2022: A Year in Dressage

Patricia Salem

(Patricia is a former professional equine massage therapist
and recreational rider. )

The highlights of the year...

With the year nearly over, it’s fun to look back and remember the events of the past 12 months in equestrian sport.

Here’s a review of the high points of the year in Dressage, which was full of stellar performances and surprises, as well as a few tears…

2021-22 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Finals

Gorgeous, historic Leipzig, Germany hosted the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in April to start off 2022 with a bang.

Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl became the new champion, capping a spectacular run in which she was also made Olympic and European champion, all with TSF Dalera BB. It was the first time since the start of the series in 1986 that a German athlete won on home soil.

Von Bredow-Werndl beat out Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour of Denmark, who earned the silver medal with Vamos Amigos. Defending champion Isabell Werth of Germany rounded out the podium with 17-year-old Weihegold OLD, a long-time partner, who was retired with a grand send off at the end of the event.

2022 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™

It was Team Sweden who clinched the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ this year, but not without a serious challenge from their Danish rivals. The final leg of the series was held in July at Falsterbo, where the Danes ran away with the victory, repeating their win at Aachen just two weeks prior.

However, an Individual Grand Prix win from Patrik Kittel and Blue Hors Zepter (75.261 percent) and a silver medal in the Freestyle (80.865 percent) by “the Greatest Showman” helped seal the deal for Sweden, who had been consistently racking up points throughout the summer under the direction of Chef d’Equipe Bo Jena.

ECCO FEI World Championships 2022 at Herning

The Stutteri Ask Stadium at Herning was the site of the Blue Hors FEI Dressage World Championship 2022. Fans there witnessed some amazing feats of athleticism and artistry combined, and new champions were crowned at the end of an exciting week.

The leaderboard may have been a flurry of changes over the first few days of competition, but it was Denmark who came out on top, beating out Great Britain and Germany for the Team gold. With leadership from Chef d’Equipe Anne-Mette Binder, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour sealed her team’s victory aboard Vamos Amigos in the Grand Prix test, earning 81.864 percent.

Teammates Nanna Merrald Rasmussen (76.724 percent with Blue Hors Zack), Carina Cassøe Krüth (76.863 percent with Heiline’s Danciera), and Daniel Bachmann Andersen (76.584 percent with Marshall-Bell) all helped paved the way to the top of the podium.

In Individual competition, Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale won double gold, breaking the 90 percent barrier and taking the top honours in both the Grand Prix Special and the Grand Prix Freestyle. Laudrup-Dufour had to settle for the silver this time in both events, with Dinja van Liere of the Netherlands winning two bronze medals.

Amidst all the celebrations at Herning, there were a few bittersweet moments too. Laudrup-Dufour officially retired her best friend, Atterupgaards Cassidy, her partner since 2010. Cassidy, age 19 at his retirement ceremony, brought Laudrup-Dufour a string of victories that set her athletic career on its current trajectory from a young age, and he will long be remembered for his beautiful performances and sweet nature.

2022-23 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Season

The world’s best Dressage athletes are at it again this season with another World Cup for one talented person to take home. So far, we’ve had five of the 11 legs, as athletes vie for qualifying points to head to the Finals next spring, this time at Omaha, a popular venue in the US.

Denmark’s Carina Cassøe Krüth took the first leg at home at Aarhus, with Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl, Ingrid Klimke, and Frederic Wandres of Germany, and Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry winning subsequent legs at Lyon, Stuttgart, Madrid, and London.

Mechelen will bring 2022 to an end, and then there are legs at Basel, Amsterdam, Neumünster, and Gothenburg to see who will punch those coveted tickets.

As the defending FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion, Von Bredow-Werndl is guaranteed a spot on the roster in Nebraska, as long as she participates in two qualifying events. Who will join her in America?

Klimke, the Eventing juggernaut, leads the elite Western European League after finishing third at London ExCel. She’s got 55 points, but Morgan Barbançon of France is right on her heels with 51 points. Benjamin Werndl, Jessica’s brother, is hot behind in third place at the moment with 50 points.

In the North America standings, Alice Tarjan leads the way, while Steffen Peters & Suppenkasper are in hot form after two wins. The exciting young prospect Anna Buffini is also up near the top of the list.

Who will add the cup to their trophy case come April? Get all the news here on FEI.org, and stay tuned to FEI TV to find out!