43 Riders and Horses at the Grand Final e Geneva

A total of 43 riders from 19 countries will compete in the 2009/2010 Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final at the Palexpo Arena in Geneva, Switzerland next week from 14-18 April.

All but one of the competitors have emerged from nine leagues that took place around the world in recent months, the sole exception being the host nation's Niklaus Schurtenberger who has been awarded a Wild Card entry with his top horse Cantus.

A notable absentee from the exciting closing stages will be 2008/2009 champion Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum from Germany who gave birth to her first baby daughter Brianne Victoria just six weeks ago. The three-time winner first held the coveted World Cup trophy aloft in Las Vegas in 2005 and then recorded back-to-back victories in Gothenburg in 2008 and again at Las Vegas in 2009, always partnering the great Shutterfly who turned 17 in January of this year. Meredith has decided that she will not defend the title.

The full list of confirmed riders and qualified horses for the 2009/2010 Final is therefore as follows:

AUSTRALIA
Chris Chugg – Vivant
Edwina Alexander – Cevo Itot du Chateau / Cevo Socrates

BRAZIL
Rodrigo Pessoa – Night Train / Let's Fly / Champ
Yuri Mansur Guerios – Ideal de Balia

CANADA
Karen Cudmore – Southern Pride

ESTONIA
Tilt Kivisild – Terrero / Cinnamon
Rein Pill – Virgin Express

FRANCE
Kevin Staut – Kraque Boom / Le prestige St Lois / Sea Coast Silvana
Patrice Deleveau – Katchina Mail
Penelope Leprevost – Mylord Carthago

GREAT BRITAIN
Michael Whitaker – GIG Amai

GERMANY
Philipp Weishaupt – Catoki
Marcus Ehning – Noltes Kuchengirl / Sabrina ' / Plot Bue
Ludger Beerbaum – Gotha
Marco Kutscher – Cash

IRELAND
Jessica Kuerten – Castle Forbes Cosma / Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois
Darragh Kenny – Obelix
Dermott Lennon – Hallmark Elite

ITALY
Natale Chiaudani – SNAI Seldana di Campalto

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
Abdullah Sharbatly – Goldex
HRH Abdullah Al Saud – Mobily Saudia / Mobily Allah Jabek

LITHUANIA
Benas Gutkauskas – Quick Jet

MEXICO
Alberto Martinez – Leonard

THE NETHERLANDS
Albert Zoer – Uraguay

PORTUGAL
Luciana Diniz – As-Taro Z / Winningmood

RUSSIA
Ljubov Kochetova – Aslan

SWITZERLAND
Pius Schwizer – Ulysse / Carlina
Beat Mandli – Louis
Daniel Etter – Peu a Peu
Steve Guerdat – Tresor / Jalisca Solier / Ferrari
Niklaus Schurtenberger – Cantus

SWEDEN
Svante Johansson – Caramell KS

USA
Maclain Ward – Sapphire
Mario Deslauriers – Urico
Michelle Spadone – Cadence / Melisimo
Hillary Dobbs – Quincy B / Corlett
Lauren Hough – Quick Study
Ken Berkley – Carlos Boy
Todd Minikus – Pavarotti
Rich Fellers – Flexible
Joie Gatlin – Camaron Hills Quick Dollar
Richard Spooner – Cristallo

VENEZUELA
Andres Rodriguez – Larkanaro