Charlotte is back!

Photo credit: PSV

Press release from Longines Equita Lyon, Concours Hippique International

FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix presented by CREARA // CHARLOTTE IS BACK !

British rider Charlotte Dujardin was the fourth rider to enter the dressage arena for the FEI Dressage World CupTM Grand Prix presented by CREARA, and she managed to put in a great performance to hold off the competition. Taking first place in the provisional ranking with 79.978%, she held on to her lead throughout the class, even finishing ahead of Isabell Werth, who scored 77.826%.

This morning's result in Lyon represented a major comeback for the English star. Indeed, she had not competed in Lyon since 2014, riding her famous Valegro. Today, Charlotte Dujardin introduced the ten-year-old Mount St John Freestyle to the judges. It was a first for her horse, which was participating in its first FEI World Cup class. “I’m so happy. This was Mount's first indoor World Cup class. She is really courageous and has worked a lot for this event. I felt great and I think it was one of the best dressage tests we have done together. Looking forward to tomorrow, I adore Freestyle and I love my music - The Snow Queen! - and my horse loves it too! This is the second time that I'll be presenting this routine. It's great music for horseback riding."

The event was also a first for Anne-Sophie Serre and her very young mare Actuelle de Massa. Tenth in the final ranking with a score of 70.565%, the French rider can be extremely proud of her performance. The couple performed a very pretty, fluid routine, under the watchful eye of the French coaches. When she left the arena, Anne-Sophie could not hide her joy: "This is a first for me and my horse in a World Cup! I am really happy about the way I felt in the arena and with how Actuelle behaved. She was really concentrated despite her young age and the little experience she has at this level. This is just our fifth Grand Prix together, so she is newcomer at this elite level. So, I am really pleased to be part of the event and with my horse's performance. Tomorrow I'll be doing my third Freestyle to music test, but I was particularly under pressure today, because the first class is often decisive for the rest of the competition. So, I have done what I set out to do, so far. I did a little over 70% by doing a routine without pushing things too much, so now it's just about having fun!"  

The top French rider in the ranking was Morgan Barbaçon-Mestre on her faithful Sir Donnerhall II Old, with 72.109%. The couple finished eighth in the class. Finally, a quick word about the third French couple involved. Despite their 13th place with a score below 70 (69.739%), Amorak and Stéphanie Brieussel completed a nice, smooth dressage test. "I am very happy with the performances of all three of them, since they managed to complete the tests without making any faults, as they say," said Emmanuelle Schramm, Deputy Technical Director in charge of dressage for the French Equestrian Federation.

1 – Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Mount St John Freestyle – 79.978%

2 – Isabell Werth (GER) and Emilio – 77.826%

3 – Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) and Zaire-E – 76.435%

VIDEO of the entire class - Dujardin beat Werth for today's World Cup Grand Prix at Lyon

Winner Mount St. John Freestyle and Charlotte Dujardin

Super sharp field for today’s World Cup Grand Prix with just 14 starters

Danish combination Ulrik Mølgaard with Michigan had to withdraw before the trot up, as Micky unfortunately had an accident at the stables and did look 100% fit, Ulrik told.

No doubt about today’s winner combinations, and with almost 80% there is still room for improvement for Dujardin and Freestyle.

Personal best and place 4th today was Dutch Emmelie Scholtens with her 11 year old KWPN stallion Desperado N.O.P. with 76,283% - not just personal best score but also personal best test from H2R point of view. Overall good power, suppleness and obedience from the big black stallion all the way, and it was of course also a very please and happy Emmelie after today’s test. Seen from the “sideline” the placement was more like a second place like judge at E French Isabelle Judet saw them.

Desperado N.O.P. NED - super halt, power diagonal, nice uphill crossing half passes, super halt with good rein back, good diagonal, super into passage, nice piaffe keeping the activity and good transitions, 77% trending after trot, super extended walk, active collected walk, nice into passage, nice 2nd piaffe with good active passage, good into canter, super nice 2 times, power diagonal extended canter super back for the change, super zigzag, superb flow forward 1 times, tiny active 1st pirouette, huge sit small jump to the side at final for 2nd pirouette, good into trot, super diagonal, nice final centerline with good transitions. 76,282%

Best ever test from H2R point of view 👌🏻

Werth and Emilio showed a strong test but struggling a bit with the full relaxation for the halts and the collected walk today.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Zaire-E showed a strong and very harmonious performance today.

Both Swiss combinations showed good performances with very good quality horses, but at the moment they are both lacking a bit more experience and top timing for their tests.

New at the World Cup scene today was the just 9 year old Lusitano mare Actuelle de Massa with French Anne Sophie Serre. A very interesting mare showing top qualities all the way, with only the walk as a bit weak point today. This combination made their international Grand Prix debut in August this year in Nice.

Morgan Barbancon with Sir Donnerhall II getting there, better and better every time. The only issue now is the piaffe tours, but today Morgan manage to maintain the energy in the piaffes.

Top 3 H2R comments during the tests: (all comments available via H2R Facebook)

Mount St. John Freestyle GBR - good halt but small unbalance, power diagonal WOW, well balanced half passes small tension left end, super halt with rein back, power diagonal, into smooth passage, bit forward piaffe and lack bit clear beat for the begin, super nice transitions, good walk tour, nice into passage, nice 2nd piaffe keep the flow and rhythm, good 2 times, good extended canter, super zigzag, good 1 times, super balanced pirouettes, WAUW 2nd!, super into trot, power diagonal, very nice final centerline. 79.978%

Power controlled test with some tiny issues.

Emilio GER - bit tense halt, well balanced diagonal, good crossing but lacking bit mor carriage for both half passes, good halt bit resistance for rein back, nice diagonal, smooth transition to passage, easy in and out 1st piaffe with piaffe at the spot, need more let go for the extended walk bit unbalanced rhythm, small steps for collected walk, ready at M super passage, easy 2nd piaffe, super transition to canter, good 2 times, nice extension, good zigzag, bit short one times, very sharp 1st pirouette, 2nd bit bigger, good transition to trot, nice diagonal, super final centerline. 77,826%

Expensive entering halt and the small steps for the collected walk kept her away from Dujardin today.

Zaire-E GER - good halt, nice diagonal, good flow half passes, bit open halt with tiny resistance rein back, good diagonal, nice transition to passage, tiny forward piaffe good transitions, good passage, good walk tour, direct into passage, nice 2nd piaffe with smooth transitions, good transition to canter, bit swing 2 times, good extended canter, well balanced zigzag, good 1 times, good pirouettes in nice balance, good transition to trot, good diagonal, smooth final centerline. 76,435%

Well balanced test with nice overall expression.

Watch the entire class here below - winner performance move the timeline to 29.30 to watch Dujardin with Freestyle.

See the entire results here.

A huge program comes up for Trakehner licensing and auction 7 - 10 November

Danish Stutteri Selsø is the owner of no 16 by Ivanhoe / Imperio, and he will be presented for the licensing by Hans Jørgen Hoeck, Hesselhøj Hestecenter, Denmark.

The video presentations of the stallions for the licensing and auction is very limited but with very nice first impression of both no 22 and 31.

Here you find the entire collection.

Huge Danish entrylist for CDI3 at Blue Hors 8 - 10 November

When stud Blue Hors will be hosting their annual CDI3 event it will be with a huge list of Danish international combinations.

Some with huge experience such as Mai Tofte Olesen with Rustique and Helene Melsen with Aston Martin, and some quite new at the international scene like Carina Cassøe Krüth with the top talented mare Heiline´s Danciera and Anna Kasprzak with her new Grand Prix horse Addict de Massa, and not least a comeback for the high quality gelding Blue Hors Zepter with Daniel Bachmann Andersen which we haven’t seen since December last year at Frankfurt due to an injury.

There will be live streaming provided by Zibrasport.tv for Saturday and Sunday (price 99 dkr about 13 euro).

International competition schedule:

Judging team:

Full live stream schedule for CDI-W in Lyon Thursday and Friday

Entries:

Here you find the iink to start and results.

Live stream from CDI-W Grand Prix Thursday morning at 8.00 via Youtube:

World Cup freestyle will be available via FEI-tv Friday afternoon at 16.00.

What happened at HANN auction today - most expensive stallion sold for record price 1.890.000 euro

No 54 by Cadeau Noir / Licosto - photo: Ernst

The top price stallion was Outstanding from first step at the presentation video till the final step at the auction today. So much stallion look, superb modern with power and super suppleness and all the time with nice judiciously overview.

There was an online video from the entire auction of no 54

One thing is sure, the auction of this most expensive stallion with no 54 by Cadeau Noir / Licosto did end before the ultimate final bit. The entire auction of this stallion was actually caught by one from the audience and was just online at Youtube for a few hours until is was made “private”. The final moments clearly shows that 1,2,3 is missing and hammer is actually done already after 1!

Prices for the Premium Stallions:

• 44 by Benicio x Lauries Crusador xx - sold for 34,000 euro

• 48 by Bon Coeur x Licosto - sold for 50,000 euro

• 54 by Cadeau Noir x Licosto - sold for 1,890,000 euro to Gestüt Bonhomme

• 73 by For Romance II x Davignon - sold for 240,000 euro to Landgestüt Celle

• 82 by Fürstenball x Weltmeyer - sold for 160,000 euro

• 84 by Londontime x De Niro - sold for 55,000 euro to Norwegian Kristin Andresen

• 92 by. Quantensprung x Sandro Hit - sold for 44,000 euro

• 94 by Schwarzgold x Don Frederico - sold for 160,000 euro to the Netherlands Theo Driessen

• 98 by Vitalis x Bon Bravour - sold for 720,000 euro to Glock Horse Performance Center

• 100 by Vitalis x Floriscount - not for sale

Top prices by other licensed stallions:

45 by Benicio x De Niro - sold for 100,000 euro to Bernadette Brune

65 by Don Nobless x Fidertanz sold for 90,000 euro

78 by Fürst Romancier x Sandro Hit sold for 90,000 euro

Full list of auction prices today:

Premium stallions with top qualities today at HANN stallion licensing

100 Vitalis - Floriscount

54 Cadeau Noir - Licosto

73 For Romance II / Davignon

82 Fürstenball - Weltmeyer

Photos by Ernst.

Premium stallions:

• No 44 Benicio / Lauries Crusador xx

• No 48 Bon Coeur / Licosto

• No 54 Cadeau Noir / Licosto

• No 73 For Romance II / Davignon

• No 82 Fürstenball / Weltmeyer

• No 84 Londontime / De Niro

• No 92 Quantensprung / Sandro Hit

• No 94 Schwarzgold / Don Frederico

• No 98 Vitalis / Bon Bravour

• No 100 Vitalis / Floriscount

No 54 showed already himself by the video presentation ahead of the licensing, but at hard surface he showed something special, at the lunging he showed superb balance for the trot and good canter, but today at free presentation he showed top balance for the canter. Really stallion look and showing superb overview.

No 73 very modern and long legged stallion, superb look, super balance and expression all the way and today with great overview for the free presentation.

No 82 a pure pretty boy from the video presentation and showing himself all the way as a really stallion. Super nice round and active hindlegs and superb walk.

No 100 a real charmer and the absolute highlight of the outstanding Vitalis sons collection. This boy look like the champion stallion. (He will not be available at the auction tomorrow).

H2R might “forgotten” 94, but not really feel for this stallion.

FEI Rider in Focus - Cathrine Dufour

VIDEOS - Hard surface and lunging of HANN stallions today - Vitalis sons showed something extra

Copy of Presentation at triangle and hard surface

Copy of Lunging

Already from this mornings presentation at hard surface some of H2R favourites showed themselves as very interesting candidates.

45 Benicio / De Niro - super well balanced both for trot and canter.

54 Cadeau Noir / Licosto - did not disappoint:

82 Fürstenball / Weltmeyer - well balanced presentation for both hard surface and lunging.

90 Morricone / Fürstenball - very handsome and powerful stallion:

100 Vitalis / Floriscount:

101 Vitalis / Foundation - best canter of the day.

103 Vitalis / Fürstenball - expressive supple stallion.

104 Vivaidi / Desperados - impressive trot but lacking more balance for the canter.

Live streaming program for Friday and Saturday:

49 young stallions selected for NRW stallion licensing + 5 stallions for the saddle licensing

Selected for saddle licensing:

FEI Press Release - It’s a Bohemian Rhapsody for Denmark’s Dufour at first leg in Herning

Germany’s Werndl and Langehanenberg finish second and third

Denmark’s Cathrin Dufour stole all the limelight when dominating both the Grand Prix and Freestyle at the first leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2019/2020 Western European League on home ground in Herning (DEN) this weekend. Riding her exciting young Westphalian gelding Bohemian, she posted a whopping 83.022 to win yesterday’s Grand Prix. And today she posted the winning Freestyle score of 88.191 which left her well clear of her nearest rivals, Germany’s Benjamin Wendl with Daily Mirror 9 and Helen Langehanenberg with Damsey FRH who slotted into second and third.

“It’s quite incredible!” said Dufour this evening, delighted with the performances of her super-talented and ultra-promising nine-year-old horse.

"Yesterday was the highlight because he was super-brave in front of a full-on crowd and everything came together! And today he brought out his “A” game again - imagine what he can do when I start to push him a bit more - he’s going to be unbelievable!"

Cathrine Dufour (DEN)

This first round of the 14-leg league from which nine riders will qualify for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2020 in Las Vegas (USA) next April, attracted a cracking field of 15 combinations from eight countries. And Denmark held the lead at the halfway stage when Agnete Kirk Thinggaard and Jojo AZ posted 77.630. It was a big moment for this pair as they were making their final appearance together at top level, with retirement now beckoning for the 16-year-old horse that represented Denmark at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and helped secure team silver at the FEI European Championships in Gothenburg (SWE) the following year.

Last year’s Oslo winners, Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack, went out in front when first to produce a score over 80 percent, but Dufour blew that away when following with a mark of over 88 percent for a test that had the spectators on the edges of their seats. Bohemian finished fourth in the Freestyle and fifth in the Special as well as contributing to Denmark’s second-place finish in the team event at the prestigious German fixture in Aachen this summer. And the crowd rose to their feet again, just as they did yesterday, when the pair drew to a halt in the full knowledge that they had taken a significant lead. 

Germany’s Werndl and Daily Mirror put 84.545 on the board before 2013 series champion Helen Langehanenberg posted a mark of 83.360 with Damsey FRH. So when the final partnership of Severo Jurado Lopez and another nine-year-old, Fiontini, finished fractionally further behind on 83.320, then the Spanish pair had to settle for fourth place. 

As Dufour returned to the arena for the prize-giving there was a sense that a new champion has been born. The Danish rider’s career highlights have mostly been recorded in her partnership with the fabulous 16-year-old gelding Atterupgaard’s Cassidy who has carried her from Young Rider European gold to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and on to team and Freestyle bronze at the 2017 Senior Europeans and bronze in the Special again at this summer’s European Championships. Bohemian looks like his perfect successor, and Dufour acknowledged that today.  

She is much lauded for her hugely sympathetic riding style which allows her horses to develop at their own pace.

"They are my team-mates, and I respect them in the ring. If they say they can’t do something then I say ‘maybe next time’. I never push them and that gives them great confidence. I love my ponies, I’m really just a pony girl inside!!"

Cathrine Dufour (DEN)

She is not going to try to qualify Bohemian for the Las Vegas 2020 Final, because she says it will be too much for him in a short space of time, especially when she has the 2020 Olympic Games in her sights. “I want to have both of them (Cassidy and Bohemian) ready for Tokyo. I’ve taken it quite easy on Bohemian to improve his frame and his strength, I’m just still trying to balance him. But the day I can start really riding him forward - I can only imagine what he can do!”

Result here 
 

VIDEO - Bohemian and Cathrine Dufour with clean sweep at first leg of FEI World Cup season 2019/2020

Cathrine Dufour again at top of the podium with Bohemian.

Opening leg of the new World Cup season with come crowd favourite victory

Everyone was blown away after yesterday’s outstanding performance from the young Danish combination, and today they did not disappoint their come crowd.

Lovely flow and power for their freestyle, and again the judges were ready to reward them. And today the audience were respectfully waiting with the applause until the final halt.

Benjamin Werndl and Daily Mirror were shining again today with a powerful and supple test, and today’s piaffe tours were much more settled than for the Grand Prix. Well deserved 2nd place.

Helen Langehanenberg and her 17-year-old Damsey FRH were showing a strong test, but for some moments the final motivation from Damsey was somewhat limited and at the end he becomes very strong in the contact.

Today’s 4th place was another 9 year old horse, Danish Warmblood mare Fiontini with Severo Jurado Lopez, showing a strong test with just a minor issue for the final of the one times. The margins for the results were today in favour of Helen and Damsey with just a difference of 0,040%. The harmony and obedience was clearly a 3rd place worth for Severo and Fiontini today.

Daniel and Zack was not really rocking together today, as Zack was not really in the mood for the piaffe tours. There also crept in an error for the series. And it was a clearly disappointed Daniel leaving the arena, but still scoring 80.485% which is a really impressive score.

H2R comments during the tests:

Bohemian 🇩🇰 - super halt tiny backwards trend, lovely passage/piaffe work, clock work piaffe and transitions, good walk, tiny double pirouette with huge sit, dropping pole slightly for 2 times, take self change between canter half passes, super double pirouette, nice 1 times, wauw piaffe pirouette, super final. Audience on their feet again!

Daily Mirror GER - super strong test, lots of suppleness and a pleasure to watch. Much better piaffe tours today than in the GP.

Damsey FRH GER - resting hind for entering halt, lack balance half pass to left, lot of nice things but lacking bit more lightness, looks a bit hard work for Helen, at the end of the test loosing the collection and attention today.

Fiontini ESP - super supple trot tour, lovely passage, good piaffe tour, power extensions, super walk tour, strong canter tour with high degree of difficulty, 2 times on curved track, lovely ability to do smaller steps for pirouettes, small error at the end of one times, bit tensions for final transition to piaffe. Standing ovation for the "Danish" star Severo.

See the full results here.

VIDEOS - Watch out Werth and co.

Bohemian and Cathrine Dufour - photo credit: H2R

Bohemian and Dufour made dressage history today at CDI-W Grand Prix in Herning, DEN

Sometime the histories for the great memories are written when you least expect them. Today Danish Cathrine Dufour and her just 9-year-old gelding Bohemian by Bordeaux, owned by Abildgaard Equestrian made history even before their career really has begun.

Young Bohemian is incredible talented and with Dufour in the saddle it seems to be just a matter of time before the judges will reward them with even more 10´s for their outstanding halts, piaffe, passage, transitions, series and pirouettes.

The way Dufour is able to present Bohemian is just outstanding. It all comes from ability, suppleness, balance and lightness, while the overall picture is with so much overview and steadiness, that the sometimes bit tight frame a bit hind the vertical just becomes a minor deduction on the marking of the exercise.

At first sight 83% seems a kind of over scored, but going through the marks for each exercise it was a fair judging, as the exercises where you could have wished for a more open frame also was judges with maximum 8, and said that there were clearly lack of 10´s for the expensive exercises today. Enjoy their test here below.

Prediction a bit early but anyway - watch out for the individual podium at Tokyo.

Benjamin Werndl and Daily Mirror were shining today, only minor thing were their piaffe tours, as they were lacking bit more natural go and flow from Daily Mirrow, but coming from his big bouncy super supple passage into the small piaffe is a kind of a challenge.

Helen Langehanenberg showed a motivated Damsey today, and when he is in the mood for dancing they are in for the big marks.

It was a great comeback for the talented 9 year old Danish Warmblood mare Fiontini with his Spanish rider Severo Jurado Lopez ending as no 4 with 75%.

H2R top 3 comments during the tests: (more comments available at H2R FB page)

Bohemian 🇩🇰 - superb halt for at least a 10! good diagonal becomes tiny short in the neck, well balanced supple half passes, super halt with rein back, better diagonal, super into passage, piaffe at the spot, effortless transitions, good extended walk, could show more over track, superb collected walk, easy into passage, WAUW piaffe and transitions, superb transition to canter, nice 2 times tiny hind vertical, nice extended canter, good zigzag could show a bit more uphill, nice 1 times, well balanced jump by jump sitting at the hind quarters pirouettes, good diagonal dropping pole tiny at the end, WHAT A FINAL CENTERLINE. Unfortunately Bohemian got scared when the audience started applauding.

Daily Mirror GER - good halt, power diagonal in super balance, smooth half passes, good halt with nice rein back, smooth power diagonal into superb passage, piaffe lack more off the ground and activity, superb extended walk lots of suppleness, super collected walk, super passage, lacking energy and forward search for piaffe, good into canter, nice 2 times, WOW extended canter!, zigzag bit unbalanced, good 1 times, huge sit and well balanced pirouettes, super diagonal, very expressive passage, piaffe becomes cautious, nice passage.

Damsey FRH GER - super halt, power diagonal, good half passes, left lacking more carriage, very nice halt with rein back, good diagonal, into nice passage, bit forward trend piaffe with good transitions, superb over the back extended walk, super nice collected walk, direct into passage, lack bit more energy for piaffe, good transitions, good into canter, good 2 times, good extended canter, well balanced zigzag, super 1 times, super supple pirouettes with top canter quality, good diagonal, very nice final bit forward piaffe, but lacking final meters of passage.

Winning performance test from Bohemian and Dufour:

Just click on the photo - the video will come up or take a look further down this news.

Watch the entire World Cup Grand Prix class here: (move time line to 3.02.00 for Dufour´s test)

VIDEO - Personal Best Grand Prix Special for Daniel Bachmann Andersen with Blue Hors Don Olymbrio today

Blue Hors Don Olymbrio and Daniel Bachmann Andersen

Another outstanding performance from Danish Daniel and Don O with personal best performance at home soil today with 79,702% in Grand Prix Special. The improvement is obvious as Daniel earlier has shown Don O with a bit weaker pirouettes where both were clearly at a much higher level today, especially the 2nd one.

Placed 2nd today was Austrian Victoria Max-Theurer with her “new” superstar Rockabllly, 9 year old gelding by Rock Forever/Ehrentusch. Very obedient and nice expression all the way, a horse without any weaknesses and Vicky is obviously also very pleased about him, as this is his 2nd international big tour event, and his first ever Grand Prix Special.

Danish Betina Jæger and her “on/off” partner in crime Belstaff showed again a strong test today. On/off in the way that she actually startede his Grand Prix education, and then he was sold and now the talented gelding is back again at Helgstrand Dressage.

5th and last placement went to Marianne Helgstrand with Lollipop. They just showed their best ever trot tour, super balanced without the “usual” passage like trot steps, but super nice forward flow and clearly differences between trot and passage. Unfortunately a few errors for the canter tour, which Marianne clearly blamed herself after the test.

H2R comments during the tests:

Blue Hors Don Olymbrio 🇩🇰 - good halt, nice extension, lovely side picture, uphill crossing half pass left, sharp into passage at C, nice passage / trot/ passage, smooth half pass right, very expressive passage, smooth in and out, good extended walk, good collected walk, smooth 1st piaffe with nice transitions, super picture and balance for 2nd piaffe, bit tense into canter 78,5 trending score, supple half passes, super 2 times, super 1 times, full risk power extended canter, well managed and balanced pirouettes, (2nd best ever for them), super transition and smooth long side, very nice easy final centerline.

Rockabilly AUT - good halt, good expression and balance for extended trot, supple half pass left with nice crossing, direct into passage, very nice passage with regular rhythm all the way, super half pass forward crossing, nice in and out from trot / passage / trot, good extended walk, good collected walk, bit cautious small steps forward 1st piaffe, bit forward 2nd piaffe good transitions, good into canter, bit low in the neck for canter half passes, ok 2 times with some tensions, good 1 times, very nice extended canter with clear transitions, bit volte like 1st pirouette, good 1 times, much more balanced 2nd pirouette, good balance for long side, active passage, good piaffe nice final.

Belstaff 🇩🇰 - bit open halt, power diagonal, super nice carriage swing half pass left, small misunderstanding into first passage transition, super expressive passage/trot/passage tours, small canter into half pass to right, nice passage/trot/passage, super active extended walk with huge over track (just 1 x 9) bit tense forward 1st piaffe lack more clear transitions, lack bit more energy for 2nd piaffe, better transitions, good into canter, good canter half passes, error 2 times, 1 times with power, good extended canter, good balanced pirouettes, nice 1 times, good long side, lack bit more straightness for the piaffe at the centerline.

Results DWB World Cup Foal Auction - top price 20.000 euros for filly by Escolar / Hesselhøj Donkey Boy

Most expensive foal was sold for 20.000 euros - a filly by Escolar / Hesselhøj Donkey Boy bred by Dorthe and Hans Jørgen Hoeck, Hesselhøj and sold to Max-Theurer Austria.

This filly also showed herself with extra qualities during the auction.

List of prices for dressage foals:

• 10.000 euro colt by Foundation / Sandro Hit

• 6.500 euro colt by Springbank II VH / Temptation

• 8.000 euro filly by Janeiro Platinum / San Amour

• 10.500 euro filly by Franklin / Sir Donnerhall II

• 20.000 euro filly by Escolar / Hesselhøj Donkey Boy

• 9.000 euro colt by D´avie / Zardin Firfod

• 9.000 euro filly by Revolution / Jazz

• 8.500 euro filly Franklin / Don Frederico

• 8.500 euro colt by Quaterback / Zhivago

• 8.000 euro filly by Vitalis / Sir Donnerhall II

• 10.500 euro colt by Foundation / Blue Hors Don Schufro

• 8.500 euro filly by Total Hope / Rosentanz

• 13.000 euro filly by Blue Hors Veneziano / Londonderry

77% of the foals sold.

Exciting field of young stallions ready for Danish Warmblood 35 days performance test

A star-studded field of young stallions will start their stallion performance test in Denmark Monday.

VIDEO - Blue Hors Don Olymbrio and Daniel Bachmann Andersen showing top form at home soil

78,043% - strong CDI3 Grand Prix test and super timing once again from Daniel Bachmann

Daniel and Don O made sure that it was the Danish national anthem for the first dressage competition at the international event in Herning this weekend. Nice motivated, controlled and expressive test where Daniel is able to adjust things along the test and keeping a very nice balance and expression all the way.

Back in the saddle of Belstaff is Helgstrand Dressage rider Betina Jæger. They really fit each other and makes a nice powerful picture, Belstaff has been back at Helgstrand since end of the summer, and Betina really shows him with great qualities all the way, and Betina is able to produce each exercise with power from the hind quarters. This combination could really be very valuable for next years Olympics for Denmark.

Routined German rider Fabienne Müller-Lütkemeier is struggling to keep the piaffe tours together and also the weak walk tour makes some kind of limitation for Fabregaz.

Placed 5th today was Danish Helene Melsen with Aston Martin. A clearly much better over all picture and more balanced as we’ve seen them lately. Unfortunately Danish judge at M Lone Dichmann saw the combination as no 12, while they were placed 3 - 5 - 7 - 6 by the other 4 judges.

H2R comments during the top 3 tests:

Blue Hors Don Olymbrio 🇩🇰 bit unbalanced into halt, good diagonal, nice uphill half passes, super halt with rein back, good diagonal with nice power, good transition to passage, good piaffe with nice transitions, could show a tiny more activity for the piaffe but super timing, nice relaxation for extended walk with good ground cover, good collected walk, direct to passage, tiny forward trend 2nd piaffe good rhythm, nice smooth transitions, good transition to canter, huge 2 times uphill just 2 x 9!, nice extended canter, superb zigzag, superb 1 times, bit unbalanced 1st pirouette, small 2nd pirouette lack maybe 1 canter stride, power diagonal, super final centerline - THAT´S HOW TO DO A GP TEST!

Belstaff 🇩🇰 - very nice halt, good diagonal with nice balance and power, nice supple super crossing half passes, good halt with rein back, good diagonal, bit hard into passage, good passage, small disturb piaffe, good transitions, huge relaxed walk, bit tense end of collected walk, good 2nd pi/pa tours, good transition to canter, 2 times need bit more forward flow, nice extended canter with super change, smooth well managed zigzag, good 1 times, super nice pirouettes, good transition to trot, nice diagonal, active off the ground passage, piaffe with hindquarters bit out to left at centerline.

Fabregaz GER - good halt, nice extensions, lack bit more carriage and bend for half passes, good halt but dragging rein back, good extension, good passage, some resistance for piaffe very much forward, lack clear transition out, short extended walk, lack clear beat for collected walk, bit late transition to passage, stops for piaffe and very limited activity for the piaffe, good 2 times, good zigzag but lack bit more suppleness, good flow for one times, super nice quality 1st pirouette a clear 9! 2nd not with same form and quality but still nice, good extension, best piaffe for the final centerline, good passage and nice transitions.

You can find more running comments at H2R Facebook here.

Full results here.

Adjusted pilot project of shorter Grand Prix for CDI-W at Olympia

Last year a shorter Grand Prix test was introduced for CDI-W at London Olympia, and it was clearly a test lacking more flow and the lines also came out a bit odd.

When reading this adjusted test it makes much more sense, and look like it brings a very nice and natural flow. The most demanding part is the 11 one times at the centerline between two pirouettes, but same line as for Grand Prix Special where there are only 9 one times.

Very interesting if this will be the future of the championship Grand Prix.

FEI press release - Eleven legs on the road to Las Vegas 2020 Final

Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack will be chasing down a back-to-back victory on home ground at the opening leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League 2019/2020 in Herning, Denmark this weekend. (FEI/Liz Gregg)

Hot on the heels of a super summer of sport, culminating in the edge-of-the-seat excitement of the FEI European Championships in Rotterdam (NED) in August, the best horse-and-rider combinations from all across Western Europe are ready to rock-n-roll when the new-season FEI Dressage World Cup™ series kicks off in Herning, Denmark this weekend.

This first leg of the 2019/2020 league has attracted a stellar cast of 21 riders from 10 countries including the host nation’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen who will partner the one-eyed wonder-stallion Blue Hors Zack with which he is ranked sixth in the world, and with which he pinned Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey into runner-up spot at this opening fixture 12 months ago. 

The Dane also concluded last season’s qualifying rounds with victory in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in March where Langehanenberg again had to settle for second place. But the German star turned the tables at the 2019 finale in Gothenburg (SWE) in April when she made it to the third step of the podium on the last day while her Danish rival just missed out when finishing fourth. The game of cat-and-mouse between these two super-talents and their horses will resume when the Grand Prix gets underway in Herning on Saturday, 19 October, at 13.00 local time.

The strong Danish contingent will also include Agnete Kirk Thinggaard and JoJo Az who helped claim European team silver two years ago in Gothenburg (SWE) along with Anna Kasprazak riding Rock Star, and Cathrine Dufour who is ranked seventh in the world with her top ride, Atterupgaards Cassidy. This time out Dufour will partner the considerably younger Bohemian, who helped secure second place in the hotly-contested Dressage Nations Cup at Aachen (GER) in July when competing alongside Kirk Thinggaard and Bachmann Andersen.

However the German presence will be a powerful one, as Langehanenberg, series champion in 2013 and runner-up in 2012 and 2014 with the great Damon Hill, will be backed up by compatriots Frederic Wandres and Benjamin Werndl who both made their mark on last season’s Western European League. Werndl steered Daily Mirror to victory in Salzburg (AUT) in December and Wandres followed suit with the aptly-named Duke of Britain at Olympia in London (GBR) a few weeks later where he pinned home heroine, Charlotte Dujardin riding Hawtins Delicato, into runner-up spot.

Dujardin of course is one of the biggest draws in this sport, having set so many world records scores during her spectacular partnership with the now-retired and still much-loved Valegro with whom she claimed the FEI Dressage World Cup™ title in 2014 and again the following year. The British rider has stated her aim to qualify for the 2020 Final and may line out at the second leg of the new series in Lyon (FRA) next month, and at her hugely popular home fixture in London Olympia in December so that should send a ripple of excitement through her huge fan-base. 

It’s going to be full-on from the outset this season, with Stuttgart (GER) hosting the third leg, also in November, and Madrid (ESP), Salzburg (AUT), London Olympia (GBR) and Mechelen (BEL) all taking place in December 

Round eight in Amsterdam (NED) will get the new year off to a great start and then it will be on to Neumunster (GER) and Gothenburg (SWE) in February before ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) brings this qualifying series to a close in March. After that it will be all eyes on the Final which returns to Las Vegas (USA) for the fifth time.

The very first FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion was a Dane, Anne-Grethe Jensen who stormed to victory with Marzog in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in 1986, and some years later she reflected on the effect of that success which led to a rapid expansion of the sport in her home country. Dujardin’s charming partnership with Valegro has also inspired more than one new generation of young female athletes right across the globe, and more recently Judy Reynolds has done the same. 

The Irish rider and her brilliant little horse Vancouver K finished fourth at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Omaha (USA) in 2017 and have been smashing national records ever since. And this summer they led the very first Irish team in the history of the sport to Olympic qualification with a series of extraordinary results at the European Championships. The knock-on effect has been increased membership of the national governing body and a huge rise in entries for the recent National Championships at which over 700 tests were ridden over three days. 

Reynolds has also confirmed that she will compete in the Western European League over the coming months as she prepares for Tokyo 2020, but everyone knows there’s really only one rider they all have to beat. And that is Germany’s Isabell Werth. 

It’s 27 years now since this legendary lady won her first FEI Dressage World Cup™ title in Gothenburg (SWE) riding Fabienne. And, with a hat-trick of wins with her 2016 Olympic team gold-medal-winning mare Weihegold over the last three seasons, and sweeping all before her at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ and again at this year’s FEI European Championships with her other mare Bella Rose, she’s like an unstoppable train. 

As defending champion she just has to compete twice with whichever horse she would like to take to the 2020 Final. But for all the other Western European League contenders the road to Las Vegas begins this weekend, and good results will be key to their journey every step of the way. 

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Western European League Calendar here 

Masterlist for Leg 1, Herning here 

HANN stallions for licensing and auction 23 - 26 October

No 54 - by Cadeau Noir / Licosto - photo: Ernst

H2R favourites:

Impossible to get the full picture from videos with only trot and walk by hand, but very exciting first impressions from the stallions selected below.

3 attractive Ibiza boys showing modern types, with suppleness and movements off the ground.

No 45 - super supple with very interesting blood combination.

No 53 - not a super modern type, but a dream of a sport horse.

No 54 - lots of stallion look, with superb suppleness in the body for both the trot and walk.

No 73 - long legged modern super mover.

No 82 - exciting stallion with top modern type and super blood combination.

No 101 - top mover but not the most modern type and attractive confirmation.

No 103 - super supple boy, at the moment he is lacking a bit more stallion expression. Very interesting blood combination with Vitalis x Fürstenball.

No 104 - one of the most expressive and modern stallions for the collection.

See the full collection here.