PERSISTING in the face of the disruption caused by the pandemic that has led to the cancellation of multiple equestrian events in recent months, the FEI Dressage World Cup 2020/2021 Western European League gets underway in Denmark this weekend.

Initially scheduled to take place in Herning, this opening leg has been relocated to the National Equestrian Centre in Vilhelmsborg near Aarhus, the venue which staged the FEI Dressage World Cup Final in 2001 when the all-German podium was topped by Ulla Salzgeber (Rusty), while Isabell Werth lined up second with Antony FRH. Werth returns 19 years later as the most decorated athlete in the history of equestrian sport and chasing her sixth World Cup title. She currently holds the top two places on the world rankings with Bella Rose and Weihegold, and brings seventh-placed Emilio to Aarhus.