dressagedirect presents the FEI World Cup™ Dressage. In 1985-1986 it finally took place: the first worldcup season started including something spectacular new: the Freestyle Test to Music. The first sponsor was found in Nashua, the first final was held in ‘s-Hertogenbosch 1986 and won by the lightfeeted Danish bred Marzog (Herzog x Marcio xx) and Danish Anne-Grethe Törnblad-Jensen.

After five years, the sponsorshop was taken over by Volvo.

Since its beginning, the World Cup™ dressage has developed in a very good way, despite some very strong opponents against the Freestyle to Music.

Grand Prix-winner Edward Gal on Lingh and sponsor Karin Reid Offield in the Las Vegas World Cup™ Final 2005

Only minor changes in the Rules have been necessary until now. The most important ones have been that only the Freestyle is decisive for the World Cup™title, changed in 2002 and that the artistic parts of a test are all marked with the same multipliers, changed in 2007. 

Influenced by the enthusiasm of the crowds for the Freestyle to Music, the freestyle has contributed to the emancipation and growth of the dressage as a sport. The Freestyle became an official part of the new Olympic test schedule deciding the individual medals in 1996 in Atlanta.