World Dressage Rankings: Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Freestyle Remain in the Lead, Isabell Werth in Third Place

No changes at the top of the world dressage rankings: Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN) leads with her freestyle routine and 2,058 points. She has not competed internationally since winning asilver medal in the individual event and a bronze medal in the team event at the World Championships in Aachen in August. The same applies to Belgian rider Justin Verboomen. The two-time European champion from 2025 is in second place with 2,037 points.

There’s been a change in the top 3: Isabell Werth (GER) is now in third place. She has thus overtaken two-time world champion Charlotte Fry (GBR). Werth’s double victory in September with Viva Gold OLD at the CDI4* in Vienna as part of the Global Champions Tour has given her a boost in the rankings. Werth has 1,954 points to her credit, three more than Fry. British team silver medalists Becky Moody (1,727) and Carl Hester (1,691) are in fifth and sixth place, respectively.

“Katha” Hemmer Finishes Seventh

From the World Championship gold-medal-winning team, Katharina Hemmer (7th/1.670) and Frederic Wandres (10th/1.546) made it into the top 10. Raphael Netz is 13th (1.510). Along with Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (19th/1,425), Charlott-Maria Schürmann (20th/1,424), Ingrid Klimke (25th/1,371), Benjamin Werndl (26th/1,371), Semmieke Rothenberger (28th/1.357), as well as Moritz Treffinger (33rd/1.317) and Leonie Richter (41st/1.290), a total of eleven riders from Germany are among the top 50.

Seven of the top 10 riders took a break after Aachen, which is why there were so few changes.

Horses: Mare ahead of two stallions

Mount St John Freestyle (2,058) continues to lead the horse standings. According to Laudrup-Dufour’s plans, the 17-year-old mare is set to compete at the 2027 European Championships in Vejle (DEN). She will also ride the Hanoverian, a daughter of Fidermark, this coming weekend in Herning at the season opener of the Western European League in the Dressage World Cup. In second place is the stallion Zonik Plus (Justin Verboomen, 2,037). Third is Glamourdale (Lottie Fry), who won two gold medals in Aachen (1,951).

Wendy de Fontaine (Isabell Werth) is just two points behind. Viva Gold OLD has climbed two spots to fifth place (1,734). Six of the top ten horses come from German breeding regions. They are the four Oldenburgs—Viva Gold OLD, Denoix PCH, Zantana RS2 OLD N.O.P., and Maxima Bella—the Hanoverian mare Freestyle, and the Rhinelander (registered with the Hanoverian Association) Zonik Plus.