Germany’s Isabell Werth came into the 2008 FEI World Cup Dressage Final as the reigning champion with Warum Nicht, but last year she didn’t face have to face World Cup champion Anky van Grunsven, who was taking a year off to have a baby.
   
So the stage was set for an epic battle, and in the first night of competition, March 27, Werth came out ahead with 75.08 percent, but the margin was very close, and there was some discrepancy from the judges. Only two judges placed Werth first, and the Netherlands’ Jan Peeters even had her third.
   
The U.S. riders put in a strong performance as well with Courtney King-Dye finishing seventh aboard Idocus (70.12%), while Jane Hannigan took 13th place aboard Maksymilian (67.37%).
   
“I’m really happy with ‘Hannes’ and, of course, the result,” said Werth. “He was concentrating and not spooky like he can be. He was very powerful, but concentrated on me. There were two or three little things, but overall I’m really satisfied.”
   
The Netherlands’ Van Grunsven also said she was satisified with her test and admitted she lost a few unnecessary points, for instance when IPS Salinero trotted before the extended canter and declined to halt at the end.
   
“It was a little crowded today,” said van Grunsven. “Salinero was really good in the warm-up, and I got the feeling that he got a little tense in the arena. I hope he settles down before Saturday.”
    
Van Grunsven’s teammate, Imke Schellekens-Bartels grabbed third place with Hunter Douglas Surprise, ahead of Finland’s Kyra Kyrklund aboard Max, Denmark’s Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgents on Digby and Sweden’s Jan Brink with Briar 899.
   
King-Dye was thrilled with her seventh-placed finish.
   
“I’m so excited and pleased to be able to crack into the 70s in this international competition,” said King-Dye. “To be only 4 or 5 percentage points behind Anky and Isabell really makes me feel a part of things.”

King-Dye noted that Idocus arrived in Europe with a fever.

“He’s been such a spectacular traveler, but for some reason he wasn’t allowed to have hay for many hours, so he didn’t drink,” she said. “He got a little bit dehydrated. He’s gotten a little bit better every day, but that put a damper on our preparation. I’m looking forward to Saturday.”

The one thing King-Dye hoped to do better was the piaffe, which looked spectacular outside of the ring, but a big forward during the test.

“Every time I think I get the piaffe really good in the ring, he creeps it a little bit on me, but it wasn’t any sort of belligerence on his part,” said King. “He just didn’t pick up his legs as much as usual. That was my only disappointment.”

King-Dye hoped for an even stronger performance in the freestyle Final.

“He feels good enough to do it really well. The difficulty of my change sequences is always the question,” she said. “If I can do it mistake free, then I think it will be good, but it’s hard not to make mistakes in that freestyle. But it pushes him to the max, and that’s what we’ve got to do in this situation. It’s all or nothing.”
   
Hannigan also put in a solid test aboard Makysmilian.
   
“It was so fun to do my first ride for the United States,” said Hannigan. “The venue was amazing. I did a video tour today. My ride was really fun except the pirouettes were a disaster and he got stuck in a one-tempi behind. Other than that I was very happy with how he felt. He was very forward and strong in the extended trot, and that’s my favorite thing to do.”
   
The judges rewarded Hannigan for her impressive extended trots, as did the educated audience, who gasped in appreciation.
   
“I wasn’t nervous at all,” said Hannigan. “It felt just like a normal horse show. I realized that all the riders, even the best European riders, are riding horses, and they still make mistakes. Watching them school yesterday I realized they’re just like me, even thought they get 77s, it’s the same sport. I thought it was different here in Europe.”
   
Although the competition was tight, all the scores go back to zero for the Grand Prix freestyle on Saturday night. The Grand Prix only counts to determine the order of go.

Full results can be found at www.indoorbrabant.com.