Borculo Elite foal auction tomorrow Thursday 29 August

Tomorrow with the exclusive Dutch elite foal auction.

Both the presentation at 16.00 and the auction at 19.30 will be available via live stream at Clipmyhorse.

From the huge collection it looks like its gonna be a filly year.

No 103 a filly by Vitalis / Bordeaux and no 84 a colt by Ghandi / Santano gets the TOP PRICES from H2R point of view.

---

---

---

---

See the entire collection here.

Statistics from Danish Warmblood Elite Foal Auction 24 August 2019

Here you find the collection if you want to check out the breeding.

VIDEOS - Heiline´s Danciera and Carina Cassøe Krüth with awesome debuts at Inter II and Grand Prix

Owners Ingrid and Poul Thøgersen with rider Carina Cassøe Krüth - photo: H2R

Sovereign winner of debut at both Intermediare II and Grand Prix

Still only 8 year old and showing so much quality and confidence by the demanding tests. The overall picture is just awesome for Heiline´s Danciera by Fürstenball / Dancier, bred by Stud Heiline and owned by Ingrid and Poul Thøgersen.

The mare has already been very successful at Young Horse level and steps direct into the big sport without any weaknesses. Strong extensions, smooth half passes, easy expressive passage, good transitions, the piaffe itself lack a bit more quickness of the ground and is still a tiny bit forward, super walk tour, strong series with top qualities, easy zigzag and well balanced high quality pirouettes.

The combination could be what the national coach Nathalie zu Says-Wittgenstein is searching for the Tokyo Olympics.

Right Carina is planning to make her international debut together with Danciera at Flyinge in Sweden next month.

Enjoy the two tests here below - Inter II and Grand Prix

HH Horses and Stud Atterupgaard with champion mares

Atterupgaards Lady Hamilton

Charlotte Hamilton & Kristine Munch Sinding

By the presentation of the 2 year old mare Fransisca by Franklin / Romanov stood out with superb expression, powerful gaits and really look like a 2 year old. She is out of same dam as her very famous sisters Danish Warmblood silver medal mare and triple WCYH Fiontini and gold medal mare Fiontina.

Among the competitors were former filly of the year 2017 and top price at Nordic International Sales (sold for 150,000 euros) Faretti DWB by Franklin / Don Frederico also bred by HH Horses, and Straight Horse Zonate by Zack / Schufro with the famous full brother Sezuan, bred by Staight Horse.

2 year old filly of the year:

Faretti DWB

Straight Horse Zonate

Strongest ever field of 3 year old mares

The qualities of the 3 year old mare were quite outstanding this year. Super well moving and extremely modern, and looked like mares with good rideabilities.

Four mares were rewarded with gold medals - all 4 with super performance tests

• Atterupgaards Lady Hamilton by Dante Weltino OLD/Stedinger, bred by Hamilton Horses, Sweden and bred by Stud Atterupgaard. She is out of a very strong dam line with GP horses, medal mares and a licensed stallion.

• Polka Fascination M by Fürstenball/Sandro Hit, owned and bred by Sanne Mathiasen. The dam is full sister to gold medal mare Polka Hit Nexen.

• Francisca Lightfoot by Franklin/Michellino, bred by Annette Lyngs and Torben Damsbo, owned by Helgstrand Dressage. Filly of the year 2016. Out of the dam line of GP mare Sascha.

• Feine Galicia V. by Grand Galaxy Win/Gribaldi, bred and owned Iben Leere Kamp. More top horses out of the dam line as champion stallion Valløs Baron and GP horse Gallardo V.

Champion mare Atterupgaards Lady Hamilton

Polka Fascination M

Eliteføllene indtog Vilhelmsborg lørdag - dyreste føl på auktionen solgt for 50.000 euro

Kvaliteten var generelt bedre i år hos hoppeføllene end hos hingsteføllene

X-factoren ramte allerede fra første skridt når man klikkede ind på auktionsvideo af hoppeføllet Vilard´s Frina e. Franklin / Don Romantic avlet af Stutteri Vilard, og hun skuffede bestemt ikke i virkeligheden. Det unge hoppeføl holdt dampen oppe til alle præsentationerne og blev også solgt for 24.000 euro til Helgstand Dressage på aftenens auktion.

Dyreste hoppeføll blev Egegårdens Miss Daisy efter Blue Hors Zackerey / Blue Hors Farrell. Føllet havde desværre pådraget sig en skade. og blev solgt på de vilkår at handlen kunne gå tilbage, såfremt føllet ikke ville blive 100% i orden - blev solgt på video for 40.000 euro til Blue Hors.

Hør beskrivelsen af Vilard´s Frina herunder:

Årets hingsteføl blev Grand Quest-Bell e. Grand Galaxy Win / Don Romantic fra Tina og Nicolai Jepsen.

Dyreste hingsteføl på auktionen blev Borbjergs Fairy Beutifull e. Knock-Out/ Blue Hors Romanov, avlet Jørn Frandsen Dahl og solgt til Helgstrand Dressage.

Se æresrunden for årets hingsteføl her:

Vilhelmsborg med championatskvalifikationer

Fredag morgen startede med championatskvailfikation for 4 års heste på det store anlæg nedenfor hovedbygningen på Vilhelmsborg. I løbet af kort tid var morgentågen lettet, og der blev vist et stort felt af unge heste.

De sidste muligheder for kvalifikation to championatsfinalerne var her på Vilhelmsborg, og så er de sidste to kvalifikationer i Ålborg i starten af september og sidste kvalifikation i Frederiksværk i midten af september.

Vinder af 4 års kvalifikationen blev Helgstrand Dressage hingsten Ferdades e. Fürstenball / Donnerhall og Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen med trav 7.9 skridt 8.5 galop 9.6 ridelighed 9 kapacitet 8.8 = resultat 87.600.

Se hele resultatet af klassen her.

6 års kvailifkationen gik også til Helgstrand Dressage. Kenneth Damgaard og Azett Lynghøjgaard e. vinder med følgende karakterer: trav 9 skridt 9.2 galop 8.5 ridelighed 9 kapacitet 9 = resultat 89.400.

Se hele resultatet af klassen her.

7 års kvalifikationen blive vundet af tyske Susanne Krohn med Titolas e. Totilas / Stedinger med følgende karakterer: trav 8 skridt 8 galop 8.2 ridelighed 8.6 kapacitet 8 = resultat gangarter 81.600 teknisk 74.583 = total 78.092.

Se hele resultatet af klassen her.

Søndag eftermiddag indtog Helgstrand hingstene 5 års klassen med Springbank II VH og Severo Jurado Lopez øverst på pointtavlen med følgende karakterer: trav 9.4 skridt 9 galop 9.7 ridelighed 9.8 kapacitet 9.8 = resutat 95.400.

Se hele resultatet af klassen her.

Danish Warmblood 2 year old filly of the year Fransisca

Sister of Fiontini claimed Champion Title

Everyone at the Danish Warmblod KRAFFT Elite Show has been in for a treat during Sunday afternoon which was dedicated to young dressage mares. The quality has been sky high, and the two champion mares were nothing short of outstanding

Around 75% of the foals registered in Danish Warmblood are bred for dressage, and Danish Warmblood dressage horses have an internationally high reputation. Let alone in the month of August 2019 Danish Warmblood dressage horses won a medal in all three age categories at the FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Horses where five of the nine medallists were sired by a DWB stallion. Later this month, DWB gelding Atterupgaard Cassidy claimed a bronze medal at the FEI European Championships where three DWB horses made the cut into the Freestyle.

16 fillies born in 2017 competed to become the best 2-year old dressage filly. After having viewed and evaluated all contestants the judges selected six finalists by Blue Hors Farrell, Franklin, Ibiza, Revolution and Tailormade Temptation. Among the finalists were two daughters of Franklin from the same breeder, Henrik Hansen, who had a colt foal that became the show jumping champion in foal finals Saturday.

For Henrik Hansen Sunday was another day for a champion title. Two years ago his Franklin filly foal Faretti became the champion dressage filly foal but this time her stable mate Fransisca by Franklin x Blue Hors Romanov took the champion title as 2-year-old Dressage Filly of the Year. This dark bay filly is a half-sister of the world famous Fiontini who was a triple young horses world champion and is now a successful Grand Prix horse.

The judges described Fransisca as a well-developed and noble filly of outstanding type and with great expression in all three paces. Her walk is rhythmic, the trot is excellent with very active hindlegs and uphill tendency whilst the canter is ground covering and good impulsion.

FEI PRESS RELEASE -Werth makes it a golden hat-trick in fabulous Freestyle finale

Germany totally dominates the medal podium

By Louise Parkes

On a day of breathtaking sport, Germany’s Isabell Werth brought the Longines FEI Dressage European Championships 2019 to a close when claiming her third gold medal of the week in the Freestyle riding her great mare Bella Rose. And on a day filled with personal-best performances, her compatriots Dorothee Schneider and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl clinched silver and bronze, with Schneider only 0.314 off Werth’s winning score.

The competition built to an incredible crescendo as rider after rider excelled themselves in front of a packed stadium of knowledgeable spectators who savoured every moment. Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen drew gasps of delight with spectacular one-tempi changes from his one-eyed stallion Blue Hors Zack to take the temporary lead when eighth to go of the 15 starters. But two horses later the home crowd went wild when Edward Gal and Glock’s Zonik NOP went out in front with 84.271.

Fifth-last into the arena, von Bredow-Werndl and her 12-year-old mare TSF Dalera blew the competition wide open with a personal-best score of 89.107, showing beautiful rhythm and balance and the softest of contact in their one-tempi changes. Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy, who took bronze in Thursday’s Grand Prix Special, followed with a fabulous test that slotted them in behind on 87.771, and then it was time for the lady recognised as the Queen of international Dressage, Werth with the great love of her life, the mare she calls Bella.

And the crowd were in for a treat, the extraordinary horsewoman working them into a frenzy of excitement that had them clapping wildly as the turned the centreline for their final halt. But the battle wasn’t over yet, because Schneider threw down the best score of her career with Showtime who showed his great power and presence when putting 90.561 on the board. Last to go, Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K ended a superb week that saw her post three new Irish record scores when finishing fifth, behind Dufour, on a mark of 85.589.
 
Bronze medallist von Bredow Werndl described this as “the most exhausting week ever, it was a roller-coaster of emotions but it had the happiest ending I could have wished for, and Dalera was just extraordinary today. At the very beginning she was a little bit nervous and I was a bit nervous before I entered the arena, but I took some deep breaths and I was completely with her and she was with me for the whole test, there was no second we lost each other and it was just a phenomenal dance!” she said.

Schneider had every reason to be elated by her score too, because her mark sees her join an elite group that includes only five other riders who have achieved over 90 percent in Freestyle. “When Showtime came into the arena and saw the audience he said let’s dance now, and we danced together..we really enjoyed ourselves! I wasn’t thinking about scores, I just wanted to enjoy this Freestyle…it’s an emotional bond between Showtime and me and today he had fun and I did too!” she said.

This has been a great week and a very long week and I’m so happy and so proud of Bella!” said Werth. “She gave me a super feeling in all three competitions, and she was always doing her best.

"There were so many exciting performances here in Rotterdam, and for a few of us it was a real roller-coaster which reminds us that, in Championships, anything can happen. For me and Bella there were things today that we could improve on, but there were also so many highlights, and in the end to come up the centreline and hear the audience start to clap - I’m just so happy, it has been a super week for Germany!"

Isabell Werth (GER)

The most successful athlete in the entire history of international equestrian sport, Werth today collected the 24th European Championship medal of her astonishing career but she said that her medal collection is not what drives her. 

“The most beautiful thing is the many different horses, and different kinds of horses I have had, that’s why I’m still motivated to ride. To wake up and go in the saddle every day, its a privilege when you can do what you love, and you love what you do, and Madeleine (Winter-Schulze, her patron) gives me all the freeness I need to do the sport…this is why I’m still here!”, she said. 

Result here 

Danish Warmblood foals of the year 2019

Part of press release:

The Danish Foal Champions of 2019

Four champion titles have been appointed to four outstanding foals at the Danish Warmblood Elite Show at Vilhelmsborg

The best of Danish breeding is exhibited at the Danish Warmblood Elite Show at Vilhelmsborg where regionally selected foals, 2-year-old fillies and saddle-graded mares compete to win the champion titles in the breeding categories dressage or show jumping. Saturday afternoon four foal champions have been appointed.

A noble and light-footed foal named Vilard’s Frina took the title Dressage Filly Foal of the Year. She is by Franklin x Blue Hors Don Romantic, bred by Stutteri Vilard, and is out of the same damline as the international champion stallion Global Player. Frina danced her way through the finals to win her champion title.

An exceptionally attractive and and very elegant dark chestnut earned the title Dressage Colt Foal of the Year. This tall, noble and large-framed foal with very supple and ground-covering, rhythmic gaits is a full brother of the premium stallion Giovanni Bell. He is name Grand  Quest-Bell and is by Grand Galaxy Win x Blue Hors Don Romantic and is bred by Tina & Nicolai Jepsen.

Sunday at the Danish Warmblood Elite Show is totally devoted to the evaluation of 2-year-old fillies and young saddle-graded mares.

Michael Søgaard og Jukebox vinder af Prix Sct. Georg med 74,123%

Jukebox og Michael Søgaard - foto: H2R

Michael Søgaard, Selina Solberg Vittinghus og Victoria Vallentin tog sig af podiepladserne i dagens Prix Sct. Georg.

Alle 3 ekvipager med skarpe ture, hvor Michael formår at få redet hele turen med god power og uden svagheder, ligesom Selina får vist en særdeles skarp trav og galop tur, og Victoria også har highlights i galopturen med super flotte og velkontrollerede pirouetter.

Michael Søgaard erhvervede sig Jukebox for præcist 8 år siden på Dansk Varmblods Eliteauktion på Vilhelmsborg, og vandt i 2015 også Dansk Varmblods Unghestechampionat.

VIDEO - Atterupgaards Delorean og Selina Solberg Vittinghus vinder af 1. afdeling af Youngster Cup

photo credit: Lily Forado

Den 6-årige Atteupgaards Delorean med Selina Solberg Vittinghus lagde sig komfortabelt i front med 73,846% efter dagens første afdeling af Youngster Cup som er for 6 års og 7 års heste.

Parret kommer super flot fra start med perfekt indridningsparade, velbalanceret og udtryksfuld travtur med god power med smidige traversader, god skridttur med gode skridt pirouetter, god galoptur med fine changementer, og flot afslutningsparade.

Dagens placerede ekvipager:

VIDEOS - Gold and Silver performances from the Grand Prix Special

Individual silver medalist Dorothee Schneider with Showtime FRH - photo credit: Lily Forado

Unfortunately for all the fans of Dufour and Cassidy their performance is still not available online.

Enjoy Gold and Silver performances here below captured by Horsetelex.

FEI PRESS RELEASE - Werth takes back-to-back Grand Prix Special gold

Team-mate Schneider pushes her all the way

By Louise Parkes

In a mighty battle between two of the sport’s true greats, Isabell Werth, the lady recognised as the reigning Queen of international Dressage, won through once again in the Grand Prix Special at the Longines FEI Dressage European Championships 2019 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands tonight.

Two years ago in Gothenburg, Sweden, Werth pinned team-mate Sonke Rothenberger into silver medal spot, and this time around it was her other German compatriot, Dorothee Schneider, who had to settle for second place. But Schneider chased her right to the line with a brilliant performance from Showtime this evening, and was overwhelmed with emotion afterwards. 

“This is the greatest day of my life, my first individual medal!” said the double-Olympian. “I had one mistake in the flying changes because I lost a stirrup - I have to talk to my trainer about doing some lunging again! I’ve been riding this horse for 10 years now and he is so amazing. I’m really proud to be sitting in second place tonight behind Isabell!” she said. 

She established the lead with just five left to go on a mark of 85.456 but Werth overtook her with another of her show-stopping rides on the mare she most adores, posting the winning score of 86.520. 

"I know that with Bella Rose everything is possible and it is up to me to make it happen. The piaffe/passage could not be better than it was tonight, the feeling was outstanding  and the atmosphere was really special!"

Isabell Werth (GER)

Bronze went to Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy, the pair who really put themselves onto centre stage when also third in the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle at the 2017 Europeans. They posted 81.337 just before Schneider came into the ring but, typically modest, the Danish rider didn’t think that was good enough for a podium placing and headed back to the stables with her little chestnut gelding only to get the call-up to return to the arena. And that took a bit of reorganisation.

“I didn’t think I would get a medal so I told my groom to unplait him, so we had to put the plaits back in again - it was a bit of a surprise - but I’m so happy with Cassidy, he’s now 16 but he’s in such great shape!” she said. 

Age is but a number to the horses competing this week, and there was huge excitement in the Irish camp when Judy Reynolds and her 17-year-old gelding Vancouver K separated the two remaining members of Tuesday’s gold-medal-winning German team, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl who slotted into fourth with TSF Dalera BB and Sonke Rothenberger and Cosmo in sixth place. Scoring 78.252, Reynolds finished fifth and set her second Irish record score of the week having helped secure an Olympic team qualifying spot for her country with another brilliant performance on Tuesday.

This evening’s competition had a real buzz about it and Judge a C, Susanne Baarup, said the Ground Jury enjoyed every moment of it. “It was an amazing class and also very exciting to judge because a lot of riders had some problems in there. I think as a judge it’s very emotional, we get goose-bumps, and we give 9s and 10s and we think my god where do we end here! It’s really just the small details that separate the riders. We talked afterwards and said we want to do it again, we want to see them again, and of course we will do that on Saturday in the Freestyle, and we are really looking forward to it!”

Results here 

Watch highlights here 

Danish Warmblood Rossetti in top of the leaderboard after first part of Grand Prix Special

Rossetti and Henri Ruoste FiN - photo credit: Gomes Media

Beautiful sunny afternoon for Grand Prix Special at the European Championships in Rotterdam

Danish Warmblood Rossetti by Blue Hors Romanov / Midt West Ibi-Light with Finnish rider Henri Ruoste with personal best score and in the lead after the first part of today’s Grand Prix Special. Ruoste has been active over the last year preparing and building up, constantly being part of the international picture, and building up confidence and experience for the talented Rossetti. As young horse Rossetti was representing Denmark & Danish Warmblood at WCYH with Jan Møller Christensen in the saddle (rider of silver medalist Hesselhøj Donkey Boy).

Rossetti FIN - good halt, very nice diagonal, nice uphill crossing bending half pass, sharp into passage, very springy bouncy passage, power extension and lovely back, good swing active half pass right, good transition at C sharp into passage, super expressive extensions, 77,5% before walk tour, nice over track relaxation, super transition into nice sit piaffe, nice sit 2nd piaffe with good transitions, nice flow to canter, well balanced half passes canter, bit 2 times nice picture, super 1 times, bit conservative extended canter, wauw nice 1st pirouette, kick again spurs begin ones, early 2nd pirouette, super smooth long side, small tension into a super nice piaffe, super final passage. DANISH WARMBLOOD ROCKS! 75,228%

🇩🇰Two Danish combinations in the first part

Both Danish combinations showed solid tests today without major issues. For Agnete Kirk Thinggaard a small error was creeping in for the change after the half passes, rest was without any technical issues. Anders Dahl was again show a technical strong test with maximum outcome with his just 10 year old horse.

Jojo AZ DEN - good halt, small lost of balance for diagonal, lack more clear balance for half pass left, good into passage, good passage, could come bit sharper back from extensions, good balance lack bit energy for half pass to right, good into passage, good final extension before walk tour, good extended walk, good collected walk, good transitions, nice piaffe bit low in the neck, good 2nd piaffe, good transition to canter, lack bit more uphill balance for zigzag canter error change at end, good 2 times, good 1 times, extended canter comes a bit on the forehand, good pirouettes lack bit energy, good ones, very nice final centerline. 71,869%

Fidelio van het Bloemenhof DEN - good halt, power diagonal, nice uphill crossing, good transition to passage, good extension, lack bit carriage half pass right, good passage could push a bit more clear from hind, but well managed with extensions and transitions, good extended walk, good collected walk, small resistance at begin piaffe, nice piaffe, lack bit more energy for 2nd piaffe, passage lack bit power, good transition to canter, nice zigzag canter, nice bit 2 times, super 1 times nice forward, good extended canter, stepped bit out of 1st pirouette, nice ones, lack bit more clear sit and canter for 2nd pirouette, nice extension, bit forward trend final piaffe, very good final centerline. 72,508%

Remember you can catch up on all running comments at Horse2rider Facebook here.

VIDEOS - 3 dressage foals selected for Danish Warmblood Elite foal show from Norway

Champion colt JJ Fellini by Franklin / Sandro Hit from JJ Horses

Saturday afternoon Danish Warmblood Norway held their annual foal show at JJ Horses in Mysen.

22 foals were presented for the two Danish Warmblood judges. In general the foals were of really good qualities and 3 of the dressage foals were selected for Danish Warmblood Elite foal show taking place at Vilhelmborg 24 & 25 August.

Champion colt JJ Fellini by Franklin / Sandro Hit breeder JJ Horses

Reserve champion colt JJ Franz by Franklin / Blue Hors Don Schufro breeder JJ Horses

Champion filly Riviera by Revolution / Swarovski breeder Tove Skansbo

VIDEO - enjoy Werth and Bella Rose 85,652% Grand Prix test

German´s GOLD team - photo credit: Lily Forado

FEI PRESS RELEASE - Germany gets Dressage gold again on roller-coaster day in Rotterdam

Denmark, Ireland and Portugal qualify for Tokyo 2020

By Louise Parkes

Germany claimed the team title for a staggering 24th time at the Longines FEI European Dressage Championships 2019 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands today where the hosts scooped silver and Sweden snatched the bronze.

The battle for medal placings was intense, and so too was the contest for the three available qualifying spots at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games which eventually went to Denmark, Ireland and Portugal.

On an extraordinary afternoon of high drama, German superstar Isabell Werth posted the biggest score of the competition with 85.652 from Bella Rose to secure the title and collect her 22nd European Championship medal and the 11th European team gold of her illustrious career. The stage looked set for Great Britain to bag the silver, but elimination for the penultimate partnership of Charlotte Dujardin and Mt St John Freestyle under the blood rule dropped her team to fourth, so it was the Dutch and Swedes who filled the lower steps of the podium.

The winning German side consisted of all four gold medallists from last year’s FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Tryon (USA), the only difference being the replacement of Dorothee Schneider’s ride, Sammy Davis Jr, with Showtime who posted yesterday’s biggest score. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB opened the German account yesterday morning, and when Sonke Rothenberger added 79.084 this morning, and then Werth and her 15-year-old mare put 85.652 on the board, the defending champions were never going to be overtaken.

It was another masterclass from the legend that is Werth, the most medalled athlete in the history of equestrian sport who said that today’s win was extra special because she achieved it with her beloved Bella Rose. “She was really brilliant, I’m happy and proud, both of us enjoyed the competition”, she said. 

Werth, Schneider and Rothenberger were also all on Germany’s triumphant 2017 European side along with Helen Langehanenberg, but despite having another European gold medal around his neck, Rothenberger wasn’t entirely satisfied with his own performance.

"We came here with a really strong team knowing all horses scored already over 80%, so we expected quite a bit, but as you will see today it’s always a different story when you have to put it on the day in the ring. I was quite nervous for my own test…I couldn’t ride the perfectly precise round that we had in Aachen, but I’m looking forward to the following days and it was super fun to have such amazing colleagues who put down such amazing rounds!"

Sonke Rothenberger (Team Germany)

Lying second as the day began, it seemed the British would cruise into silver medal spot when Carl Hester and Hawtins Delicato posted 78.323 with Dujardin still to come. But as the riders were preparing for the prizegiving the news of her elimination filtered through and Sweden moved up to bronze and the Dutch into silver medal spot.

Anne Meulendijks (MDH Avanti NOP) was the Dutch pathfinder yesterday with a score of 71.801 and Hans Peter Minderhoud (Glock’s Dream NOP) followed with a mark of 75.295. Today Emmelie Scholtens posted 76.087 with Desperado NOP and when Edward Gal followed that with 78.758 from Glock’s Zonik NOP then the hosts were always going to take a podium placing. 

Gal joked however that his stallion was a little distracted in the warm-up ring this afternoon. “There were all the mares I think that were in the competition in the same warm-up as me, so he was really wild - in the end they went away and I had five minutes when I could ride normal and then it was quite ok. But then in the ring I felt the concentration was a bit down….but luckily everything went well and the points were also nice so that’s why we are here now!” he explained. 

Minderhoud described this afternoon as “really crazy because we were counting all the time for the scores”, and pointed out that this result means a lot to the host nation. “It was four years ago we had a medal, and I can tell you it’s not so nice to travel to Tryon (USA, for the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018) and to travel to Rio (BRA, 2016 Olympic Games) and not have a medal in your suitcase when you come back!” So today felt pretty good. 

Sweden’s Patrick Kittel was also delighted to find himself and his team that included Therese Nilshagen and Antonia and Juliette Ramel, on the podium. “Today was quite something, like Hans Peter said it was like a roller-coaster. At first I was almost biting the sand - I thought it was going to be another Tryon again, 0.2 away from the medal, but in the end it worked out and we’ve had amazing sport and seen amazing horses!”

The individual standings in the Grand Prix showed Werth, Schneider and Rothenberger with the top three scores followed by Gal in fourth, Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen in fifth and Britain’s Hester just ahead of Kittel in sixth place. The top-30 individuals go through to Thursday’s Grand Prix Special in which Werth and Rothenberger will be defending the gold and silver they won in Gothenburg (SWE) two years ago.

Results here 

Watch highlights here 

3rd part Grand Prix day 2 - Bella Rose and Isabell Werth leads the German team to the best ever result

Bella Rose and Isabell Werth GER - photo credit: Lily Forado

Riding for the GOLD

Not much to say Werth was going for gold and she got it together with the German team.

From H2R point of view the walk tour and the pirouettes still have room for improvement, even more than the scoreboard tells. As the day developed one have to realise that Werth will be very difficult to beat over the next days.

Bella Rose GER - good halt, bit hectic diagonal, supple half pass right, super smooth to left uphill lightness pure, super halt with rein back, good extension, direct to passage, super expressive passage, sharp in and out of super piaffe, good relaxation for extended walk bit unbalance rhythm, super into passage, super dancing 2nd piaffe and transitions from the book of dressage, good transition to canter, super 2 times, this was extended canter and transition back before change, superb zigzag, super nice 1 times, tiny pirouette but lack more clear canter beat, 2nd better canter, nice diagonal, outstanding final.

Well Done de la Roche and Patrik Kittel SWE - photo credit: Lily Forado.

For Kittel like for Gal and Dufour it was entirely about the podium. And they gave it all.

The ultra light-footed mare Well Done de la Roche has been kind of a shy girl in the arena, not the spooky way but more like a bit insecure. Today’s test showed a very confident and expressive mare following all the aides and signals from her rider, and a significant development of the piaffe tours made the big score and the podium for the Swedish team.

Well done de la Roche SWE - good halt, bit hectic diagonal, light and supple half passes with good crossing, super halt with rein back, good diagonal, direct into passage, good passage, nice piaffe with good transitions, bit hurried extended walk need more relaxation, good 2nd piaffe with nice transitions, good transition to canter, nice 2 times, good extended canter, super balanced zigzag, smooth 1 times, super nice 1st pirouette, nice control and balance 2nd 2nd pirouette, good transition to trot, nice diagonal, smooth final centerline. 78,261%

Glock´s Zonik and Edward Gal NED - photo credit: Lily Forado

Gal was clearly determined to ride for the podium you could see, and his impressive Danish Warmblood stallion Glock´s Zonik had agreed on that plan. The Dutch team was definitely not going into to this championships as a silver contender, but as things developed over the two days they were standing at the silver podium today.

Glock´s Zonik N.O.P. NED - good halt, direct forward, power supple diagonal, supple super balanced half passes, open halt bit tense rein back, nice diagonal, super into passage, good piaffe with good transitions, super supple relaxed extended walk, direct to passage, regular 2nd piaffe could show a bit more obedience, good transition to canter, good 2 times, power extended canter, lacking bit more forward search for zigzag, good 1 times, super nice pirouettes, good transition to canter, nice diagonal, good final piaffe, strong final.

Mount St. John Freestyle and Charlotte Dujardin GBR - photo credit: Lily Forado

Eliminated

After a +81% test Dujardin and Mount St. John Freestyle were unfortunately eliminated after steward control, as Mount St. John has got a scratch from the spurs on the left side. This fact just changed the medal picture for the silver and bronze podium.

Great Britain was a silver position while Holland was at bronze. With the elimination Holland moved up to silver and Sweden took the bronze. Even with just three combinations left without Dujardin for Great Britain they finished 4th, while Demark finished 5th. With this picture 2% more for Denmark, it would have brought them into a silver position.

Mount St John Freestyle GBR - superb halt, power set off, WOW diagonal, nice flow half passes uphill, super nice halt with rein back, wauw supple extension to passage, dancing steps, small tensions for 1st piaffe, nice transitions, super relaxation and over track for extended walk, wow passage, lack a tiny bit to bring in the power for the piaffe, huge sit and bouncy steps, good transition to canter, huge 2 times, power extended canter and back for super change, small unbalance for zigzag, could be a bit smaller the 1st pirouette, 2nd more centered, superb diagonal, superb passage piaffe lack bit more clear flow. What a great performance.

Statement at Charlotte Dujardin Facebook site:

2nd part Grand Prix day 2 - Cosmo underlines the dominans of the Germans

Cosmo and Sönke Rothenberger GER - photo credit: Lily Forado

Cosmo and Sönke another huge team effort. Even though the overall impression from the test was a bit conservative they still show top qualities, and for today their best ever first piaffe tour.

Cosmo GER - nice square steady halt, good diagonal with nice expression, Sönke reminding him at the end to stay with him, good half passes, good halt with rein back, diagonal not with full risk, super into passage, the best ever 1st piaffe at the spot delivered today from them!!! good walk, small spoke at the corner for start of collected walk, good 2nd piaffe tour staying nicely at the spot again, very controlled 2 times starting a bit late, conservative extended canter, well balanced zigzag, good 1 times, very nice 1st pirouette, lost balance for 2nd pirouette, good transition to trot, lack more power for final diagonal, nice bouncy piaffe at the spot for the final centerline. Very nice test.

Hawtins Delicato with Carl Hester GBR - photo credit: Lily Forado

Super well balanced all the way in best Mr. Hester style. Good contact, nice frame and attentive all the way. A test where you really feel your watching a horse and rider in great harmony.

Hawtins Delicato GBR - good halt, good diagonal, well balanced half passes, not really showing the steady halt for rein back, good diagonal, good transition to passage, piaffe lack bit more activity and transitions could be more direct into passage again, good walk tour, better activity and transitions for 2nd piaffe, good piaffe with nice rhythm, huge supple 2 times, power extension superb transition, good zigzag, super nice 1 times, big 1st pirouette, same for 2nd pirouette, super transition to trot, good diagonal, super smooth high quality final.

Atterupgaards Cassidy and Cathrine Dufour DEN - photo credit: Lily Forado

Dancing in the heavy rain for Danish Dufour and Cassidy

It became a kind of dancing in the rain test for Dufour and Cassidy as the sky just opened when they started their test. A very unfortunate error by the one times became the difference for the Danish team being at the podium or not, or you could say when the piaffe tours for Daniel and Zack has been a bit sharper they could have secured the team medals, instead the Danish team can celebrate their Olympic team spot together with Ireland and Portugal.

🇩🇰 Atterupgaards Cassidy - nice halt, super power for diagonal, nice balance for half passes could show a bit more suppleness in the crossing, good halt with rein back, good diagonal, good into passage, good passage, good active 1st piaffe, good transitions, super nice extended walk, good collected walk, good 2nd piaffe at the spot with smooth transitions, nice transition to canter, superb 2 times, very nice extended canter, well balanced zigzag, error 1 times, super small quality pirouettes, good diagonal, very passage, small stop for final piaffe at the centerline, good final passage.

Buriel K.H.

Desperado N.O.P.

Strong Buriel with much more relaxation for the walk tour and with the outstanding passage and piaffe tours, handed over the torch to Kittel “just” to deliver the rest.

Buriel K.H. SWE - dropping the pole for entering halt, bit running diagonal, lack bit more bend for half passes good rhythm uphill, very hard contact for halt with rein back tensions in the mouth, super passage, lovely bouncy piaffe with superb transitions, bit short extended walk, good collected walk, super into passage, easy 2nd passage/piaffe/passage with top quality, good transition to canter, good 2 times, good extended canter, well balanced zigzag, error begin 1 times did not take the aides, good pirouettes, becomes a bit high in the neck for final diagonal, superb final centerline.

The Dutch team could also smell the podium and after a full power test from Minderhoud yesterday, Scholtens and Gal just had to finish it. Emmelie Scholtens and Desperado delivered an errorfree test with good power all the way, for a few moments the big stallion was lacking a bit more obedience for the piaffe tours, but very well managed from Emmelie.

Desperado N.O.P. NED - good halt, tiny unbalanced extended trot, supple half passes with super crossing, good halt with rein back, good diagonal, nice transition to passage, good passage, good piaffe could be a more clear of the ground hind, good transitions, super supple walk tour, nice transition into passage, slightly forward 2nd piaffe but better activity, good transition to canter, nice 2 times, nice extended canter, active zigzag, good 1 times with nices activity, super sit for 1st pirouette, bit unbalanced end of 2nd pirouette, good diagonal, very nice final centerline with good transitions.

Danish Warmblood represented with more horses and among the Finnish Henri Rouste who has been very active during the season to gain some experience for his talented Danish Warmblood gelding Rossetti, and today they showed their best ever test in the rain.

Rossetti FIN - good start, super diagonal, super uphill smooth half passes, good halt with rein back, nice diagonal into passage, good 1st piaffe tour with nice transitions, good relaxation for the walk tour, small unbalance 2nd piaffe, good transition to canter, nice 2 times, good control for extended canter, unbalanced zigzag, nice 1 times, lacking more clear canter for 1st pirouette, 2nd better quality, nice extended trot at diagonal with nice expression, good passage, small stop for piaffe, good final passage. 72,593%

Buy your next Danish Warmblood next Saturday

New profile for Helgstrand Dressage

Master rider Søren Vallentin has decided to resign on October 1st, and Helgstrand Dressage has hired Maria Anita Andersen as general manager and master rider at Helgstrand Academy.

Søren Vallentin who is working at Helgstrand Academy has decided to stop after 2 years at Helgstrand Dressage. Søren will continue to be employed at Helgstrand as a freelancer.

• It has been 2 exciting years at Helgstrand Dressage, where 2 days are never the same. Some of the things that have been best are the team spirit, talented equestrians, and good horses, says Søren Vallentin.

Maria Anita Andersen graduated as a master rider in 2006, where she was subsequently employed by Blue Hors, and after 8 years at Blue Hors, she started her own company in 2014. From 2017 until now, she has been employed by the Danish Equestrian Federation where she has been an instructor at their courses. Maria Anita Andersen will be responsible for the daily operations at Helgstrand Academy and will also be responsible for teaching and developing our horses and riders. 

• I’m really looking forward to starting at Helgstrand Dressage and become a part of the team. I’m sure that I can contribute with my competences, while I can improve myself both professionally and personally, says Maria Anita Andersen.

• I have contacted Maria myself several times because I worked with her at Blue Hors and have always thought she was a fantastic rider and colleague. I have always wanted her to be a part of Helgstrand Dressage, so it is a great pleasure she will be a part of our team, says Andreas Helgstrand.

Maria Anita Andersen will start at Helgstrand Dressage as a general manager on October 1st.