The crackle of electricity is in the air ahead of the much-anticipated opening to the Dressage discipline at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Caen, Normandy (FRA) on August 25th. In the history of this exacting sport there has never been a more fascinating contest in prospect for both the team and individual medals, and some very big questions will be answered over the coming days.

The Dutch managed to break the German grip on the team title for the first time at the last edition of the Games in Kentucky (USA) in 2010 but, four years on and the Germans once again look the ones to beat. German Chef d’Equipe, Klaus Roeser, has a formidable force at his disposal, and that includes the horse that took Kentucky by storm when providing his Dutch rider, Edward Gal, with the honour of becoming the first-ever competitor to take three gold medals at a Dressage World Championship.

Heady days

That horse, of course, is the already-legendary Totilas whose story since those heady days has been something of a roller-coaster. The black stallion’s sale, his disappearance from the competition arena for two years and his sudden return to the very top of the game with Germany’s Matthias Alexander Rath in recent months ensures his presence is intriguing.

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