A couple of bigger issues became very expensive for the home crowd favorite Begium Jorinde Verwimp with her long time partner Tiamo, and at the same time experienced Dutchman Patrick van der Meer was able to show his test without any technical issues.

Unfortunately both former Dutch team members Danielle Heijkoop and Adelinde Cornelissen were struggling with their piaffe tours, as neither Badari or Zephyr seems to really have found the rhythm and understanding of the real piaffe steps.

Danish Carina Cassøe Krüth and her 14 yr old Danish Warmblood mare May-Day Graftebjerg made their first international performance outside Denmark with a very nice balanced test showing nice qualities, just until the beginning of the one times series. As Carina confirmed after her ride, May-Day was pretty sure that this direction towards the diagonal was the signal for an extended canter, and Carina was struggling until after passing the centerline to convince May-Day about the one times instead. And the subsequent first pirouette becomes bit unbalanced and tense, like also the extended walk was lacking more relaxation. They ended up as 1st not placed with 67,900%. Nice overall correct and light picture. Exciting combination to follow for the future.

H2R comments during the class:

1st - Zippo NED - good start, half passes lack bit bend and crossing, good halt with rein back, bit unbalanced passage hind, small issue out of piaffe, good walk, good 2nd piaffe, good 2 times, bit unbalanced zig-zag, 1 times need more uphill trend, good pirouettes, good final, pull right hind bit more up in passage than left for some moments.

2nd - Tiamo BEL - good start, half passes could be with bit more carriage, bit high neck out of nice halt with rein back, good transition to passage, good piaffe, need bit more clear flow for 2nd part of passage, good walk, good 2nd piaffe / passage, error 2 times, error end of extended canter bucking/naughty, unbalanced zig-zag, error/tense hind begin of 1 times, good pirouettes, nice final centerline.

3rd - Badari NED - bit running extended trot, nice supple half passes with good crossing, becomes bit strong in the riders hands for passage, lack transitions in and out of piaffe and very limited 1st piaffe, good walk tour, does not really catch the piaffe rhythm, good 2 times, full risk extended canter, good zig-zag, nice 1 times, good control for pirouettes, nice passage, pity with today´s transitions and piaffe.

You will find all comments at H2R Facebook page from today´s Grand Prix.

See the entire results here.