The FEI World Cup dressage Western Europe League begins again in earnest this weekend in Amsterdam, The Netherlands where a hot contest is expected as riders aim to fulfil their New Year resolutions and qualify for Las Vegas.

Denmark's Andreas Helgstrand and Blue Hors Cavan, the winners in Aarhus and Stockholm, Mechelen winners Carl Hester and Escapado of Great Britain and Maastricht winners Hubertus Schmidt and Wansuela Suerte of Germany head a star-studded start list.

Switzerland's Sylvia Ikle, who won the Central European qualifier at Kaposvar, Hungary and placed third in Maastricht will be contending for more points with her much admired ten-year-old Salieri and Edward Gal, who has accumulated points at Maastricht and Mechelen with Gribaldi is entered with his 'top gun' Lingh, on whom he placed second in the 2004 Final to his trainer Anky van Grunsven.

New mother Anky will prove a draw for her demonstration clinics in Amsterdam but her competition schedule is not due to recommence until Indoor Brabant. A new ruling introduced this season means that every horse taking part in the Final must have completed two qualifiers, so it could mean that we will see that title defended if Anky were to ride Salinero at Indoor Brabant and the final qualifier in Dusseldorf. Entering the lists later than expected is Sweden's Jan Brink, whose Bjorsells Briar injured a knee just before they were due to start in Aarhus. While the injury was not serious, it meant Brink's stunning stallion was too short of match practice to fulfil the pair's planned pre-Christmas schedule, but with four qualifiers remaining this season, there is potentially time for the pair to turn the tables - watch this space!

Similarly, German rider Isabell Werth, who had been expected to feature before Christmas, could make a big impression here with Satchmo, whom she brings after a confidence-giving grand prix victory at the Munster national show.

For the home side Sven Rothenberger is fighting from a strong sixth place in the standings and Britain's Richard Davison, who lies in eleventh place, will doubtless be out at least to crack the top ten as Ballaseyr Royale has raised her game at each of their previous three outings.

Timetable
FEI World Cup Grand Prix
Friday 27th January 8.00am

FEI World Cup Qualifier Freestyle to Music
Saturday 28th January 14.15pm

Media Contact
Cindy Velstra
Mobile: +31 654 674396
Email: cindy@head2tail.nl

For further information
www.jumping-amsterdam.nl

www.horsesport.org

The FEI World Cup Dressage, initiated in 1985, is the only worldwide series in this discipline. It comprises qualifying leagues encompassing Western and Central Europe, North America, Canada and Australia. Each FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier comprises a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where
league
points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.