In a start list of 12 riders from seven countries, Ludovic Henry got proceedings underway with a score of 75.673 percent at the Salzburg Arena Messezentrum.

Schneider trumped that score by some distance in the second ride of the day with a score of 83.415 and, in the end, it was never beaten, winning her the gold medal.

"I could feel in the warm-up that he [Sammy Davis Jr.] was in really good shape - he’s been doing an amazing job over the last month," said Schneider.

"Sammy wants to present himself and he loves to dance, so he’s the perfect Freestyle horse.

"He’s good-looking with a character to match, and today was our best score so far - it’s exciting because we are coming together as a pair more and more.”

A German rider also won the silver medal as Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and her horse, Unee BB, posted a score of 81.565 points.

The pair have an excellent record in the FEI World Cup Dressage series and have finished third in two finals, at Lyon in 2014 and Las Vegas in 2015. 

As Unee is 16-years-old, though, there are questions as to whether he will be able to reach the 2018 final in Paris.

Von Bredow-Werndl remains confident he will make it.

"I’m really fighting for our place at the final," she said. 

"Even though Unee turns 17 next year he’s still in top form, so I want us to be there."

Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann-Andersen and his 13-year-old KWPN stallion, Blue Hors Zack, filled the last place on the podium with a score of 80.375.

The series is now due to move to Olympia in London this week where the Grand Prix will take place on Tuesday (December 12) with the FEI World Cup Dressage Freestyle being held the following evening.