Daniel Bachmann Andersen delighted the home crowd by claiming the Grand Prix Special title on the opening day of the FEI Dressage World Cup Western European League event in Herning in Denmark ©Getty Images

Daniel Bachmann Andersen delighted the home crowd by claiming the Grand Prix Special title on the opening day of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Dressage World Cup Western European League event in Herning in Denmark.

Andersen took victory aboard Blue Hors Don Olymbrio with a score of 77.404 per cent.

Fellow Dane Cathrine Dufour, riding Bohemian, finished second with 76.404 per cent.

Rounding out the podium was Germany’s Kathleen Keller, who managed 72.128 per cent aboard San Royal 3.

Completing the top five were Denmark’s Lone Bang Larsen, with Bakkely’s Onandt, and Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg, with Annabelle 110.

Denmark's Cathrine Dufour had to settle for second place ©Getty Images
Denmark's Cathrine Dufour had to settle for second place ©Getty Images

Competition in Herning is scheduled to conclude tomorrow with the freestyle event.

The city is hosting the first leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup Western European League season. 

After this weekend, action moves on to Lyon, Stuttgart and Madrid in November, and then to Salzburg, London and Mechelen in December.

The new year will begin with an event in Amsterdam and it will then be a race to the line with just two more chances to pick up those precious qualifying points in Neumunster and ’s-Hertogenbosch in February.

The FEI Dressage World Cup Final is due to take place in Gothenburg from April 3 to 7, 2019.