Dressage first made its mark on the London Worldwide Horse Present in 1991 the place British pair Jennie Loriston-Clarke and Annie MacDonald Corridor noticed off a direct problem from Monica Theodorescu and Sven Rothenberger to win the pas de deux.
The primary World Cup leg wasn’t held there till 2004. Spain’s Beatriz Ferrer-Salat gained that inaugural competitors on Beauvalais with 79.58%, narrowly edging out Carl Hester on Escapado, who completed a detailed second.
On the time, it was a landmark second for British dressage. But few might have anticipated the enduring cultural significance the occasion would maintain for the game twenty years later.
Right now, the London Worldwide Horse Present is a stage for historic achievements. Three of the latest dressage world information have been set right here, with its intimate, close-quarters ambiance bringing out the perfect on the earth’s high horses.
For riders, it’s a debut like no different. The palpable pleasure from final yr’s newcomers, Lewis Robertson-Provider and Becky Moody shone by of their post-test interviews, capturing the fun of stepping onto this iconic stage for the primary time.
“Within the run-up to the grand prix I used to be nauseous for a couple of week,” Becky mentioned. “You dream of driving at this present, it’s one thing that all of us aspire to. It was an unimaginable expertise.”
However who’re the riders and horses set to expertise that ambiance for the primary time in 2024?
London Worldwide Horse Present: dressage debutants
Laura Tomlinson is not any stranger to the London Worldwide Horse Present, having made her debut at Olympia in 2005 at simply 20 years previous, the place she rode Douglas Dorsey to a sixth-place end. Nevertheless, 2024 marks her first look on the ExCel Enviornment.
She’ll be driving Soegaards Bon Royal, who’ll be making his London debut. The ten-year-old gelding is in his first yr of grand prix however caught the attention early with a brace of Premier League wins.
He was positioned third on the nationwide championships and made his worldwide debut at Leeuwarden in October. Laura shall be aiming for a clear spherical and a plus 70% rating.
Sixty-three-year-old Richard White would be the solely British rider making his full debut.
For years, Richard has labored quietly behind the scenes, lending his experience to a few of the largest names in dressage. His long-standing partnership – and marriage – with Finnish Olympian Kyra Kyrklund has saved him deeply concerned in worldwide dressage for over three a long time. Nevertheless, competing hasn’t been a daily a part of his journey for a lot of that point.
However that each one modified when he bought the journey on Lynda Cameron’s Lusitano gelding Heroi do Seixo. The 12-year-old gelding was initially meant for Kyra, however Richard – on the mend after two hip replacements – took him on when she stopped driving 5 years in the past after a most cancers analysis.
Impressed by Heroi, Richard returned to competitors and made his grand prix debut in 2022 after a short stint at small tour. Since then, the pair have competed internationally, together with at Aachen, and had been a part of the British Nations Cup crew at Rotterdam CDIO5*. In London, they’ll intention for prime 60% scores within the grand prix and to interrupt the 70% barrier within the freestyle.
Seasoned contenders and a rising star from Austria
Austrian rider Diana Porsche will make her London debut aboard Dahoud, her common competitors associate. Diana, who lately took on the journey of final yr’s London winner Imhotep, presently sits third within the Western European League. She’ll be trying to enhance her possibilities of qualifying for the ultimate in Basel with a robust displaying in London.
Dutch rider Marieke Van Der Putten is not any stranger to the World Cup circuit however may even be making her first look in London. Using the 12-year-old gelding Torveslettens Titanium RS2 NOP, she is in wonderful kind and is predicted to attain above 70% within the grand prix and near 80% within the freestyle.
Hungarian rider Anikó Komjáthy-Losonczy may even make her London debut aboard Dior S, her long-time associate. At present main the Central European League standings, she is in a robust place to safe one of many league’s two qualifying spots for the ultimate. Nevertheless, with thrilling combos like Sandra Sysojeva and Maxima Bella, and skilled opponents Justina Vanagaite-Samuile and her horse Nabab scorching on her heels, a robust efficiency right here could possibly be essential.
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Credit score: Peter Nixon
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