The CDI5* dressage competition got underway at the CHI Al Shaqab in Doha, Qatar, on Friday, March 14th. This is the second year a CDI has been held here; in 2013 it was a 3*, but was upgraded and bolstered with huge prize money, offering a 40,000-euro Grand Prix, a 60,000-euro Special and a 100,000-euro Freestyle – unheard-of prizes in the sport.

A field of 21 from 11 European nations took part in the Grand Prix. Most seemed to handle the overwhelming atmosphere in the enormous air conditioned indoor arena quite well, although the scores were all in the sub-70 range until the 15th rider, Isabell Werth of Germany, upped the ante by posting a 71.440 aboard Der Stern Old. That mark was soon toppled by Patrick Kittel (SWE) and Toy Story (73.460) and Lone Bang Larsen (DEN) with Fitou L (74.420). Then Digby entered the ring and turned in a marvellous test that belied his 17 years, earning 75.740 and putting Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein of Denmark on top of the leaderboard.

Sayn Wittgenstein won both the Grand Prix and the Freestyle here last year as well, and hardly thought twice about returning to defend her title. “I’ve been to a lot of places, but I haven’t been to a place like this before. We told the other riders last year that this was a really nice show, and you see there are 23 [21, as one withdrew and one did not start] riders this year that came. I would think that next year, more would come, and better ones would come.”

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