Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro are to spearhead a star-studded line-up for this year’s World Cup qualifier class at Olympia, The London International Horse Show, (16-17 December).
The field is exceptionally strong this year with the world number one pairing being joined by more British talent in the form of Carl Hester on his European Championships team silver medallist Nip Tuck, as well as Spencer Wilton (on Numberto who is, like Valegro, by Negro). Hannah Biggs and Nikki Crisp will also be competing.
Overseas challengers include the Dutch superstars Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud (Glock’s Johnson) and Spain’s Morgan Barbançon Mestre with Anky van Grunsven’s former ride, Painted Black.
It has not been confirmed whether Edward will ride Glock’s Undercover or Glock’s Voice.
Their compatriot Danielle Heijkoop rides her own Kingsley Siro. This is another combination who are well capable of big scores: at Olympia in 2013 they were third with 80.625%.
The British-based Danish riders Anders Dahl and Ulrik Molgaard are also in the line-up, as are Irish competitors Dane Rawlins and Judy Reynolds.
A four-strong German contingent — which includes the London 2012 team silver medallist rider Dorothee Schneider — will also be competing.
Charlotte and Valegro have ridden six tests at Olympia, winning all of them bar one — in 2011 Laura Tomlinson (then Bechtolsheimer) won the freestyle on Mistral Hojris, relegating Charlotte to second with close scores of 83.975% and 83.7%.
Carl Hester has been umming and ahhing all season about whether to bring the sensitive and inexperienced Nip Tuck to the cauldron that is Olympia. To familiarise him with similar atmospheres, he appeared at countless demonstrations and displays, including the Spanish Riding School of Vienna Britain tour, The Dressage Convention and Your Horse Live.
To the benefit of Olympia fans, he has decided to bring him to the show.
Two black Scandinavian stallions join the field. The Trakehener stallion Finckenstein, by Latimer — who won many admirers with his strong performances at Hickstead CDI this year lines up, as does Santana, Minne Telde’s one-eyed Sandro Hit son.
Full list of dressage combinations to compete:
AUS Kristy Oatley Ronan 2
AUS Robert Schmerglatt Fonteyne
BEL Simon Missiaen Vradin
NED Edward Gal Glock’s Undercover/Glock’s Voice
NED Katja Gevers Thriller
NED Danielle Heijkoop Kingsley Siro N.O.P.
NED Hans Peter Minderhoud Glock’s Johnson TN
GBR Hannah Biggs Weltzin
GBR Nikki Crisp Pasoa
GBR Charlotte Dujardin Valegro
GBR Carl Hester Nip Tuck
GBR Spencer Wilton Numberto
ESP Morgan Barbançon Mestre Painted Black
ESP Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo Sunny Boy
USA Jennifer Hoffman XXXL Rubino NRW
IRL Dane Rawlins Sydney
IRL Judy Reynolds Vancouver K
FIN Terhi Stegars Axis TSF
GER Jessica von Bredow-Werndl Unee BB
GER Sonke Rothenberger Favourit
GER Dorothee Schneider Forward Looking / Silvano 71
GER Benjamin Werndl Der Hit
DEN Anders Dahl Wie-Atlantico De Ymas
DEN Agnete Kirk Thinggaard Jojo AZ
DEN Ulrick Moelgaard Michigan
DEN Rikke Svane Finckenstein TSF
SWE Minna Telde Santana
