“Love your outfit!” someone in the lively crowd at the Zen Elite FEI World Dressage Cup Final yelled to Becky Moody, all a-twinkle in sparkly gold glitter across her helmet and brown tail coat on Thursday night.
The British star was definitely a favorite, and she delivered for her fans with her homebred Jaegerbomb, earning 76.761 percent to top a 16-horse field at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
“It was an amazing crowd, they were so enthusiastic,” Becky commented.
A sparkly Becky Moody and her Jaegerbomb.
And ham that he is, Jaegerbomb appreciated the appreciation.
“It was really cool for him because he loves that as well, the more people cheer, the better he is.”
Although the top four-ranked international dressage riders declined to make the trip to the Lone Star State, Becky, who is number five, wanted to see how her 12-year-old Dutchbred gelding would handle flying across the ocean.
“He was amazing traveling,” Becky said, joy infusing her voice, as it often does.
“He came off the transport here quite nice and pingy. He has been super cool to work with all week,” she continued.
“He felt really good today. I had that nice balance of energy with relaxation. I say he’s not exceptional at anything but he’s really good at everything. He’s just a joy to ride in an arena like that.”
Finishing a close second was 23-year-old Christian Simonson, earning 75.413 percent with Indian Rock.
Christian Simonson and Indian Rock.
Christian’s first World Cup was double special, because his sponsor Zen Elite Equestrian, is also the sponsor of the competition.
Rocky, as the Dutchbred stallion is known, was in perfect sync with his rider.
“He was amazing tonight. He’s a horse that is just so dependable. I love him so much,” said Christian, who kissed his horse on the neck after the final salute.
Christian Simonson had a kiss for Indian Rock.
“We have a good bond together,” the rider emphasized. He loved the fact that as he circled the arena, he could hear the spectators chanting and yelling encouragement.
“The crowd really was fabulous,” noted Christian, the USA’s highest ranked dressage competitor at number 12 in the standings .
Patrik Kittel brought his 2024 Cup champion, Touchdown, and earned a third-place finish with 72.869 percent on the Swedish warmblood gelding.
“It’s been a fantastic night. Normally, i don’t smile when I go around the ring,” he revealed but then someone yelled “We love you Patrik.” That got the Swede smiling “from ear to ear, even before I started.”
He added, it’s just nice to see the people in the audience getting into the game.
A delighted Patrik Kittel thanks Touchdown for a fun ride.
“We want to present our horses that we work with every day, that we love every day, that we train with every day for this audience when they can take in what we give. That’s the best feeling, the horses enjoy it so much. You can really feel it. It’s a pleasure to be in the horse sport.
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