FEI Press Release - Denmark’s Dufour destroys the opposition with sensational performance in Gothenburg

“That’s my boy!” Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour brought the crowd to their feet with a brilliant winning performance from her lovely gelding Atterupgaards Cassidy at the eighth leg of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2017/2018 Western European League in Gothenburg (SWE) today. (FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst)

Reigning champion Germany’s Isabell Werth finishes second ahead of league leader, Sweden’s Kittel, in third; just one qualifier left before Final places are confirmed

Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour (26) and Atterupgaard’s Cassidy brought the Swedish crowd to their feet with a spectacular performance to win the eighth leg of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2017/2018 Western European League in Gothenburg (SWE) today. Yesterday the pair that claimed individual bronze and team silver at last summer’s Longines FEI European Championships in the same city pinned reigning series champion Germany’s Isabell Werth (48) and Swedish star Patrik Kittel (41) into second and third in the Grand Prix, and this afternoon they did it again. But this time their winning margin was even more emphatic as the dynamic Danish duo earned a whopping score of 88.200. 

That was put into perspective when multi-medallied Werth (Emilio) said “there is no shame in finishing second on 85 percent!”, while Kittel (Delaunay OLD) was ecstatic about his mark of 83.615 that put him in third - “an all-time personal best for me!” he said. Dufour could hardly believe what she had achieved.

"I was nervous because this was the first time for us to do this Freestyle floor-plan. Cassidy can be spooky because he’s a very sensitive horse, but today he was so calm. He was with me every moment of the way and I’ll never forget that standing ovation!"

Cathrine Dufour DEN (1st)

The Swedish spectators held their breath as the Danish partnership performed in  complete harmony before exploding with excitement when the horse and rider drew to a halt. Dufour said that Denmark’s Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein has helped her really raise her game over the last few months. “Rune Willum was my trainer for 15 years and he was like my second father, but in December I started working with Nathalie, and now she is my rock!”, she explained after posting her second personal-best score of the weekend. 

Today’s result has moved her up to 12th place on the Western European League leaderboard from which the top nine will qualify for the Final in Paris (FRA) in April. Dufour is hoping to make the cut even though she doesn’t intend to compete at the last qualifier in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in two weeks time, but Werth will definitely be at the Dutch fixture with Emilio whose confidence and character continues to grow. “Give us one more year to make his canter as good as the piaffe/passage and you will see what more we can do!” said the happy German rider who intends to defend her title at the French finale with her top ride, the Olympic and European gold-medal-winning mare Weihegold. 

She’ll be the toughest nut to crack, but today Dufour showed that the winds of change are blowing once again through the top ranks of international Dressage and that she and her fabulous chestnut gelding are a major force to be reckoned with.

Watch highlights here 

Result:

1. Atterupgaards Cassidy (Cathrine Dufour) DEN 88.200

2. Emilio (Isabell Werth) GER 85.380

3. Delaunay OLD (Patrik Kittel) SWE 83.615

FULL RESULTS

Dufour shows an outstanding performance winning World Cup leg today at Gothenburg

Cathrine, Cassidy and coach Nathalie at yesterday´s World Cup Grand Prix pricegivning at Gothenburg - photo credit: Kim Lundin

New freestyle  

It was just lovely to sit back and enjoy today´s debut of the new freestyle for Danish Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy.

Very nice choice of music, more light and modern for the young Danish top combination and combined with a lot of transitions in the music where Dufour really showed her strength being a top rider making it all happen without any issues. 

H2R comments during the test:

Wauw nice music, starts with passage, into piaffe to passage, into extended trot, lovely transitions in the music, piaffe pirouette out into extended trot, superb walk tour, change of music for canter suits perfectly, power extended canter into double high quality pirouette, super 1 times. Transitions spot on, open halt, tiny ahead of the music for final halt.

New personal coach

H2R caught the Danish national coach Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein after this outstanding World Cup victory for her comments about Dufour and Cassidy. 

"I think I know Cathrine quite well now, last year from standing at the sideline as a team coach watching her training with Rune Willum, and this year where I´ve been "in charge".

"It is a pleasure to work with Cathrine, she is so quick and at the same time is able to use my advices, and said that, 15 years of top schooling by Rune Willum with thorough training just makes her able to recieve an advice and follow it. And it is not about changing things, it´s just about adjusting things to try to get a bit more, and this part went into a higher level here at Gothenburg, scoring personal best for both Grand Prix and Grand Prix freestyle."

"I haven´t heard the music for the freestyle before today, as we´ve just been practising the movements, and some of the details, and at the same time Helle Krasnik, our chef d´equipe which is also a trained dressage judge, has been giving advices where to optimize the exercises," tell Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. 

After this victory Cathrine is now ranked as no 12 at the World Cup ranking, and therefore not secured at spot for the World Cup final, but will now instead apply for Wildcard for the final, tells Nathalie. 

Cathrine Dufour did it today together with Atterupgaards Cassidy (video of the entire class)

Atterupgaards Cassidy and Cathrine Dufour from another winning moment at 2017 Danish national championships - photo credit: Mikkel-m.com/H2R

Winner of World Cup Grand Prix with the magical +80% 

Danish power from entering halt to final halt = today´s victory + now member of the very attractive international +80% Grand Prix club, and being able to keep Dressage Queen no 1 Isabell Werth with Emilio behind today, eventhough the German judge at C, Mr. Peter Holler saw his fellow countryman 6% better than Danish Dufour - Dufour was just unbeatable today. 

H2R comments during the test:

Atterupgaards Cassidy DEN - Super power diagonal, supple balanced half passes, bit small step backwards for rein back, super extended trot into nice transition to passage, small disturb into 1st piaffe, nice active piaffe, good transition out with expressive passage, superb walk tour, nice into passage at M, smooth transitions both in and out 2nd piaffe, nice piaffe and passage, good transition to canter, huge ground covering 2 times, supple well balanced zig-zag, superb 1 times, top control for pirouettes, power diagonal, shining final centerline.

2nd Emilio GER - sharp power diagonal, superb balance, nice half passes, bit open halt for rein back, super extension into passage, smooth in and out with top piaffe and passage, good walk, ditto 2nd piaffe/passage, nice 2 times, full risk extended canter, smooth zig-zag, error final change at one times, super sit /control for pirouettes, super final centerline.

3rd Delaunay OLD SWE - Nice balanced diagonal, smooth half passes, bit tense rein back, small tensions into 1st passage, nice piaffe with good transitions, good walk, nice transition to passage, small backwards trend 2nd piaffe, nice 2 times, well balanced zig zag, nice 1 times, good pirouettes nice control, superb nice final centerline.

Move the time line to 2:15:00 to watch Dufours test.

Isabell Werth with Emilio at 2:25:00 and Patrik Kittel with Delaynay OLD at 1:12:00.

See the entire results here.

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Danish Warmblood Spring auction collection with international top qualities

23 dressage horses with top pedigree are ready for the Spring auction in Herning

From the video presentations it is a very exclusive collection for this years Spring Auction. 

Danish Warmblood manager Casper Cassøe Krüth says: "We are very proud to be able to present an extraordinary collection of top quality for our buyers this year. Without any doubt our best young horses ever for an auction at Danish Warmblood." 

"It is all about the "products" from our breeders which are very selective and aware about what the riders and/or breeders are searching for. This collection shows both top pedigree but also high qualities for the sport, and of course Danish Warmblood and our auction committee would love to sell the next Fiontini or Sezuan in Herning."

Danish Warmblood Spring Auction March 10th 2018 at 16.00 exhibition hall M.

You will find the entire collection here. 

The auction will be live via Clipmyhorse. 

Please remember to sign up for Telephone bids, Contact: Monica Forrest. Mail: mf@varmblod.dk.

Any queries or questions about the horses and the auction, please fell free to contact Louise Ringsbo.

H2R will be present at the event and will of course also bring your questions to the right persons regarding the horses. 

Danish Warmblood auction committee and the secretariat are working continuously to develop and target the auctions which take place in March, August and September. During the last 10 years this has resulted in very good collections, generally increasing sales percentages, and average prices not to mention two major events attracting new buyers and audiences from both home and abroad.

Carina Cassøe Krüth og May-Day Graftebjerg vinder CDI3 Grand Prix kür i Vestfold

Vinder af dagens Grand Prix kür med 72,885%

Carina og May-Day sørgede for den danske national melodi i arena i Vestfold her til eftermiddag. 

Ekvipagen leverede en teknisk fejlfri tur med både godt udtryk og god balance hele vejen. Dejlig blød travtur, med flotte øgninger og gode traversader. Gode piaffe og passage ture, momentvis lidt spændinger i piaffen. God samlet skridt, mens den frie skridt bliver en smule kort/lang. God galop tur med gode dobbelte pirouetter, både toer serier og etterne er super flot på plads i dag. 

Karin Nissen og Eno kunne desværre ikke medbringe de flotte takter fra Grand Prix turen til dagens kür, da det virkede som om Eno ikke helt var sammen med Karin hele vejen i dag. Store øjne hos Eno gav ærgerligt nok flere mindre fejl i dag. 

Se resultatet af klassen her. 

Two very different stallions - For Emotion and Bonds (videos)

From last weeks 2 days stallion performance test these two stallions were showing something extra. 

For Emotion just brings all the qualities you want for a top horse. Imagine this power, balance, beat and self carriage, and even more impressive how the test rider is able to change form and power without any kind of tensions, and all the way with a soft and supple contact.  

Enjoy the test riding of For Emotion here below. 

And the test with Bonds under his own rider Beatrice Buchwald. 

Gothenburg Horse Show starts today with Swedish Warmblood Trophy

Tonight Swedish Warmblood Trophy for 5 years, 6 years and 7 years old horses takes place at Gothenburg Horse Show. The best horses from Breeders Trophy and SWB Stallion Trophy 2017 has qualified for Gothenburg Horse Show. 

There are still no start lists available, but according to Equisport.tv (free streaming) 5 year old will start at 19:10, followed by 6 year old at 20:20 and 7 year old at 21.35. 

List of the qualified horses:

Gode danske præstationer i CDI3 Grand Prix i Vestfold i dag

3 danske placeringer

Per Sandgaard og Charmeur vinder dagens klasse i Vestfold. Super skarp trav program med masser af power og udtryk. God passage, mens piaffen bliver med nogle spændinger og overgangen ind i den sidste piaffe bliver gennem skridt. Score 70,174%.

Karin Nissen og Eno indtager en flot 2. plads med en rigtig solid tur. Parret kommer flot fra start med god frie trav og gode traversader. Der er en smule modstand ind i den første passage men god regelmæssig piaffe med korrekt antal trin. Karin rider en smule hårdt ind i overgangen til piaffen men det ser ud til at passe fint til Eno (samme stil som hos spanske Beatrice Ferrer-Salat med Delgado). Den frie skridt mangler lidt mere afspændthed gennem kroppen. God 2. piaffe tur men mangler lidt mere flow ud. God overgang til galop, gode serier, bliver lidt spændt op mod dommerne i afslutningen af zig-zag galoppen. Mister en smule fremadsøgning i den 2. pirouette. Flot form hele vejen og god afslutning ad midten. 68.630%.

Placeret som nr. 4 er Carina Cassøe Krüth med May-Day Graftebjerg. Super flot indridningsparade, flot udtryk og balance i den frie trav, gode aktive traversader. God 1. piaffe / passage tur. Skridten bliver en smule spændt. Overgangen til passage ved M bliver lidt sen, god zig-zag galop, der indløber en lille fejl i midten af etterne. God balance i pirouetterne. God afslutning ad midten. 68,065%.

Sidst placeret som nr. 5 bliver Nikolai Kowalski med Gevelts Donna Tella. Indridningsparaden bliver åben. Den frie trav på diagonalen bliver lidt uens i rytmen bagi. God tilbagetrædning, generelt er passage og piaffe turene til for forsigtige. Skridten mangler lidt mere afspændthed i kroppen. Der er lidt uro/ubalance passagen inden anspringet til galop, flotte serier, gode pirouetter. 67,195%.

Lene Hoberg og Toftehøjs Malay slutter som nr. 9 med 63,804%. Ekvipagen kommer godt fra start, traversaderne mangler mere bæring og smidighed, super fri skridt bliver lidt spændt i den samlede skridt. Misforstår lidt hinanden i overgangen ved M op i passagen, lidt uro ud af den 2. piaffe tur. Der indløber fejl midt i etterne og begge pirouetterne mangler lidt mere bæring og kontrol. Den sidste piaffe mangler lidt mere energi, mens passage er med god kvalitet. 

Se resultatet af hele klassen her. 

Dorothee Schneider and Faustus also took the national GPS at Neumünster (video)

Entry list for CDI4 in Lier, Belgium

Link for the total lists of entries for Lier 28 February to 4 March.

Danish combinations:

CDI4

CDIU25

CDIYR

Watch the CDI-W Grand Prix freestyle with Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack from yesterday at Neumünster (VIDEO)

Click at the picture to start the video.

What happened today for Spanish Morgan Barbancon in the World Cup freestyle?

Brave Sir Donnerhall II and Morgan Barbancon Mestre finishing their World Cup freestyle today

Drama in the dressage arena

Spanish Morgan Barbancon Mestre and Sir Donnerhall II entered the arena as planned as start no 5 for today´s World Cup Grand Prix freestyle. 

Immediately after they started their test it looked like judge at E Dr. Plewa stopped the couple, and there was some confusion going on, as all the judges went down from their seats. There were no blood, no tongue and nothing to see. And after some kind of arguing the message to Morgan was to leave the arena. The audience at the spectator seats were as surprices as everybody else and were just applauding when a very excited Sir Donnerhall left again. Less than a minute later it looked like a new paper was handed to each judges table. 

The FEI press release says that the floorplan has been changed overnight, but the fact is that it was the wrong floorplan printed for the judges. 

And then Morgan and Sir Donnerhall II came back into the arena. Now Sir Donnerhall looked like he was in a kind of pricegiving mood, jumping around, but Morgan managed to calm him down and they did a very nice test with just some minor issues.

What a challange and hat off for Morgan being able to bring back the focus for both herself and Sir Donnerhall. 

Assume that this was not really the way of collecting important points for the World Cup final for the Spanish rider, and she will be back for the final leg at s´Hertogenbosch.  

Daniel and Zack will for sure be at the World Cup finals

Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack - photo credit: Mikkel-m.com/H2R

After today´s World Cup leg in Neumünster Danish Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack finished at the podium as no 3, and they are now at a shared 4th position at the World Cup ranking with just two legs more, in Gothenburg and s´Hertogenbosch. 

And from the entry list for Gothenburg he seem to be able to keep his spot inside the first 9 combinations which are secured into the finals. 

Personal best for today´s Grand Prix freestyle

With today´s test they also seems to very well on form, and today´s freestyle fits very well and is shown with nice harmony and power. The power is very much expressed by half passes, both series with top quality and covers a lot of ground, and huge sit and nice balance for the pirouettes. Also today´s passage and piaffe tours are with more relaxation and accuracy. 

Breeding stallion and top athlete

Rigth now Daniel and Zack looks like a very attractive combination for this summers big championship WEG in Tryon. But being a high frequented breeding stallion, and a top sport athlete is not really the ideal combination, and right now the breeders actually do have more attractive opportunities using his sons.

As a good example the successful Dante Weltino OLD with Swedish Therese Nilshagen in the saddle will only have to concentrate about the sport in 2018 like he did in 2017, and he will therefor not be available for the breeders. 

2nd last leg for the World Cup is next weekend at Gothenburg (entry list)

With now just Gothenburg and s´Hertogenbosch again before the final, it´s all about collecting valueable points. 

Seen from the entry list for Gothenburg it looks like a podium with Dufour, Werth and Kittel.

FEI press release - Langehanenberg steals the limelight on home ground in Neumünster

Mum-to-be, Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg, praises her stallion, Damsey FRH, after competing in the seventh leg of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2017/2018 Western European League in Neumünster, Germany today where the pair produced the winning score on their last outing before the arrival of her baby. (FEI/Stefan Lafrentz)

Germans dominate once again as Schneider slots into second; exciting young Danish star Bachmann-Andersen finishes third

The extraordinary ups and downs of sport were highlighted once again today when Helen Langehanenberg (35) and Damsey sealed a superb victory at the seventh leg of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2017/2018 Western European League on home soil in Neumünster, Germany. At the previous round in Amsterdam (NED) three weeks ago, the 2013 FEI World Cup™ Dressage champion had to retire when her 16-year-old stallion got his tongue over the bit and their performance fell apart. Today however it was perfect harmony every step of the way as their strong score of 83.800 pinned compatriots Dorothee Schneider (49) and Sammy Davis Jr into runner-up spot while Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann-Andersen (27) and Blue Hors Zack slotted into third.

"This was maybe our best result ever - Damsy felt great, he had the perfect mixture of freshness and motivation and he just performed the way every rider wants, the communication between us was really easy!"

Helen Langehanenberg GER (1st)

The atmosphere in the Neumünster arena is notoriously intense. As runner-up Schneider said, “everything about this show is brilliant, especially the crowd who are so close that it feels like they are also riding your horse!” That didn’t stop her from posting 81.565 for second place and moving even closer to Sweden’s Patrik Kittel at the top of the Western European leaderboard. With just two qualifiers left to go, in Gothenburg (SWE) next weekend and ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) two weeks later, that’s a really good place to be, because only two German riders can join defending champion Isabell Werth at the Final in Paris (FRA) in April, and sealing one of those two spots is a battle in itself. A total of nine riders, and a maximum of three from any nation, can make the cut from the Western European series.

Spain’s Morgan Barbancon Mestre, fourth to go with Sir Donnerhall ll, caused a stir when stopped by the Ground Jury because her floorplan had been changed overnight. When this was resolved she was allowed to compete, but it was Marie Emilie Bretenoux and Quartz of Jazz from France who led the way at the halfway stage with a mark of 76.300. This however would be improved on again and again, Denmark’s Bachmann-Andersen presenting a lovely picture of relaxation and balance with his 14-year-old stallion that rocketed him into the lead on a big mark of 81.475 with six left to go. 

Langehanenberg pushed him off his pedestal immediately however and Schneider then pinned him back to third, but the talented Dane has now moved into joint-fourth on the leaderboard and looks set to make a big impression at the Final. Today’s winner won’t make it to Paris. “I’m expecting a baby in June, so this was our last show before that and it’s the perfect result! I hope to be back in the saddle again in July though!”, Langehanenberg explained.   

Watch highlights here 

Result:

1. Damsey FRH (Helen Langehanenberg) GER 83.880

2. Sammy Davis Jr. (Dorothee Schneider) GER 81.565

3. Blue Hors Zack (Daniel Bachmann Andersen) DEN 81.475

FULL RESULTS

FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League standings:

1 - Patrik Kittel SWE 74

2 - Dorothee Schneider GER 72

3 - Jessica von Bredow-Werndl GER 59

4 - Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven SWE 54

4 - Daniel Bachmann Andersen DEN 54

6 - Fabienne Lutkemeier GER 50

6 - Madeleine Witte-Vrees NED 50

8 - Emile Faurie GBR 44

9 - Morgan Barbancon Mestre ESP 43

10 - Marcela Krinke Susmelj SUI 42

FULL STANDINGS

Therese Nilshagen showed For Romance I yesterday at Vechta (video)

Busy evening last night in Vechta for Swedish Therese Nilshagen

Personal best for Damsey FRH and Helen Langehanenberg today in CDI-W Grand Prix at Neumünster (video of the entire class)

Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack - photo credit: Mikkel-m.com/H2R

World Cup in Neumünster this weekend is last competition for Helen Langehanenberg before baby pause, as she is expecting her 2nd child. 

Watch her winning 78,043% test today together with Damsey FRH. 

H2R comments about top 3 during their tests

Winner Helen Langehanenberg - Damsey FRH 78,043%:

Expressive diagonal, lack bit carriage for half passes, good halt with rein back, super nice 1st passage/piaffe/passage, superb extended walk, small disturb collected walk, solid canter tour, superb balanced high quality pirouettes, very nice final centerline.

Placed 2nd Dorothee Schneider - Sammy Davis Jr, 76,739%: 

Power and controlled diagonal, easy half passes, bit tense rein back, nice 1st piaffe, bit short extended walk, super smooth 2nd passage/piaffe/passage, ok series becomes a bit in the hand at the end, lack more bend for 1st pirouette, error ch at X with 3 one times, super nice final.

Move the timeline at the Youtube video to 2:39:00 to watch the test.

Placed 3rd Daniel Bachmann Andersen - Blue Hors Zack 74,739%:

Superb halt, power diagonal, supple nice crossing half passes, open halt for rein back, nice transition to passage, good passage bit forward piaffe, nice walk tour, forward 2nd piaffe, power 2 times, active zig-zag bit unbalanced, bit short frame for 1 times, huge sit for pirouettes, 2nd with good balance, good timing for final lack bit more steps for piaffe. 

Note: When having the piaffe tours more at the spot, it will easy become a +75% test.

Move the timeline at the Youtube video to 2:49:00 to watch the test. 

You can find comments about all combinations today at Horse2rider Facebook page. 

See the results of the entire Grand Prix here. 

National Grand Prix win today in Neumünster for Faustus and Dorothee Schneider (video)

Faustus and Dorothee Schneider with clear distance (73,033%) to no 2 Fürstano with Juliane Brunkhorst (69,067%) and no 3 Fiero with Fabienne Lütkemeier (67.833%).

Dorothee showed a very smooth test with just an error by the one times and a few smaller issues, while Juliane Brunkhorst with Fürstano was struggling a bit with the flow and balance for the trot extensions, but showing nice expression for passage/piaffe and good series and pirouettes. 

4 year old Dante Quando also convincing at test riding for 2 days stallion performance test (video)

Some of the comments for Dante Quando from the judges:

"He shows all 3 gaits very secure and supple, very nice in front of the riders aides and with a nice self carriage, mayby with a bit quicker hind legs for the trot extensions - 8,5 for the trot. For the canter he is always uphill with a lot of ground cover with a lovely self carriage - 8,7 for the canter. The walk with all positive creteria for a very good walk, active, supple and ground covering - 9,0 for the walk. Very obedient both for the test with own rider and for the test rider - 9,3 for ride ability. Over all impression 9,0 - total score 8,93."

Danske ekvipager klar til CDI3 Vestfold i Norge 19. til 21. februar

Stor tur:

• Karin Nissen - Eno
• Carina Cassøe Krüth - May-Day Graftebjerg
• Nikolai Kowalski - Donna Tella
• Lene Hoberg - Toftehøjs Malay

Lille tur:

• Anders Vestergaard Carlsen - Herluf Firfod
• Sofie Andresén Rasmussen - UNO C

Junior

• Asta Silje Envoldsen - Traneenggårds Kiago