• Steffen Peters and Floriano (a 17-year-old chestnut Westphalian gelding owned by Stephen and Laurelyn Browning) led the way for the American contingent coming into the World Cup and have high hopes riding on their steady and talented backs. The USDF Horse of the Year, this pair was the highest scoring American combination at the 2006 World Equestrian Games.
• California’s Leslie Morse and Tip Top 962 (a 13-year-old Swedish gelding owned by Leslie Mores joins her WEG Bronze Medal team mate, Peters, after taking a long break following last year's World Equestrian Games. With a fresh horse and powerful Freestyle, Morse is a crowd favorite.
• Courtney King aboard Idocus (a 17-year-old Dutch stallion owned by Christine McCarthy) rose to the top during the USA League Finals finishing second to Steffen Peters continues to gain momentum with her long time partner.
• Catherine Haddad aboard Maximus (a 12-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding owned by the Janet S. Schneider Trust) was granted a wild card by the FEI as a result of her performance and final placings in the tough European League Final for the World Cup. Haddad lives in Germany and competes for the United States.

The first three riders earned their berths at the World Cup after a long series of competitions to determine the top three horse-and-rider combinations to represent the U.S. at this international gathering of dressage stars. Haddad, who lives and trains in Germany, received a wild card slot and invitation to represent the U.S. from the FEI, based on her performance in the European League Finals.

Standing in their way to claiming the championship title is a host of other riders including Germany’s Isabell Werth (riding Warum Nicht FRH), Sweden’s Jan Brink (riding Briar 899) and Holland’s Edward Gal (riding Group 4 Securicor IPS Gribaldi).

USA Showjumping Super Stars Perfom in their Country

Joining the dressage riders this week are the jumpers who are poised to begin their work on Thursday evening with the FEI World Cup Jumping Final I. At press time, a field of 42 riders from across the globe have made the journey to Las Vegas, all with the same hopes of taking home to their respective country a World Cup win.

Americans have qualified a host of riders from the East and West Coast Leagues giving the U.S. a total of 12 riders competing, including the wild card spots.

• Leading the U.S. team at the World Cup is New York’s Beezie Madden and Authentic (a 12-year-old KWPN Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Abigail Wexner). Coming off their lead in qualifying for the World Cup, the pair stands poised to tackle their competition. In 2006, at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, the pair was the top-placed Americans with their unforgettable string of fault-free rounds coming into the final. Their performance gained them a new legion of worldwide fans, and it solidified them as serious contenders for the 2007 World Cup title.
• Joining Madden in the race for the title is another New Yorker, McLain Ward, and his Sapphire (a 12-year-old BWP Belgian Warmblood owned by Ward and Blue-Chip Bloodstock). The pair competed alongside Madden at the 2006 WEG as a part of the U.S. team and put down some serious runs to challenge the best international riders in the world. Heading into this year’s competition, the pair has performed beautifully and is eyeing the ultimate prize in Las Vegas.

Standing in the way of an American win are some of the world’s best known jumpers. Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa has brought two mounts to Las Vegas (Oasis and Coeur). Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum has returned with her 2005 mount, Shutterfly, aboard whom she took the 2005 World Cup title. In addition to these competitors, there is a long list of standouts and any one of them is able to step up to the challenge.

Let the Competition Begin

All of the U.S. riders in dressage and show jumping share one thing in common – they’ve come to America’s “Entertainment Capital” to win. And it is fitting that these challenges are taking place again in Las Vegas. They were first held together here in 2005 and the results made the equestrian world stop and take notice as some 90,000-plus spectators witnessed the series of events. With the excitement and promotion surrounding this year’s event, that number is sure to be exceeded, and organizers and riders couldn’t be more excited about displaying their work to such large and appreciative crowds.

With one of the most competitive fields ever posted for a pair of World Cup titles, the resulting display of horsemanship and talent are sure to thrill. Thursday begins the official business with the Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage Final I (the grand prix) in addition to the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final I (speed class).

For news and results from the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cups in dressage and show jumping, visit www.usef.org.

HorsesDaily On the Scene at the 2007 Rolex FEI World Cup
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