All photos copyrighted Eclipse Sportswire
No Reproduction Allowed without Permission/Payment
Eurodressage is happy to be partnering with Eclipse Sportswire and photographer Matt Carter for exclusive photo coverage from the 2009 World Cup in Las Vegas.
German Isabell Werth is the clear favourite for the 2009 World Cup Title with her Hanoverian gelding Satchmo. Of course, if all goes well as the Hong Kong piaffe problem has left a traumatizing impression on viewers. Werth and Satchmo have been performing without problems this 2008-2009 World Cup qualifier season, so she holding the best cards
Title defender Anky van Grunsven will be up for a good fight with her second choice Painted Black (by Gribaldi x Ferro). The black stallion looked fresh in the warm up and Anky will definitely give it her all.
With the withdrawal of Adelinde Cornelissen, American Steffen Peters will certainly be the toughest competitor Anky and Isabell have to face in the Thomas and Mack equestrian centre in Las Vegas. His powerhouse Ravel (by Contango) is fit and has been giving his rider a great feeling.
Two more Dutch riders are representing The Netherlands in Las Vegas. On the left, Hans Peter Minderhoud with his Dutch warmblood mare Nadine (by Partout/T), on the right Jeanette Haazen on Nartan (by Jazz)
This elegant pair was looking great in the main ring. Swedish duo Minna Telde and the Hanoverian stallion Don Charly (by Don Gregory) will be riding their first World Cup Finals
Left: Swedish Jan Brink and Hans Ynge Goransson's Briar (by Magini) are riding their last show as a pair. The liver chestnut licensed stallion will be retired straight after the World Cup Finals
Right: Polish Michal Rapcewicz and Polish warmblood Randon. They are the Central European League representatives at the Finals
Left: The second German in the Finals, Monica Theodorescu on the Baden Wurttemberger bred Whisper (by Welt Hit I).
Right: Pacific League winner Heath Ryan. The Australian is competing the black stallion Regardez Moi (by Rubinstein).
Wild card recipient Jan Ebeling on Rafalca, a 12-year old Oldenburg mare
On Tuesday, the riders were training their horses in the "normal" warm up ring: a non-airconditioned tent. The heat difference between this tent and the main arena is huge and riders will need to take that into account.
Left: Anky van Grunsven on Painted Black - Right: Marco Bernal on Diamore
River Grove Farm's assistent rider Adrienne Lyle schooling Perry Thomas' Felix for a pas de deux
Edward Gal has brought Dutch stallion Wynton (by Jazz) for a young horse demo. Gal is the only rider training his horse with a helmet!
All photos copyrighted Eclipse Sportswire
No Reproduction Allowed without Permission/Payment
All images and text on this website are copyrighted. Reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission/payment
All photos are copyrighted Astrid Appels, Dirk Caremans, Barbara Schnell, Mary Phelps, or David Charles