Dressage World Cup

Edward Gal and the super-stallion Moorlands Totilas overcame all the pressure and tension to claim the 25th anniversary FEI World Cup Dressage title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands on March 27. (Video on page 3.)

Gal's stallion was heavily favored to take the honors throughout the entire 2009/2010 FEI World Cup Dressage season, during which he secured his third record-breaking score of 2009 at London Olympia (England) last December. 

The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival made a great start to the FEI World Cup Dressage final at the Brabanthallen in 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, on March 25 by winning the Grand Prix on a convincing margin of more than 2 percent.

It was a tense evening with nerves jangling, but she held her big strong gelding together to produce a powerful test that left her with a clear advantage over the firm favorites to take the title —Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas.

The FEI World Cup™ Dressage final begins today in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, and you can follow along with FEI TV's live coverage from the Brabanthalle Arena. 

Following the withdrawal of Hungary's Acs Robert, Austrian rider Peter Gmoser has taken his place amongst the 15 world-class competitors.  The full list of starters is now as follows:

The lineup for the FEI World Cup Dressage Final has been completed, and no U.S. or Canadian representatives will attend.

A total of 15 riders from 10 nations will compete at the 25th anniversary final of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage series at 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands later this month.
 
The 2008/2009 series champion, Steffen Peters of the USA, will not be defending his title but two spots still remain open for riders from the North American league which has just one last qualifier remaining.  
 

Steffen Peters and Ravel will not defend the Rolex FEI World Cup title they won this year in Las Vegas, Nev., according to Dressage-News.com.

After discussions with Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang, owners of the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Peters told Dressage-News he won’t attend the FEI World Cup Final in ’s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands next year.

Instead, Peters will focus on the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky., Sept. 25-Oct. 10.

• Steffen Peters has been riding in the same shadbelly for 26 years. “This coat has brought me a lot of luck,” he said. “I was 18 years old when I showed in it the first time. It’s been patched up a bunch of times, but it’s still the same coat.

For many people, the most emotional moment of the Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage Final didn’t occur during the competition. When Debbie McDonald rode the legendary Brentina into the arena one last time, you could’ve heard a pin drop.

Drama and dressage may often go hand-in-hand, but this year’s Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage Final was unpredictable from the get-go. First, there was the judge who didn’t arrive. Dr. Valentino Truppa’s plane had to make an emergency landing in Ireland after the pilot had a heart attack.

Then poor Adelinde Cornelissen, the Netherlands’ heir apparent to van Grunsven, had to withdraw when Parzival injured himself in the warm-up.

He proves Ravel can compete and win against the best horses in the world.

Sometimes it’s hard to remember dressage is a sport, and the results aren’t predetermined. We’ve grown bored as Anky van Grunsven and Isabell Werth have dominated every international championship in recent memory.