Bella Rose with Isabell Werth - photo credit: Lily Forado
Hot lady
Bella Rose was a bit on fire for today’s Grand Prix, but Isabell Werth just knows how deal with such “small” things.
H2R comments during the test:
Bella Rose GER - bit unsteady halt, bit hectic 1st diagonal, expressive light half passes, good halt with rein back, bit tense extended trot, super transition to passage, super passage, active piaffe at the spot, easy transitions, good walk tour, lots of power off the ground for 2nd piaffe, bit hectic 2 times, superb extended canter, small unbalance end zig-zag, hectic 1 times but top managed, 1st pirouette need bit more balance on hind legs, 2nd better, good transition to trot, superb final centerline, open halt. 81,826%
Blue Hors Zepter and Daniel Bachmann Andersen - photo credit: Thomas Bisgaard
Second to go and also second placed was Danish Daniel Bachmann Andersen, this time with the just 10 year old Blue Hors Zepter - what an outstanding debut at World Cup for this combination.
H2R comments during the test:
Blue Hors Zepter DEN - super halt, super expression diagonal, nice swing half passes with good crossing, superb halt with rein back, super transition to passage, nice passage, lovely timing for 1st piaffe, nice transition, super walk tour nice relaxation, good transition to passage, expressive passage, easy 2nd piaffe, super 2 times, nice lengthening of frame for extended canter, nice zig-zag, bit tense start of 1 times but successful, super pirouettes with sit and control, nice transition to trot, power extension, super passage, superb final piaffe, wauw final passage to final halt. 76,826%.
From H2R point of view definitely not a difference of 5% from Werth to Bachmann.
Daniel Bachmann Andersen after his test:
“Zepter was really really nice in the arena, of course I still have to “help” him a bit, but for sure just a question about getting more routine in the big arenas. He has no weaknesses and I really feel that he is settling more and more down during the test today. It is such a privilege having so many great horses.”
Bohemian with Cathrine Dufour - photo credit: H2R
Less experienced and youngest horse
Another fantastic achievement from Danish top rider Cathrine Dufour, this time with international World Cup Grand Prix debut with her just 8 year old Bohemian by Bordeaux.
Bringing a young horse at this age to this level just takes a lot of effort, but for sure the horse must bring a lot of natural talent combined with a rider who knows the way to get there, and for sure not to make any unnecessary pressure. This picture is made with the finest outcome from Bohemian and Dufour today.
H2R comments during the test:
Bohemian DEN - super halt, bit tense diagonal, lovely carriage and balance for half passes, bit open halt for rein back, lack bit more push for extended trot, super into passage, super passage, super transitions, active piaffe at the spot, lack bit more let go for extended walk, good rhythm, nice collected walk, good transition into passage, super 2nd piaffe, very expressive quality passage, small error hind begin 2 times, bit conservative extended canter, becomes bit hind vertical zig-zag, small tensions for 1 times, super active pirouettes, 2nd bit more turned, wauw passage, piaffe at the spot, passage final with power. 74,674%.
Cathrine Dufour about her test today:
“Bo behaved super in the arena, of course I felt that he was a bit tense during the test, but at the same time he responded 100% to my aides, and felt amazing and really in the mood for the demanding passage, piaffe and pirouette exercises. We have not competed that many times at this level yet, but already I could benefit from our previous starts in Grand Prix. I love when I get the feeling that he just follow my advices in the arena, that makes really sense for our future development together,” Dufour stated.
Another World Cup debut
First to go today was Dutch Emmelie Scholtens with KWPN stallion Desperado. Unfortunately it became a difficult challange with the piaffe tours today, as he became very stallion like and decided not to do any proper piaffe tours today. Lots of nice qualities for the rest of the test, but for sure not the World Cup debut Emmelie had hoped for.
See the entire results here.