Hesselhøj Donkey Boy and Jan Møller Christensen - photo credit: Thomas Bisgaard
Hesselhøj Donkey Boy and Jan Møller Christensen with top performance
From the start list it was once again with a World Champion combination, D´Avie with Severo Jurado Lopez. Today D´Avie was just a bit too much on the toes for the trot tour even though Severo is a master to present a horse, the tensions just crept in for the trot tour, but still scoring same level at today’s winner Hesselhøj Donkey Boy with 9,2 for the trot.
Jan Møller Christensen and Hesselhøj Donkey Boy are defending national champions, but said that it is almost a totally different world moving from 5 year old top class to 6 year old top class, of course not when the horse has both the qualities and abilities.
The walk….
Hesselhøj Donkey Boy showed a top performance together with Jan Møller Christensen today, super balance all the way. Very obedient, 100% concentration about the job and supple. Nice frame and easy light contact without any technical issues.
The “big” question from a lot of people has always been “but what about his huge walk”?
It´s never been an issue when performing, as it has always been with a clear beat with huge over track, and now as 6 year old you can just sit back enjoy every walk step from today’s rein back and forward with clear beat from the first step till the last step (just with some excited steps before the transition to canter today). The “tricky” phase when picking up the rein from extended walk does not becomes tricky at all, Donkey Boy (and Jan) just manage to add activity for the more collected walk, and at the same time maintaining the clear beat - this is just outstand and well deserved without any doubt a clear 10 for the walk.
No doubt the 2018 champion will be either Donkey Boy or D´Avie - tomorrow will tell us.
New to H2R is the stallion Adoro by Ampere / Donnerschwee with Helgstrand Dressage rider Manuel Springhetti. Super nice expressive performance with a lot of qualities and easy effortless.
Today’s best flying changes
New Blue Hors rider Nanna Merrald and Blue Hors Zirrus shows a very solid test and without any doubt today’s best flying changes.
A couple of “different” scores
One combination with the comments from the judges about just one clear change and to much on the forehand = 8,2 for ride ability.
Both changes with error and short/long walk = 8 for potential.
No Consolation finals
The format without consolation final does not really suit a young horse final. Going to the finals with one of the highest scoring young horses and then having the test destroyed like Rikke Dupont today with Hayden KS today. It looked like he got very scared from the applauding audience for the combinations before, and that became the end of the finals for Rikke and Hayden without getting the chance again via the consolation final.
Winner:
2nd
3rd