Very exciting finals for today´s 5 yr old horses
Looked like super weather conditions from the start of the final today. High quality throughout the class with just a few combination which did not manage to show their best level for today´s final.
Mr. Hess did a fantastic job
The finals are just stepped up to a very very high level with German judge and commentator Mr. Christoph Hess. No matter what the outcome was from the combination, Mr. Hess always did his comments in a construtive and educational way, with the fact in mind that it is a young horse competition and everything can happen, even with an experienced rider.
Quote from Hess: "In the walk you have to be a passenger not a pilot", explained in the way that you as a rider must be able to be a part of the walk, not just stearing.
As Hess additionally told during his commentating, his judging colleagues also added with ex. "nice time in the air", explanation of the canter qualities from Henkie, and Sisters Act with "three good natural paces".
World Champion Don Martillo and Ann-Christin Wienkamp representing HANN - photo credit: Timo Martis
Effortless, obedient well managed test from German Ann-Christin Wienkamp with Hannoveraner stallion Don Martillo. But the scoreboard got very hot, as the spectator judging also saw the test at 9,22 and not 9,74. The last power from behind, and top expression was lacking for the 9.74 from H2R point of view.
Silver medal for Ferrari and Andreas Helgstrand representing OLD - photo credit: Timo Martis
Andreas Helgstrand is not just Europe´s most successful horsedealer, he is also both able to produce the horses himself, but for sure also very eager to enter the centerline with a top horse like Ferrari.
Very harmonius picture, the big stallion suits Helgstrand very well, and he manage for today´s final at ride with less pressure, which makes the overall picture very nice. Lots of expression for the trot tour with a lovely balance, good walk, and nice power in the canter. Silver medal a reality, when his own stable riders and worst competitors did not manage to do their tests without smaller issues. "When they can´t get the medals, I´ll bring a medal home myself", Helgstrand subsequent joked. And at the same time Andreas told how proud he was about the archivements from the entire team - "everyone at our team made this Championship successfull for our stable", Helgstrand told on his way back to Denmark.
Bronze medal for Hesselhøj Donkey Boy and Jan Møller Christensen representing DWB - photo credit: Timo Martis
Danish Warmblood stallion Hesselhøj Donkey Boy with Jan Møller Christensen showed themselves as true contenders for the medals from their performance at the preliminary test - easy light and effortless.
Could they keep the same spectacular level for the final - nearly. But unfortunately today with an error when doing the transition from walk to canter with error canter. And also with the transition canter / walk / canter, where Donkey Boy shows some tensions hind. Costly issues which for sure were the difference between silver and bronze today.
A lovely supple, happy, well moving and well prepared stallion which just proved his own qualities in the sport.
