For the second time this year Hof Kasselmann in Hagen at the Teutoburg Forest will become the focus of the international dressage world: From 6 to 9 June riders vying for selection for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will have the opportunity to contest a CDI and CPEDI at three-star level.
Much is at stake this close to Paris and while Germany’s elite will be at the national championship event in Balve, athletes from 24 other countries will take the opportunity to show their form and fitness in Hagen. It is the first time that Hof Kasselmann hosts a Para Dressage event and preparations are already in full swing.
High-profile entries
The line up for the CDI3* tour, which includes a Grand Prix Special and a Freestyle, features the entire U.S. Olympic Short list that will go head to head in Hagen. Seven American athletes and eight horses, which have been selected to the US dressage team Olympic short list for continued observation ahead of Olympic team selection later this summer, are competing: Anna Buffini on Fiontini, Adrienne Lyle with Lars van de Hoenderheide and Helix, Anna Marek and Fire Fly, Katherine Bateson-Chandler with Haute Couture, Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper, Marcus Orlob and Jane as well as Endel Ots on Bohemian all plan to use Hagen as one of three required observation events.
Other high-profile combinations on the entry list include Danish super star Nanna Skodborg-Merrald, who has entered both Blue Hors Zepter and Blue Hors Znickers. The former hasn’t been seen since his second placing in the CDI5* of Stockholm in December 2023, but would have to be considered Nanna’s number one hope for Paris after piaffing to silver in the Grand Prix Special at the 2023 Europeans. Sweden is represented by team stalwart Patrik Kittel with new ride Jovian, Juliette Ramel on Gideon K.H., Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén with Esperance or Hyatt, Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson on Zackson as well as emerging pair Sofie Lexner and Inoraline W, who put their names on the map at Horses & Dreams meets Portugal at the same venue in April.
Australia’s Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe and Lyndal Oatley with Dante’s Herzchen continue their campaign for Paris, as are Portugal’s top riders, Maria Pais do Amaral, João Pedro Moreira and Antonio do Vale. Finland has also qualified a team for Paris, the first time since Seoul in 1988, and with six Finnish athletes riding in Hagen, the competition for team selection will be hot.
To emulate Championship atmosphere the dressage arena will be set up in the jumping stadium at Hof Kasselmann. The dressage program also features a small tour and an international U25 tour.
Para Dressage debuts at Hof Kasselmann
With the period for athlete and horse combinations to attain a minimum eligibility score for Paris 2024 ending on 19 June, this CPEDI3* in Hagen is bound to become a crucial opportunity to qualify for team selection at the Para Equestrian Games.
Riders from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden and the USA have nominated.
Among the entry list are Sara Morganti of Italy, who came home with bronze in the Grade I individual test at Tokyo, Grade II silver medalist Pepo Puch (AUT) and Kate Shoemaker, one of the most decorated US para riders in Grade IV and currently ranked number one in the world. The CPEDI Hagen is a mandatory observation event for the US Para team, who just returned from winning the nations cup in Mannheim with a triumphant 75.35 percent average. Rixt van der Horst, Maud Haarhuis and Melissa Janssen from the Dutch Paralympic long list are also riding in Hagen. The 2024 Paralympics will take place from 28 August to 8 September, three weeks after the Olympics in the gardens of Versailles.
Two members of the ground jury that will officiate at the 2024 Paralympic Games are also present in Hagen, Freddy Leyman (BEL) and Anne Prain (FRA).
Future Champions
The week after the CDI/CPEDI the focus is back on youth with the world’s best youth riders congregating at Hof Kasselmann from 8 to 11 June. The Youth Nations Cup Tournament CDIO and CSIO-PJYR in Hagen a.T.W. has launched the career of many Olympic athletes and Championship riders and been rightfully called Future Champions since 2011.
For more infos on all events, tickets and hospitality offers contact hd@psi-sporthorses.de
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