The 2009/2010 FEI World Cup™ Dressage season has been a very special one as this important series celebrates its 25th anniversary. And what better way to bring it to a close than to see the final return to where it all began – at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands.  It was here 25 years ago that Anne Grethe Jensen and the light-footed Marzog took the inaugural title in style, and the Indoor Brabant Horse Show throws open its doors with a big welcome again this week for the ninth final to be staged at this venue. 

From the outset, the concept of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage series was warmly embraced in The Netherlands. As most already know, the idea for a competition with a Kür to Music as a highlight was the brain-child of Joep Bartels after he watched the 1984 Olympic champions Dr Reiner Klimke and Ahlerich demonstrate an impressive series of one-tempi changes while precisely keeping time to the Olympic theme tune.  “What potential it has!” he thought, and after a strong lobby, matched by much enthusiasm from its first sponsor, the Nashua FEI World Cup was born.

German riders were not immediately eager to become involved with the exception of those present at the start, like Monica Theodorescu and her father, the late Georges Theodorescu, but music specialist Gabriela Grillo, Dr Reiner Klimke and Sven Rothenberger soon followed.  Those who rejected the idea described a World Cup with a Kür as a highlight as a competition designed to distract attention from classic dressage.  They believed it would smother, rather than emphasise, classical riding techniques, and as the first series got underway there were some extra surprises including the live orchestra used by French rider Dominique d’Esmé, while male riders seemed to be privileged because they could take their hat off during exercises on the centreline before the halt.

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