Horse Illustrated Magazine

After this evening’s action-packed FEI Grand Prix dressage at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the stage is now set for the upcoming dressage team final, which will be the FEI Grand Prix Special on Tuesday, July 27. Or at least we hope the competition happens, since Japan and Tokyo are now under a typhoon warning for that day!

The top eight teams after the FEI Grand Prix have qualified to move on and their scores thus far will be wiped, and they begin again with a clean slate in the Special. Those top teams are: Denmark; Germany; Great Britain; Netherlands; Portugal; Spain; Sweden, and the United States.

A similar plan follows for the individual dressage medals. The last two days of Grand Prix competition at the 2020 Olympics served as a qualifier for the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, after which the individual medals will be presented. The top 18 riders from the FEI Grand Prix will advance to the freestyle on Wednesday, July 28, if weather permits.

The individual medal battle may well be a showdown between three women: Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB from Germany, who had the top score of either day with an 84.369 percent; Isabell Werth on Bella Rose from Germany, the reigning world champions who topped the 30-ride session with a score of 82.500 percent; and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin from Great Britain riding Gio, who came in second in the final group today with a score of 80.963 percent.

The following riders and horses earned the top 18 scores in the FEI Grand Prix and will face off for the individual medals in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle on July 28 with a clean slate from the below scores:

1. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB of Germany (84.379%)
2. Isabell Werth and Bella Rose of Germany (82.500%)
3. Cathrine Dufour and Bohemian of Denmark (81.056%)
4. Charlotte Dujardin and Gio of Great Britain (80.963%)
5. Dorothee Schneider and Showtime FRH of Germany (78.820%)
6. Edward Gal and Total US of The Netherlands (78.649%)
7. Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo of the United States (78.416%)
8. Charlotte Fry and Everdale of Great Britain (77.096%)
9. Hans Peter Minderhoud and Dream Boy of The Netherlands (76.817%)
10. Carina Cassoe Kruth and Heiline’s Danciera of Denmark (76.677%)
11. Steffen Peter and Suppenkasper of the United States (76.196%)
12. Therese Nilshagen and Dante Weltino OLD of Sweden (75.140%)
13. Carl Hester and En Vogue of Great Britain (75.124%)
14. Adrienne Lyle and Salvino of the United States (74.875%)
15. Juliette Ramel and Buriel K.H. of Sweden (73.369%)
16. Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zak of Denmark (73.168%)
17. Rodrigo Torres and Fogoso Horsecampline of Portugal (72.624%)
18. Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and Elegance of Spain (72.096%)

There was one elimination from today’s competition when Caroline Chew from Singapore riding the chestnut gelding Tribiani was stopped a short way into their test by the judges because of visible blood on the mouth. Chew and Tribiani were the first-ever equestrian competitors from Singapore. Despite the disappointment, Chew graciously stood for interviews by television and print media. Tribiani appeared unphased by the incident and should fully recover from the cut in his mouth.

The eventers begin their dressage arena familiarization tomorrow evening. The U.S. eventing team was in evidence in the stands over the last two days supporting their dressage teammates in the grand prix at the 2020 Olympic Games.

Complete Tokyo Olympics Coverage