Olympic dressage has long been dominated by Germany. Since the first edition of the team event in Amsterdam in 1928, only four countries—France, Sweden, Great Britain and what was then the Soviet Union—have ever succeeded in doing so. With a phenomenal 14 team golds from 21 team contests, the German team arrived at the Paris 2024 Games with pep in their step once again.
That extra enthusiasm is due in no small part to the emergence of an exciting new partnership between Germany’s Isabell Werth, one of the most decorated athletes in the sport, and the talented 10-year-old, Danish-bred mare Wendy De Fontaine.
At CDIO Aachen 5* just a few short weeks ago, Werth created a sensation with her performances aboard Wendy, who she only started riding six months ago. The pair posted a hat-trick of victories in the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle. After scoring 89.95 in the freestyle, she threw down a marker clearly indicating her intentions. The pair’s selection has given the German team a whole new dimension.
If Wendy takes to Versailles with the same confidence she had in Aachen, it could be a game changer. Wendy’s talent combined with the consistently successful partnership of Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera and the solid back-up from Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD renders the defending champions truly formidable.
Reigning British
Great Britain, however, has the reigning individual World Champions in their toolkit. Charlotte (Lottie) Fry and her black stallion Glamourdale, who clinched world championship double-gold in 2022 before going on to take team gold and Freestyle silver at last year’s Europeans, were noticeably absent from the competition arena for much of this year. However, they produced double wins at the CDI3* at Aachen, Germany, in May. The pair went on to take another two top spots at the CDI4* at the same venue two weeks ago. This suggests they remain a fiercely competitive force to be reckoned with.
Becky Moody and her 10-year-old, home-bred gelding Jagerbomb were British reserves at the 2023 European Championship. The pair’s third-place finishes in both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle at the World Cup leg in London last December placed them even further under the spotlight. After taking the runner-up spot in the Grand Prix Special at CDIO5*-NC Compiègne, France, in May and clinching third place in the Grand Prix Special at CDIO5*-NC Rotterdam, Netherlands, in June, the big horse’s form was confirmed.
Moody regularly travels more than four hours to train with teammate Carl Hester whose presence in these Games is enormous. Not only is he, like the inimitable Werth, something of an institution in the sport, but he also holds massive influence as the trainer of so many successful athletes and their horses. Hester has always been a solid team player, helping his country to that historic first-ever Olympic team gold on home soil in London in 2012 and to silver at the Rio 2016 Games and then bronze in Tokyo three years ago.
Together these three Britons are sure to make waves when action in Paris gets underway.
U.S. Veterans
It was Team USA that slotted into silver-medal position in Tokyo. And two members of that team are lining out once again in Paris.
Steffen Peters is a veteran of five Olympic Games beginning with Atlanta in 1996 where the U.S. team took bronze. For Paris, he brings his Tokyo ride, the 16-year-old Suppenkasper who finished fifth in the Grand Prix and fourth in the Grand Prix Freestyle at last year’s FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Omaha, Nebraska. Just a few weeks ago, they finished third in the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle in Aachen to cement their selection.
Adrienne Lyle, competing at her third Games, brings 12-year-old gelding Helix. The gelding scored numerous victories in Florida this year before coming to Europe. The pair posted two fifth-placings at Hagen, Germany, CDI3* and two runner-up placings CDI4* Kronberg, Germany in June.
Completing the American team is Marcus Orlob who only took over the reins of 10-year-old mare Jane earlier this year. The pair competed in their first international competition together in March. And it’s been a meteoric rise to the U.S. team backed up by good results at Hagen and Kronberg.
Battle for Team and Individual Titles
The reigning world champions and European bronze medallists from Denmark are among the 15 countries vying for a place on the Olympic team podium. In the battle for the individual title, the reigning gold and silver medallists are back for more. And they are both Germans.
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl is determined to make it happen when she comes out to defend her individual title with Dalera. But Werth, who settled for silver in Tokyo, has something of a secret weapon in her new ride Wendy. And there are plenty of others whose stars are just waiting to shine.
How Paris Will Play Out
The FEI Grand Prix test, in which all athletes must participate, will take place on Tuesday, July 30, and Wednesday, July 31. This test is a qualifier for both the team (Grand Prix Special) and individual competition (Grand Prix Freestyle). The qualification ranking for team competition will be decided by the combined results of all three team members in the Grand Prix.
Athletes compete in six groups, with three groups competing on each day. The composition of the groups is based on the FEI World Ranking list position of the horse on the date of definite entries.
The top 10 teams in the Grand Prix (including any team tied for 10th place) will qualify for the FEI Grand Prix Special on Saturday, August 3, which is the team medal decider.
The FEI Grand Prix test is also the individual qualifier from which the top 18 riders will go on to the Grand Prix Freestyle Individual Final on Sunday, August 4. The FEI Grand Prix Freestyle test is the Individual Final Competition open to 18 combinations qualified from the FEI Grand Prix. The qualified athletes will be the top two combinations from each of the six groups and the combinations with the six next highest scores. The Dressage Tests are the FEI Grand Prix, the FEI Grand Prix Special and the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle.
