Western European League 2017/2018 (dressage riding)

The Western European League of the FEI World Cup Dressage 2017/2018 (FEI World Cup ™ Dressage 2017-2018, Western European League) was the 33rd season of the Western and Central European League of the FEI World Cup Dressage . The World Cup is the most important tournament series in the indoor season in the Western European League.

Course of the tournament series

For the 2017/2018 World Cup season there were major changes, especially with regard to the Central European League, for which no separate league finals were planned. Little changed for participants in the Western European League, only the venue for the first stage changed within Denmark.

All tournaments of the Western European League were advertised as CDI . They were marked with the suffix -W (i.e. CDI-W) to identify them as World Cup tournaments.

The season started with the first special stage on October 22, 2017, the final stage was held on March 10, 2018. The best nine riders of the Western European League as well as any additional participants (“extra competitors”) qualified for the 2018 World Cup finals. The “Analytics Sponsor” of the World Cup of Dressage Riders is the software manufacturer SAP .

The mode of the stages was identical to the previous year: A Grand Prix de Dressage served as the warm-up test for the Grand Prix Freestyle . The size of the starting field was not specified by the World Cup regulations. The 15 best-placed participants from the Grand Prix qualified for the Grand Prix Freestyle. Only the Grand Prix Freestyle counted as a special test for the Western European League.

The exams

1st examination: Herning

The start of the Western European League took place in Denmark as in previous years, but had a new venue. The Odense World Cup, which has been held for ten years, was no longer held at the same location, as in the summer, as the cooperation between the organizers (the JBK Horse Show company and the Odense Municipality ) ended in 2016.

Herning was chosen as the new venue: The World Cup Herning tournament took place from October 18-22, 2017 in Jyske Bank Kasten . The World Cup freestyle was held as the last test on Sunday in Jyske Bank Kasten. Of the 14 starters in the Grand Prix Freestyle, it was Isabell Werth who, with her gelding Don Johnson FRH, was the first to break the 80 percent mark - she got 83.755 percent. The next rider, the Dane Daniel Bachmann Andersen , also achieved over 80 percent with the 13-year-old stallion Zack . But he did not make it into the top 3 of the final result: Cathrine Dufour had already won the Grand Prix here with her first tournament start with Cassidy since the European Championships in Gothenburg by over two percent (79.840 percent). In the freestyle she was able to confirm this dominance - with almost 86 percent, the judges saw her again two percent ahead of Werth. Patrik Kittel, as the last starter, also had a good start to the indoor season with Delaunay OLD , with over 81 percent meaning third place for him.

	equestrian	horse	percent	scoring points
1	Denmark Cathrine Dufour	Cassidy	85.945%	20th
2	Germany Isabell Werth	Don Johnson FRH	83.755%	-
3	Sweden Patrik Kittel	Delaunay OLD	81.095%	17th

(Places one to three out of a total of 14 participants)

2nd test: Lyon

At the beginning of November, the Western European League took the riders to France: From November 1st to 5th, 2017, the second stage of the tournament series took place as part of the Equitá Lyon. Dressage was already on the agenda at Eurexpo on the first days of the tournament, and the World Cup freestyle was held on Friday afternoon.

Isabell Werth's 11-year-old gelding Emilio already dominated the Grand Prix , with 80 percent he was over three percent in the lead. In the freestyle, Werth got the fifth from last place on the grid and therefore had to present in the final group. She did this too: All judges saw her with an A grade of over 80 percent, a total of 86.115 percent represented a new best result for Emilio . The following four riders were all ahead of the previous leaders Fabienne Lütkemeier and D'Agostino FRH (75.225 %), but they clearly did not come close to Werth's result. In fourth place came Dorothee Schneider , whose European championship horse from 2017, Sammy Davis jr. , got off to a good start into the indoor season with his second over 80 percent result at Grand Prix level.

	equestrian	horse	percent	scoring points
1	Germany Isabell Werth	Emilio	86.115%	-
2	Spain Beatriz Ferrer Salad	Delgado	82.630%	20th
3	Sweden Patrik Kittel	Deja	81.555%	17th

(Places one to three out of a total of 15 participants)

3rd exam: Stuttgart

Two weeks after Lyon, the first German stage of the Dressage World Cup was on the program: The Stuttgart German Masters were held from November 15 to 19, 2017 in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle .

On the afternoon of Saturday, following the World Cup test for four-in-hand drivers, the World Cup freestyle was held. In the Stuttgart Grand Prix de Dressage of the Freestyle Tour, Isabell Werth achieved an even clearer victory than before in Lyon: With the black mare Weihegold OLD , with whom she also topped the world rankings, she achieved 82.080 percent - six percent ahead of second-placed Helen Langehanenberg .

In Stuttgart, Isabell Werth was awarded the fourth starting place in the block of the last seven riders of the freestyle. Also in the World Cup Freestyle, Werth's mare was the dominant horse of the test, despite mistakes in the two-way changes, it was enough for a result of 87.575 percent. At their second world cup tournament of the season, Dorothee Schneider and Sammy Davis jr. again, for a ride with a “clear suspension phase and a lot of dynamism”, the judges gave well over 82 percent. Helen Langehanenberg and her 15-year-old stallion Damsey FRH started as the final pair . The Hanoverian stallion approached his first freestyle since the European Championships over-motivated, according to chief judge Dr. Dietrich Plewa with a little too much tension. This gave him an overall result of just under 80 percent, which earned them third place.

	equestrian	horse	percent	scoring points
1	Germany Isabell Werth	Weihegold OLD	87.575%	-
2	Germany Dorothee Schneider	Sammy Davis Jr.	82.805%	20th
3	Germany Helen Langehanenberg	Damsey FRH	79.615%	17th

(Places one to three out of a total of 15 participants)

4th exam: Salzburg

The Amadeus Horse Indoors in Salzburg were in 2017 for the third time host a World Cup test in dressage. The event was held from December 6th to 10th, 2017 in the Salzburgarena .

The World Cup freestyle was on the program on the final day from 10:45 a.m. The French Ludovic Henry kicked off the second half of the test, with After You provisionally taking the lead with a score of 75.635 percent. The next starter was last year's winner Dorothee Schneider, who this year with Sammy Davis jr. started. Schneider had already won the Grand Prix the day before. After gelding Sammy Davis Jr. had already set a best performance in the freestyle three weeks earlier in Stuttgart, he was able to trump it again in Salzburg. Together with Dorothee Schneider it came to 83.415 percent.

The next but one starter, the Dane Daniel Bachmann-Andersen, was also rated over 80 percent by the judges with the stallion Zack , with 80.375 percent he initially took second place. The penultimate starter was Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who competed with the now 16-year-old Gribaldi son Unee BB . The evaluation of all judges in both A and B marks remained just below that of Dorothee Schneider, the final result was 81.565 percent. Fabienne Lütkemeier had the last starting place , she rode the 10-year-old gelding Fabregaz . Although the Austrian judge at E saw her in the lead with a B grade identical to Dorothee Schneider with 88.200 percent, it was not quite enough for 80 percent in the overall assessment of all judges, with 79.220 percent she placed fourth.

	equestrian	horse	percent	scoring points
1	Germany Dorothee Schneider	Sammy Davis Jr.	83.415%	20th
2	Germany Jessica von Bredow-Werndl	Unee BB	81.565%	17th
3	Denmark Daniel Bachmann-Andersen	Zack	80.375%	15th

(Places one to three out of a total of 12 participants)

5th exam: London

The next test of the Western European League took place just a few days later: On the first two days of the Olympia London International Horse Show , December 12th and 13th 2017, the dressage tests of the British World Cup stage were held. The London World Cup was held on December 13th at 7:20 pm in the Olympia Grand Hall .

The day before, the 9-year-old Zonik , ridden by Edward Gal, had won his first internationally advertised test at an indoor tournament with a lead of one and a half percent. In the freestyle, Gal and his stallion made mistakes, for example in the single changes, but it was enough for a result of 79.340 percent. Madeleine Witte-Vrees followed as the next rider, she brought the 10-year-old Cennin to the start. In this second World Cup freestyle after Lyon in his second World Cup season, the stallion achieved 77.645 percent. However, the judges did not agree on the placement: The Australian judge at B gave the best result she had given that day with 80.575 percent, while the French judge at H only placed the couple in ninth place.

For the first time in 13 years Patrik Kittel was back in London. With the 11-year-old gelding Delaunay OLD he took the lead as the penultimate starter, with high B-grades between 83.600 and 87.000 percent, he got an overall result of 80.560 percent. The last ride of the day was shown by the Brit Emile Faurie and Delatio , who work in Lower Saxony . The stallion, who was still ridden by Bianca Kasselmann in the summer and had a share in Faurie's victory in the German dressage derby , competed in an international Grand Prix Freestyle for the first time in London. This premiere was a success: 80.405 percent and therefore second place in the final result.

	equestrian	horse	percent	scoring points
1	Sweden Patrik Kittel	Delaunay OLD	80.560%	20th
2	United Kingdom Emile Faurie	Delatio	80.405%	17th
3	Netherlands Edward Gal	Zonik	79.340%	15th

(Places one to three out of a total of 15 participants)

6. Exam: Amsterdam

After more than a month's break, the Western European League started the year 2018 at the end of January. The sixth stage was held from January 25th to 28th, 2018 as part of the indoor riding tournament in Amsterdam , called Jumping Amsterdam.

Once again this season, Isabell Werth secured a clear victory in the Grand Prix with a lead of several percent and was therefore also the favorite in the Grand Prix Freestyle. In Amsterdam, the last starting place was allocated to her, so that her competitors first had to present their rides. The group of the best seven of the Grand Prix was opened in the World Cup Freestyle by Emile Faurie and Delatio . The World Cup runners-up in London did not quite reach 79 percent in Amsterdam, combined with the significantly stronger competition, it was only seventh in the final result of the test.

Just like Delatio , Zonik also played his second World Cup freestyle with Edward Gal in Amsterdam. Compared to London, there was an increase in performance - Gal received mostly grades of 7.5 and 8.0 in the lessons of the A grade for his ride, supplemented by the B grade, he got 81.860 percent. After Gal, Patrik Kittel started in the freestyle, he rode the 14-year-old mare Deja . Mistakes in the single changes pushed Kittel's A grade, but high B grades brought him back close to the leader. With 81.155 percent, Kittel was initially in second place.

In the Grand Prix, Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH were still clearly in second place with over two percent advantage over Patrik Kittel. In the freestyle, she also started with highly rated lessons. But from the step, her stallion stuck out his tongue clearly. At first Langehanenberg rode a few more lessons, but the stallion's tongue remained stuck out over the bit. As a continuation of the ride did not seem sensible under these circumstances, Helen Langehanenberg decided not to continue and gave up. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who started after her, was able to place in the top group with Unee BB - with 81.195 percent, she ranked between Gal and Kittel.

Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD had already won the previous year in Amsterdam with over 90 percent. Both of them were able to build on this in the 2018 freestyle in Amsterdam: They even received a 10.0 from the Dutch chief judge at C for two lessons. Only the collected step with grades predominantly in the 6-point range could reduce the overall grade, 88.540 percent still meant a clear victory in this test.

	equestrian	horse	percent	scoring points
1	Germany Isabell Werth	Weihegold OLD	88.540%	-
2	Netherlands Edward Gal	Zonik	81.860%	20th
3	Germany Jessica von Bredow-Werndl	Unee BB	81.195%	17th

(Places one to three out of a total of 15 participants)

7. Exam: Neumünster

The second German stage of the Western European League was on the program from February 15 to 18, 2018. The exam took place as part of the VR Classics in Neumünster in the Holstenhallen .

The World Cup test for dressage riders was held on the tournament Sunday from 10 a.m. The second rider in the second part of the starting field was Emile Faurie. With Delatio , he stayed just under 79 percent. Denmark's representative in the freestyle, Daniel Bachmann Andersen, exceeded 80 percent (81.475%) with his result with the stallion Zack .

Helen Langehanenberg had her last tournament start before a maternity break. Free from the pressure of having to collect points for the World Cup final, she was able to shine with Damsey FRH . The judges rewarded this with 83.880 percent, a joint best result for the Langehanenberg / Damsey FRH couple. After her, Dorothee Schneider followed in the square. While dating Sammy Davis Jr. was on a par with Langehanenberg in the B grade, the A grade made the difference. Helen Langehanenberg was seen there by all judges at over 80 percent, while Schneider was judged here at a maximum of 78,250. With 81.565 percent it was still just enough for second place.

The specialty of the World Cup stage in Neumünster is the atmosphere: With fewer than 3,000 seats, the Holstenhalle is one of the smallest halls in the Western European League, but the spectators sit so close to the square that it feels as if they are riding on horseback (interview statement Dorothee Cutter). Fabregaz , the 11-year-old gelding of the final rider Fabienne Lütkemeier, was also impressed by this atmosphere . This tension led to the fact that, despite some highlights, both were only able to line up in fifth place with 78.245 percent.

	equestrian	horse	percent	scoring points
1	Germany Helen Langehanenberg	Damsey FRH	83.880%	20th
2	Germany Dorothee Schneider	Sammy Davis Jr.	81.565%	17th
3	Denmark Daniel Bachmann-Andersen	Zack	81.475%	15th

(Places one to three out of a total of 15 participants)

8th test: Gothenburg

The remaining Swedish World Cup stage took place on the weekend after Neumünster. From February 21 to 25, 2018, the Gothenburg Horse Show was held in the Scandinavium in Gothenburg .

The World Cup freestyle was already on the program on Friday afternoon. Already in the Grand Prix there were signs that Isabell Werth and Cathrine Dufour would fight for victory with their horses. Austria's representative in the Grand Prix Freestyle was Belinda Weinbauer, who competed with the 16-year-old son Brilliant . With a joint international best result in their second World Cup season, they achieved 77.275 percent. Cathrine Dufour started right after her. With her gelding Cassidy , she had already managed to achieve over 80 percent in the Grand Prix, which brought her victory there. With a new freestyle with an extremely high level of difficulty (9.88 out of 10) and only a few mistakes, she was able to push Weinbauer clearly from the top position. Your new individual best result was now 88.200 percent, with no B grade below 92 percent.

Isabell Werth followed with 12-year-old Emilio . Errors in the exchange of two led to deductions, but she came to a result of over 85 percent. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, the penultimate starter, gave up after her stallion Unee was frightened during the gallop tour and became more and more tense as a result. Finally, Patrik Kittel and Delaunay OLD were in the square. They also got over 80 percent, after mistakes in the single substitutions they came in third place.

	equestrian	horse	percent	scoring points
1	Denmark Cathrine Dufour	Cassidy	88.200%	20th
2	Germany Isabell Werth	Emilio	85.380%	-
3	Sweden Patrik Kittel	Delaunay OLD	83.615%	17th

(Places one to three out of a total of 13 participants)

9th test: 's-Hertogenbosch

In March, the dressage riders had one last opportunity to collect points for the World Cup finals. The final stage of the Western European League was part of the tournament The Dutch Masters - Indoor Brabant , which was held from March 8th to 11th, 2018 in 's-Hertogenbosch .

The World Cup freestyle was on the program on the afternoon of the tournament Saturday. After the first ten rides, Anne Meulendijks from the Netherlands and Avanti were in the lead with 78.235 percent. The 24-year-old rider had won all three tests of the U25 CDIO in the summer of 2017 as part of the CHIO Aachen and now contested the first World Cup test of her career in 's-Hertogenbosch. Isabell Werth started the arena with Emilio as eleventh starter . The gelding was able to improve again in terms of performance compared to Gothenburg, despite a mistake in the two-man exchanges it was enough for Werth and her horse for 87.405 percent. The following ride by Emmelie Scholtens and Apache did not shine with an outstanding lesson, but she consistently received grades of 7.5 and 8.0 in all lessons. With the addition of the B grade, she got 80.315 percent, her best international result so far at Grand Prix level.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl started the 14-year-old mare Zaire-E . Despite noticeable deductions due to mistakes in the single substitutions, it was enough for a result of over 80 percent, she took the ranking just ahead of Scholtens. Edward Gal, who had already come second in the Grand Prix, also succeeded in the Grand Prix Freestyle, with a new record for the 10-year-old Zonik . Madeleine Witte-Vrees, as the last participant, came close to Gals result in the grade with Cennin , the five judges placed her in second to fourth place. When adding up the results, it came in at 82.555 percent and thus in third place.

	equestrian	horse	percent	scoring points
1	Germany Isabell Werth	Emilio	87.405%	-
2	Netherlands Edward Gal	Zonik	83.900%	20th
3	Netherlands Madeleine Witte-Vrees	Cennin	82.555%	17th

(Places one to three out of a total of 15 participants)

Overall rating

The overall ranking was used to determine which nine riders from the states in the Western European League qualified for the final. Only the best four placements per rider counted for the overall ranking.

In addition, other riders from other countries could have qualified for the World Cup finals via the Western European League, provided they lived in the Western European League.

The riders also had the opportunity to collect points in the Central European League and in the North American League of the Dressage World Cup (see “Others” in the table below). As the World Cup final winner of the previous season, Isabell Werth was pre-qualified for the final, so she was unable to collect any points this season.

	equestrian	Herning	Lyon	Stuttgart	Salzburg	London	Amsterdam	Neumunster	Gothenburg	's-Hertogen- Bosch	Further	scoring points
1	Sweden Patrik Kittel	(17)	17th	-	-	20th	(15)	-	17th	-	20th	74
2	Germany Dorothee Schneider	-	15th	20th	20th	-	-	17th	-	-	-	72
3	Germany Jessica von Bredow-Werndl	13	-	(12)	17th	-	17th	-	(0)	15th	-	62
4th	Netherlands Madeleine Witte-Vrees	-	13	-	-	13	13	(11)	-	17th	-	56
5	Netherlands Edward Gal	-	-	-	-	15th	20th	-	-	20th	-	55
6th	Denmark Daniel Bachmann-Andersen	15th	-	-	15th	-	9	15th	-	-	-	54
6th	Sweden Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén	10	-	15th	-	-	-	-	-	-	29	54
8th	Austria Belinda winemaker	-	-	11	10	-	-	-	15th	-	17th	53
8th	United Kingdom Emile Faurie	-	(3)	-	-	17th	11	13	12	(0)	-	53
10	Germany Fabienne Lütkemeier	-	12	13	13	-	12	(12)	-	-	-	50
11	Spain Morgan Barbançon Mestre	-	9	8th	-	(6)	-	(4)	-	9	20th	46
12	Switzerland Marcela Krinke Susmelj	-	11	6th	-	-	-	5	-	-	20th	42

(Places one to 12)

World Cup Finals

For the second time since 1991, the World Cup finals for dressage riders will take place in the AccorHotels Arena (formerly Palais Omnisports) in Paris- Bercy. The final tournament will be held from April 10th to 15th, 2018 together with the show jumping final.