LONDON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The FEI World Cup jumping and dressage finals will be held in Paris on Thursday with a total of 55 riders from 30 countries and regions participating.
The draw for both events was held on Wednesday night as defending champion, Isabell Werth from Germany, and French rider Ludovic Henry matched the starting numbers and names for Friday's first leg of the dressage finale.
Sweden's Henrik von Eckermann was joined by Rio Olympic team gold medallist Roger Yves Bost from France to select the order-of-go for Thursday night's opening jumping competition in which America's McLain Ward will also begin the defence of his title with the brilliant mare HH Azur.
A total of 37 riders from 17 countries and regions will battle it out over three days of jumping, while 18 riders from 13 nations and regions will contest the dressage title.
"It's been our dream for many years to bring these finals back to Paris," show organiser Sylvie Robert said. "Now at last our dream has come true."
Both the jumping and dressage finals have taken place at the Parisian venue before, but never together, and only once.
America's Katharine Burdsall, riding The Natural, claimed the ninth jumping title in the City of Lights all the way back in 1986, and Finland's Kyra Kyrklund and Matador won the sixth FEI World Cup dressage title in 1991.
"It's an honour to be here in Paris, home of the Olympic Games in 1900 and 1924, and of course 2024, but also the home of so many other great sporting moments. The world's best partnerships have fought hard to be here and they are ready to claim their piece of history," FEI President Ingmar de Vos said.
