Flashquotes from Friday´s Grand Prix Special

Jordi Domingo Coll ESP 

”I was pleased with many things but I did a big mistake, the horse lost concentration for a few moments and he was not with me. I think this mistake will put us very low on the results and it is a pity this happened. But on the other hand, my horse is only 10 years old and we are not so experienced, so this is something we can improve for the future. I am happy with the rest of the performance and just not happy with the mistake. The show here is amazing, with great venue and amazing athmosphere – it is a pleasure for us riders to compete here.”

Anna-Mengia Aerne SUI

”I was a little bit over motivated today, and that is why the mistake happened – I think without that my program would have been amazing. I am very happy with the points today. I was very careful with my riding yesterday, so today I decided to risk a bit more and just go for it - and there was more flow in my riding and I am pleased with that. Today’s program is funnier to ride, because you can ride a bit more forward and I enjoy that.”

Arnaud Serre FRA 

”I am very satisfied with my horse, because he is very young and not experienced on this level. We did some small mistakes but it is only the third time we do this kind of program, so I am very happy today. We made a small mistake on piaffe, but all in all I am very happy with my horse! I was not expecting to qualify for the freestyle and we are just gaining experience here. It is a really nice event we have here in Gothenburg.”

Marcela Krinke Susmeij SUI 

”It was absolutely my mistake today, the horse was going good and I cannot blame anyone else for what happened. After the second passage I lost consentration for a second – there are no excuses for that. With the horse I am very happy. I changed the bit for today, because yesterday he was a little unconsistent with the mouth, so we wanted to try something else for today. I am not really the strongest woman, so I have to try an optimize the control by having the correct bit. These kind of mistakes happen when you want to be especially good and try and change things at the last moment. But these mistakes teach you also, so it is only to go forward and try to learn from this experience.” 

Rose Mathisen SWE

”It is my birthday today, but I am not thinking about that when I am riding. It felt really nice going into the ring after getting the medal with the team yesterday - you feel more secure, when there has been some success already. My horse was really good today and I am happy with my result. Having these championships at home is very nice when you succeed, but for sure we are all more nervous than normal, because we are all trying extra hard not to let all the Swedish people down.”

Agnete Kirk Thinggaard DEN 

”I think my program today was really good. My horse lacked the last spark he had on the first day, so I had to work a little bit harder. I almost had a mistake in the first piruette, but got it right just at the last moment. After getting the team medal here, actually today I felt a lot more pressure, because I was less confident. I really wanted to show everyone and got myself maybe too worked up about it – but in the end I was able to control my nerves.”

Maria Caetano POR 

”I am happy with my horse, he is very young and it is only his second season on this level, so I am very proud of him. The mistake at the end was a pity: he lost one change behind. Passage, piaffe and all the trot work went really well and I am happy about that. The results here have been like my average procent thorughout the season – of course it would be nice to do a bit better at a championship. I think the atmosphere here is very nice and we have good conditions for both horses and riders.”

Tatyana Kosterina RUS 

”It is only my third time riding a Grand Prix Special with my horse, and I am simply very happy. He behaved really cool and did not look at anything, even thou the arena is massive and there is a lot to spook about. I can absolutely not complain about the organisation here, we are very well taken care of. It is a bit of a shame with the weather, but they are doing all they can to keep us and the horses comfortable.”

Laurence Roos BEL 

”I am not happy with my ride today, I made too many mistakes. Maybe my horse was a bit too tired, or maybe I was not concentrated enough. It is all well organised here, there were some small issues in the beginning of the week but it has all been taken care of. We had a last moment change with the team, because the third horse got injured, so we are only two riders here from Belgium. I think it less pressure being here as an individual than being here with a team.”

Belinda Weinbauer AUT

”I was very nervous today, because in the warm-up my horse was really tense, so I was very worried going into the ring. I think our piruettes were better today than yesterday. My horse was fantastic today and I am so happy with him!”

Emile Faurie GBR 

I’m thrilled with the horse, he is inexpierienced but he was a little more alert day. He only have done one Special before. He was a little bit ahead of me. He’s quiet a character and will be an exellent championship horse. I love riding him, he is really fun to ride.

Patrick van der Meer NED

I’ happy whit my ride. He was ait tensed and we had some small mistakes but nothing big. Some mistake in the flying changes and a little tensed in the piaffe but this was one of his best Specials.

Spencer Wilton GBR 

He was a very good boy! Exept for the mistake in temps on the centerline he felt much more confident today. I’m pleased with the score and hopefully we make it to Sunday, even though he hasn’t done so many music.

Madeleine Witte-Vrees NED 

”It was our first Special today, so I can’t be anything but happy. My horse was magnificient today. The little misses that happened were totally my fault – I am very proud of my horse.” 

Jorinde Verwimp BEL 

”I tried to ride more expressive today than yesterday. We had two big mistakes in the canter, so our score dropped. I took a risk today with my riding and this time it did not pay off, but that is how it is sometimes – but at least I can say I tried. I think the show here in Gothenburg is nice and the arena is great to ride on. It is different being here only as an individual and not with the team, now I can only focus on myself. It was very unfortunate that our third rider had to stay home after their horse got injured at the last moment.” 

Edward Gal NED 

”I don’t know what happened, really. My horse felt good in the warm-up, but as soon as I rode in to the arena, I felt a change in him and I knew it was all over there. But what can you do, I still had to finish… For the rest my week here has been good and we have been lucky with the weather, even if it has looked cloudy it has not rained too much. I think my chances to go further for the final are gone now.” 

Daniel Pinto POR 

”The most important thing for me now is that my horse felt great and he is young – we have future championships to take on. What I am really sad about, is that I disappointed my team; when I do a mistake like this, I let them all down. I feel really bad for all of them; my wife, my trainer, my groom, everyone - they follow me and work very hard and it is hard for me to let them down.”

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven SWE 

”We want to have more, so even after the team medal I still feel hungry for success. My horse has never done a championship like this before, so I am extremely proud of him. We have had him since he is three, and I have ridden him for the last year. He has really done great the whole week and I feel fortunate to have the option to come here with him.”

Diederik Van Silfhout NED

”Actually I was really happy with my test even if I had two little mistakes and those were very expensive. It was the second special for my horse so I am very pleased with him. My horse has super mentality and that is why we are here now!”

Severo Jesus Jurado Lopez ESP 

”I am happy, I think I got out what I could, I am happy with the job. My horse was a little bit tense so that cost some points. It is my second time here.

Dorothee Schneider GER

Very happy this was our third international start, he is very young and very talented in piaffe and passage. We had two expensive mistakes but he has gone from his first international start to the team in a very short time.

Anna Zibrandtsen DEN 

Super feeling when we entered the arena and started off very well. He could be more collected in the passage and the piaffe could be better. We are quite unexperienced and this is only our fifth competition. We had an unexpected big mistake in the canter but I managed to come back and do the the tempest whitout mistakes, Our pirouettes was quite good. Not my best test but good enough.

Therese Nilshagen SWE 

Fantastic feeling, he was with me all the way. I heard the audience and I just enjoy it. I wasn’t that nervous today, the bronze medal made me feel that whatever happens we’ve got that.

Fantastisk känsla, han var helt med mig och gjorde precis det jag ville. Jag hörde publiken som applåderade och det känns bara roligt, det är ingenting som stör. Jag var inte lika nervös idag. Bronsmedaljen gav ett visst lugn, vad om än händer sedan så har vi den.

Patrik Kittel SWE

Personal best for Delaunay and I’m so happy. He felt relaxed and in very good shape. He really showed his best. Let the audience give hands the horses have to learn and get used to it.

Cathrine Dufour DEN

I’m so pleased with the test today. He felt real calm today and it was so fun to ride here. I love when the audience give applause on the centerline.

Helen Langenhanenberg GER 

This was not our best performance, he did not doing the piaffe for instance. I have a good feeling but then I lost him. He got hot on tjhe prizegiving in Wednesday. Dont really now why but I couldn’t really get him back from there.

Anna Kasprzak DEN 

Really happy whit my ride today, the piaffes was good and the canterwork was really good I think. My horse felt fine and is really fun to work with. I have a mistake in the halfpass to the right that was quit expensive, everything comes quickly in the Special The arena amazing and there was more spectators today.

No need for big analyzes from today´s Grand Prix Special

Top mood at the press conference after the Grand Prix Special today

Sönke and Cosmo also winners at H2R today

At the press conference after the Grand Prix Special the two young medalists Sönke Rothenberger with Silver and Cathrine Dufour with Bronze told that non of them were interested in making Mrs. Werth angry, but for sure they were both eager to beat her. 

At the scoreboard this did not happen today, but seen from the spectators seat the winner was 22 year old Sönke Rothenberger with his just 10 year old Cosmo. And only the president of the groundjury today at C, Dutch Francis Verbeek van Rooy saw Sönke and Cosmo as the winners too.

The 22-year old Sönke and 25-year old Cathrine are definately the news generation for the top sport, but Werth will for sure never surrender. This fact just makes the sport even more interesting to follow in the future. 

You can find all detailed scores via link here.

And detailed comments about every single combination is available via the NEWS menu here at H2R. 

Start list for tomorrow´s Grand Prix freestyle

Førstehåndskommentarer fra Cathrine, Rune, Nathalie og Kimi

Mere dansker eufori på Ullevi stadion i dag, da tilskuerne fik lov at opleve endnu en fortjent medajle til Danmark. 

Cathrine Dufour gik ind og gjorde det vi alle håbede på - hun tog sammen med hendes 14-årige Atterupgaards Cassidy en fantastisk bronze medalje i dagens individuelle Grand Prix Special.

Lyt til nogle af førstehåndskommentarerne her:

3rd part of Grand Prix Special

Delaunay SWE

Good start, easy extensions / passage, lack bit carriage half passes, could show more expressions for extensions, easy piaffe/passage good flow transitions, nice rhythm for piaffe, good series becomes bit hind vertical, good pirouette could be more centered, easy supple final. Also last 2 meters with applauding home crowd. 

Dante Weltino SWE

Superb expression, power cross half pass, easy in and out passage / extensions lots of power, bit tense extended walk, bit tense piaffe, 2nd better super balanced zig zag, super series, lovely sit control for pirouettes, so easy final and not so polite audience starting applauding after piaffe at X. But Dante and Therese managed in best top style. 

Arlando DEN

Super square halt but open, need bit more reach for extended trot, good half pass, super supple passage, lovely bringing him back from extensions, 75,6% going into walk, 6,4 average of extended walk, bit tense both piaffe lack bit balance, good transition to canter direct from passage, into trot by flying change at zig zag, super preparation for super pirouettes, keeps rhythm and balance very well last piaffe, open final halt.

Sammy Davis Jr GER

Good start, half pass becomes bit unbalanced for both and lack bit carriage, strong supple passage/extensions, bit short extended walk, small tensions for piaffe tours, super controlled canter tour, unfortunately lost of balance and forward search for first pirouette, 2nd pirouette better, small lack of energy and rhythm for final piaffe. 

Donnperigon DEN

Square halt bit open, good start, half pass could be more supple, good trot / passage tours, bit short extended walk, collected walk good, good piaffe, extended canter with parallel change hind, bit big pirouettes, very nice final and also applauding for Pepe and Anna for the final meters. 

Damsey GER

Good start, half pass lack carriage and suppleness, lack bit sharpness on the letters passage / extensions, marching extended walk, rejects and kicks for 1st piaffe, 2nd piaffe limited energy, error change between zig zag, super mid with both pirouettes of top quality, traveling final piaffe. 

Weihegold GER  

Not square halt, half pass lack more crossing, super passage bit cautious extensions, good walk, couple of double steps into 1st piaffe, 2nd piaffe lack bit energy, solid canter tour with superb pirouettes, smooth final - applauding final. 

Atterupgaards Cassidy DEN

Open square halt, good extended trot, half pass lack bit bend, smooth passage / extensions, superb walk, good piaffe tours, bit swing passage, top control and quality for canter tour, super nice smooth final with full support from the sudience. 

Cosmo GER

This trot / passage tour is just WORLD CLASS, half passes could show bit more cross, good walk, easy piaffes, WAUW 2 times, WAUW 1 times, error change after extended canter, superb pirouettes, smooth easy supple final - GOLD MEDAL AT H2R.

Nip Tuck GBR

Super h, bit unbalanced extended trot, good passage, sharp on letters, first piaffe becomes bit unbalanced 2nd better, super sharp canter tour, high class series and pirouettes. Super nice final.

2nd part Grand Prix Special

Super Nova II GBR

Power start, lots of expression super flow, sharp into passage, strong extensions, super carriage flow half passes, 76% into walk, good walk, love bouncy sit in piaffe smooth transitions, well balanced zig zag, series super ground cover, slight unbalanced 1st piroutte, error series mid, super sit balance 2nd pio, lovely final centerline.

Zippo NED

Good start, good passage / extended trot tours, good half passes, could show more expression in general, superb extended walk, good piaffe, error transition between zig zag canter, 1st change 1 times with parallel hind, change after extended canter not clear through, pirouettes lack more sit, good final center line.

Lollipop GBR

Good extended trot, half pass lack more carriage, nice expression for passage good elevation, light forehand, extended walk could show more relaxation over the back, kicks into 1st piaffe, 2nd good activity, error 2 times, slight lost of impuls into 1st pirouette, 2nd nice balanced, lack clear balance for final piaffe.  

Cennin NED 

Good start, expressive extension, lack more carriage for half pass, expressive extensions good passage, good walk, lack energy for piaffe, lost passage slight turn towards transition to canter, wrong canter, good series, keeps energy for pirouette, good final.

Tiamo BEL 

Nice flow and go for start, good power balanced half pass left, right bit unbalanced, takes risk for extended trot, good walk, too quick rhythm for piaffe need more relaxation, error 2 times, very tense 1 times, well controlled pirouettes, 2nd bit big, good final, open halt.

Glock's Voice NED

Good start, superb half pass left, small tensions hind in passage, canter into half pass to right but quick back into trot, good walk, good 1st piaffe and transition, 2nd piaffe with few steps tension out, canter half passes super, good pirouettes, error hind for series at centerline, good final. 

Santurion de Massa POR

Good halt but bit tense contact, lack more cross for half pass, half pass right lack more balance, need more flow/go for passage/extensions, bit tense extended walk, good bouncy piaffe with nice sit and good transitions, wrong route forgot zig zag canter, good series, super control sit and bend for both pirouettes, strong final.

Paridon Magi SWE

Good start, half pass lack more carriage, half pass left lack bend, good passage, bit unbalanced collected walk, not 12-15 piaffe steps, strong canter tour with good series and pirouettes, best piaffe at final centerline. 

Four Seasons NED

Strong start, lovely supple extensions,  good passage, nice frame, 75% after trot, tense walk, drops to 71.5%, well balanced tour, bit big 1st pio, super sit and control for 2nd pio, very strong final with smooth passage/piaffe/passage and good halt.  

Deep Impact ESP

Superb extended trot, super balance half pass, small tension hind coming from extended going to passage, but cautious extended walk, some resistance into 1st piaffe tense piaffe, 2nd better, good series, good pirouettes, bit late transitions at M, final piaffe slight forward.

Running comments during Grand Prix Special

Mango Statesman ESP

Good start, nice halt, good flow had pass left, half pass right with canter does not manage to trot. Good passage/extended trot tours could be bit sharper on letters. Good relaxed walk, good piaffe / passage small lack of beat start of piaffe. Good zig zag canter. 1 change hind parallel hind 2 times, 1 change not clear 15 one times, super nice control/sit pirouettes. Good final. 

Raffaelo v. Bene SUI

Good start, nice flow half pass left, expressive extended trot tours, slight unsteady mouth, good passage, could be a bit more sharp on letters, good walk, good piaffe passage tours, good transitions, 2nd last change 2 times bit small, good control and quality for both pirouettes, error 1 times at centerline, superb final but open halt. 

Ultrablue de Massa FRA

Bit running extended trot, nice flow half pass, lack more clear transition to passage, half pass right bit deep form, good passage, could show more expression, extended walk lack more over the back relaxation, tense piaffe lack clear transition out both piaffes, bit tense zig zag, bit hectic one times, good bit hectic big pirouettes, very open frame for final piaffe.

Smeyers Molberg SUI

Good start, nice extended trot, super sharp into 1st passage, clockwork passage, lack carriage half pass right, wrong route, forgot long side extended trot, good walk, good piaffe/transitions, very solid canter tour, but both pirouettes missing more sit and correct center, good final, open halt.

Zuidenwind SWE

Good halt, nice extended trot, good frame, active flow for half pass, nice transition to first passage, smooth in and out trot/passage, good expression, good walk could show bit more relaxation, good piaffe/transitions, now bit open mouth for canter, good quality series, pirouettes bit big, 2nd becomes slightly overturned, easy final centerline. 

Jojo AZ

Good halt and forward, good extended trot, active half pass, active passage, good on letters, keeps him nice up in front of aides all trot tour, very low scoring just 70% after trot, good walk, piaffe on the spot, 2nd piaffe small disturb hind, bit tight neck for zig zag, super series, good control for both pirouttes, super smooth final centerline, piaffe at the spot. Their best ever test - congrats. 

Coroado POR

Lack bit more forward exetended trot, high neck half pass, lack more push hind for passage and transitions to extended trot, good walk, good rhythm for piaffe/passage tours, error 1 times swinging back, pirouettes need more control, looked like just 7 one times!, good centerline.

Diavolessa RUS

Expressive extended trot, nice half passes, could be more sharp on letters, regular passage, good extensions, nice relaxed walk, superb collected walk, easy piaffe/passage small tensions 2nd piaffe, zig zag+, some tensions one times, nice centerline pirouttes but lack more sit, very nice final. 

Fil Rouge BEL 

Expressive extended trot, supple half pass, could be sharper from extended trot back to passage, regular passage, nice frame and contact, good walk, tense into 1st piaffe, 2nd smooth. Including transitions, tense transition to canter crop high, error end 2 times, error mid 1 times, good pirouttes but 2nd becomes big, smooth final. 

Sohnlein Brilliant MJ AUT

Open halt, lovely extended trot top expression, half pass with nice power, uphill nice mouth, ears picked, good power passage/trot tours, good 1st piaffe, early and bit hind aides 2nd piaffe small resistance, huge expressive series, 7,8 average for 2 times, bit big pirouttes but nice quality, lack more clear flow into piaffe. Bit cautious piaffe. 

"SAAB Top 10 Dressage" gonna be something very special

Top event at Stockholm Horse Show  

The concept is clear, competition for the best top 10 combinations from the World Ranking.

Swedish Patrik Kittel is the entrepreneur and man behind the concept which is supported by Saab.

The top 8 riders as of FEI World Ranking 21 October 2017 of which 1 has to be best ranked Swedish regardless place + 2 OC Wild Cards.

The two OC Wild Cards will be appointed by Patrik Kittel, and as Kittel explained at the press conference today, the Wild Cards could be for an upcoming new combination on their way at the World Ranking list, or ex. a toprider with a new exciting horse at international Grand Prix level. 

To ensure the field of a total of 10 combinations, there will be nominated 2 reserve combinations, which will recieve a kind of "stand by fee".

The competition will be in held in Grand Prix and Grand Prix freestyle, and the total price money in 2017 is 158.000 euros + a VW Tiguan. Price money for 2018 will be a total of 250.000 euros + a VW Tiguan. 

In addition to SAAB Top 10 Dressage, there will be Young Horses classes, national small tour and U25.

---

Photo impressions from today´s press conference

Cathrine Dufour, Patrik Kittel and Isabell Werth

Selfie time with Isabell Werth

Presentation of SAAB Top 10 Dressage

Kittel and Dufour

Kittel doing interviews

Dufour also busy doing interviews

Individual medals at Southeast Asian Games

Podium, judges and grooms - private photo.

Ones again the sisters Quzandria Nur Muhammad Fathil and showed their strength winning individual Gold and Silver medals today at Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur. Bronze went to Caroline Chew.

Quzandria rode her newly purchased Rosenstolz. Winning score for two tests 152,029% and then she secured herself the individual Gold medal. Quzandria is now also 5 month into her pregnancy. Follow by her brother Qabil with Walkuere winning the silver medal scoring 149,547 - both trained by Dennis Fisker from Julianelyst in Denmark. 

Next goal for the sisters are 2018 Games in Philippines.

Bronze was won by Caroline Chew with her Danish Warmblood gelding Tribiani. Caroline is living in Britain where she is training with Matt Frost.

Source: http://www.kualalumpur2017.com.my/

Werth, Kittel and Dufour about the Championships before tomorrow´s Grand Prix Special (video)

All three top riders tells a bit about Gothenburg and their preparations for the Special. 

“Two more days, and we hope we can keep the rest behind us.”

— Isabell Werth - GER

“From now on it´s just upwards and happiness.”

— Patrik Kittel - SWE

“If I can stay in like top 3 og 4 it´s really good I think, and of course a medal would be a huge dream.”

— Cathrine Dufour - DEN

Start list for tomorrow´s individual Grand Prix Special

Bronze for Sweden, Great Britain 4th and The Netherlands 5th

Common for the Swedish, British and Dutch teams were, that they were not showing their absolute strongst teams for Championships.

Sweden was missing Don Auriello, Great Britain was missing their 4th team member, as Don Carissmo substained an injury, and The Netherlands were first missing Glock´s Johnson, then missing Apache, and at the end Dutch media´s writes that Cennin has not been really fit before going to the Championships. 

Bronze medals

But eventhough Sweden manage to get top benefit from their team, with long time team member Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén and Paridon Magi scoring 72,857%, which of course not was a real top medal score and then "anchorman" Patrik Kittel and Delaunay scoring 73,857%. Young Therese Nilshagen and her top horse Dante Weltino OLD provided their personal best and also team best score for Sweden with 74,429%. Unfortunately Rose Mathiesen and Zuidenwind did not show their best for the team performance this time. 

4th place

Bad luck and errors for Spencer Wilton with Super Nova unfortunately kept the "small" British team away from the bronze medal. Super smooth and well balanced controlled test until the first canter pirouette where Super Nova loosing the balance and forward search and then goes into trot. Unfortunately Spencer does not manage to catch the canter again before the change at X as Super Nova keep on trotting - back luck and very expensive. Spencer manage to finish the final centerline in top style eventhough "the battle already was lost". 

5th place

The Dutch team came to Gothenburg with Cennin as their strongest card, but the well moving chestnut stallion was not really strutting his stuff, and looked in general, except the extended trot tours, a bit weak and tired.  

Edward Gal and Glock´s Voice did a strong and clear test, but with some minor issues and his piaffe tours were a bit limited when counting the steps. 

The other teams

Portugal were showing their best team ever for the Championships, and it was great to feel the atmosphere at the grandstands, when the portuguese were cheering and encouraging their team members. A strong team - also for the future, for a small dressage country.

Spain was also very "sore" with the exit from Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and Delgado. Severo Jurado Lopez was of course their best card, and he showed a clear test with some tensions, and his experience never really brings his horse Deep Impact out of the comfort zone. He goes into the Grand Prix Special with a placement individual as no 15. The teammate Claudio Castillo with Alcaide were not really on form, as Alcaide showed clear more moment of unbalances, and Claudio seemed to ride the entire test with "the handbreak". Wonder if he will go for the Grand Prix Special or instead leave his spot for his countryman Jordi Domingo with Mango Statesman who was placed 31, and then just outside the Grand Prix Special. 

All top 5 teams are ready for Grand Prix Special tomorrow.

Eliminations

From the first day Darko of de Niro ZS CH with Charlotte Lenherr from Swiss was stopped by judge at C due to blood in the mouth. 

Yesterday Russian Mister X and Inessa Merkulova were eliminated after the test by bit control showing blood in the mouth. 

And finally Elmegardens Marquis with Joanne Vaughan from Georgia were eliminated as her horse rejected and was spinning more times. 

Silver felt a bit like gold

This final day at the team competition became for more moments a kind of roller coaster when watching it from the sideline.

From yesterday´s performances for Danish Agnete with Jojo AZ and Anna with Arlando the Danish standard was set, and at the same time the expectations for good/top performances from both Anna with Donnperignon and Cathrine with Cassidy today. 

Anna and Donnperignon starts out with a small lack of balance out of the corner into the first extended trot at the diagonal. Good half passes where Pepe looks a bit tight in the neck. Bit tense rein back, nice first piaffe og passage. The walk is with good quality, but could show more over the back suppleness. Small tensions hind for the second piaffe tour, and Pepe seems not to be ready for the canter transition which becomes somewhat late. Small error hind for the zig-zag canter, but for the rest the qualities are very nice.

And then it came to the final part of the competition, and after Patrik Kittels performance it was clear that the score to beat was 74,77% for Cathrine and Cassidy to bring home the team silver medal for Denmark. So it became like always when watching "just lean back and enjoy", but this time, at kind of diffrent, as every single Dane for sure felt the pressure. Everything was in the hands of Cathrine, and she was the only one together with Cassidy to decide whether the Danish team got the Silver or the Bronze medals for the team.

Cathrine Dufour, just 25 years old, enters the arena with her dance partner Atterupgaards Cassidy showing the judges and her teammates that she just went in there for the Silver nothing else. Encredible ability to performe with maximum pressure. Going into the arena with the audience applauding when Patrik Kittel just left the arena, starting her test the best way, just floating trough all the parts, with just a small tension for the transition from passage into canter, and a very strong centerlinie when doing the two pirouettes, with the most natural thing, giving Cassidy a well deserved pat at the neck when finishing the second pirouette. 

Cathrine left the arena knowing she did her best together with her Danish Warmblood gelding Atterupgaards Cassidy.

This stadium Ullevi is with a kind of Danish magic, as Denmark exactly 25 years ago won the European Championship in football. Some of us still remember that day, and will for sure also remember this special moment for Danish dressage. 

For Danish national coach Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, these Championships has already gone into the history books with her leading the team to the silver medals. Great achievement and a very big and special moment when this medal became a reality. 

Nathalie was the one to decide which combinations for Gothenburg, where the three Olympic girls, Cathrine, Anna and Agnete were quite easy to decide. But for sure the moment when Nathalie gave young Anna Zibrandtsen the chance to represent Denmark for her first Championship with her newly purchased very succesfull horse Arlando, it was also a kind of risk. But Anna Zibrandtsen showed exactly yesterday why she fully deserved the spot, when going in there and deliver a ride like any other experienced team rider - big cadeau to both Nathalie and Anna.

All 4 riders are ready for Fridays individual Grand Prix Special, where the best 30 combinations from yesterday and today are qualified. 

See the individual results here. 

Germany incredible strong - both as a team but also individually

German Team Gold medalist at press conference

The Germans just stood out as not just predicted, but also from their consistency and high quality performances, which they in their best experienced way could bring into the Championship arena here in Gothenburg. Well deserved top gold medal for Germany, big congratulations. 

The two ladies Helen and Dorothee did each a great job day one, and then it was a bit up to both Sönke and Isabell to bring in their best and then "just" polish the victory.

Sönke and Cosmo just wows all the way, also after having two errors in both the zig-zag canter and then in the subsequent one time tempies. But Sönke manage to come back with style, with strong pirouettes and his big WOW exercise extended trot. Super smooth final centerline, where you can feel why the arena behind the arena is called kiss & cry, as they where all standing on their toes doing the final centerline together with Sönke and Cosmo - but no need for that Sönke nailed their final.

Isabell Werth and her Weihegold did their stuff in "usual tough style". First extended trot with a small lack of beat, both half passes looked a bit conservative. The extended trot to M became also very conservative more like a medium trot. Smooth passage, sharp on the letters, easy smooth transitions and piaffe - like a clockwork. Super two times, with super ground cover, while the one times lacking bit more forward search. Well balance zig-zag canter, with the very special through from behind changes. Well balanced pirouettes, and for the super final the audience spontaneously started applauding, which did not affect Weihegold or Isabell.

Dutch, Danes and Swedes super-close in the battle for medals: brilliant performance from young Danish star Zibrandtsen

FEI PRESS RELEASE - DAY 1

Chasing down their 23rd European team Dressage title, Germany took a firm grip on the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Grand Prix at the Longines FEI European Championships 2017 in Gothenburg (SWE) this evening.

Helen Langehanenberg got them off to a great start when posting the biggest score of the day, 74.986%, with Damsey FRH, and team-mate Dorothee Schneider (48) cemented that when slotting into second place on a mark of 74.586 with Sammy Davis Jr. With two more riders still to go, including their superstar combination of Isabell Werth and Weihegold, the Germans have almost a six-point lead over their nearest rivals, the defending champions from The Netherlands. 

And it’s incredibly tight going into tomorrow’s second half of the competition with Denmark breathing down those Dutch necks just a fraction further behind, while the hosts from Sweden are in fourth place only another 1.0% adrift. A total of 16 teams are contesting the medal placings.

Langehanenberg (35), who during her sensational career with the brilliant stallion Damon Hill was a member of the victorious German team at the Europeans in Herning (DEN) in 2013 and the silver medal winning Olympic team at London 2012, has a relatively new ride in Damsey FRH. 

““Although he is 15, we are a young couple, just one and a half years together now. He’s a wonderful horse but he’s like a lucky bag - you never know what’s going to come out!! He is in a good mood today, and he’s different again tomorrow. Today he was great!”

”

— Helen Langehanenberg

 Patrick van der Meer (46) and Zippo were the first Dutch partnership into the ring, scoring 71.114, and Diederik van Silfhout added a competitive 72.528 with Four Seasons to back that up. But van Silfhout’s Danish pupil Anna Zibrandtsen (23) and Arlando, the brilliant horse her Dutch tutor steered to team gold at the FEI European Championships in Aachen (GER) in 2015, produced a stunning performance to earn a mark of 72.957 which, when added to team-mate Agnete Kirk Thinggaard's 70.629 with Jojo AZ ensured the Danes are right in the mix. 

Only the second German partnership of Dorothee Schneider and Sammy Davis Jr pinned Zibrandtsen back to third place when putting a mark of 74.585 on the board. Sweden's Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven and Paridon Magi's 72.857 filled fourth slot today.

Austria, Spain, France, Russia, Finland and Belarus are lining up between fifth and 11th places as the action restarts tomorrow, but don’t discount the British yet. Down a man since Gareth Hughes withdrew Don Carissimo they could still be in with a shout according to Emile Faurie who steered another relative novice, the 12-year-old Lollipop, into sixth spot on a mark of 72.285. 

Asked about his hopes for the 2011 team gold and 2015 European silver medal winning nation he said - “that Spencer (Wilton) scores 80 and Carl (Hester) rides 90, which they both can, and must! 72 (his own score) has been a counting score in the past, we’ve got two brilliant riders with two brilliant horses coming so I don’t see that as too big an ask!”

“Talking about the relationship she is builiding with Damsey FRH:

”I’m happy with our performance today and I think there’s still some points to get, but step by step. You cannot force it, we are both - I was going to say human beings! For me it’s great how he has improved and how much fun we’ve had in our time together until now. Although he’s two years older on paper he feels two years younger, that’s a great feeling for me and I think he has so much potential” 

Talking about being back on the German team:

”It’s wonderful!”

— Helen Langehanenberg GER

“I made a stupid mistake in the two-tempis, it was my fault but the rest of the time Arlando just gave me everything, everything!”

— Anna Zibrandtsen DEN

---

Individual result (after first day of Dressage team event):

1. Damsey FRH (Helen Langehanenberg) GER 74.985

2. Sammy Davis Jr (Dorothee Schneider) GER 74.585

3. Arlando (Anna Zibrandtsen) DEN 72.957

Team result (after first day of Dressage team event):

1. Germany 149.572

2. Netherlands 143.642

3. Denmark 143.586

FULL RESULTS

---

Facts and figures

1. The Judges Panel for today’s Grand Prix at the Longines FEI European Dressage Championships 2017 consisted of: At K, Susie Hovenaars (AUS); At E, Annette Fransen Iacobaeus (SWE); At H, Isobel Wessels (GBR); At C, Evi Eisenhardt (GER); At M, Ann Gribbons (USA); At B, Francis Verbeek van Rooy (NED); At F, Hans Christian Mattiesen (DEN).
2. Team Germany dominated these Championships for 40 years from 1995 to 2005. They won again at Herning (DEN) in 2013 and at the last edition, on their home ground in Aachen (GER) two years ago, they claimed bronze behind Great Britain in silver and The Netherlands in gold medal spot.
3. The inaugural FEI European Dressage Championships took place in 1963, and the team Championships were first staged in 1965 in Copenhagen (DEN). 
4. The top 30 horse-and-rider combinations from the Grand Prix qualify for the individual Grand Prix Special on Friday, following which the top-15 go through to Saturday’s individual Freestyle finale. 
5. 31 horse-and-rider combinations competed today and another 34 team members will ride tomorrow to decide the final team medal placings.

Part of flashquotes from yesterday's riders

“I am a very disapointed with the huge mistake we had in the zigzag. I dont know what happend, we normally never have any problems and he has never done it before. The rest of the test was really good and it is fantastic to ride in this arena.

”

— Agnete Kirk Thinggaard, DEN

“To be here today is honestly a bit more than I expected in the beginning of the year. I am happy with our performance today, but we have some points to improve, we are getting there step by step. My horse felt great and I think he was in a good mood today.

”

— Helen Langehanenberg, GER

“I was a little bit unsecure at first, but then I felt he was with me I could give some more than I have had before.
You know I only had him 5 months, so we don´t know each other that well. It is a Super arena and this horse just goes in and gives everything. I had a mistake in the two tempis, but the rest was super good.”

— Anna Zibrandtsen / DEN

“I am very very pleased. I had a quite tough situation going in on such a unexperienced horse, not knowing how he would react, and being a member of the team at the same time. But he felt realy good and for next time a can even put some more pressure on him. Its fantastic riding in this arena, we have been talking about it so long, and being a part of the team feels very important for me.”

— Tinne Vilelmsson Silfvén SWE

“- He is reliatively unexperienced, he has only done four International shows in his life. But he was really really good, he stayed with me all the time. I actually really enoyed it in there, halfway around I realised I am having a great ride. But at the same time I also tried to ride safely, we needed a clean round for the team.”

— Emile Faurie / GBR

“I was very happy with my test, I only had him for 9 months and he is not that experienced. The feeling was really good, he felt really relaxed. Ok we still have things to work on, but we are slowly getting there. It is a Super nice arena and a lot of atmosphere, but still he was relaxed.



”

— Diederik Van Silfhout / NED

“I am very satisfied with my test because he is very unexperienced, I think the horse did an amazing job, he was very concentrated. We had one or two small communication mistakes, but still I am very happy with how he listened to me in this big arena with so much atmosphere. I think there is still a lot of air left to get higher points in the future.”

— Dorothee Schneider / GER

Anna Zibrandtsen and Arlando made the headlines yesterday (video update from FEI)

Day 1 impressions from European Championships in Gothenburg

Beautiful weather for day 1 at Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, where the atmosphere was pure excitement whether you were at the press center or catching up with the riders or trainers - everyone were excited and ready for the Championships to start. 

As expected the Germans were strong from the start, and Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey proved why they were selected for the team with a 74,985% individual top score, followed by her teammate Dorothee Schneider with Sammy Davies Jr. with 74,585%.

Both German ladies delived strong tests and with their experiences they are able to make "the guided tour" quite easy for their horses. When you try to make a kind of re-view from the two test, it´s all about top timing. For Damsey a test without any technical issues, but where Helen maybe didn´t get the full respons in the piaffes today, and for Dorothee she was also showing a bit of compromise for her first piaffe, and like Helen she also managed to do her test without any major issues. 

Swedish Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén and Rose Mathiesen were representing their country at home soil today. Unfortunately there were not many spectators at the huge grandstand at Ullevi Stadium to cheer on their country men. For Rose Mathiesen and Zuidenwind it became a test with to many issues along the way, keeping them away from a really steady and harmonius overall picture. Tinne managed to show her not very flashy or expressive Paridon Magi in a very safe and controlled way, and not exactly as high ranked as no 4. For sure her canter tour carries her test.

Diederik van Silfhout is a true championship rider. And it is a pleasure to watch how he has been able to develop Four Seasons over the last months. Diederik is able ask for maximum and Four Seasons respons him fully. Also Patrick van der Meer and Zippo were showing great form, eventhough Zippo also delivers his best, he is a horse with a kind of limited package, with maximum outcome for his rider. 

The Danish team

It is no secret that the Danes are very high ranked if your asking at the press center. Talking about the medals Denmark is mentioned everytime for a top spot - of course behind the Germans. 

So for that reason, but also from the form and qualities they are here at the Championships with, they will for sure be a major player when the final part of the team competition starts tomorrow.

From today´s two Danish combinations Agnete Kirk Thinggaard with Jojo AZ and Anna Zibrandtsen with Arlando the Danish national team coach Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein tells: "I´m very satisfied about today´s results. Agnete really had her ride of her life together with Jojo AZ, pity with the error at the zig-zag, as I have never seen Jojo as motivated and active as we saw him today. Anna Zibrandtsen and Arlando delivered a top job, unfortunately with a rider error by the two time tempies, but the rest was top quality. I must say day one here with the Danish team ranked as no 3, just makes day two even more exciting," says Nathalie.

And from young Anna Zibrandtsen herself was today´s test again something special. "Arlando is just a very very special boy, he always try to do his best." 

Anna show Arlando in an easy steady and light form, where he just dances lightfooted all the way. And with the sharp eyes the average scoring from the extended walk was today 6,3, which was a very good and well deserved score. 

Who will get the Silver and the Bronze tomorrow?

It is a very open Championship with Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden around the same results from today, and not to forget Britain which only showed one combinations today, and will show both Spencer Wilton/Super Nova and Carl Hester/Nip Tuck tomorrow.

Quote from Carl Hester about Danish Dufour and Cassidy after watching them at the training today: "No one can show an outline the way she can show her horse - it´s just amazing."

Press release from Danish Warmblood - 70 outstanding foals under the hammer

70 outstanding foals under the hammer

The gold of the future in the equestrian sport can be found on the Danish Warmblood Elite Foal Auction.

Danish Warmblood proudly presents a high-quality and very classy collection of 70 carefully selected foals offered for sale at the Danish Warmblood Elite Foal Auction at Vilhelmsborg on Saturday 26 August

The exquisite collection of 70 elite auction foals consists of 25 show jumping foals and 45 dressage foals. Each foal is handpicked at the Danish Warmblood foal shows, taking into consideration the conformation and gaits of the foal as well as the performance value of its pedigree.

A stellar collection

The wide collection of high-quality foals represents the best in Danish sport horse breeding. Many of the foals are regional foal show champions, and most of them are out of performance-strong dam lines which have produced several top horses in sport and breeding.

When it comes to sires of the dressage foals you will find names like champion stallion and multiple 10-awarded Revolution, the newly minted bronze medalist from the world championships in Ermelo, Hesselhøj Donkey Boy, the triple world champion Sezuan, top foal producer Franklin, dressage horses producer Fürstenball and many more.

Among the show jumping foals, the fatherhood can be credited prominent stallions like the famous Cornet Obolensky, the Olympic 2016 finalist Emerald van Ruytershof, the top show jumper producer Quasimodo vd Molendreef and internationally successful jumpers like Clarimo, Eldorado van de Zeshoek, Untouchable and many more.

View the complete collection of auction foals and read all about the current auction terms at www.varmblodauktion.dk.

Practical to know

The auction foals will be presented at 14.30 – 15.15 on Saturday 26 August at the Danish Warmblood Elite Show at Vilhelmsborg. The stables will be open at 15.30 – 16.30 for foal inspections and the auction will take place at 19:00 on the same day and place.

The Elite Foal Auction will be live streamed at www.clipmyhorse.de which improves the conditions for buying foals over the phone. Phone bids must have been arranged beforehand with the Danish Warmblood Secretariat on telephone number +45 87475400 on 26 August at the latest.

The Danish Warmblood Elite Foal Auction is sponsored by Dansk Hesteforsikring which ensures that foals purchased at this auction on 26 August 2017 are life insured for the knock-down price the following 7 days within the borders of Denmark.

Former Elite Auction Foals with outstanding success in 2017

Every year, you will see previously sold elite auction foals achieving great success at stallion licensings, mare gradings, young horse championships, as well as dressage and show jumping competitions at national and international level. 2017 has certainly not been an exception, and among the results this summer are:

• Elite auction foal from 2004, Skovens Rafael by Blue Hors Romanov / Blue Hors Don Schufro (bred by Kirsten Bjerregaard Hansen and Jens Lund Pedersen) became Nordic Dressage Champion for seniors.
• Elite auction foal from 2010, Blue Hors Zee Me Blue by Blue Hors Zack / Blue Hors Don Schufro (bred by Stald Ringsbo) placed 5th in the FEI/WBFSH World Championships for 7-year-old dressage horses in Ermelo.
• Elite auction foal from 2011, Fireball Macohl by Fürstenball / Rosentanz (bred by Lise Rasmussen) won the Scandinavian Young Horse Championships for 6-year-old dressage horses in Falsterbo.
• Elite auction foal from 2011, Red Diamond by Blue Hors Romanov / Dream of Heidelberg (bred by Mie Sabroe Jelle) placed 5th in the FEI/WBFSH World Championships for 6-year-old dressage horses in Ermelo.
• Elite auction foal from 2014, Skovens Tzarina by Blue Hors Zack / Blue Hors Don Schufro (bred by Kirsten Bjerregaard Hansen and Jens Lund Pedersen) achieved the highest score of all 3-year-old dressage mares at the riding test at the grading with a score of 906 points.
• Elite auction foal from 2014, Birkegården Conchita by Cavall Ask / Calato (bred by Heidi Rasmussen) achieved the highest score of all 3-year-old show jumping mares at the riding test at the grading with a score of 905 points.

70 fremragende føl under hammeren

Fremtidens guld i ridesporten findes på Dansk Varmblods Elitefølauktion.

PRESSEMEDDELELSE FRA DANSK VARMBLOD

På lørdag sætter Dansk Varmblod en klassekollektion af 70 nøje udvalgte føl under hammeren ved det årlige tilløbsstykke på Vilhelmsborg: Dansk Varmblods Elitefølauktion

Dansk Varmblod præsenterer på lørdag den 26. august en udsøgt kollektion af 70 eliteauktionsføl fordelt på 25 springbetonede og 45 dressurbetonede. Hver enkelt føl er håndplukket på Dansk Varmblods følskue, hvor der er taget højde for føllets eksteriør og gangarter såvel som præstationsværdien i dets afstamning.

En enestående stjernekollektion

De 25 springbetonede og 45 dressurbetonede eliteauktionsføl repræsenterer noget af det ypperste i den danske ridehesteavl. Mange af føllene er følskuevindere, og de fleste repræsenterer præstationsstærke hoppestammer, der har leveret adskillige topheste til avl og sport.

Når vi taler faderhingste, finder man på dressursiden fædre som 10-tals rekordindehaveren Revolution, den nyslåede UVM-bronzemedaljevinder Hesselhøj Donkey Boy, den tredobbelte verdensmester Sezuan, topfølproducenten Franklin, dressurhesteproducenten Fürstenball og mange flere.

Blandt de springbetonede føl er indehaverne af faderskabet så prominente som verdenshingsten Cornet Obolensky, OL 2016-finalisten Emerald van Ruytershof, topspringhesteproducenten Quasimodo vd Molendreef samt S-springere som Clarimo, Eldorado van de Zeshoek, Untouchable og mange flere.

Se den komplette kollektion af auktionsføl og læs ligeledes alt om de gældende auktionsbetingelser på siden www.varmblodauktion.dk.

Praktisk at vide

Auktionsføllene fremvises kl. 14.30 – 15.15 lørdag den 26. august under Dansk Varmblods Eliteskue på Vilhelmsborg, hvor der er åben stald k. 15.30 – 16.30 med mulighed for at besigtige auktionsføllene. Selve auktionen finder sted samme dag kl. 19.00.

Elitefølauktionen vises live på streaming video på www.clipmyhorse.de, hvilket forbedrer betingelserne for at købe føl over telefonen. For at kunne afgive telefonbud bør man indgå aftale herom med Dansk Varmblods sekretariat senest den 26. august på telefonnummer 87475400.

Dansk Varmblods Elitefølauktion er sponseret af Dansk Hesteforsikring, som sørger for, at føl købt på Dansk Varmblods Elitefølauktion fra hammerslagsdagen den 26. august 2017 er livsforsikret til hammerslagsprisen i 7 dage inden for Danmarks grænser.

Eliteauktionsføl med bragende succes i 2017

Hvert år ser man tidligere solgte eliteauktionsføl med succes ved hingste- og hoppekåringer, dressur- og springchampionater samt ridestævner på nationalt og internationalt plan. 2017 har absolut ikke været nogen undtagelse, og blandt sommerens resultater kan nævnes:

• Eliteauktionsføl fra 2004, Skovens Rafael e. Blue Hors Romanov/Blue Hors Don Schufro (opdr. Kirsten Bjerregaard Hansen og Jens Lund Pedersen), blev nordisk mester i dressur for seniorer.
• Eliteauktionsføl fra 2010, Blue Hors Zee Me Blue e. Blue Hors Zack/Blue Hors Don Schufro (opdr. Stald Ringsbo), blev nr. 5 i verdensmesterskabet for 7-års dressurheste i Ermelo.
• Eliteauktionsføl fra 2011, Fireball Macohl e. Fürstenball/Rosentanz (opdr. Lise Rasmussen), vandt den skandinaviske championatsfinale for 6-års dressurheste i Falsterbo.
• Eliteauktionsføl fra 2011, Red Diamant e. Blue Hors Romanov/Dream of Heidelberg (opdr. Mie Sabroe Jelle), blev nr. 5 i verdensmesterskabet for 6-års dressurheste i Ermelo.
• Eliteauktionsføl fra 2014, Skovens Tzarina e. Blue Hors Zack/Blue Hors Don Schufro (opdr. Kirsten Bjerregaard Hansen og Jens Lund Pedersen), blev dressurbetonet fløjhoppe ved sadelkåringen i region 3 med årgangens højeste rideprøve i dressur på 906 point.
• Eliteauktionsføl fra 2014, Birkegårdens Conchita e. Cavall Ask/Calato (opdr. Heidi Rasmussen), blev springbetonet fløjhoppe ved sadelkåringen i region 5 med et rideprøveresultat på 905 point.