2024 FEI World Cup Finals (show jumping and dressage)

The 2024 FEI World Cup Finals for dressage and show jumping was held April 16–20, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event was held in the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center marking the conclusion of the 2023–24 Dressage and Show jumping World Cup Seasons.[1][2] It was the first time in history that the World Cup Finals was held on the Asian continent for dressage and for the second time for show-jumping after the finals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2006. For both disciplines it was the first time in the Middle East region.[3] The decision to award the event to Saudi Arabia received criticism from some in the European press, accusing the country of "sportswashing" a traditionally European sport.[4][5][6]

2024 FEI World Cup Finals
Host cityRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
Date(s)April 16 – 20, 2024
Main stadiumRiyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center
LevelSenior
TypeIndoor
Events2
2023
2025

The prize money for the competition was reported to be the largest amount ever recorded for an equestrian World Cup final, ultimately awarding €400,000 for Dressage and €2.6 Million for the Show Jumping competitions.[7]

During the event, several equine focused publications declined to cover the flagship event, citing the country's human rights record, position towards LGBT rights, and record for doping in endurance racing.[8][9][10]

Winners

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Dressage Grand Prix

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Rank Rider Horse GPF score Notes
    Charlotte Fry Everdale 75.388 %
    Patrik Kittel Touchdown 73.292 %
    Nanna Skodborg Merrald Blue Hors Don Olymbrio 72.904 %

Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle

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Rank Rider Horse GPF score Notes
    Patrik Kittel Touchdown 81.661 % [11]
    Nanna Skodborg Merrald Blue Hors Don Olymbrio 81.429 %
    Isabell Werth DSP Quantaz 81.404 %

Show jumping Overall ranking

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Rank Rider Nation Citation
  Henrik von Eckermann   Sweden [12]
  Julien Epaillard   France
  Peder Fredricson   Sweden

Incidents

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  • Chromatic BF, ridden by Jill Humphrey (USA) collapsed and died after placing third in the jump off.[13][14][15][16]
  • Charlotte Fry (UK) and Everdale were eliminated from the World Cup Freestyle when blood was found in the horse's mouth.[17]
  • Alisa Glinka (MOL) was suspended after a positive human doping test.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "FEI World Cup Final Overview". FEI. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  2. ^ "FEI World Cup Finals 2024 Riyadh". EN GARDE Marketing. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Saudi Arabia receives flag to host FEI World Cup Finals 2024". Zawya. 10 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Viel Geld im Spiel - Weltcup-Finale in Riad: Sportwashing mit Pferden oder Tradition?" [Lots of money at stake - World Cup final in Riyadh: sportwashing with horses or tradition?]. Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 17 April 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Wie Saudi-Arabien das Reitsport-Weltcup-Finale aus dem Boden stampfte" [How Saudi Arabia created the Equestrian World Cup final]. FAZ.NET (in German). 20 April 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Weltcup in Riad: Sportwashing mit Pferden oder Tradition?" [World Cup in Riyadh: Sportwashing with horses or tradition?]. Süddeutsche.de (in German). 16 April 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Fresh Cash Pumped Into 2024 World Cup Finals - Biggest Purse in World Cup History". Eurodressage. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  8. ^ "No coverage of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final 2024 on WoSJ". World of Showjumping. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  9. ^ "No World Cup Final here!". The Horse Magazine. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Warum St.GEORG nicht vom Weltcup-Finale Springen und Dressur in Saudi-Arabien berichtet" [Why St.GEORG is not reporting on the World Cup finals in jumping and dressage in Saudi Arabia]. St.GEORG. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Touchdown lands the World Cup title for Sweden's Kittel". Riyadh 2024. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Sweden's von Eckermann and the King do it all over again". Riyadh 2024. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Chromatic BF Dies After Jumping In World Cup Final". The Chronicle of the Horse. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Owner, USEF Disagree About What Killed Chromatic BF". The Chronicle of the Horse. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Statement on equine fatality at FEI World Cup Final". Riyadh 2024. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Springreiten: Pferd stirbt bei Weltcup-Finale in Saudi-Arabien" [Show jumping: Horse dies at World Cup final in Saudi Arabia]. Die Presse (in German). 19 April 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  17. ^ "'Extremely unlucky' says vet after Lottie Fry eliminated at World Cup Finals". Horse & Hound. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Alisa Glinka's Suspension Lifted - Moldova to Be Represented in Dressage at 2024 Olympics". Eurodressage. Retrieved 23 July 2024.