All Horses but One Pass Inspection at the 2025 World Cup Finals

After a lavish opening ceremony in the St. Jakobhalle on Wednesday 2 April 2025 featuring legendary Swiss Circus Knie, the stage has been set for the start of the 2025 World Cup Finals. 

For dressage the event kicked off with the draw for the order of go for the Grand Prix and the horse inspection on Thursday morning. 

17 Instead of 18

Before the 2025 World Cup Finals even started, not 18 but 17 dressage horses arrived in Basel, Switzerland

Biggest absentee is the Lusitano stallion Fogoso and his Brazilian rider Renderson Oliveira. The pair was set to write history for Brazil as the first Brazilian pair to compete at the World Cup Finals as they captured the "non-league" slot in the end.

The dynamic duo, which excited the crowds in Neumunster with their Snoop Dogg and hip hop freestyle, decided to stay home.  Fogoso's owner, Campline, announced that "promising team Renderson and Fogoso Campline had a hold-up on their path. The stunning white Lusitano is ailing and will be spared from competing in the finals of the International Equestrian Federation World Cup."

The Draw

Reigning champion Patrik Kittel (SWE) had the honour of drawing the first name from the glass vases containing all athlete names. In a true passing of the torch, he selected Pauline Basquin (FRA), who in turn selected the next athlete, and so it continued. CHI Basel President Andy Kistler was on hand to draw the corresponding starting numbers. For Basquin, winner of the Madrid qualifier, that resulted in start number 7.

In the end, the actual order of go for the Grand Prix raised quite a bit of confusion with riders who had not properly read the rules for the draw, expecting the starting order  would be based on a reverse order of the World Cup/World rider ranking.

Opening the Grand Prix on Friday morning will be Larissa Pauluis (BEL), making her second FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final appearance after Riyadh last year. She will be followed by Carina Scholz (GER) and Soiree d’Amour, who are making their FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final debut. 

In fact, no fewer than nine athlete-horse combinations will be making their debut in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final this year: Scholz, Freese, Vaughn, Basquin, Losonczy, Neuhauser, Nowag, Sysojeva and Pottier.

One Horse Sent to Re-inspection

For Frenchman Corentin Pottier it are tense tense times as his horse, Gotilas (by Totilas x Ferro) did not pass the inspection on Thursday.

Pottier qualified for the 2025 World Cup Finals through a speedy run of shows. After competing in the World Cup qualifiers Mechelen (BEL), Neumunster (GER), and Gothenburg (SWE), he took Gotilas to his fourth qualifier in ten weeks time time in Motesice, Slovakia, where he won and clinched his ticket to Basel.

Gotilas will be re-examined again Friday to determine whether the horse is fit to compete.

Milestone appearance for Kittel, record run for Werth

Reigning champion Patrik Kittel is making his tenth appearance at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, although this time he partners Forever Young HRH rather than his 2024 winner Touchdown. Kittel will enter the arena in 13th position.

The most experienced athlete in the field, however, is none other than Isabell Werth (GER). Basel marks her 26th Final, and she will compete with DSP Quantaz, who already boasts podium finishes in both Omaha (USA) and Riyadh (KSA).

Australia’s Mary Hanna, at 70 years of age, is the oldest athlete in the line-up and will contest her sixth Final with Ivanhoe, starting 10th. Borja Carrascosa (ESP) returns with Sir Hubert NRW, just as he did in Riyadh, and will ride fourth. Likewise, Kevin Kohmann (USA) continues his partnership with Duenensee, drawing number 9. His compatriot Adrienne Lyle (USA) will compete in her second Final, this year with Helix as start number 5.

One to watch is Charlotte Fry (GBR), the youngest athlete in the field at just 29-years-old. The reigning World Champion will ride her Olympic bronze medallist Glamourdale in their very first FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final together. Starting 12th, Fry shared her excitement:

“Glammy and I had our first training in the main stadium today, he seemed to really like it in there! We’re both excited to get going on Friday! It’s our first Final together and I’m very much looking forward to it!”
Unfortunately, one combination was withdrawn prior to the vet check and draw: Renderson Silva de Oliveira (BRA) and Fogoso Campline will not compete in Basel.

Photo © Dirk Caremans

Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2025 World Cup Qualifiers and Final