The CDIO Compiegne in France on 19 - 22 May 2022 is promising to be a smashing international dressage competition with a stellar line-up of riders, a world premier and a come back kid.
Premier and Come Back
Charlotte Dujardin, who after the sale of her Olympic ride Gio took a brief step out of the spotlight, will not be missed for long by the European crowds. In Compiegne she is making her international show debut on new Grand Prix horse, Imhotep. With the World Championships Dressage in Herning (DEN) on the menu this summer, Dujardin needed to bring out a new horse at top level if she wants to vie for a British team spot. Her 2018 WEG medal winner Mount St. John Freestyle last competed a year ago in May 2021 and has been out due to an injury.
The double Olympic champion is not going all in on Imhotep, a 9-year old Dutch warmblood by Everdale x Vivaldi owned by Carl Hester and Coral Ingham. The liver chestnut was first campaigned by Robert Barker in 2017 before Hester stable jockey Sadie Smith got onboard in 2018. Dujardin took over the summer of 2020 and a year later became 2021 British small tour champion with him. Seven weeks ago the pair did its first national Grand Prix at Myerscough Premier League and scored a winning 77%
Another familiar face will make its return to the show arena in Compiegne: Gareth Hughes' 2019 European Championship team ride Briolinca (by Trento B x Royal Dance). The 16-year old mare became Britain's best performing horse at the 2019 Euros, but in 2020 did only one CDI in Keysoe (in October) and was not in the race for the Tokyo team due to fitness issues. The mare is now back in full work and scheduled to compete in France.
Werth Goes to to France
Not a debutant horse, but a debutant rider is coming for the first time to Compiegne: no one less than the most decorated rider on the planet, Isabell Werth!
Isabell is on the starters' list with Quantaz (by Quaterback x Hohenstein) and is bringing her assistant trainer, Austrian Lisa Wernitzning on Quintus (by Quaterback).
Photo © Kevin Sparrow
Related Links
Hughes' 2019 British EC Team Ride Briolinca Withdrawn from Olympic Contention
Dujardin and Imhotep, 2021 British Small Tour Dressage Champions
Quintus, Yet Another Rising Grand Prix Star in Isabell Werth's Barn