Press release
07-09-2024 by Ermelo YH
Proud James (Jameson RS2 x Johnson TN) and Maxi Kira von Platen have won the Sport Pro Horse Prize for four-year-old dressage horses and thereby continued their winning streak in Ermelo. The second position was claimed by So Special 12 (Secret x Bon Coeur) and Jessica Lynn Thomas that moved up the rankings compared to their fourth place in the qualification. The top three was completed by Hexagon’s Power Dutch (Glock’s Toto Jr. x Hexagon’s Double Dutch) and Anke van Moer.
Commentating judge Patrick van der Meer was full of praise after the performance of the grey stallion. “We have seen lovely test, what an elegant and talented horse”. The KWPN-bred Proud James, bred by Y.M.M. Maasacker and owned by Helgstrand Dressage A/S was awarded an 8.8 for perspective and trot. “A very active trot, a nice balance and overall, a very fluent test.” The total score of the KWPN performance test top scorer was 86.2%.
Focus
The German rider Maxi Kira is very pleased with her four-year-old powerhouse. “It felt super today, he was very focused, more so than the first day. Today we got to ride in the main arena, you never know a young horse, especially a breeding stallion, will react to that.” After the first round the young stallion was ready to shine, something Maxi-Kira hopes to more often the coming years. “It would be a dream to compete in the world breeding championships next year, Proud James surely has a big future ahead of him.”
Canter
The four-year-old horses may not compete in the world championship like their older colleagues, but they all moved through the main arena like true pros. The entire top 12 of this class obtained an 80%+ score. Receiving a 9.0 for the canter and three 8.5s, So Special 12 was more than deserving of the second position. The Hanoverian stallion, bred and owned by Pia Sophie Wahlers, received a score of 84.8%. “We saw a very harmonious test, with a lovely partnership between horse and rider. The canter was a highlight: uphill, lots of energy and covering a lot of ground.”
Greys
The grey horses dominated the 4-year-old class. The KWPN-bred Hexagon’s Power Dutch, bred and owned by Stal Hexagon, lived up to his name with his powerful, active walk that was given a 9.0. The stallion received an overall score of 84.4%.
Photo: Stefan Lafrentz