Malagueño and José Daniel Martin Dockx on their way to Paris with strong Grand Prix at Spanish national championship

Screenshot Clipmyhorse

Spanish national championships

This weekend the national Spanish championships takes place in Barcelona. From yesterdays Grand Prix at a quick view from the latest Spanish performances a clear picture comes through for the first two combinations for the upcoming Olympics, as both José Daniel Martin Docks with the 14 yr old PRE stalion Magagueño and Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo with 15 year old Lusitano stallion Euclides Mor both look like the very safe cards for Paris.

Quincallo de Indalo stopped by judge at C

The lovely Quincallo de Indalo with Alejandro de Barca has not been out since last years Europeans but from yesterday´s performance they looked super sharp. Unfortunately there were some huge judging disagreement 15 - 11 - 3 - 3 - 12 and they were placed as no 7. They showed a strong expressive trot tour, good walk tour where judge at C Dutch Mariette Sanders-Van Gansewinkel rang the bell and came out with the white napkin, but there was nothing visual and he continued his test. Good canter tour without any technical issues and super final. They are back on form and Quincallo looked fresh and fit. They look like the 3rd combination for Paris.

Other team contenders for the long list

Borja Carrascosa was 3rd with his still young an inexperienced Frizzantino and finished no 10 with Sir Hubert. Into the final run for the last spot could also be José Antonio Garcia Mena with Gladiador Do Lis finishing 5th.

For German based Severo Jurado Lopez this season has been a bit diffucult gaining the scores for bringing him into the Olympic team. Severo only showed Fürstenglory OLD once this season in March in Lier scoring 71.5% and yesterday they were back with some judging disagreement into 70,609%.

Multiple Olympic rider Beatrice Ferrer-Salat and Elegance finished just outside the placements with 70,935%.

Here you find the entire results. The championships can be follow LIVE at Clipmyhorse.

Danish Warmblood mare Quinn G ready to defend the World Champion title with Charlotte Dujardin in the saddle

World Champion for 5 yr old in 2023 Danish Warmblood mare Quinn G & Betina Jæger - photo: H2R

Exclusive addition for Danish Warmblood long list for WCYH in Ermelo

When it last year was announced that Danish Warmblood World Champion for 5 year old horses Quinn G by Quaterhit / Fassbinder ridden by Betina Jæger, bred by Stutteri G, Helene Geervliet was sold to British Olympic team medalist Fiona Bigwood, the entire dressage world were of course super excited.

Lately the now 6 year old mare was shown in training by Carl Hester and also successfully competed by Carl at 6 year old level in Hickstead in the beginning of May winning both classes scoring impressive 98,4 and 97,0!

Of course Danish Warmblood and the entire dressage world would love to see Quinn G back in Ermelo defending the title. Owner Fiona Bigwood and Carl Hester agreed on bringing Quinn G back for this years World Championships, but as Carl already has a very busy schedule in September the rider will be changed.

Instead no other than former Olympic and World Champion Charlotte Dujardin will make her debut at the World Championships in Ermelo in the saddle of Danish Warmblood mare Quinn G. The plan is that Charlotte will make her debut together with Quinn during the final British selection for WCYH in Ermelo at Hartpury which takes place end of June.

Danish Warmblood selectors will of course like for everyone else living abroad have a video of Quinn G and Charlotte Dujardin before the final Danish Warmblood selection takes place in Denmark 23 & 24 July.

Whether they will compete as part of the quota for Danish Warmblood or as a Wild Card from the organiser is of course still open.

About going to Ermelo for the first time Charlotte Dujardin says: “I feel very excited and honoured to ride Quinn, I´m also looking forward to having my own and Peter Beshaw Secret Agent in the 5 year olds.”

Secret Agent is by Secret / De Niro bred by Nicole and Frederik Seifer.

Enjoy the World Champion performance from 2023 here below ⬇️

Indtryk fra Danmarksmesterskaberne 2024

MSJ Freestyle & Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour suveræne vindere af DM 2024 - foto: horsephoto.dk

Et stuvende fuldt stadion med høj sol og fantastisk stemning, det var hvad årets DM i Vallensbæk bl.a. bød på. Sport på højeste nationale plan med et seriøst twist af ekvipager fra den absolutte internationale top, gav præcis den stemning og sport som alle var kommet for. Og i år for første gang i mange år med udenlandsk dommer, som var ingen ringere end kommende OL dommer fra Tyskland Henning Lehrmann.

Foto: H2R

Det var tydeligt at arrangørerne bag DM stævnet havde hænderne fulde med det store arrangement. Men set og hørt fra sidelinien under vejs, var det med optimale baner (forberedt og vedligeholdt af Bluhme Dressage), gode træningsmuligheder og gode stald forhold. Alle uhyre vigtige faktorer for at rytterne og deres heste kan præstere optimalt.

Måske overraskede det, at så mange dressurentusiaster havde fundet vej til Vallensbæk, idet gearingen i forhold til forplejningen desværre ikke kunne følge med. Men mon ikke arrangørerne kan nå at rette lidt op på den del inden den kommende weekends DM for juniorer og ungryttere.

Med så mange mennesker til et DM, bragte det stemningen op på et niveau, man ikke har mærket siden Broholm-tiden. Der var fuld applaus og opbakning til alle ekvipagerne i bedste mesterskabsånd.

Sporten

Årets felt til DM var på 28 ekvipager og efter førstedagens Grand Prix var de 15 bedste klar til søndagens kür finale.

Ikke overraskende var Cathrine og Free i front efter førstedagens Grand Prix, om det skulle være med knap 7,5% forspring ned til Carina og Danse, var måske ikke helt så tydeligt som pointtavlen viste. Men fakta er at MSJ Freestyle og Cathrine mestre kunsten i harmoni og afspændthed kombineret med høj kvalitet og det skal naturligvis også give tydelige vinderpoint.

På papiret var der lagt op til spænding om bronzemedaljen, og den spænding holdt helt til slut, hvor Lone Bang og Rostov i overbevisende stil også meldte sig seriøst ind i kampen om sølvet. Men et stærkt udlæg på førstedagen fra Carina og Danse sikrede dem alligevel sølvmedaljen. Et nyligt trænerskifte for Carina og Danse, som nu har berider Jon D. Pedersen på sidelinien, har givet tydelig ændring i specielt Grand Prix turen med mindre pres og bedre flow i passage/piaffe turene, selvom piaffe aldrig bliver highlight for ekvipagen, så har de rigtig mange andre ting under vejs på +8 skalaen, med skridtturen, serier og pirouetter.

Fra sidelinien var det tydeligt at Lone var klar på en fest da hun rider på banen til gårsdagens kürfinale, og det fik hun også sammen med sin rutinerede partner Rostov. Og festen var ikke kun på banen, men også hos dommerne som fortjent satte ekvipagen på 2. pladsen i den individuelle kür konkurrence, og parret slutter flot igen i år på podiet med bronzemedaljen. Lone og Rostov er jo allerede en del af a-truppen, og vi vil formodentlig se dem til start til stævnet i Aachen som ligger i starten af juli.

DM bliver jo afgjort med resultaterne fra både Grand Prix og Grand Prix kür. I forhold til mesterskabsformatet havde det været mere relevant om man i år havde valgt at det skulle afholdes Grand Prix og Grand Prix Special, idet Grand Prix Specialen er afgørende for sommerens holdkonkurrence til OL.

Selvom det var med afbud fra Nanna Merrald, grundet hendes søsters bryllup, så var Nanna og hendes kæreste alligevel klar på sidelinien til søndagens kürfinaler, hvor Blue Hors rytter Sophia Ludvigsen med Blue Hors Quintana igen i år stod øverst på podiet efter U25 küren.

Daniel havde ladet Vayron blive hjemme efter deres succesturen i Compiegne, og istedet medbragt den 10-årige Sezuan / Carex hoppe Shirley, som han fik vist rigtig ordentlig i Grand Prix´en med lidt spændinger, mens gårsdagens kür var tydeligt forbedret selvom det ikke helt blev reflekteret på pointtavlen. Parret slutter som samlet nr. 7 i årets DM. Daniel modtog en særlig ærespræmie givet af Dressurens Venner: “For hans altid sobre måde at fremvise en hest på, og for at være en god kammerat og have den bedste holdånd. Daniel er garant for at hestens velfærd er i fokus, og det er vejen frem,” var ordene fra altid velforberedte stadionspeaker Pia Switzer.

Rune Willum på plads i trænerstolen - foto: H2R

Lige udenfor podiet slutter Favour Gersdorf og Nadja med en flot 4. plads. Det stadig forholdsvis nye trænerskifte til Rune Willum ser ud til at bære succesfuld frugt. Generelt et billede med endnu mere kontrol, mere smidighed i traversader og forbedret kvalitet i galopturen samtidig med at passage/piaffe turene er med super balance og rytmik hele vejen. En ekvipage som vi helt sikkert vil se mere til inden OL, og som skal holde sig skrape indtil endelig udtagelse.

Anna og Quel Filou arbejder med forskellige ting sammen med Wolfram Wittig, og lige nu giver det sig udslag i forbedringer på nogle punkter, samtidig med at der må gives køb på andre ting. Men weekendens DM har klart bragt dem tilbage på sporet efter et lidt svært forår, og det ser ud til at udendørs sæsonen bringer tingene bedre sammen. Et skønt harmonisk billede med gode kvaliteter, som lige nu bare til pudses lidt skarpere af.

Højest placeret debutant i DM feltet er Kenneth Damgaard med hoppe UNO Day Sun. H2R fangede Kenneth og hans træner Vibke Degn Andersen efter gårsdagens kür finale, hvor parret slutter på en samlet 6. plads.

Lyt med her ⬇️🎧

Grand Galiano og Rikke samler værdifuld erfaring for hver gang de rider ad midten, og Grand Galiano er stadig super ung med sine blot 9 år på det sværeste niveau, så tingene bliver også sat sammen og gradvist forbedret i et tempo som ser ud til at være afstemt efter styrkeforholdet. Parret slutter som samlet nr. 7.

Joachim og Vichy Pax er også inde i en positiv udvikling. Mest bemærkelsesværdigt er de forbedrede serier, hvor Vichy tidligere har toppet op i stedet for at springe under i changementerne. Det ser ud til at være et issue som Joachim er ved at have knækket koden til, og efter at have konsulteret Kyra Kyrklund efter Grand Prix´en, så var der selvfølgelig et lille ekstra værktøj i Kyra´s uudtømmelige værktøjskasse, som Joachim fik med i forberedelserne til gårsdagens kür. Parret bliver samlet nr. 8. Kyra er jo med på sidelinien som en del af Cathrine´s team frem mod OL.

Næste stop frem mod OL

DRF har ikke sat navne på de ekvipager som skal repræsentere Danmark til stævnet i Rotterdam fra 19.-23. juni som formodentlig sidste stop inden endelig udtagelse, men Cathrine bekræfter overfor H2R at planen er at hun skal ride Freestyle i Rotterdam, da der “stadigvæk skal pudses lidt af her og der,” som hun udtrykker det.

Så mon ikke vi får Vayron og Danciera på banen i Rotterdam også, og indtil videre er planen jo at Blue Hors Zepter og Nanna er til start 6.-9. juni i Hagen.

U25 mesterskabet

Med et kig tilbage på tidligere U25 mesterskaber, så var det ofte præget af ældre heste som allerede havde aftjent deres værnepligt i seniorsporten. Det billede har tydeligvis ændret sig, og i dag ser man ofte de unge ryttere på yngre heste, som udvikler sig sammen.

Udover de kendte i toppen af feltet er ny på U25 niveauet Ida Bjørn med Hussmanns Jackson, som lige nu banker seriøst på for en plads i truppen med kvalitet og rigtig god ridning.

Mesterskab i lille-tur

I den forgangne weekend har Holland også afholdt nationale mesterskaber og her finder man ikke kun mesterskaber i U25 og senior, men bl.a. også i lille-tur.

Det er jo ikke nogen hemmelighed at det er langt fra alle som nogensinde kommer til at ride Grand Prix, så derfor kunne et mesterskab i lille-tur, Prix St. Georg og Intermediaire I være særdeles attraktivt at lave sammen med mesterskabet i stor tur. Ikke at det skal tage over for Bundgaard Byg, som jo hvert år tiltrækker mange ekvipager til vinterens landsstævner, men være et supplement som rytterne også kunne ride i udendørs sæsonen, og samtidig være en del af DM-stemningen med tilhørende medaljer.

Indtryk fra førstedagen til Dansk Varmblods iagttagelse til UVM

5 års Lygums Zelina e. Blue Hors St. Schufro / Blue Hors Zack, avlet af Lygum Horses og ejet i fællesskab med rytter Victoria Vallentin - foto: Horsephoto.dk

Vallensbæk ridecenter danner i år rammen om DM stævnet, og i dag startede man ud i med førstedagen til årets UVM iagttagelse.

Vejrudsigten svigtede desværre ikke. Det startede med små regnbyger gennem dagen, og sluttede af med solid regn, men alle heste og ryttere lod sig heldigvis ikke mærke med det pludselige vejromskifte.

Generelt stor tilmelding og dermed også mulighed for at se mange ekvipager i hver årgang, både kendte og ukendte.

Udtagelsesproceduren er ofte til diskussion og dette år uden undtagelse. Fra flere ryttere på sidelinien var der ønske om, at man brugte førstedagen som i dag med gennemridning af det indledende program, og så istedet for igen imorgen at skulle gennemride samme program en gang til, at man kunne bruge tiden på at arbejde på nogle af de udfordringer hver enkelt ekvipage havde i dagens programridning. Dertil kommer at flere også mente, at én dag til den endelige udtagelse i juli måned med gennemridning af finale programmet vile være optimalt. Måske yderligere bakket op af træningsvideo fra hver enkelt ekvipage evt. 14 dage inden sidste udtagelse.

Uden at kende det præcise antal som de tre dommmere udtager til den endelige udtagelse i juli måned, vover H2R allerede efter dagens første runde at sætte navne på de ekvipager i hver årgang som ligner de bedste kandidater.

H2R bruttolisten er angivet herunder og med ⭐️ -markering på de ekvipager som H2R allerede nu har på den endelige liste til UVM.

Nogle få ekvipager stod rigtig skarpt i dag og ligner sikre valg - 5 års Svalegårds Hot Driver (fuld video findes på Thehorse2rider Instagram) og Valiant, 6 års Straight Horse Floriana og 7 års Blue Hors Santiano (fuld video på Thehorse2rider Instagram). For begge top ekvipager Valerie B med Anne Mette Strandby Hansen og Lyngbjergs St. Paris med Victoria Vallentin var der tekniske udfordinger i changementerne, som kræver lidt mere arbejde inden de også er de helt sikre valg.

5 års

Deltagerfeltet var idag 20 ekvipager.

  • ⭐️Lygum´s Zelina med Victoria Vallentin

  • Vera DWB med Sandra Harholm Hansen

  • Quater Son med Nicolai Cens Christiansen

  • Atterupgaards Sterling Moss med Selina Solberg Vittinghus

  • Grevens Zeze med Silje Bakken

  • Straight Horse Sun King med Mette Sejbjerg Jensen

  • ⭐️Valiant med Frederikke Gram Jacobsen

  • ⭐️Svalegårds Hot Driver med Carina Cassøe Krüth

  • ⭐️Slangerupgaards Saffron med Anne Troensegaard (deltog ikke i dag, grundet kværkeudbrud i stalden)

6 års

Deltagerfeltet var ialt 19 ekvipager.

  • FA Viviani DWB med Lone Bang Zindorff

  • Franka med Emma Ahlberg

  • Redhead med Lovisa Wessblad

  • ⭐️Lille Kærgårds Sisco DWB med Silje Bakken

  • ⭐️Straight Horse Floriana med Mette Sejbjerg Jensen

  • EQ Secret Suprice med Susanne Barnow

  • Franko Unik med Frederikke Gram Jacobsen

  • ⭐️Valerie B med Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen

  • ⭐️Valegro Majlund med Lone Bang Zindorff

  • Grevens Sirius med Eric Guardia Martinez (deltog ikke grundet behandling efter folduheld, men video tilsendes)

7 års

Deltagerfeltet var på ialt 13 ekvipager.

  • ⭐️Blue Hors Santiano med Nanna Merrald

  • ⭐️Hønnerups Qlision med Michael Grønne Christensen

  • ⭐️Svalegårds Hot Boy DWB med Trude Hestegen

  • ⭐️Lyngbjergs St. Paris med Victoria Vallentin

VIDEOS - Glamourdale and Lottie Fry back in great form with double win in Aachen

Glamourdale & Charlotte Fry - photo: H2R

Glamourdale back in super form

Soon the final preparations towards the Olympics comes up and with a long competition break for World Champion combination Glamourdale & Lottie Fry it was an important event in Aachen now.

Glamourdale and Lottie has not shown since last years Europeans where they won individual silver in freestyle.

Both performances in Aachen with top qualities with just a few minor things to be adjusted. A very clear picture of their strength towards Paris.

Rigth now the British team for Paris look like Imhotep, Fame and Glamourdale.

78,935% Grand Prix ⬇️

80,447% Grand Prix Special ⬇️

Detailed results Grand Prix here.

Detailed results Grand Prix Special here.

PODCAST - Two hearts one soul

Maxima Bella & Sandra Sysojeva - photo: H2R

The story about the young super mare Maxima Bella and her rider and owner Sandra Sysojeva

During Horses & Dreams 2024 in Hagen H2R caught international rider Sandra Sysojeva for a chat about her super mare Maxima Bella. Sandra is from Lithuania where she also is based, but competing for Poland.

Sandra and her just 8 year old Maxima Bella entered the international Grand Prix scene back in February.

A few of the quotes from Sandra during our chat:

You can get a good horse one time in your life usually you don’t get it, I’m lucky that I bought it.

The riding comes more from thinking, if somebody ask how I taught piaffe and passage, it just came.

When you train alone sometimes it can be that you ride to much, I always have this rule, every time do it like once, maximum repeat it because you can really enjoy the passage and piaffe.

At 6 years she was so hot, how would I do a flying change. I will never do flying changes. I started with normal single flying changes. I sent her (Dominika) a video after two weeks she was doing one by one.

Here below you can listen to our chat where we also were joined by Dominika Krasko (friend/groom/trainer etc.)

Huge line up for Danish national championships including Mount St John Freestyle & Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour

Danish national Championships next weekend with Grand Prix Saturday afternoon and Grand Prix freestyle Sunday afternoon.

A total of 28 combinations are ready and with MSJ Freestyle and Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour as top favourites for the title. Cathrine also bring Vividus QRE for the championships.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen brings the young mare Shirley for the Championships as Vayron with his recent top performances at Compiègne already has proven that his form curve is on the rise.

Recent top placed at Compiègne Heiline’s Danciera and Carina Cassøe Krüth are also at the list.

Neither Nanna Merrald and Anna Kasprzak are on the list. Nanna will be at start the following weekend in Hagen together with Blue Hors Zepter.

Entries

Paris Hopefuls Descend on Hagen in June

PART OF PRESS RELEASE

Press release, 17 May 2024

(Hagen a.T.W.) For the second time this year Hof Kasselmann in Hagen at the Teutoburg Forest will become the focus of the international dressage world: From 6 to 9 June riders vying for selection for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will have the opportunity to contest a CDI and CPEDI at three-star level. Much is at stake this close to Paris and while Germany’s elite will be at the national championship event in Balve, athletes from 24 other countries will take the opportunity to show their form and fitness in Hagen.

High-profile entries

The line up for the CDI3* tour, which includes a Grand Prix Special and a Freestyle, features the seven athletes and eight horses, which have been selected to the US dressage team Olympic short list for continued observation ahead of Olympic team selection later this summer. Anna Buffini on Fontini, Adrienne Lyle with Lars van de Hoenderheide and Helix, Anna Marek and Fire Fly, Katherine Bateson-Chandler with Haute Couture, Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper, Marcus Orlob and Jane as well as Endel Ots on Bohemian all plan to use Hagen as one of three required observation events. Other high-profile combinations on the entry list include Danish super star Nanna Skodborg-Merrald, who has entered both Blue Hors Zepter and Blue Hors Znickers. The former hasn’t been seen since his second placing in the CDI5* of Stockholm in December 2023, but would have to be considered Nanna’s number one hope for Paris after piaffing to silver in the Grand Prix Special at the 2023 Europeans. Sweden is represented by team stalwart Patrik Kittel with new ride Jovian, Juliette Ramel on Gideon K.H., Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén with Esperance or Hyatt, Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson on Zackson as well as emerging pair Sofie Lexner and Inoraline W, who put their names on the map at Horses & Dreams meets Portugal at the same venue in April. Australia’s Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe and Lyndal Oatley with Dante’s Herzchen continue their campaign for Paris, as are Portugal’s top riders, Maria Pais do Amaral, João Pedro Moreira and Antonio do Vale. Finland has also qualified a team for Paris, the first time since Seoul in 1988, and with six Finnish athletes riding in Hagen, the competition for team selection will be hot. 

To emulate Championship atmosphere the dressage arena will be set up in the jumping stadium at Hof Kasselmann. The dressage program also features a small tour and an international U25 tour.

Jumping stadium at Hof Kasselmann © Mhisen

KWPN ready with long list for WCYH in Ermelo

Nalegro & Lottie Fry ready for first selection for WCYH - photo: Van Olst Horses

First selection of Dutch Young horses for World Championships in Ermelo (4-8 September) took place 13 & 15 May in Houten.

About 100 young horses were shown for the first selection and 21 five-year old, 21 six-year old and 16 seven-year old horses were selected.

2nd selection will take place 11 & 12 in Ermelo and with final selection 16 July.

Source: KWPN

5 year old

6 year old

7 year old

99.500 euro top price OLD filly by Viva Gold / Millennium

Bidding duel between Germany and Belgium for the extraordinary filly by Viva Gold / Millennium. The filly was secured for the German buyer.

Out the 13 dressage foals 1 was sold to Sweden and 1 was sold to The Netherlands, rest for German buyers.

This was a great premier for OLD Verband in association with the Online auction platform Horse24.

Here you find the entire list of prices.

Press release: Olympian Charlotte Dujardin secures clean sweep of Grand Prix wins at Hickstead

Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin competing at Hickstead (c) Boots and Hooves Photography

12 May 2024

Press release

Charlotte Dujardin completes clean sweep of Grand Prix wins 

Charlotte Dujardin rounded off an excellent week at the I.C.E. Horseboxes All England Dressage Festival at Hickstead, winning a third Grand Prix title.

The World number five brought her Grand Prix victor Imhotep back for Sunday’s I.C.E Horseboxes CDI3* Grand Prix Special, where she once again topped the leaderboard with 81.362%. Her mentor and team-mate Carl Hester and Fame were second with 78.660%.

“I’ve had a fantastic week with both my horses, finishing off the show with the Special with Imhotep, and I felt like he did one of his best tests that I’ve done,” said Charlotte.

The 11-year-old Imhotep picked up nines and tens for his piaffe and passage work, as well as his pirouettes and final halt. “There was a rider error in the ones [one-time changes] but apart from that I was absolutely thrilled. It’s great preparation to make these mistakes here and hopefully get them all out of the way. Each time you do a test you feel like you’ve learned something. By Paris, hopefully there’ll be no more mistakes.”

At last year’s European Championships, Charlotte and Imhotep were part of the gold medal-winning team as well as picking up two individual bronze medals. Their impressive Hickstead performance this week will have no doubt helped their selection campaign ahead of this summer’s Paris Games, when Charlotte could go ahead of cyclist Dame Laura Kenny as the British female athlete to have won the most Olympic medals.

Imhotep is the more likely contender for the Games, but in her Freestyle winner Alive And Kicking Charlotte has another potential championship horse in the making. “With Paris in mind, it’s something we’re really focusing on, we’re really busy trying to get everything in tip top shape,” she said. “They’re very different horses. Pete is like being on a spring, he’s extremely bouncy and very powerful, and he’s quite big and wide to ride. Whereas Audrey [Alive And Kicking] is smaller, much neater, and a totally different mover to Pete.”

It was Charlotte's first time competing at Hickstead since the birth of her daughter Isabella in 2023. “It has definitely put a perspective on my career. Before having Isabella, this [riding] was my life, and I was so focused on doing this all the time, whereas now being a mum has made me realise what’s important. Being a mum is the best thing in the whole world, she’s my number one priority. Going out there to compete is all about going out there to make her proud, so it’s fantastic that she can come and watch me here and be a part of it.”  

For full results click here. 

PIDGLEY DOES THE DOUBLE ON FINAL DAY

The European Young Rider gold medallist won two classes on the final day of the I.C.E. Horseboxes All England Dressage Festival

PRESS RELEASE - HICKSTEAD PRESS OFFICE 12 MAY

Twenty-year-old British rider Annabella Pidgley had a successful end to the I.C.E. Horseboxes All England Dressage Festival, with a double of wins on the final day.

The European Young Rider gold medallist headed the I.C.E Horseboxes CDI U25 Grand Prix with the 12-year-old Vamos Amigos on a score of 74.974%, then later added an Intermediate I with Espe, scoring 72.402%. “It’s been a great day – the amazing weather here has topped it off. I’ve done three tests today and it’s been challenging, but to have the results I’ve had today has been incredible,” she said.

Annabella also finished second behind Olympian Laura Tomlinson in the Saracen Horse Feeds Premier League FEI Intermediate I. Riding the nine-year-old stallion Kadans, she scored 73.088% behind Laura and Full Moon II, with 75.441%.

It was a second win in two days for the pair, as Laura and Full Moon II also topped Saturday’s Fairfax Saddles Premier League FEI Prix St Georges.

Tomlinson also took the top spot in the I.C.E Horseboxes Premier League FEI Grand Prix Special with Soegaards Bon Royal, a 10-year-old gelding by Bon Bravour. They were the only pair to break the 70% barrier, scoring 72.532% to go ahead of Andrew Gould and Amicella.  

After his one-two finish in Saturday’s Team test, Myles Graham and Nibeley Union Hit picked up another win in the I.C.E Horseboxes CDI Junior Riders Individual test, ahead of Mette Dahl (Fidelio van het Bloemenhof) in second and Ruby Hughes in third with Brioso.

Laragh Byrne and the eye-catching palomino stallion Steendieks Dali Gold took the CDI Ponies title for Ireland, finishing less than 0.3 percent clear of Britian’s Madi May Haerr and Machno Excalibur.

The finish in the Fairfax Saddles Premier League FEI Prix St Georges was even closer, with Anders Dahl taking the narrowest of victories with Kokkedals Herzog. His score of 68.971 was just enough for the top spot, with yesterday’s winner Lara Butler and Amiek C in second on 68.931%.

Dannie Morgan and the nine-year-old High Hoes Razzle Dazzle took the Bret Wilson Premier League Advanced Medium 98 with a score of 70.351%.

For full results click here. 

Danish bred Maxi Kraft’s Barcelo & Dorothee Schneider winner of preliminary St. Georg Special in Munich today

Barcelo & Dorothee Schneider - photo: screenshot Clipmyhorse

8 yr old Maxi Kraft´s Barcelo OLD by Bon Coeur / Caprimond bred by Stutteri Atterupgaard and ridden by Dorothee Schneider took today´s preliminary St. Georg Special victory with 74,536%, 2,5% ahead of 2nd placed Victoria Nielsen with Prinzessin Paula.

Super well balanced trot tour with lots of suppleness for both half passes and extensions, super into walk at A direct for a big supple extended walk tour only rewarded with a 9 from judge at E German Evi Eisenhardt, while the other 4 judges saw the extension for 8,5 - 7,5 - 8,0 - 7,5. Tiny unbalance for the rhythm at the begin of the collected walk tour. Very good canter tour with 2nd half pirouette as clear highlight, super balance and sit, good series where your not in doubt about the natural go and power but well managed from Dorothee. Nice halt with supple rein back and super extension towards the final halt.

They definitely look like a strong card for the final. The 12 best combinations from today are ready for the qualifier for the final tomorrow where only the winner will qualify and at the end of the 8 qualifiers the 4 combinations with the best scores for the 2nd placements will qualify for the final.

Barcelo is out of one of the most successful dam lines in Denmark

A total of 5 approved stallions comes from this dam line. Barcelo himself is no longer stallion.

Here you find all informations about the dam line.

Most recent is the 4 yr old Danish Warmblood and OLD approved stallion Atterupgaards Bernachi by Bon Courage. Video clip from presentation at Stutteri Atterupgaard.

ALIVE AND KICKING STEPS UP TO THE MARK IN FREESTYLE DEBUT

Charlotte Dujardin's rising star impressed in today's Horse & Country CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle to Music

PRESS RELEASE - HICKSTEAD PRESS OFFICE 11 MAY

Charlotte Dujardin’s rising star Alive And Kicking was impressive on her Grand Prix Freestyle international debut, scoring 82.350% to take the win in emphatic fashion on the penultimate day of the I.C.E. Horseboxes All England Dressage Festival.

The 10-year-old mare had only made two international appearances before this week’s CDI at Hickstead, winning both the Grand Prix and Special in Lier in March and in Hagen in April. After finishing runner-up to Charlotte’s top horse Imhotep in yesterday’s Grand Prix, Alive And Kicking (known as Audrey) returned to her winning ways in the Horse & Country CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle to Music, with a confident routine that belied her relative lack of experience.

“That was the first time I've ever ridden it [the freestyle routine], and I think she's only ever done one other Freestyle, which was at Prix St Georges, so Audrey had a big ask tonight and I feel she did a very good job,” said Charlotte, who rode to a soundtrack based on music from the film Frozen.

In runner-up spot was Singapore's Caroline Chew on Blue Hors Zatchmo (74.940%), with Britain's Andrew Gould in third with Genie. 

Having lost out in Friday’s CDI Grand Prix to his protegee Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester was back on top in the LeMieux Premier League Grand Prix. Riding the 15-year-old En Vogue, Carl scored 75.304% to retain the title they won here 12 months ago.

Asked how En Vogue compares to Carl’s other Grand Prix ride Fame, he said: “They’re actually quite similar personalities and temperament, they are both a little bit quirky and can quickly change from very relaxed to very hot. But they’re beautiful horses to ride, and when they go well I feel like I am probably doing some of the best dressage I’ve ever done, they just suit my personality.”

Carl and Charlotte’s London 2012 Olympic teammate Laura Tomlinson enjoyed her competitive highlight of the year so far, winning the Fairfax Saddles Premier League FEI Prix St Georges with Full Moon II. She also came third with second ride Forest Hill, with Sarah Millis and Le Zorro taking the runner-up spot.

“I was first to go with that horse at 8 o'clock this morning, so it's been a long day waiting to see how the results panned out,” said Laura. “I was really pleased with him, he felt settled in the arena, switched on, and just a lovely ride. I'm in the Intermediate I tomorrow. So hopefully we can carry forwards with a little bit of confidence.”

Laura’s stable jockey Lara Butler was also top of the podium today, with her victory coming in the Saracen Horse Feeds Premier League Intermediate I. Riding the 14-year-old Amiek C, the pair scored 75.343% to finish more than two percent clear of Michael Eilberg and MSJ Encore in second. “The temperature was getting very warm today, but he coped very well with the heat and with the atmosphere,” said Lara of the bay gelding by Ampere.

This morning also saw some young talents in the sport compete in the CDI 1* classes. Myles Graham enjoyed a one-two in the I.C.E Horseboxes CDI Junior Riders Team test, winning with Nibeley Union Hit(72.000%) and finishing second with Nibeley Black Pearl (70.363%). The Young Riders' title went to India Durman-Mills and Escade, with a score of 70.588%, while Sofia Games and Steendieks Cadillac took the CDI Ponies test with 69.857%. In the Children on Horses, Ella-Grace Dovey finished top of the leaderboard with a score of 75.450% on her 11-year-old gelding, Sheepcote Jackson.

Annabella Pidgeley secured her second win of the show, taking top spot in the I.C.E Horseboxes CDI U25 Intermediate II with Vamos Amigos. "He gave me one of the best feelings he has ever given, especially through our piaffe and passage tour," she said. 

For full results click here.

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