Some 35 rider-horse combinations will line up today for the Dressage test of the 13th qualifier of the 2005 FEI Eventing World Cup in the northern German town of Schenefeld near Hamburg. The 31 riders represent Australia, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and for the first time Hungary. Among them are British-based Australian Andrew Hoy, currently 2nd on the FEI Eventing Riders’ World Ranking List, and his wife Bettina Hoy, who participated in three FEI Eventing World Cup qualifiers this season winning two of them (Fontainebleau, FRA in March and Chatsworth, GBR two weeks ago). Along with Australian Phillip Dutton, Bettina Hoy is the current leader of the 2005 FEI Eventing World Cup standings with 260 points. At Schenefeld, she will be competing the 10-year old gelding Diamond Magic. Home riders Andreas Dibowski and Frank Ostholt, both of whom were on the German Olympic team last year, are also among the well-known Eventing names.

Germany was part of FEI Eventing World Cup since the very beginning of the series, organising first-class qualifiers in Bonn-Rodderberg in 2003 and Luhmuehlen in 2004. This is a first time that a qualifier is being held at Schenefeld. Special efforts have been made to upgrade the standard and the Cross Country course, the 3600m and 31 fences – 38 jumping efforts – of which go through the lands of very understanding and benevolent farmers, has been rebuilt by almost 40%.

The Dressage test takes place on Friday, 27 May, from 12 to 16h30. The Cross Country follows on Saturday, 28 May, from 15h10 to 17h20. The Jumping test will be on Sunday, 29 May, from 16h00 to 17h30.

The weather being exceptionally warm and sunny – up to 28°C, riders, organisers, and officials alike are looking forward to a numerous and enthusiastic crowd and an exciting and successful competition.

The full list of entries is available on the event’s website www.esrv-online.de. The up-to-date standings of the 2005 FEI Eventing World Cup are available on the FEI website www.horsesport.org, section Eventing, Results, Standings.