World-Class Dressage Competition On Display At AGDF
By Fiona Slusarev
The 2026 Adequan Global Dressage Festival hosts seven weeks of CDI competition and weekly national shows over three months, finishing March 29, at Wellington International’s Equestrian Village. The 2026 AGDF season has seen exciting improvements and updates across the facilities and class offerings. Wellington The Magazine recently had the opportunity to speak with AGDF Director of Sport Thomas Baur to discuss all things dressage and this season’s highlights.
Baur has been the director of sport at AGDF since 2014. He started out working for a sports event management company in Europe before becoming a sports director for a variety of athletic world championships. Baur entered the equestrian world when he took on the role of running a horse show in Europe. Over the years, he has done numerous European horse shows, shows across the United States, and notably the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas, this year. For Baur, his fascination with horses keeps him in the equestrian sphere. “This huge animal — that people can ride — still touches me,” he said.
How is Global a unique show experience for dressage competitors?
Global is the only real series of shows. There are many other international dressage events all over the world, but not seven international shows in three months in one place. It’s also very unique because most of the riders have their farms around here. Usually in Europe, you drive a couple of hours to go to a show, but here it’s done in 10 to 15 minutes. It’s less travel and more comfortable for the horses. We also offer everything from World Cup qualifiers to qualifiers for this year’s World Championships in Aachen, Germany. AGDF is really special and not something you can find anywhere else in the world.
Why might someone outside the horse world want to come to Friday Night Stars?
I would say because of the great atmosphere here at the International Stadium at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. You can see the top riders dancing with their horses. It’s always fun and something for the whole family.
What is new at Global this year, for the facility and for the experience?
For the first time, we have covered bleachers, so spectators can comfortably enjoy dressage in the shade. We have set up a new FEI lounge for the riders, next to the FEI barn. Grooms, trainers and riders can quickly get something to eat and drink on the way in and out. There is more to come in the future when we move to the new south venue across the street. It will be more than dressage there — it’s the new covered arena, the grass field, the extra rings and the FEI barns.
Global recently presented a well-attended masterclass event. What did this year’s masterclass offer?
We have done several masterclasses over the last seven years; one with Carl Hester, one with Isabell Werth and one with Jessica von Bredow-Werndl. This year’s masterclass was presented by Three Graces Dressage with Olympians Kyra Kyrklund, Cathrine Laudrup Dufour and Jan Brink. We try to offer something educational every year.
What qualifying classes are offered this year at Global?
Once you move to the international level, you have a chance to qualify for the international dressage competitions for the World Championships in Aachen, Germany. The United States itself has different qualification criteria because they can only send four riders. Individuals from other countries may be able to directly qualify here, if you fulfill the minimum requirements of the FEI. However, if you are on a team, then the team qualification criteria applies. We also have individual qualifications for the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas, in April. Getting to the finals is done with a point system through the World Cup qualifiers. There are a total of three World Cup qualifying classes, one in Week 1, one in Week 7 and one in Week 10. This will determine which three riders from the North American League, consisting of the United States, Canada and Mexico, go to the World Cup final.
What names should dressage fans keep an eye out for this season?
We have seen in Week 1 already, the U.S. shooting star, Christian Simonson, with Indian Rock. In Week 7, we have Isabell Werth from Germany. Werth is the most decorated equestrian athlete across all disciplines, including the Olympic Games, world championships and European championships. This is the first time she will compete in the International Ring at Global.
Dressage can sometimes be overshadowed by show jumping. What makes dressage not only beautiful but also exciting?
For me, the most beautiful part is always when you see a ride that is harmonious. The horse and rider are in sync, and everything looks light and easy. It’s really a kind of dance. This is something you don’t see every day, even though everyone who is involved in dressage would like to see it all the time. You’re working with a living, breathing animal — that’s the hard part. In jumping, you want the horse to jump clear, but in dressage, we focus on achieving harmony.
Do you have a personal highlight for this season?
My personal highlight is definitely having Isabell Werth compete with us. We’ve waited 16 years, since she competed over at WEF, for her to compete at Global.
What do you see as the most important aspects of dressage as a sport?
I think we have a great responsibility to make sure that the welfare of the horse is paramount in every single situation. For most riders, the well-being of their horse is the first priority. Horses cannot tell us what they feel or how they feel. We have to be the guardians of the horse. That means if a rider doesn’t think their horse is feeling well one day, then they do not compete them the next day. It’s a hard decision because competitors might need points to go to a championship or to win a series, but they need to be able to make the decision to not compete and to protect the horse. As a rider, you work with your horse every single day and know your horse inside-out. Equestrians can tell when something is wrong or if their horse needs to be checked.
What do you want people to know about this season at Global?
I really encourage everyone to come out and see what we are doing. It’s open; you can watch the riders in the warm-up and watch the riders in the test. You can see how competitors work with their horses and that horses are athletes. Come out and see for yourself how we treat our animals, who are really our partners. In society today, people are moving away from animals more and more because we don’t need them for transport or for farm work; now horses have become athletes. It does not matter the discipline, we need to preserve horses.
The Adequan Global Dressage Festival showgrounds is located at Equestrian Village at 13500 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. For more information, visit www.wellingtoninternational.com.
