Mill Spring, N.C. – Sept. 12, 2018 – The opening day of dressage competition at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 commenced Wednesday at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, with the first half of 77 partnerships taking to the U.S. Trust Arena to vie for the top spot both individually and for their respective nations’ teams in the initial Grand Prix session. Boasting a score of 76.677 percent, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB concluded the first half of Grand Prix competition at the top of the scorecard, which helped to propel Germany to the head of the team leaderboard ahead of 14 other countries. Team medals will be given at the conclusion of the second half of Grand Prix competition Thursday, Sept 13 before qualified riders will move on to compete in the individual competitions of the Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle.
As the tenth duo to ride for the day, 2016 Olympic team silver medalists Spencer Wilton (GBR) and Super Nova II, co-owned by Wilton and Jen Goodman, captured the early lead with a score of 74.581 percent, but were quickly overtaken just one ride later by Von Bredow-Werndl aboard Beatrice A. Bürchler-Keller’s TSF Dalera BB. Riding for the reigning champion German team, Von Bredow-Werndl navigated the 11-year-old mare to final marks of 76.677 percent to claim the top spot with the majority of the field still to ride. More than 25 exhibitors chased down the leading pair, but ultimately none were able to surpass them for the top slot headed into the second half of the Grand Prix session Thursday, solidifying Von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB as the frontrunners to beat.
The second pair to take to the arena for the German team, Dorothee Schneider and Matthias Herbert’s Sammy Davis Jr., a 12-year-old gelding, added to their home nation’s day one dominance with an impressive performance, earning a total score of 75.062 percent from the seven judges to take over the runner-up position with less than 10 pairs left to compete in the first section of dressage. Unfortunately for Schneider, Sweden’s Juliette Ramel and Buriel K.H., a 12-year-old gelding owned by La Pomme HB, edged them out for the second place position with a score of 75.248 percent, but the Germans still finished overall as the early favorites for the team championship with riders sitting in first and third in the rankings.
Von Bredow-Werndl, Ramel and Schneider earned the top three placings aboard their respective mounts and Germany will lead the way into the final day of team competition, but the American, Swedish and Dutch teams are each still in contention for a medal with two riders ranked within the top ten. The home team is currently sitting in the bronze medal position after Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Betsy Juliano’s Salvino scored 74.860 percent to nab fourth position and teammate Steffen Peters and Four Winds Farm’s Suppenkasper earned seventh place with 73.494 percent.
Other than Ramel, Sweden had reason to root for Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén and Don Auriello, owned by Lövsta Stuteri and Antonia Ax:son Johnson, and their eighth-place finish thanks to a score of 73.106 percent. Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED) piloted Glock’s Dream Boy N.O.P., owned by Glock HPC Holding B.V., Palmar BV, Stal Brinkman V.O.F. and TC Dutch Sport Horses, to 73.509 percent for sixth position, and their Dutch counterparts Madeleine Witte-Vrees and Cennin, owned by N.F. Witte and J.E.J. Cuppen, rode to ninth place with a score of 72.966 percent.
The latter half of the dressage field will return Thursday, with 39 pairs shooting to take over the individual lead as well as contribute a strong score to their cumulative team tally.
Results: Day 1 of Grand Prix Team Competition and Individual Qualifier
Rider / Country / Horse / Owner / Total Score
1. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl / GER / TSF Dalera BB / Beatrice A. Bürchler-Keller / 76.677
2. Juliette Ramel / SWE / Buriel K.H. / La Pomme HB / 75.248
3. Dorothee Schneider / GER / Sammy Davis Jr / Matthias Herbert / 75.062
4. Adrienne Lyle / USA / Salvino / Betsy Juliano / 74.860
5. Spencer Wilton / GBR / Super Nova II / Spencer Wilton, Jen Goodman / 74.581
6. Hans Peter Minderhoud / NED / Glock’s Dream Boy N.O.P. / Glock HPC Holding B.V., Palmar BV, Stal Brinkman V.O.F., TC Dutch Sport Horses / 73.509
7. Steffen Peters / USA / Suppenkasper / Four Winds Farm / 73.494
8. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén / SWE / Don Auriello / Lövsta Stuteri, Antonia Ax:son Johnson / 73.106
9. Madeleine Witte-Vrees / NED / Cennin / N.F. Witte, J.E.J. Cuppen / 72.966
10. Beatriz Ferrer-Salat / ESP / Delgado / Deliber S.L. / 72.919
Overall Team Standings after Day 1
1. Germany / 76.677
2. Sweden / 75.248
3. United States of America / 74.860
4. Great Britain / 74.581
5. Netherlands / 73.509
6. Spain / 72.919
7. Denmark / 70.233
8. Australia / 70.109
9. Canada / 68.634
10. Belgium / 67.981
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) – Grand Prix Day 1 leader
On how the ride felt with TSF Dalera BB:
“It felt super! Dalera was not interested in anything else other than me; she was really focused and she stayed with me the whole test. She was on point, she was concentrated, she wanted to dance and do everything right and we did a super job. There is still some more to go and some more points we can get, but for the first day and for the team, it was perfect.”
On what it feels like to be on the reigning champion German team at WEG:
“When I was announced to be selected for the World Equestrian Games, it was like a dream come true. I was just relieved because I have already reached what I’ve ever dreamed of [being here at WEG] and that’s so crazy. Being able to be focused and concentrated in this test and just doing my job is another gift I got today, and I’m really pleased that I could give such a good test to our team.”
On the strengths of her horse, TSF Dalera BB:
“Actually her main strength is that she really has no weakness. She has nothing that is below average. Of course, today there were tiny things but one of her main strengths is the piaffe. I couldn’t show it in the first piaffe today, but the second and third I could show her dancing part.”
Juliette Ramel (SWE) – Grand Prix second place
On her ride with Buriel K.H.:
“I was really happy with him. It’s very hot so that affects the horses. I had a small mistake in the pirouette and that counts double, so it was a bit expensive, but overall, I’m super happy with him. I didn’t want to tire him in the warm-up because when he gets tired, he gets stressed because he feels like he can’t do it. I do a little then walk, so he always stays fresh in his body and stays more relaxed.”
On competing at the World Equestrian Games:
“It’s great to be here for your country, of course, but it also comes with some pressure. We have a very strong team this year so I want to participate in doing well.”
On training with Patrik Kittel:
“He gives me a lot of confidence and puts a lot of effort into myself and my horse. He believes in my horse and me too, so that gives me a lot of confidence. He is an amazing trainer and rider. He’s very helpful to me. My horse is a lot more relaxed now. If he walked in and they were applauding, he used to jump before. Patrik has helped a lot with that.”
Dorothee Schneider (GBR) – Grand Prix third place
On her ride with Sammy Davis Jr:
“We had a good extended trot and half-pass. The first passage could be a little closer under me, then the mistake in the piaffe because he was a little bit behind my legs. The passage was safe, as well as the walk. He doesn’t have the biggest walk, but I think in the test it was clear and calm. I had a good feeling in the piaffe and passage after that. We had improved pirouettes, and the extended canter felt good and in front of me. The best feeling from the piaffe-passage was down the final line. I’m happy with the test.”
On being at another championship:
“I’m happy to be on the German Team, and I think we have very good riders. I’m hoping for the best ride for Germany. It’s a very good feeling and I’m very proud of that. I think all the other riders on the team are crossing their fingers, too. Jessica did a very good job!”
Adrienne Lyle – Grand Prix fourth place
On her ride with Salvino:
“I’ve never ridden in front of our home country so I didn’t know how he was going to handle that extra bit of cheering and the hooting and hollering, but I think he enjoyed it. I was really pleased with him, especially considering we warmed-up in a complete downpour. I was trying to change gloves and dry off things, so it was a little bit of a disruption. It was also blazing hot the next second, so fitness has been a big factor here, as well. He is a big, dark horse and I’ve done my best to get him as fit as I could and I’m glad I did because it took every ounce of fitness in him out there to get through the heat. Just like in Normandy [at the 2014 WEG], we know it is WEG if it is downpouring on me during my Grand Prix!”
On the highlights of their test:
“He is super talented for piaffe-passage, lead changes, and his walk has always been really reliable because he can let go of the tension and show a lovely walk, which is huge in a big environment like this.”
On riding on the U.S. Team for her second WEG:
“I feel so lucky. It is really those years off [of being on a U.S. team] when you are working the hardest trying to bring your next horses up to this level. I feel so incredibly honored and happy to be here. There is top competition and to go in and ride in front of a home crowd is amazing. The crowd cheers for everyone but they definitely cheer a little louder for the U.S. riders.”
On team camaraderie:
“Debbie [McDonald] and Robert [Dover] are wonderful. I have known Debbie for 13 years now, so she is a comforting voice in my ear. She and Robert actually work incredibly well together, and it is really fun to have both of their inputs. They go off, talk and come back with different ideas. It is really a team effort and it is a wonderful environment to feel supported and train in. We are all such a good group of friends, and it is really like riding with some of your best friends. It is amazing to know that everyone is going to do anything they can for you at the drop of a hat and will support you any way they can.”
On her performance for the team competition:
“I’m really happy that we got a solid score for our team. That’s the most important, the team competition. He is still so green compared to a lot of these horses since it is only his second year at Grand Prix. I was really glad he put in that performance, and now I am going to have a lot of fun with the Special. I like that test better because it really highlights his strong points and I think he is capable of even better scores moving forward.”
Steffen Peters (USA) – Grand Prix seventh place
On his newer partnership with Suppenkasper:
“He was a bit nervous coming in. The crowd is always very excited to see the first American horse in there, and I’m very happy with how he handled this. It’s a big step up from Aachen as far as relaxation. He walked beautifully, the rein-back was a little bit better, there was overall less tension. I could actually push some of the extensions, which is new. Usually, I just hold my breath and hope that he doesn’t break into the canter because it’s so big. He did some wonderful things — beautiful pirouettes today and the zig-zag felt good, which is a bit tricky for him. The changes felt nice, so for a young kid and an old rider it’s pretty good. For this stage and his sensitivity at 10 years old, it’s fairly young.”
On if he is aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with Suppenkasper:
“That’s the plan, you know that’s the reason for the purchase. We were hoping that when he’s 12 or 13 years old that will be his prime. At the end of the day, he needs to see venues like this so he gets used to it.”
On Suppenkasper’s character:
“He is the kindest, sweetest horse that I’ve ever dealt with. He wants to be a little puppy dog. If you had a chance to watch in the warm-ups, sometimes I do a halt and he turns around and wants a little scratch. He is just that extremely kind-hearted horse. It’s fun. At my point in my career to get another horse like this it’s a lot of fun. He loves his carrots and cookies, of course, but his favorite thing is to scratch his nose and we can do that for hours. So he plays with his nose a little bit and I scratch him. It’s honestly a big puppy dog, a big labradoodle, that’s what he is.”
On riding first for the American team:
“I think it’s very simple, it’s the most inexperienced horse and most likely the one that might produce a drop score. At the end of the day, if a 73.5 is your drop score you have a hell of a team!”
