The CDI5*, the highest-rated event on the Global calendar, will feature riders from four nations, with multiple competitors bringing Olympic, World Cup Final and championship experience to the arena. Three riders competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: American Marcus Orlob with Jane; Germany’s Frederic Wandres, a member of Germany’s 2024 Olympic gold medal team; and American Chris von Martels, who made his second Olympic appearance last year.
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They are joined by a strong group of seasoned championship riders including American Ashley Holzer, a bronze medallist at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games while representing Canada; Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén, a seven-time Olympian; and Canada’s Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, who competed at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Several World Cup Final veterans are also entered, including Americans Kevin Kohmann with Dünensee, Anna Marek on Fayvel, Geñay Vaughn with Gina, and Germany’s Michael Klimke. Great Britain’s Susan Pape, a regular at World Young Horse Championships, completes the international line-up.
Competition begins with the Grand Prix on Thursday, followed by the Grand Prix Freestyle under lights on Friday night and the Grand Prix Special on Saturday. The CDI5* runs alongside an interactive-masterclass on Wednesday evening featuring Kyra Kyrklund, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Jan Brink.
First staged in 2009, the Wellington CDI5* remains one of only two CDI5* events held in America.
