February 17, 2025 
Nanna Skodborg Merrald has twice been runner up at FEI World Cup™ Finals. With three horses in her string earning qualifying points this season, she’s lining up her shot at the 2025 World Cup title.
On Blue Hors Zepter, Merrald jigged to 80s hip-hop music to win the FEI Dressage World Cup qualifier at Neumünster on Sunday, scoring 81.465% in the Grand Prix Freestyle.
It’s her first win of the World Cup season and second at Neumünster. Merrald won her first CDI-W at the venue in 2023—it was a tipping point in the 31-year old’s career.
It wasn’t long ago that she was just happy to be competing against her heroes. Now she’s beating them.
“When you switch from being an underdog to a favorite, it definitely changes your self-perception,” Merrald said.
The Danish rider took the highest score on day one of the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, contributing to what became a team silver medal finish for Denmark. That came just after the two consecutive second placings at FEI World Cup™ Finals, in Omaha 2023 and Riyadh 2024. Consistency is becoming her thing.
“The expectations are high, but I use it as a driving force,” Merrald said. “I believe in myself and my horses, and I work hard every single day to get better. That’s what matters.”
In Sunday’s performance, Merrald overcame some mistakes to still take the win. It was a tight battle at the top, with all three podium finishers scoring in the 80s. Second place was awarded to Norway’s Isabel Freese and Total Hope OLD, who earned 81.265%. France’s Corentin Pottier was third with Gotilas du Feuillard on a score of 80.290%.
Which horse she’ll take this year’s Final is still a question mark.
Despite the clear connection and huge successes with Blue Hors Zepter, Merrald has another top contender, Blue Hors Don Olymbrio, that could be an option for Basel. At 17, they’re both seasoned and have both proven themselves at the Final and this World Cup season.
She’ll make that decision in March when she can assess which one is in championship form.
“[Zepter] has had several riders before me, and I have huge respect for his career,” she said of her winner from Neumünster. “He’s extremely powerful, very honest and loyal, but also sensitive. Now that he’s older, we don’t want to push him too hard. It’s most important for us that he enjoys his work.”
Neumünster was leg nine of 11 for the Western European League, which continues to Gothenburg, Sweden next week.
Seven-time German Olympian Isabell Werth leads the standings on 75 points, ahead of Carina Scholz (GER) in second and Dinja van Liere (NED) in third. Merrald sits in sixth place after her win. The top nine competitors from the Western European League will qualify for FEI World Cup™ Finals.
