29 Jun World-Class Field Heads to Hagen a.T.W. for Covalliero Dressage Days
(Hagen a.T.W.) Olympic champions, championship medallists and many of the world’s leading World Championship contenders from 29 nations will converge on Hof Kasselmann from 2 to 5 July for the Covalliero Dressage Days. Just weeks before the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026, the international dressage fixture is regarded as one of the final and most important tests of the season. For Germany’s dressage riders, the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ also serves as the decisive second selection trial for the home team heading to Aachen.
Germany’s line-up for the home Nations Cup features Isabell Werth with Wendy de Fontaine, Frederic Wandres with Bluetooth OLD, Semmieke Rothenberger with Farrington, and Raphael Netz with Great Escape Camelot. Tobias Nabben and Forster have been named as first reserve.
As host, Germany will start favourite, but the competition promises to be fierce. The United States arrives with Meagan Davis (Toronto Lightfoot), Jordan LaPlaca (Gold Play), Anna Marek (Fayvel) and Christian Simonson(Fleau de Baian). They will be joined by teams from Austria, Belgium, Finland, Spain and Sweden. The team classification will be decided in Friday’s Grand Prix during the “Pferdesport Deutschland Team Day”, offering many nations one final opportunity to assess their championship combinations under competition conditions.
World Championship ambitions throughout the programme
The other CDI tours are equally strong. Current world number four and the most successful dressage rider of all time, Isabell Werth, will also present her exciting young prospect Viva Gold OLD in the CDI4* Tour. The German entries also include Katharina Hemmer with Denoix PCH, Moritz Treffinger with Cadeau Noir, Benjamin Werndl with Quick Decision FRH, Lisa Müller on Gut Wettlkam’s D’avie FRH and Dr Svenja Kämper-Meyer with Amanyara M FRH among others. Norway’s Isabel Freese brings her Olympic partner Total Hope OLD, while Great Britain’s Susan Pape arrives with Harmony’s Giulilanta. Austria will also be strongly represented by Lisa Wernitznig, Katharina Haas, Stefan Lehfellner and Florian Bacher, all with World Championship ambitions. In the CDI3* Tour, newly crowned US Grand Prix Champion Ellesse Gundersen makes her European debut with her home-bred Quintessential 4. Eagerly anticipated is also the European comeback of Adrienne Lyle (USA)and Helix.
World’s best Para dressage athletes assemble
The Para Dressage field is equally impressive. The current top four athletes in the FEI Para Dressage World Individual Rankings are all set to compete in Hagen: three-time Paralympic gold medallist Fiona Howard (USA), Kate Shoemaker (USA), Heidemarie Dresing (GER) and Tobias Thorning Jørgensen (DEN). For Para athletes, the Covalliero Dressage Days also represent an important benchmark on the road to the World Championships in Aachen.
Welcome Evening in Osnabrück
Sporting action begins on Thursday, 2 July, with the CDI4* Grand Prix, “Let’s Get Hooved Prize”. In the evening, riders, officials and guests will gather for the official tournament welcome in the Horses & Dreams VIP Area at the Volksbank Sommerarena in Osnabrück. Afterwards, the tribute band “SHIVER – A Thrilling Coldplay Journey” will provide the evening’s entertainment. The event begins at 7:00 pm. The sporting finale takes place on Sunday with the Grand Prix Special of the Nations Cup Tour, presented by Bucas. During the event, the Oldenburg Horse Marketing GmbH will also showcase an exclusive collection of 12 selected dressage foals. The collection will be presented on Thursday lunchtime, ahead of Friday evening’s Elite Foal Auction.
Few events offer free admission while giving spectators the chance to experience so many of the world’s leading dressage and Para dressage athletes at such close quarters. Visitors looking for an enhanced experience can choose from Sky Bar Tickets, Golden Tickets, or exclusive VIP hospitality boxes. All competitions will be streamed live and on demand via ClipMyHorse.TV. Start lists, timetables and results are available at https://psi-events.de/portfolio/covalliero-dressage-days-july/.
Photo: Isabell Werth and Wendy de Fontaine form part of the German team in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup © Stefan Lafrentz