The Exquis World Dressage Masters is a series of dressage events with huge prize money, $130,000 at the first event of 2009, the Palm Beach Exquis Dressage Masters CDI*****. The first show in the series was held last year in Cannes, France, and this year three more shows are scheduled in Salzburg, Austria, Munich, Germany, and Hickstead, England.

The series, a cooperative effort between Exquis, SportBizz and Equestrian Sport Productions, is meant to promote and grow dressage around the world.

“The prize money isn’t huge compared to show jumping, but for us it’s really wonderful,” said Anky van Grunsven. “If we want to have our sport more worldwide, then I think what this cup does is very good because it’s all over Europe and in America.”

Despite cold temperatures for Florida, almost 4,000 people turned out each night in Wellington for the event. “We had spectators from 40 states and more than 10 nations. One teenage fan and her trainer came from Argentina especially for the event,” said Ken Braddick, director of communications for Equestrian Sport Productions. “The support from the dressage community was phenomenal, fulfilling what were our wildest hopes when we made the commitment to invest in this very ambitious event.”

Steffen Peters noted, “This has the feeling of a major championship thanks to Mr. Kies [the CEO of Exquis] inviting all of us to be here. It’s a big honor to compete in an amazing community like Wellington that’s so horse-oriented. Putting a show into this facility is absolutely outstanding.”