Olympic newcomer Jessica von Bredow-Werndl riding TSF Dalera has won the individual gold medal, finishing ahead of Isabell Werth, who won silver on Bella Rose, with Olympic dressage gold has gone to Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl riding TSF Dalera, who pinned compatriot Isabell Werth into silver on Bella Rose, with Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin taking the bronze on Gio.
While I haven’t been able to find a video of her winning ride, this video posted on Tiktok gives you a sense for how impressive the pair were in the competition. Von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera, a 14-year old Trakhener mare, earned a score of 91.73% — the first time this pair has broken the elusive 90% barrier in international competition, and where better to do it than the Olympics.
With her silver medal, Isabel Werth holds the record for the most Olympic medals won by any equestrian athlete — she has competed in six Olympics and won 11 medals — seven of them gold. In one interview, Werth mentioned she was wearing her “lucky boots” which she has worn since 1991 at every Championship since then. I love that even top riders have their talismans.
Werth announced after her test that this was the last competition for 17-year old Bella Rose.
“I love this horse and I hope she loves me too,” she said. “It’s such an amazing feeling – all riders who know how difficult it is to build up a horse to this point know how I feel – it’s a gift.”
The mare completed her final center line in a complex piaffe-passage pattern, earning 95.89% for the artistic score and a 83.43% technical mark, producing a final score of 89.66%. It is believed that the mare will go on to be bred.