Picking favorites in the World Cup show jumping is kind of like pulling the handle of a slot machine, while there’s a definite poker shark at the table in the dressage. The world has descended upon Las Vegas and they’re poised to compete for two of the biggest titles in the world—the Longines FEI World Cup Show Jumping and Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Finals.

It’s not hard to point to the current darlings of dressage—Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro—as the far-and-away favorites of that competition, but as they say, there’s a reason we horse show—anything can happen. That said, I think most of the crowd would say they’re here to watch Dujardin and “Blueberry” add another World Cup title to their amazing resume, just to be able to say, “I saw them in person.”

But they’re also there to watch the new star of U.S. dressage, Laura Graves, on her best friend, Verdades. Graves and “Diddy” knocked on the door of a medal at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and after three big wins in Florida, she says Diddy is better than ever.

In the show jumping, there are three horse/rider combinations in the start list who have won this before—Rich Fellers on Flexible, Beezie Madden on Simon and Daniel Deusser on Cornet d’Amour. That in itself has all the ingredients for an epic battle, but there are 38 more talented riders here in Vegas hungry for their share of glory. And with three days and five rounds of competition, anything at all can happen. I remember that in 2007, both Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Beezie Madden fell off in the Thomas & Mack Arena—who would have bet on that happening?

In the Chronicle’s World Cup Preview issue, out now, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum handicapped the show jumping field for us, telling us who she thinks might be on top on Sunday, and Anne Gribbons evaluated the dressage entries. We’ve also got insights into the freestyles of riders like Dujardin, Steffen Peters, Edward Gal and more, a great photo gallery of Las Vegas World Cups of the past and stories about show jumping course designer Anthony d’Ambrosio and the Thomas of the Thomas & Mack arena, owner of the great World Cup winner Brentina, Parry Thomas.

We’ve watched a lot of these riders show over the past few years, and we have our own sentimental favorites for sure. I asked a few of our Chronicle staffers to tell us who they’re rooting for this week.

Molly Sorge
Associate Editor
Patrice Delaveau and Orient Express HDC. Or an American. Really, it’s too hard to pick.

Patrice Deleveau and Orient Express HDC Photo by Mollie Bailey

I’ve watched a LOT of World Cup Show Jumping Finals, and in fact I’ve attended every Final held in Vegas. I know very well just how unpredictable and topsy turvey the show jumping competition can be!

And there are a lot of riders I’d like to see win this year. McLain Ward’s been waiting a long time for a big individual title like this. And it would be a pure Hollywood ending to see Rich Fellers and the little dynamo Flexible reprise their 2012 victory. There’s nothing I’d like more than a U.S. rider to win on home soil, which hasn’t happened in Vegas.

But I have to say, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Frenchman Patrice Delaveau quietly prevail. He was tied for the lead last year in Lyon, France, but had to withdraw on the last day due to an injury to his horse (he’s entered on a different horse this year). He’s a classy guy, and he been knocking on the door of a big title for years.

That said, I’d love to see a young American pop up and surprise everyone. Hardin Towell anyone? Or maybe Lucy Davis? Stranger things have happened! I can’t wait to see how the riders shake out when we pull the slot handle.   

Bertram Allen on Molly Malone Photo by Mollie Bailey

Mollie Bailey
Editorial Staff
The Old Soul Teenager: Bertram Allen on Molly Malone V

Move over Tori Colvin. Take a hike, Lillie Keenan. There’s a new teenager coming to America who’s turned heads worldwide with his spectacular abilities.

Surely you’ve heard of him, the 19-year-old Irish phenom who’s tearing up the five-star circuit in Europe. Bertam Allen will make his North American debut in Vegas, and he and his game gray mare will be tough to beat. He won the speed round of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (France) with a ride so slick it didn’t even look like he and the Anglo-European mare were on pace. 

Watch it here:

Allen is a bit shy, and for him being a top show jumper is clearly about excelling in the saddle, not relishing the spotlight. He finished second in the ultra-competitive Western European league, where he elbowed out multiple World Games and Olympic gold medalists to become the only rider to win two qualifiers, in Verona (Italy) and Bordeaux (France).

You can follow Bertram during the show on Twitter and Instagram. 

Sara Lieser
Managing Editor
It’s Time For McLain

McLain Ward and Rothchild Photo by Molly Sorge

Last year while at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, I interviewed Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet about Rothchild, a horse that he rode before McLain Ward turned him into an accomplished 1.60-meter horse. Wathelet admitted he didn’t think the horse would be a top international contender and complimented Ward on his ability to get every ounce of jump out of feisty “Bongo.”

He also regretted the fact that Bongo wouldn’t be jumping in the final four at the World Games—he finished a heartbreaking fifth. Wathelet chuckled when he told me that it would’ve made for a much more interesting ride-off if the other riders had had to cope with Bongo’s quirks.

It’s cool that riders around the world recognize Ward’s talent. He’s a fierce competitor who has proved himself in all kinds of pressure cooker situations. But for all he’s won, those top international individual finishes keep eluding him by a hair’s breadth. There was a time when he used to let his disappointment show, but these days he’s the consummate professional no matter what happens. He’s honed his competitive edge so that he can control every aspect of himself, whether it’s his position over a fence or his emotions after a loss.

I don’t know if this will be his year, but I’ll be rooting hard for Ward and Bongo and HH Carlos Z. Ward is sitting on great horses, he’s a fantastic rider, and he’s done everything he possibly could to set himself up to win. We’ve relied on him to be the pathfinder and put in a solid score on countless teams, but I’d love to see him step up and grab that individual glory this time around.

Taylor Joyce
Editorial Staff
Todd Will Be Laughing No Matter What

Todd Minikus on Babalou 41  Photo by Molly Sorge

Babalou 41 won’t feel as at home at the World Cup Finals as some other veterans, or even fellow first-timers—the 10-year-old mare jumped in an indoor arena for the first time this year, and has never competed in one. But I have a feeling she’ll rise to the occasion. She had never competed on grass last summer when she won the $75,000 I Love New York Grand Prix (N.Y.) on turf. The focused mare had a breakout 2015 season with Todd Minikus, helping the U.S. team to win the FEI Nations Cup in Wellington, Fla., in March with two faultless rounds.

She had a big, distinct presence in the ring but her rise up the ranks was what I found the most impressive. Todd trained her from the beginning and brought her up from the schooling jumpers with a tried and true program, not the case for some big show jumpers who trade hands frequently.

I noticed a contrast between the mare’s game face and Todd’s, well, lack thereof. She’s a trier, a chestnut mare who makes an intense effort over every jump, and he brings a levity and sense of humor to international competitions that belie the intense pressure.

That’s not to say he doesn’t come ready to compete—his results prove he doesn’t take any jump-off lightly—but after so many years of experience he has a calm demeanor and confidence that transfers through to his horses and will temper Babalou’s excitement to be jumping in Vegas.

Kimberly Loushin
Editorial Staff
I’m Going Fangirl On Valegro

Charlotte Dujardin Photo by Molly Sorge

Dressage and I have always had a bit of a tenuous relationship. Try as I may, I’ve always had a hard time getting excited about that white box.

As a child I ran around pretending to jump fences on my invisible mount—rarely did dressage show up in my “practice for the Olympics.” For me it’s always been that thing I had to do between the fences and given the choice between watching jumping and dressage, I’d head straight for the show jumping ring.

But somewhere along the line I got caught up in the fervor of Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro. I watched the live feed as they danced their way to WEG medals and crowded around a computer screen with my coworkers as “Blueberry” set his new world records in Olympia.

And now that I’m in Vegas to cover my first World Cup with the Chronicle, my inner fangirl is coming out in full force. I get that giddy feeling (the one I’d thought I’d finally gotten a handle on) whenever I think about having a front row pass to watch the professor at work.

Don’t tell, but I might be looking forward to that more than the show jumping this year.

Mollie Bailey
Editorial Staff
If You Love Getting To Know The Winner Outside The Ring: Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover N.O.P.

Edward Gal on Glock’s Undercover N.O.P. Photo by Molly Sorge

It was disappointing when Edward had to withdraw Glock’s Undercover N.O.P. a week before the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, but he’ll be back to vie for an individual championship in Vegas.

But that’s not the only reason I’m rooting for him.

If you ask me, Glock Horse Performance Center has the most engrossing Facebook page for any high performance dressage or show jumping page.   It’s filled with videos and photos of top show jumpers and dressage horses acting like regular horses—not to mention barn dog shenanigans and riders goofing around.

Glock’s sending three horses to Vegas: Gerco Schröder is show jumping Glock’s Cognac Champblanc, and both Hans Peter Minderhoud and Edward and Glock’s Flirt and Glock’s Undercover N.O.P will compete in dressage. Thanks to their social media savvy, I already know who eats apples politely (Glock’s Undercover, aka “Fritsie”), which horse is adept at being let loose and finding his own way to his stall (Glock’s Cognac Champblanc) and who drinks his groom’s water out of a coffee cup (Glock’s Flirt). Plus there are great videos of Toto Jr. loving on a barn dog and getting dressed up for a Christmas photo, and Glock’s London eating a banana.  

Don’t take this the wrong way: I don’t care to watch all my Facebook friends’ horses being led out to the paddock and rolling in a mud puddle. But watching Fritsie do it just after watching a video of him finishing third at last year’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final makes me love him all the more.

And then there’s this…