Cassøe Krüth’s comeback could hardly have gone better. Riding the experienced mare Heiline’s Danciera, she produced a confident and expressive test that secured the World Cup Grand Prix win in Gothenburg. The result carried special meaning for the Danish rider, as it marked her first international appearance since the birth of her daughter three months ago.

The emotional impact was clear as Cassøe Krüth completed her lap of honour in Scandinavium. “I had fun, and I think Danciera did too,” she said afterwards. “She was really with me today.”

Ahead of the competition, the Dane had aimed simply for a top-four finish, but her performance surpassed that goal. Balancing top sport with new motherhood has required strong support at home, she explained. “Thanks to a lot of good help, this works. When I enter the arena, it’s full focus on the task.”

Sweden’s Patrik Kittel finished second with Touchdown, delivering a performance he described as enjoyable despite a few minor inaccuracies. “I ride and the judges judge,” Kittel reflected. “It was very fun to ride. Touchdown felt very good, but he wasn’t quite sure whether it was dressage or hockey today and got a bit quick in the turns during the warm-up. He was very fresh, and we missed a couple of small things.”

In recent years, Kittel has often opted to compete in Doha rather than Gothenburg at this time of year, but he admitted that the atmosphere in Scandinavium once again proved special. “When I left the hotel and it was minus fifteen degrees, I wondered if I should have chosen the warmth again. But when I came into the arena and met this fantastic crowd, I felt that Scandinavium is still Scandinavium.”

Attention now turns to the World Cup Freestyle, scheduled for the following day. Cassøe Krüth revealed her kür will be performed to music by Taylor Swift.
“I’m a real ‘Swiftie’,” she smiled.

Kittel will stick to the freestyle plan he used at his most recent World Cup appearance in Amsterdam. “I always ride according to plan, whether it’s a championship, a World Cup or a show at home,” he concluded.