Inaugural Exquis World Dressage Masters Huge Success

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

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The inaugural Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI 5* at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington Florida Jan. 29-31 has been a huge success in many respects. ‘The Superbowl of dressage is coming’, the local newspapers headed. One of the comments that struck WDM management the most was that of Grand Prix-winner Steffen Peters. He called the event “a real wake up call”. He made it very clear to the organisers how he felt and stressed the importance of the event for the entire dressage community and him personally. “It was a real wake up call about what our commitment and responsibilities as riders are”, Peters said.
Inspired by the successful première, WDM management can’t wait for their second show. However this will not be Salzburg as originally planned. Organiser horsedeluxe unfortunately had to cancel the CDI5* scheduled May 1-3. Because construction activities at the Residenzplatz in Salzburg – the unique place in the heart of Salzburg where the WDM event was supposed to be staged – are heavily delayed horsedeluxe proposed to transfer the WDM event to the indoor show in October. As the Exquis World Dressage Masters shows are outdoor shows only, both WDM management and horsedeluxe have agreed to focus on 2010 instead.

WDM is negotiating with two other major outdoor shows to host an Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI5*. “We would like to stick to our original plan to have 4 shows in our 2009 schedule”, John van de Laar of WDM Management said. “We hope that we can present the fourth WDM show on short notice”.

Apart from main sponsor Exquis, US company Equestrian Sport Productions and Moorland Investments and Stables are partners of WDM. The WDM concept combines top sport, top events and top price money to help dressage develop to an even more attractive and understandable spectacle.
The other events of the 2009 Exquis World Dressage Masters CDI 5* series are Munich, Germany (May 21-24) and Hickstead, Great Britain (July 23-26).

Follow the events as they unfold at the official website - worlddressagemasters.com
For information on the concept and the management of the Exquis World Dressage Masters please contact John van de Laar at info@worlddressagemasters.com