18 Nations

2023 CDI Kronberg

For the fourth time, international dressage riders will meet at Schafhof for their dressage festival on highest level: Schafhof's Dressage Festival with the complete Olympic programme Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle.

Host Matthias Alexander Rath is looking forward to it: "If we compare the development of the past Dressage Festivals with this year, we can already say: The starting fields will be bigger and even more international."

A total of 18 nations will be competing at Schafhof’s Dressage Festival in the Equimus Dressage Arena - more than ever before! It is an exciting mix of traditionally strong dressage nations like the Netherlands, USA and Germany and still growing nations like India, Thailand and Kyrgyzstan.

28-year-old Anna Kasatkina will compete as the sole rider for the small dressage nation Kyrgyzstan. Just 18 riders are registered with the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) in international dressage for this Central Asian country. For comparison: 2,012 dressage riders are registered for Germany.

The dressage sport nations Thailand and India, which are also still young, will each travel to Gestüt Schafhof with five and four riders respectively. The four-star event in Kronberg is of particular importance for these riders, as it is the qualifier for the Asian Games. The Asian Games are the annual highlight for riders from the Asian world and take place at the end of September, beginning of October in Huangzhou, China.

Preparation for European Championships in Riesenbeck

For the European dressage world, the European Championships from 6 - 10 September 2023 in Riesenbeck are one clear goal of the season.

With the European Championships in mind, riders from Spain, for example, are using the days at Schafhof to check their condition. Five Spanish dressage riders have entered this competition, including two-time World Cup and Olympic participant Claudio Castilla Ruiz.

Maria Caetano will be travelling from Portugal. The six-time European Championship participant will bring her 13-year-old Lusitano stallion Fenix de Tineo, with whom she already competed at the Olympic Games in Tokyo - the starting field is also colourful and international from a horse perspective.

Dorothee Schneider and Faustus at the 2022 CDI Kronberg

Judy Reynolds is the figurehead of Irish dressage and has been for many years. Reynolds was the first dressage rider from the island to make it to Freestyle Final at the Olympic Games (2016 Rio de Janeiro), first to qualify for the World Cup Final (2017 Omaha) and first to also compete in the Freestyle Final at a World Championships (2018 Tryon). The 42-year-old has celebrated all these successes with her top star Vancouver. Vancouver is now enjoying his retirement, and Reynolds is bringing two of her great hopes for the future to Kronberg: For Fun and Rockman Royal, both horses are twelve. The Irishwoman's big goal: the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

All of these riders will be competing against riders from the most diverse corners of the dressage world: from far away Cyprus, Portugal or Japan, as well as from closer Belgium, Luxembourg or Finland.

Schafhof’s Dressage Festival has never been that international before!

From 12 to 15 July, from Wednesday to Saturday, the Schafhof Dressage Festival will not only feature Olympic competitions but also national competitions for young horses and an international Small Tour with Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I.

Only a few days later, Europe's best young riders will be competing at the very place where the international elite competed shortly before: from 19 to 23 July, the European Championships for Juniors (U18) and Children (U14) Dressage Riders will take place at Gestüt Schafhof in Kronberg.

Get Your Tickets for the Schafhof Dressage Festival here: https://www.reservix.de/tickets-schafhofs-festival/t18099