Definite Entries Announced for FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2023

Definite entries have been finalized for the FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2023 taking place from April 4-8, 2023, at the CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, NE. The annual indoor championships will feature the world’s best athletes in Dressage, Jumping, and Vaulting competing in front of more than 15,000 fans of equestrian sport.
Dressage
Dressage athletes have earned their invitations in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final presented by Havensafe Farm throughout the 2022-2023 qualifying season. Isabell Werth (GER), a five-time FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final champion, will tack up DSP Quantaz for this year’s competition. Werth is vying for a second win in Omaha, having claimed the title during the 2017 event. Also representing Germany are defending champions Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB. Fellow countrywoman Ingrid Klimke riding Franziskus FRH is hoping to take her first FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final title, while France’s Morgan Barbançon will ride her recent hot streak into Omaha with Sir Donnerhall II OLD.
Riders representing the United States will try to make their mark in front of the home crowd. Steffen Peters, the 2009 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final champion, leads the charge aboard Suppenkasper. Joining him is Anna Buffini riding FRH Davinia La Douce in their second FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final appearance while World Cup debutant Alice Tarjan will ride Serenade MF.
Dressage familiarization takes place on Tuesday, April 4, with the Grand Prix on Wednesday, April 5, and the crowd favorite Grand Prix Freestyle on Friday, April 7.
View the complete FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final presented by Havensafe Farm Definite Entries: https://inside.fei.org/system/files/Final%20List%20Athletes%20Omaha%2C%20NE%20%28USA%29.pdf
Jumping
Jumping riders from around the globe have qualified for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final with top results throughout the 2022-2023 season. Headlining the final line-up of Jumping stars is the number-one ranked rider in the world, Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, and his Olympic and World Championship gold medal mount, King Edward. Von Eckermann will try to improve upon his last trip to Omaha for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in 2017, where he claimed the bronze medal. Other European contenders include 2014 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final champion Daniel Deusser (GER) riding Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z, 2006 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final champion Marcus Ehning, also of Germany, with Priam du Roset, as well as defending champion, Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs, this time aboard Leone Jei.
The United States will be well represented in Omaha. Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final Omaha 2017 champion McLain Ward will try to duplicate his success, this time riding Callas. Joining him in representing the stars and stripes is a mix of rising stars and experienced veterans. Simonne Berg riding Cooper, Elisa Broz with Kardenta van’t Meerhof, Ailish Cunniffe riding Vivaldi du Theil, Natalie Dean aboard Acota M, and Nicholas Dello Joio with Cornet’s Cambridge are all making their FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final debuts. Rounding out the U.S. contingent is Hunter Holloway with Pepita Con Spita in their second Final appearance together, Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue, who finished second in the Longines FEI World Cup™ Final Paris 2018, and Aaron Vale, who is riding for the second time in Longines FEI World Cup™ Final competition with Prescott.
The training session for Jumping competitors takes place on Tuesday, April 4, followed by the opening round on Wednesday, April 5. Round 2 will be held on Thursday, April 6, with the Final closing out competition on Saturday, April 8.
View the complete Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final Omaha 2023 Definite Entries: https://inside.fei.org/system/files/Definite%20Entries%20LFJWC%20Final%202023%20-%20Omaha%20%28USA%29%20-%20V2.pdf
Vaulting
For the first time in its history, the Burlington Capital FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final will take place outside of Europe. With no defending champions returning for this year’s competition, the field is open for new victors to emerge. Seven top-ranked male competitors along with eight female athletes will be joined by four elite Pas de Deux combinations.
For the women, American Kimberly Palmer is a strong favorite as the number-two ranked female vaulter in the world. She will compete aboard Romeo lunged by Christoph Lensing. Germany’s star Julia Sophie Wagner is another strong contender for the title, partnered with DSP Sir Laulau and lunger Hendrik Falk. Averill Saunders is hoping to make Canada’s debut on the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final stage a winning one with Max 4060 lunged by Sarah Kraus.
The men’s competition is equally fierce. Germany’s Jannik Heiland is attempting to score the elusive FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final title. He is partnered with FRH Highlight and lunger Alexandra Knauf. Switzerland’s Lukas Heppler is another one to watch, after qualifying for his tenth consecutive FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final. He will compete with the U.S. pair of Best Brew and lunger Andrea Selch. The hopes of the home nation will rest on the shoulders of Daniel Janes in his first FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final appearance as an individual.
Chiara Congia and Justin van Gerven (GER) are the undeniable favorites in the Pas de Deux competition, though the list of contenders features multiple medal-winning duos.
Vaulting training will take place on Tuesday, April 4, with Round 1 on Thursday, April 6, and the Final Round on Saturday, April 8.
View the complete Burlington Capital FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final Omaha 2023 Definite Entries: https://inside.fei.org/fei/disc/vaulting/main-events/world-cup-vaulting/2022-2023
Produced by the Omaha Equestrian Foundationand located in the heart of downtown Omaha, the FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2023 will feature everything under one roof – stabling, warm-up, competition arena, dining venues, and shopping expo – with hotels, restaurants, and entertainment within easy walking distance. The 2017 Finals, also hosted in Omaha, drew visitors and volunteers from all 50 states and 38 countries.The FEI World Cup™ Finals Omaha 2023 will pay homage to the Great Plains horses’ cultural impact by infusing tributes to Native American heritage through the theme “1723.” The Omaha Equestrian Foundation partnered with Bluebird Cultural Initiative to develop the theme that will be part of the event’s educational and entertainment programs that are free to the public.
Press release Jennifer Wood | Jump media – Omaha Equestrian FoundationPhotos courtesy of FEI (c)Dressage: Defending champions Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BBJumping: Martin Fuchs is the defending champion, hoping to repeat his success this year aboard Leone Jei.Vaulting: Chiara Congia and Justin van Gerven lead the group of Pas de Deux contenders.