Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Touchdown have continued their World Cup form to earn a place in the Olympic dressage individual medal final at Paris 2024.

Patrik and the 12-year-old Quaterback gelding scored 74.32% in this afternoon’s (30 July) group C session, to sit just behind Britain’s Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, who topped the section on 74.94%. The top two from each group in the grand prix, along with the next six highest overall ranked pairs, advance to the freestyle to compete for the individual medals.

Patrik and Touchdown’s scores mostly varied between 7s and 8s, but a costly step back in the first piaffe resulted in one judge marking them a 5.5. They improved in their second piaffe, received four 8s for the two-time changes, while both pirouettes – which have coefficients and so score double – earned a handful of 8s and an 8.5.

Patrik was “super happy” with Touchdown, especially given the testing temperatures in Paris today, which reached 35 degrees.

“Touchdown handled it super well,” said Patrik. “Sadly it felt a little bit like he needed to go to the bathroom, and I tried to get him to go in the warm-up but he didn’t – and then in the last extended trot he finally went. The last centre line is normally his weak point, but that was actually his best, he was a bit lighter!

“But for me that was really positive that he did the beautiful ending, and qualified for the final, which is amazing. It’s not easy in there, there’s a lot of good riders and top riding – and to get to the final is an honour.”

Patrik’s teammate Juliette Ramel was fifth in the group B session, scoring 71.55% with Buriel K H. This puts Sweden third at the end of the first day of Olympic dressage, behind Great Britain, and the current top team, Denmark. The top 10-ranked teams once all the scores have been combined at the end of the grand prix will move on to the special, including those tied for 10th place, where the team medals will be decided. The final Swedish rider, Therese Nilshagen is in tomorrow’s group F at 1.16pm local time (12.16pm UK time).

“Hopefully tomorrow we can maybe be top five, which is our goal so we can start in the special. It’s very exciting and amazing here,” said Patrik.

“I don’t think I’ll ever see something like this again, just to be here is a pure pleasure. Everyone has been very careful with the horses, the looking after of the riders and horses with the heat and everything has been incredible.”

Patrick Kittel explained why he chose to take Touchdown into the Olympic dressage over his other qualified ride, Jovian, who is younger and less experienced.

“For me, Touchdown’s been so good this year – he won the World Cup. I just felt with Jovian, he’s such an amazing horse but we’re not quite there yet and to put a horse through an Olympics, it’s a big thing,” he said.

“Our time will come. Touchdown is secure, he’s confident, and that’s what it’s all about – you have to make your horse feel at ease. With Jovian in the future I think I will have the utmost best horse but we just need time, and I don’t want to push him to do something that I feel we are not ready to do together.

“Touchdown has the best mentality; he is such a cutie, and has a really good character. I owe him so much and this year we have just done amazing things, and now we have qualified for the Olympic finals, so that will do. Not too shabby!”

And when asked after his test if he was now going to go and cool down from the heat, Patrik said: “Now I want to go and give my horse a carrot… and then take a cold shower.”

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Patrik Kittel won the dressage World Cup Final freestyle at the ninth time of asking, riding Touchdown. This competition went to the wire, as the top three were the last to go – and were covered by just over 0.25% in the final reckoning. But Patrik’s brilliant James Bond routine stole the show, with Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald second aboard Blue Hors Don Olymbrio, and Isabell Werth third on DSP Quantaz.

Patrik, 47, remembered being a spectator when his compatriot Louise Natthorst – who trains him now – won the World Cup Final 24 years ago.

“I was just a groom and took two days off to watch the final, and couldn’t believe how cool the World Cup was – and now I’ve actually won it myself,” said Patrik. “It makes me cry! I’ve done so many World Cup Finals, so I say it’s better late than never. I’ll never forget this moment.”

But there was drama as the contest neared its conclusion when the hot favourite Lottie Fry was eliminated under the blood rule. The grand prix winner Lottie was first into the ring from the final quartet – drawn from the top four in Wednesday’s grand prix – but the steward stopped her up before she entered the ring, had a quick word, and Everdale left the ring on a long-rein walk.

How the dressage World Cup Final freestyle played out

The packed stands were treated to three very different tests in this climax. Nanna tried out her new sombre, dramatic music for her liver chestnut stallion with white socks. Don Olymbrio is arguably her second string after Blue Hors Zepter, and the 16-year-old by Jazz is agile and rhythmic without being super flashy. At times he looked a trifle tight but he was pinpoint accurate, and proved how relaxed he was as he wandered out on a loose rein seemingly lapping up the applause. They blasted into the lead, which had been held for a long time by Mattias Rath (Destacado FRH, 77.85%), on 81.42%.

“I really enjoyed my new music today,” said Nanna, who was finishing runner-up for the second time at the World Cup Finals. “Maybe it’s a little bit brave to bring it to the World Cup Final, and I will have to adjust it here and there to make it fit even better, but it made me smile inside and that’s really important that you love to ride to your music.”

Next in was Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz, who held the highest personal best in the field of 88.4%, which he logged en route to team silver at the European Championships in Riesenbeck last autumn. After finishing only fourth with mistakes in the two-time changes in the grand prix, Isabell was on a mission at this her 25th World Cup Final – and her ninth different horse.

Her upbeat, happy music to a Bonnie Tyler soundtrack suited the bouncy Quantaz, especially his excellent piaffes which scored eights and nines. Another highlight, with a comedy touch, was her pirouettes to Turn Around from Total Eclipse of the Heart. She went for high difficulty lines and they came off. Three judges put her in first place, but their total of 81.4 meant the Dane held the advantage by just 0.02%.

“I love to compete and it was a great atmosphere and a very close battle,” said Isabell. “It was a fun competition. When I came in Quantaz was quite excited by the atmosphere after Nanna’s great test, and he could have gone tense, but he stayed really with me. It was great sport, and to have three on the podium this close makes our sport exciting; it felt like anything could happen.”

Isabell added: “I feel so sorry for Lottie, because we all know we are on a thin line, anything can happen to anyone.”

Drawn as the very last rider in to the ring, Patrik had been excited to show off what he described as his “melancholic James Bond” freestyle and he milked the moment. The soundtrack was a perfect fit for Touchdown, his 12-year-old Quaterback Swedish Warmblood, and his transitions were spot-on with the music breaks. The horse showed so much lift, suppleness and harmony with his rider. The tempis were ever so slightly swingy behind, but overall the partnership produced a light and dancing picture, with beautiful piaffe to passage to match James Bond’s dying moments in A Time to Die. Patrik threw his arms round the neck at the end, before punching the air and waving at the crowd.

“I love my music, now I have ridden it a few times and know exactly how it goes,” he said. “I love the slow, cool entrance and then off to extended trot. The degree of difficulty is very good for the sport, because we have to ride everything according to the programme and not take short cuts. It has done the sport a favour.”

Despite this being Patrik’s ninth World Cup Final appearance he had never previously even been on the podium. He had broken that duck in the grand prix, finishing runner-up, and was visibly ecstatic with this performance to take victory by 0.24%.

Off the podium at the dressage World Cup Final freestyle

Germany’s Matthias Rath took the lead midway through the competition on 77.85%. The world number 11 rode to bombastic theatrical music, which complemented this compact warrior type, Destacado FRH. He showed great energy and cadence in his half-passes, and the judges loved his ground-covering extended walk and canter. However, a slight miscommunication at the end of the two-time tempis, when he slipped in a one-time – which he then repeated in the joker line – dragged his score down a touch. He finished just off the podium in fourth.

“My horse performed much better than in the grand prix,” said Matthias, who finished sixth there. “I had a little mistake in two times but otherwise I was really happy. Sometimes everyone around forgets he’s just 11, he’s in his third grand prix season which was so early, and he’s still young.

“He’s big with big movement so we have to give him time and I’m sure there is much more to come.”

Matthias’ countryman, 24-year-old Raphael Netz, marked his card as one to watch in fifth position. Based with two-time World Cup Final winner Jessica von Bredow-Werndl – although setting up his own yard this month – Raphael scored 76.48% with his bold expressive test. He chose music from How to Train Your Dragon, inspired because he thinks his “small but mighty” horse Great Escape Camelot resembles the dragon from the film.

Belgium’s Flore de Winn was another to catch the eye, riding the youngest horse in the competition into sixth place on 76.13%. Her ride, 10-year-old Flynn FRH, is a striking black stallion who went in a lovely relaxed frame, yet showing all his power and athleticism. They made a mistake in the first line of one-time tempis, but clawed the marks back through the joker line. Flore didn’t go for a maximum difficulty level on this young horse, but his potential is huge.

“He did a great job, he was himself and he stayed with me, which is the most important thing,” said Flore. “The crowd was impressive compared to two days ago and we were both a bit amazed by that, but he tried his best as he always does. He’s my best buddy.”

The FEI vet director Göran Åkerström confirmed afterwards that the blood spotted on Everdale’s gum was minimal.

“It is the kind of injury that will heal extremely fast, it was not much blood at all,” he said. “There should not be any concerns over the horse or the oral cavity because of it. It was extremely unlucky.”

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Top dressage horses Queenparks Wendy and Jovian will be campaigned by Germany’s Isabell Werth and Sweden’s Patrik Kittel, while Andreas Helgstrand is excluded from team competition during 2024.

Today (12 January) a spokesman for Helgstrand Dressage announced that the stable, in collaboration with Queenparks Wendy’s owner Bolettte Wandt of Château de Fontaine, has entered into a partnership with Isabell and Isabell’s sponsor Madeleine Winter-Schulze for the 10-year-old mare to join Isabell. A partnership has been formed between Helgstrand Dressage and Patrik for 10-year-old stallion Jovian.

Both horses’ nationalities have been updated on the FEI database, ahead of the 15 January Olympic transfer deadline.

The move comes after Andreas Helgstrand was excluded from the Danish national team and team activities following the broadcast of TV2’s documentary Operation X: The Secrets of the Horse Billionaire, filmed undercover at Helgstrand Dressage.

“Both horses are at the peak of their careers, so it only makes sense that they should have optimal conditions to develop their sporting potential while Andreas Helgstrand is out of competition in 2024,” said the Helgstrand spokesman.

“Wendy” made her international debut with Andreas as a five-year-old at the World Championships for young dressage horses, where she won bronze. She made her grand prix debut at the Aalborg CDI3* in 2022, and has consistently posted +71% scores. In October Wendy scored a personal best of 81.16% in the freestyle at the World Cup qualifier in Herning with Andreas.

Isabell said she is “very proud and grateful to welcome this outstanding horse”.

“I would like to give special thanks to Madeleine Winter-Schulze, Bolette Wandt, and Andreas Helgstrand for facilitating this partnership,” she said.

Bolette said Wendy and Isabell are the “perfect match”.

“They are both true power girls. Wendy has a real ‘here I come’ charisma, talent, and power – the entire package required to reach the top. Moreover, she is still a young horse, and I have no doubt that there is a lot more to come in the future. Wendy is in very good hands with Isabell,” she said.

Andreas bought Jovian as a three-year-old and has produced him. In 2019 Jovian won the five-year-old final at the World Championships for young dressage horses, then went on to win the seven-year-old final in 2021. Last summer Andreas and Jovian were part of the Danish Nations Cup team at Aachen, and in September they were on the team that won bronze at the Europeans in Riesenbeck.

“I admire Jovian. He is an absolutely fantastic horse, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to ride him,” said Patrik.

“I have been a fan of his since Andreas bought him. He has qualities beyond this world – when he trots, it’s like he’s trotting on clouds. I will do everything I can to do him justice and hope that we develop a good and fruitful partnership together.”

Andreas said Wendy and Jovian are “two absolutely fantastic horses, and it’s of course, a bit sad to say goodbye to them”.

“However, I am most of all happy and proud that we have made agreements with two of the world’s absolute best dressage riders, allowing both horses to showcase their worth and continue on their journey towards the stars,” he said.

The Helgstrand spokesman added that the stable “looks forward to following the new partnerships closely”.

“There is no doubt that it will be an exciting journey full of success,” he said.

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Sportpferde Galleria has withdrawn three potential Olympic horses, Galleria’s Bohemian, Rossetti and Vincent Maranello, from a proposed auction after backlash.

The German company had been hoping to arrange a sale before the 15 January 2024 deadline on horse nationality changes for the Olympics – a representative told H&H that with this date approaching, and the age of the horses, now was the best time to make a sale.

It was announced yesterday (26 October) that an online auction would be held for the horses, of whom Bohemian is the most prominent and whose sale has caused the most controversy. This plan has now changed.

The 13-year-old gelding and fan favourite was fourth at the Tokyo Olympics under Cathrine Dufour, scoring 87.5% in the freestyle. He also won two bronze medals and one silver at the 2021 European Dressage Championships in Hagen.

In January 2023, Bohemian was sold to Sportpferde Galleria, an exclusive German sales yard established by South Korean Olympian Dong Seon Kim.

Bohemian was intended to be Dong Seon Kim’s ride at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but in July this year he announced that he was stepping away from the sport and that Bohemian, Rossetti and Vincent Maranello, were for sale.

Bohemian’s current rider, Patrik Kittel, said he had heard there was to be an online auction.

“Poor Bohemian… [I’ve] been really working to try to save him from this with sponsors or to find him a good home,” he said. “They asked me if [I] wanted to do the auction but even the thought of having lots of people riding Bo, [who] is super sensitive, made me feel sick.”

The Galleria Sportpferde representative had no comment on Patrik’s post but told H&H: “We never want anything bad for our horses.”

Patrik’s post provoked significant backlash, and the representative told H&H plans for the auction have since been cancelled owing to the reaction. The owners are once again seeking a private sale.

“I had the honour to ride Bohemian only shortly but in this time you captured my heart and showed me in Herning what a champion you are when you trust someone,” said Patrik, referring to the pair’s wins in the grand prix and grand prix special at the CDI3* in Herning last week (21 – 22 October).

“I pray you get a good home where you can feel safe and loved.”

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Who are the best dressage horses in the world right now? We take a look…

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With the 2023 European Dressage Championships just round the corner, we take a look at the best dressage horses in the world, as of August 2023, according to the latest FEI world rankings.

It’s been a year since the FEI changed its dressage world ranking format, splitting the leaderboards into separate horse and rider rankings rather than using combinations. There has been quite a shuffle in the top names over the course of 2023 so far, with British horse, Imhotep, entering the top 10, and the re-entry of TSF Dalera BB.

It’s also notable that the current top 10 line-up are now all European-ridden horses, with the USA’s Suppenkasper having slipped down from the top 10 spot he held in the new year, to lie 14th.

There has been quite the shake-up if you were to compare today’s top 10 to the horses that featured at the top of the list around the time of the last European Championships, in 2021. Just four of the names that made up the best dressage horses in the world two years ago still feature in the top 10 rankings.

So, who are the best dressage horses in the world right now?

1. TSF Dalera BB, GER

This brilliant mare, a 14-year-old Trakehner daughter of Easy Game, entranced viewers all over the world in 2021, when she was crowned both Olympic and European champion with her brilliant rider, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl. Their dominance extended into the winter season of that year and they won the 2022 World Cup Final, before taking an extended break as Jessica welcomed her second child, Ella Marie.

Dalera’s absence from the World Dressage Championships in 2022 saw her slip out of the top 10, but she has hurtled straight back into the top spot in 2023, winning the World Cup Final for the second year and dominating proceedings at CHIO Aachen. She is yet to face a showdown with the stallion who took her place at the top last year, however, the hotly-anticipated meeting of Dalera and Glamourdale at the Riesenbeck Europeans next month will reveal which one has the edge.

2. Glamourdale, GBR

The stunning stallion Glamourdale and his talented British rider Lottie Fry became worthy world champions last summer, moving temporarily into the world number one spot in the months that followed. They have slipped down to number two in 2023 since Dalera returned to the fray, but the Lord Leatherdale stallion has grown in strength and experience this year and looks even stronger in his grand prix work than he did in August 2022.

Both he and Dalera are unbeaten so far this season, and are, without a doubt, the two best dressage horses in the world at the moment. But they can’t both remain unbeaten when they come up against each other for the first time at the Europeans. It’s hard to predict who might come out on top, but we’re looking forward to finding out in Riesenbeck.

3. Blue Hors Zepter, DEN

This imposing chestnut gelding has had a number of riders in the past few years, most notably Daniel Bachmann Andersen, Patrik Kittel and Nanna Skodberg Merrald. It’s with Nanna that the Blue Hors Zack son has emerged as one of the best horses in the world this year, finishing as runners-up at the World Cup Final in April, and remaining hot on TSF Dalera’s heels at CHIO Aachen.

Somewhat surprisingly – though perhaps not given his rider-hopping – 15-year-old Zepter will be making his championship debut in Riesenbeck. Expect big things from this pair at the Europeans – they will definitely be fighting for individual medals.

4. Emilio 107, GER

The highest ranked of Isabell Werth’s current horses – it is by virtue of the fact that 17-year-old Emilio has had nine outings in the past 12 months, compared to DSP Quantaz’s six, that he ranks higher than his stablemate, who is bound for the Europeans.

You could say Emilio, by Ehrenpreis, is among the more underrated of Isabell’s rides in recent years; he has not made it to a major championship or World Cup Final, yet from 89 international grand prix starts since the start of his top-level career in 2015, he has achieved a whopping 54 wins. Definitely deserving of his place among the world’s best.

5. DSP Quantaz, GER

This eye-catching Quaterback stallion was slightly in the shadow of Isabell Werth’s famous mares, but over the past year he has stepped up into the position of her number one ride, and become a true medal contender in his own right.

The pair were just pipped to individual bronze at the World Championships in 2022 – although they did help Germany win team bronze – and they’ll be gunning for team gold on home soil next month. Quantaz has now exceeded 85% on no fewer than seven occasions, making him highly worthy of his place in the world rankings.

6. Imhotep, GBR

A new entry to the top 10 this year, Charlotte Dujardin’s current top horse Imhotep, a 10-year-old son of Everdale, has taken the grand prix circuit by storm during the past year. He was very much a rookie when helping Britain to team silver in Herning last summer, but some time out over the winter while Charlotte welcomed baby Isabella seems to have done him the world of good. He has come out in 2023 stronger, more mature, and looking every bit a potential individual medallist in Riesenbeck.

Unbeaten on British soil this year, he was also snapping at Dalera’s heels during CHIO Aachen with a trio of top-three finishes. We haven’t seen the best of him yet.

7. Everdale, GBR

The powerful 14-year-old Lord Leatherdale stallion may be playing second fiddle this year to his world champion stablemate, but he’s still the seventh best dressage horse in the world. Under Britain’s Lottie Fry, he strutted his stuff in Tokyo to take home the team bronze in 2021. Less than two months later they brought home team silver from the Europeans, and secured a fifth place finish in both the freestyle and the special.

In the years since, Everdale’s performances have grown more refined, without losing any of their power, and he scored a career best of 87.51% recently at Aachen. When a horse like this is your number two, as is the case for Lottie, you know you’re truly a rider to be reckoned with.

8. Heiline’s Danciera, DEN

This gorgeous mare and her rider, Denmark’s Carina Cassøe Krüth, captured hearts around the world at the Tokyo Olympics and they were key members of the gold medal-winning Danish team at the worlds in 2022. They have remained on consistently good form this year, sweeping the board at both the Gothenburg World Cup qualifier and the five-star Nations Cup leg in Compiegne.

The 12-year-old Fürstenball mare, who truly looks as though she is dancing when she takes to the arena, will be in line for individual medals at the European Championships.

9. Hermes NOP, NED

The double individual bronze medallist at last year’s World Championships with Dinja van Liere, Hermes would no doubt be higher up this list of the world’s best dressage horses if an injury hadn’t ruled him out of action since April. He was a dominant force on the 2022/23 World Cup circuit, winning the Mechelen and Amsterdam legs and finishing second to Glamourdale in ’s-Hertogenbosch.

Such is the talent the Easy Game son has displayed at the age of just 11, he could have been expected to give Dalera and Glamourdale a run for their money in Riesenbeck. If he can return on the same form, expect him to be a major player ahead of the Paris Olympics.

10. Touchdown, SWE

Touchdown brings a fourth nation inside the top 10, being the ride of Sweden’s number one Patrik Kittel. 2022 was a big year for this pair, as they brought the house down with their James Bond themed freestyle to finish seventh. Patrik adores this Quaterback son and they’ve maintained their super form since, recently posting their best ever score of 85.9%.

Whether or not Touchdown maintains his position within the top 10 may depend on whether Patrik opts to campaign him at the Europeans over his other talented grand prix horse Forever Young – unconfirmed at the time of writing – but there is no doubt Touchdown is among the best in the world.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

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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

Sweden’s Patrick Kittel brought the drama with a spectacular Bond-themed freestyle aboard Touchdown at the Blue Hors World Dressage Championships. Their score of 83.68% put the pair into the provisional lead in the World Dressage Championships results table.

But their reign was short-lived, with next to go Gareth Hughes and Classic Briolinca shooting to the top of the leaderboard with a huge new personal best of 84.04%.

The partnership entered at collected walk, building the suspense through the choreography matched seamlessly with their dramatic soundtrack.

“I loved it, the music is fantastic – Skyfall it’s a little bit of everything from Daniel Craig’s [films as Bond], so it’s Skyfall, Casino Royale, No Time To Die, Spectre, but it’s not the customised James Bond,” said Patrik.

“For example, the last piaffe passage that’s when [Bond] is dying in No Time To Die, when the bombs are coming in, and I just love that music. I wanted to do James Bond, because I’m a big James Bond fan, but without making it the James Bond because everyone has done before, so that was my goal. Walking to that piano, that was the coolest thing.”

While Herning marks the first senior championship for the 10-year-old Quarterback gelding, owned by Sommarkvarn AB, Patrick brings with him a wealth of experience and medals, with Herning marking his fourth World Championship appearance.

He added it felt “unbelievable” to ride in that stadium

“I had one small mistake, but to be really honest, to ride in here, and this audience. It is next level,” he said.

“I think they’re supportive of everybody. I wasn’t even nervous going into it. I just wanted to ride, to make people have a good time. That’s what it’s about, you know, being one with your horse and enjoying yourself.”

Patrick’s team-mate Therese Nilshagen and the 15-year-old Dante Weltino OLD impressed with a new freestyle for these championships.

“I had such a great feeling coming into the arena. I have a new freestyle which got ready just in time, so I thought – why not use it, no point in saving it for later,” said Therese, who scored 83.05%.

“It has a nice flow and fits Dante very well. Comparing this to the European championship in 2017, it feels a lot alike – back then, was a home crowd which is always amazing, but this feels like a home crowd as well. Such a great atmosphere and so many Swedes here to cheer on. Overall, I am happy with the week and looking forward to the next European championship and Olympics.”

Denmark’s team gold medallist Carina Cassøe Krüth received a warm welcome from the home crowd for her performance with Heiline’s Danciera, receiving a score of 82.14% from the judges.

“First of all, the Danish audience is amazing, they know us, they love us and they know we are more than ok with them clapping and cheering for us,” said Carina, who rode to the sound of music from Dirty Dancing and Fame, with the crowd clapping them along the final centre line.

“I am more than happy with my test and my horse even if we had expensive mistakes today. This championship is a once in a lifetime experience, there will never in my lifetime be a championship on home soil. The team medal is so precious because we all fought so hard for it, it has been nothing short of amazing.”

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Reaching a championship like the FEI Dressage World Cup Final usually involves a partnership with a horse developed over many years – but not so for Sweden’s Patrik Kittel, who is in Leipzig riding a horse he has only ever taken to one previous show.

Unlike Isabell Werth for example, who has partnered her mare Weihegold OLD at top level for eight years, or Britain’s Lottie Fry, who has trained Dark Legend since he was a youngster, Patrik only took over the ride on Blue Hors Zepter in December 2021, and the World Cup Final is just his second show on the 14-year-old son of Blue Hors Zack. The pair made their debut outing together just a few weeks ago in Neumünster, Germany, with new FEI rules meaning horses only must compete in one World Cup qualifier to be eligible to compete at the final, as long as their rider has qualified.

Luckily, neither Patrik nor Zepter are new to the game – Patrik is one of the world’s most experienced grand prix riders, while Zepter was ridden very successfully at top level by Daniel Bachmann Andersen between 2018 and early 2020, before Daniel left his job at the Blue Hors stud. Patrik says he “loved Blue Hors Zepter since I saw him with Daniel many years ago”, but what does it take to perform at this level with a horse you barely know? After all, dressage is all about the bond forged between horse and rider, so what is it like coming to an event like the World Cup Final on a new horse?

“It is quite nerve-wracking,” admits Patrik, following his 74.66% short grand prix in Leipzig, which left him in seventh. “The horse knows this, I know this, but we still have to be together as a combination. I have to say, to go in and do what he did today was very impressive. Once we have done a couple more shows he will be better and better and then we will really climb up the ladder I think.

“The horse is a sweetheart and I love riding him. I know that with horses, from the experience I have had that if they want to do it and they are with you they will get better, the percentage will get higher and eventually you will reach the top where you want to be, but you don’t do that in one show. You don’t do that in two shows; you do that in 10 shows. That’s where you know how much you need to warm up, how much you need to walk, how much to do of everything.”

Patrik explains that here in Leipzig, compared to in Neumünster, he has been doing more walking with Zepter in his warm-up and training sessions, and it seems to be paying off.

“It’s about constantly doing different things – trial and error,” he explained.

While Patrik has high hopes for Zepter, it is the 10-year-old Qatarback gelding Touchdown with whom he is targeting the dressage World Championships later this year in Herning, Denmark. The pair have been on great form, recently winning the grand prix at the Doha CDI5*.

“Touchdown has everything to be in the top five in Herning. I love that horse, he is unbelievable to ride,” says Patrik.

Find out when Patrik Kittel and other top riders will compete in the World Cup Final this evening.

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Sweden’s leading rider Patrik Kittel has been forced to withdraw from the dressage at the Tokyo Olympics.

Patrik’s horse, the 13-year-old mare Well Done De La Roche CMF has sustained an injury in training while at the Olympic venue.

“Well Done tripped in yesterday’s training; a small injury prevents us from competing in the Tokyo Olympics. I am broken to the core [but] Welly will always come first,” said Patrik in a handwritten statement that he released today (22 July).

“I will now support my students and team friends, in the honour of representing Sweden.”

Patrik and the Swiss-bred Furstentraum x Walt Disney mare are currently ranked 14th in the world, and were serious contenders for both team and individual dressage medals in Tokyo, having led Sweden to team bronze at the 2019 European Championships in Rotterdam.

Sweden will now call on their travelling alternate combination Antonia Ramel, on Brother De Jeu, to join her sister Juliette Ramel (Buriel KH) and Therese Nilshagen (Dante Weltino) on the Olympic team.

Tokyo was due to be Patrik’s fourth Olympic Games, but his first with “Welly”. They represented Sweden at the World Equestrian Games in 2018, finishing fifth individually. The following year they won team bronze and finished eighth individually in the freestyle. They had proved themselves to be on top form in 2021 – they remained unbeaten in their final three shows before Tokyo, including sweeping the board and leading Sweden to Nations Cup victory in Compiègne in May.

“I am grateful to the people that are my friends and family, and support me so much,” added Patrik.

Patrik is the second dressage rider to have withdrawn from the competition after arrival in Tokyo – South Africa’s Tanya Seymour has also been forced to pull out with Ramoneur 6.

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British Olympic team contenders will be in action at the first five-star dressage show of the year in Europe, which kicks off tomorrow at Compiègne, France. It will serve as the final outing for some of Britain’s top combinations ahead of Olympic team selection next month. 

As well as elite British riders, several Olympic team and medal contenders from other countries will be among those contesting the CDIO5* Nations Cup leg – the first of three in 2021 (the others are at Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in July and Aachen, Germany, in September) – and the CDI3* competition, which runs alongside. 

The CDI3* grand prix will take place on Friday, 28 May, with the special and freestyle the following day, while the Nations Cup competition begins with the grand prix on Saturday and concludes with the special and freestyle on Sunday. Britain are the defending champions of the Compiègne Nations Cup leg, having won it in 2019 with Carl Hester, Richard Davison, Lottie Fry and Gareth Hughes. The show did not go ahead in 2020. 

A live stream is available; meanwhile, we round up the best Brits and most exciting combinations to watch…

Britain’s Nations Cup team

Lottie Fry – Dark Legend (13yo gelding, Zucchero x Tango)

A member of the 2019 winning British team here, Lottie brings forward her 2018 under-25 European champion and 2019 British senior Europeans team horse, Dark Legend (pictured, above). This tall, elegant gelding is one of two horses with whom Lottie has already made a strong bid for a place on the Tokyo Olympic team, and a good performance here could help cement this. In 2019, Lottie was the rookie of the British team at this Nations Cup; now she returns as the rider who could lead this trio to victory in Compiègne. 

Emile Faurie – Dono Di Maggio (14yo gelding, Dimaggio x Santander H)

This British-bred gelding is in the form of his life, and Emile will certainly have his eye on a place on another championship team – the pair were members of the British quartet that brought home team bronze from the World Equestrian Games in 2018. They missed their chance to compete in Belgium at the end of April, but enjoyed a super show at Wellington with plus-75% in the special. Compiègne could see their scores climb higher. 

Louise Bell – Into The Blue (15yo gelding, Ublesco x Calvaro Z)

This lovable pair of former working hunter champions are always crowd favourites, but that’s not all they bring to the table. This will be their fourth time on a Nations Cup team, and having enjoyed a positive run at Wellington earlier this month to help blow away the lockdown cobwebs, finishing third in the freestyle, expect to see them put in a solid showing here. 

Remaining British contingent in the CDI3*

Fiona Bigwood – Hawtins Delicato (13yo gelding, Diamond Hit x Regazzoni)

Olympic silver medallist Fiona made a successful international debut with Carl Hester’s former world medallist at Wellington in mid-May, and this will be the first time this new combination have ventured onto foreign soil to show the world what they can do. They make a good partnership and, while still getting to know each other, are capable of some very useful, and eye-catching, scores here. 

Lottie Fry – Everdale (12yo stallion, Lord Leatherdale x Negro)

After 15 months away from competition, this striking stallion burst back on to the international scene this spring, and most recently scored a plus-77% grand prix special win in Exloo, the Netherlands. He is up against his more experienced stablemate Dark Legend in the fight for a place on the Olympic team, but arguably has more potential to access the very highest scores. Compiègne will be an important test for these British Olympic team contenders. 

Laura Tomlinson – Rose Of Bavaria (11yo mare, Bordeaux x Florestan I)

Laura and “Betty’s” 2021 Olympic selection campaign was delayed in getting off the ground, after the mare suffered a reaction to an EHV vaccine earlier in the year. Happily, she is back to fitness and ready to throw her hat in the ring for an Olympic team place. They have had limited international outings so far, and haven’t crossed the Channel since last September, but you wouldn’t be surprised to see them finish among the leaders here. 

Richard Davison – Bubblingh (15yo gelding, Lingh x Picandt)

Four-time Olympian Richard has exercised impressive patience in developing this talented, but quirky home-bred “Bubbles”. They had a quiet 2020, returning to the international arena for the first time since March last year at Wellington CDI3*, where they performed strongly in the grand prix, but withdrew from the special. It will be interesting to see the impression they can make here.

Best of the rest

Cathrine Dufour DEN – Bohemian (11yo gelding, Bordeaux x Samarant)

Her multi-medalled Atterupgaards Cassidy made have just landed a fifth Danish national title for Cathrine, but it is this young superstar who will likely spearhead the Danish team in Tokyo. This will be his first international outing of 2021, but as he has already exceeded 82% in the special, and 88% in the freestyle – twice – you can expect impressive things, and quite possibly a victory, from him in the five-star tour here. 

Patrik Kittel SWE – Well Done De La Roche CMF (13yo mare, Furstentraum x Walt Disney)

Adding to the strong Scandinavian representation here is Patrik on his European team bronze medallist, who is expected to be his Tokyo contender. This will be an especially important appearance for the pair, who were eliminated on their first outing since last July, at Mariakalnok in Hungary, after traces of blood were spotted in the mare’s mouth. They have a good track record at Compiègne, having finished second in the five-star special in 2019 behind Britain’s Gareth Hughes. 

Continued below…

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Andreas Helgstrand DEN – Fiontini (11yo mare, Fassbinder x Romanov)

Until late last year, it had been more than four years since world and Olympic medallist Andreas had competed internationally at grand prix level, instead concentrating on his rapidly expanding sales and breeding business. However, since taking over the ride on this talented mare from former Helgstrand head rider Severo Jurado Lopez, he has enjoyed a string of good results that could put him in contention for a position on the Danish Olympic team this summer. Another strong showing here in the CDI3* would boost those chances. 

Hans Peter Minderhoud NED – Glock’s Zonik (13yo stallion, Blue Hors Zack x Romanov)

This will be Hans Peter’s first competition aboard his partner Edward Gal’s European medallist Zonik, having announced earlier this week that he would be taking over the ride on this imposing stallion. With Edward concentrating on younger grand prix rides, Zonik hasn’t competed since January 2020, where he scored over 85% to finish third in the freestyle at Amsterdam. It will be fascinating to see what Hans Peter can bring out of him in the CDI3* in Compiègne. 

All seven US horses originally entered at Compiegne – three in the CDIO5* and four in the young rider section – have been withdrawn due to “adverse results” among the the horses’ EHV-1 test results, conducted before their departure.

In a statement, US Equestrian said: “In accordance with the FEI Return to Competition protocols, all U.S. horses were tested for EHV-1 prior to departure from their layover base to the competition venue. A limited number of PCR tests returned with adverse results. Horses within the US contingent have not shown any symptoms or clinical signs of the virus, are not febrile, and are all vaccinated. Out of an abundance of precaution, the team has decided to withdraw. US Equestrian is working directly with the FEI to determine appropriate next steps and an acceptable timeline for a return to competition based on the outlined protocols.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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 Swedish dressage star tells Polly Bryan about his revolutionary ideas, his thoughts on rollkur 
and why Charlotte Dujardin inspires him

Patrik Kittel is a busy man. He led Sweden to the nation’s first team dressage medal in a decade last year, and topped the Western European World Cup league. When we meet, the 42-year-old is preparing to compete at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) and has the birth of his and wife, Lyndal Oatley’s, first child, a daughter, neatly scheduled for October.

He is also currently standing for the position of FEI rider representative for dressage, running various demonstration tours, renovating his new yard, and training several of his fellow Swedish squad members; Sweden’s answer to Carl Hester, some might say.

“I just hope my daughter will be as good as Charlotte Dujardin one day — I joke with Carl that I’ll send her to him to make her into a new Charlotte,” laughs Patrik, as we settle down in the riders’ bar at Aachen CHIO for a chat.

The grand prix is due to get under way that day, though sadly Patrik’s Aachen ride, his European bronze medallist and 2017 Olympia winner, Delaunay, has picked up a minor injury. Patrik is rational about the situation, however; after all, he has two other super grand prix horses: Deja, his World Cup finalist, and the younger mare, Well Done De La Roche CMF, whom he describes as “the best horse I’ve ever had” and has opted to ride at WEG.

It’s all a far cry from the days of cycling home from the riding school to his non-horsey parents and announcing he wanted to ride at the Olympics. Jumping was his first love, until his mother bought a mare that just didn’t want to leave the floor.

“At every fence I was just stopping and falling off,” recalls Patrik, a German twang filtering through his accent after 24 years living in his adopted country. “We didn’t have the money to buy another horse, so I had no choice — I started schooling her and teaching her changes and that sort of decided my 
career for me. I came to Germany aged 18, 
a kid with no money, just trying to learn as much as I could.”

There, he trained with Klaus-Martin Rath and then Klaus Balkenhol, before landing his first proper job at none other than Gestüt Eulenhof in Dülmen, the yard he recently bought. He still dabbles in jumping from time to time, including jumping one of Swedish European champion Peder Fredricson’s horses in a demo a few years ago.

“It’s all about keeping it fun, doing what you enjoy,” Patrik says, and indeed, upping the fun factor of dressage is something he feels passionate about — this is the man who galloped round Olympia’s grand hall holding his hand out to high-five the crowds during his exuberant lap of honour last December.

“It’s important that people are allowed to enjoy our sport, to clap when people come in and out of the arena, to feel more involved. Public scoring is great for that,” he says. “It’s about making it more accessible; in other sports the stars have higher profiles, do autograph signings, meet the fans. It’s why 
I do a dressage tour in Sweden, and a riding school tour, too, where we meet kids, the younger generation, and hope to inspire them to watch dressage or to ride.”

For Patrik, the current international competition format is not compatible with increased mainstream attention.

“The grand prix needs to change somehow, we need to throw around some new ideas, and talk about it. My idea is to have all the same movements in the grand prix, but fewer of 
each — one extension instead of three, for example — and the rider can choose the order of them and ride to music. It would make it shorter, and more interesting — even I don’t want to watch 60 people ride the same grand prix test.”

Wouldn’t that just make it into another freestyle test, I counter.

“It would be like a mini freestyle but easier, and it’ll still be in the main freestyle that you have your degree of difficulty marks. The grand prix would just be about the basic movements,” Patrik explains. “The special should stay the same — that is the ultimate test — but with 20 instead of 30 in it. Those watching on TV really just want to see the best. I don’t watch the first rounds of Wimbledon after all; I start watching from the quarter-finals.”

It’s an intriguing idea, and even if this exact concept doesn’t take off, Patrik’s starting a conversation, getting people talking about what can be done to modernise, but not fundamentally change, the sport. He’s the brains behind last year’s successful inaugural SAAB Top 10 event in Sweden, with a huge, enthusiastic audience, and prize fund of €145,000 (£132,000), plus a car, and he’s one of the most vibrant, forward-thinking riders I’ve met, leaning across the table in his eagerness to discuss the sport he loves.

I’m reluctant to change the subject and darken the tone with the welfare issues with which, for some, Patrik’s name is tainted. In 2009, Patrik found himself at the centre of controversy following the release of a video appearing to show him using rollkur while warming up Watermill Scandic at an international show in Odense, Denmark. The FEI launched an investigation, but no action was taken against him.

Almost 10 years on, Patrik rolls his eyes when I mention it, but is more than happy to chat about his feelings on the subject.

“We ride under rules and regulations in our job and it’s up to the stewards to do their job,” he says, simply. “If they see aggressive riding they should tell the rider, and if it continues, give a yellow card. Aggressive riding shouldn’t be allowed in any shape or form, but actually, when I watch shows, mostly the riding and treatment of horses is very nice. But members of the public filming and photographing can make people feel scared to ride.”

I ask whether he thinks public viewing of warm-up areas at major shows, such as Aachen, should be restricted and he shakes his head with certainty.

“No, that’s not a good solution. I remember as a kid I snuck in to watch the top riders train. I loved it and learned a lot. I want the younger generation to be able to do the same now, plus riders shouldn’t have anything to hide.

“Of course, 99% of the audience come to enjoy it, not trying to take a bad photo, but it’s the other 1% that make a lot of noise. [Bad photos] happen to every rider, but unfortunately it’s a part of being successful,” he says, admitting that he used to Google celebrities to reassure himself that they are also subjected to intense online criticism. “I don’t look at [what’s written online]; I just do my job. I have a clear conscience about myself and my horses; the rest is up to the people who are actually educated to decide.”

Continued below…

“I’ve had hate mail” says dressage rider at centre of blue tongue row

Patrik Kittel, the Swedish team dressage rider at the centre of the “blue tongue” rollkur row has spoken exclusively to

FEI reassures after concerns surround Patrik Kittel photo

The FEI has moved to reassure people who have expressed concern about a photo of Patrik Kittel warming up in

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Whatever your opinions on Patrik, no one could deny that this is a down-to-earth guy investing everything in improving the sport, for riders, horses and fans. He’s excited about the future, about newer star riders such as Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour, the Netherlands’ Emmelie Scholtens, and especially Charlotte.

“When I see Charlotte ride I get jealous,” he admits. “A really good rider is one who does well, not just with one horse, but several. Success is not about luck or money, but the ability to educate, and the science of keeping horses sound and happy. I’m inspired every day by so many of my fellow competitors.”

This article first appeared in Horse & Hound magazine on 6 September 2018

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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.

Article continues below…

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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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Patrik Kittel has been one of the leading lights of international dressage for over a decade and next week will compete for Sweden on Well Done De La Roche CMF at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon — his 11th championship. He is also currently standing for the position of rider representative on the FEI dressage committee, at the same time as preparing to welcome his first child in October. Life is hectic for the 42-year-old, but he finds the time to tell H&H about the riders he most admires.

When asked which other riders he has most admiration for, two names dominate Patrik’s response.

“Isabell Werth continues to amaze me all her time — she has such willpower — and then there’s Charlotte Dujardin,” he says. “You define a good rider, not for doing well with one horse, but with several. To really educate horses and stay on top for years— that’s an amazing rider and there’s not many who have done that,” he points out.

“When I watch Charlotte ride I get really jealous — she has the most amazing position in the saddle. You watch her ride at lower levels, like elementary, and her horses already look like potential grand prix horses; it’s very impressive to see that. She’ll be back on top of the world for sure — the good riders always climb back up again.

“Success is not about luck or money, but about the ability to educate and the science of keeping horses sound and happy. Everyone has a different approach but it’s the riders doing that who still inspire me every day.”

Patrik and his wife, Australian Olympic rider Lyndal Oatley will welcome their first child this October, a daughter.

“I really hope my daughter will be as good as Charlotte one day,” says Patrik. “I’ve joked with Carl about him training her up to be a new Charlotte.

“My little girl can do whatever she wants to do in life. But horses give people lots of responsibility, and kids who have been involved with animals from a young age generally grow up to do well and have more responsibility in life.”

Read the full interview with Patrik in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out today (6 September). For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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The dressage competition at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon gets underway on the first day on competition (12 September) with two-days of grand prix action. Horse & Hound’s dressage editor Polly Bryan will be on site to watch all the action as it happens. Here are nine partnerships she believes are worth looking out for…

1. Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Dream Boy (NED)

One of several riding young horses making their championship debut in Tryon, Hans Peter Minderhoud has a seriously exciting prospect in Glock’s Dream Boy. The 10-year-old Vivaldi stallion is proving as successful a sire as he is as a competitor, becoming one of Holland’s most popular KWPN stallions. He has taken a break from breeding to concentrate on his dressage career this year, and could well produce great things in Tryon.

2. Severo Jurado López and Deep Impact 3 (ESP)

Severo became a firm crowd-favourite at the Rio Olympics, and his one-handed passage down the centre line at the end of his freestyle — in which he finished fifth — became an iconic moment of the Games. His performances at the Gothenburg Europeans last year with Deep Impact 3, the 15-year-old black De Niro gelding he will ride in Tryon, featured similar Spanish flair, and with a freestyle personal best of plus-81% in Aachen in July, this pair are sure to produce something special at WEG.

3. Kazuki Sado and Barolo (JPN)

Eagled-eyed British fans are sure to spot a familiar name on the entry list — Barolo, former ride of Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin. The 12-year-old chestnut gelding, by Breitling W, swept the board at both Windsor and Bolesworth with Carl in 2017, before going to Japanese rider Kazuki Sado in early 2018. This new pair have been cementing their partnership during this year — watch out for them in Tryon.

4. Patrik Kittel and Well Done De La Roche (SWE)

Patrik Kittel is no stranger to championships — Tryon will be his 11^th — but this year he brings forward the least experienced of his three world-ranked rides. Patrik rates the 10-year-old Furstentraum mare as the best horse he’s ever had and, with a grand prix personal best of nearly 76%, she is sure to be a valuable asset to the Swedish team, as well as well in contention for the individual medals.

5. Isabell Werth and Bella Rose (GER)

This elegant Belissimo M mare was deemed one of the biggest threats to Valegro’s dominance in the run-up to the 2014 WEG in Normandy. She and Germany’s Isabell Werth finished second to him in the grand prix with 81.5%, but had to be withdrawn before the special and, with the exception of one CDI that autumn, was not seen again for almost four years due to injury. This June, she burst back onto the scene with a string of international wins and, while her selection for WEG over the higher scoring Weihegold OLD may seem a strange move, she was Isabell’s personal choice ride. She stands an excellent chance of individual gold, but whatever the outcome, enjoy watching this lovely mare back on the biggest stage.

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6. Christian Zimmerman and Roble (PLE)

German-born and -based Christian raised eyebrows ahead of the last WEG when he obtained Palestinian citizenship in 2013 and went on to represent the country in Normandy in 2014 and at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Tryon will be the first championship where the full-time businessman will ride the 15-year-old Ravallo gelding Roble.

7. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén and Don Auriello (SWE)

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of Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén and her partner of five championships, Don Auriello. The 16-year-old Don Davidoff gelding was off games for two years, his second-place finish in Rotterdam this year being his first show since finishing eighth in the freestyle at Rio in 2016.

8. Jackie Siu and Ferrera (HKG)

Fresh from landing Hong Kong’s first ever Asian Games gold medal in Indonesia last week, Britain-based Jackie Siu will begin her WEG campaign on top form. She is Hong Kong’s first ever dressage competitor at a WEG, and will partner Ferrera, the 15-year-old Sandro Hit mare with whom she finished fourth in the freestyle at Bolesworth this year.

9. Julio Mendoza Loor and Chardonnay (ECU)

Ecuador’s Julio Mendoza Loor will also be the first dressage rider to represent his country at a WEG. Just qualifying was a hugely emotional experience for the 39-year-old, who was raised in a small town in Ecuador, but is now based in North Carolina, not far from Tryon. He will ride the 13-year-old gelding Chardonnay.

Don’t miss the full World Equestrian Games preview in this week’s Horse & Hound (issue dated 30 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.

Don’t miss our full preview of the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, on sale Thursday 30 August

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Australian international dressage rider Lyndal Oatley has paid tribute to her Olympic partner, Sandro Boy, who died suddenly on Friday aged 17.

The bay gelding (Sandro Hit x Argentinus), who last competed in November 2017, was at the end of a light stretching session at home in Appelhulsen, Germany, when he died of what is believed to be an aortic rupture.

“He was in good spirits; super happy and being his usual self,” Lyndal told H&H. “He had finished his stretch — he is semi-retired but he likes to move. He came into walk and his hind legs became unstable. He looked at me and screamed; I ran to him as he never screams, and I got there as he went to the ground. He was gone within a minute.”

Although an aortic rupture is the most likely cause of death, Lyndal does not plan to find out for sure with an autopsy as “I want him to be in peace”.

“Utterly heartbroken and have no words,” the Olympic rider, who is married to Swedish international rider Patrik Kittel and is expecting their first child, wrote on Instagram.

Lyndal has partnered “Nissa” since 2012, competing at the World Cup final and the Aachen CDIO5* in 2016 and representing Australia at both the London Olympics in 2012, and the Rio Olympics in 2016 — the pair’s final international competition together.

“He changed my world. He taught me so much, made dreams come true and was my rock,” Lyndal wrote in a tribute to the gelding. “He died unexpectedly and quickly today while still making sure all around him were ok before very quickly leaving us.

“He had a cheeky sense of humour and gave me all the dreams a horse girl could ever ask for whilst still being his own person… and for that I loved him more! My world will be very empty without him and I can’t begin to imagine it without him.”

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

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Sweden’s Patrik Kittel raised the bar in tonight’s Olympia grand prix freestyle, claiming victory on Delaunay OLD with 80.56%, putting them fractionally ahead of Britain’s Emile Faurie in second.

Patrik and the classy 11-year-old “Dude”, by Dr Doolittle, performed a faultless test with an exceptionally high degree of difficulty, helping them go one better than their second-place grand prix finish the previous night.

“He felt amazing and tried his heart out in there. He just wants to please and do his best,” said Patrik, for whom it was an emotional win having returned to the show after 13 years.

Britain’s Emile Faurie was astounded to finish an agonisingly close second behind Patrik in what was his first ever grand prix freestyle on the De Niro breeding stallion Delatio (below).

This horse is extremely exciting for the future, demonstrating great scope and power, coupled with an impressively relaxed attitude. Their fault-free test left them just 0.2% behind Patrik with 80.4%.

“I played it safe in the grand prix last night as I still don’t know him very well,” said Emile, who has only had the ride on Elena’s Knyaginicheva’s 13-year-old for three months. “He’s just such a trier – a really awesome horse who just wants to do it all. The quality speaks for itself and his concentration is incredible. I think there’s a few more percent in there.”

Last night’s grand prix winner Edward Gal finished third with the talented nine-year-old Glock’s Zonik (Blue Hors Zack x Romanov) who just showed his inexperience with a couple of mistakes in the kur. The pair still posted 79.34% with some hugely expressive, powerful work.

“Today he was a little more tense than yesterday and wondering what was happening in there with the music so loud. But he tried his best and he’s only a nine-year-old so what can you expect,” said Edward.

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Fellow Dutch rider Madeleine Witte-Vrees slotted into fourth with Cennin, just edging ahead of Britain’s Lara Butler, debuting a new freestyle with Rubin Al Asad. They posted 76.98% with a fantastic performance to a Dire Straits soundtrack to finish fifth.

Hayley Watson-Greaves took sixth for Britain, riding a beautiful test on the Rubin Royal son Rubins Nite to score 76.68%.

Richard Davison filled seventh with Bubblingh, while Gareth Hughes and Don Carissimo finished 13^th.

Don’t miss the full report in Horse & Hound magazine, out on 21 December 2017.

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Edward Gal stormed to grand prix victory for The Netherlands on the first night of dressage at the Olympia Horse Show CDIW.

Edward claimed an early lead with 76.68% riding the hugely expressive Blue Hors Zack stallion Glock’s Zonik, who at nine years old was competing in just his third international grand prix.

It went some way to make up for the nightmare journey he had to London in adverse weather conditions, eventually driving all the way after a number of cancelled flights.

“It was worth the trip! He’s a great horse for the future and I was really happy with him tonight,” said Edward. “I just felt him coming back a little, so I sometimes rode perhaps more forward than usual.”

Having also endured a mammoth drive to reach Olympia, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel made a late bid for the win, with an excellent performance aboard the 11-year-old Dr Doolittle gelding Delaunay OLD, his partner at this year’s European Championships. They slotted into a well-deserved second with 75.1%, just ahead of Dutch rider Madeleine Witte-Vrees, who posted 73.72% with Cennin at her first Olympia.

The best Brit of the night was Emile Faurie, who produced a classy test aboard Delatio, a horse he has only ridden in two grands prix to date. The 13-year-old De Niro stallion is a real head-turner and he scored 72.86% with a mistake-free performance from first draw.

“I was absolutely thrilled and I really enjoyed it. He just has so much ability and elasticity. I rode quite carefully tonight as I don’t know him well yet – it was a bit conservative,” said Emile, who will ride his first freestyle on this horse tomorrow. “I’ve only ridden it through once at home so it’ll be a proper freestyle!”

Denmark’s Anders Dahl finished fifth with Selten HW, just fractionally ahead of Britain’s Lara Butler riding the Bechtolsheimers’ Rubin Royal 15-year-old Rubin Al Asad, who posted 72.66% with a neat, rhythmic test, just marred by a small error in the two-time changes.

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Gareth Hughes slotted into seventh with Don Carissimo, with whom he travlled to Gothenburg this summer as part of the British team, before the Don Crusador gelding had to be withdrawn due to an injury sustained just before the start of the competition. They produced a fluent, attractive performance here for 72.64%.

Richard Davison finished eighth with a very hot Bubblingh, while Hayley Watson-Greaves was 13^th on Rubins Nite, after an unfortunate costly mistake in the one-time changes.

Don’t miss the full report in the 21 December issue of Horse&Hound magazine.

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Olympians Richard Davison and Emile Faurie will spearhead the British attack at this year’s Olympia CDIW4* (12-13 December).

However notable absentees from this year’s line-up are crowd-favourites Carl Hester, freestyle winner in 2015 and 2016 with Nip Tuck, and Charlotte Dujardin, who won with Valegro in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Richard will partner Bubblingh, the 11-year-old Lingh gelding with whom he won the grand prix freestyle at this year’s Hickstead CDI in July. There they posted 74.18%.

Emile will bring forward Elena Knyaginicheva’s 13-year-old breeding stallion Delatio (De Niro x Rubinstein) — a horse he has had the ride on for just four months. The striking black stallion dominated at Vale View’s high profile show in October, claiming the grand prix with over 74%.

He will be joined by Gareth Hughes riding his European Championship team-selected horse Don Carissimo, who sadly had to be withdrawn due to injury after arrival in Gothenburg this summer. This will be the Don Crusador 12-year-old’s first international competition since, but he had already made huge waves in what is his first season of grand prix, with a freestyle personal best of 76.67%.

World Equestrian Games (WEG) hopefuls Hayley Watson-Greaves and Lara Butler make up the British contingent. Hayley will ride her own 13-year-old Rubin Royal son Rubins Nite, with whom she was crowned British Dressage national champion earlier this year. The pair have already achieved several top 10 placings on the World Cup circuit this autumn.

Lara returns to the Olympia arena with the Becktolsheimers’ 15-year-old Rubin Al Asad, also by Rubin Royal. The pair were named reserves for both the Rio Olympics and the 2017 European Championship team, and recently finished second at Oldenburg CDI4* with a grand prix personal best of plus 74%.

Ireland’s Judy Reynolds will return to the international arena with her popular Jazz gelding Vancouver K – another who was withdrawn from the Europeans due to injury — while British-based Dane Anders Dahl will pilot his consistent performer, the 13-year-old Selten HW.

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Among the international field, from which eight nations will be represented, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel will partner his Gothenburg ride Delaunay OLD, who has posted freestyle scores in the 80s this year. Holland’s Edward Gal will bring forward his talented nine-year-old stallion Glock’s Zonik.

The grand prix will take place on Tuesday 12 December at 7.30pm, with the freestyle on Wednesday 13 December at 7.20pm.

The full list of competitors is as follows:

• Quartz of Jazz Marie Emilie Bretenoux (France)
• Star Wars Bertrand Liegard (France)
• Alcazar Katherine Bateson Chadler (US)
• Bubblingh Richard Davison (Great Britain)
• Don Carissimo Gareth Hughes (Great Britain)
• Delatio Emile Faurie (Great Britain)
• Rubins Nite Hayley Watson-Greaves (Great Britain)
• Rubin Al Asad Lara Butler (Great Britain)
• Vancouver K Judy Reynolds (Ireland)
• Selten HW Anders Dahl (Denmark)
• Glock’s Zonik Edward Gal (the Netherlands)
• Thriller Katja Gevers (the Netherlands)
• Michigan Ulrik Moelgaard (Denmark)
• Cennin Madeleine Witte-Vrees (the Netherlands)
• Delaunay Old Patrik Kittel (Sweden)
• Roberto Des Frettes Charlotte Haid Bondergaard (Sweden)
• Sir Donnerhall II Old Morgan Barbancon Mestre (Spain)

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The Netherlands’ Hans peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Flirt (pictured) won the opening grand prix of the 2016 Reem Acra FEI World Cup final in Gothenburg, Sweden today (Friday, 25 March).

Riding Glock’s Flirt — a 15-year-old Florestan gelding — Hans Peter put an unassailable 76.871% on the scoreboard to scoop the winner’s purse of €7,000 (£5,000); not a bad income for a nine-minute ride.

“If I want to win once, this is my chance,” said Hans Peter, referring to a number of high profile withdrawals from this final, most notably his partner Edward Gal and Isabell Werth. “Glock’s Flirt is in really good shape and he was really with me and concentrated in there.”

Hans Peter was chased closely by the two riders competing on home turf, Tinne Vilhelmson SilfvŽén and Patrik Kittel, who filled second and third place.

Tinne’s ride, Antonia Ax:son Johnson’s Don Auriello (Don Davidoff x White Star) had a nervy start to the test, but clawed back the marks to finish second and claim €5,500.

“I was super happy but had a very shaky start. We had no halt, then he cantered off. I got a bit scared that I wasn’t where I should be with him, but as soon as I turned, he felt good. He hasn’t shown indoors for a very long time.”

Patrik (who finished 0.1% behind Tinne) was riding Watermill Scandic — one of four 17-year-old horses in the competition.

“He’s in great shape,” said the affable rider, who was the clear crown favourite. “He has so much energy and is such a special character, just like his father Solos Carex, who Tinne used to ride.”

The Swedish judge Gustav Svalling had his two riders in first and second, with the 74.4% he awarded Hans Peter only good enough for seventh by his reckoning. But it is all the scores from all seven judges that count.

Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and her faithful partner Unee BB finished fourth, with the top five being rounded out by Anna Kasprzak and Donnerperignon for Denmark.

The scores from today’s grand prix serve to shape the starting order of Sunday’s freestyle to music final, where the scores from that test alone will determine the new champion. And it will certainly be a new champion as there are no previous winners among this year’s field.

Just 3.5% covered from first to eighth places in this class, so the winner of Sunday’s freestyle is hard to predict.

Ireland’s Judy Reynold and Vancouver K finished just outside the money in ninth with 73%.

Click here for full results.

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The FEI has moved to reassure people who have expressed concern about a photo of Swedish dressage rider Patrik Kittel warming up his horse in what appears to be a rollkur position.

The photo of Patrik and his horse, Scandic, was taken yesterday (Thursday 2 August).

The picture has caused online outbursts from dressage lovers calling it “disgusting” and calling for his disqualification.

But the FEI reassured fans on its Facebook page that its stewards were “monitoring” training sessions – and that single photos could be “misleading”.

A spokesman wrote: “Looking forward to top class dressage performances at the sensational Greenwich Park venue today.

“We are aware that there is concern about some training methods, but photographs can be misleading. Rest assured that our stewards are always there, on the ground, monitoring all training sessions.We’re on the case.”

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The full International Equestrian Federation’s statement over the incident involving Patrick Kittel:

“The FEI investigation into the training methods used by Patrick Kittel on his horse Watermill Scandic in Odense, Denmark on 18 October 2009 has been concluded.

Witness statements and video evidence have been thoroughly reviewed and the investigation findings are that there is no reliable evidence that the warm-up techniques used by Mr Kittel were excessive.

As a result, the FEI Legal Department has ruled that no formal claim against Mr Kittel will be submitted to the FEI Tribunal.

However Mr Kittel has received a warning letter regarding the appropriate and inappropriate use of warm-up techniques and has been made aware that his actions will be watched very carefully going forward to ensure that there are no subsequent violations of FEI rules relating to horse welfare.

The FEI is conducting a major review and analysis of its current policy on pre-competition warm-up activities, with an emphasis on hyperflexion.”

No action will be taken against Patrick Kittel, the dressage rider at the centre of last year’s controversial “blue tongue” row.

The governing body of horse sport — the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) — has made the decision after thorough investigation of the incident in Odense, Denmark on 18 October.

The row erupted after a video clip of Patrik Kittel warming up his horse Watermill Scandic using hyperflexion — or rollkur — was posted on YouTube by a Danish journalist.

At one point, the horse hangs his tongue out of the side of his mouth and it appears to go blue. Afterwards, Patrick told H&H he had received hate mail over the incident.

The FEI immediately launched an investigation, and has ruled this week that no further action will be taken.

In a statement, the International Equestrian Federation says studies of video evidence and witness statements concluded that there is “no reliable evidence that the warm-up techniques used by Mr Kittel were excessive”.

The Swedish dressage rider has received a written warning regarding the “appropriate and inappropriate” use of warm-up techniques.

Horse sport’s governing body will continue in its review of warm-up activities.

To read the FEI statement in full.

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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