VIDEO - Dinja van Liere and Hermés takes the CDI4 Grand Prix with impressive 77,913%

Dinja van Liere during European Championships 2021 - photo credit: H2R

Strong top in Hagen

Hermes and Dinja was strong back again after their “exit” in Doha earlier this year where they unfortunately never entered the arena as Hermes looked very determined not to follow his riders aides.

Today they showed a super strong and easy test.

Hermes / Dinja van Liere -Super halt, good diagonal, light and easy half passes, super halt with nice rein back, good diagonal, super passage, super activity piaffe at the spot, easy transitions, super extended walk, very nice collected walk, nice into passage, active 2nd piaffe, good transitions, tense into canter, nice 2 times, good extended canter, bit unbalance zigzag, super nice 1 times, good 1st pirouette, bit hectic 2nd pirouette, bit hectic diagonal, super passage, super active piaffe, super transitions, nice halt.

Frederic Wandres and Duke of Britain showed their Personal Best test with impressive 77,239% and a 10 for their 2nd piaffe by judge at C, Christoph Umbach. Wandres has recently returned from his winter stay in Wellington and during his stay Bianca Kasselmann has done a great job keeping Duke of Britain in form back at Hof Kasselmann.

Daniel and Marshall-Bell showed once again great form. From the “side line” Marshall looked a bit on fire, but well managed by Daniel all the way. And with the score 76,261% there is still room for improvement.

Marshall-Bell / Daniel Bachmann - Good halt, power diagonal, lovely side picture, nice crossing uphill half passes, good halt with rein back, power diagonal bit unbalanced hind, power passage, nice piaffe, superb transition out, bit tension hind, good extended walk, good collected walk, bit early into passage, super 2nd piaffe at the spot without tensions, super transitions, good into canter, good 2 times, power diagonal extended canter, tiny unbalanced zigzag, super nice 1 times, good quality pirouettes bit big, good diagonal, good passage, nice piaffe, nice final.

Fry and Dark Legend comes from the World Cup finals where Dark Legend didn´t like the camera for the freestyle, but Charlotte managed to finish her test, and best of all she did not blame Dark Legend but left the arena with the very best attitude for a rider and a sportsman. Today they were definitely back on track showing a strong performance.

Dark Legend / Charlotte Fry - Good halt, power diagonal, lovely go for half pass uphill, not steady halt for rein back, power diagonal, good into passage, nice passage, super nice rhythm for piaffe, easy transitions, good walk tour, nice into passage, nice passage, clear into piaffe, lacking tiny activity, good transitions, super into canter, good 2 times, power extended canter, nice balanced zigzag, nice 1 times, good pirouettes, super diagonal, nice passage, lack bit impulse into piaffe, good piaffe, nice passage, super halt.

Young Semmieke Rothenberger and Flanell was at start for the 2nd time at international level - this time with super CDI4* debut.

Flanell / Semmieke Rothenberger - Good halt, power balanced diagonal, active easy uphill half passes, good halt with rein back, super diagonal, nice into passage, good passage, lack more clear transitions, piaffe lack bit more energy and power, lovely relaxation for extended walk, super collected walk active of the ground, lovely passage, better 2nd piaffe tiny forward trend, nice into canter, superb 2 times uphill straight, power diagonal extended canter, count error zigzag, error 1 times, WOW picture for both pirouettes, good into trot, lovely power diagonal, super nice passage, good final piaffe, nice out, superb final halt.

click here to watch Hermes and Dinja van Liere

Werth and Superb with another victory in today's CDI3* Grand Prix Special

Thranegaardens Rostov and Lone Bang Larsen best Danish combination placed 6th.

Danish combinations

Both Danish combinations Lone Bang Larsen with Thranegaardens Rostov and Anne Troensegaard with Kipling TSF showed solid tests today and were placed 6th and 7th with 72,170% and 71,894%.

Thranegaardens Rostov looked more relaxed body wise today and Lone shows the mare in a lovely frame with good power throughout the entire test. Highlights were the extended walk tour, 1 times and clearly improved pirouettes. (watch their test here below)

Super halt, super expressive diagonal, nice flow forward crossing half pass left, small misunderstanding into passage at C, nice extension, good passage nice regularity, good half pass right good flow, good transition at C, good extensions, nice transitions, nice relaxation with good over track for extended walk, good collected walk, good 1st piaffe, tiny tensions passage, lacking bit more clear flow for transitions, nice 2nd piaffe, good transition to canter, good canter half passes, super nice 2 times nice forward, super 1 times, good extended canter, good quality canter for both pirouettes bit big, nice 1 times, super extension, nice final centerline.

Kipling TSF and Anne also showed a solid test with just a small issue going into the trot half pass to right with a small canter, rest was without errors but for more moments Kipling becomes bit hind the vertical.

Super halt, power expressive diagonal, nice uphill balanced half pass left, good into passage, power extension, nice back into good passage, tiny short neck, small canter into half pass right, becomes bit hind the vertical for passage, super extension, good into walk, good walk tour, bit tense piaffe lacking bit steps, 2nd lacking more clear forward search, lost bit passage into canter, good half passes, nice 2 times, a couple of 1 times with parallel hind, super extended canter but error change, superb 1st pirouette, nice 1 times, nice sit bit big 2nd pirouette, good into trot, super extension, super nice final centerline, nice forward trend. PERSONAL BEST

Winner

Interesting to watch Werth with her young GP mare for their first international show. The basic qualities are obvious and this is just the beginning for this very talented mare under one of the best dressage riders in the world.

Superb / Isabell Werth - Good halt, super balanced power diagonal, crossing uphill super reach half passes, nice into passage, power long side, nice regular passage, super crossing half pass right, power expression in and out, good extended walk, good collected walk, bit early start of piaffe bit forward, bit on/off passage, bit tense unbalanced piaffe steps, late transition to canter, bit unbalanced half passes, error 2 times, good 1 times, tension out of the corner for extended canter, super sit lack bit more clear canter for 1st pirouette, 2nd much better, good 1 times, super long side, nice passage, lacking bit impulsion for final piaffe, good halt.

Here you find the entire results.

click here to watch Lone and Rostovs test

Anne-Marie Hosbond og Scarlett topplaceret i CDI3* Prix St. Georg i Peelbergen i dag

Anne-Marie Hosbond og Scarlett placeret som nr. 2 i dagens internationale Prix St. Georg - privat foto.

Anne-Marie Hosbond og den 9-årlge hoppe Scarlett e. San Amour har taget turen til Peelbergen i Holland for at deltage i det internationale stævne i lille-turen.

Parret var til start i formiddags og sluttede fornemt med en 2. plads i den internationale Prix St. Georg klasse, hvor der var 15 ekvipager til start. Det var blot parrets 2. internationale start, da de debuterede i marts i Herning.

Anne-Marie og Scarlett leverede en fejlfri tur i flot balance hele vejen og blev kun slået af Hans Peter Minderhoud som debuterede på den 8-årige hingst Syrakus e. Sezuan, som også red en fejlfri tur.

VIDEO - Werth debut victory with Superb, Mist of Titanium OLD 2nd and Kipling TSF 3rd in CDI3* Grand Prix in Hagen today

Kipling TSF and Danish Anne Troensegaard placed 3rd in CDI3* Grand Prix today - private photo.

Werth with new International black mare

Last week with retirement of Weihegold OLD and this week Werth shows her next black mare for the international scene.

The 10 year old mare Superb by Surprise (Sir Donnerhall I / Prince Thatch xx) / Donautanz (De Niro / Caprimond) made her International Grand Prix debut today with nothing else but a victory. Lots of potential and qualities throughout the test but still with a lot to improve, but knowing Isabell Werth this is just the beginning. (Video at the end of this article). The mare has been at Werth´s place since she was 3 year old as she was spotted at the HANN elite auction, where Werth´s long time sponsor Madeleine Winter-Schultze purchased the mare for 250.000 euro.

Superb / Isabell Werth - Good halt, good power diagonal, super balanced uphill crossing half passes, need more steadiness before rein back, good passage but bit open hind, bit unbalanced piaffe but some good steps, good walk tour, better 2nd piaffe tour, good into canter, good 2 times some tensions, good extended canter, bit ubalanced zigzag an error at the end, ok 1 times bit short, lacking more control and balance for 1st pirouette, 2nd nice, good into trot, good expressive diagonal, bit open hind for passage, lacking bit impulsion and clear rhythm for final piaffe. 75,783%

10 year old Mist of Titanium OLD by Millenium/Diamonit with Emma Kanerva showed a really nice test only with an error for the two times. The big supple gelding does never look forces or uncomfortable during the test, super nice flow and go all the way with top qualities. This was just their 2nd international Grand Prix start as they made their debut in Herning in March this year.

Kipling TSF / Anne Troensegaard - Good halt, well balanced power diagonal, supple half passes, super halt with rein back, power short diagonal super expression into super passage, super timing for 1st piaffe, good rhythm could stay bit more up in the contact, super walk tour, super passage, bit cautious 2nd piaffe but nice rhythm, good into canter, super nice 2 times, good extended canter, nice flow and go zigzag, error begin of 1 times and some tensions, superb sit and rhythm for 1st pirouette, 2nd becomes bit big, power supple diagonal, super final centerline. 72,870% - PERSONAL BEST

Without error for the 1 times and with a bit more security for the piaffe tours they definitely look like a +75% combination.

Danish Lone Bang Larsen and Thranegaardens Rostov finished just outside the placements with 70,609%. They showed a nice test with only some extra flying changes for the 2 times, as they started with some 1 times. Some minor tensions creeping into the test but still with power and expression.

Carina Cassøe Krüth brought her big Danish Warmblood Zack gelding Heiline´s Zackton. Today he didn´t look really comfortable in the arena as he turns around for the first piaffe, and the overall picture was missing a bit more natural go and flow. Final score 65,348%.

New international combinations

British Charlotte Fry recently made her debut together with just 9-year old KWPN stallion Inclusive by Everdale/Uptown. A powerful stallion with lots of qualities, and no weaknesses but still showing some tensions during their test. Look like a very exciting combination for the future. Today they were placed 9 with 71,065%.

Also Kittel rider Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson showed a new partner today Danish Warmblood gelding Møgelbjergs Romeo. They recently made their debut together and today the showed a really nice test with just an issue for the final piaffe.

Here you find the entire results.

click here to watch Superb and Werth test from today

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Nanna Merrald has withdrawn from Hagen this week

No Cathrine and Nanna for Hagen

For this years international event in Hagen the Danish participation will unfortunately be without World Ranking no 2 Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour with Bohemian as he is suffering from a minor hoof abscess, but luckily not showing any irregularity. At the same time Cathrine will not show the young Vamos Amigos as he already gave himself 110% at the recent successful World Cup final, as Cathrine told H2R.

Nanna Merrald has also withdrawn with both her horses for Hagen, Blue Hors Don Olymbrio and Blue Hors Zatchmo.

For the 4* tour Daniel Bachmann Andersen with Marshall-Bell and Charlotte Heering with Bufranco will be ready.

And for the 3* tour Carina Cassøe Krüth with Heiline´´s Zackton, Lone Bang Larsen with Thranegaardens Rostov and Anne Troensegaard with Kipling TSF will be ready..

Tomorrow at 12.00 starts CDI3*. The entire event will be available LIVE at Clipmyhorse.

All links for the event are available at H2R calendar.

Perfect dressage — Horses & Dreams delights in the dressage arena (part of press release)

Hagen a.T.W. — The anticipation and excitement ahead of Horses & Dreams meets Canada, which starts next Wednesday, 20 April, at Hof Kasselmann, is especially high. Among the almost 300 riders entered in the various dressage and jumping competitions, who have qualified from 33 different nations around the globe, and 600 horses, there are some established champions and numerous ambitious upcoming stars who want to demonstrate their skills at the start of the outdoor season.

Three international tours, from one-star to four-star level, as well as the two important national young horse series, the NÜRNBERGER BURG-POKAL and the Louisdor Prize, will make every dressage heart beat faster. 

In every sport there are names that stand out because the best of the best leave their mark every year. Isabell Werth (Rheinberg) is one of these names. She can look back on many successful moments in the dressage arenas at the Borgberg, most recently in September at the FEI Dressage European Championships, where she won gold with the team and silver in the Grand Prix Special. Werth has nominated three horses, Emilio, DSP Quantaz and Suberb. The German colours will also be represented in the CDI4* Tour by Frederic Wandres (Hagen a.T.W.), Ingrid Klimke (Münster), Semmieke Rothenberger (Bad Homburg), Fabienne Müller-Lütkemeier (Paderborn), Hubertus Schmidt (Borchen-Etteln), Carina Scholz (Sassenberg) and Benjamin Werndl (Aubenhausen). 

The Danish rider and world number two, Cathrine Dufour, is likely to pose a major threat to the victory with her top horse Bohemian, silver medallist at the European Championships. The Danish contingent is in great form at the moment. Daniel Bachmann Andersen, Charlotte Heering and Carina Cassøe Krüth will also be making the journey to Hagen a.T.W..

Ultimate showman and Horses & Dreams regular Patrik Kittel is on the entry list with his relatively new horses Blue Hors Zepter and Fuhur, as well as Touchdown and Forever Young, while Great Britain will be represented by Charlotte Fry, Lara Butler and Laura Tomlinson. Anna Buffini will fly the American flag with FRH Davinia La Douce. But the Canadian flag of the partner country will also be represented: Evi Strasser and Naïma Moreira Laliberté can already look back on a successful season in Wellington this year. Naïma Moreira Laliberté will be in Europe for the next few months in preparation for future Olympic Games and Championships. The 25-year-old rider, who was on Canada's Olympic team in Tokyo last summer, will be based near Barcelona, Spain, but before that there will be a start with Statesman and Inspire at Horses & Dreams meets Canada.

"I'm having a great time so far at Hof Kasselman. It's my first visit here with the horses and I'm very much looking forward to my first start Horses & Dreams. Everyone has been so nice and accommodating and the horses are enjoying their time here. The build up team is working hard to create the show atmosphere for next week, there is definitely a lot of construction and action here at the moment, which i’m using to my advantage to expose my younger horses and hopefully make it a positive experience to grow and mature."

Photo: Cathrine Dufour (DEN) and Bohemian impressed at the FEI Dressage European Championships in Hagen a.T.W. (c) Stefan Lafrentz

HANN Online auction comes up 17 April - 23 April

An interesting collection with some nice young horses for the future.

From the video presentation H2R picked out the horses below, but will of course be interesting to check out each horse at the LIVE presentation 20 April at 3 pm.

H2R favorite horses:

This Secret daughter shows nice light of the ground movements in a good natural balance and frame.

For Dance son with well balanced trot and canter with good angle from behind, but you have to watch out for the very big walk!

Don Martillo daughter with nice rhythm and power in all three gaits.

Morricone daughter with 3 good supple basic gaits.

Sezuan son with well balanced supple uphill trot and canter, but unfortunately not the best walk

Morricone son with 3 good natural basic gaits.

Secret daughter well moving and supple, but the overall picture is still a bit down hill.

Borsalino stallion with lovely expression, still lacking more carriage for the trot but showing some quickness of the ground and very good walk - an interesting horse for further education.

Here you find the entire collection.

Bundeschampionate 2022 also with 7 year old horses

31 August - 4 September with Bundeschampionate in Warendorf

Bundeschampionate extended with championship for 7 year old horses in 2022.

The qualifier criteria will be:

  • At least twice 70% in an M** class, or once 68% in an S-dressage class

  • 6-year od finalists of 2021 Bundeschampionate and 2021 World Championships are automatically qualified

  • 7-year-old German riding horses from abroad with comparable performances, (similar to FEI 7 year old test) will also be able to participate.


FEI PRESS RELEASE - Von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera triumph, while Werth retires Weihegold in style

There’s nothing like a big win on home ground, but there’s also nothing like retiring a superstar horse in front of a wildly enthusiastic crowd, so tonight’s Freestyle finale had it all when Jessica von Bredow-Werndl steered Dalera to victory at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2022 where the sport said a rousing farewell to Isabell Werth’s great mare, Weihegold OLD.

The Leipzig Messe was electric with excitement all night, and some of the equine stars shrank under the intensity of the noisy atmosphere during the first half of the competition.

But when it came down to the wire the big names really rose to the occasion, and it was Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour who lined up second with her new young star Vamos Amigos while Werth and Weihegold finished third. 

Raised the bar

Werth raised the bar when putting a score of 85.921 on the board when fifth-last to go in the field of 17, Weihegold producing a stunning test that was full of energy and beautifully ridden by the lady long known as “The Queen” of dressage. The knowledgeable crowd were with them every step of the way, knowing that this was their last performance together as the mare was to be retired . And when they came to a halt, the crowd rose to their feet with an enormous roar to acknowledge them.

Team gold and individual silver at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, European team gold in 2017, three FEI Dressage World Cup™ titles in a row including the last one in 2019 and team gold at last year’s European Championships in Hagen (GER) amongst their many achievements - their record has been extraordinary. 

Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald followed with an impressive performance from the big-moving Atterupgaards Orthilia who posted 81.239 for second place temporarily and next in was her compatriot, Carina Cassøe Krüth whose ride on the light-footed, loose-limbed Heiline’s Danciera included fearlessly forward one-tempi changes. The crowd held their breath until the scoreboard showed 84.971 - Werth was still out in front.

Looked threatening

However the last of the Danes had yet to come, and Cathrine Dufour always looked threatening when steering Vamos Amigo through a brilliant test, although clearly she wasn’t pushing the 10-year-old to the limit in extended canter. It was no wonder because, as she said afterwards, “he was a bomb today for sure!” He certainly looked explosive but contained himself to the very end and, once his rider relaxed the rein, wandered out the arena like he’d heard a crowd like today’s a million times. He certainly hasn’t though….

“He’s never been in a ring as full as this before, he was really brave today!”, Dufour said with delight this evening.

But the story certainly wasn’t over yet because the lady who has dominated the podiums at both the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the European Championships last summer was yet to take her turn. 

Crest of a wave

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl arrived in Leipzig for this week’s Final on the crest of a wave but, as she pointed out tonight, a little “rounder” than usual because she is expecting her second baby to arrive in a few months time. However the little bit of extra weight wasn’t bothering Dalera as the pair executed yet another exquisite test that demonstrated the delightful harmony between these two.

The balance, rhythm, accuracy and lightness, and the drama of their tempi changes all came together to present the loveliest picture, and as they pranced up the final centreline it was clear the result was done and dusted. When their score of 90.836 was announced the crowd erupted yet again.

Winner von Bredow-Werndl said afterwards, “I just wanted to come here and of course it was my goal to show what we have shown the last couple of months, but it couldn’t have been better to take a little break now and come back soon!” 

Dufour joked that she shouldn’t rush returning to the sport after her baby arrives - “just stay away for a while!”, she suggested with an enormous laugh. 

The Danes had every reason to be on a high tonight, Dufour filling second spot, Cassøe Krüth finishing fourth and Skodborg Merrald lining up in fifth place while Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg had to settle for sixth. It was a show of mighty strength from Denmark, and it’s a real shot-in-the-arm ahead of this summer’s World Dressage Championships on their home ground in Herning in four months’ time.

Really fantastic

“It’s really fantastic to see how the system in Denmark has gone so well over last four or five years and you clearly see what has been produced - riders bringing young horses to the top - the two girls that are here are really cool and they can perform under pressure, myself included, and of course we love to put pressure on the girls sitting here!”, she said, looking at Werth and von Bredow-Werndl. 

“But there is still some way to go, we saw that in 2020 suddenly things change, so for now we are going to keep the horses sharp, try to make a good plan and then really just enjoy that the Championship is going to be on Danish soil. That is quite fantastic in itself, and we are looking forward to inviting everyone for a great battle and great sport”, Dufour added.

Asked this evening about the Ukrainian flag she had pinned to her tailcoat, she explained, “There is an awful situation going on right now so I’m wearing it to show support to the people affected by this crazy war”. Newly-crowned champion, von Bredow-Werndl, leaned forward in agreement and added, “we all carry that flag in our hearts….”

Flowing again

After the prizegiving the emotions were flowing again when Werth and Weihegold entered the arena for the mare’s retirement ceremony. “When you are in a competition you are focused on that, and of course the last line (of their Freestyle) was also quite emotional and when they gave Weihe the standing ovation that was very great. But to go in with the team of people who have been around for the last seven or eight years that was really emotional, to feel the atmosphere”, Werth said. However she felt it was the perfect send-off in the end. “It was what you wish for a horse like her, to give her the last honour - it was just super!”, she added.

Meanwhile von Bredow-Werndl reflected on today’s success and the performance from Dalera that made it possible. “There are no words! She was phenomenal - she always leaves her heart for me in that square (in the arena) and it is not natural at all, and at the same time she does it again and again. I have the feeling even now that we are not yet at the end of our journey together!”, said the athlete who believes her mare has even more room for improvement, and who today became the sixth German athlete to win the coveted FEI Dressage World Cup™ trophy since the first Final took place back in 1986.

Result here

Klar til World Cup finalen 2022 - i aften kl. 19.10

Når World Cup finalen starter i aften er det med et felt af rutinerede World Cup finale deltagere, men også med tre danske World Cup finale debutanter.

Farvel til Weihegold OLD

De tyske ekvipager ryttere har alle redet finalen tidligere, og Isabell Werth jagter nu den 4. World Cup finale sejr i træk med 17-årige Weihegold OLD, en opgave som set ud fra torsdagens Short Grand Prix ikke ligner en mulighed, men intet er jo afgjort før alle ekvipager har afsluttet deres ridt i aften.

Det bliver allersidste tur for Weihegold OLD som jo startede sin internationale karrierer under Beatrice Buchwald - nu Hoffrogge. Werth debuterede Weihegold i Grand Prix i 2014, men overlod derefter tøjlerne igen til Beatrice som red hoppen i hele 2015 sæsonen. Siden Grand Prix debuten er det blevet til imponerende 76 starter på højeste niveau med OL i Rio, EM i 2017 Göteborg og senest EM på hjemmebanen sidste år i Hagen som absolutte highlights samt naturligvis World Cup finale sejre i Omaha i 2017, Paris i 2018 og seneste afholdte finale i Göteborg.

Ud af de 76 internationale starter er det blevet til i alt 55 sejre. Weihegold OLD forlader i aften banen som en af tidernes mest succesfulde dressurheste.

Werth om Weihegold og fremtiden

Fremtiden for Weihegold er planlagt. Hun skal hjem og trappes ned i træning efter World Cup finalen, og så er det planen hun selv skal ifoles og nyde sit otium hos ejer Christine Arns-Krogmann.

Samtidig fortæller Werth at hun gør Emilio og DSP Quantas klar til sommerens VM.

Om VM siger Isabell Werth: “Danskerne er holdet som skal slåes i Herning”, skriver Dressursport Deutschland.

Nye klar i kulissen til at tage over

Til aftenens finale kan vi som danskere være super stolte over ikke bare at have tre ekvipager med til start, men det er tre ekvipager som blander sig i den absolutte top af international dressur, og derfor er det jo også ekstra skønt at se dem starte sidst i klassen, med kun OL guldvinderen som allersidste startende.

World Cup stævnet her cementerer endnu en gang Danmarks styrke i det vigtige VM år.

Flere bump på vejen - men alle klar

Det er alt andet end et top organiseret stævne fortæller Carina fra Leipzig. Helt konkret fik vi jo alle en smagsprøve på det, da man en time inden starten af World Cup Grand Prix klassen, pludselig kunne se at klassen var rykket med 30 minutter - det sker jo ellers aldrig til et stort internationalt stævne, men tidsplanen var simpelthen løbet for stævnearrangørerne. Derudover har der også været problemer med bl.a. træningstider og træningsbane.

Men alle tre ekvipager melder KLAR 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰til finalen.

Hvordan kommer top 3 til at se ud efter i aften?

Et frisk bud hedder samme rækkefølge som i Grand Prix klassen, Dalera - Vamos Amigos - Weihegold, men kunne også hedde Dalera - Vamos Amigos - Heiline´s Danciera.

H2R kommenterer LIVE på Clipmyhorse i aftenens kür finale.

Se startlisten her.


2 days or 14 days stallion performance test?

Feliciano by Floricello / Boston - photo credit: Equitaris/Zuchthof Wadenspanner

Wednesday and Thursday in Vechta with the 2-days stallion performance test (pilot project)

In general this new 2-days performance concept look like a success. You get the chance first to see the stallions under their own rider, two stallions at a time in the arena riding with guidance from Oliver Oelrich, and then the next day with test rider.

Happy and fresh young stallions in top

Among the 4 year old Skyline to B by Blue Hors St. Schufro stood out from both the presentation with own rider and day two with test rider Philip Hess. Impressive long legged stallion with active of the ground trot, huge uphill high quality canter and good quality walk.

By the 3 year old Feliciano by Floricello / Boston was the winner from H2R point of view. Supple in all 3 gaits, natural open frame and looked also fresh body wise.

Winner among the 3 year old stallions was Escanto PS by Escamillo / Fürstenball, from H2R point of view by far the best Escamillo son, not showing himself with any extra for the first day, but “developed” nicely under the test rider.

Also the stallion Secret Lover by Secret / Fürstenball was presented for the testing fresh and happy, and showed himself very nicely.

No doubt that this pilot project has proven itself, and now it just up to the stallion owners to make their own realistic “schedule” in order to keep the very young boys fresh and happy.

Link for linear scoring.

FEI PRESS RELEASE Short Grand Prix win goes to Dalera and von Bredow-Werndl

It was no surprise when the reigning Olympic and European gold medallists, 36-year-old Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and her 15-year-old mare TSF Dalera BB, strutted their way into pole position in the Short Grand Prix when the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2022 got underway in Leipzig, Germany tonight.

Drawn in prime last-to-go position the German duo soared ahead of the opposition to post a score of 84.793, pinning Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and Vamos Amigos into second place and their German counterparts and defending three-time champions Isabell Werth and Weihegold OLD into third.

A strong test from Denmark’s Nanna Skodberg Merrald and the 17-year-old Atterupgaards Orthilia put them top of the leaderboard on a score of 75.752 when fourth to go and that proved unbeatable until Werth posted 79.756 to go out in front when twelfth into the arena. 

But then Dufour broke the 80 percent barrier with a great performance from the 10-year-old Vamos Amigos to put 80.019 on the board only for von Bredow-Werndl to deny her the top step of the podium with her winning ride.

Freestyle

It’s now down to Saturday night’s Freestyle to decide the fate of the 2022 FEI Dressage World Cup™ title and for Werth this entire week is filled with emotion because her great mare will be officially retired that evening in a special ceremony. She couldn’t hold back the tears in her post-competition TV interview.

And there was emotion for von Bredow-Werndl too tonight. “As you know I’m six months pregnant and I feel super fit and so does Dalera, but from a sporting point of view it’s a little bit sad because this is my last big competition before a break”, said the rider who has swept all before her over the last ten months.

Dufour was elated with the result she achieved from her relatively young horse. “I was surprised and super happy with his performance. He was really on fire in the ring and the audience started clapping in the first extention and I thought “No!” because he had legs everywhere! But he’s only done a few indoor shows so the fact that he kept his mind in the right place and performed like he did today that is really fantastic!”, she said.

In the shadow 

Asked if her Olympic ride, Bohemian, might find himself in the shadow of this new young star, Dufour laughed and said, “no you don’t know how big Bohemian’s ego is!  Of course Vamos has plenty of quality and there is way more in him but Bohemian has more experience so far and I feel very lucky I have two horses that are currently ready for a team position - obviously with the World Championships coming up in Denmark. And I also enjoy every competition, because you never know what happens”, she pointed out wisely.

Werth said she was pleased and proud of her great mare tonight. “She did a super job, just a little mistake, I think a one-tempi was a bit short in the beginning, she was so focused and especially the highlights were piaffe/passage and the pirouettes were really good. So I’m just happy and looking forward to Saturday and it’s a pleasure for me to present her in that way. She’s done so many great competitions, from the beginning to the end she always tries to give her best and that makes her a very special horse”, she said.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead to Saturday’s Freestyle, von Bredow-Werndl said she loves her current one

"“and I think Dalera does too, she feels the rhythm, she knows it’s her music and maybe that gives her even more confidence"

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER)

It still feels like she’s improving and always giving 100% and when there are mistakes it’s because of me. She’s always on fire and always willing to do her very best”.

Dufour said she is “borrowing bits and pieces from Bohemian’s Olympic Freestyle and since I’ve only done two World Cups I haven’t had time to make one of his very own (for Vamos Amigos). So I’ve stolen the music and played with the choreography. It’s a super high degree of difficulty and I think the music suits really well and it tells a story about my life at the moment. I feel like I’m living the dream back home and I just enjoy every day with the horses and I think the music sums it up really well. It’s a really powerful Freestyle and I’m just excited to ride it. He’s still young and it’s my first World Cup Final so I’m just here to enjoy it and have fun!”, she explained.

Werth meanwhile is determined that Weihegold will go out in style on Saturday night.
“I hope we can show a very good test like she deserves, and it will be pleasure to be here with a loud crowd in a competition. I think it’s just great to retire her not in an empty arena, she really deserves this atmosphere, so I’m really looking forward to it and I will try to enjoy it. And of course I have the pressure of showing her as best as possible, more than ever before because it is the last one!”

Don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

Result here 

Så gøres der klar til FEI World Cup finale LIVE fra Leipzig torsdag og lørdag aften

World Cup finale med Cathrine, Carina og Nanna

For de 3 unge danske ryttere er det fælles debut i World Cup finalen, og alle er velankommet til Leipzig og hestene har været ude at strække benene. Inden afrejsen fortalte de alle 3 at de havde haft super træning op til stævnet og glædede sig meget til finalen.

Cathrine har tidligere været tæt på World Cup finalen i bl.a. 2020 hvor målet jo var OL, ligesom også Nanna helt tilbage i 2014 var kvalificeret til finalen (blot 21 år gammel) sammen med Millibar, som desværre ikke kom til start, da han ikke gik gennem vet check.

Danmark og Tyskland er de eneste to nationer som har 3 ekvipager med i finalen (som er max. fra hver nation).

I dag kl. 14.00 er der vet check og kl. 16.00 trækkes der lod om startrækkefølgen indenfor hver gruppe. De lavest rangerende på FEI World Ranking rider i første gruppe og de højest rangerende rider i sidste gruppe.

Se forklaring på lodtrækningen her:

Årets World Cup finale som afholdes i Leipzig er med World Cup short Grand Prix klassen torsdag aften kl. 18.30 og World Cup Grand Prix kür finale lørdag aften kl. 19.10. Der rides om en samlet præmiesum på ialt 300.000 euro, med 25.000 euro i Grand Prix klassen og 275.000 euro i küren.

Begge dage vil H2R være med live med lidt ekstra info og kommentarer på hver enkelt ekvipage via Clipmyhorse/FEI-tv.

Link til start og resultater finder du her.

Et kig på deltagerfeltet giver bestemt forhåbninger om topplaceringer til de 3 danske ekvipager.

Deltagere:

Dommerteamet:

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