Jayden Brown and WillingaPark Quincy B on their winning the NSW Big Tour Championship at Tamworth. Image by Amy-Sue Alston.
With the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen fast approaching, Australian dressage riders are chasing qualifying scores at home and abroad. From seasoned Olympians to exciting new partnerships, the battle for team selection is already heating up.
With less than a year until the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany all eyes are on the upcoming CDIs here in Australia – and in some cases, abroad – as to who will be making the team.
Equestrian Australia recently released their selection policy. To be eligible for selection, combinations must be consistently achieving scores approaching or exceeding 68% in at least two Grand Prix tests at CDI3* or above. The scores must be obtained at events where there is at least one Level 4 judge on the ground jury, of a nationality other than the athlete.
As has always been the case, this score is higher than the FEI Minimum Eligibility Requirement (MER) of 66%.
Combinations must also show demonstrated experience in a minimum of two Grand Prix Special tests at CDI3* or higher events. World rankings and Grand Prix Freestyle scores are not part of the set criteria. The selection committee will be choosing three combinations to make up the team, as well as two reserve combinations.
The qualifying period began on 1 January 2025 and runs until the nominated entries date – which is yet to be announced by the FEI, but is often around four weeks prior to the start of the event.
Of course, the Competition Criteria is only part of the EA Selection Policy – a range of other requirements and considerations come into play, including Discretionary Considerations.
Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe competing at the 2025 FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Basel, Switzerland. Image by Kim C Lundin.
COMBINATIONS WITH MERS
Australia currently has several riders who have achieved at least one of the two required FEI MERs within the qualifying period so far. They are:
Mary Hanna and her 2024 Olympic reserve mount Ivanhoe I have three MERs from Willinga Park Dressage by the Sea in February (68.522%), the FEI World Cup Final in Basel in April (69.152%), and a CDI3* at Hagen, Germany (66.522%) the same month. At Hagen they also contested the Grand Prix Special for 67.915%. With two Grand Prix scores approaching or exceeding 68% and one of two Grand Prix Special scores secured, this combination has not just fulfilled the FEI MERs but is also well on their way to fulfilling the Competition Criteria section of the EA Selection Policy as well.
Emma Flavelle-Watts and Scarlatti Mio VSR achieved a score of 69.674% in their CDI debut at the Boneo Park Winter CDI in June. They also competed in the Grand Prix Special for a score of 69.808%.
Emma Flavelle-Watts and Scarlatti Mio VSR at the Boneo Park Winter CDI in June. Image by One Eyed Frog Photography.
Jayden Brown and Chemistry (66.087%) and Rozzie Ryan with Bronze Boy R (66%) also gained FEI MERs at DJWTS.
Competing for New Zealand, John Farrell Thompson and MSJ Gatsby secured an FEI MER at Sydney CDI (66.739%) in April, and prior to that at Dressage and Jumping with the Stars (DJWTS) in March (66.891%) – ticking off their FEI MER requirements.
OLYMPIC DUO BACK IN ACTION
2024 Olympic combination Jayden Brown and WillingaPark Quincy B have had their first competition back since the Paris Olympics at the Regency Float NSW Dressage Championships, where they scored 71.703% the Grand Prix and 72.943% in the Special (and ultimately claimed the NSW Big Tour Championship). Whilst it doesn’t count towards selection being a CDN, they are sure to be eyeing off the remaining CDIs this year, with Quincy looking stronger than ever.
Jayden Brown and WillingaPark Quincy B representing Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Image by FEI/Benjamin Clark.
Jayden has also achieved solid scores in national classes with Alinta Veenvliet’s mare D’Esperanza. Whilst they were not achieved at CDIs, with Grand Prix scores exceeding 69% this could be another combination to watch.
FOUR MORE AUSTRALIAN CDI EVENTS IN 2025
In the FEI calendar, there are four more competitions registered CDI3* and above in Australia this year:
Brisbane CDI3* in Caboolture, Queensland (18-21 September).
Australian Dressage Championships CDI-W in Sydney, New South Wales (16-19 October).
Carlton Performance Horses CDI3* in Boneo, Victoria (12-16 November).
Victorian Dressage Festival CDI-W in Werribee, Victoria (11-14 December).
Jayden Brown and D’Esperanza competing at Dressage@Willinga (CDN) earlier this year. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
BRISBANE BRINGS THE HEAT
The acceptance list for the Julie Bland Consulting Grand Prix CDI3* is out, with 10 combinations set to compete in what promises to be a small but highly competitive class. Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe I will be hoping to improve on their current qualifying scores, while Emma Flavelle-Watts and Scarlatti Mio VSR will be looking to secure a second qualifying score.
Brisbane also marks the first CDI appearance since Paris for Olympic duo Jayden Brown and WillingaPark Quincy B. Jayden is also entered with D’Esperanza. Adding further depth to the field is John Farrell Thompson and MSJ Gatsby, winners of the FEI World Cup Qualifier at DJWTS earlier this year.
John Thompson and MSJ Gatsby in action at DJWTS in March. Image by Equisoul Photography.
Also on the acceptance list is Amanda Jakins and Artes Lauries Gift, Breanna Tillitzki and BZ Rapfael, Caroline Wagner and Ibicus, Serena Ireland and Royalty R, and Tanisha Ryan with Prequel.
If you are unable to make it down to the venue, be sure to check out the live broadcast via ClipMyHorse.TV. Additionally, CMH.TV will also capture all the action at the Australian Dressage Championships CDI-W and Carlton Performance Horses CDI3*.
INTERNATIONAL WATCH
Eyes also need to be on our overseas Aussies as selection starts to get closer. Recently, Simone Pearce had her debut at national Grand Prix with the Team Fuchs-owned Will Marq scoring a massive 74.033%. Additionally, another of Simone and Team Fuchs’ horses, Daenerys Targaryen 4 (fondly known as Queen), has had two back-to-back wins in their first Medium Tour starts with two scores over 73%. At just nine years of age and only new to the top level, they are more likely team prospects for LA 2028 – but time will tell.
Simone Pearce and Daenerys Targaryen 4. Image by Zeitenwandler Fotografie/Hannah Sauer.
“They posted a
score over 72% for
their first attempt at
the Grand Prix…”
Lyndal Oatley has also been out at a national show with her new ride, Forever Young HRH, where the combination posted a score over 72% for their first attempt at the Grand Prix together. Lyndal has previously brought out horses close to selection with super scores to secure their spot at Olympics and World Championships and with Forever Young HRH already achieved scores of 74% at CDIs with Lyndal’s husband, Patrik Kittel, this is already a proven Grand Prix mare. Of course, new partnerships always take time, and Lyndal certainly won’t be looking to rush anything.
There is also another Aussie Lyndal who has recently taken over the reins of a successful Grand Prix horse. Lyndal Yelavich, who runs Bellodair UK for Australian-based owner Karen Miller, has recently taken over the reins of Classic Goldstrike – a Grand Prix horse previously ridden by Gareth Hughes. It’s still very early days for this new combination, however Lyndal has ridden her first Grand Prix test at a British show and scored 67.61%.
With seasoned campaigners returning to form and new partnerships emerging both at home and abroad, the road to Aachen 2026 promises fierce competition and an exciting year ahead for Australian dressage.
Have we missed anyone? Be sure to let us know! Email info@eqlife.com.au. EQ
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