Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour rises to World Number One in Dressage Rankings

Dressage

FEI

-- FEI press release, edited by Eurodressage

Following the latest update of the FEI Dressage World Rankings – Athletes on 1 April 2026, Denmark’s Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour has been confirmed as the new world number one, taking the lead in the standings with 2,029 points.

She remains the only Danish athlete ever to reach the top spot, having previously held the position for four consecutive months from February to May 2025.

Leap to Number 1

Laudrup-Dufour moves up from 25th place to take the top position, reflecting a period of strong form at the highest level of international Dressage. Her win at the CDI Herning on 6 - 7 March gave a big boost to her ranking score, after also having competed in Frankfurt three months earlier, in December 2025 and Herning in October 2025.

Previously, the largest leap to reach world No. 1 was from fourth to first, achieved by Charlotte Fry in January 2023. Laudrup-Dufour has surpassed this record, rising all the way from 25th to the top spot, a rise bolstered by two victories on home soil in March 2026 in Herning, where she won the CDI5 competitions.

The scale of her progression is also reflected in the points gap: the increase required to reach number one compared to her previous ranking amounts to +695 points. For comparison, the next most significant move to the top position was achieved by Justin Verboomen, who went from third place to world number one with a gain of +120 points (September 2025).

"Over the Moon"

“I am over the moon about Freestyle’s latest performances. To feel how our partnership has grown the past months has been amazing. I truly feel like unit with her now and in Frankfurt and Herning it’s been the best rides of my life. Tests that I’ll never forget, and tests that I would normally expect to have years in between for me this is clearly a sign of the fact that Free & I are becoming true soul partners and when we dance together it’s on a higher level. Feeling very thankful for the enormous support from my whole team” Laudrup-Dufour said.

Verboomen Drops to Nr 2

Behind her, former number one Justin Verboomen (BEL) moves into second place with 1,929 points, closely followed by Germany’s Isabell Werth in third on 1,927 points. Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry takes fourth position with 1,911 points, while compatriot Becky Moody completes the Top 5 on 1,786 points.

Verboomen most recently won the World Cup qualifier in 's Hertogenbosch and beat Dufour as well as Werth in the Frankfurt Top 12 competition last December. He is scheduled to compete in April at the FEI Nations Cup in Fontainebleau, where he will face Isabell Werth on Wendy and Charlotte Fry on Glamourdale.

Horse Ranking

Adding to this achievement, Laudrup-Dufour’s leading horse, Mount St John Freestyle, has risen to the top of the FEI Dressage World Rankings – Horses. In second and third place are Zonik Plus (Justin Verboomen) and Wendy de Fontaine (Isabell Werth), both previously ranked world number one among horses.