Following a board meeting of the FEI Dressage Committee on April 4, 2005, chairwoman Mariette Withages announced for the FEI that Americans Robert Dover and Guenter Seidel have received a wild card for the 2005 World Cup Finals.
Furthermore, Colombian Dr. Cesar Parra has been selected to represent South America at the Finals in Las Vegas, U.S.A.
Eighteen riders in total have qualified to compete at the World Cup Finals. Dutch Anky van Grunsven, who won the qualifiers in 's Hertogenbosch and Dusseldorf, is automatically selected to compete as title defender.
Riders qualified in the Western European League are:
- 1. Isabell Werth GER, Anthony
- 2. Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff GER, Wahajama Unicef or Renoir Unicef
- 3. Andreas Helgstrand DEN, Blue Hors Cavan
- 4. Hubertus Schmidt GER, Aramis
- 5. Carl Hester GBR, Escapado
- 6. Edward Gal NED, Gribaldi or Lingh
- 7. Jan Brink SWE, Bjorsells Briar
- 8. Sven Rothenberger NED, Barclay II
- 9. Lone Jorgensen DEN, Ludewig G
Swiss Marie-Line Wettstein has been granted a place as following additional rider in the ranking. She will be competing the Hanoverian Le Primeur. Central European League Finals' winner Elena Sidneva will travel to Las Vegas with Artax Condor.
Winner of the U.S. League Finals, Debbie McDonald aboard Brentina, and runner up Leslie Morse on Kingston will also be there, as well as Canadian League winner Leslie Reid on Mark.
Colombian Dr. Cesar Parra has been selected as sole representative of the South America/Asia League. He will be riding his Olympic mount Galant du Serein.
American Robert Dover did not compete in the U.S. League Finals, but chose to go for a wild card. He has been granted permission to compete with FBW Kennedy, as well as his team mate Guenter Seidel on Aragon, who placed third last weekend in the U.S. League Finals in Burbank, California.
Photos copyrighted: Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2004-2005 World Cup Finals