April 5, 2023 
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) won’t be doing any sightseeing over the next three days in Omaha, NE.
Defending her 2022 title in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, she’s focused on one view only—TSF Dalera BB.
“I’m more with the horse than looking around in the city,” she said. “I’m very much in my bubble and just enjoying the time I can spend with my horse. It’s the same thing I did in Tokyo but, of course, we had no chance to see anything of Tokyo. I’m not the sightseeing type when I’m at competitions.”
The strategy is proving successful so far. The duo took top honors in Wednesday’s FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final – Grand Prix presented by Havensafe Farm. It’s von Bredow-Werndl’s second time in Nebraska, but Béatrice A. Buerchler-Keller’s mare did not make the trip six years ago, when this Final was last in Omaha.
When asked if she likes the state, the reigning world no. 1 replied, “I do.” When asked if she likes the steak, she replied, “I’m a vegan.”
The German rider is clearly getting enough protein and performing at her best. The seven panels of judges awarded von Bredow-Werndl a 79.922% for her efforts with the 16-year-old mare.
“[TSF Dalera BB] was on fire,” she said, echoing the sentiments of other riders that felt the excitement radiating from their horses. “A little bit too much energy for today but the good thing is we can all say that she was in top form. I definitely enjoyed the ride and the last days training her because she felt amazing from the first trot step on. She is in super form and just as excited as I am to be here.”
Eight months ago, von Bredow-Werndl welcomed a new baby into her family, making her return to the top of the sport that much more remarkable after sitting out a large portion of the season. She won in 2022 while six months pregnant. This year, she’s made the trip across the pond without her two kids, knowing her “home team” was cheering loudly all the way from Germany.
“It’s difficult to say goodbye to an eight-month-old baby but it would have been very egoistic to take her with me,” she explained of her decision.
“If you burn for something you really love, if you are passionate, it’s no question of how fast you can go back. It was actually four days after giving birth I was back in the saddle. You can’t call it sport by then, but the feeling of sitting in the saddle gave me all the motivation I needed to come back in shape. The horses helped me and, of course, I have an amazing team around me.”
Isabell Werth (GER) is in Omaha for her 24th FEI World Cup™ Final. With DSP Quantaz, she placed second in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final – Grand Prix with a score of 77.485%. While she’s no stranger to the success in the World Cup Finals (six wins to date!), the championship never gets easier, even on the 24th try.
“The stronger the colleagues are and the stronger the performances the more I’m inspired,” Werth said. “This is what I love to do and it makes it really fun to compete between all the top riders and top combinations.”
Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN) took home third-place honors with Blue Hors Zepter on a score of 76.165%.
“I’m super happy with Zepter,” Merrald said. “He felt super supple with energy. I tried to go for a little more power than I have the last couple of competitions, and it went well. I had a few quite expensive mistakes, but in total I had a really good feeling with him; he was happy and really enjoyed the experience.”
Steffen Peters (USA) represented the host nation well with Suppenkasper. Their score of 74.581% put them into fifth place as the results were finalized, with just Ingrid Klimke (GER) and Franziskus FRH sitting between him and the top three with a score of 75.543%.
“‘Mopsie’ was great today,” Peters said. “He felt very energetic and at the same time quite relaxed for the walk tour. Unfortunately, the right pirouette got a little bit big. It was not perfectly in the rider’s control but overall a very good test, and to be fifth in this group is wonderful for our sport and for being the oldest rider here in the competition. After 50 years of being in the sport it’s still very exciting to be part of this and I’m thrilled.”
A fan of the cuisine of Omaha, Peters had to add, “All the steaks that Jessie left behind, I ate all of them. I haven’t had a bad meal here yet.”
The FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final – Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Havensafe Farm begins Friday evening at 6:15 pm CT. All 15 starting pairs rode to scores higher than 60% and will advance to Friday’s Final.
See full results here.
