Cathrine Dufour (DEN) entered her 18-year-old gelding Atterupgaards Cassidy as her partner in the opening leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ in Herning (DEN) - and won!

In 2017 the Cathrine Dufour and Atterupfaards Cassidy won the FEI Dressage World Cup™ at the same venue and tonight in front of an enthusiastic home crowd they showed a foot perfect freestyle owning them 87,115% from the five judges. The home crowd rose to their feet – cheering her and Cassidy on.

Cathrine Dufour: ”With Carina’s score, there was quite big pressure on us when we entered the ring. But we had some extra few seconds before the start, so when I picked up canter, he felt really sharp. And then the Danish crowd is fantastic. It is just breath-taking. Since this is one of Cassidy’s last shows, it was special to go in there and show that he is still sharp. I know that he is in really good shape, and he can do it – and he really proved that today. I am super proud of him”.

Carina Cassøe Krüth and her 10-year-old mare Heiline’s Danciera by Fürstenball danced together in their difficult freestyle, making everything seem easy and smooth. With a score of 86,395% her personal best, she ended second after her teammate from the Olympics in Tokyo, Cathrine Dufour.

Carina Cassøe Krüth: “She is just a super good friend in there. She is so honest, and she does everything I want from her, and even more. – She is just amazing. When the audience started clapping it was quite early, so I though ‘well you are going to do that for a while’, but it was very cool, and I think the Danish audience knows by now that they can applause as she likes it”.

The Dutch rider Dinja van Liere and her only 9-year-old stallion Hermes by Easy Game did their first indoor show in Herning, and she was very pleased with her ride in the freestyle earning her a third place with a score of 84,360%.

Dinja van Liere: “I was very pleased with him, and he did a very good job. Yesterday we had a couple of mistakes, but it was the first time we did the short Grand Prix. He doesn’t have that much experience, so I was very happy today and he did a really good freestyle test.

He was a bit impressed by the audience, but he was very cool in there. He is very handsome, and he knows it. I am just very proud of him”.

Cathrine Dufour burst into tears after her ride, it was an amasing and special feeling for her. Since she was a junior-rider Atterupgaards Cassidy by Caprimond has been her partner, and emotions ran high when she entered the arena for the prize giving ceremony.

The FEI Dressage World Cup™ in Herning was also the debut of the new version of the short Grand Prix – this short Grand Prix will be used throughout the World Cup season. Cathrine Dufour states: “I am really positive as I find it horse-friendly that we can ride the short Grand Prix. Of course, you have to get out there from the very first second and a single mistake can cause a huge drop in the marks, but I am really pleased with it. I think it is very fun to do something else. I find it fun.”

Judge at C, Hans-Christian Matthiesen congratulated the riders with some wonderful freestyle test. On the short Grand Prix he commented: “I look for the good flow in a test and in this test I found it. It makes the sport more exciting, but it is a tough test.”

The riders praised the organisation, and the quality of the venue and stabling – the friendliness of everybody involved was highly applauded by the riders.

Cathrine Dufour: “From a rider’s perspective, this is one of my favourites shows not only because it is on Danish soil – everything from the stables to the training areas. People are so friendly and always helpful. It is really a fantastic way to start the season.”

Dinja van Liere agreed with Dufour and commented: “I think this is a good first World Cup and really well organised. I think it puts a lot of pressure on the other shows to keep up with the high performance. It was very nice to be here, and I am going home with a wonderful feeling.”

Together with Casper Cassøe, Jens Trabjerg is the organiser of the World Cup Herning as well as the ECCO FEI World Championships 2022 in Herning. Jens Trabjerg states: “I would like to thank the amazing audience. The audience even stays for the prize giving ceremony. I hope that all of you riders have a note in your calendar in August next year for the Herning2022 World Championships.”

All three riders stated how they will aim for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ final in Leipzig, Germany in April.

The result of the first leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Herning: