The FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League got off to a spectacular start in Herning (DEN), where home favourites Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle claimed their third consecutive victory at the Danish leg. The FEI Dressage World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle drew an enthusiastic crowd, and the World No. 1 responded with a score of 90.000% to take the win and the maximum 20 points towards the series standings.
The Danish pair had also won Friday’s Grand Prix by a convincing margin. In the Freestyle, one small mistake in the two-tempi changes slightly affected their score, but it was more than balanced by outstanding piaffe, passage and pirouettes, which earned several nines and tens from the judges.
“The crowd gave us wings today. I haven’t done much work with her since the World Championships, because she is already 17. Yesterday we rode in the arena, and she just did it. Today I could go in with a big smile, just play around and have fun. I’m very grateful for that. Freestyle has shown that she still gets butterflies in her stomach when she enters an arena like this and sees the judges sitting at C. She just keeps on giving,” said Laudrup-Dufour.
Laudrup-Dufour plans to compete in several World Cup qualifiers during the indoor season and hopes to qualify for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg (SWE) at the end of March.
Van der Putten sets a new personal best
Marieke van der Putten (NED) and the ever-sharp mare Zantana RS2 OLD N.O.P. finished second with a new personal best of 86.235%. The pair placed sixth at the FEI Dressage World Championship 2026 in Aachen (GER) and have continued to build on that performance since the summer. They too are hoping to qualify for the Final in Gothenburg.
“Zantana was still a little shy in the Grand Prix, but she was better in the Freestyle. She always needs a little time to get used to the transition to indoor competitions. Zantana is a wonderful horse who is always willing to fight for you,” said van der Putten.
Maria von Essen (SWE) and Invoice scored 81.475% to finish third, matching their placing from the previous two years. Invoice excels in the most collected movements, and the pair earned high marks for them again in Herning.
“It’s quite an atmosphere in here, with the crowd so involved. Fortunately, my horse handled it well,” said von Essen.
A strong start to the season
The top five places all went to combinations that had also competed at the FEI Dressage World Championship in Aachen, where each had reached the Grand Prix Freestyle final. Daniel Bachmann Andersen (DEN) and Flash Gordon 37 finished fourth on 81.225%, an impressive result for the relatively inexperienced horse. Fellow Dane Nadja Aaboe Sloth and Favour Gersdorf were fifth with 80.545%.
With five combinations scoring above 80%, the opening leg provided a strong start to the new FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League season.
The next generation makes its mark
Several young athletes moving up from the U25 ranks are now making their presence felt among the senior elite. The 23-year-old Alexander Yde Helgstrand (DEN) led the group, finishing sixth on 77.770%. Cecilia Bergåkra (SWE), 25, placed seventh, while 27-year-old Karoline Rohmann (DEN) was ninth. Annabella Pidgley (GBR), 22, finished tenth, followed by 23-year-old Moritz Treffinger (GER) in eleventh. Theodora Livanos (GRE), 25, placed thirteenth.
The established names held on to the top five, but these young athletes showed strong performances and beautiful riding, underlining that the next generation is ready to challenge the top.
The next qualifier in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League takes place in Lyon (FRA) on 29 and 30 October.