The FEI’s monthly dressage standings have just come out, and the names at the top of the list offer the promise of a memorable world championship this month, with two horse/rider combinations having equal likelihood of taking top honors individually.
The gold is most likely to go either to Denmark’s Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (Mount St. John Freestyle) or Belgian sensation Justin Verboomen (Zonik Plus). They each have taken turns as number one. This month, Cathrine rose from twenty-ninth to take that spot, with Justin (number one) last month, right behind. Their mounts are, not surprisingly 1-2 on the 3-star and above horse list.
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St. John Freestyle
Reigning world champion Lottie Fry is third in the rider rankings while her Glamourdale holds the same position in the horse hierarchy. Germany’s Isabell Werth (Wendy de Fontaine) is number four, followed by Becky Moody of Great Britain (Jagerbomb). Her compatriot, Carl Hester (Fame) stands sixth.
The highest-ranked U.S. horse ridden by an American is Christian Simonson’s star, Indian Rock, at number 13. Indian Rock is resting, however, and won’t be part of the U.S. team. Christian is riding Fleau de Baian, number 76 on the horse roster, at Aachen.
His teammate, Genay Vaughn (Gino), is number 40 on the rider list.
Helix, ridden by the USA’s Adrienne Lyle, is number 51 on the horse list, but the three-time Olympian did not apply to be on the world championships team.