The winner, Einfach Imposant B, and Kira Laura Soddemann. (Photo: Lafrentz)
PRESS RELEASE 5 YEAR OLD QUALIFIER
FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships
Verden. The Hanoverian Einfach Imposant B, ridden by Kira Laura Soddemann, won the qualifying competition for five-year-old dressage horses, the HBA Gebrüder Ehrengut Prize. With an overall score of 8.9, the Escolar son took the lead in the HORSE24 Arena among the 48-horse field at the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Verden. Second place went to DSP Lord Löwenherz von Bellin, followed by Weihe’s Happiness OLD in third.
The winner, Einfach Imposant B, was bred from a Westernhagen dam by Daniela Burkhardt-Robert; his owner is Dr. Peter Brenske – and he became the owner “a bit by accident.” “At the Verden Elite Auction last autumn, my husband and I were supposed to try out a completely different horse for one of our clients. We did that, and then we looked at a few other horses as well. ‘Impi’ came up pretty late in the lineup, but I liked him right away,” says Kira Laura Soddemann. She rode him and had a really great feeling about him. “Then, luckily, it turned out that our client didn’t get the horse we’d originally had in mind, and so – almost by accident, because he was determined to buy a horse – he ended up buying Impi.” Since then, Einfach Imposant B has won every class; the owner is thrilled with him, and Kira gushes: “He’s got a great walk, trot, and canter – and on top of that, he has really, really, really great inner qualities. That’s his superpower. He’s relaxed, yet still engaged and ambitious.”
The score sheet for the winner features a 9.0 no fewer than three times: for walk, suppleness, and perspective. “The feeling he gave me in the arena was just amazing. If he does everything exactly the same way in Sunday’s final as he did today, then I’ll be really happy. If the final salute goes even better, I’ll be even happier. But if he trots into the arena just as motivated again and feels like celebrating those 60-meter extensions all on his own – so that all I have to do is sit back – then I’ll be very happy.”
9.8 for the trot
With a score of 8.78, DSP Lord Löwenherz von Bellin, a German sport horse, took second place. “His fundamental quality is incredible, and I’m very glad that I was able to show that today and that so many people got to see what I’ve felt for a long time,” beams rider Leonie Richter. “He’s a spirited horse and has a strong will, but he’s actually very well-behaved – though sometimes still a bit timid, which causes him to get in his own way. That’s why I was all the happier today that he presented himself so well.” With a 9.8 for the trot, this basic gait stood out for the runner-up. The other individual scores were: 7.7 for the walk, 8.7 for the canter and suppleness, and 9.0 for prospect. Lord Löwenherz is a son of Lord Europe, who in turn is successful in international Grand Prix competition with Ellen’s twin sister, Leonie Richter. The dam is by United. The MJS Gestüt von Bellin is the breeder and owner of the brown horse. Last year, Lord Löwenherz already earned the bronze medal at the Bundeschampionat, and on Day One in Verden, he once again demonstrated that he is a special horse.
Update on Weihe
Alina Schneider presented last year’s Bundeschampion among four-year-old riding horses: Weihe’s Happiness OLD, a granddaughter of the legendary Weihegold, bred and owned by Christine Arns-Krogmann. “Happiness is my favorite because she reminds me so much of Weihegold,” explains the breeder and owner. “I just think this horse is fantastic because she’s like an updated version of Weihegold and has even more front, more foreleg. What Weihe was missing a bit, this horse has. More foreleg, yet the same gigantic hind leg and the same attitude – that willingness to do whatever the rider asks.” The Dynamic Dream daughter scored highest in the trot with a 9.3; she also received individual scores between 8.2 and 8.8 and ultimately finished third in the qualifier with an average of 8.72.
The top twelve from today’s qualifier have qualified directly for Sunday’s final. Three additional spots in the final will be awarded in Friday’s Small Final, meaning the top 15 five-year-old dressage horses will face off in Sunday’s final to compete for the world championship title.
OnLive Championship Auction
Seven riding horses and eleven foals are part of the lot for the OnLive Championship Auction in Verden. “We already integrated an auction into the World Championships last year,” explains auction director Wilken Treu, “but only with foals; this year we’ve added three- and four-year-old riding horses because trainers and riders of young dressage horses from all over the world gather here.” What was the main focus when selecting the riding horses? “They had to be good – very good!” emphasizes Treu. The auction begins Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the HORSE24 Arena.
Tickets available from Ticketmaster athttps://www.ticketmaster.de/artist/verden-international-tickets/981934?camefrom=de_va_pverd
For more information, visit: www.verdenyh.com