KWPN stallion Everdale and Charlotte Fry - photo credit: H2R/Christine Prip
British Lottie Fry a superb team rider and will for sure fight for the individual medals in the future
Even though Lottie Fry actually still could participate at U25 level she is really showing her consistency performing effortless power tests every time she enters the arena whether it is the Olympics, World Championship Young Horses or European Championships. She is always well prepared and presenting happy powerful athletes - this time like at the Olympics KWPN stallion Everdale.
Three times placed individual 5th and all three times with Personal Best scores, Grand Prix 77,671%, Grand Prix Special 78,146%, Grand Prix Freestyle 84,721% - outstanding efforts.
From unfortunate Olympics to successful European Championship
Kontestro DB 11-year old Begium Warmblood gelding by Contendro / Cassini II (pure jumping pedigree) and Finnish Henri Ruoste has been international partners since beginning of 2020 and were also among the starters at Tokyo Olympics, but unfortunately their first Olympic Games became much shorter than expected as Kontestro was terrified for the cameras covered with rain shield and they had to retire. Of course everyones eyes were focused on the combination going into the European Championship arena.
Henri Ruoste showed what an outstanding rider he is and also what a special bond he has with the super well moving and athletic gelding producing not just three outstanding performances but also two times Person Best in Grand Prix (77,314% placed 6th) and Freestyle (82,600% placed 6th) speaks for itself. The way Ruoste is able to guide and control this sensitive power horse is a pure pleasure to watch, and not least to watch them leaving the arena fully relaxed.
Olympic travelling reserve combinations
Danish Charlotte Heering and Bufranco, Britains Gareth Hughes with Sintano van Hof Olympia, Germany´s Annabelle with Helen Langehanenberg and Spain’s Divina Royal with José Antonio Garcia Mena were all travelling reserve combinations at Tokyo Olympics.
Divina Royal and José Antonio Garcia Mena - photo credit: H2R/Christine Prip
The only travelling reserve being at start for the Olympics was Spanish José Mena with Divina Royal and they showed again in Hagen why they were worthy a team spot posting best score and only Spanish combination qualified for the Grand Prix Freestyle final as also was their freestyle debut.
Motivated enthusiastic and power performances - they really enjoyed being in the arena doing their stuff together.
Buriel KH and Juliette Ramel - photo credit: H2R/Christine Prip
Our Swedish neighbours
From Danish point of view we were quite happy that Patrik Kittel stayed on the ground as a trainer for the championships, as both Juliette Ramel and Therese Nilshagen showed strong performances over the days. From the sideline best ever performances from Dante Weltino OLD with Therese Nilshagen, as she clearly has improved the balance and uphill tendency for the series.
Lately Kittel has been successful with the Danish Warmblood mare Fiontini but their partnership was still very new and they did not try to qualify for the championships. They will instead be part of the Swedish team for this weeks CHIO in Aachen.
Haute Couture and Dinja van Liere - photo credit: H2R / Christine Prip
“New” championship combinations
Dutch combination just 9-year old mare Haute Couture with Dinja van Liere really show top qualities for the entire championships posting two times person best in both Grand Prix (placed 15 with 74,208%) and Grand Prix Special (placed 9 with 75,699%) and impressive Grand Prix freestyle debut placed 10th with 79,668%. Lovely to watch this eager to work power mare with the very elegant rider Dinja just using very discreet aides and making a very harmonious overall picture.
Hungarian combination Dior S with Anikó Losonczy was also one of the new ones at the championships. They’ve been successful at the Eastern Europe soil during the season. They finished as best placed Hungarian in the team competition as 29th with 70,046% directly qualified for the Grand Prix Special. Lovely effortless and easy riding with a big horse and a tiny rider.
Walk issues, mistakes and not sound horse
Looking back into the team competition one headline stood out “more horses with walk issues”. Most horses were well moving and well balanced for the tour and canter tour, but going into the walk the scoreboard often went down with 2-3% which obviously is costly, as most of the combinations were not able to recover from that for their canter tour.
Some of the Olympic horses looked a bit tired and not top motivated, of course with a few exceptions and it was reflected by more mistakes than we usually see at championships.
The German team combination Faustus and Dorothee Schneider did not really catch the rhythm for the tests as Faustus more times for both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special kind of lost his one front leg in a very odd way.
Not ringing the bell
The Grand Prix Special was with Danish Susanne Baarup as judge at C and unfortunately she did not ring the bell for the British horse Sintano van Hof Olympia with Gareth Hughes as Sintano was clearly irregular for the extensions, and furthermore only reflected by the scores from Maria Colliander (FIN) judge at E.
Triple gold medalist at the Europeans 2021 in Hagen TSF Dalera BB and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl - here with Great Britains judge at M Isobel Wessels - photo credit: H2R/Christine Prip
Freestyle podium without Werth
Werth and Weihegold was not showing top form this week in Hagen and the younger ladies were ready to take over.
TSF Dalera BB and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl are just unbeatable at the moment. A controlled team Grand Prix without taking any risks, Grand Prix Special with power and correctness pure, and a Freestyle with power, balance, high qualities and not least high degree of difficulty and superb music with dancing Dalera. Jessica is showing the big mare is the best frame, steady light contact, super supple and never missing a step.
Bohemian and Cathrine Dufour got better day by day at the championships and their partnership in the arena has really developed. No doubt they have the medal qualities but bringing the best from the training into the arena has been a challenge, but the outstanding riding skills from Dufour makes it possible to bring home more medals in the future.
Charlotte Dujardin and Gio looked a bit tired for the Grand Prix even though it was not reflected by the scoreboard, mistake free Grand Prix Special, and power freestyle bring back Dujardin at the podium for the bronze medal.
Never underestimate the young ladies - they will for sure continue fighting for the podium spots in the future.