OPENING CEREMONIES

We’re live at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final Grand Prix. The American flag presentation was reminiscent of previous Vegas Finals with a cowgirl presenting the colors in the middle of red and blue arena lights and white star spotlights. An Elvis impersonator then got the party started with a medley of the King’s most popular tunes.

Inessa Merkulova/ Mister X/ RUS

The Russian pair kicked things off today in the grand prix. Organizers have put together a selection of music in time with the test. As Merkulova finished her test the crowd erupted in applause, showing their appreciation for her correct and accurate test.

Terhl Stegars/ Axis TSF/ FIN

Going with the glitz and glam of the venue Axis TSF sported some nice bling on his browband. They had some forward movement in their piaffes. Axis is a very expressive horse, flipping his tail in time with his tempi changes. Stegars looked relieved following her final salute but it was obvious from the crowd’s applause that they enjoyed the Finnish pair’s performance.

Fabienne Lutkemeier/ Qui Vincit Dynamis/ GER

This chestnut gelding gives off the impression he’s floating in the extended trot across the diagonal with a very lofty front end.  Lutkemeier was very liberal with her pats and hugs following her final salute. The rider comes from a long line of top riders in Germany and their provisional score moves them into second for now. Inessa Merkulova and Mister X still lead.

Laura Graves/ Verdades/ USA

This pair has caused quite a stir when they emerged as the top-scoring pair for the United States at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (France) last summer and the crowd here obviously loves them, giving them cheers as they entered. It’s easy to see why Graves and Verdades have become so popular, though still young in their Grand Prix career, the pair show a lot of talent. Their extended walk was a bit conservative and there were a few bobbles in the beginning but they finished strongly. As they hit their final halt, the crowd burst into applause. With a 74.286, they are soundly in the lead sending the audience back on their feet.

Malin Hamilton/ Fleetwood/ SWE

Hamilton has some fans in the Thomas & Mack Center today for her first World Cup Finals. As she took her initial tour of the ring a group shouted her name in support. The initial halt wasn’t quite square and Fleetwood stepped back before moving into the trot. Hamilton really let the reins out for her extended walk and was rewarded with an even tempo from her horse. She’s obviously here to make an impression and pushed forward into the extended canter work.

Morgan Barbancon Mestre/ Painted Black/ ESP

Painted Black might be 18, but he doesn’t look it as he canters around the arena. This stallion is looking very sharp today and shows a lot of animation in his gaits, getting a lot of lift in his piaffe and passage—it must take a lot to be able to sit still on him! While Painted Black came to Vegas for the 2009 edition of the Finals with Anky Van Grunsven, this is his first appearance with Mestre. The youngest competitor here at 23, Mestre was elated with her test, bursting into a smile almost immediately. The crowd certainly loved her, and a chuckle emitted when the announcer shared that she does her training via webcam.

Paulinda Friberg/ Di Lapponia T/ SWE

Friberg didn’t hold back when it came to the bling. She’s sporting sparkle on both her helmet and her shadbelly and her mount is wearing quite a glitzly browband. This pair has obviously been doing their homework and put in a very nice test. Friberg lifted her fist in victory following her salute as she began her first World Cup Finals. This Swedish rider started in show jumping but found her passion in dressage as a teenager. They got quite a bit of cheers when their provisional score put them into third.

Agnete Kirk Thinggaard/ Jojo Az/ DEN

Jojo is a bit active in the mount but is giving a very obedient test. He’s got great action in his shoulders in the extended walk and has great lift to his piaffe and passage work. With McCarran International Airport close by, often you can often hear planes taking off in the background. The pair from Denmark was the final pair before a 14-minute break before the last 9 ride. The second half has a lot of heavy hitters including past winners Charlotte Dujardin, Edward Gal, Steffen Peters and Isabell Werth.

BREAK

There might be a break in competition, but there’s plenty of happening at the Thomas & Mack Center. Organizers asked the women to sing along with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” They then asked the men to sing Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love it.” However that attempt fell flat when more women sung than men. They ended with a group karaoke moment with Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” A few lucky fans caught t-shirts signed by all of the riders.

Elena Sidneva/ Romeo-Star/ RUS

The Russian pair kicked off the second half of competition as the fans settled back into their seats. Romeo-Star gave a beautiful halt into reinback, and this stallion has some beautiful passage work. His tempi changes were a highlight with even lift to both the left and right. Sidneva gave an enthusiastic smile as she passaged into her final halt. As her previous accomplishments were listed: World Cups, WEGS and Olympics, the crowd gave her a great reception.

It seems Elvis is a fan of dressage. Look around the stands and you might just find him hanging out and chatting up spectators.

Mikala Munter Gundersen/ My Lady/ DEN

This Danish pair put in their prep work at the Adequan Global Dressage Forum this winter and their hard work is paying off. A small kick out in a flying change elicited a groan from the crowd but otherwise it’s been a very nice test. My Lady has a beautiful passage and Gundersen seems to be having a fabulous time and gave her mare an enthusiastic hug afterwards. She has a Vegas-esque freestyle prepared and is bound to be a big hit.

Charlotte Dujardin/ Valegro/ GBR

This is a pair that a lot of Americans were excited to see live and the audience clearly loves them. As soon as the British pair walked into the ring, they got quite an ovation. They came back to defend their World Cup title, but it’s going to take a lot to overthrow this pair who hold the world record in all three Grand Prix tests and are the reigning European, World and Olympic champions. The pair got quite a welcome but as soon as they were underway a silence fell over the arena minus the clicking as cameras as everyone looked to get the shot to share with their friends proving “We saw Valegro!” As always Dujardin sports her shadbelly and helmet with beautiful bred accents. She’s liberal with her reins for the extending walk giving Valegro plenty of room to stretch. A slight bobble happened in one of their piaffes but the rest is so solid it shouldn’t affect them. The world number one got a standing ovation as soon as they stop and she gave the crowd plenty of waves and love. She’s one of 11 riders who have gotten an 80 or above in a Grand Prix in the world. With a 85.529, this pair proved their strength by taking over the lead from Graves and Verdades.

Lars Petersen/ Mariett/ DEN

Valgro and Dujardin are a hard act to follow but Petersen is the right person for the job. With her striking hind socks, Mariett paints a pretty picture in her half passes giving everyone a lovely view of her crossover. This mare looks like she’s quite a fun ride with her rocking horse gaits. Petersen really went for it with the extended canter but lost some straightness before the flying change. They had some trouble coming out of their first canter pirouette with an early lead change and then had some hesitation before the next extend trot. They recovered well though with a nice final piaffe/passage tour. Petersen, ranked third in the world, had a large contingent of fans out to see him today.

Hans Peter Minderhoud/ Glock’s Flirt/ NED

If you aren’t a fan of the Glock Horse Performance Center on Facebook, you really should be. They’ve got tons of great videos and Flirt is the subject of many of these. The chestnut stallion is very flashy through his piaffe and passage and makes sure all eyes are on him. Minderhoud is so natural in the tack and melts into the horse. The rider is no stranger to World Cup Finals—this is his sixth appearance—but Flirt is new to the Finals. The Dutch pair got quite the reception following their test. Definitely a pair to watch.

Isabell Werth/ El Santo NRW/ GER

Another previous winner in Vegas (2007), Werth is always one to watch and has ridden in 14 World Cups. This is El Santo’s second World Cup Finals; he made an appearance with Lyon last year. Werth used her initial tour of the ring to give El Santo a good school and this gelding looks ready to perform. The 14-year-old gelding has a power behind his gaits and Werth let him really extend his neck through the extended walk. They lost a bit of power through one of their piaffes and Werth had to get after her horse. His next attempt down the center line was far stronger and they should earn good marks. Werth also got quite the reception has her astounding resume was shared.

Steffen Peters/ Legolas 92/ USA

The second of two Americans competing here, Peters and Legolas received a hearty welcome from the crowd. Legolas is another one I wouldn’t mind taking for a spin—he makes everything look easy though we all know it’s not that simple! There were a few bobbles interspersed in the test but for the most part it was very accurate. Peters is great about keeping a nice soft contact with the 13-year-old stallion, and it’s clear he’s put a lot of time into establishing their partnership. Peters was thrilled with his test, pumping his fist in the air and saluting those in the crowd giving him a standing ovation. Legolas is a bit reactive to all the excitement but this pair has definitely got the crowd behind them. A 76.871 gave them another round of applause and Peters looks thrilled with that score to take second.

Edward Gal/ Glock’s Undercover N.O.P.

This is another pair that’s got a huge fan base here at the Thomas & Mack Center. The pair are the epitome of style with a classic black ensemble and a white trimmed bridle standing out against Undercover’s stunning black coat. Not to be outdone by the girls, Undercover has his own blinged browband. Another pair receiving a hushed audience, and a well deserved one. They were nearly unbeatable in the qualifiers and are the third in the world. So far they are putting on quite a performance. Gal’s commended this gelding’s piaffe/passage work, and it’s obviously a strong point. They had a beautiful extended walk.they ran into some issues going from the extended trot to the passage. More trouble found this pair with an incorrect lead in their first canter section. Ever a professional, Gal has recovered nicely.  Gal seems pleased with their performance, raising his hat to an adoring crowd. The crowd had a nice chuckle when the announcer shared that Gal is wearing his “elephant belt, an orange watch and TMI underwear.”

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl/ Unee BB/ GER

The Chonicle’s One To Watch, von Bredow-Werndl and Unee BB are the final pair in today’s Grand Prix. This horse has a lot of lift to his passage, however his piaffe is a bit weaker. She’s really letting this stallion strut his stuff in the extended walk. His two-time changes started off well, but they had a miss halfway across the diagonal. They’ll lose some points for their transition into the extend canter when Unee BB lost his momentum and broke to the trot for half a stride. This is a horse with a very nice canter pirouette with plenty of airtime.

PRESENTATION CEREMONY

The presentation kicked off with a Mustang Makeover demonstration by Bobby Kerr. The pair proved to be quite entertaining when they pulled a car into the ring and then cut and roped a mechanical calf. The mustang jumped the car and before sitting down in the passenger seat and drove out. This was a truly spectator friendly event and even if you weren’t a horse fan; it’d be hard not to get into their performance.

Like any good sporting event, Vegas had it’s own Kiss Cam which got a great crowd reaction. Morgan Barbancon Mestre entered the presentation of the top 8 on foot and gave the crowd her own impersonation of her dressage work as she exited.

The top three in the Grand Prix: Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro (GBR), Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover N.O.P. (NED) and Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 (USA) received an enormous response with a standing ovation. If you didn’t know who Valegro and Dujardin were you couldn’t count on hearing the announcers because the crowd’s cheers overtook the speaker system.

All of the Chronicle’s coverage of the Reem Acra FEI Dressage World Cup Final and the Longines FEI Show Jumping World Cup Final.

World Cup start lists, course maps and results.  

FEI TV  for live streaming.