Steffen Peters and Ravel, Anky van Grunsven and Salinero and Isabell Werth and Satchmo joined 15 other horse and rider combinations in Palm Beach this week to prepare for the Exquis World Dressage Masters, which kicks off the 2010 series of the world's richest dressage competition.
Anky van Grunsven watched her first ever polo game Sunday at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, Isabell Werth worked Satchmo at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center while her sister, Claudia, wheeled the baby, Frederik, nearby and Steffen Peters visited the South Florida Fair after a day of teaching.
Despite steady rain Monday, riders from Europe, Canada and the north of the United States raved about the warm weather and show grounds they described as "amazing" and "exciting."
The top American, Dutch and German pairs that last competed against each other a year ago at the World Cup Final in Las Vegas with Steffen Peters and Ravel coming out on top are among 18 combinations to battle for total prize money of €100,000 (US$138,000) at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. WDM is the featured event of the fourth week of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival, the world's largest and, at 12 weeks, the longest running horse show.
All combinations will start in the Grand Prix with its prize money of €10,000 (US$13,800) beginning at 1pm on Thursday with the Grand Prix Special and its €30,000 (US$41,400) in prize money scheduled to start at 1pm on Saturday and the €60,000 (US$82,800) Grand Prix Musical Freestyle under lights at 7pm on Saturday sponsored by Exquis and Moorlands Stables and Moorlands Investments.
The results from Palm Beach also count toward the Nurnberger Versicherungsgruppe WDM Rider Ranking bonus of €25,000 (US$36,000) to be awarded after the WDM in Munich May 13-16. Hickstead, England is the other confirmed WDM. Each event has prize money of €100,000 (US$138,000).
A special gala night of equestrian entertainment is scheduled for Friday night, featuring a "ride off" between Steffen Peters and Isabell Werth and more than one hour of the training sessions for the musical freestyle competitors.
A giveaway to spectators of $10,000 (€7160) of Back on Track products that was a hit in 2009 returns for the Friday and Saturday night events.
• Anky and Isabell have won a combined total of 11 World Cup titles and eight Olympic gold medals in the 15 years they have dominated global dressage. Anky won the inaugural Palm Beach Masters last January and at Cannes on the French Riviera last June, while Isabell captured the World Dressage Masters in Munich in May.
Steffen Peters beat both riders in the 2009 World Cup Final at Las Vegas then went on to make an historic sweep of all three team championship competitions - the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Kur - at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany. Those successes led to Steffen being named US Equestrian of the Year in 2009 for the second straight year and for Ravel being named Horse of the Year.
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