Nothing is of course decided before after 15.00 tomorrow, but the picture shows as predicted Germany on gold course, with Great Britain, Sweden, The Netherland and Denmark battling for the silver and bronze position at the podium. Its now all about the strongest team members tomorrow.
Classic Briolinca with Gareth Hughes for GBR - photo credit: Lily Forado
The most polished test today was performed by Gareth Hughes with Classic Briolinca
Might not be with as many top highlights as Showtime and Delera, but the overall impression and the balance was just outstanding for the British combination today.
Classic Briolinca GBR - good halt, lovely light diagonal, nice half passes good self carriage, nice halt with rein back, good extension, nice into passage, 1st piaffe need more clear activity, good extended walk could show more over track, super nice passage, bit tension for 2nd piaffe, very regular passage, good 2 times lack bit more volume, super well balanced zigzag, good 1 times lack bit more off the ground canter jumps, well managed and superb 2nd pirouette, enjoyable passage, huge sit for the piaffe, superb final centerline - THEY ARE IN THE MEDALS......
Showtime FRH and Dorothee Schneider GER - photo credit: Lily Forado
Dorothee Schneider and Showtime FRH did not have their piaffe day today, but still producing many highlights, said that the scoreboard became clearly a bit overheated.
Showtime FRH GER - good halt, power uphill diagonal, well balanced supple half passes, good halt with nice rein back, super diagonal direct to passage, nice passage small lack of impulse for 1st piaffe with small stop, super nice extended walk, good collected walk, lack bit activity for 2nd piaffe, becomes a bit hind aides for 2 times, good extended canter, good zigzag, ok 1 times bit shorter to right, lack more correct bend for 1st pirouette, 2nd better but still not bended in the riding direction, some resistance / disturb for final piaffe.
Riding for their teams
Both Swedens Therese Nilshagen and The Netherlands Hans Peter Minderhoud were really performing for their teams today. It was obvious that they knew their mission and also got top outcome both combinations. Nilshagen and her powerful stallion Dante Weltino still struggling with the clear balanced transitions out of the piaffe tours, as she today managed to put even more power into the piaffes.
Dante Weltino OLD SWE - nice halt, power diagonal with top expression, active crossing uphill half passes, good halt bit dragging rein back, super extension, good passage, bit hard work to keep the activity for the first piaffe, lack bit more clear transition out of piaffe, bit hurried extended walk, active bit travelling forward 2nd piaffe, good 2 times, lovely extended canter, small unbalance turning into the centerline for zigzag, good zigzag, error 1 times, big 1st pirouette, super 2nd pirouette with lovely sit, power diagonal, lovely sit for final piaffe but struggling the clear transition out of the piaffe.
Glock´s Dream Boy with his experienced rider produced a maximum test today. For some moments you could wish for a little less power from Minderhoud, as Dream Boy for more moments becomes a bit unbalanced and nodding, but exercise wise he just produces what he is asked to do.
Glock´s Dream Boy N.O.P. NED - super halt, power diagonal, bit unbalanced picture for the half passes, superb halt with a bit tense rein back, good diagonal, power passage, off the ground piaffe and smooth transitions, good extended walk, good collected walk, bouncy passage, active piaffe with nice transitions, good into canter, good 2 times, power full risk extended canter, very strong zigzag (error end?!), good one time could be bit bigger the changes hind, good pirouettes, super nice final centerline. Minderhoud gave it all for the team today!
See the results here.