Getting ready for World Cup final in Omaha from Western European League

After this weekends final leg of World Cup qualifiers the final comes up in Omaha 3 - 8 April.

The three best athletes from each country are qualified plus title defender.

Candidates are:

  • Isabell Werth

  • Ingrid Klimke

  • Dinja van Liere

  • Nanna Merrald

  • Benjamin Werndl

  • Patrik Kittel

  • Thamar Zweistra

  • Morgan Barbancon

  • Marieke van der Putten

  • Emma Kanerva

Charlotte Fry will not go for her spot. Emmelie Sholtens is sidelined with an injury. Carina Cassøe Krüth will not go for the final like her country fellow Daniel Bachmann Andersen also will stay at home.

Fry wins exciting season-closer at Den Bosch; Final now in full focus

Great Britain’s Lottie Fry and her superstar stallion Glamourdale won the eleventh and last leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League at the Dutch Masters in ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) today. 

On an afternoon that proved challenging for a number of horse-and-rider combinations, the reigning double-individual world champions quickly recovered after a surprising moment of discord during canter half-pass to post the winning score of 86.835. The Netherlands’ Dinja van Liere (Hermes NOP) finished second ahead of Germany’s Isabell Werth (Emilio) and Benjamin Werndl (Famoso OLD) in third and fourth places while the exciting new Dutch combination of Marieke van der Putten and Torveslettens Titanium finished fifth.

There were nine places up for grabs for the 2023 series Final which kicks off in Omaha, USA on 4 April and, finishing sixth on the leaderboard, Fry has made the cut. However the 27-year-old athlete could not confirm if she will take the busy breeding stallion, with which she won individual double-gold at the ECCO FEI World Championships last summer, across the Atlantic in three weeks’ time. “I’m not sure, but we will make plans shortly”, she said this evening.

Excited

There was plenty for the Dutch crowd to get excited about, including a lovely performance from their own Marlies van Baalen and Habibi DVB who took the lead just before the halfway break. The 13-year-old chestnut gelding looked supremely chilled and confident as he strutted his way to a score of 79.360 on only his third Freestyle outing at this level.

Finland’s Emma Kanerva posted a personal-best to overtake the Dutch pair when putting 79.505 on the board with Greek Air when the action resumed and then, fourth-last to go, Germany’s Werndl reset the target with Famoso OLD who swaggered his way to the first over-80% mark of the day, scoring 82.760 which was always going to put them in the frame. 

However van Liere and Hermes NOP, double-bronze medallists at last year’s World Championship, bettered that. Starting out with sensational passage/piaffe and the most wonderful rhythm they looked set to really blow the lid off the competition. But the 13-year-old stallion became increasingly tense and they finished on a mark of 83.375 - less than the 87.055 they posted to win on home ground in Amsterdam in January but good enough to temporarily take the lead today.

“Hermes gets more excited when there is a lot of people, but I am still very happy about our progress together and where we are going. He can be very good in piaffe/passage which I think were my best ever today. I need to get him more quiet in the canter now"

Dinja van Liere (NED)

Out in front

Fry and Glamourdale followed them into the ring and it was quickly clear that their score was going to put them out in front, especially after earning 10s across the board for their first extended canter and 9.3 for lovely two-tempi changes. But the stallion suddenly shook his head and spooked during the canter half-pass and although he quickly regained his equilibrium the lost points left the pair with a final tally of 86.835, well below the 90.995 they posted when winning in London last Christmas.

“It was a shame, because he did some of his very best work today!”, Fry said afterwards. “It is a big arena with a lot of atmosphere and he came back and we finished well so I am happy tonight!”, she added.

That big atmosphere also seemed to get to Werth’s 15-year-old gelding Emilio who threw in some high jinks before they entered the arena to score 82.670 which would leave them in third. 

“He went on fire when Lottie’s result came up!”, Werth explained. “I was very satisfied with the first part, but I lost him a little in the canter work which is a shame as I there lost the possibility to compete with Lottie. But it was a great atmosphere here today and at the end this is want counts”, pointed out the lady who knows more about atmosphere than most.

She is heading to her 23rd FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final this year, having won five of them since they were first staged back in 1986. She will take the stallion DSP Qantaz with which she claimed top points at both Lyon (FRA) and Basel (SUI) this season when finishing second behind compatriot and defending World Cup champions Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and the mare TSF Dalera on both occasions. 

League table

Because she is automatically qualified von-Bredow Werndl didn’t need to pick up points throughout this season, and the final Western European League table shows Werth on top followed by compatriot Ingrid Klimke in second, van Liere in third, Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald in fourth and Benjamin Werndl - Jessica’s brother - in fifth place. Fry lies sixth ahead of Sweden’s Patrik Kittel in seventh, The Netherlands’ Thamar Zweistra is in eighth place and Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg slotted into ninth spot. 

However with only three athletes from any NF permitted to compete at the Final neither Benjamin Werndl nor former double-champion Langehanenberg will travel. French rider Morgan Barbançon and Germany’s Frederic Wandres share tenth place and the Dutch duo of Emmelie Scholtens and Marieke van der Putten holds the next two places. There are still some matters to be settled before the final touches are put to the start-list for the 35th FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final is decided….

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….

For all the latest information about the FEI Dressage World Cup™ season 2022/2023 check out the new Series Hub here

Stay up to date with results, articles, interviews, videos and much more while following the action all the way to Final.

FULL RESULTS

FEI Dressage World Cup WEL Standings

Lyt med fra CDI1* og CDI3* i Herning - også mens du sidder på tilskuerpladserne

Clipmyhorse med livestream fra Hal M

Når det går løs med lille og stor tur i Hal M fra torsdag morgen, vil du, hvis du i forvejen er Premium medlem på Clipmyhorse have mulighed for at lytte med på kommentering under vejs. En god idé at medbring ear-pods eller headset, så kan man sidde på tilskuerpladserne og nyde ekvipagerne, samtidig med lidt kommentering i ørene, hvis man har lyst til det.

H2R vil være vært men denne gang også have gæster med på sidelinien for at kommentere med i klasserne.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen vil være klar som medkommentator på Clipmyhorse allerede når den første internationale klasse CDI1 Prix St. Georg rides torsdag morgen kl. 8.00.

Torsdag aften er det CDI3 Grand Prix kl. 19.30, vil Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein også op bag mikrofonen for en del af klassen.

Fredag kl. 8.30 CDI1 Intermediaire I og kl. 11.30 er der longering af hingstene, hvor medkommentator for en del af longeringen vil være Chr. Vang Lauridsen fra CVL Horses.

Lørdag kl. 10.30 CDI3 Grand Prix Special.

Alle de nævnte klasser her vil der være live kommentering af H2R på Clipmyhorse, og forskellige gæste medkommentatorer.

Følg hele tidsplanen her med tilhørende startlister og resultater.

Hvis du er tvivl om hvad du kun kan følge på Clipmyhorse, så klik forbi deres programoversigt.


"Før det går løs" til Unghestechampionatet

Årets Unghestechampionat i Herning bliver en spændende oplevelse

Et kig ned over deltagerlisten vidner om rigtig mange afstamningsmæssig spændende ungheste, flere avlere repræsenteret med mere end en hest, mange gengangere af rutinerede ryttere, heldigvis også helt nye ansigter er klar, og sidst men ikke mindst den dominerede hingst som har flest afkom udtaget til Unghestechampionatet 2023 er i år Sezuan sønnen Secret med i alt 8 afkom, efterfulgt af Revolution med 7 afkom. Iøvrigt er det debut i Herning for Secrets rytter svenske Jessica Lynn-Thomas som skal ride unghestechampionatet på JJ Spencer.

En del får travlt som de plejer i Herning, men hvor travlt?

Straight Horse v/Eva Götzsche og Mogens Pedersen får en ekstra travl “hingstekåringsuge”, da de udover at være avlere af to unghingste til kåringen, er de også repræsenteret med et afkom i unghestechampionatet.

Stutteri Atterupgaard v/Kristine Munch Sinding er avler af 3 afkom i unghestechampionatet og har derudover og unghingst med til kåringen.

Bakken Dressage v/Silje Bakken og Michael Flintrup er som sædvanlig deltager i unghestechampionatet. I år med 5 heste fra Bakken Dressage, hvoraf Silje selv rider på de 4 ungheste.

Stutteri Majlund er repræsenteret via 3 afkom ligesom de også har unghingst udtaget, mens Stutteri Greven har 2 afkom med i år i Unghestechampionatet.

Stutteri Worre v/Rune og Mogens Worre er avlere af 3 afkom som er med i Herning, 2 unghingste til kåringen, hvoraf de stadig er ejere af den ene, samt en unghest i unghestechampionatet. Lena og Rasmus Dalsgaard fra Vinderup er avlere af to unghingste til kåringen samt en unghest til championatet.

Berider Lotte Straarup fra Fyn en af de ryttere som altid er at finde på deltagerlisten, i år med 2 heste, ligesom også bl.a. Steen Steensen Blicher har 2 heste med, Ida Hoffmann-Bang med 2 heste og Anders Hoeck med 3 heste.

To ryttere Susanne Oldenburg og Taira Nissen komme på egen avlet hest, hvor de også selv er ejer.

Her finder du alle oplysninger om Unghestechampionatsdeltagerne.

Tidsplan for unghestechampionatet:

  • Onsdag: kl. 15.00 - egen rytter 1. del

  • Torsdag: kl. 11.15 - egen rytter 2. del

  • Fredag: kl. 18.00 - trøstfinale (hal M)

  • Lørdag: kl. 08.15 - testrytter 1. del

  • Søndag: kl. 12.45 - testrytter 2. del

44.000 euro top price Viva Gold son at NRW youngster auction

Top price Vino sold for 44,000 euros to Germany 

Münster: 14 young horses for the dressage ring and show jumping course were for sale at the Westphalian Youngster Auction. Three quarters found a new owner this evening. The international clientele was particularly convinced by a son of Viva Gold. After a long BidUp, the gelding changed to German ownership at the top price of 44,000 Euros. On average, customers invested about 15,000 Euros in the young horses sold.

A small but fine lot of young, unridden riding horses was for sale at the Westphalian Studbook this evening. Already with his first licensing year the young stallion Viva Gold convinced in an outstanding way. Also in this youngster auction the stallion was the sire of the top priced horse. With the name Vino and the head number 1 the youngster impressed the customers from near and far with first-class movement quality. Christoph Delsmann from Nordkirchen had bred his St.Pr.St. Sympathie M by Scolari to the son of Vivaldi. Even before the BidUp began, the popularity of this talented gelding was apparent. After more than half an hour in the BidUp and 65 bids from 16 bidders, the virtual hammer fell at 44,000 Euros. Customers from Germany can look forward to the future with this top athlete. He will be trained by Sina Aringer for now.

The second most expensive horse of the evening was the son of Global Player. The young stallion with the significant name Gentleman comes from the breeding of the ZG Gut Füchtel of the Merveldt family from Vechta. His dam, St.Pr. Floris Laetizia by Floriscount, is a half-sister to the licensed Finest Selection, the 2017 Bundeschampion. The black stallion was worth 21,500 euros to German customers.

(Picture credits: Reckimedia)

Dante Weltino OLD and Therese Nilshagen winner of CDI4 Grand Prix in Lier

Top of CDI4 Grand Prix:

Today´s top 3 in Lier without any technical issues and all with very nice flow and go for their tests.

Dante Weltino OLD / Therese Nilshagen

Nice steady halt, direct forward, expressive power diagonal, good swing and balance for both half passes, nice uphill, bit open halt bit rense rein back, super diagonal, nice into passage, good piaffe, bit big step out but keeping the rhythm, could show more let go for the extended walk, active good collected walk, bit stocked for transition to passage with a few small steps, good passage, good piaffe with nice transition to passage, good into canter, nice 2 times, expressive extended center nice back before nice change, good zigzag, nice 1 times, super sit for 1st pirouette, becomes tiny hind aides for 2nd pirouette, good into trot at M, super diagonal, nice final centerline. 75,544%

Buriel KH / Juliette Ramel

Nice halt, tiny bit unbalanced at diagonal, lacking bit more bend for both half passes, good halt with rein back, good diagonal, nice into passage, smooth into piaffe, good piaffe, good into passage, bit short extended walk could let more go over the back to the hand, nice collected walk, good into passage, nice piaffe easy transitions, missing tiny collection before transition to center, nice 2 times, good extended center, nice zigzag, good 1 times could be more over full diagonal, super tiny sit quality pirouettes - 1st one the best, good into trot, good diagonal, strong final centerline. 75,239%

Sisters Act OLD / Dorothee Schneider

Good halt, nice balanced diagonal, nice balance and flow for both half passes, not square halt but nice rein back, good diagonal,nice into passage, good into piaffe, backing bit more clear flow out, good rhythm for piaffe could show bit more energy, nice extended walk with good relaxation, nice collected walk, need to be a bit sharper into passage, same for 2nd piaffe as the first, nice transition to canter, nice 2 times super placed at diagonal, nice extended center, good zigzag, good 1 times, could lift the front a bit more for both pirouettes, good quality pirouettes, stocked into trot, good diagonal, good final centerline. 73,609%

Entries for s’Hertogenbosch 9 - 12 March

Final qualifier leg for 2022/2023 World Cup qualification takes place in Den Bosch.

It will be the second qualifier event for Glamourdale and Lottie, as they already won London World Cup qualifier mid December 2022.

Bronze winner from last year at World Championships Hermes and Dinja van Liere are also ready, like Isabell Werth with Emilio, Benjamin Werndl with Famoso OLD, Hans Peter Minderhoud with Glock´s Dream Boy and Kirsten Brouwer with Foundation are among the top combinations for this final leg.

CDI1-CDI3-CDI-W entries

Dream Royal repeat win of sporttest, this year in München-Riem

Dream Royal - DSP Champion stallion 2022 - photo: Gestüt Sprehe

2022 DSP Champion Dream Royal by Don Royal-Quadroneur-Rubin Royal repeated last years 2-days sporttest with another victory.

2022 he was scoring a total of 9,29. A very natural supple stallion which has developed nicely and with today´s score of 8,82 he ones again showed his qualities.

Gonna be very exciting to see his first foals this year.

Michala Damm-Frydenberg klar til international CDI3* Grand Prix debut i Lier

Michala Damm-Fydenberg - privat foto

International Grand Prix debut

Når det internationale stævne i belgiske Lier starter i næste uge, er der kun to danske ekvipager med i CDI3* turen, nemlig international Grand Prix debutant Michala Damm-Frydenberg med den 13-årige vallak Laissez-Faire E e. Blue Hors Leredo / Rambo, avlet og ejet af Stutteri Empex samt Karoline Louise Skøt med Midtgaards Zamir som har redet et enkelt internationalt stævne sidste år i Flyinge.

Michala fik “Lasse” ind i tilridning som 3 års, og som 6 års lavede avlerne og Michala en aftale om fremtidig uddannelse, som lige nu bringer dem til international Grand Prix debut.

Begge ekvipager trænes til dagligt af Vivi Vang-Lauridsen, og da hestene er vant til at køre sammen, fik Michala og Karoline sat kryds i kalenderen til Lier stævnet, hvor de drager afsted mod imorgen.

Michala har sine heste stående på Heslegård, men har i ca 8 år haft samarbejde med Christian Vang-Lauridsen, med et lille afbræk, men Michala starter sin dag hos Christian og Vivi hvor hun rider 4 heste, heriblandt 13-årige Thyfon Holmklit e. Tailormade Temptation / De Noir, avlet Trine Udklit Sørensen, hvor parret fornylig vandt deres 2. Grand Prix start. En af de heste hos Vivi og Christian som Michala sammen med Vivi har uddannet hele vejen.

Michala har jo tidligere redet bl.a. både UVM og Falsterbo, og nu klar til international Grand Prix debut i belgiske Lier.

Danmark er repræsenteret i stort tal til stævnet i alle kategorier, og Pony, Junior, Ungrytter og U24 klasserne starter allerede onsdag, og med senior er i weekenden.

Hele stævnet kan følges via livestream på ClipMyHorse.

Senior

U25

Ungrytter

Junior

Pony

Cassøe Krüth and Danciera make it a double in Gothenburg

Carina Cassøe Krüth and the fabulous mare Heiline’s Danciera posted their second victory of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League season in Gothenburg, Sweden today.

The dynamic duo who helped clinch team gold for Denmark on home soil at last summer’s ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning kicked off with top spot at the opening round in Aarhus, Vilhelmsborg last October where Danish riders were completely dominant. Their winning score that day was 85.925, and all five judges were in full agreement when putting them top of the class. 

Today it was just the same but their score was even higher, a lovely performance earning them a mark of 86.855 to leave them well ahead of Germany’s Isabell Werth and DSP Qantaz in second and compatriots Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zack in third.

“I’m so very, very pleased with Danciera, she was super again today - she just seems to get better and better!”, Cassøe Krüth said this evening.

Penultimate round

Just 10 horse-and-rider combinations lined out in this penultimate round of the 11-leg series, and it was Sweden’s Johanna Due Boje who was leading the way at the halfway break after a really fun ride on the 15-year-old Mazy Klovenhoj who danced in perfect harmony to their Irish-themed musical score. 

“Today I felt I had this perfect balance of good tension and excitement and that she was with me all the way”, said the 33-year-old athlete who runs a small family farm with just nine horses in the south of Sweden. Her score of 74.760 was blown away when Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zack rocketed into the lead with a mark of 81.385 when fourth-last to go however. 

Zack belied his 19 years with some lovely work, although mistakes hampered his score potential. Skodborg Merrald blamed herself for them. 

“We had much better piaffe than yesterday but there were huge expensive mistakes. He cantered in the half-pass, and there were also mistakes in the two-tempis, but he was great and I’m happy! It wasn’t the atmosphere in the arena, it was because I wasn’t sharp enough”, said the rider who, with this great stallion, was also on that historic Danish winning side last summer.

Those mistakes left her vulnerable and, next into the ring, she was quickly demoted to runner-up spot by five-time FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion Werth who, however, also encountered a few blips along the way to putting 82.775 on the board. 

“We are not in the same shape as we were in Basel (SUI, at round 7 last month), there were a few things I have to sort out and I was so stupid with the last one-tempis because I really disturbed his rhythm - I don’t know why but it was completely my fault!”, insisted the lady whose name has long been synonymous with this sport. “The rest was good but you could feel he was on fire in the last piaffe although he was really trying. I really enjoyed it but I have some fine tuning to do before the Final!” she pointed out.

Super mare

And then came Cassøe Krüth with her super mare and her boyband music. From the moment they set off the pair looked relaxed, confident and completely in control. Yesterday they topped the Grand Prix line-up with a personal-best score of 78.217, and the Danish star said she was “pretty sure” today’s 86.855 was a Freestyle personal-best too.

The 12-year-old mare’s cool attitude under fire is one of her real strengths.

"She just takes it all in, there was a lot of noise when we were coming in because Isabell’s score was being announced but she didn’t mind the excitement at all!"

Carina Cassøe Krüth (DEN)

she pointed out this evening. Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Annabelle 110 were last to go, and putting 80.540 on the board they slotted into fourth ahead of Due Boje.

Today’s result leaves Cassøe Krüth on the brink of qualification for the much-anticipated FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023 Final which will take place in Omaha, USA in early April. But, despite the temptation, the Danish rider has decided she won’t go. 

“It’s not in my plan so we need to stick to the plans we make and not try to do everything”, she said. “The mare is progressing all the time and I’m so happy with her so I’m a bit sad I’m not going to Omaha, but that’s how it is sometimes. I only have one horse, so I have to take care of her so we have her for many years”, she added.

In her sights

Werth however has Omaha clearly in her sights. She plans to do the last Western European League qualifier at s’Hertogenbosch (NED) with Emilio in two weeks’ time. 

“First I planned to bring him here and then go with Qantaz to Den Bosch but then I changed the plan because I thought it would be better to have more space between the last competition and the flight to Omaha. I plan to go with Qantaz to Omaha so now he will get a rest for a few weeks and then we will prepare, and I will learn from my mistakes to do better next time!”, she said this evening. 

With wins in Lyon (FRA) and Basel (SUI), the longtime legend in the sport continues to head the Western European League table.

She loves Gothenburg Horse Show where she has competed many times and where she won one of her three-in-a-row titles with the great mare Weihegold FRH in 2019. She was full of praise for the inclusion of pony competitions in the show programme again this year. “All countries should learn from this, they have a really great basic pony sport in Sweden and it’s super for the kids and they are the future - when they have a positive feeling about our sport they can help to get involved and grow it, and that is what we need right now”, she pointed out.

Run of form

Meanwhile Skodborg Merrald, who has enjoyed a great run of form this winter season including victory at last weekend’s FEI Dressage World Cup™ leg in Neumunster, Germany, had to settle for third today but, ahead of the Final is feeling pleased, and it’s no wonder..…    

“I’m very proud and happy to now have three horses qualified - Blue Hors Zepter, Blue Hors Zack and Blue Hors St. Schufro!”, she said this evening. Lying third on the Western European League table she is in a very comfortable situation. But with one final throw of the dice there is still a chance for others to make the cut, so all eyes now turn to ’s-Hertogenbosch on 11 March.
 
Don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

Result 

Standings 

FDNC 2023: Germany Secures Three-Peat in Season Opener

As the 2023 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series commenced Friday in Wellington (USA), Germany found themselves in a familiar position. For the third consecutive year at the venue, the German squad was on top of the podium, getting the better of a rallying home nation.

The four-person team of Frederic Wandres (Harrods 3), Michael Klimke (Harmony's Sanrino RHP), Felicitas Hendricks (Drombusch 2) and Anna-Cristina Abbelen (San Donnerhall) extended Germany's winning streak at the Global Dressage Festival with a point tally of 437.844. 

A personal best from 20-year-old Christian Simonson (Son of a Lady) in the Intermediate I (72.706%) helped the U.S. secure the silver medal (427.285), while Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén (Devanto) clinched the bronze for Sweden (414.498) with her Grand Prix Special test (70.830%).

Teams consisted of a combination of Big Tour and Small Tour pairs, with scores from the CDIO3* Grand Prix and CDIO3* Grand Prix Special (Big Tour) and CDIO3* Prix St. Georges and CDIO3* Intermediate I (Small Tour) tests combined to produce the results. Scores from the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special received a 1.5% bonus to account for a higher degree of difficulty.

A last-minute horse change for Wandres proved to be a winning formula. He and the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding Harrods 3 won the CDIO3* Prix St. Georges (74.853%) to kick off the competition. It was only the horse's fourth international start and first Nations Cup appearance.

"We can make plans, but sometimes things turn out differently. The situation switched a little bit with the horse I preferred to bring here. So, I took Harrods, who is already one step further in his education. He's already done a National Grand Prix, but I did the step back for the German team...In the end, we were all lucky winners."

Frederic Wandres (GER)

After carrying an overnight lead into Friday, personal best scores from Hendricks and Klimke in the Grand Prix Special would cement their team's victory. Hendricks finished second in the Special (72.234%), with Abbelen third (71.915%) and Klimke fourth (71.255%).

"I love the Grand Prix Special," Hendricks said. "It suits [Drombusch 2] really well with the passage and then the extended trot parts, and they were obviously our highlights today. I'm proud of our team." 

Germany was the only team to have all of its riders score above 70 percent in every test. 

"This Nations Cup here is for sure something special," Wandres said. "The atmosphere and the team spirit between the teams is the best of the Nations Cups I have been to."

Germany now leads the series with 10 points, followed by the United States (8 points) and Sweden (7 points). The FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ resumes at Compiègne (FRA), 6-7 May.

Full results.

Carina and Danse takes the World Cup Grand Prix in Gothenburg with overall top qualities

From first step to final halt

It was pure power pleasure to follow Heiline´s Danciera and Carina Carina Cassøe today live from Gothenburg. Both determined, focused and motivated when entering the centerline. It not all about accuracy, but when everything comes together the accuracy becomes the ising on the cake. Today Carina and Danse showed a very strong high quality test, nice regularity for the piaffe tours which sometimes were shown a bit unbalanced, and it looks as if the exact right tempo for the piaffe makes the balance and great side picture.

Today´s judge at M Swedish Magnus Ringmark rewarded Danse and Carina with a clear 10 for the short extended trot at the diagonal before transition to passage at V. A look bit more into the details the extended walk was only rewarded with  8.5 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 8.5 🤔.

Accuracy pure for the two halts we were able to watch at live stream became the overall picture of the performance today from Danse and Carina, and it definitely looked like a 80% test like Magnus Ringmark saw them. Final score 78,217%.

It´s all about enjoying the moment - Carina today during the national anthem - photo @Clipmyhorse

Quote from Carina earlier this week at H2R:

Enjoy every moment

“There´s always a lot of talking about when you have a top horse, you have to be careful about not bringing the horse for to many shows, but my philosophy is that it is definitely not at the events you risk your horse, it´s in your daily work, and we must remember to enjoy our top horses, because you never know when the journey ends. I really enjoy every moment and can´t wait to enter the centerline again this weekend with Danse,” says Carina.

19 year old Blue Hors Zack and Nanna again with top placement

Nanna and Zack were shining again today, at the beginning of the passage tours Zack looked a bit stallion like as he was not fully in front of Nanna´s aides, but as the they progress their test Zack clearly let Nanna guide him even though he is the Professor. Judge at H German Peter Holler was unfortunately the only one from the judging team with a well deserved 9 for last pirouette right. Final score 76,674%.

Quantaz and Werth

Placed as no 3 with 75,913%. For all the halts Quantaz were showing a bit of tensions, the extended walk tour was very weak (short and not correct clear beat) but still scoring  6.5 - 6.5  - 6.5  - 6.5 - 7 . Today with error for the one times.

Here below you can watch the entire Grand Prix test.


Depth Defines FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ Opener as Competition Commences in Wellington (USA)

All eyes will be on Wellington this week as the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ 2023 series kicks off on Thursday, 23 February at the Global Dressage Festival with six teams—double the number that lined-up a year ago.

Wellington will commence a season of six legs across as many nations, from February through July. A series champion will be crowned at Falsterbo (SWE)—a fitting finale, given Sweden is the defending series champion. 

Sweden has claimed the series title in four of the last six seasons and will begin its 2023 quest with a three-person squad consisting of Caroline Darcourt (Lord Django), Christina Devine (Slaebaekgaard’s Santino) and veteran anchor Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén (Devanto), under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Louise Nathhorst.

The home team, led by Chef d’Equipe George Williams, will feature Anna Marek (Duvel), 20-year-old Christian Simonson (Son of a Lady), Charlotte Jorst (Zhaplin Langholt) and Susan Dutta (Don Design DC). Dutta is the lone Big Tour rider on the team; she and Don Design DC are fresh off a CDI3* Grand Prix Special victory in Wellington in January. The anchor pair also represented the U.S. in FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ competitions at both Wellington and Compiegne (FRA) last season.

Argentina, Australia, Canada and Germany have also fielded teams, and the German squad should not be discounted, having won this event last year. Frederic Wandres (Harrods 3) anchors the group, which also includes Anna-Christina Abbelen (Sam Donnerhall), Felicitas Hendricks (Drombusch 2) and Michael Klimke (Harmony’s Sanrino RHP). Both Klimke and Wandres were on last year’s winning team; Klimke and the now-14-year-old Oldenburg stallion Harmony’s Sanrino RHP won the Grand Prix for their team in Wellington a year ago.

Team medals are decided after the Grand Prix (or Prix St. Georges for Small Tour combinations) and the Grand Prix Special (or Intermediate I) tests, with awards decided Friday, 24 February.

Wellington’s opening leg will be followed by the CDIO5* in Compiegne (FRA), 4-7 May. June will feature CDIO3* competition in Budapest (HUN) and Rotterdam’s (NED) CDIO4* before a pair of CDIO5* events conclude the season in July at Aachen (GER) and Falsterbo. 

Further details about the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series can be found here. 

Danish Carina Cassøe Krüth and Heiline´s Danciera ready for World Cup Gothenburg

Ready for Gothenburg

Successful Danish team World Champion combination Heiline´s Danciera and Carina Cassøe Krüth are ready for their 2nd World Cup qualifier this year. They already won the opening leg of the Western European League at Vilhelmsborg back in October 2022, and they are now ready for this weekends Gothenburg leg.

Usually CDI5* in Herning is top priority for Carina and Danse, and this year their schedule also includes Gothenburg for the first time ever. Carina did Neumünster last year with Danse, and as she tells she would love to go to Gothenburg, as she heard from her collegues that this event is a must on your bucket list.

For Carina it also fits perfectly with Gothenburg right before Herning with the possibility to give Danse a few rest days after Gothenburg and still be in top shape for Herning. After Herning the schedule allows Carina to give Danse a nice break from competitions before the outdoor season starts.

Enjoy every moment

“There´s always a lot of talking about when you have a top horse, you have to be careful about not bringing the horse for to many shows, but my philosophy is that it is definitely not at the events you risk your horse, it´s in your daily work, and we must remember to enjoy our top horses, because you never know when the journey ends. I really enjoy every moment and can´t wait to enter the centerline again this weekend with Danse,” says Carina.

Winner performance from Vilhelmsborg:

Michael Søgaard long time trainer of Danish Nanna Merrald with some reflextion about Nanna and Zepter partnership

Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN) riding Blue Hors Zepter - winners of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/23 - Neumünster (GER) - Photo credit: © FEI/www.sportfotos-lafrentz.de/Stefan Lafrentz

2 x World Class and 2 x routine makes the “Golden Cross”

The perfect match between a horse and rider is often a “ones in a lifetime” experience, of course Worlds best riders are able to produce the horses, but the perfect match is just something very special.

When watching the now 15-year old gelding Blue Hors Zepter by Blue Hors Zack / Wolkentanz II and 29 year old Danish rider Nanna Merrald, they pretty much look like the “ones in a liftetime” combination.

Blue Hors Zepter has always been a World Class horse, and he has the routine at this top level, combined with a World Class rider like Nanna bringing all her experience into their fairly new relationship makes them the “Golden Cross”.

Trainer Michael Søgaard at Nanna and Zepters side before entering the arena

The eyes on the ground

Nanna Merrald´s long time trainer Michael Søgaard was as usual again this weekend the eyes on the ground in Neumünster.

“From my point of view the target for Nanna and Zepter from the first day I was teaching them, was to be able to performe an error free test. Of course I´ve also been following Blue Hors Zepter during his already glorious career with both Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Patrik Kittel. The challenge for all riders when you do international Grand Prix is at first point to be able to performe and error free test, and from there you can start to adjust things, and hopefully still being able to keep things together without errors.”

“With Blue Hors Zepter it is not just a question about being placed or not placed, I see Zepter with his qualities and abilities in the very top of the field, when Nanna is able to show him without errors. I know Nanna, as we´ve been working together for many years now, and she has the skills and so far she has also been listening to my advices 😉, but at the same time I know she is very keen to show more from inside “the box” of Blue Hors Zepter. We both know there are more things to refine for the future.”

“The concept for the warm up for Nanna and Zepter is clear, to make him supple, no exercises just checking the aides and a single piaffe / passage tour before entering. When you see Zepter at the warm up it is far from a power warm up, but it is graceful, safe and nice, so far we just continue this concept,” tells a very satisfied trainer Michael Søgaard.

“Friday it´s World Cup time in Gothenburg, this time Nanna brings Blue Hors Zack for their 2nd qualifier, but so far I haven´t heard if she wants me to join,” tells Michael with a big smile 😁.

Skodborg Merrald and Zepter reign supreme in Neumünster

The knowledgeable crowd in the Holstenhalle in Neumünster, Germany showed their appreciation today when Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald and the fabulous Blue Hors Zepter reigned supreme at the ninth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League.

The 15-year-old gelding, previously competed by both Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen, has quickly established a strong relationship with Skodborg Merrald since she took up the reins just a few short months ago. “He’s simply wonderful!”, she said today after pinning Germany’s Ingrid Klimke and Franziskus FRH into runner-up spot while The Netherlands’ Kirsten Brouwer slotted into third with Foundation.

These same horse-and-rider combinations filled the top three places in yesterday’s Grand Prix but today’s margins were wider, with Skodborg Merrald posting an impressive 86.060 for victory while Klimke’s 83.550 left her well clear of Brouwer who scored 81.375.

Eyecatchers

Eyecatchers in the first half of the competition were Germany’s Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock and the attractive light chestnut 11-year-old mare Florine OLD who produced the most pleasing passage on their way to putting a mark of 77.225 on the board. However they were immediately overtaken by the penultimate partnership before the break, Finland’s Emma Kanerva and Greek Air whose score of 78.540 led the way when the action resumed.

With five of the 15 starters left to go, Klimke then charged out in front with the fabulous Franziskus who was a winner for the multi-talented German horsewoman on home ground at the third leg of the series in Stuttgart last November. Expressive extended trot, extraordinary extended canter and lovely tempi changes were all rolled out before their regal one-handed ride up the final centreline that saw them awarded 83.550, and the lead, to the delight of the spectators. 

But Skodborg Merrald and Zepter were not going to be outdone.

Kindred spirit

The Danish athlete who, partnering Zepter’s sire Blue Hors Zack, was a member of last year’s gold-medal-winning team at the ECCO FEI World Championships has found another kindred spirit in Zack’s son. Zepter’s self-carriage, confidence and self-belief ensure a consistency in his work, and his piaffe/passage and pirouettes all reflect that.

Scoring 86.060 they rocketed into pole position and couldn’t be ousted despite great efforts from Brouwer who would slot into third and her Dutch compatriot Marieke van der Putten with the charming gelding son of the great Totilas, Torveslettens Titanium RS2 who slotted into fourth on a score of 80.580.

Skodborg Merrald feels she is still in the early stages of developing her partnership with Blue Hors Zepter, and she’s very excited about that. 

"He just really wants to do his very very best but I still have the feeling there is so much more I can do with him! Now he is performing without any big mistakes but I can improve the quality of a lot of things and that makes me even more hungry!"

Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN)

And she is delighted that Zepter has accepted her as his new rider. “It’s important for me that he feels comfortable with me because then in the end I can ask for even more from him”, she explained. 

She loves his character too. “He is a little bit like a big puppy, so sweet in the stable! Also when he is in the ring he knows that he has to do the job and he’s fighting until the end, he never gives up and that’s what makes him really, really special. When he has the trust in you then he is really fighting for you!”, she said.

Well set

With 69 points, and currently in third place, on the Western European League leaderboard she looks well set for a ticket to the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Omaha (USA) in April, and she’s spoiled for choice about which horse she should take there. She will compete with Blue Hors Zack at the penultimate qualifier in Gothenburg, Sweden next weekend before making her decision. 

Klimke lies second on the league table and having competed in five legs of the series said today that perhaps she has done enough in the lead-up to the Final. “I thought I might do Den Bosch (’s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands where the last qualifier will take place in three weeks’ time) but we will see. We have done five good rounds and if it is not necessary then we will take a break”, she pointed out.

Kirsten Brouwer will definitely compete in ’s-Hertogenbosch “because it’s my home town, so it’s special” she said today. She was delighted with Foundation’s third-place finish. “It’s only our third World Cup to compete in, and I’m super proud of him. In a World Cup you compete against the best so it’s special, and it’s even more special to get a great result!”

And she was full of praise for her horse. “I love everything about him, he’s beautiful, he’s a stallion - he may get tense in the prizegiving but he knows when to focus and that’s a great quality about him”, she said. 

Next weekend’s penultimate qualifier in Gothenburg promises more great sport as the battle for those coveted tickets for Omaha comes to a boiling point, so don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

Result 

Standings

VIDEO of the entire class - Incredible performance from the new pair Blue Hors Zepter and Danish Nanna Merrald

Nothing can stop Nanna

“Mrs wonder young lady in the saddle” that´s what she is the 29 year old Danish rider Nanna Merrald. Proving ones again today that she can do it.

Top movitated and attentive 15 year old Blue Hors Zepter, with an outstanding performance, no technical issues only two minor things, going in to the one times Zepter jumps one time parallel hind before she start the series and the final transition from canter to trot at M where he becomes a bit stocked - rest was pretty much spotless.

It was only their 2nd ever Grand Prix together and scoring 77,130% just makes their journey to something very special.

Enjoy their performance here below - move the time line to 3.00.00. Daniel and Zippo M.I. is right before Nanna and Zepter.

From the start list Ingrid Klimke with Franziskus looked like a very strong German card, but today they had an error for the two times and the walk tour was somewhat limited.

Placed 3 Dutch super combination Foundation with Kirsten Brouwer. Unfortunately it looked a bit like Foundation pulled up the tongue, and for some moments during today´s test he showed a bit open mouth. Said that Kirsten and Foundation shows a lovely partnership. Kirsten is able to ask all the way and Foundation is responding positively every time. Beautiful half passes, super passage and active piaffe of the ground. All the way with freedom in and uphill open position. (Pretty impressive that Kirsten is able to keep him engaged all the way from behind without loosing the power). No doubt Danish judge at E Susanne Baarup had them at the correct placement as 2nd after Nanna and Zepter.

Danish Daniel Bachmann showed Zippo M.I. with a strong performance. It was the first time Zippo ever seen an arena like Holsten Halle in Neumünster, and he stayed with Daniel all the time and they showed an error free test, only with some tensions for the piaffe tours where Zippo looked a stocked in the ground hind and does not really let go over the back. Today´s highlight was both pirouettes with super sit and very nice balance also the trot extensions has developed nicely.

Tomorrow is World Cup Grand Prix freestyle starting at 10 am - LIVE at Clipmyhorse/FEI.tv - available for Premum members.

Top 10 from today´s World Cup Grand Prix

©Horse2rider.com • horse2rider.com@gmail.com