Mount St. John Freestyle and Charlotte Fry - photo credit: Lily Forado
The “new” short Grand Prix is approved
For everyone this was the very first time to test this new short Grand Prix.
When watching the first few riders you just had to adapt to the new lines, but said that the flow and go was really nice, even though the exercises are even more demanding as there is no time to breath, nor for horses and riders or judges.
You get first big change in the rhythm right after the halt with rein back, where you have the transition to passage at H and then going to the centerline for the piaffe. For the short walk sequence with extended walk at short diagonal all judges gets a pretty go view, while the short part of collected walk must be very difficult for all judges to see for more than a few steps. The transition from walk to canter does not really show any specific differences between the riders at this level. From there going direct to the centerline for the zigzag becomes a bit unbalanced for some riders and the two times at the diagonal does not make any hard times, the centerline with the two pirouettes and the eleven one time changes is the absolute most demanding exercise for this short test, like coming from the extended canter at short diagonal with change and then nearly direct into trot at the straight line.
Top 3 - H2R running comments
Mount St. John Freestyle GBR - good halt, power freedom diagonal, smooth supple uphill half passes, superb halt with rein back, super into passage, bit cautious tiny forward trend piaffe, super walk tour, good into canter, well balanced zigzag, nice 2 times, super sit and control both pirouettes, 2nd small unbalance at the end, nice 1 times, super extended canter, change and transition, super nice final - superb halt. 81,553%
Hawtins Delicato GBR - super halt, good diagonal, nice flow half passes, good halt with rein back, good into passage, piaffe lacking bit of energy and transitions could be with more clear flow, superb extended walk, unbalanced collected walk, good zigzag, error 2 times, pirouettes becomes big, good 1 times, good extended canter, change and transition to trot, bit cautious final piaffe, superb halt. 75,790%
Everdale GBR - good halt, expressive diagonal, smooth uphill forward flow half passes, bit tense halt with rein back, good into passage, easy in and out of active piaffe, good extended walk, good collected walk, good transition to canter, active expressive zigzag, good 2 times, nice control both pirouette, 2nd bit hurried, nice 1 times, good extended canter, nice transition to trot, super nice final centerline with smooth transitions and active piaffe. 75,368%
Lottie Fry stood out for the first part of the Grand Prix
First part of the Grand Prix with young British Lottie Fry and the young KWPN approved stallion Everdale as the absolute highlight. Lottie is going into this packed arena look like a very experienced rider, and then with 100% focus all the way together with 10 year old Everdale. Finishing up at the podium together with Dujardin and Hester was a surprise, and just a clear sign of that the British team has a new strong combination, not just in the pipeline but at the podium.
Two Danish combinations were also in the first part. For Danish Ulrik Mølgaard and his long time partner in crime the 18 year young Michellino son Michigan the atmosphere is still a bit too much at Olympia. The overall picture becomes unfortunately a bit to hectic and tense for more moments, but for sure your not in doubt that they were having fun all the way.
The other British based Danish rider Anders Dahl and his young 10 year old Fidelio van het Bloemenhof did a super job, and showed a test without technical issues and good qualities all the way.