DRESSPROD

On Saturday at Somerford Park, Charlotte Dujardin won the Grand Prix, which served as the British Championship event; partnered with Brave Heart II, the British rider scored 75.044%, finishing ahead of Gareth Hughes and Mowgli-Olympia MC (second with 70.457%) and Fiona Bigwood and Donna Bella (third with 70%)—a victory holding special significance for the rider, now a mother of two. Returning to the National Championships, Charlotte Dujardin was not there merely to sightsee.

Grandioso has passed away at the age of 27. The Pura Raza Española competed alongside Daniel Martín Dockx at the highest level, notably participating in two Olympic Games: London in 2012 and Rio in 2016. Born in 1999, this son of Adelante was sold to the United States at the age of four. Initially trained by American rider Courtney King-Dye, he moved to Spain following her serious accident in 2010. In 2011, Grandioso and his rider won the Spanish Grand Prix championship befor

After reaching the pinnacle of the dressage world with TSF Dalera BB, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl is continuing her career with a new mare. At Aubenhausen, the German champion can now count on Happy Days di Fonteabeti, a daughter of Valverde who has already achieved success in young horse competitions. Born in Italy in 2018, Happy Days di Fonteabeti first made a name for herself in her home country. Ridden by Nelson Ramos Aleluia, the mare notably won the Italian Young Horse Ch

After more than four years of exclusion, Russian and Belarusian dressage are set to return to the international stage. The International Equestrian Federation has officially decided to lift the measures implemented in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, measures that had been in effect since March 6, 2022. Starting October 5, Russian and Belarusian riders, horses, and officials will once again be able to compete under their national colors, no longer required to adopt the "I

Never short of horses capable of successfully carrying its colors, Germany saw four high-potential horses—Life Time FRH, Be Sure FRH, Veuve Clicquot FRH, and Back For Good—begin or continue their journey toward the Grand Prix in this afternoon's class. This afternoon, Isabell Werth fielded Back For Good in the Inter II—a qualifier for the Louis d'Or circuit final—at a national show in Pinneberg, near Hamburg; this marked the bay horse's debut at this level. Bred by Uwe Ogonow

With 16 nations expected for four days of competition, dressage returns this week to the arenas of the Pôle International du Cheval in Deauville, marking the resumption of the international season following the World Championships in Aachen. Just like last year, a British pair claimed victory in the Grand Prix today: following Thomas Goode’s win in 2025, this time it was Lewis Carrier and his horse, Diego V. The 18-year-old KWPN (by Spielberg) was a unanimous hit with the jud

He had not appeared in competition since the 2025 World Cup Final in Basel, where he finished second; after a year and a half away from the arena, DSP Quantaz returned to action today at a national show in Germany with Isabell Werth. Amidst the likes of Wendy de Fontaine, Viva Gold, and V Power, one might almost have overlooked the Quaterback gelding, the horse that carried Isabell Werth to medals at the European Championships in Riesenbeck and the World Championships in Hern

A major chapter is coming to a close at Hof Kasselmann. German dressage riders Frederic Wandres and Lars Ligus are preparing to strike out on their own. Starting in January 2027, the duo will set up their own training and sales operation at the Gut Einhaus estate in Herzlake, Lower Saxony.. After years of successful collaboration in Hagen under the guidance of Ullrich Kasselmann and trainer Insa Hansen, the two professionals are taking a step they describe as a natural evolut

A little over a year after footage circulated widely on social media showing Australian rider Heath Ryan whipping one of his former mounts 42 times in 30 seconds, and following an investigation it conducted, the FEI has handed Heath Ryan an 18-month suspension. At 68, Heath Ryan is a well-known figure in equestrian sports, having competed in the World Equestrian Games in 1990 and 2002, the 2008 Olympic Games, and the 2009 World Cup Final; yet, despite this impressive track re

German rider Annabel Frenzen had to say goodbye to Cristobal, one of the most important horses of her career. Bred by Klaus Kudlinski, this son of Coriander began his competitive career between 2004 and 2008 with Alexandra Klein before joining Annabel Frenzen who had previously won the team gold medal at the European Pony Championships in Saumur in 2006. With this bay horse, she became the German Young Rider vice-champion, returned to the international stage at that level of

The Dutch Olympic Horse Foundation (Stichting Nederlands Olympiade Paard) has welcomed two new horses into its N.O.P.T. program, which aims to identify and secure horses with potential for major international competitions. Olivia-Grace and Hexagon’s Nachtwacht earned their certification following a selection day held on June 10. The goal is to identify successors to the horses currently in the program. Twelve horse-and-rider combinations were presented; two particularly impre

Renowned Dutch stallion breeder Hans Jansen has died. Wynton, Bretton Woods, Chagall, Four Legends, and Gaudi—these are the stallions bred by Hans Jansen and his wife; a remarkable breeding success for a man who has now passed away at the age of 85. After working as an orthodontist in Apeldoorn, Hans Jansen devoted himself entirely to breeding dressage horses. Together with his wife, Grietje, he frequently traveled to deepen their breeding knowledge; their passion for dressag

Hannu Haakon, the Trakehner licensing vice-Champion, has been sold by his owners, Lars and Nicole Derlin, to Andreas Helgstrand. Bred in Germany at Gestüt Gut Staffelde, this son of Scaglietti and Millenium went through his studbook's auction sales in 2023. Licensed last November in Neumünste, where he was named Reserve Champion, Hannu Haakon competed in a few classes for three-year-olds this year with Cecilie Hedegaard, notably earning a score of 10 for both his walk and can

Previously ridden by Dinja van Liere—with whom he competed up to the Small Tour level—Independent Little Me now has a new rider, who is Dutch nonetheless. Bred by Marc Rothengatter and Renata van Steijn, this son of UNO Don Diego and San Remo passed through the Borculo foal auction in 2013. Presented for KWPN licensing in 2016, he subsequently competed under Dinja van Liere; together, they participated in the 2019 World Championships for 6-year-olds, finishing seventh with a

Bad news from the Danish dressage scene: Svalegårds Hot Driver, Carina Cassøe Krüth’s up-and-coming horse, has died prematurely following a tragic accident in the stable. This son of Hesselhøj Donkey Boy and Blue Hors Hotline was considered one of the most promising prospects of his generation. Bred by Else Marie and Jens Chr. Krabbe at Svalegård and licensed by the DWB in 2022, he was named Champion Stallion of his generation at age three and subsequently won the Danish Cham

International dressage has just lost one of its most iconic Lusitanos: Fogoso, who made breed history at the Tokyo Olympics under Portuguese rider Rodrigo Torres, has died. Bred at Coudelaria Torres Vaz Freire—Rodrigo Torres’s family stud—Fogoso was the son of Rico and Amélia (by Raja). Trained to Grand Prix level by his rider, the grey stallion burst onto the elite scene in 2019, the year he became Portuguese Champion and helped Portugal win the Nations Cup at Hickstead. How

The 2026 World Dressage Championships got underway at 8:20 a.m. today. The schedule for today and Wednesday features the Grand Prix, split into two groups; tomorrow's final standings will determine the team rankings. The stakes are high for the 19 nations fielding teams: they are vying to finish among the top six—excluding the United States—thereby securing qualification for the Los Angeles Olympic Games. Data specialist David Stickland recently highlighted the scores needed

While French dressage will be represented this week in Aachen by the four combinations selected by the FFE, French breeding will also be prominently seen through no fewer than three horses, enough to form a theoretical team, all bred by Sylvain Massa. Three horses, three riders, three nations… and a single breeding farm. In Aachen, where the world’s top combinations are gathering this week for the World Championships, the Massa stud farm boasts a truly unique level of represe

A quelques jours des Championnats du Monde d'Aix la Chapelle, les Etats-Unis viennent encore de procéder à un changement dans la composition de l'équipe qui défendra ses couleurs : après la sortie de Jordan Laplaca & Gold Play ce sont cette fois Genay Vaughn & Gino qui ont été remplacés. Finaliste de la Coupe du Monde en 2025 où ils terminaient 14 èmes, Genay Vaughn & Gino portaient cette saison les couleurs américaines sur la Coupe des Nations de Hagen : ils signaient alors

The World Breeding Championships for Young Horses continue in Verden. Following yesterday's sensation—Charlotte Dujardin's Secret Agent—this Saturday was highlighted by the 6-year-old final, which was won by Dannebrog. Winners of the Preliminary test, Betina Jaeger and Faustino G could easily have seen the gold slip through their fingers. Highly elastic, fluid, and active at the trot, and performing walk half-pirouettes that were clearly superior to those of many other compet