Isabell Werth wins World Cup freestyle in Wellington

The eleven-year-old Sezuan son Special Blend represented his stable mate Quantaz worthily in Wellington. After being booked on the plane to Florida at the last minute, so to speak, because Quantaz had a bad leg, he first won the Grand Prix despite losing his irons and then went one better last night in the first CDI freestyle of his life: victory with 82.660 percent ahead of Hannah Fraser-Beaulieu in the saddle on Jaccardo (79.250) and the Pan-Am gold medal winners from Ecuador, Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel’s Goldstrike (78.165).

For her performance with Special Blend, Isabell Werth had chosen Emilio’s freestyle with the sounds of the Italian folk song “Funiculì, Funiculà” – music that emphasizes the tactfulness of the black horse in piaffe and passage – and opera classics by Puccini and Verdi.

“This freestyle is really, really difficult and I wasn’t sure how Special would react, because he’s not used to this kind of atmosphere, but he was very focused,” said Werth. He was not fazed when the 2,000 spectators watching the freestyle under floodlights began to clap rhythmically on the last line. “This audience was so into it and started clapping, that’s something very special. I really enjoy that feeling at the end of a test. It shows you why you still ride competitions.”

World Cup final and the $20 horse

It was clear to the competition that they would not be able to get past Isabell Werth this evening. Canada’s Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu has her sights set on the World Cup Final in Fort Worth and wants to collect points for it. She managed to do just that, finishing in second place as the best representative of the North American League. The floodlit performance was also a new experience for her horse.

“That was Jac’s first Friday night (which is usually the date for the World Cup competitions in Wellington, editor’s note. ) and he’d never been in an atmosphere like this before. So I was a bit nervous because there were so many spectators. But he came into the arena and was like ‘Let’s go! He was on my aids the whole time.”

A tear of joy rolled down Julio Mendoza Loor’s cheek as he pointed his finger at his four-legged partner after his ride. “Riding Goldie is a pleasure every time,” said the Ecuadorian, who is based in North Carolina. “I paid 20 dollars for this horse and he’s carried me to the Olympics, brought me here – and every time he gives 100 percent. He never lets me down. That’s why I cry all the time, because this horse has made me who I am. There are not enough words to explain how good he is and how much I love him,” said the overwhelmed Mendoza Loor, who did pioneering work in Paris in 2024 when he became the first Ecuadorian dressage rider to compete under the Olympic flame.

You can find all the results here.