April 5, 2026

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

The United States is hosting the World Cup for the seventh time, more than any other country, this century.

From the glitter and glamor of Las Vegas, hard work and modesty of Omaha in the Midwest and now to Fort Worth representing a Texas culture of cowboys, cattle and oil, booming space, high tech and financial industries.

Anky van Grunsven on Salinero added the 2005 title to her unmatched record of nine World Cups and the first joint dressage and jumping annual championships. And enhanced the city’s reputation of glamor and gossip  when she married her partner, Sjef Janssen during the Final in the city of bright lights.

Anky van Grunsven on Salinero with the 2005 World Cup at Las Vegas. © Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

Two years later, Las Vegas was again the host.

This time, Isabell Werth, the most successful equestrian in Olympic history, was the victor of the World Cup on Warum Nicht FRH, her first win in the USA since her success on Gigolo at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Isabell Werth on Warum Nicht FRH, 2007 World Cup Champion. © Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com

The 2009 Final was a huge American success and a celebration of two U.S. champions.

Steffen Peters on Ravel, his 2008 and 2012 Olympic mount, was the champion, only the second time an American claimed the title.

Steffen Peters on Ravel holding aloft the World Cup won at Las Vegas in 2009. © Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

The first was Debbie McDonald on Brentina that were denied a celebration when another horse that was found to have illegal drugs in its system was declared the winner in 2003 until the results were overturned.

Brentina with Debbie McDonald at the retirement of the World Cup championship horse at the 2009 World Cup Final, fittingly at the Thomas and Mack Arena named for Parry Thomas one of the owners of Brentina, in Las Vegas. © Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

Brentina, possibly the most beloved partnership with Debbie in the history of American dressage, was retired. The location was fitting–in the Thomas & Mack Center named for Brentina’s ownership family that was there to witness the event.

Charlotte Dujardin at Las Vegas in 2015 holding aloft the World Cup she won for the second time on Valegro. © 2015 Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

The participation of Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin on her phenomenal ride on Valegro kept high the excitement of the World Cup in 2015.

The pair brought to the event a level of performances and enthusiasm of the same quality as events that produced scores still world records in top sport.

Isabell Werth riding Weihegold OLD in the victory lap at the World Cup Final in Omaha in 2017. © Ken Braddick/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

The World Cup in the U.S. switched to Omaha, Nebraska in 2017, a Midwestern city with deeply ingrained characteristics of hard work, mutual respect and “my word is my bond” philosophy.

Isabell Werth, already the most successful equestrian in history and a winner at Las Vegas on Warum Nicht, began with Weihegold OLD a run of three consecutive World Cup victories. The onslaught of Covid19 that caused cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 Finals brought to a halt the possibility of a record string of four titles.

Laura Graves on Verdades, the only U.S. combination ever to become No. 1 in the world, was runner-up to the German pair on three occasions.

World Cup champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (center) with Nanna Skodborg Merrald (silver, right) and Isabell Werth bronze in 2023. © Ilse Schwarz/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com

The 2023 Final in Omaha did not generate the same success as 2017.

However, there was no question about the champion–Jessica von Bredow-Werndl of Germany on TSF Dalera BB, the two-time Olympic gold medal partnership that added Omaha as the duo’s second title.

Fort Worth will provide a new dressage champion as reigning champion Charlotte “Lottie” Fry of Britain is not putting Glamourdale, also her 2002 World Champion mount, on. a plane for a flight the horse doesn’t like.

The dressage Finals in the U.S. have created new champions in four of the current total of six, the winners from previous years were Anky on Salinero in 2005 and Jessica on Dalera in 2023.

The World Championships in Aachen, Germany in August has caused World No. 1 through No.3 to save their horses from the stress of trans Atlantic travel and intensive competition ahead of the vital European summer circuit.

Becky Moody on her home-bred Jagerbomb that she rode on Britain’s medal-winning teams at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2025 European Championships is a favorite.

Patrik Kittel of Sweden on his 2024 championships winning Touchdown is also regarded highly.

Christian Simonson of the USA, at the age of 23 and less than two years out of his Under-25 schedule, is considered a possible and popular podium finisher on Indian Rock.