It could only happen in Las Vegas. An American-born German wins the World Cup Show Jumping Final and a German-born American wins the World Cup Dressage Final. And two seconds is the difference between an American sweep in both Dressage and Jumping. In a city defined by winning and losing, the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals was the headline act in Las Vegas, and those who attended would have to agree that the ‘double-down’ of Dressage and Jumping made for a winning hand. The best of both disciplines, from around the world, put on a show that moved and inspired fans unlike any show. And it wasn’t on the famed Vegas strip but at the arena named for a couple of horse people - the Thomas Mack Center.

A WINNING NUMBER
On Thursday, April 16th, the first day of competition was an indicator that this World Cup would be something special. Steffen Peters and Ravel brought the crowd to their feet by winning the Dressage Grand Prix. The 44-year old German-born US rider who is based in San Diego, California clinched victory with a score of 77.915%, holding off nine-time World Cup champion Anky Van Grunsven who took second and German star and two-time World Cup winner Isabell Werth who had to settle for third place.

Peters and Ravel stole the show with a breathtaking performance that had the 11-year-old bay gelding earning nine out of 10 marks from one judge for his excellent piaffe and two nine-point marks for a stellar extended canter. Peters was awarded nine points for his riding position. "He gave it all to me today,” said Peters, “I didn't have to push him hard - he just gave me all the movements. I'm beside myself with excitement!" The stage was set for the dramatic Freestyle Final on Saturday evening, and it would be a historic night for US dressage.

SHUTTERYFLY GETS GOING
Thursday evening showcased the first of three phases of the Jumping Finals and Meredith Michaels Beerbaum demonstrated why she is the top-ranked rider in the world. Her faultless finish in the opening speed round aboard the magnificent Shutterfly was a reminder to all that the 39-year old rider from Thedinghauser, Germany, had come home to the US, not to just visit family and friends, but to vigorously defend her title. “This course was unique,” said Michaels Beerbaum. “Normally riders can be faster by leaving out strides. In this course, I could be faster adding strides. And Shutterfly is a good adder.” America’s best chance at these Finals was McLain Ward and the awesome Sapphire. Ward went clean but was timed at just over a second behind Michaels Beerbaum and would settle for third, behind second place Swiss rider, Christina Liebherr.

Beerbaum continued her domination by winning the second leg Friday, continuing to leave all of the rails up and the competition behind. Last to go in the thrilling 13-horse jump-off the American-born, German rider produced a butter-smooth ride with the unbeatable 16-year-old Shutterfly, but Anthony D’Ambrosio’s course layout tripped up the other leading contenders.

Switzerland's Christina Liebherr lost her second-place ranking allowing America's McLain Ward to move up from third into runner-up position, and after US rider Rich Fellars and Denmark's Thomas Velin faulted, The Netherland's Albert Zoer and his wonderful horse Okidoki moved into third going into Sunday's finale. Asked about all of the Rolex watches she has won, Beerbaum stated, “If I wasn’t an ambassador for Rolex, I would start my own watch shop.” Trailing Meredith by just two points, McLain Ward was aware of just how close he was. “You don’t want to wish a mistake on anybody, but it can happen.”

REINING TEARS
Saturday was an action packed day at the Thomas Mack Center with an array of events not previously seen at a World Cup, as well as the $75,000 Las Vegas Grand Prix that was won by America’s Rich Fellers, who edged out the very talented rider HRH Prince Abdullah Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, who took second. The Prince will definitely be one to watch in the coming year.

Dressage fans enjoyed the afternoon program of the Olympic/Grand Prix Pas de Deux Challenge, which featured big stars performing in pairs. Olympic veteran Guenter Seidel and Elizabeth Ball, with their routine based around Phantom of the Opera won the elegant display of pairs riding in unison. They were aboard Fandango and Orion.

Spectators were also treated to a very entertaining exhibition in the International Reining Celebrity Challenge in which world-class show jumpers and dressage competitors pulled on their cowboy boots and tried their hand at “western dressage” in a reining competition. Rodrigo Pessoa, Will Simpson, and Anky van Grunsven entertained the crowd with speed transitions, circles, sliding stops, rollbacks and head turning spins. The AQHA horses were the real stars of this exhibition, and the US team won out over the International team. It was a much happier ending than at the 2005 Vegas Finals when the International team beat us at our own game – the Hunter Challenge.

A GOLD WATCH FOR BRENTINA
Reported by Evalyn Bemis
One of the most successful dressage horses in US history was given a metaphorical gold watch and a day job grazing the green pastures of River Grove Farm. Brentina, Debbie McDonald’s fabulous partner for 15 years, was retired in an emotional ceremony on Saturday afternoon.

The setting of the Thomas and Mack Center was appropriate for two reasons. It was here that Debbie and Brentina debuted their now-famous “Respect” freestyle at the World Cup Finals in 2005. Also, the facility is co-named for Brentina’s owners and UNLV donors Parry and Peggy Thomas.

Debbie and Brentina walked into the darkened arena to the cheers of 7000+ fans that had come to bid them adieu. A spotlight led them to a cluster of family and friends. Debbie could not hold back the tears as she was met by husband Bob McDonald, the Thomases, and Brentina’s long-time groom, Ruben Palomera.

A wool cooler embroidered with Brentina’s many outstanding achievements was wrapped around her, along with a garland of roses and a sash wishing her happiness in her new life. In return, she gave Debbie a big wet kiss. "Brentina has taught me that this sport is not about success; it is about the love, relationship and the journey between horse and rider, said an emotional McDonald."

There was not a dry eye in the house as Debbie and Brentina left the arena to the music that earned the partnership third place in the 2005 Las Vegas Final. With the crowd cheering one last time, the 18-year-old equine champion broke into a perfect passage movement, a fitting goodbye to the thousands of fans who have followed the storied career of Debbie and Brentina.

RAVEL'S BOLERO
Saturday night was a night that will be remembered for a long time in US Dressage circles. America’s Steffen Peters and Ravel danced their way to the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Dressage title with a show-stopping Freestyle test that brought down the house in a tidal wave of throaty cheers.

Peters became the first American to wrestle the title from the Europeans since 2003 and the first to win on home soil since the event began 23 years ago.

Steffan retooled his Beijing Olympic dressage test with a trot introduction and repeating theme to the tune of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida. He won by the narrowest of margins with 85.1% to Isabell Werth’s 84%. Anky van Grunsven took third.

Peters admitted that the clapping and screaming from the crowd was a concern, but, “I could see his ears were still pointing towards me and not to the crowd so I knew he was still listening to me.” The crowd went berserk as the pair came up the centerline to finish. “There was amazing electricity in there and it was hard for the dressage fans to hold back – honestly, I appreciate it!" said Peters.

Other than the wins of American Debbie McDonald on Brentina in 2003 and Sweden’s Louise Nathhorst and LFR Walk on Top in 1998, the event has been won by either the Netherlands or Germany for 15 years. Van Grunsven commented that, “It’s great for the sport that Steffen won. It shouldn’t always be Anky and Isabell. We will go home now and practice a lot to be sure we beat him next time,” she said.

During the awards ceremony, just prior to the playing of the US national anthem, a white horse carrying the American flag entered the arena spooking the three top placed horses. Later at the press conference, Marty Bauman, the head of the media center remarked, “They spooked because they aren’t used to seeing a US flag!” Laughter in the room confirmed that the statement was probably true.

ONE MORE GOODBYE
The Dressage Finals also saw the second goodbye on this Saturday of farewells. It witnessed the retirement of Jan Brink’s eight-time World Cup-qualifying horse, 18-year old Bjorsells Briar 889, from Sweden, who received a standing ovation from the crowd. This was Jan Brink’s eighth and final World Cup Final with his fabulous stallion Briar. The pair has anchored the Swedish team in three Olympic Games, three World Equestrian Games and every European Championship since 2001. Still going strong at 18, Briar won the CDI-W in Gothenburg (Sweden) and finished fifth in the Western European League. Brink has said he plans to retire Briar after Las Vegas.

The retirement of these magnificent horses only demonstrates the emotional attachment fans have for these superlative athletes. You won’t find that kind of reverence with other professional sports athletes, especially those with only two legs.

PERFECTION BRINGS A THIRD TITLE
Sunday, the final day of World Cup competition, was a coronation for the dynamic duo of Michaels Beerbaum and the wonder horse Shutterfly. The pair won their third World Cup Jumping title with a flawless performance that ended their Las Vegas stay on top of the world. “This was my hardest win in a World Cup final,” Meredith said afterwards. “McLain left no room whatsoever. This was a big win for me for several reasons. It was my most perfect win and it is something special to do that with the greatest horse ever, while he is 16 years of age. I lost my father four weeks ago, this is also a big win for him.”

Words cannot adequately describe the performance of Shutterfly, as the 16-year old gelding negotiated D’Ambrosio’s course with apparent ease, unfazed by the scope of the difficult course. Seriously, there doesn’t appear to be a fence to high, an oxer too wide, or a distance too short that this horse can’t negotiate.

The fact that none of the top three finishers lowered a rail throughout three days of world-class jumping is a testament to the talent of the horses and riders from Germany, the US, and The Netherlands.

McLain Ward who finished second by a scant two points, said afterwards that there was nothing he could have done differently – “my horse and I gave everything we had.”

Albert Zoer, who was just two points behind Ward, spoke from the heart about his courageous horse. “Okidoki is always a fighter. He does everything for me. I love him.”

Sapphire and Okidoki are surely the gold standard when it comes to showjumpers, and that just makes what Shutterfly did all the more spectacular. “Horses like Shutterfly only come along once in a lifetime,” said Meredith. “He and I are like an old married couple. We are a great example of how the partnership between the horse and rider plays its role in success.”

It is going to be an anxious six-year wait for the World Cup to return to Las Vegas, ?but the memories of this 31st Final should carry us through until then. As Robert Ridland, the show jumping manager said, “With the support of Las Vegas Events, my company will bid for the World Cup Final of 2015. This show is too good to give up.”

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