Dorothee Schneider and Faustus winner of national Grand Prix with 76,867% (video)

Dorothee Schneider during Danish Warmblood test riding 2017 - photo credit: Everhorse

It always interesting to follow which new horses the international top riders bring up.

This time Dorothee Schneider shows the 9 yr old gelding Faustus by Falsterbo / Forrest xx. 

Back in February Dorothee showed Faustus for the first time at Inter II national level, winning at Ankumer Dressur club, and last year she presented Faustus for the first time public at Global Dressage Forum together with Johnny Hilberath, for a Young Horse session. 

Dorothee and Faustus are qualified for Louisdor Preis final taking place at international event in Frankfurt mid December. 

Zibrasport streamer fra Blue Hors Dressurfestival lørdag og søndag (11. og 12. november)

Når dørene åbnes for 2017 udgaven af Blue Hors Dressurfestival bliver det igen i år med mulighed for resten af verden at følge med hjemme fra stuen. 

Zibrasport er nemlig klar med fuld livestreamingsprogram for både lørdag og søndag, hvor der bl.a. er finale i Bundgaard Byg, MA klasser og Grand Prix klasser. 

Startlisterne er online her. 

Hvordan fungerede det nye format for DRF´s championatsfinaler?

Foto: H2R

Nyt format mangler mere skarp linie

Efter afsluttede succesfulde championatsfinaler på Blue Hors i år, er det alligvel tid til at stoppe op og "evaluere" på det nye format, idet H2R fra flere forskellige retninger har fået henvendelser omkring formatet. 

Det er altid værdifuldt at prøve noget nyt, og samtidig selvfølgelig også vigtigt at lytte til "brugerne", i det her tilfælde rytterne som deltog i finalestævnet, og selvfølgelig også på hele formatet som jo havde gennemgået en total renovering. 

Ingen mellemrunder og gennemgående dommere

Man havde egentlig i flere år efterspurgt en modernisering af championatsformatet. Og her valgte DRF naturligt nok at kigge mod syd, hvor tyskerne i mange år med stor succes har afholdt Bundeschampionater i et lignende format. 

Da det nye format blev offentliggjort sidste år fra DRF, var tanken og planen at der skulle være gennemgående dommere for hver årgang. Den mission lykkedes desværre ikke, og det gav under vejs bedømmelser hvor flere heste som allerede var kvalificeret, og hvor rytteren valgte at ride endnu en kvalifikation for at give hesten mere rutine, for så at erfare at der sad nye dommere og dermed et andet bedømmelsesniveau. 

Forslag fra H2R

I stedet for at have de 7 forskellige steder for kvalifikationer, kunne det måske være mere hensigtsmæssigt med blot to kvalifikationer før sommerferien og to kvalifikationer efter sommerferien, med hhv. en kvalifikation i Vest og en kvalifikation i Øst hver gang. Det giver ihvertfald mulighed for at samle dommerteams som kan sidde med hver gang. 

Mellemrunderne genindføres

Med det nye format er fornemmelsen at man "mister" for mange aktive ekvipager, når der ikke findes nogen mellemrunde. Som H2R lægger op til ovenfor, vil der i fremtiden ikke være mere end de to chancer for at ride sig i finalen/mellemrunden. En kvalifikation til finalen via mellemrunden kunne jo ex. være til de ekvipager der udgør de næste 25% af de ekvipager fra indledende, som ikke kvalificerede sig direkte til finalen. For nogle ryttere var målet tidligere at kunne nå til mellemrunden. 

Trøstfinaler er et MUST

Med et deltager gebyr på 2.300 kr er der bred enighed blandt de deltagere som kun fik én chance til finalestævnets indledende klasse - trøstfinalerne manglede.

Det er et championat for unge heste, og det er total nyt miljø. Uanset ekvipagerne har haft træningstid i arenaen, så vil der ofte opstå unødige spændinger den første dag, som kunne have givet potentielle finale ekvipager en chance mere med en trøstfinale, og iøvrigt også været mere på unghestens præmisser.

Intet finalestævne uden input udefra

Med den høje kvalitet af unge heste i Danmark, og ikke mindst til UVM hvor både danske ryttere og heste har været toneangivende, så skylder man championatsfinalerne input ude fra. Og ude fra er fra udlandet.

Set fra distancen manglede finalerne mere nuanceret kommentering, og ikke mindst begejstring når de højeste karakterer blev uddelt. Og så savnede man kommentering på engelsk overfor de ryttere som ikke lige taler det store internationale danske sprog, og som jo var en stor del af championatsfinalerne. 

En kapacitet som Christoph Hess som jo kommenterer en stor del til UVM kunne have været ekstraordinært for både deltagere og publikum. Men der findes mange andre internationale navne, som også kunne give både publikum og deltagere den ekstra oplevelse som der nu engang følger med når det er finaletid. 

Håbet er at ovennævnte giver anledning til, at DRF for fremtiden inviterer en lille gruppe af de aktive deltagere med, når championatsformatet skal evalueres - DRF er jo medlemmers organisation. 

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GÅ PÅ OPDAGELSE OG UDFORSK DIN DRØMME HESTEEJENDOM  

KLIK PÅ BILLEDET HERUNDER:

Dennis Fisker ny landstræner for junior- og ungrytterne i dressur

Nyhed på DRF i dag

Det er med stor glæde, at vi kan fortælle, at det bliver berider Dennis Fisker, der overtager posten som landstræner for junior- og ungrytterne i dressur efter Ulrik Sørensen.

Dennis Fisker og Edelmann til stævnet på Broholm i sommer. Foto: H2R

Fisker klar til at fastholde dansk ungdomsdressur i den internationale top

Dennis blev uddannet som berider i 2009 og har siden været ansat som berider og daglig leder i Frederikshavn Rideklub (2009-2014) og Hjallerup Rideklub (2014-2015), inden han i 2015 kom til Julianelyst, hvor han også er berider og daglig leder. Dennis har i en årrække fungeret som dommer i forbundets unghestechampionater, han rider på Grand Prix-niveau og har flere internationale starter. At han formår at træne dressurryttere på alle niveauer bekræftes af, at har ryttere fra pony til senior til start på både nationalt og internationalt niveau.

”Jeg er meget glad for at have fået jobbet som landstræner og glæder mig til at komme i gang. Jeg ser frem til at arbejde med de unge mennesker, deres familier og deres trænere og yde mit bidrag til, at vi sammen fortsat kan vise, at vi hører til blandt de bedste nationer ved de store mesterskaber. Jeg vil være til stede ved ECCO Cup-finalerne i december, hvor jeg glæder mig til at møde mange af de danske junior- og ungryttere og se dem ride,” lyder fra den nye landstræner.

Werth and Nilshagen - two top riders to Stockholm and Saab Top 10 Dressage

Dante Weltino OLD and Therese Nilshagen at this summers European Championships in Gothenburg - photo credit: Roland Thunholm

PRESS RELEASE

Therese Nilshagen (SWE) and her fairytale stallion Dante Weltino together with Isabell Werth (GER) are the two first riders to be presented for the exclusive new competion Saab Top 10 Dressage.

-It’s amazing!  To be part of the top ten riders in the world means very tough competition, but it will be great to compete back home in Sweden and Stockholm, says Therese Nilshagen.

Top dressage rider Therese Nilshagen – Sweden’s new big star, will compete in the Saab Top 10 Dressage in Stockholm. Nilshagen, who along with black stallion Dante Weltino has taken the dressage world by storm, is now ranked among the top ten in the world. Thus she is also ready for the Saab Top 10 to compete for nearly 200 000 Euro in prize money.

Nilshagen is the girl next door, from the small village Vällingby in Sweden, who never owned her own horse. She worked at the riding school to afford to ride twice a week. Now she has gone all the way into the top of the dressage world and into the the top ten rankings.

She has educated her horse Dante herself and it was with the nice fourth and fifth places in their championship debut at the European Championships in Gothenburg this summer she seriously made a name for her self. Nilshagen also contributed strongly to the Swedish team bronze medal.

-After the European Championship we have taken some time off. Dante has got some rest and I’ve been focusing on taking a driver’s licens for trucks. But now we are in the process of training to get in shape for the Saab Top 10.

How do you think Dante will react to the large audience in Stockholm?

-He is an invidual who likes to be the center of the attention, but he has not been doing that many indoor shows this year, so I do not really know. But he’s not a difficult horse, so I’m not thinking much about it. We’re are now very much looking  forward to this show!, says Therese Nilshagen.

What will you do with the prize money if you win?

– Haha, I havn’t really been thinking about the money but I really need a new car! I may try to flirt with the owners of Dante so that I can keep the Volkswagen car if we win.

Saab Top 10 Dressage

Saab Top 10 Dressage takes place over two days (2-3 December) at the Sweden International Horse Show in Stockholm. Some of the top rider will also give personal comments and advices during the national dressage competition the 1 December.

World ranking list number one Isabell Werth (GER) was the first rider to be announced for the competition.

Sweden International Horse Show 30 november - 3 december 2017, http://www.swedenhorseshow.se/

Winner of region 1 Young Horse qualifier Atterupgaards Delorean with Selina Solberg Vittinghus

Danish Warmblood silver medal mare Atterupgaards Delorean by Bon Bravour / Sandro Hit bred and owned by Stud Atterupgaard, with Selina Solberg Vittinghus in the saddle took todays regional victory and is ready for the final at Danish Warmblood stallion show in March 2018.

As it looks like right now the scores to get to the final will be around 8,00. (Best 35 horses will be qualified for the final when all 4 regions has finished).

Next regional qualifiers are November 4th, region 7 and November 5th at region 3.

See the entire results here. 

More Sezuan success

Today´s no 3 was another Sezuan son, Spot on with Solos Carex as damsire ridden by Camilla Ahlers Pedersen, and owned by CVL Horses. 

World Cup victory for Danish Malene Kohlschmidt Ebbesen and Mira today at Zakrzow, Polen (video)

Price giving, Malene Kohlschmidt Ebbesen / Mira - private photo

Danish Malene Kohlschmidt Ebbesen and her 17 yr old Danish Warmblood Mira by Michellino / Cavan took yesterday´s World Cup Grand Prix 2nd place behind Germany´s Uwe Schwanz, and today Malene and "Mivse" just took the victory with 75,400%.

Malene and her husband pro rider German Maik Kohlschmidt are at the moment based at Klosterhof Medingen, where they are running their business from. 

Danish Rikke Svane and Finckenstein TSF were placed as no 8 with 71,800% for today´s freestyle. 

The top star of this years Hanoverian stallion licensing sold to Helgstrand Dressage for 650.000 euros (total list with prices)

From the first video presentation, to the presentation by hand, to lunging and the with final presentation free yesterday the chestnut stallion by Sezuan / Donnerhall just proved his top qualities. 

All the way with power, expression and suppleness - he really shows himself as a top stallion. And of course the sharp eyes from Andreas Helgstrand caught this boy from his first steps. 

2nd most expensive were at 360.000 euros, two stallions, Finest / De Niro also sold to Helgstrand Dressage and Glock´s Toto jr / Sandro Hit sold to Glock.

The attractive Negro son was sold for 70.000 euros to Landgestüt Celle. They also bought the expressive Blue Hors Don Olymbrio son for 32.000 euros.

Deckstation Dressage Grand Ducal purchased Livaldon / Worldly for 120.000 euros. 

Sir Donnerhall son was sold for 175.000 euros to the Netherlands.

The Vivaldi son was sold abroad (don´t know yet where to).

Sezuan / Hotline gelding winner of Danish Warmblood Young Horse qualifier for Herning

Danish Warmblood stallion Sezuan offsprings making headlines

At today´s first qualifier for Danish Warmblood Young Horse Championship final, which takes place during Danish Warmblood stallion show in Herning in March 2018, Thomas Sigtenbjerggaard and his own bred Silverstone Melody by Sezuan / Hotline won with a score of 880 points. 

Three more regional qualifiers to come before the 35 best Young Danish Warmblood Horses are ready for Herning. 

 See the entire results from today here. 

SETTLING FOR THE STALLION SHOW IN MARCH 2018?

58,000 spectators can't be wrong....

Don't miss out on the biggest stallion licensing in the world - with CDI***, CSI* and CSI***, along with Spring auction, Young Horse Championships in dressage and showjumping, dressage clinic with OG rider Patrik Kittel, huge Horse & Rider Tack Fair, gala shows both Friday and Saturday, afterparties both of these days, stallion presentation classes with breedsires aged 4 and up.

Mark up your calendar with March 7-11, 2018.

It all starts Wednesday afternoon and goes on right until Sunday afternoon at 5pm in the biggest exhibition center of Denmark (MCH Messecenter Herning) - situated in Central Jutland.

Ticket sales have started and VIP tables can be bought as well.

Write to varmblod@varmblod.dk and make your wishes come true!

HANN Licensed and Premium stallions today in Verden

All 3 Sezuan sons licensed

Super statistics for Danish Warmblood stallion Sezuan with 3 stallions selected for the licensing and all 3 licensed. No 105 with Donnerhall as damsire was today´s clear highlight. This stallion brings what you want from a stallion, lots of expression, power, format and supple gaits. From H2R point of view this stallion will for sure bring a top price for tomorrow´s auction. Both the Negro and the Toto jr. does also look like to prices.

The Millennium sons lost a bit of power like also the For Romance son did not show the last strength for this final day. 

The Escolar / Rohdiamant showed himself as a very well balanced and super mover (his way of moving reminds of the outstanding stallion For Emotion by Foundation).

Surprisingly no 80 by Fürst Belissaro and no 89 by Jazz did not pass the eyes of the Hanoverian licensing commitee. 

No need for the final day at Hanoveraner stallion licensing

It seems a bit of an extra day when watching today´s presentation free, as the licensing actually started Wednesday with free jumping of the dressage stallions, and where the judging of the stallions free easily could have been a part of the first day.

Yesterday could easily have been the final day of the licensing with the presentation and announcements of licensed or not licensed after lunging of the stallions. 

H2R long list after presentation by hand including licensing results:

• No 40 Belantis / Ampere -                              premium 
• No 45 Dancier / Weltmeyer -                         licensed
• No 49 Daimond Hit / San Remo -                 licensed
• No 56 Escolar / Rohdiamant -                        premium
• No 72 For Romance I / St Moritz -                 premium
• No 74 For Romance I / Rubinloh -                 licensed
• No 80 Fürst Belissaro / Don Primus -             not licensed
• No 83 Fürstenball / Scolari -                           licensed
• No 89 Jazz / His Highness -                            not licensed
• No 92 Livaldon / Rotspon -                            licensed
• No 93 Livaldon / Wordly -                              premium 
• No 95 Millennium / Desperados -                   licensed
• No 96 Millennium / Donnerhall -                   premium
• No 97 Negro / Christ -                                    premium
• No 99 Rocco Granata / Fürst Nymphenburg - licensed
• No 104 Sezuan / Desperados -                         licensed
• No 105 Sezuan / Donnerhall -                         premium
• No 106 Sezuan / St. Moritz -                           licensed
• No 108 Sir Donnerhall I / De Niro -               licensed
• No 109 Toto jr / Sandro Hit -                         premium

20 Young Horses ready for auction at Van Olst Sales 18 November

News at Van Olst Horses today

 

18th of November auction Van Olst Sales

November 18th, Van Olst Horses will organise an auction, Van Olst Sales, with approximately 20 geldings and a few mares at the age of 2,5 years.

Because of the big group of horses which is in our well known breedingprogramm the decission is made to organize this before sale the Van Olst Sales in March 2018.

Offspring of the following stallions will be auctioned: Chippendale, Everdale, Fairytale, George Clooney, Giovanni, Glamourdale, Lord Leatherdale, Negro and Nespresso.

Presentation of the auction horses will take place at thursday November 16th at 19.30.

Saturday the 18th of November stables will be opened at 14.00. The presentation will start at 17.00 followed by the auction at 19.00.

Location: Van Olst Horses, Terheijdensspoor 9, Den Hout, the Netherlands.

If you are looking to buy a young and green horse with quality this is a unique opportunity!

First impressions from HANN licensing - showing by hand

H2R long list before today´s lunging is:

• No 40 Belantis / Ampere
• No 45 Dancier / Weltmeyer
• No 49 Daimond Hit / San Remo
• No 56 Escolar / Rohdiamant
• No 72 For Romance I / St Moritz
• No 74 For Romance I / Rubinloh
• No 80 Fürst Belissaro / Don Primus
• No 83 Fürstenball / Scolari
• No 89 Jazz / His Highness
• No 92 Livaldon / Rotspon
• No 93 Livaldon / Wordly
• No 95 Millennium / Desperados
• No 96 Millennium / Donnerhall
• No 97 Negro / Christ
• No 99 Rocco Granata / Fürst Nymphenburg
• No 104 Sezuan / Desperados
• No 105 Sezuan / Donnerhall
• No 106 Sezuan / St. Moritz
• No 108 Sir Donnerhall I / De Niro
• No 109 Toto jr / Sandro Hit

OPDATERET - Det er hjemme på træningsbanen at mundskaderne opstår

Photo: H2R

OPDATERET  

Nyhed på DRF i dag 

DRF og DR-IF i dialog om ny regel for næsebåndets stramhed hos stævneheste

På baggrund af resultater fra DRFs omfattende udstyrsundersøgelse har forbundet besluttet, at indføre en grænse for næsebåndets stramhed gældende i alle discipliner. Inden for de kommende uger mødes forbundet og Dansk Ride-Instruktør Forening for at tage en konstruktiv dialog om reglen og baggrunden for denne samt i fællesskab at aftale implementeringen.

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NYHED 23. OKTOBER 

Sidste uges offentliggørelse af den nye næsebånds regel fra DRF, har naturligvis givet anledning til diskussioner og meningsudvekslinger. Og som H2R allerede ved gengivelsen af reglen kunne konstatere, så hverken Dansk Ride-Instruktør foreningen (DRIF) eller de respektive landstrænere for de enkelte dicipliner blevet hørt forinden vedtagelsen af reglen. 

H2R har fanget bestyrelsesmedlem og berider Karin Nissen, som på vegne af DRIF udtaler følgende: 

DRIF må konstatere at DRF pr. 1. januar 2018 ønsker en ændring af reglementet i forhold til brugen af næsebånd i alle discipliner for både ponyer og heste. 

Vi er uforstående over for konklusionen om den nye 1,5 cm næsebånds regel.

Reglen er blevet vedtaget på baggrund af en analyse/stikprøver fortaget på ca. 3000 heste og ponyer, der viser at særligt én kategori har udfordringer med huller i munden. 

Vi mener ikke det er den rigtige løsning, at der skal løsnes så meget på næsebåndet, det vil blot skabe et nyt problem. Man skal ikke glemme at næsebåndet bla. har til funktion at holde hestens tunge i ro, og at hesten ikke trækker tungen op, eller over bidet, hvilket skaber meget uro og ubehag hos hesten/ponyen.

Vi vil gerne understrege, vi mener ikke at næsebånd skal være overspændte, men må gerne ligge til. Vi ved nogle heste trives med meget løse næsebånd, mens andre heste trives bedre når de ligger til.

Analysen tager ikke udgangspunkt i, om de omfattede heste har tandspidser, hvilken bid de trænes med hjemme, eller hvilken type næsebånd der er tale om, og hvor højt sidder bidet spændt op mv. 

Vi mener ikke det er den rigtige løsning med 1,5 cm reglen, idet rytterne i princippet bare kan løsne næsebåndet til stævne og dermed stadig kan stille op i konkurrence, på en heste med skader i munden. Alternativt kan ryttere også spænde bidet højere op i munden, og derved øge risikoen for skader i mundvigene. Man skal gøre sig klart, at det ikke er på stævnepladsen hesten får skaderne i munden.

Vi har et dygtigt team af TD'er, der holder øje med opvarmningesbanerne. TD'erne har jo altid haft muligheden for at skride ind, hvis de ser en hest/pony med overspændt næsebånd!

For at få en holdningsændring igennem i den daglige træning, ser vi det som en løsning ved konkurrencer, at indføre mund/bid og sporetjek som ved internationale stævner. 

Her kontrolleres hesten for "skader" når den kommer ud fra banen. Er der sår, blod, piskemærker eller lignende diskvalificeres ekvipagen. Kan den ikke tjekkes i munden må den ligeledes diskvalificeres, så ryttere ikke har mulighed for at snyde. 

Om det skal indføres som en stikprøve, som DRF lægger op til med kontrollen af næsebåndene, eller om alle ekvipager tjekkes, må være op til DRF. Men det giver ingen mening at indføre en sanktion, der rammer alle ekvipager, og som ikke løser problemet med huller i munden. 

Ved rytterne at der føres kontrol ved evt. hul i munden, må ændre de adfærd hjemme, ellers kan de diskvalificeres og ved gentagelse udelukkes ved karantæne.

DRIF ønsker en dialog med DRF omkring en løsning, så man tager fat der hvor problemet er, og laver en løsningsmodel som tilgodeser både hestens velfærd og sporten. Der skal ikke herske tvivl om, at DRIF bakker op om en fælles løsning.

Elmia Scandinavian Horse Show 2017 starts today

From 4 yr old to Grand Prix classes

Elmia is open for every horses no matter of breeding society, where the Swedish Breeders Thophy is only for Swedish bred horses. 

Jan Brink ambassador for the dressage at Elmia Horse Show

Swedish top trainer Jan Brink will do a clinic, and from the press release about his thoughts about Elmia Scandinavian Horse Show, he tell that this event combines breeding and sport, with a kind international format like Denmark and Danish Warmblood presents Herning Horse Show. See the interview here. 

There will be full live streaming program via Equisport.tv.

Link to start and results.

Ready for HANN stallion licensing? (live stream schedule)

Hanoverian stallion licensing starts tomorrow

If you haven´t planned to go to Verden the next days, you still have the possibility to follow the HANN stallion licensing via live streaming at Clipmyhorse.

Check out H2R favorites here. 

Find the entire collection here. 

320.000 euros top price for Millennium / Van Deyk Trakehner stallion

Eventhough is was a huge World Cup weekend in Denmark, just down the road at Neumünster the Trakehner Verband were hosting their anual big show with stallion licensing, auction, show ect. 

This years Champion Stallion - no 22 by Millennium / Van Deyk was sold for 320.000 euros to Klosterhof Medingen. 

7 Premium Stallions

At the show they were celebrating a lot of Trakehner successes during the year, and among them this years Bronze winner at World Championships for Young Horses, Danish bred Klipling with Anne Troensegaard. 

Couple of small video clips from today´s start at 35-days stallion performance test at Danish Warmblood

3 yr old

Springbank II VH

Quaterhit

Valverde

4 yr old

It´s Me

Denmark’s Dufour dominates at opening leg in Herning (FEI press release)

FEI PRESS RELEASE

Watershed victory on home ground; new Danish venue proves a popular choice

Danish fans had everything to shout about when their home-grown superstar partnership of 25-year-old Cathrine Dufour and her wonderful 14-year-old gelding, Atterupgaards Cassidy, claimed victory at the opening leg of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2017/2018 Western European League in Herning (DEN) today. Although the 14-strong field included Isabell Werth who took triple-gold at the Longines FEI European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden eight weeks ago, the 48-year-old German rider wasn’t competing her no 1 ride, the great mare Weihegold. So the reigning FEI World Cup™ Dressage champion had to settle for runner-up spot with Don Johnson FRH ahead of Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Delaunay OLD in third, mirroring exactly the results of yesterday’s preliminary Grand Prix.

There was a huge sense of achievement for Dufour.

"The last time I competed in a World Cup was two years ago, and we finished second-last! So I wanted to improve on that for sure! Isabell has beaten me the whole season, but yesterday and today my horse was so relaxed and easy. And yes, I did smile during the Freestyle, because if you practice something at home and finally bring it into the ring then you feel really good about it!"

Cathrine Dufour (DEN)

Going sixth of the 14 starters, Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén and Paridon Magi posted a leading mark of 76.320 but were overtaken by another of Denmark’s rising talents, 23-year-old Anna Zibrandtsen who held the advantage with Arlando at the halfway break when putting 76.945 on the board.

And the standard just kept rising as the last six took their turn, Agnete Kirk Thinggaard, a member of the Danish silver medal winning team in Gothenburg alongside Zibrandtsen, Dufour and Anna Kasprazak, scoring 78.500 with Jojo Az before Werth changed the whole tempo of the competition when posting 83.755.

The sometimes naughty “Johnny”, as Don Johnson is better known, was clearly on top form, throwing a buck before entering the arena and then producing a really fluent Freestyle, full of power and collection. Werth knew she had thrown down the gauntlet to the remaining four left to go, but, second-last into the the ring, Dufour didn’t flinch. A high degree of difficulty in the early stages of their floorplan suggested a big score might well be on the way. And so it was, with the loveliest walk included in their beautifully executed test for the massive winning mark of 85.945, all five judges putting the pair in pole position and the crowd rising to their feet in sheer delight.

Swedish showman, Patrik Kittel, gave it his best when last to go, and his mark of 81.095 pinned Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack back into fourth spot, but the Danish party had already begun. And now Dufour is having a whole new re-think about her competition programme over the coming months.  

"I didn’t plan to do the World Cup season, but of course I’m getting a bit hungry after this!"

Cathrine Dufour (DEN)

Dufour also earned Grand Prix Special and Freestyle bronze at this summer’s Europeans. She wants to do her best by the wonderful Cassidy however, who has been her loyal partner since she was competing at Junior level.

"I didn’t train with him since Gothenburg until the last few days before coming here to Herning. My end goal is always to take care of him, so I better go home and make a plan and discuss things with my coach. We will see…."

Cathrine Dufour (DEN)

Herning certainly provided a great start to the new season, and Ground Jury President, Denmark’s Susanne Baarup, couldn’t hold back her emotion about a day of fantastic sport. It wasn’t just the home win that brought tears to her eyes.

"when it came down to the last five riders I almost had to take some tissues out! It was really an honour to judge such good riders, and Cathrine’s win was well deserved. This has been a fantastic show for her"

Susanne Baarup (Ground Jury President)

The FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2017/2018 Western European League now heads for Lyon, France in two weeks time as the nine-leg series continues to play out towards the Final in Paris, France next April.

Jens Traberg, Show Director Dressage at Herning:

"This was the first time to have this World Cup qualifier in Herning - we have wanted to bring it here for a long time."

Patrik Kittel SWE (3rd)

"The audience here in Herning was really amazing, they were really supportive of everyone, not just the Danish competitors. It’s important to make the audience part of the competition - I have no problem if they start clapping before the end of the test because it makes the competition more fun and they are getting involved."

Dufour made a dream come true

Dedicated Danish dressage darling

First World Cup leg for the 2017/2018 season went to 25 yr old Danish Cathrine Dufour and her 14 yr old Danish Warmblood gelding Atterupgaards Cassidy by Caprimond / Donnerhall.

From yesterday´s Grand Prix they brought their lightness, ease and power for today´s Grand Prix Freestyle. No technical issues, a bit like "a walk in the park", eventhough every rider knows that this take just a bit more than "a walk in the park". First of all to get to this international top level, and then the next hurdle being able to stay there and develop at this level. This masterpiece Dufour and Cassidy showed the dressage world today. Building up their form and cofidence over the year, taking team silver medal and two individual medals at the recents European Championships in Gothenburg, going back for a pretty long rest, where Cassidy has done everything else than doing difficult Grand Prix exercises in the arena. And then about 2 weeks before this World Cup, a proper "haircut" was done for Cassidy, and then the focus and training started towards Herning - this (and of course a lot of other details) made the double winning Danish World Cup combination at Herning this weekend. 

Personal best for freestyle and double win beating Isabell Werth, and today with totally agreement for the judging panel. 

Enjoy the 85,945% ride here in this news from Danish national TV - LINK. 

Isabell Werth did what she could with her 2nd best horse Don Johnson today - no errors, technical difficult test, but just not enough to beat the young Danish combination.

From H2R point of view "we" would love to see new freestyle from Cathrine, as it needs a bit more young "cheeky" spirit. At the same time Werth also need a new freestyle for Don Johnson.

Placed 3rd was Swedish Patrik Kittel with Delaunay. They showed their new Guns N´ Roses freestyle which was artistic at a very high level, (scoring 3 x 10 and 2 x 9,8) and actually therefore kept him in front of Danish Daniel Bachmann Andersen with Blue Hors Zack. Mr. Kittel is a true master of freestyle, and his experience makes him able to make some very difficult lines during his test with always well chosen style of music. 

When it is the first time you watch a test like this, you just have to "adapt" to the new lines, and feel the music together with the rider and horse, but that part the judges seems to adapt to very well, as soon as the saw this new freestyle. 

Placed 4th today was a real Danish "runner up". Placed 5th in the Grand Prix with personal best for Daniel and Zack, they just continued their path forward and upwards into 4th place today. Maybe the Danish glasses from H2R were more well polished today, but they definitely got my 3rd place today. 

H2R comments during the test:

Blue Hors Zack DEN - super halt, direct out, nice off the ground extended trot, good trot / passage half passes, good piaffe slightly forward with nice easy transition, superb collected walk, good extended walk, good control for double pirouette, superb trough series with nice expression, so much more suspension/strength for passage. Super test.

+80% or not - what counts were the qualities and highlights during the test. Daniel and Zack brought themselves into a very nice position at the beginning of this 2017/2018 World Cup season, not even entered the next season with the eyes for WEG in Tryon. 

When Danish Agnete Kirk Thinggaard and her long time partner Jojo AZ shows a well performed test as today without any technical issues, you just feel your a part of it. The Robbie William music and the very difficult coreography with series on curved line into double pirouette and series out again, just makes you sit on the edge of the chair. Lovely freestyle mood. They finished as no 6 today.

Anna Zibrandtsen and Arlando are still new together, and yesterday they did not show a test as convincing as we saw them for the European Championships. Yesterday was as if the power and last motivation failed slightly. (Actually a great result, but for sure not at the level Anna had in mind before the competition). Today they were back on form with sparkling piaffe and passage tours. Finishing as no 7.

H2R comments during the test: 

Arlando DEN - just loves her modern choice of music. Superb halt, direct into passage, much more power for piaffe today, smooth half passes, good walk tour, nice 1st double pirouette, 2 times on curved track, superb 1 times at curved, 2nd double pirouette in lovely shape/quality, wauw final centerline, applauding crowd for the final meters.

See the results here.

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More international Danish success - Ulrik Mølgaard and Michigan placed 2nd at CDI3 Grand Prix Special in Le Mans today

Ulrik Mølgaard and Michigan today at Le Mans - private photo.

While most of Dressage Denmark is focused on World Cup in Herning, Danish Anders Dahl og Ulrik Mølgaard is at CDI3 Le Mans in France.

Thursday Dahl and Selten HW took the Grand Prix victory with 72,780%. Today Ulrik Mølgaard and Michigan showed great form placed 2nd in Grand Prix Special with 70,294%. Winner was American Catrine Haddad Staller with Semper Fidelis with 71,902%.

Ulrik tells from Le Mans: "Mickey Mølgaard was on top form today. Very improved piaffe / passage tours, and as usual strong half passes, extended trot tours and changes. Today the feeling was clearly that the test was made for us." 

See the results here.