Von Bredow-Werndl heads to France in third place in the Western European World Cup standings after a series of top 10 finishes, including second in Salzburg and third in Amsterdam.
Von Bredow-Werndl told FEI.org that she has been happy with her achievements so far this season, but highlights that there is still room for improvement.
“It‘s so great to be qualified for the fifth time in a row and I‘ll just make the most out of that,” she says.
“We all know who the current No.1 of the world is. Unee and I will give our best - there is not much more we can do.”
Von Bredow-Werndl said juggling life as a Dressage athlete and a mother has its trials, but thanks her family and team for their support to make it possible.
“It‘s a challenge, but it‘s wonderful,” she says. “It teaches you to focus even more on the essential. And of course it wouldn‘t be possible without my family and the great team I have.”
Jessica wasn’t away from the sport for long, with just two months with no riding and five months out of competition. She admits that she missed Dressage during her time away.
“It was quite short... I couldn‘t wait to get back on my horses,” she says. “And once you ride, why not show again? But to be honest, I didn‘t expect it to be that quick. It felt like there was no break.”
While Von Bredow-Werndl acknowledges how challenging motherhood can be when you’re a professional athlete, she encourages those who want the best of both worlds to go for it.
“Everything is possible if you really want and have good support around you,” Von Bredow-Werndl said.
Jessica's brother, Benjamin, has represented Germany in Dressage, winning silver at the 2014 World Cup in Kaposvar, Hungary. In addition, her husband, Max von Bredow, has competed in Eventing at national level.
After having her first riding lesson at four-years-old, Von Bredow-Werndl caught a “very serious case of horse fever” and competed in her first Dressage competition in 1998 on her horse Nino The Champ.
