October 30, 2026 
Isabell Werth starred in the original performance—and again in the sequel.
Five years after winning the FEI Dressage World Cup in Lyon, France with Weihegold OLD, dressages most decorated athlete returned to the top of the podium with the champion mare’s grandson, Viva Gold OLD.
The 10-year-old stallion made his FEI Dressage World Cup debut on Friday and danced to a score of 87.890% with their Neil Diamond Freestyle, closing their performance with horse show party staple “Sweet Carolina.” They finished more than two percentage points ahead of the world No. 2 Justin Verboomen (BEL) and Zonik Plus (85.810%). Larissa Pauluis (BEL) and Flambeau took third on 80.530%.
“I’m really very proud of my horse. The atmosphere was electric today and I wasn’t quite sure how he would react, since this is his début in the FEI World Cup. But he was fantastic. There really is something special about him,” Werth said.
“Viva Gold has grown and developed enormously over the past months and weeks. He can really become an absolute top horse.”
That’s high praise and big shoes to fill for the up-coming stallion. Weihegold OLD took Werth to three consecutive World Cup Final wins (2017–2019).
With eight legs to go in the League, Werth now slots into tied sixth on the leaderboard with 20 points. Alexandre Ayache leads the standings on 35, followed by Patrik Kittel (30) and Marjeke van der Putten (29).
The FEI Dressage World Cup™ next stops in Stuttgart (GER) on November 13 and 14.
