The 16 confirmed entries for this year’s World Cup dressage qualifier throw up some fresh faces to the London arena, as well as some better-known horses and riders.
Valegro is a notable absentee from the list. Charlotte Dujardin will instead partner Carl Hester’s London Olympics ride Uthopia. This will be the combination’s sixth international show, the last being at Windsor CDI in May 2014 (pictured), where they won the grand prix and freestyle with 76.9% and 83.6% – the 14-year-old Metall stallion’s second best freestyle to music score.
His best was under Carl at the European Championships in Herning, Denmark, where their score of 84.17% earned them the silver medal.
At Olympia this year, Carl will ride his recent championship partner, Nip Tuck. Together they represented Great Britain at the World Equestrian Games in 2014 and at the 2015 European Championships and are currently ranked 12th in the world. This will be the 11-year-old gelding by Don Ruto’s second trip to Olympia, having finished fifth in the freestyle last year.
Another British silver medal winning-team horse from the European Championships in Aachen this year, Atterupgaards Orthilia, will start at Olympia, under Fiona Bigwood.
“Tillie”, a 10-year-old mare by Gribaldi, will be at just her seventh international show with Fiona.
Fiona’s partner Anders Dahl rides the experienced campaigner Wie Atlantico, a horse in his eighth year of international grand prix level competition.
Another rider carrying the British flag will be Henriette Andersen on the Jazz gelding Warlock’s Charm. The rider and Jennifer Charlsworth’s 12-year-old hasn’t been out since Saumur in September, where he finished fourth in the freestyle with 74.17%.
Lara Griffith makes a return to the London show, having formerly competed there on Andretti H. This year she rides the Bechtolsheimers’ Rubin Al Asad, a 13-year-old gelding by Rubin Royal.
From across the pond, the most notable campaigner is Hans Peter Minderhoud. The popular Dutch rider will bring Glock’s Flirt. And Ireland’s in-form Judy Reynolds returns with her springy Jazz son Vancouver K.
The grand prix takes place in the evening of Tuesday 15 December, with the freestyle to music on Wednesday 16 December during the gala performance.
Olympia Horse Show dressage entries full list
- Henriette Andersen (GBR) Warlocks Charm
- Fiona Bigwood (GBR) Atterupgaards Orthilia
- Mr Gonçalo Carvalho (POR) Batuta
- Anders Dahl (DEN) Wie-Atlantico De Ymas
- Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) Uthopia
- Ms Lara Griffith (GBR) Rubin Al Asad
- Carl Hester (GBR) Nip Tuck
- Agnete Kirk Thinggaard (DEN) Jojo Az
- Inna Logutenkova (UKR) Fleraro
- Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED) Glock’s Flirt
- Daniel Pinto (POR) Santurion De Massa
- Judy Reynolds (IRL) Vancouver K
- Diederik Van Silfhout (NED) Bonzanjo
- Fanny Verliefden (BEL) Annarico
- Jorinde Verwimp (BEL) Tiamo
