VIDEOS - 1st day at Danish final selection for WCYH in Ermelo

Tuesday and Wednesday with final selection of the young candidates for WCYH in Ermelo at the beautiful Vilhelmsborg near Denmarks second largest city Aarhus.

5 year old

For yesterday´s 5 year old the three combinations below showed clear qualities for Ermelo and as runner up for the final secure spot were Danesa Nord and Blue Hors Santiano.

H2R runner up for the final secured spot were Danesa Nord and Blue Hors Santiano, both with good qualities but lacking more convincing performance. Unfortunately the Franklin offsprings shows to much tensions.

6 year old

This year the 6 year old field look pretty strong from the Danish combinations, with of course last years World Champion Hesselhøj Down Town at top of the field.

7 year old

For the 7 year old Highfive Fuglsang still look like the strongest candidate, and from day 1 only 3 combinations seems to be ready for this level.

As Anna Kasprzak just showed her 7 year old Everian L by Everdale / Hochadel in great form with two really good performances at Falsterbo Horse Show they would be obvious for a wild card representing Denmark and Danish Warmblood.

23 selected foals ready for Van Olst Sales online auction starting 22 July

Secure your next foal by a top stallions from Van Olst Horses

11 foals by Kjento, 7 by Glamourdale, 2 by Negro, 2 by Jason and 1 by Lantanas are ready for “The foal edition 2022”.

With Glamourdale as one of the absolute super stars for the upcoming World Championships in Herning, along side former World Champion for Young Horses Kjento, the legendary Negro and the young ones Jason and Lantanas you have the chance to secure your next top horse from this collection.

Every foal in this collection brings interesting results and informations about the dam lines.

Here you find the entire collection.

FEI PRESS RELEASE - Denmark delivers, Sweden clinches title in FDNC finale

A compact but accomplished field lined up for the finale of the 2022 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series at Falsterbo (SWE), including the top two teams in the standings, but that didn't stop Denmark from running away with the competition. The win marked a second straight victory for the Danish squad after triumphing in Aachen two weeks ago.

The four-rider team of Nanna Skodborg Merrald (Blue Hors. St. Schufro), Nadja Aaboe Sloth (Favour Gersdorf), Anna Kasprzak (Addict de Massa) and Daniel Bachmann Andersen (Zippo M.I.) impressed with their consistent excellence across the Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle tests. The group finished on a total of just 14 points, well ahead of The Netherlands (30 points) and Sweden (31).

"There has not been one ride we came away [feeling poorly about]. Everyone really delivered. I'm so proud to be a part of this team."

Daniel Bachmann Andersen (DEN)

Sweden's Patrik Kittel shined individually aboard the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding Blue Hors Zepter, winning the Grand Prix (75.261%) and finishing second in the Freestyle (80.865%), but it was not enough to hold off Denmark. In fact, Danish riders took up two-thirds of the podium in every test. 

They shared the wealth. Bachmann Andersen performed best for his team in the Grand Prix, finishing second with Zippo M.I. on a score of 75.043% before topping the Special on 73.723%. Both scores were personal bests for him and his 10-year-old mount.

"He's quite a green horse. This was just his sixth show at the Grand Prix level," Bachmann Andersen said. "He's shown a lot of quality, and and he's improved since his last show. Overall, I'm happy with his development. He has had a good experience here. It's all a part of the journey."

Nanna Skodborg Merrald stole the spotlight in the Freestyle, taking the win with 11-year-old Blue Hors St. Schufro in what was the stallion's debut in the test. Inexperience did not prove to be a hindrance, as the pair received a top score of 81.080%. 

"I'm really happy and really proud of [my horse]," Merrald said. "He's still very green, and this was his first Grand Prix Freestyle ever. It's not a freestyle I've made for him, so there was a little bit of improvising. In the end, he did really well. There were some small misunderstandings, but overall, I had a clean test without big mistakes, and I'm really happy with that."

The win leaves the squad feeling confident as they make their final preparations for the upcoming FEI World Dressage Championships on home soil in Hernig (DEN).

"It's always fantastic to have a Nations Cup, where you can come out and train to be a team and compete as a team before going out for a World Championship," Bachmann Andersen said. "It's always bigger pressure riding for an entire team, and it's good to be trying out different combinations and see how everyone is riding on a team."

Although finishing third, Sweden still came away with a victory, having secured the 2022 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series title before competition began. With less than four teams competing at Falsterbo, the event did not count for series points. Sweden, also finishing on the podium at Compiègne (FRA), Rotterdam (NED) and Aachen (GER), completed the season with 37 points. The Netherlands finished second on 24 points, with Spain third (20 points).

"We were very strong from the beginning. At every show, we had a different team, and that is a strength of the country to have four different teams and be on the podium every time," said Sweden's chef d'equipe Bo Jena. "The experience we get from Nations Cup competitions are [ones] we take with us to the next show, the next year and for the future."

Danskerne satte trumf på i CDIO4* i Falsterbo

Minimal mulighed for at følge med

Selvom Falsterbo stævnet er kendt for ikke at “invitere” publikum indenfor med mindre man er der fysisk, så fik man alligevel en lille smag af stemningen i dagens CDIO4* Grand Prix Special og Grand Prix kür. Det var dog spild af penge at købe adgang via Equisport.tv, der ellers havde reklameret med deres stream (som aldrig kom til at virke), så den kreative og dressurhungrende seer måtte istedet ty til køb af VPN adgang.

CDI3* og CDIO4*

I den 3-stjernede tur blev det til flot international debut for Anna Zibrandtsen med den 11-årige Quel Filou med en placering som nr. 4 med 69,196%, dog med nogen dommeruenighed fra 66,7% (nr. 10) til 71,8% (nr. 2). I samme klasse sluttede Helene Melsen med Adrenalin Firfod som nr. 11 og Michael Søgaard med Fredensdals Fountain som nr. 12.

Igen i CDI3* küren med topplacering til Anna og Quel Filou som nr. 2, og Michael med Fountain bliver nr. 7 og hvor Helene med Adrenalin bliver nr. 9.

Ingen reel teamkonkurrence

Team konkurrencen blev desværre ikke til nogen tællende team konkurrence, idet der kun var 3 teams, da den ene spanske rytter ikke kom til start, og de derfor ikke kunne stille hold. Det betød at selve teamkonkurrence ikke kom til at tælle i det samlede Nations Cup regnskab, men de individuelle resultater talte jo for sig selv, og det danske team blev også efterfølgende hyldet på behørig vis sammen med Holland og Sverige.

Resultattavlen taler for sig selv

Selvom CDIO4* Grand Prix klassen jo ikke kunne følges via livestreaming, så kunne man alligevel følge lidt med via livescoringen. Her var det tydeligt at de danske ekvlpager var rejst til Falsterbo med rigtig god form.

Daniel Bachmann og DV vallakken Zippo MI sluttede lige i hælene på Patrik Kittel og Blue Hors Zepter med imponerende +75%. Anna Kasprzak og Addict de Massa slutter som nr. 3 med 73,696% og Nanna Merrald med Blue Hors St. Schufro ligeledes placeret som nr. 5 med 72,326%, mens Nadja Sloth og Favour Gersdorf slutter som nr. 7 lige udenfor placeringerne.

Grand Prix Special 🇩🇰🥇🇩🇰🥈og Grand Prix kür🇩🇰🥇🇩🇰🥉

Søndag med “finalen” i CDIO4* med først Grand Prix Specialen, hvor DV og danskerne satte sig på toppen af feltet med Zippo MI og Daniel Bachmann Andersen som vinder med 73,723% og Favour Gersdorf og Nadja Sloth som nr. 2 med 72,936%.

Selvom det var konkurrence dag 2 lignede det en motiveret Zippo i dagens Grand Prix Special (momentvis lidt over motiveret), hvor Daniel under vejs fik sine ridemæssige færdigheder testet lidt idet han må korrigere lidt under vejs for at holde Zippo på “sporet” hele vejen. Masser af kvalitet under vejs hvor det ligner at der er masser af lyst fra Zippo som bare lige skal kunne kontrolleres 100% under vejs også. Eneste lille tekniske fejl i turen var changementet mellem galop traversaderne som ikke var rent.

For den unge ekvipage Favour Gersdorf og Nadja Sloth blev dagens Grand Prix Speciel en triumf. Flot velbalanceret trav tur, masser power, super flotte passage ture i balance og 100% rytmisk af jorden, gode overgang ind og ud af øgningerne, god skridt tur, den første piaffe tur bliver lidt usikker, mens både nr. 2 og den sidste viser stor forbedring i forhold til tidligere. Serierne er lige efter bogen og snor lige, begge pirouetter mangler at Favour tager lidt mere “fat bagi”, men med god ridemæssig kontrol. Super flot form og kontakt hele vejen.

I Grand Prix küren tog Nanna og Blue Hors St. Schufro sig af sejren med en flot kür, som blev redet til rigtig godt musik valg, som understøttede ekvipagen flot hele vejen. Let og ubesværet, super form og flot kontakt hele vejen, masser spændstighed uden spændinger kombineret med power og kontrol gav dagens sejr (81,080%), omend Kittel var tæt på, selvom han havde fejl i begge serie sammen med Blue Hors Zepter idag (80,865%).

Anna Kasprzak og Addict de Massa har nu fundet formen rigtig sammen. Anna formår at ride med god energi, hvor det kun bliver til minimale spændinger, og samtidig er både form og kontakt blevet tydeligt forbedret. Det ligner helt klart at “less is more” for ekvipagen, og de med weekendens præstationer melder sig godt tilbage på den internationale scene. Parret red til Pepe´s tidligere OL kür, og som Anna i det efterfølgende interview med SVT fortalte, var det også store sko som Addict skulle fylde ud, men at hun selvfølgelig var super tilfreds med dagens præstation. Parret slutter som nr. 3 med 78,950%.

DV unghestene viste deres styrke i Falsterbo

Masser dansk succes i Sverige

Unghesteklasserne

Ugen startede med unghesteklasserne hvor danskerne har tradition for at være med helt fremme. I 5 års klassen blev det desværre ikke til finalepladser, mens 6 års ekvipagerne gjorde sig godt bemærket med sejr i den indledende klasse for DV vallakken Duné Nec med Sissel Jakobsen, og med endnu en dansker ekvipage som nr. 2 nemlig Skovdals Dexter med Susanne Barnow, mens Jan Møller med Hesselhøj Dream blev nr. 5. Alle tre placerede danske heste iøvrigt efter Hesselhøj Donkey Boy.

I 6 års finalen blev det DV dominans idet klassen blev vundet af DV vallakken Tjørnely´s Torino med svenske Maria von Essen, Skovdals Dexter med Susanne Barnow revancerede sig og sluttede på 2. pladsen, mens Duné Nec og Sissel tog sig af 5. pladsen og Jan med Hesselhøj Dream slutter som nr. 8 i 6 års finalen.

I 7 års klassen var det Anna Kasprzak med hendes Everdale søn Everian L som stod for de bedste placeringer. I den indledende klasse sluttede parret som nr. 4, mens Rikke Dupont med Grand Galiano blev placeret som nr. 9. I finalen avancerede Anna og Everian L endnu en plads til nr. 3 mens Rikke og Grand Galiano slutter som nr. 7.

Anna og Everian L ligner lige nu et rigtig godt og spændende bud på et wild card til UVM, selvom de ikke har deltaget i de indledende udtagelser.

Secret / Hoftanz / Carabas colt look like the top price for tomorrow´s auction at Schafhof

15 foals for tomorrows “Crown Juwel Collection” taking place at Gestüt Schafhof together with the international 4* event.

Today at 1 pm and tomorrow at 3.15 pm with live presentations (also at Clipmyhorse) and the auction will take place at 7 pm Saturday (also live at Clipmyhorse)

Again an offspring by Secret look like the top price candidate.

Best filly is kind of going back in time breeding wise - but very solid pedigree for the future both sport and breeding.

Va Bene filly with lovely type, with 3 month still supple but also a bit in growth especially for the walk.

Here you find the entire collection.

German Young Horses appointed for final selection 17 August

5 year old

46 starters were reduced to a total of 16 five year old horses which were appointed for the final selection, which takes place 17 August.

At H2R top list are:

  • Chere Celine - light footed active well balanced with good natural power

  • Feine Bella - supple and well balanced

  • Fille d´or - active of the ground with good balance and power

  • In My Mind - supple natural mover in all three gaits

  • Iron - active uphill, good balance, nice contact showing good abilities

  • Va´pensiero - supple through the body, super balance, uphill, expressive (BEST OF THE DAY)

6 year old

A couple of surprisingly decision were made by the 6 year old today. No doubt Damaschino is a very nice horse, but the fact was that the flying changes were far from well settled for the 6 year old level, and at the same time is Vaderland with Dinja van Liere is clearly missing at the list, as they showed a very well balanced and impressive test, but from judges point of view not good enough to get an extra chance at the final selection. As Dr. Plewa stated they want to see more clear connection between front and hind like they want to a longer frame for the extensions.

27 combinations were at start and a total of 16 combinations are ready for the final selection.

The stallion Va Bene was also among the selected horses, but could show more closed frame in general and for most of the test the contact and mouth was not 100% steady.

For H2R top list:

Global Player - every talented young horse should be educated by Eva Möller.

7 year old

21 combinations were at start and 9 were selected for the final selection.

H2R top list:

Among the 7 year old Escamillo is again ready for the WCYH together with Manuel Dominguez - totally effortless and smooth test today.

Djembe de Hus - supple easy and effortless performance shown by Marcus Hermes.

Zac Efron MT OLD - lot of potential with super qualities under Danish Daniel Bachmann Andersen.

Scarlett O´Hara - nice powerful well balanced mover with good expression.

German Young Horse selection Tuesday and Wednesday for WCYH in Ermelo - LIVE at Clipmyhorse

World Championships Young Horses in Ermelo

A total of 46 combinations are ready by the 5 year old for today´s mandatory training. See the start list here.

Tomorrow at 2 pm with preliminary 5 year old test, while both 6 year old and 7 year old in doing the mandatory training.

Wednesday at 8 am with 6 year old preliminary test, and at 1 pm with 7 year old showing preliminary test.

The judging team is: Reinhard Richenhagen, Dr. Dietrich Plewa and Monica Theodorescu.

The start lists will be available here.

VIDEOS - Dorothee Schneider and First Romance with double victory at CDI4* Fritzens

Dorothee Schneider and her 12 year old gelding by Fürst Romancier / Day Dream makes the double at CDI4* in Fritzens Austria this weekend.

Winning both the Grand Prix 75,413% Friday (VIDEO) and the Grand Prix Special today (VIDEO) 76,617%, together with the Prix St. Georg victory Friday with Dante´s Hit OLD (VIDEO) 72,206%.

For both the Grand Prix and the Special Victoria Max Theurer and Birkhof´s Topas came 2nd while Saphira Royal and Nicole Wego Engelmeyer were placed 3rd both days.

Overall picture of Topas and Max-Theurer is technical correct, but look like a bit to much leg mover not clearly supple over the back as he most of the time also becomes a bit behind the vertical. Saphira Royal is a very light footed mover and shows great stability and expression for the entire test, only tiny thing is the piaffe tours still missing to stay a the spot as Nicole still needs to keep them in forward trend.

Spanish combinations

For the Spanish combinations at Fritzens this weekend it was their final observation before World Championships in Herning and here the new international combination Romero De Trujillo with Teia Hernandez Vila look like the biggest contender for a team spot, as they were placed 5th with 70,978% in the Grand Prix and also placed 5th in the Special with 70,894%, showing two good tests with a few minor technical issues. The rest of the Spanish field did unfortunately not deliver this weekend.

From H2R point of view the 🇪🇸Spanish World Championship team look like:

  • Malagueño & Daniel Martin Dockx

  • Divina Royal & Jose Antonio Mena

  • Quincallo de Indalo & Alejandro Sanchez del Barco

  • Romero de Trujillo & Teia Hernández Vila

Here you find the entire results from Fritzens.

Fullsister of Vamos Amigos available at Westphalian Online foal auction

What a top star - a unique opportunity to have the same genes as the most winning young international top Grand Prix horse, Vamos Amigos with Danish rider Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour in the saddle.

This weekend with impressive three victories at CHIO Aachen, both Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special with +80% and finishing winning the Deutsche Bank Grand Prix freestyle with massive 88,375%.

The auction start 7 July at 9 am and runs until 11 July at 7.30 pm

Most attractive colt:

Here you find the entire collection.

The sensational Danish 2022 Aachen results will last forever

5 times with the Danish national anthem

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour not only made a massive five times winner performances including the prestigious Deutsche Bank Preis, but the whole Danish team also made it to the top winning the Nation Cup.

As Cathrine joked about at the subsequent press conference, she thought the list at the Aachen wall was only for Isabell Werth.

The Danish team (from H2R point of view (not named yet) - Cathrine, Carina, Daniel and Nanna) are absolutely ready to rock at home soil. With their performances at Aachen everyones eyes are on the Danes for the top of the podium again in August.

Press conference after historical Danish Nations Cup victory

Click at the photo here below to watch the pricegiving cermony for the Aachen Nations Cup victory

Press conference after Deutsche Bank Preis

Dufour anchors dream win for Denmark at Aachen

The FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ at Aachen (GER) was full of emotion as Denmark recorded its first victory in the history of the event. Nanna Skodborg Merrald (Atterupgaards Orthilia), Daniel Bachmann Andersen (Marshall-Bell), Carina Cassøe Krüth (Heiline's Danciera) and Cathrine Dufour (Vamos Amigos) gave Team Manager Anne-Mette Binder a birthday to remember as the quartet triumphed over the home nation in the penultimate event of the 2022 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series. 

Denmark finished on a winning total of 459.421 points after tallying the three best scores from the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. Germany was left on 454.903 points after team anchor and seven-time Olympic gold medalist Isabell Werth (DSP Quantaz) was shockingly eliminated in the Special when blood was found on her horse's mouth. Sweden finished third (440.499 points)

"It's just really fun building this [team] together. It was an annoying way to win in the end with Isabell, but I still think that we did a super job today. Everyone contributed."

Cathrin Dufour (DEN)

The runners-up from April's FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, Dufour and Vamos Amigos anchored the group with career-best scores in both the Grand Prix (81.544) and Grand Prix Special (80.064). The pair was the only combination to score above 80 percent.

"I'm super proud of [Vamos Amigos]. He did a super job again in the ring today [in the Grand Prix Special]," Dufour said. "I might have had five minutes too much warm-up, so I had little less power compared to the Grand Prix, when he was super, super electric. He's 10 years old and is doing super job."

Bachmann was not expecting to be at Aachen after Marshall-Bell was sold to U25 rider Nicole Ahorner of Austria earlier this year, but a meaningful summer reunion has transpired in hopes that horse and rider can make Denmark's team for the upcoming FEI World Championships in Herning (DEN). After finishing 11th in the Grand Prix (73.696%), the pair rose in the standings with a Grand Prix Special test worthy of 75.234%. 

"This was our last selection [event] for our team for [the World Championships]. I was very happy. It was a big day for me," Bachmann said. "I rode [Marshall-Bell] eight times before coming here. It was a little stressful but still a good experience."

"We are proud—overwhelmed I would say I am," Binder said. "I'm really grateful to have such good riders and lovely horses and horse owners that support us all the way."

With its podium finish, Sweden extended its lead in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series with 41 points. The Netherlands moved into second with 24 points, while Spain sits third (20 points). The series concludes at Falsterbo (SWE), 14-17 July.

VIDEO - It was in the cards, historic Nations Cup victory for Denmark in Aachen

Photo credit: EQWO.net

After yesterdays team Grand Prix Denmark was in the lead of the team competition, but taking the victory in the mecca of dressage in Aachen needs 4 combinations to show at their best. And today they proved they were the best and will be ready for Herning!

Unbeatable Cathrine

WOW Cathrine - small unbalance at entering halt and lost of passage for a small moment, after that she just nailed it AGAIN. 80,064%

Marshall-Bell / Daniel Bachmann - Good halt, direct out into trot, power balanced diagonal, good half pass left nice balance, good into passage at C, power extension, super back into passage, active power of the ground passage, nice half pass right good balance, good into passage, soft extension, nice back, power passage, 74% trend, super relaxation good over track extended walk, super collected walk, super 1st piaffe first step bit cautious, nice transitions, active 2nd piaffe, good out, good into canter, very nice canter half passes well balanced, big super 2 times, good 1 times bit crop high begin, super extended canter, nice change, good 1st pirouette, nice 1 times, better control 2nd pirouette, bit stocked into trot, super long side, super expression for final centerline, top piaffe at the SPOT, super halt. 75,234%

Heiline´s Danciera / Carina Cassøe Krüth - Superb halt, direct forward, super expressive diagonal, good half pass left, super into passage, super passage, power expressive diagonal, super in and out, nice half pass right, super smooth back into passage, at the letters transitions, lovely side picture, trend 78,9%, top top extended walk, nice collected walk, lacking bit energy for 1st piaffe, good out, missing more activity for 2nd piaffe, super passage, nice into canter, super half passes, error 1 parallel hind for 2 times, error 1 times, good extended canter, nice sit and balance 1st pirouette, super 1 times, bit big 2nd pirouette, good into trot, power long side, super passage, best piaffe today bit forward trend, super final meters. 74,383%

Atterupgaards Orthilia / Nanna Merrald - Bit open halt hind, power super diagonal, nice half pass right good balance, super into passage, regular, super extension, back into lovely passage, good half pass right, super passage, super transitions in and out, power extensions, good relaxation for extended walk, good collected walk, active tiny trend forward 1st piaffe, super 2nd at the spot, nice transitions, super passage, good into canter, lost canter at turn, good half passes, nice 2 times, good 1 times, nice extended canter, super change, good 1st pirouette, nice 1 times, better 2nd pirouette, good into trot, power long side, super power for the final. 72,277%

click here to watch the full winner performance from Cathrine and Vamos Amigos

Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD winner of CDI4 Grand Prix Special

Frederic Wandres does not show the most spectacular tests, but always very correct, and he really manage to make the best out of each horse - today with Bluetooth OLD. He is far from a spectacular horse, good basic gaits, somewhat still a bit young bodywise, but Frederic manage to encourage and motivate him all the way to do his best. 75,638%

Everyone talks about Jovian what an incredible talented young horse he is. Watching today´s test tells his age - 8 year old. Outstanding for the trot tour 85%, walk tour bit limited and when it comes to piaffe he still need a lot to develop and be able to carry himself, like for the series and the pirouettes. Final score 72,532%

H2R favorite for the victory today was Total Hope OLD with Isabel Freese. But today the hormons look as if they took some of the control, as he for more times was against the aides which unfortunately was with costly errors. A very talented young Grand Prix horse with the strength to do the demanding GP. Finished 69,723% at 8th place.

Bluetooth / Frederic Wandres - Good halt, power diagonal, nice supple crossing half pass left, good into passage, nice regular passage, good extentions, nice half pass right could be bit more up in front with nose more our, small unbalance out into extension, small lack of rhythm in passage, nice marching extended walk, good collected walk, double beat hind 1st piaffe nice sit, good 2nd piaffe push bit hind out, good into canter, supple lovely half passes, good 2 times, good 1 times, good extended canter, good change, big but nice quality 1st pirouette, good 1 times, lost leg end of 2nd pirouette, good extended trot, good active final centerline.

Jovian / Andreas Helgstrand - Straight into good halt, nice out in trot, power expressive wow extension, uphill crossing expressive half pass right, super passage, power out for extension, crossing uphill half pass right, very good passage, power out for top extension, super side picture, short extended walk need more over track and let go, good collected walk, on/off piaffe lack energy and clear rhythm, 2nd piaffe stops, lack balance and clear piaffe steps, good into canter, nice canter half passes, good 2 times tiny swing, good 1 times swinging hind, power extended canter, good change, big pirouettes lacking more strength, swing 1 times, power long side, becomes short/low in the neck for piaffe, super passage.

Total Hope OLD / Isabel Freese - Good halt, direct out, well balanced expressive diagonal, nice flow big crossing half pass right, nice into passage, regular passage, power out for super extension, super power nearly bit over tempo half pass left, tiny lost of balance passage out of corner, good extension, missing bit power end of passage, super relaxation extended walk, good collected walk, good piaffe, bit short passage could show more flow forward, stops for 2nd piaffe, look naughty, bit running into canter, good canter half passes, big 2 times full diagonal, error 1 times, good extended canter, super change, bit big pirouette, super 1 times, 2nd lack more control and big, stocked into transition for trot, good extension, hind aides for final centerline, good managed piaffe, good halt.

Spanish Young Rider Sergio Basoco winner with his Danish Warmblood gelding Farnham L in Aachen today

All 3 Danish Warmblood horses placed in today´s Young Rider competition

The invitational Young Rider competition was a huge success last year, and again this year some of the best combinations were represented.

First to go was the only Spanish rider Sergio Basoco with Danish Warmblood gelding Farnham L by Fürst Rosseau / Hochadel, bred by Karsten Bundgaard. They show a smooth supple test without any technical issues. They both looked as if this was just their way of enjoying the Aachener atmosphere. Well deserved Personal Best today with 73,970%.

Placed 4th another Danish Warmblood gelding only 7 year old Atterupgaards Cooper by Charmeur / Gribaldi, bred by Stutteri Atterupgaard (his famous dam is Atterupgaards Orthilia competing in the 5-star tour with Nanna Merrald). A technical solid test, where you still get the feeling that Cooper finds Aachen a bit impressive, as he does show a bit of tensions all the way. 72,147%.

Last placement as no 6 with 70,706% was 9 year old Danish Warmblood gelding Son of a Lady by Soreldo / Welt Hit II, bred by Trine and Allan Severinsen and ridden by American Christian Simonson. Lots of qualities but also SoaL was a bit impressed by the huge Deutsche Bank arena today. He is former ridden and educated by Carina Cassøe Krüth.

click here to watch Atterupgaards cooper and Sara Hyrm



VIDEO - Cathrine with another sovereign victory, today with Vamos Amigos in CDIO5* Grand Prix

Vamos Amigos & Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour - photo: EQWO.net (from the World Cup finals 2022)

Danish Cathrine makes history taking the individual victory in CDIO5 Grand Prix Aachen today

What a day, 35 combinations and at the end of the day with the Danish national anthem, and ones again Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour showed why she is Denmarks Queen of dressage.

Today was actually just the 4th international Grand Prix for Vamos Amigos, as he recently has been doing the Short Grand Prix test for the World Cup series, but today he just entered the very special +80% Grand Prix league with Cathrine.

“It was just the most incredible feeling. Absolutely outstanding - he is definitely a super star. I´m mega proud ❤️ Nathalie, Kyra and I are just something very special together”
— Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour

Vamos Amigos / Cathrine Dufour - Straight into superb halt, direct into trot, power expression for diagonal, crossing uphill well balanced half passes, top halt with rein back, power diagonal super back into top passage, wow transitions, WOW zack zack zack piaffe steps, relaxed superb extended walk, good collected walk, direct to passage at M, clear passage, WOW easy light effortless piaffe and transitions, transition to canter super, good 2 times, good extended canter not last risk, good change, active zigzag, good 1 times bit tense bodywise, tiny super pirouette, ditto 2nd, bit in the hand for transition to trot, power diagonal, WOW final centerline, superb halt.

The audience also LOVES Cathrine and Vamos!!!

First hand comments from trainer Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein: “I´m super super happy and very proud - Cathrine really deserves it.”

click here to watch a clip from todays winner performance

Cathrine at the subsequent press conference today

Both young men placed at the podium were very humble and happy about their performances today

Placed as no 2 Germany´s Frederic Wandres with Duke of Britain

Duke of Britain / Frederic Wandres - Super halt, good diagonal, lacking bit more carriage and suppleness for half passes, good halt with rein back, good diagonal, could be sharper back into passage, lacking bit more activity for piaffe tiny forward trend, good transitions, nice relaxed quality walk tour, good into passage, better 2nd piaffe, nice transitions, passage could be more quick of the ground, good into canter, mid of 2 times bit small hind, good extended canter, nice change, ok zigzag lack more power, ok 1 times look bit slow, big pirouettes lack some energy, nice into trot, nice diagonal, good final centerline. 77,217%

Placed as no 3 Finland´s Henri Ruoste with Kontestro DB

Kontestro DB / Henri Ruoste - Good halt, power balanced diagonal, lots of crossing but lacking balance, better left, super halt good rein back, power diagonal, direct into passage, super piaffe, good transitions, lack bit more suppleness for extended walk good relaxation though, tense end of collected walk, small tension hind for piaffe, good passage, good transitions, good into canter, good 2 times, conservative extended canter, good change, good zigzag, nice 1 times, super control pirouettes, 2nd top! good into trot, power diagonal, top final centerline. 76,783%

Runner up today was Lottie Fry with the lovely power boy Everdale. Today scoring 76,500%

Everdale / Charlotte Fry - Good halt, expressive diagonal well balanced, crossing uphill balanced both half passes, superb halt with rein back, expressive power for diagonal, nice into passage of the ground, active piaffe off the ground, super transitions, good relaxation for extended walk, good collected walk, nice to passage M, clear active passage, nice rhythm for piaffe, good flow transitions, good into canter, super big 2 times, power extended canter lovely back and change, best zigzag of the day!!, super 1 times full diagonal, bit 1st pirouette, missing bit canter 2nd pirouette, nice into trot, supple diagonal with huge expression, very good final centerline.

10th, 11th and 12th position 🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰

No need to make the big analyses as the three other Danish team members unfortunately did not quite live up to the expectations.

Heiline´s Danciera with a lot of quality but at the same time she looked a bit tired, while Marshall-Bell looked fresh and for some moment a bit over motivated, and Atterupgaards Orthilia showed an effortless quality test with just the break into canter for the final diagonal, but seems that the somewhat open mouth was clearly taken into consideration by today´s judging panel.

10th place 74,500% - Heiline´s Danciera / Carina Cassøe Krüth - Straight into nice halt, power diagonal expressive, lovely side picture, nice crossing right, lacking bit balance left, bit open hind halt good rein back, power diagonal, super into passage, super passage, bit unbalanced hind for active piaffe tiny trend forward, nice transitions, superb extended walk, super collected walk, nice into passage, super passage, much forward piaffe lacking more balance, missing more flow for transitions, good into canter, missing start of 2 times does not take the aides, good extended canter, good zigzag, super 1 times, good quality for both pirouettes bit big, nice into trot, power expressive diagonal, super straight passage, tiny travelling forward piaffe, super passage and halt.

11th place 73,696% - Marshall-Bell / Daniel Bachmann - Bit tense halt, well balanced diagonal, nice side picture, good balance uphill half passes, tiny resistance left, tense halt with rein back, super diagonal with power, sharp into passage, active piaffe at the spot, super transitions, good relaxation over the back for extension, good collected walk, nice into passage, active regular passage, super 2nd piaffe at the SPOT, nice transitions, good into canter, bit tense start of 2 times but well managed, power extended canter, super change, bit unbalanced zigzag, full diagonal 1 times, bit big 1st pirouette, good 2nd pirouette, nice into trot, power diagonal, super centerline, super halt.

12th place 73,348% - Atterupgaards Orthilia / Nanna Merrald Rasmussen - Good halt, good diagonal lovely uphill balanced, nice side picture, good crossing but lacking bit more bend for right, left better flow, superb halt with rein back, power diagonal lovely, super back into passage, super passage, super piaffe, clean transitions, good extended walk, super collected walk, super into passage, super closed passage, WOW piaffe and transitions, super into canter, super 2 times uphill, power extended canter, super change, nice zigzag, super 1 times, super 1st pirouette, 2nd becomes bit hind aides, canter for diagonal, super final centerline.

The Danish team takes the lead after today´s Grand Prix in front of Germany and The Netherlands.

Here you find the entire results.

What a performance from Cathrine and Bohemian

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Bohemian showed their top strength - photo credit: Lily Forado

Beautiful riding from the top ladies in today´s CDI4* Grand Prix in Aachen

Aachen is top most prestigious event throughout the year and is always the final preparation and form check before a big championship. This year with World Championships in Herning beginning of August.

Of course the Danish combinations wants to show that they are ready for the big home soil Championship.

For today´s CDI4* Grand Prix Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and her long time partner 14 year old Bohemian were ready to show again. And what a show the gave the audience and the judges - they are definitely ready to rumble in Herning.

Aachen is a big stage and watching the early afternoon small tour more horses were really affected by the huge atmosphere.

When Cathrine entered the arena, you were not in doubt that she was telling Bohemian that this is gonna be huge, but we can manage together. When started trotting and the audience started to applaud Cathrine just went back to walk and patting him on the neck. And with the start signal they were both 100% focused and delived an outstanding test.

As Cathrine just told H2R after her top performance:

Fantastic with such a start. He was 100% concentrated all the way around and just so honest in everything he did ❤️ A nice calm start here in Aachen, and a super stepping stone before the World Championships on home soil.

Runner up was American Adrienne Lyle with Salvino. A very motivated and supple Salvino. Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth came 3rd, while Isabel Freese and Total Hope OLD finished 4th. From H2R point of view Total Hope and Freese showed a performance for a second place today. Super frame and expression, effortless, lovely natural go and flow with only an error for the one times.

Bohemian / Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour - NEW LEADER 80,413% - Superb halt, well balanced diagonal, smooth half passes nice uphill crossing, good halt with rein back, good diagonal, super into passage, WOW piaffe and transitions, super passage 100% regular, good extended walk could show bit more relaxation, good collected walk, super into passage, WOW piaffe and transitions, super passage, super into canter, super 2 times, good extended canter bit conservative, super change, good zigzag, super 1 times, superb 1st pirouette, WOW 2nd pirouette, good into trot, nice diagonal, straight, WOWWWW final piaffe and transitions, passage until final halt. Superb halt.

Salvino / Adrienne Lyle - Good halt, expressive diagonal, light but lacking more bending in the body for the first half pass, good halt with rein back, super nice diagonal, lovely back into passage, good expression passage, nice active off the ground at the spot with nice transitions, good relaxation for extended walk, good collected walk, bit tense passage, good piaffe, good out, nice into canter, good 2 times, good power extended canter, nice well balanced zigzag, super 1 times full diagonal, very nice pirouettes, bit over power final diagonal, super nice final centerline. 76,891%

Total Hope OLD / Isabel Freese - Nice halt, nice expressive diagonal, good flow and go for half passes, good halt with rein back, super diagonal, small unbalance into passage, nice passage, active piaffe at the spot, need tiny more clear flow for transitions, good extended walk, good collected walk, nice into passage, super timing for 2nd piaffe, good activity, nice transition, good into canter, super two times full diagonal, super extended canter, well balanced zigzag, big uphill unfortunately error 1 times, bit big but good quality pirouettes, good into trot, power diagonal, super final centerline. 75,000%


Great Danish performances from both Jovian and Thranegaardens Rostov

Young Jovian did look a bit more insecure for the piaffe tours today, while Thranegaardens Rostov looked very confident in the big atmosphere with a very solid performance.

Jovian / Andreas Helgstrand - Good halt, good diagonal, early into half pass not using first corner, bit tense good uphill crossing half passes, nice halt bit tense rein back, super diagonal, good into passage, lacking more flow and activity for piaffe, super passage, bit short extended walk, good collected walk, super into passage, missing more flow for piaffe and lacking activity, good into canter, good 2 times bit swinging, good extended canter, bit unbalanced zigzag, good bit swinging 1 times, good control pirouettes, good into trot, power diagonal, nice passage, lacking more flow into piaffe, good out. 74,761% (5)

Thranegaardens Rostov / Lone Bang - Super halt, power diagonal nice supple, well balanced half passes with good crossing, bit open halt good rein back, super diagonal, good transition to passage, good 1st piaffe, really nice overall picture, good transitions, nice relaxation for extended walk, good collected walk, super into passage, bit cautious into 2nd piaffe, good steps, nice out into passage, good into canter, nice 2 times, good extended canter, lovely balanced zigzag, super nice 1 times, good 1st pirouette, lacking last canter step for 2nd pirouette but well managed, super nice diagonal, super straight passage, lacking bit piaffe steps for final, good passage. 71,696% (10)

Here you find all the detailed scoring.

©Horse2rider.com • horse2rider.com@gmail.com