The 2024 edition of the London International Horse Show opened with the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Grand Prix, presented by Bret Willson and supported by Horse & Hound. The competition featured 14 of the most elite dressage combinations, all vying for the top spot.
Proving hard work really does pay off, it was Becky Moody and Jagerbomb who took the late lead to win the class.
Speaking on her win, Moody commented: “This Show last year was when I really realised how amazing my horse was, and the whole of this year has been a crazy ride. Competing here is incredible.
Dutch rider Dinja van Liere was the first to enter the arena, setting the standard with a score of 72.522%, however Nanna Skodborg Merrald, part of the Danish Olympic silver medal winning team, took the lead shortly after, riding the black stallion Blue Hors St. Schufro.
Up-and-coming British rider Lewis Carrier, partnered with Diego V — the same horse with whom he claimed the prestigious National Champion title at this year’s LeMieux National Dressage Championships — impressed both the judges and the crowd by producing a personal best of 72.304%, placing him in the top three at the halfway stage.
Norway’s Isabel Freese delivered a fluid and graceful test, achieving a score of 76.000% to take over the lead. However, with two of the best combinations in the world — Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, along with Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale — still to perform, Freese’s position at the top of the leaderboard was far from secure.
Fry, a double bronze medallist at this summer’s Olympic Games and a past winner of the class, could not surpass Freese’s score and moved into provisional second place. Next in the arena was Fry’s British teammate, Becky Moody, who wowed with a controlled yet dynamic test to take the lead with 76.696%, a score which could not be matched, leaving her to claim her inaugural victory at the Show.
“To be honest, I was very nervous competing in the Grand Prix here last year because I had never competed in a show like this. Equally, this year, I did put pressure on myself, as I felt like we had something to prove. It was great to come out and take the win.” Moody concluded.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.