Posted April 22, 2006

2006 FEI World Cup Dressage Final

Isabelle Werth Back in the Limelight

Second placed Werth has been riding Warum Nicht FRH for three years, but only for a year at the Grand Prix level. She created her own choreography and described it as “very difficult.” Werth explained, “There are a lot of extensions and collections back-to-back and that’s very difficult and that makes all the difference.” Her soundtrack included Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and Pomp and Circumstance, which she feels is music her horse “wears” well. Commenting on the challenge to catch van Grunsven’s score, Werth said. “I try my best. He’s only 10 and he grew up in such a good way. He’s getting more and more steady and relaxed. There’s no question that the horse is a world-class horse. He has to become more experienced, but the quality and potential is great and so we’ll see what happens.”

Judge Rockwell said that Warum Nicht FRH is a “very exciting horse” and that it was nice to see a rider “creeping up” on van Grunsven, and compared it to the previous rivalry between Bonfire and Werth’s Gigolo. “He’s beautiful and has expression. He has everything. He’s dependable and she’s such a wonderful rider,” Rockwell said. “He’s so beautifully trained and she gives him every opportunity to do the job.”