Nadine Capellman & Farbenfroh Take Gold

Ulla Salzgeber (GER) & Rusty

The Chapin stadium was vibrating Sunday night with cheers and applause for the best dressage riders in the world. The new Individual World Champion Nadine Capellman of German riding Farbenfroh turned the arena into a dance floor.

Her dressage movements choreographed flowingly to a mix of contempory and modern music. Capellmann won the over all Individual Gold with a score of 237.515. Her twelve year old chestnut that can get very excited at times was unfazed by the full house clapping and dancing in the stands.

“It was the dream of my life." exclaimed Capellmann, " Thanks to Farbenfroh who was fully concentrated over the last four days and thanks to my trainer Klaus Balkenhol, who was there every second I needed him.”

Spain won its first Individual medal when Jerez’ favourite Beatriz Ferrer-Salat rode Beauvalais to a mix of upbeat Spanish music to almost bring the house down. She obtained her best ever Freestyle performance to take the Silver medal on a total of 234.385 points.

“The music was a bit louder than expected and I had small mistakes in the one changes and the piaffe, but I am sooooo happy.” said an elated Ferrer-Salat.

Beatriz Ferrer-Salat (ESP) & Beauvalais

The German favourite and Olympic medallist Ulla Salzgeber rode the Freestyle performance of the night to score 83.775 per cent and her huge gelding Rusty moved from fifth placing overall and took the Bronze medal.

“This evening he was totally the old Rusty that I know so well and he showed everybody what he can do." said Salzgeber. "My head was free and he fought so hard for me.”


The hard luck story of the night would go to the United States when Debbie McDonald riding Brentina scored 233.460. Lisa WILCOX riding Relevant scored 232.530. The Americans finished fourth and fifth, out of the medals.

Lisa Wilcox (USA) & Relevant

Spanish rider Rafael Soto Andrade and the purebred Spanish horse Invasor put the crowd into a roar with their sensational performance to Spanish music scoring 78.90 per cent and winning the trophy for the best purebred Spanish horse performance in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

Debbie McDonald (USA) & Brentina