Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour Commands The Arena: Inside Her Quest For Gold At The 2026 World Championships
Danish dressage sensation Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour has once again electrified the equestrian world with a masterclass performance at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen. Partnering with her powerhouse mount, Mount St John Freestyle, the Olympic silver medalist has put Denmark firmly in contention for individual and team podium finishes. As global dressage scores reach historic highs, sports analysts are calling this tournament one of the tightest rivalries in modern equestrian history.
| Key Athlete Data | Details & Status (As of August 2026) |
|---|---|
| Rider | Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (Denmark) |
| Primary Mount | Mount St John Freestyle (17-year-old Hanoverian mare) |
| Current Event | 2026 FEI World Championships (Aachen, Germany) |
| Recent Achievement | Team Silver Medalist (Paris 2024 Olympics) |
| Key Discipline | Grand Prix Dressage & Grand Prix Freestyle |
From Paris Silver to Aachen Glory: The Evolution of a Powerhouse Partnership
The road to the 2026 World Championships has been a testament to Laudrup-Dufour's peerless horsemanship. Following her spectacular performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she secured Team Silver and narrowly missed an individual medal, the Danish rider has focused on refining Freestyle's Grand Prix routines.
The partnership between Laudrup-Dufour and the exceptional mare Mount St John Freestyle has matured into an undisputed world-class standard. Critics initially questioned whether the mare could maintain her peak physical condition into 2026, but their recent qualifying scores of over 81% in the Grand Prix have silenced any doubters. This formidable duo continues to challenge powerhouse German and British riders in a high-stakes battle for global supremacy, demonstrating unparalleled harmony, precision in the passage, and seamless transitions.
How to Watch the 2026 FEI World Dressage Championships Live
For fans eager to witness Laudrup-Dufour's chase for individual gold, the 2026 FEI World Championships are widely accessible across international digital and television networks.
- Official Live Stream: FEI.TV (available via ClipMyHorse.TV) offers complete live coverage of all Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special, and Grand Prix Freestyle sessions.
- European Broadcasters: Regional networks including DR (Denmark), WDR/ZDF (Germany), and Eurosport are providing live broadcasts and on-demand highlights of the dressage events.
- Live Scoring: Real-time scoring updates and starting orders can be accessed directly on the official Aachen 2026 digital app and the FEI database.
Laudrup & Dufour launches new horse care collection — Horse2Rider
The Road to the 2026 World Cup Final and Beyond
Following the conclusion of the Aachen Championships on August 23, 2026, Laudrup-Dufour's campaign will shift focus toward the upcoming winter indoor season. The primary target on her radar is the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League qualifiers, leading up to the highly anticipated World Cup Final in early 2027.
As Mount St John Freestyle enters the latter stages of her competitive career, team Denmark and Laudrup-Dufour are also actively developing younger talent in her stables. Fans can expect to see several rising equine stars making their national grand prix debuts under her tutelage over the coming months, ensuring Denmark remains a dominant force on the global stage for years to come.
