Germany Wins Gold - USA Silver - Spain Bronze

Team Medal Presentations

It's official, Germany has won the Gold medal in the Team Dressage Competition at the World Equestrian Games. USA has won a well-deserved Silver Medal and the host country Spain has won their first Bronze. The Canadian Team finished in 9th position.

This will mark the ninth time Germany has won top team honours in Dressage since 1966. They won the Team Gold by 115 points from the United States in the Silver position. The enormously popular home team Spain won Bronze for the first time.

Germany's gold-medal team members consisted of Nadine Capellmann & Farbenfroh(1), Ulla Salzgeber & Rusty(2), Klaus Usenbeth & Piccolino(9) and Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff with Renoir Unicef(10). All four riders have qualified for the Grand Prix Special, the second round for the Individual World Championship.

Silver Medallists USA won their highest honour in the World Championship history. Their previous best performance was a Bronze medal in 1994. Team members Debbie McDonald & Brentina (3), Lisa Wilcox & Revelant (5), Sue Blinks & Flim Flam (7) and Guenter Seidel & Nikolaus (13) scored a total of 5527 points. All qualified to be part of the top 25 riders to compete in the Grand Prix Special.

"The long wait over the last two days was almost unbearable at times but after relaxing by the pool at the hotel I was ready to get on with the job.” said US team member Lisa Wilcox.

When seeing the disappointing score of teammate Gunter Seidel, Wilcox didn't let the pressure get to her. "I was determined to just ride as I always do” . And her ride earned her a score of 74.13% from the judges.

Her horse, Relevant put in a superb test to help the US to their Silver medal performance. “I was thrilled with him. The only weakness in his test was when he slightly lost his balance in the second piaffe as he was too spectacular, as he is prone to do. " explained Wilcox. "It is an exciting atmosphere in the arena.”

This marks the best finish for a United States dressage team in any World Championship or Olympic Games. United States Equestrian Team (USET) Chef d’Equipe Jessica Ransehousen felt it was worth the wait.

“It’s a fulfillment of a huge wonderful dream,” said Ransehousen. “We’ve fought and fought for years to get what we’ve gotten here today. Thankfully we have had an organization like the United States Equestrian Team to help us become better and enable us to get the job done.”

But there isn't too much time to bask in the glory of today's accomplishments. The next dressage medal competition begins Thursday with the Grand Prix Special where the top 25 riders will be vying for individual medal glory. The US has three in the top ten and all four in the top 25. Debbie McDonald currently stands third individually, Lisa Wilcox is in fifth and Susan Blinks is in seventh and Guenter Seidel is in thirteenth. The top 15 from the Grand Prix Special qualify to ride in the Freestyle competition on Sunday which determines the individual medals.

Ignacio Rambla (ESP) & Granadero

The host country of Spain has won the Bronze medal, something of a surprise. Team member Rafael Soto Andrade was overcome with emotions after his ride that won the first Bronze medal for Spain in Dressage.

The final rider for the team, Soto Andrade came into Chapin 1 for a huge standing ovation knowing that Spain was in fourth position behind Denmark. He had to score better than 68.44 per cent for Spain to win there first dressage medal. Rafael rode his grey Andalusian INVASOR superbly to score 72.16 per cent and give Spain the Bronze medal. The Chapin 1 stadium crowd exploded with excitement as the medals were presented.

“Invasor was very together with me today and very easy to ride.The dream is even more complete as Invasor is a Spanish bred horse. I hope he is as good tomorrow. I have worked a long time for this medal and I bring it to my family to thank them for their support."

Shannon Dueck & Korona

Team Canada finished 9th overall with the help of a very strong performance by Shannon Dueck & Korona. Dueck, originally from British Columbia and now based in Whitman, TX, moves on the second phase of the individual championship, the Grand Prix Special.

Dueck aboard her horse Korona, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, executed flawless and fluid tempi changes, smooth transitions, and solid passage to earn a score of 67.56% for 23rd.

"Korona has grown up so much over the past year," noted Dueck. "He gave me everything he had today and he was phenomenal. He is only going to get better."

Also competing today was Nancy MacLachlan of Terra Cotta, ON, riding her horse Davis Cup, a 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding. MacLachlan finished in 33rd place with a score of 65.48%.

Nancy MacLachlan & Davis Cup

"Davis Cup was fantastic and very focused," said MacLachlan. "It all came together today and he got down to business."

Top 12 Placings in Team Grand Prix Competition
1. Nadine Capellmann (GER) Farbenfroh 77.96 %
2. Ulla Salzgeber (GER) Rusty 75.61 %
3. Deborah McDonald (USA) Brentina 74.64%
4. Beatriz Ferrer-Salat (ESP) Beauvalais 74.56%
5. Lisa Wilcox (USA) Relevant 74.12%
6. Coby van Baalen (NED) Olympic Ferro 72.52%
7. Susan Blinks (USA) Flim Flam 72.24%
8. Rafael Soto Andrade (ESP) Invasor 72.16%
9. Klaus Husenbeth (GER) Piccolino 72.08%
10. Lone Jorgensen (DEN) FBW Kennedy 71.92%
11. Lars Petersen (DEN) Blue Hors Cavan 71.44%
12. Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff (GER) Renoir-Unicef 70.32%


23. Shannon Dueck (CAN) Korona 67.560%
33. Nancy MacLachlan (CAN) Davis Cup 65.480%
38. Ashley Hozler (CAN) Imperioso 64.720%
44. Belinda Trussell (CAN) Royan II 63.960%