spearhead the team on the impressive 10-year-old stallion Glock’s Zonik, by Blue Hors Zack. Edward will be joined by his partner Hans Peter Minderhoud, riding another exciting young stallion, Glock’s Dream Boy, by Vivaldi.

Also selected are Emmelie Scholtens and the UB40 stallion Apache, who had super results in Aachen, and Madeleine Witte-Vrees with her 2017 European Championships ride Cennin.

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Denmark and Sweden, who took European silver and bronze respectively in 2017, have also put forward strong sides that will be vying for the podium.

Patrik Kittel has booked his place at his third WEG, and 11^th senior championship, with two rides: his Rio Olympic partner Deja and the exciting 10-year-old mare Well Done De La Roche CMF. Championship veteran Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén has also been selected with her 2017 Europeans ride Paridon Magi as well as her double Olympic and 2014 WEG horse Don Auriello, who returned to competition at the Rotterdam CDI in June after nearly two years out.

Therese Nilshagen and the 11-year-old Danone stallion Dante Weltino — who are currently ranked 12^th in the world after taking individual European fourth and fifth in Gothenburg last year — will head to their first WEG. Juliette Ramel and her Rio partner Buriel KH complete the Swedish team.

The double individual European bronze medallists Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy will lead the Danish quartet, which also features Daniel Bachmann Andersen with Blue Hors Zack, who banked a personal best kür score of plus-82% in Aachen. Betina Jaeger (Belstaff) and Britain-based Anders Dahl (Selten HW) complete the team.

Gold medal favourites Germany are yet to announce their team, as are Great Britain. Stay up to date with all the WEG team announcements as they come in here.

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Isabell Werth remained the queen of Aachen as she and Emilio 107 scored a personal best of 87.63% to claim freestyle victory. It was her 12^th individual win here, and the 12-year-old Ehrenpreis gelding is the fourth horse with whom she has taken the title.

She was chased all the way by the Americans, however. But it wasn’t the USA rider most would have expected to give her the closest run for her money, Laura Graves, but instead Kasey Perry-Glass who rounded off a fantastic show here in Aachen to finish second with 85.2% on the 15-year-old Diamond Hit son Goerklintgaards Dublet — a full 10% higher than they managed at this show in 2017.

Laura did however recover very well after a tricky ride in the special — where Verdades took a strong dislike to a camera on the side of the arena — to fill third with 85.09%, despite not riding the 16-year-old gelding quite on full power.

“When Laura posted 85% I knew I had to give everything,” said Isabell. “I’m proud that we could improve each day here, and Emilio was brilliant today.”

It was massive personal best for Kasey and Dublet, who have only once before broken the 80% barrier, and showed that taking a break for the latter half of 2017 has paid off.

“I could feel it was a good test — he was very with me in there,” said Kasey.

Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour took fourth, posting 84.83% with Atterupgaards Cassidy, whom she has partnered since juniors.

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Britain’s Lara Butler (below) concluded a successful show with a beautiful freestyle on the 16-year-old Rubin Royal gelding. They scored 76.37% — their highest score of 2018 — with a harmonious, fluid routine to their popular Celtic-style soundtrack.

“He’s just got better every day here — he found another gear in there today,” Lara told H&H. “It’s weird to think that I’ve just ridden all the tests at Aachen — it’s everyone’s dream to ride here and now I’ve done it!”

Emile Faurie snuck in front of Lara with 76.55% on Delatio. This is the first show for the powerful De Niro son since February, having been off due to injury.

“He felt great in there, just a little tired, which is to be expected after six months off,” said Emile, who is aiming the 14-year-old at WEG selection, along with his other ride, Dono Di Maggio.

Don’t miss the full report from Aachen in next week’s H&H, on sale on 26 July.

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In a complete reversal of fortune from Thursday’s grand prix, a super performance from Isabell Werth in the special secured Germany the Nations Cup victory, while a below par test from grand prix winner Laura Graves meant overnight leaders the USA had to settle for second.

On Thursday, Isabell posted an uncharacteristically low score of 72.51% with the 12-year-old Ehrenpreis gelding Emilio, who showed several serious moments of resistance in his grand prix. Today, however, the pair were back to their usual selves, pulling out a score of 79.13%, which remained at the top of the leaderboard.

“I was really surprised with what happened on Thursday, but today it was back to the old Emilio,” said Isabell, who was also celebrating her birthday. “It was a really nice test, although I wasn’t expecting to stay in front until the end of the competition with the others coming behind me.”

Indeed, her teammates were on super form too, with Helen Langehanenberg within a whisker of the top spot with 79.02% on Damsey FRH. Both Dorothee Schneider (Sammy Davis Jr) and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (TSF Delera BB) posted plus-76% and elevating Germany to the top of the Nations Cup podium.

The USA finished second, five marks behind Germany, with Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet their top performers, scoring 78.79% for a fantastic test to slot into third.

The imposing Verdades gave Laura Graves a tricky time; the 16-year-old gelding was hot from the moment he entered the arena, and took a strong dislike to the camera on the side of the arena, with major spooks in the extended trot down that long side, and again in the canter. But even with the blips the pair scored 74.09%.

Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy led Denmark to third, with their 77.48% test leaving them fourth individually after Cassidy broke to canter in the third extended trot.

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Both Emile Faurie and Lara Butler performed well for Britain to finish 13^th and 14^th respectively, and qualify to ride the freestyle tomorrow morning.

Emile and the De Niro stallion Delatio continued their successful comeback to competition after lameness to post 73.66% in just their second special together.

Lara was delighted with Rubin Al Asad’s performance; she had the 16-year-old by Rubin Royal on song to post a shade under 73%, their best performance in a special this year.

Don’t miss the full report from Aachen in next week’s H&H, on sale on 26 July.

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The USA’s Laura Graves made her World Equestrian Games (WEG) medal intentions clear on day one of the Nations Cup dressage at CHIO Aachen, with an 80.6% grand prix win aboard Verdades.

At their first show since finishing second in April’s World Cup final in Paris, Laura and “Diddy” pulled out a punchy, powerful test. Their score sheet was full of eights; the 16-year-old gelding by Florett AS does not really have a weakness, and looks set to challenge for gold in Tryon this September.

“We’re using this as a stepping stone for Tryon,” Laura said. “When you get a horse to this point they know the job and it becomes about those half-point marks. We took small details away from Paris to work on, and I’m so pleased with him today.”

Laura’s marks boosted the USA to the top of the Nations Cup team leaderboard at the halfway stage, with Germany sitting in an unfamiliar second after Isabell Werth posted an uncharacteristic drop score of 72.52%. Her 12-year-old Emilio 107 was not onside, with several moments of resistance causing their score to plummet.

Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour took second with Atterupgaards Cassidy, her double individual bronze medallist at the 2017 European Championships. Despite a costly spook going into their second passage, the pair posted 78.49% to put Denmark in third at this stage.

“I don’t really know what happened — the spook cost us marks, but today was the first time going in there that Cassidy really coped with the atmosphere,” said Cathrine.

Just four weeks after giving birth to her second daughter, Helen Langehanenberg was the best of the home team, scoring 77.03% to stand third with the 16-year-old stallion Damsey FRH.

Britain’s two individual riders both gave good accounts of themselves. Emile Faurie finished 13^th with the 14-yar-old De Niro son Delatio (above), and their 73.12% would have been higher had it not been for a mistake in the otherwise lovely one-time changes.

The eye-catching black stallion had not competed since February due to injury.

“We could have given him another couple of months off but we decided to come here as he’s qualified for WEG,” Emile told H&H. “I’m thrilled with him today. He just needs a bit more oomph; towards the end he was feeling the heat a bit.”

Continues below…

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Lara Butler was delighted with her mistake-free test on Rubin Al Asad, at the pair’s Aachen CHIO debut. The 16-year-old Rubin Royal gelding produced his best performance of 2018 so far, earning 72.64%.

“He was super – apparently he just needs a really big occasion!” laughed Lara. “His twos felt super, his passage felt really good — he is probably going the best he ever has at the moment.”

All the riders go forward to the next stage of the competition, the grand prix special on Saturday morning.

Don’t miss the full report from Aachen in next week’s H&H, on sale on 26 July.

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

Germany’s Isabell Werth beat the USA’s Laura Graves to the FEI World Cup title this afternoon (Saturday, 14 April) in Paris, in an incredibly tense showdown.

Laura’s score of 89.082% with her own and her boyfriend Curt Maes’ Verdades was a personal best by 3.886%, rewarding a flawless test with a high degree of difficulty.

“My horse has been terrific all week, I’m super-proud and impressed with how our training is going and how he was in that environment. Perhaps I could have done more to help him and then maybe we would have hit 90%. But we’re so close and that’s exciting,” said Laura.

But Isabell came back fighting after being beaten by Laura in the grand prix yesterday and matched her error-free performance with one of her own on Christine Arns-Krogmann’s black mare Weihegold OLD. She scored 90.657%.

“Today my horse was really perfect and that was one of our best freestyles, perhaps the best,” said Isabell. “I was sure Laura would get a high mark and I was focused on fighting. I tried to analyse what happened yesterday and improve.”

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl was emotional to finish third for Germany with Christine Bürchler-Keller’s 17-year-old Unee BB, scoring 83.725%.

“It’s our third time on the podium at a World Cup final and his last final,” she said. “It’s very hard to beat Patrik [Kittel, fourth on 83.146%] and his 83% but we did it!”

Britain’s Hayley Watson-Greaves was pleased with her 75.346% for 11th on Rubins Nite.

“He went in there again and stayed relaxed and I’m delighted with our score,” said World Cup final debutante Hayley.

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Full report from Paris in Horse & Hound next week (issue dated 19 April).

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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

The formbook was upset at the FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Paris this afternoon (Friday, 13 April) as the US combination of Laura Graves and Verdades beat Germany’s Isabell Werth on Weihegold OLD to top spot in the grand prix.

Laura has beaten Isabell once before — in Aachen last summer — but the German undoubtedly started as favourite.

But errors when Christine Arns-Krogmann’s 13-year-old black mare proved impetuous in canter brought Isabell’s score down to 78.26%, while Laura put in a personal best for 81.413%.

“It’s Friday 13th, it’s not my best day!” joked Isabell. “I hadn’t planned her to be so hot in the canter and it was a bit surprising for me. But it’s not serious, it happens. I hadn’t planned it like this, but tomorrow I will make it as hard as possible for Laura. I’ll take all the risks I can and I hope I can be more focused than today.”

Laura raised a laugh when she said it feels “very scary” to beat Isabell.

“She’s such a fierce competitor, I know she’s going to ride even harder tomorrow,” she said, adding that she was “super-pleased” with her test. “It was extremely clean and the judges agreed it was a personal best; there’s no better time for that to happen.”

Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl took third with 75.667% on the veteran Unee BB, who belongs to Beatrice Bürchler-Keller.

“I’ve heard a lot about this venue because my parents watched the World Cup final here about 20 years ago,” said Jessica. “They really enjoyed it and told me it was an amazing experience. It’s a beautiful arena and a special atmosphere.”

Britain’s Hayley Watson-Greaves took 11th on 69.829% with her own Rubins Nite. She is riding at her first World Cup final.

“I wanted to go in there and have a nice round and reduce the amount of mistakes I’ve had in the grand prix this season, said Hayley. “I was pleased he was very relaxed as he can get a bit hot in the atmosphere.”

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The results of today’s grand prix are used to split the riders into groups for tomorrow’s freestyle (2pm local time — 1pm in Britain) and Laura and Jessica performed the public draw after the press conference tonight. Laura will be the 14th rider to go, with Isabell 16th and Jessica the 17th and last competitor into the arena. The freestyle determines the World Cup final placings.

Check back later for an update on the showjumping World Cup final and don’t forget to pick up next week’s magazine for a full report from Paris.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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