Winner Mount St. John Freestyle and Charlotte Dujardin
Super sharp field for today’s World Cup Grand Prix with just 14 starters
Danish combination Ulrik Mølgaard with Michigan had to withdraw before the trot up, as Micky unfortunately had an accident at the stables and did look 100% fit, Ulrik told.
No doubt about today’s winner combinations, and with almost 80% there is still room for improvement for Dujardin and Freestyle.
Personal best and place 4th today was Dutch Emmelie Scholtens with her 11 year old KWPN stallion Desperado N.O.P. with 76,283% - not just personal best score but also personal best test from H2R point of view. Overall good power, suppleness and obedience from the big black stallion all the way, and it was of course also a very please and happy Emmelie after today’s test. Seen from the “sideline” the placement was more like a second place like judge at E French Isabelle Judet saw them.
Desperado N.O.P. NED - super halt, power diagonal, nice uphill crossing half passes, super halt with good rein back, good diagonal, super into passage, nice piaffe keeping the activity and good transitions, 77% trending after trot, super extended walk, active collected walk, nice into passage, nice 2nd piaffe with good active passage, good into canter, super nice 2 times, power diagonal extended canter super back for the change, super zigzag, superb flow forward 1 times, tiny active 1st pirouette, huge sit small jump to the side at final for 2nd pirouette, good into trot, super diagonal, nice final centerline with good transitions. 76,282%
Best ever test from H2R point of view 👌🏻
Werth and Emilio showed a strong test but struggling a bit with the full relaxation for the halts and the collected walk today.
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Zaire-E showed a strong and very harmonious performance today.
Both Swiss combinations showed good performances with very good quality horses, but at the moment they are both lacking a bit more experience and top timing for their tests.
New at the World Cup scene today was the just 9 year old Lusitano mare Actuelle de Massa with French Anne Sophie Serre. A very interesting mare showing top qualities all the way, with only the walk as a bit weak point today. This combination made their international Grand Prix debut in August this year in Nice.
Morgan Barbancon with Sir Donnerhall II getting there, better and better every time. The only issue now is the piaffe tours, but today Morgan manage to maintain the energy in the piaffes.
Top 3 H2R comments during the tests: (all comments available via H2R Facebook)
Mount St. John Freestyle GBR - good halt but small unbalance, power diagonal WOW, well balanced half passes small tension left end, super halt with rein back, power diagonal, into smooth passage, bit forward piaffe and lack bit clear beat for the begin, super nice transitions, good walk tour, nice into passage, nice 2nd piaffe keep the flow and rhythm, good 2 times, good extended canter, super zigzag, good 1 times, super balanced pirouettes, WAUW 2nd!, super into trot, power diagonal, very nice final centerline. 79.978%
Power controlled test with some tiny issues.
Emilio GER - bit tense halt, well balanced diagonal, good crossing but lacking bit mor carriage for both half passes, good halt bit resistance for rein back, nice diagonal, smooth transition to passage, easy in and out 1st piaffe with piaffe at the spot, need more let go for the extended walk bit unbalanced rhythm, small steps for collected walk, ready at M super passage, easy 2nd piaffe, super transition to canter, good 2 times, nice extension, good zigzag, bit short one times, very sharp 1st pirouette, 2nd bit bigger, good transition to trot, nice diagonal, super final centerline. 77,826%
Expensive entering halt and the small steps for the collected walk kept her away from Dujardin today.
Zaire-E GER - good halt, nice diagonal, good flow half passes, bit open halt with tiny resistance rein back, good diagonal, nice transition to passage, tiny forward piaffe good transitions, good passage, good walk tour, direct into passage, nice 2nd piaffe with smooth transitions, good transition to canter, bit swing 2 times, good extended canter, well balanced zigzag, good 1 times, good pirouettes in nice balance, good transition to trot, good diagonal, smooth final centerline. 76,435%
Well balanced test with nice overall expression.
Watch the entire class here below - winner performance move the timeline to 29.30 to watch Dujardin with Freestyle.
See the entire results here.