Exciting 1st part of the 5 yr old preliminary class today
All horses seems to have settled well down before going into the huge arena. Just a few tensions from some of the horses.
The day started with nice sunshine, but unfortunately it started to rain quite heavily after the first couple of combinations.
Don Martillo and Ann-Christin Wienkamp - photo credit: Timo Martis
Winner of the first part today became HANN stallion Don Martillo by Don Juan de Hus / Benetton Dream with German Ann-Christin Wienkamp. Total score of 9,76. The judges gave them 10 for the trot and 10 for the walk. Supple and obedient test, nice lightness in the forehand, although you might wish for a bit more push from the hind legs in both trot and canter. Superb walk - well deserved 10! Nice frame all the way and very nice balance too.
Ferrari and Andreas Helgstrand - photo credit: Timo Martis
2nd became Danish Andreas Helgstrand with Ferrari by Foundation / Hotline, participating for Germany. Impressive mover the big stallion, which seems to suit Helgstrand very well. Lot of suppleness through the body, lovely balance for the turns in the trot work, still stepping forward and upwards. Good walk, could be a bit more over the back, but looks easy to manage. Superb uphill canter with lots of potential both when going forwards and collecting. 9,42.
Casablanca and Simone Pearce - photo credit: Timo Martis
3rd Australian Simone Pearce (Helgstrand Dressage) showing the bigframed mare Casablanca. Casablanca enters the arena with a bit big eyes, but Simone really manage well. Lots of expression and power for the entire trot tour = 10 for the trot from the judges. Bit tense for halt and rein back, good walk, and good canter although Casabalanca looks a tense in the topline.
First to go was Sascha Schultz (LUX) with Quizmaster. Nice active rhythm for the trot tour, easy picture, nice frame and good contact. Could show a bit more push from behind for the trot tour. Nice supple walk with good quality of the walk itself. Nice supple canter with good potential and nice transition from canter to walk and into canter again. Overall very nice and uncomplicated picture. They were placed 4th with 8,6.
