As World Championship dressage draws to a close in Herning, the medal podium in the Stutteri Ask Stadium saw two stallions and a gelding rise to the top during the Freestyle program. However, the top step was reserved for Britain's Charlotte Fry riding the KWPN stallion Glamourdale, bred in the Netherlands by J.W. Rodenburg.

Glamourdale (Lord Leatherdale - Thuja x Negro), was following in the exalted hoofprints of his damsire, Negro (Ferro), who danced his way to Freestyle gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games with another Charlotte – Dujardin – in his saddle. According to Fry: "He was dancing, I was singing along, enjoying the extended canter, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Glamourdale was made for this."

Remarkable for his age, silver went to the gelding Vamos Amigos (Vitalis - Hot Shot x Blue Hors Hotline), just 10 years old, who undoubtedly has a brilliant career ahead – think Paris 2024 OG! Of course, he was the home-crowd favourite ridden by Denmark's Catherine Laudrup-Dufour.

Another stallion in third: Hermes (Easy Game - Bukkie x Flemmingh) under the saddle of Dinja van Liere – a Dutch partnership, and another 10-year-old demonstrating talent beyond his years. (Read the article and interview with Hermes' breeder Ad Gijsbers in the up-coming September 2022 issue of World Breeding News.)