Today it was with 11 four year old young horses for the testing by Charlotte Dujardin at Breeders Trophy in Sweden.
Not a single seat was left in the packed arena, and the audience got another "lesson" in what one of the Worlds absolute best riders is asking for and wants to feel, when she is in the saddle of a young horse.
H2R followed the entire testing, and below you can catch up with at bit of all the running comments from Charlotte Dujardin during her test riding.
When Charlotte got into the saddle of the first horse she told the audience that she was happy to be back, and a few seconds later her horse got a bit tense, with her saying from the saddle "don´t buck me off in front of the audience."
Charlotte told that you learn a lot from riding the young horses and that it really inspires her in the every day.
And before started testing she told the audience: "I always getting trouble for being over time."
First horse was Affect by Florencio / Sandro Hit. Some comments from Charlotte: "This horse has better balance from the canter work, but at the end the feeling for the trot work got more balanced. A horse like this which is more balanced and comfortable I always starts with the canter work when warmed up. Lovely temperament." Scores: 8,5 rideability - 8,5 potential.
Zitat by Zalandin MI / Don Romantic. Comments from Charlotte: "Lovely feeling, natural uphill frame. Could be more even on both sides. It´s not always what you see, but I can feel it. As a young horse Valegro was a horse with a very strong mouth. This one I could just ride all day - it´s fabulous. Pretty damn good for a 4 yr old. He is a true gentleman, he feels more like a 5 or 6 yr old." Scores: 9,0 rideability - 9,0 potential. Very exciting horse for the future.
Bergsjöholms Valbonne by Zack / Epson. Comments from Charlotte: "Stallions will be my least to chose - when training stallions they argue back, they often have their mind on other jobs. With this horse the neck is more forward/straight, not so uphill. Trot bit quick not so much natural cadance as the first two horses. He is not as developed in the canter as in the trot. He feels greener. Remember to work on your walk, it´s double score." Scores: 8,0 rideability - 8,0 pontential.
Amsor THE by Ampere / Kaliber. Comments from Charlotte: "Bit more my size. Very loose feeling in the trot, he gets stronger in my hand when I ask for more. If the horse making a mistake just tell them how it must be and never punish. They have to learn to work willingly. If your gonna use your leg to go forward - let go, like with a car you can´t use the accelerator together with the breake - then it will stall like a horse. Very important to learn the young horses to go by themselves, they have the whole life to learn to collect". Scores: 7,8 rideability - potential 8,0.
Darin by Dalwhinnie / Schwardroneur. Comments from Charlotte: "A little bit chewy in the contact, very sensitive. Not quite even in the contact. Getting more settled, rhythm feels better and the contact feels better. Lovely feeling in the canter, shoulders needs to be more up and open, but it´s about balance and strength. It´s about how much money you put in your training. It´s about having a good trainingsystem, and not how much money you spent on the horse. I train every horse with the goal of Grand Prix." Scores: rideability 8,3 - potential 8,5. (Note from H2R much improved during the testing).
Conde Nord by Charmeur / Hohenstein. Comments from Charlotte: "Lovely shape, ones I get his concentration. Typical a man, he can´t do two things at the same time. Do I have an extra leg? Even when having an extra leg he feels very comfortable. The feeling is that he could easy do a flying change. Great ability to shorten the canter. Tension comes into the contact. He has got his mind on other things today." Scores: rideability 8,5 - potential 9,0.
Zinnia by Zack / Damino. Comments from Charlotte: "It feels like a big trot, feels like she pushes my out of the saddle. Feels a bit weak bodywise, she can´t quite manage. When she got off the wall she feels a bit wobbly. Gives an athlethic feeling in canter. Greenest one of the horses, really off the floor, she is carrying her own head and neck. Give the horse an option to learn from your advices, and keep it black and white (easy questions for the horse). Nice attitude." Scores: rideability 8,5 - pontential 9,0.
Athena by Temptation / Master. Comments from Charlotte: "Bit of rolling feeling, easy trot but not pushing you out of the saddle. Positive to the contact, not strong. Self motivated, good for the legs. Interesting to feel after you´ve cantered how the trot feels better afterwards. She could work a bit more through her body. She is able to lengthen the trot without running, but nice pushing. She takes the contact correct down and forward for the walk." Scores: rideability 8,5 - potential 8,8.
Swedish Diamond by San Amour / Corland. Comments from Charlotte: "I like this one, he has a mature body. Lovely uphill frame. Very easy and smooth for a 4 yr old. Like I´m on an advanced horse. The first one have tryed to sit on in the trot, nothing changes. Bit tense in canter, bit stiff in the neck, need bit more relaxation and drop the neck - he feel like a 4 yr old for the canter work. Even when he is streching he still moves in the same rhythmn and balance. Definitely one more to go to England." Scores: rideability 9,0 - potential 9,5.
Shizeido GJ by Sezuan / Danzas. Comments from Charlotte: "Nice light, good mouth. Good trot but not like the horse before. Lovely in his body. Little slower reaction for my legs. Powerful feeling in the canter. The rider did a good job. Very workable horse. Very even, supple in both sides. Lovely to ride. He does everything with relaxation." Scores: rideability 9,3 - potential 9,5.
Skywalker by Zuidenwind / Bernstein. Comments from Charlotte: "Lovely trot, very balanced. He makes me want to ask him for more. He feels super easy. Everything is done in a relaxed way. Lovely reaction from my legs. Try to push him a little out of his comfort zone. Lovely horse to ride, engine in the right place, lovely trot to work with, rocking canter, transitions are so good. Smaller horses are easier to keep in the balance than the bigger horses." Scores: rideability 9,5 - potential 9,5.
Sitting at the last horse Charlotte praised the horses for their good rideability and being well prepared from their riders.
A great evening to follow. The entire testing is available via the archive at Clipmyhorse.
