Partnering the 11-year-old stallion Indian Rock, The Netherlandsโ Emmelie Scholtens clinched victory at the ninth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cupโข 2023/2024 Western European League in Neumรผnster, Germany today.
Already under the spotlight after topping yesterdayโs closely-contested Grand Prix, the Dutch pair were awarded the winning mark once again today by judges Ulrike Nivelle (GBR), Clive Halsall (DEN), Hans-Christian Matthiesen (NED), Maarten ver der Heijden (GER) and Henning Lehrmann (GER) with less than 2.5 percent separating the top four this time around.
Their Freestyle score of 81.565 gave Scholtens the edge over Swedenโs Patrik Kittel and Forever Young HRH, while German riders filled the next three places, Matthias Alexander Rath (Destacado FRH) clinching third ahead of Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock (Florine OLD) in fourth and Raphael Netz (Great Escape Camelot) in fifth place. Belgiumโs Larissa Pauluis (Flambeau) finished sixth of the 15 starters.
For Scholtens, her win today with the horse she competed at the World Championships in Herning (DEN) in 2022 and at last summerโs European Championship in Riesenbeck (GER) was particularly special.
"I know Indian Rock since he was three years old, I started everything with him, his whole education all the way to Grand Prix and heโs special to me because I rode his father (Apache) and he reminds me of him!โ
Emmelie Scholtens NED
said the 38-year-old rider.
Standard
Nowag-Aulenbrock and the imposing chestnut mare Florine OLD set the standard in the first half of the competition with a personal-best score of 79.225, but German compatriot, Rath, went out in front when producing the first over-80% score with Destacado FRH when fifth-last into the ring.
โIt was better than yesterday, he was more on my aids todayโ, Rath said of the 11-year-old horse who already showed his potential when finishing second as a five-year-old and fourth as a six-year-old at the World Breeding Championship Finals.
โI know we still have room to improve, but for the test today the plan was in the morning to get together with my trainer Monica Theodorescu and my father, and it was a really nice testโ, he said with some satisfaction.
However his score of 80.425 was overtaken by the next pair into the arena, Patrik Kittel sweeping into the lead when earning 81.145 for a test filled with pleasing passage and accompanied by a musical score that had the audienceโs toes tapping. Playing to the crowd is what this Swedish performer has always been about, but even this three-time Olympian was very aware of how intimate the Neumรผnster arena is.
โObviously itโs not so easy to ride when the audience is so very close here, and they are very enthusiastic which I really love! We do this to make people enjoy it, to see the harmony between the rider and horse and when people come and show their appreciation we love that. Every rider says we ride better when the audience are with us!โ, he pointed out.
Despite the challenges of the arenaโs dimensions, Kittel has a special relationship with the Holstenhallen.
"Neumรผnster was my first home when I came to Germany and this was one of the first shows I ever attended so itโs quite cool to many years later sit here"
Patrik Kittel SWE
he explained.
Talking about his test he said, โI had a rider-pilot mistake in the changes today which I quickly corrected but otherwise it was really good and I think the music is really cool, itโs a bit different. For me itโs about just keep riding, have fun and just enjoy being here!โ
Steal his thunder
But Scholtens would steal his thunder when, despite a nervous moment when entering the arena to a wall of sound, Indian Rock earned the biggest score of the day when next to go.
โHe was a little bit scared because of the prize-giving from yesterday but he is such a brave horse - I said itโs fine, you can go in!โ, she explained after putting 81.565 on the board.
โHeโs a fun horse to go to shows with because heโs easy and he feels he wants to give his all. He has the best character, heโs a stallion but he is so sweet. Heโs special to me because of his father also, but itโs about every day how he is when you are with himโ.
With Indian Rockโs sire, Apache, Scholtens finished eighth at the FEI Dressage World Cupโข Final in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2019. Following todayโs result she finds herself well within reach of a qualifying place for the 2024 Final, so that has presented her with an interesting question.
โI didnโt think before about going to the Final but Iโm considering it now!โ, she said. But of course the decision isnโt just hers. โHe feels like my horse but heโs not my horse so I have to discuss with the owners and to be honest itโs also an exciting year this year because of the Olympics so I also have to watch out that everything isnโt too much for him. We have to figure out what is bestโ, she explained.
One way or another however she will definitely compete at the final leg of the Western European League on home soil at โs-Hertogenbosch (NED) in three weeksโ time.
Final
Kittel also plans to go to the Dutch fixture and the man who has been the longtime leader on the League table is already thinking ahead to his trip to the series Final.
โI have luckily now three horses qualified which is a big honour for me. I will take Bonamour to Den Bosch and after that I will have a talk to our Swedish team coach and everyone involved and see if and when and how we do Riyadhโ, he said.
And Germanyโs Rath also has Riyadh in his sights. Todayโs result has rocketed him up to second place on the League table so he is comfortably qualified.
"The plan was with Destacado was to do the World Cup season and to go to the Final. Now with 69 points we are safe and we can plan for the Final and thatโs really cool. It would be the second World Cup Final for me and Iโm really looking forward to it!"
Matthias Alexander Rath GER
he said.
Meanwhile when it comes to celebrating her victory today, Scholtens said that would be happening on her six-hour drive home to Holland. โItโs a long drive but we often driver further, and when you win then everything feels better!โ, she pointed out.
The penultimate leg of the FEI Dressage World Cupโข 2023/2024 Western European League will take place next weekend in Gothenburg, Sweden, so donโt miss a hoofbeatโฆ.
Result
Standings
