Spanish José Antonio Garcia Mena successful with talented horses for the future - yesterday with international 72,7% Grand Prix debut

Trakehner gelding Nautilus by Connery / Latimer with José Antonio Garcia Mena - photo credit: Lily Forado

Spanish international rider José Antonio Garcia Mena has been successful during the last 15 years.

José has been educating a lot of talented horses among them Batuta and Dragao, and he was successful with the PRE stallion Norte Lovera being a part of the Spanish team at WEG in Kentucky in 2010 and at the European Championships in Herning in 2013. Additionally José Mena has been participating at WCYH three times.

Along his own career in the saddle José is also a much sought after trainer, and he has for a number of years been assisting Isabell Werth in training of her horses. Among his other clients are Kristine Møller, Gestüt Pallerhaff in Luxembourg where he has been training her regularly with different horses. When Kristine about 2 years ago got pregnant José Mena took over the education of Trakehner gelding Nautilus and they recently won 7 year old class with 79%.

About Natilus tells José “I’m very happy about Nautilus, he has developed a lot, and he is very talented and shows great ability for the collected work. We had a great season last year and I’m looking very much forward to continue his education.”

International 72,7% Grand Prix debut

Recently José made national Grand Prix debut with the spanish bred 11 year old HANN mare Divina Royal by Desperados. (Video below)

Yesterday José and Divine Royal won the CDI3 Grand Prix at Abrantes, Portugal.

Bella Rose wins again but with a few technical issues

Today the scoreboard said winner Bella Rose and second Zaire E, but from the “sideline” the test from Bella Rose and Isabell Werth definitely not was near 80%.

Bella Rose - Super halt, good diagonal, well balanced half pass left uphill, super supple passage tours, supple uphill half pass right, unbalanced walk tour, super into active at the spot 2 piaffe tours, error into canter, tense into the hand half pass right, good 2 times, error 1 times, conservative extended canter, lack more sit and clear canter for both pirouettes, ok 1 times, bit tense into trot, super final, top halt.

Zaire E - Super halt, not Straight for diagonal bit on 3 tracks, nice half pass left, nice passage, left half pass good, expressive balanced passage, bit hurried extensions, good walk tour, good piaffes nice transitions, tense into canter, good half passes, nice 2 times, good 1 times, bit running extended canter, super control pirouettes, best extension at long side, very nice final centerline.

Click at the photo below to watch Zaire E and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl.

Another great performance from Danish Charlotte Heering with Bufranco

H2R comments during the test today:

Super halt, expressive diagonal, nice forward go and flow half pass left super uphill, nice into passage at C, super regular, nice in and out of passage, nice extension, nice side picture, good go and flow for half pass right supple, good into passage at C, supple in and out super frame, lovely easy light passage, good into walk, 74% trend, bit short extended walk, good collected walk, bit tense forward piaffe, nice out, nice 2nd piaffe bit forward, super into canter, nice balance canter half passes, error 2 times by 1 times, super 1 times, good extended canter, super sit 1st pirouette, super 1 times straight, 2nd pirouette super sit and balance good into trot, expressive long side, super easy smooth final centerline.

After the test H2R caught Charlotte Heering for a comment about her performance:

“Such a pity and very expensive. He thought we should do extended canter like in the Grand Prix, and my half halt became a bit to strong and he misunderstood my aides and thought he was gonna make one times like the line in Grand Prix, but for the rest of the test I’m very pleased about our performance,” tells Charlotte Heering.

The Danish national coach Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein was also very satisfied about Charlotte´s performances in Mannheim. “Charlotte was showing Bufranco in great form and with very good qualities, including nice harmony, lovely frame and motivated all the way both days, except the costly error for the two times today,” says Nathalie.

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VIDEOS - Sport test winners today at Münster-Handorf Zuperman and Bon Vivaldi

5 year old winner Bon Vivaldi with impressive presentation and super easy going and powerful all the way today with the test rider. From H2R point of view a stallion to keep an eye on.

4 year old Winner Zuperman by Vincent Maranello / Destano - to watch his presentation with own rider click at the photo below.

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OL-kvalifikationerne er i hus - Zack tages ud af avlen

NYHED PÅ BLUE HORS.COM

Nanna Skodborg Merrald er rykket op i A-truppen for dressur!

I samme ombæring har hun også redet kvalifikationerne til OL i Tokyo i hus på bl.a. avlshingsten Blue Hors Zack, - og derfor tages Zack ud af avlen for at fokusere på sin sportskarriere.

Efter en uge med 5 ud af 6 mulige placeringer til det firestjernede Horses & Dreams meets Japan Sports Edition stævne i tyske Hagen, er Nanna Skodborg Merrald netop blevet udtaget til A-truppen i seniordressur.

Som en følge af at have redet OL-kvalifikationerne i hus til samme stævne med hestene; Atterupgaards Orthilia (Gribaldi/Donnerslag) og Blue Hors Zack (Rousseau/Jazz) med bl.a. en tredjeplads og 82,025% i Grand Prix kür-debut på Zack og en sejr i Grand Prix med 74,478% på Orthilia, betyder dette at Blue Hors Zack i 60 dage,  i følge de opsatte karantænefordringerne for en eventuel deltagelse ved de Olympiske Lege i Tokyo, ikke må indgå i avlen,

Dette betyder desværre, at vores superbeskeler og stempelhingst Blue Hors Zack i perioden ikke kan tappes og følgende ikke står til rådighed for avlerne.

Hvis du allerede er i gang med et insemineringsforløb med Blue Hors Zack, bedes du tage kontakt til Blue Hors, så vi kan finde en løsning på dette.

VIDEO - Bella Rose and Isabell Werth back in business with 79,952%

Today CDI4 in Mannheim started with two Grand Prix classes

At the entrylist Weihegold OLD was the only horse for Werth this week at Mannheim. Isabell also brought her now 17-year-old Bella Rose for training, but as she felt Bella was ready again and also due to the situation where you cannot be sure about the next show, she made a quick decision.

Good halt, power diagonal need more push, super uphill crossing half passes, super halt with rein back, good diagonal, small unbalance into passage, super Zack Zack Zack piaffe and transitions, bit unbalanced walk tour, nice into passage, small tensions hind 2nd piaffe, good into canter, good 2 times, good extended canter, super zigzag, error 1 times, lack more sit for pirouettes, good into trot, good diagonal, super final centerline, super halt. 79,957%

To watch the test click at the photo here below.

Danish Bufranco and Charlotte Heering with sharp performance

Well deserved placed 2nd was Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with Zaire E, but with Danish glasses and also by judge at M (Alice Schwab AUT) and judge at B (Katrina Wüst GER) Bufranco and Charlotte Heering were showing a test worth a top placement today but they finished at 6th place with just 0,5% from 3rd place.

Nice steady halt, lovely diagonal good balance, nice half passes, bit short halt bit hectic rein back, nice into passage, bit forward start of piaffe, nice transitions, bit short extended walk tour, super active collected walk, good 2nd piaffe regular rhythm, nice into canter, super 2 times, super nice extended canter, super flow zigzag, nice active 1 times, well controlled abs balanced pirouettes, nice into trot, super diagonal, very nice final centerline. 72,413%

As preparation for Mannheim Charlotte and Bufranco went on two days bootcamp at Danish national coach Nathalie zu Says-Wittgenstein before continuing to Mannheim. Charlotte tells after her test that she felt a bit rusty as it was 6 month since she entered the centerline, and Bufranco also felt a bit tense when entering the big arena, but that she of course was very pleased about her performance today.

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Updated Danish senior elite groups

After last weeks event at Hagen the Danish national coach Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein has updated the senior groups towards the final selection before the Olympics.

This week Charlotte Heering with Bufranco will be at start in Mannheim.

Final international event for the Danish combination before longlist for the Olympics will be CDIO5 at Compiegne 27 - 30 May, which means that the best Danish combinations will NOT be participating at the Danish national championships takling place the week before 21 - 21 May at Equitour, Uggerhalne.

International Events towards Olympic qualifier:

Vivino sold to Spanish top rider

Vivino with previous rider Thomas Sigtenbjerggaard - Photo credit: Helgstrand Dressage

HELGSTRAND DRESSAGE PRESS RELEASE

This year’s breeding season has come off with an amazing start and we have experienced an increasing demand for our stallions. This is justified by the great number of coveted stallions, who perform very well in the sport – something that is noticed all around the world – and also the reason that we can now congratulate yet another Grand Prix rider with the purchase of a stallion of absolute top quality, namely Vivino by Vivaldi/Dancier. A stallion who impressed everyone and took the title as Champion at the Hanoverian licensing in 2018. By the following auction, Helgstrand succeeded in purchasing the promising stallion together with Schockemöhle for no less than 2,01 mio euro. 

The international successful dressage rider Alejandro Asencio Méndez has once again visited Helgstrand Dressage. Alejandro has developed several horses from youngster to Grand Prix level and he already has two superb Grand Prix horses in his stable – he is qualified for the Olympics with one of them.

“I tried several horses at Helgstrand, but Vivino gave me the exact right feeling, right away. It is obvious for everyone that he possesses three amazing gaits, but you probably cannot see from the ground, that he is super attentive towards his rider. A quality I highly appreciate,” Alejandro tells – he looks very much forward to welcoming Vivino to his stable later this week.

“I look forward to getting to know him and this will of course take a little while. However, after that, my ambitions are to qualify him to the World Championships for Young Horses,” Alejandro expresses – he has purchased Vivino together with EQUIFOAL.

We have already seen the first offspring by Vivino and the represent the same unique qualities as himself. They look astonishing, have a noble and modern expression and plenty of movement and scope. Vivino has proven that his performance within the sport also is very high quality – with Thomas Sigtenbjerggaard in the saddle he has demonstrated outstanding skills. The same qualities that convinced Alejandro, who looks very much forward to the further development of Vivino.

“It has been a pure pleasure riding this horse – and especially lately he has definitely developed a lot. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to show him at this year’s stallion shows, but many might have watched the online stallion presentation from earlier this year. He has an amazing power, and you can truly feel, how he wants to work. Alejandro and he constitute the perfect match, and we look forward to following them on their way to top sport,” Thomas Sigtenbjerggaard tells.

Vivino is by Vivaldi, who has had an exceptional career in the sport and is likewise the sire to many successful breeding stallions and Grand Prix horses. Moreover, he is in the top of the WBFSH ranking. His dam sire Dancier was also announced champion stallion at the Hannoverian licensing and has since then delivered top performances on the show grounds up till Prix St. Georges level.

The new owners have chosen to focus on getting to know Vivino within this breeding season, which is why he solely will be available with frozen semen by directing inquiries to Helgstrand Dressage. As of 2022, the plan is for him to be available for fresh semen again through a EU stallion station.

In case of any questions, please direct them to Lene Birkemose at +45 22 57 44 11 or stallion@helgstranddressage.dk

CDI4 Mannheim and Nürnberger Burg-Pokal starting tomorrow

International Event at Mannheim - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Full live stream schedule at Clipmyhorse.

Link for start and result here.

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2 days stallion sport test from Münster-Handorf Wednesday and Thursday - LIVE STREAM

Live stream schedule:

List of stallIons:

VIDEOS - Heiline´s Danciera and Carina Cassøe Krüth Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special tests

Danish Carina Cassøe Krüth and 10 year old mare Heiline´s Danciera showed great form and top performances in Hagen this weekend and was best placed Danish combination as no 6 in both in Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special.

Enjoy their Grand Prix Special here below where they scored 75,787%.

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Super flot dansker afslutning i Hagen

Nr. 1 og 2 I søndagens CDI4 Grand Prix trøstklasse - Nanna Merrald med Atterupgaards Orthilia og Daniel Bachmann med Marshall-Bell - foto: @clipmyhorse

Succesfuldt stævne for de danske ekvipager

Målet inden Hagen stævnet var at få OL kvalifikationer i hus.

Andreas Helgstrand med Fiontini og Cathrine Dufour med Vamos Amigos opnåede begge deres OL kvalifikation i Grand Prix klassen om fredagen, mens Nanna Merrald red sine kvalifikationer i hus med topplaceringer til Blue Hors Zack i både Grand Prix (2. kvalifikation i hus) og Grand Prix kür og med Atterupgaards Orthilia var 2. kvalifikation i hus efter fredagens Grand Prix og så tog parret jo også en flot sejr i Grand Prix trøstklassen søndag.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen red efter sine første OL kvalifikationer med Carso´ni og Marchall-Bell og fik med begge heste første kvalifikation. Selvom Daniel også red “kvalifikationskravet” hjem i CDI4 Grand Prix klassen med søndagens flotte placering til Marshall-Bell, så siger regelsættet at de to kvalifikationer skal være ved to forskellige events.

21. juni er sidste frist for at opnå kvalifikation til OL.

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VIDEO - winner of Louisdor Preis qualifier Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson with Dedale de Hus OLD

Best two combinations ready for Louisdor Preis final

The young Grand Prix horse serie Louisdor Preis qualifier with 1st qualification in Hagen.

As usual it was a strong field with international Grand Prix riders showing their upcoming young Grand Prix horses. Both Fabienne Müller-Lütkemeier and Isabell Werth were showing very interesting young horses, like today’s winner Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson showed two talented and well educated horses, where 9 year old Dedale de Hus OLD by Don Juan de Hus / Fürst Heinrich was clearly stronger and more convincing today. Super flow, good quality and still in an open young horse frame.

Also Anabel Balkenhol with High Five secured their ticket for the final today.

Edward Gal and Glock´s Total US winner of CDI3 Grand Prix freestyle debut with 83,735% today at Sentower Dressage Festival, Belgium

VIDEOS - Dujardin Saturday CDI4 Hagen victories with Gio and MSJ Freestyle

Click at the photo and enjoy their 84,040% Grand Prix freestyle.

This is not Valegro but we all remember this outstanding freestyle. Charlotte now just showing her small dancing chestnut racer in this legendary freestyle. So much controlled power and super lines without any technical issues.

82,872% Grand Prix Special victory - click at the photo to enjoy the test.

Dancing in the sunset tonight

Heiline´s Danciera and Carina Cassøe Krüth - photo credit: EQWO.net / Petra Kerschbaum

What a competition - it was for sure “small Olympics”

From the start list the Grand Prix Special in Hagen was something very special. And from first combination until the very last it was with high intensity and great sport. For the first time tonights competitions were at the big jumping arena in Hagen, which made the entire environment even more championship like.

Strong ladies in top

No doubt the ladies in 1st and 2nd position tonight also will be at the individual podium at Tokyo Olympics with the open spot as the third medal - that´s the clear picture of the top of today’s dressage world.

Charlotte and MSJ Freestyle were like Jessica and TSF Dalera BB showing maximum suppleness, power, accuracy and grace in just one package. Werth is just in her own league and today with a clearly better performance.

New in the “ladies league” are Charlotte Fry and Carina Cassøe Krüth

Yet again Fry was on fire together with Glamourdale. Another impressive performance and their first ever Grand Prix Special (76,404%) and Fry was one of the riders having chosen a very nice “background” music for her Grand Prix Special. Enjoy highlights from their test here below - just click at the photo.

Danish Carina Cassøe Krüth and Danish Warmblood mare Heiline´s Danciera proved their qualities as a combination in top of the sport. As co-commentator at Clipmyhorse Henning Lehmann stated during their test - “this is really advertising for dressage even though there might be some technical errors later in the test.”

Both 🇬🇧Fry and 🇩🇰Cassøe getting ready for 🇯🇵Tokyo Olympics.

Background music

It was the first time testing “background music” for Grand Prix Special. First impression from the “sideline” was that it was like a kind of freestyle compositions instead of personal flow music, and said that the music for Glamourdale and Fry was actually underlining there test in a very nice way.

To watch highlights from Glamourdale and Charlotte Fry click at the photo here below.

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Nanna and Farrell wins again in Hagen - today Intermediaire I with 74,824%

Blue Hors Farrell and Nanna Merrald winner of Intermediaire I - photo credit: EQWO / Petra Kerschbaum

More focus in the arena today from Blue Hors Farrell together with Danish Nanna Merrald where they took their 2nd well deserved victory in small tour in Hagen.

Good halt, well balanced diagonal, nice shoulder in, super volte, supple half pass, bit open halt with tiny tense rein back, good half pass, volte with nice swing, good shoulder in, top expressive diagonal, super into walk, good collected walk, need bit more let go for extended walk tiny on the toes, good transition to canter, nice balanced half passes, super nice extended canter, nice forward 3 times, tiny 1st pirouette good quality canter, bit bigger 2nd pirouette, nice 2 times, bit stocked into trot at C, super extension at diagona, super halt.

Together with Atterupgaards Orthilia Nanna secured her final qualification for the Olympics. Unfortunately they finished as no 16 today, just outside the 15 for tomorrows Grand Prix Special.

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Olympic mood in Hagen today

KWPN stallion Glamourdale and Charlotte Fry - photo credit: EQWO.net / Petra Kerschbaum

Not only the experienced combinations were shining today in Hagen

International Grand Prix debut combination 10 year old KWPN stallion Glamourdale and Charlotte Fry made an impressive debut today in Hagen. The big black stallion and the very efficient small rider Charlotte Fry is a very special combination. Fry is able to control and manage the big powerful and expressive stallion in a way that shows dressage at it´s best. Glamourdale is super attentive and at the same time he looks like he just conquer the arena when he enters, additionally has got the entire package and already now shows it in a very convincing style carefully guided by Charlotte Fry in the arena. Today they finished as no 7 with 74,457%.

Nice halt, power diagonal, wow side picture, supple flow crossing half passes, super halt good rein back, wow diagonal, power passage, piaffe at the spot and clean transitions, 77% trend 🔥, good walk could show more over track, collected very good, super nice 2nd piaffe, good passage, good into canter, huge 2 times, that extended canter including collection, small unbalanced at zigzag, 1 small hind for 1 times, super sit bit big pirouettes, nice into trot, power diagonal, super final centerline, super halt.

Check out a few of the Glamourdale/Fry highlights from today’s test here below.

The sensitive top mares

Dalera BB, MSJ Freestyle and Heiline´s Danciera are all three incredible talented mares. Both Dalera BB and MSJ Freestyle has proven their qualities over the last years, while 10 year old Heiline´s Danciera right now is on her way and already impressed with top performances and now gaining very important experience competing at highest level among World´s top combinations.

Both last year and this year will be a special year, and right now everyone´s eyes are towards Tokyo Olympics less than 100 days away. From the “spectator seat” Carina and “Danse” today took a major step towards one of the Danish tickets for Tokyo with their 6th position and 75,457% test.

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VIDEO - Edward Gal and his Totilas sons dominated CDI3 Grand Prix today at Sentower Dressage, Belgium

Stallions in top of CDI3 Grand Prix

Totilas sons were dominating the CDI3 Grand Prix with Edward Gal winning with 9 yr old Glock´s Total US by Totilas / Sir Donnerhall and placed second with 10 yr old Glock´s Toto Jr by Totilas / Desperados. 3rd placed was Hans Peter Minderhoud with Glock´s Dream Boy and then the Totilas son Governor with Adelinde Cornelissen.

No doubt Edward Gal can make his boys move extremely, and Totilas really stamps his offsprings with incredible abilities but also three very good gaits.

For Hans Peter Minderhoud and Dream Boy it was not their personal best at the scoreboard, but seen from the “sideline” it looked like their best test to date. Top motivated Dream Boy without any technical issues.

Impressive international Grand Prix debut for 10 year old Governor with Adelinde Cornelissen doing a test without any technical issues and with an overall picture of quality - 74,978%.

Glock´s Total US and Edward Gal - photo @Clipmyhorse.

Glock´s Total US - Good halt, power diagonal, supple balanced uphill half passes, super halt bit tense rein back, expressive diagonal, nice into huge passage, active off the ground piaffe, super transitions, 79%! Super walk tour, small disturb piaffe could show more sit, super passage, nice into canter, good 2 times, good extended canter, bit unbalanced zigzag, nice uphill 1 times, super pirouettes 2nd best, wow diagonal, very nice centerline.

Glock´s Toto Jr. - Super halt, bit looking at H, huge crossing supple half passes, good halt with rein back, super diagonal becomes bit strong, super passage/piaffe/passage like a clockwork, super extended walk, lack bit more collected walk, super 2nd piaffe, nice 2 times, nice extended canter, good zigzag, good 1 times, tense into 1st pirouette bit hind aides, bit running diagonal, super centerline.

Glock´s Dream Boy N.O.P. - Good halt, power diagonal, forward supple half passes, bit open halt but nice rein back, super diagonal, jumping expressive passage, super piaffe, easy transitions, nice relaxation for extended walk, bit tense collected walk, super passage/piaffe/passage, good 2 times, power extended canter, attack zigzag, super 1 times, need bit more sit for pirouettes good quality, power expressive diagonal, active centerline.

Governor - Good halt, well balanced diagonal, good half passes, nice halt with rein back, expressive diagonal, good passage, nice closed piaffe bit tense, good walk with nice relaxation, bit tension for piaffe but nice angle, passage lack bit more off the ground, nice 2 times, super extended canter, well balanced zigzag, good 1 times need more uphill trend and freedom, nice sit and control both pirouettes, lovely diagonal, few final piaffe steps but well managed.

VIDEO - winner CDI4 Grand Prix performance Charlotte Dujardin and Gio (78,761%)

Click at the photo to watch the test.

18.000 euro top price filly by Dornier/Fürstenball at HANN Online foal auction

Here you find the entire list of prices.