2023 winner Frederic Wandres & Bluetooth OLD - photo: PSV J Morel
PRESS RELEASE
Longines Equita Lyon, Concours Hippique International will be hosting the Lyon leg of the FEI Dressage World CupTM from 30 October to 3 November. Eighteen of the world's best riders, representing nine nations, will be keen to excel there. And while Germany's Isabell Werth is the clear favourite, competition is fierce as the other riders attempt to unseat the World No.1, nicknamed the ‘Dressage Queen’. These challengers include the World No. 3, Dutch rider Dinja van Liere. Cadre Noir rider Pauline Basquin, who impressed audiences with her performance set to the music of Stromae at Versailles this summer, will also be competing with the firm intention of winning over the Lyon crowd.
Isabell Werth, the World No.1 dressage rider, is undoubtedly the favourite for this FEI Dressage World CupTM leg in Lyon. Her longevity in the sport is as impressive as her track record: the German rider has had countless victories at World and European Championships, while also winning 14 gold and silver medals from the seven Olympic Games in which she has taken part.
Isabell Werth is a regular at the Longines Equita Lyon, Concours Hippique International, where she has already won the FEI Dressage World CupTM leg on 6 occasions (2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021), enhancing her stature as an icon of the discipline even more. This year, she is counting on DSP Quantaz to lead her to a 7th victory in Lyon.
DINJA VAN LIERE : LOOKING TO RIDE TO VICTORY IN LYON
But icons are not untouchable and a new generation of riders is attempting to topple the throne of the Dressage Queen. Dinja van Liere, the Dutch dressage rider, who was fourth at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and is currently third in the FEI World rankings is one of them. The bubbly young woman is experiencing a meteoric rise and is firmly establishing herself in world dressage at the highest level.
An achievement she could have never imagined just a few years ago: ‘As a little girl, I'd never have dared to imagine all this, and now I experience it every day. When I was a child, I used to motivate myself by saying: Train until your idols become your rivals. And today they are. If someone had said that to me ten years ago, I wouldn't have believed them. I feel like I’m daydreaming.’ She’ll be riding Hartsuijker in Lyon. ‘He’s an experienced horse in great shape who has performed quite well in his last few competitions. However, this is his first indoor show for over a year, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes. I have high expectations of him and I hope he performs well,’ explains the best Dutch dressage rider currently.
And while Isabell Werth and Dinja van Liere are rivals in the ring, the Dutch rider openly expresses her admiration for the unwavering pillar of German dressage: ‘Isabell has never ceased to impress me over the last 30 years. She’s ridden an incredible number of horses with which she has achieved excellent performances in Grands Prix. Isabell is unique as she's proved that she can come back with different types of horses, whatever their level or quality, she always knows how to get the best out of them. Her determination, energy and real motivation are so inspiring. I hope I’ll be like her 20 years from now.’
The competition in Lyon won't just be a duel between the World No.1 and the World No 3. Far from it.
PAULINE BASQUIN AND SERTORIUS DE RIMA Z*IFCE ARE STILL DANCING!
Pauline Basquin is returning to Longines Equita Lyon, Concours Hippique International’s ring, riding the elegant Sertorius de Rima Z*IFCE. A year ago, at Eurexpo, the combination scored over 80% for the first time in a Grand Prix Freestyle.
‘It's certainly one of my best competition memories. It was incredible to score over 80% for the first time, in front of a French audience, my home crowd. At first, I really couldn't believe it. It took a few seconds to sink in and then I was overjoyed. This test and this score in Lyon were a milestone for Sertorius and for me. In a way, that 80.815% was the culmination of the good progress we had made and allowed us feel really confident about the future,’ remembers the Cadre noir rider.
This summer, Pauline Basquin really impressed the French public. During her Grand Prix Freestyle test at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the whole audience in Versailles clapped in sync to Stromae's song ‘Alors on danse’. There's no doubt that the magic will happen again in Lyon. And the public’s applause will delight Sertorius de Rima Z*IFCE: ‘He likes showing off, he likes feeling that he's being cheered on. He's really motivated when he hears applause,’ says his rider who affectionately calls him ‘darling’.
Stéphanie Brieussel with Fellini du Soleil and Anne-Sophie Serre with Jibraltar de Massa will also be representing France, as will Alexandre Ayache who will also be present in Lyon, riding Jolene. This summer, this combination was also part of the French dressage team that finished 6th at the Paris Olympic Games.
Larissa Pauluis with Flambeau will also be competing. This member of the Belgian team that came fifth at the Olympic Games in Versailles, will be looking to make her mark in Lyon.
Lastly, it would be unwise to overlook two riders who are regulars at the Lyon event: Dutch rider Hans Peter Minderhoud, with Glock's Toto JR, and Sweden’s Patrick Kittel, World No.11, with Touchdown. The presence of the lady riders definitely won’t stop them from trying to obtain a podium finish.
Updated entries:
