Aachen, Germany—July 16

If there’s one thing for certain it’s that the German dressage riders mean business. After Thursday’s Grand Prix, they held a strong lead over the United States and in today’s Grand Prix Special they never let it go.

The team composed of Kristina Bröring-Sprehe on Desperados, Sönke Rothenberger on Cosmo, Dorothee Schneider with Showtime and Isabell Werth on Weihegold OLD widened their lead to 492.58 over the United States on 437.13. Denmark took third with a 430.41.

Kristina Bröring-Sprehe and Desperados led the German team to victory with an 83.75 percent. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Following the Lambertz Nations Cup, Germany’s Chef d’Equipe Klaus Roeser announced that these four riders will represent Germany at the Olympic Games.

Bröring-Sprehe claimed the top spot in the Special over her teammates Schneider and Werth with an 83.75 percent with two mistakes in her canter tour.

Coming into the Nations Cup, the Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage team sat second in the Nations Cup series behind Sweden by four points. In order to take the series title Steffen Peters (Legolas 92), Arlene “Tuny” Page (Woodstock), Shelley Francis (Doktor) and Katherine Bateson-Chandler (Alcazar) needed to finish ahead of Sweden this weekend and they did just that.

With a 76.62 percent Steffen Peters and Legolas helped the U.S. team take second and win the Nations Cup series. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

“I could not be more proud of our team here in Aachen,” said U.S. Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover. “It’s great when you consider that there are some of the best countries in the world selecting their teams for the Rio Olympic Games here and our team placed second, a team who included our traveling reserve and other super combinations that are not on our Olympic team. I am so proud that of all of them they stepped up to the plate.”

Once again it was Peters and his Olympic mount Legolas 92 who led the way for the U.S. The pair broke up the German hold on the top five spots by earning a 76.62 percent to take fourth in the Special.

“The first huge relief was when we came in, the announcer said a few things about Legolas, and he did not react whatsoever and that is the exact reason why we were here,” said Peters. “I still felt like at Rotterdam, in the Grand Prix, that we were still a little on edge during the first minute of our test, but now he has proven that he can deliver for the team and this is exactly what the plan was. He did the piaffe movements very nicely, as well as his changes, and did beautiful canter pirouettes. Thursday and today the judges gave him a really high mark for his collected walk and that is a gigantic accomplishment. It’s those little things that most people who don’t know Legolas that well don’t appreciate, but I am just stocked about those tiny little things.”

The U.S. dressage team took second in the Aachen CDIO. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

The team pulled out the result without a fourth member as Bateson-Chandler withdrew from the competition after Alcazar colicked Friday. It did require surgery but he is reported to be recovering well.

Nations Cup Results

Individual Grand Prix Special Results

Dorothee Schneider with Showtime. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Isabell Werth on Weihegold OLD. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Arlene “Tuny” Page and Woodstock. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Shelley Francis and Doktor. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Steffen Peters gives the U.S. fans a thumbs up after his test. Photo by Shannon Brinkmnan.

Arlene “Tuny” Page (left) and Steffen Peters celebrate the U.S. team’s finish in the Nations Cup. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Some patriotic gear. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

Steffen Peters’ other mount Rosamunde “Rosie” helps herself to a snack during the awards for the Nations Cup. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.

The U.S. team watches as their flag is raised. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.