Freestyle victory for Von Bredow-Werndl brings thrillibg Championship to a close

Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB reclaimed the Freestyle title they won 12 months ago on the thrilling closing day of the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck (GER) today.

In the months leading up to the event, speculation was rife about the clash of the sport’s giants and the emergence of many new stars, but the expected fire-works didn’t materialise earlier in the week. 

Today however the reigning individual World championship duo of Great Britain’s Lottie Fry and the fabulous stallion Glamourdale pushed the reigning Olympic and defending European champions von Bredow-Werndl and her magical mare all the way to the line to take silver, while fellow-Briton and triple Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin stepped up to bag the bronze with Imhotep.

Much-anticipated

A total of 18 combinations lined out in this much-anticipated final test of the week, and it was Germany’s Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD who led the way at the halfway stage with a score of 84.568. That might have been a great deal higher however if he hadn’t forgotten part of his floor-plan. Riesenbeck is in the heart of German horse country and the super-sharp spectators immediately realised something wasn’t right when he did a few steps of half-pass before riding down the centreline to finish. 

“I had a brain-stop!”, he said afterwards, filled with emotion because he had omitted some of his half-pass and was trying to fit it in before finishing his test. “It was absolutely not a horse mistake, it was completely on my side!”, he pointed out.

When the action restarted the riders were playing leap-frog with each one overtaking the one that went before, and the crowd showed their everlasting adoration for their own Isabell Werth who was greeted with a frenzy of sound when she steered DSP Qantaz to the new leading score of 88.407. Two horses later however Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter, silver medallists in Friday’s Grand Prix Special, raised the bar even higher when putting 89.546 on the board with a super-smooth performance.

There were just four left to go now, and it seemed very possible that the Dane, a member of last year’s World Championship gold medal winning team, would finish on the podium again.

Uncharacteristic

Then von Bredow-Werndl set off for a test that was filled with seamless transitions and showered with maximum marks of 10, but it wasn’t without an uncharacteristic mistake in the one-tempi changes. The pair still stayed in tune with each other to the very end, when the scoreboard showed a colossal 92.818 for the new lead. It didn’t seem likely any of the rest could come anyway close to that. But Fry and Glamourdale did.

The stallion was on fire today, much more like the super-steed who wowed the spectators at the World Championship in Herning (DEN) last summer when he carried Fry to victory in both the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle. Heavenly half-passes and lovely piaffe/passage saw the scores piling up despite a mistake when picking up the canter lead for the first time. The crowd held their breath while the score was being calculated, and although 92.379 was just short of von Bredow-Werndl’s target the knowledgable spectators roared with approval because they knew they had seen something very special once again.

The penultimate partnership of Britain’s Carl Hester and Fame put 85.461 on the board before Dujardin, last into the ring, did what she does best. It didn’t seem possible that a 10-year-old horse with no real experience could withstand the pressure, the noise, the tension in the arena that was now like a cauldron of excitement. But he did, overtaking Skodborg Merrald’s Zepter for bronze medal spot when earning 91.396 for a wonderful test. It was the perfect end to a wonderful week of sport.

Biggest buzz

"For me it’s the biggest buzz to go out there to a full crowd. When you’re warming up all you can hear is clapping, cheering, screaming, stamping feet, and it’s so exciting for our sport and us riders to have”

Charlotte Dujardin GBR

"I was just delighted to start and finish, he’d never had anyone clapping through his test and I was thinking they are clapping and I’m not even close to home! But he’s just incredible, he takes everything in his stride and I’m just so excited for next year. I had a baby six months ago and I didn’t think I’d be here this year. I kind of ruled out the Europeans and was aiming at Paris next year and here I am at the end of the week with one gold medal and two bronze medals. I can’t ask for more. It’s been a great week for me and for Dressage!”, Dujardin said.

All-the-more extraordinary was the fact that she was only riding her floorplan and music created by Tom Hunt for the very first time. She only started putting it together a few weeks ago and she had no idea how it would work out. The music is from the film “Madagascar” because apparently Imhotep, aka Pete, looks just like Alex the Lion when his mane is loose. 

Asked how she is feeling this evening after a super-close race to the finish line today, Fry replied “I guess I feel a little relief that we are back on the podium, but mainly just excitement and super happy. The feeling that he gave me in there today was that we are really back on track. The first two tests (this week) maybe weren’t what I had hoped they would be, but today it was the most incredible feeling and I’m a bit speechless to be honest!” 

She said she was trying to reproduce the best parts from her Grand Prix and Special tests from earlier in the week. “Glammy also had a day off yesterday, it’s been very hot for him, and today he was fresh but he was concentrated. The first day here he was fresh and slightly distracted and the second day he was slightly tired, so today we got the perfect mix and it was such an amazing feeling and I couldn’t be more happy”, she explained.

Defence

Meanwhile von Bredow-Werndl reflected on her magnificent defence of both individual titles this week. “This is the success of a huge amount people, not only me. Today the big feeling is just gratefulness. Dalera only hand-walked yesterday and she was full of power and energy again today”, she explained. 

"It was my goal to come here and defend as many titles as possible!”

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl GER

she continued. “I gave my very best for the team (Germany finished in team silver medal spot) but at the end the ladies next to me, and the men next to them, were better, so we have more work to do before Paris to make it more difficult for them!” she pointed out.

Asked about coming up against Fry and her stallion for the first time this week she said “I was prepared to meet her in Omaha, or in Aachen, and I was just finally happy to meet her here! I’m focusing on myself and Dalera and I’m happy we had great sport and other riders coming up, but this pushes me to train better, more precisely and to keep on improving”. 

There’s no doubt that this week’s close competition has firmly focused minds on next year’s Olympic Games. With the 2023 European titles now decided it’s all eyes on Paris 2024. And Fry still has her eyes on the big prize.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on for next year but it does make everybody super-excited when we were so close today, having small mistakes but that makes it even more exciting because we both know (Fry and von Bredow-Werndl) we can be better! And we shouldn’t under-estimate Charlotte or Nanna for next year, or Isabell (Werth) so I think we are going to have a year to work on a lot of things and Paris is going to be really exciting!”

If it is anything like the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 at Riesenbeck this week it’s going to be a thriller from start to finish…..

Result 

VIDEO - 🇩🇰Danish rider Daniel Bachmann Andersen & trainer Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein analyze about the Grand Prix Special

Daniel talks through Fridays Grand Prix Special test with Vayron, where he tells about both the high lights and the challenges for at still inexperienced big Grand Prix horse, while Nathalie brings in details they are working on.

It’s icing on the cake to get to ride the 2nd ever freestyle, Daniel tells and hope to be able to take a risk. Start time 🕰️ at 14.20 today.

CLICK HERE to watch the analyze from Daniel & Nathalie.

Press release - "The essence of dressage is harmony"

France's Pauline Basquin (FRA) and Sertorius de Rima Z wowed at the European Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck, Germany

Pauline Basquin and her 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Sertorius de Rima Z, quietly captivated the hearts of spectators at the FEI European Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck. This French duo, relatively new to the international dressage scene since last year, has been steadily gaining recognition, even contributing to their team's victory in the Nations Cup in Rotterdam.

Their most significant individual achievement to date occurred in yesterday's Grand Prix Special, where they secured a spot in tomorrow's freestyle with an impressive score of 73.328 percent. Many spectators felt that their performance deserved even higher marks. The petite 44-year-old rider and her elegant dark bay partner embody the essence of dressage, which, for Basquin, is all about harmony. It's a quality that defines their partnership.

Surprisingly, Basquin's equestrian journey began in the world of showjumping. Her parents ran a pony club near Rennes in Brittany, and she was already in the saddle while other children were taking their first steps. Choosing a career in riding was a natural progression for her. She went on to achieve the higher riding instructor exam, equivalent to Germany's master's exam, at the Cadre Noir in Saumur. The Cadre Noir is a renowned French riding school, often likened to a blend of Austria's Spanish Riding School and Germany's national base in Warendorf, albeit without the backing of a federation.

After successfully passing the exam, Basquin seized the opportunity to participate in an entrance test for the Cadre Noir, a move that marked the beginning of her enduring journey within this prestigious institution. Her affiliation with the Cadre Noir commenced in 2007 and has since been a significant part of her life.

Performance Sertorius

Basquin used to ride showjumping horses, training and competing with them up to a 1.35-meter level. However, after the birth of her two sons, she decided to shift her focus away from competitive tournaments and towards more equestrian galas, particularly the performances with the Cadre Noir. These galas showcase high-level equitation, similar to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, featuring classical riding techniques and movements performed on horseback.

Sertorius de Rima Z IFCE, a three-year-old at the time, joined the Cadre Noir and was destined to become a part of these prestigious equestrian showcases. Being relatively small and delicate, he was not suitable for male riders, which turned out to be fortunate for Basquin. She took on the task of training and developing Sertorius, initially with the intention of eventually passing him on to another rider once he was ready.

However, when Sertorius turned five, Pauline Basquin began to sense that he possessed exceptional potential. He was not destined to be just another showjumper for the galas; he had the makings of a dressage horse destined for the grand arena. "I've always loved riding him because he's so intelligent and has so much energy," Basquin says, describing the feeling in the saddle.

Steep career

The plan to "ride fewer shows" was short-lived and proved unsuccessful. At the tender age of seven, Sertorius emerged as France's top young horse, and he continued to excel, even reaching the S*** level. However, a setback occurred when he had to take a two-year hiatus due to colic. In 2021, he made a triumphant return, and by 2022, he was competing in his first international Grand Prix competitions. That same year, he earned a nomination for the World Championships in Herning, marking a consistent upward trajectory in their journey together.

For Pauline Basquin, the prospect of competing for the European title in the freestyle is a cause for great joy. However, she is consciously avoiding putting excessive pressure on herself. Her primary goal is to savor the experience and relish the enjoyment of the moment.

In her quest for the perfect freestyle music, Basquin delved into the depths of the internet, listening to countless tracks under the keyword "epic music." This meticulous search took her several hours. Ultimately, she discovered a piece of music that resonated with her and Sertorius' embodiment of the Cadre Noir tradition, as well as the gelding's graceful movements. It was further arranged by a friend to suit their performance.

If Sertorius were a human, Basquin playfully describes him as "very handsome, a bit sassy, and someone who loves to be the center of attention." Tomorrow, he will indeed revel in the spotlight, capturing not just titles but also hearts along the way.

The FEI Grand Prix Freestyle starts Sunday, September 10th, at 1.30 pm

Photo: Stefan Lafrentz.

Another Special European win for Germany´s von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera

Defending champions, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and the 16-year-old mare TSF Dalera BB, made it two-in-a-row when coming out on top in the Grand Prix Special at the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck (GER) today.

The pair scored 84.271 to take the title two years ago in Hagen (GER), but today they raised their game even higher when posting a personal-best 85.593 for the win. In a championship filled with a combination of well-established partnerships along with many only setting out on their journeys at this level of the sport, the silver medal went to Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg-Merrald and the 15-year-old gelding Blue Hors Zepter while Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin steered 10-year-old newcomer Imhotep into bronze.

Early target

It was von Bredow-Werndl’s compatriot Isabell Werth who set the early target score at 78.252 with DSP Qantaz. “He was fantastic, he is really in a great shape!”, she said. “The fine tuning is perfect, he trusts me, the confidence is really there and he was so supple”, said the legendary lady who finished in silver medal spot in the Special in 2021.

But then Britain’s Lottie Fry changed the whole shape of the competition when putting 81.763 on the board with the stallion Glamourdale. “He felt really good in there today, much better than yesterday, more concentrated, we had one tiny blip in the one-tempi changes behind, but apart from that I couldn’t fault him.

“The test overall was much better than yesterday, he was much more with me. The pirouettes were a real highlight today, and the trot-work. And his walk has improved so much as well”, she explained. Piaffe also picked up marks of 9 and 10 throughout the test.

With the bar now set really high, von Bredow-Werndl and the mare with which she won all gold at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and again just a few weeks later at the European championship in Hagen in 2021 were next into the ring. And they certainly didn’t disappoint. Despite fiddling in the first halt, they stepped it out in style for the remainder of the test and went way into the lead with that score of 85.593.

She knew she’d thrown it down to the remaining three.

"“She (Dalera) was on fire and listening, and now it’s so easy for her. Now she’s got the strength. Of course she was sweating but when we came out her breathing was normal after one minute. This is how you can see how fit she is”

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl GER

von Bredow-Werndl said.

She wasn’t really threatened by the final three despite some more spectacular performances, Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep overtaking team-mate Fry when putting 82.583 on the board, and Carl Hester posting 80.106 with the 13-year-old Fame. “I’ve never had him so relaxed, it was like he grew up at this show, accepted all my aids really nicely and I just had a really lovely ride!”, Hester said. 

Build-up

In the build-up to the championship all the conversation has been about the clash of giants - the first-time face-off between von Bredow-Werndl’s mare who has been unbeatable for a long time now and Fry’s stallion who won the individual title at last summer’s World championship along with the rising stars ridden by Dujardin and Hester. 

A little more quietly under the spotlight however was the relatively new Danish partnership of Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter. Anyone who has followed their progress since coming together at the beginning of the year knew they could not be discounted this week. And so it turned out. Showing all of their class they gave the leaderboard a shake-up when slotting into silver medal spot with a super score of 82.796 to demote Dujardin to bronze and push Hester off the medal podium into fourth place.

“It was a dream come true today!”, Skodborg Merrald said this evening. I knew it was possible for me to fight for the medals this year but I also knew that I was up against three amazing, strong women who could do the same (von Bredow-Werndl, Dujardin and Fry). I had so much focus on doing my test today as good as possible and see how the result is - it was actually super close, so it’s all the small details that matter”. Just 0.213 separated silver and bronze.

“During the test I was just focusing, but coming to the end I thought I had done everything I could and I really love that feeling, and when I heard the scores it was unbelievable. The feeling I had yesterday in the Grand Prix was a lot of fire and a little too much tension. Today was more relaxed but then I was in doubt if he was too relaxed during the test!”, she added.

Bronze medal spot

Dujardin was more than happy to slot into bronze medal spot.

“I love having young horses and training them through up to Grand Prix. The partnership I have with my horses means everything to me. Pete can get a bit insecure, you can hear it in the sneezing, and I pat him and tell him you are doing really well. I have to hold his hand a little bit but each horse I’ve had has been different. With Valegro I pressed for 10 and he was off for 10, whereas Pete, he’s an amazing horse, phenomenal to ride but I can’t press for 10 now. But next year I can go for 10!”, she said, throwing down the gauntlet to the other two medallists at the post-competition press conference. 

“Their horses are 15 and 16 and they’ve been doing it a lot longer than Pete. He’s done that test no more than six times. To be sat here with a medal around my neck with a horse that is so inexperienced - yesterday there wasn’t much atmosphere in the arena but today it was full of people and you could really feel the vibe. It takes a lot for a horse to go in that environment and go down that centreline and halt and then do a perfect test. For a horse that doesn’t have experience and who has been thrown in the deep end like he has, I am so proud of him. He has a heart of gold and just wants to work with me all the time”, she pointed out.

Managing expectations

For von Bredow-Werndl, this week has been as much about managing expectations as it is about winning medals. Could she and Dalera keep Fry and Glamourdale at bay, or would some of the other British contenders overtake them all? As it happens it is Skodborg Merrald and Zepter who are presenting the biggest threat ahead of Sunday’s Freestyle finale.

The new champion talked about the lead-in to the championship and the expectations ahead of the clash between her mare and her many challengers.

"There were expectations before Aachen and the World Cup Final, so I’ve been working with these expectations for quite a few months now. Finally I was just happy to meet them."

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl GER

What I did was not to think about it. The only thing I can influence is Dalera and me. So that’s how we handled it and how we will handle it in the future.

“Because if there’s no Glamourdale there’s always somebody coming. And it’s good for the sport and good for the competition and if there was nobody I couldn’t improve so it’s good to be pushed and to continue improving ourselves. And we have improved, we’ve improved our walk, the passage, the piaffe, the canter, the changes, so many things. And the art is to have everything together on point but also to have a happy athlete who wants to present herself because she has enough strength. 

“And it’s only possible if you train smart, and not hard, at home”, she said.

She enjoys every moment of her time with Dalera who is pretty good at taking care of herself.

“She is the best at resting, she can switch on and off immediately, she goes to the stable and she turns right off! She lies down in the stable every night, she is the best traveller and she knows how to save her own energy!”

In the intense heat at Riesenbeck this weekend she will need all the energy she can muster for the final clash in Sunday’s Freestyle in which the top-18 will line out. It’s all set for another day of exceptional sport, do don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result here  

Great Britain takes European team gold on riveting day in Riesenbeck

It was team gold for Great Britain at the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck (GER) today where the hosts and defending European champions from Germany had to settle for silver medal spot ahead of the reigning World champions from Denmark in bronze.

Fantastic individual performances were the order of the day, with world number one, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, posting the biggest score of the competition with the super-mare TSF Dalera BB when putting 84.612 on the board. But it was Lottie Fry’s personal-best Grand Prix result of 81.258 with the stallion Glamourdale that clinched it for the British side, boosting them to pole position on a final tally 242.220 when the best scores from each team were added.

Germany completed on a total of 239.674 while Denmark rounded up their tally at 228.727. Sweden slotted into fourth place ahead of The Netherlands in fifth and France in sixth while Austria, Belgium and Spain earned the three Olympic qualifying spots up for grabs when filling the next three places in that order.

Fry was joined in the victorious British side by Gareth Hughes (Classic Briolinca) and Carl Hester (Fame) who strutted their stuff yesterday, and Charlotte Dujardin (Imhotep) who also produced a stunning performance today.

Raised the temperature

It was Germany’s Frederic Wandres who first raised the temperature on a very hot day when producing a strong score of 77.888 with Bluetooth OLD under the midday sun. “It was so hot in there, but Bluetooth is used to the heat a little bit from competing in Wellington (USA). He has had two seasons there and every day it is 30 degrees so he is able to deliver very good scores in the heat. I think we showed a very harmonious ride and a consistent frame from the beginning to the end with no technical mistakes”, he pointed out.  

But Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep set a whole new standard when putting 82.422 on the board for a test in which they earned multiple scores of 9 and 10 and held the crowd spellbound.  

“The relaxation, the frame is getting better, he still has moments where it could be better but it all comes from experience. Just going through the test, for 10 years old that’s done as little as he has, it really is amazing. It normally takes years and years to get them to that point. Last year I think he’d done maybe four or five Grand Prix before the World Games (FEI Dressage World Championship).

"He did just three shows before coming here and preparation-wise he needs to do more shows but smaller shows just to give him experience, but then he goes and does that! I love him to bits!"

Charlotte Dujardin GBR

Start

She didn’t have a great start to the week however. “When I got here Pete (Imhotep) had been travel sick, there were complications getting here because of the EU paperwork that was done wrong, so he had 19 hours of travel and he’s never travelled that far. So he arrived with travel sickness but we have a great team of vets that helped so thankfully he was fine. And then Isabella (her six-month-old baby daughter) got a temperature. She was really sick and had high fever so I got about an hour’s sleep on Monday because she was so poorly - it’s been a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for me this week!”, Dujardin said.

With just one more rider to go for each team the result was still hanging in the balance. And when world number one, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, blew the competition wide open with what would be the biggest score of the competition then Germany looked set to threaten Britain’s overnight lead.

Consistent scores of nine and multiple scores of 10 for piaffe and for seamless transitions throughout their entire test earned a massive mark of 84.612. She was delighted.

“Being here in Germany riding my wonderful, beautiful mare Dalera is always a gift. Every time I am allowed to enter the arena it is a gift. She always tries her very best and it’s just up to me. If I am focused and on point then she is as well, she is my mirror!”, she said. But there would be one more twist in the tale.

Immense pressure

Third-last into the ring, and under immense pressure, the horse-and-rider combination who claimed the individual title at last summer’s FEI Dressage World Championship in Herning (DEN), Britain’s Lottie Fry and the super-stallion Glamourdale, would ensure that although von Bredow-Werndl would have the highest score of the day it would be Team GB on the top of the team podium this evening.

The stallion kicked off his test with a huge mark of over 87.00 but ended up on 81.258, still a personal-best for the British partnership. “He felt amazing in there, he had a few small distractions, some noises from outside caught his attention but still he got a personal best which shows we’ve really improved on a lot of things from last year and we were excited to get back in there”, Fry said.

That score would lift the British total past Germany and onto the top step of the medal podium.

On fire

"He went in there on fire! I just felt a few little distractions, his eyes wandering to the outside of the arena, but I think he had many many highlights today as well, some things that have never been as good, so we are focusing on those and really going for it tomorrow!”

Lottie Fry GBR

The stallion was awarded six scores of 10 for his trademark and thrilling extended canter and the spectators will be looking forward to seeing it again in tomorrow’s Grand Prix Special for which the top 30 individual riders have qualified.

Carl Hester threw down the British gauntlet yesterday with what he described as his “best test to date” with Fame.

“I’ve only been riding him for about nine months and I was absolutely delighted with him. My take-away from yesterday would be if I could ride the beginning of my test like I got to ride him at the end of the test that would help to get more points in there. He’s a joy to ride, a joy to be around, and I’m very lucky to have him!”, he said this evening.

Emotion

Team-member Gareth Hughes was filled with emotion. “We’ve been a team since 2019, Lottie - her career so far has been unbelievable, what the future brings is mind-boggling. We have Carl, he gets on a horse and he is just a master - he’s been coaching me for 20 years. Charlotte, for me she’s the best test rider in the world, it’s just an honour to watch her today and it’s an honour to be part of this team and all I can say is thank you!”, he said. 

This was only Britain’s second team gold in the 60-year history of the FEI Dressage European Championship. Dujardin, riding Valegro, and Hester, riding Uthopia were on that winning side in Rotterdam in 2011 and, a year later, they clinched team gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Today’s result seems like a good omen a year ahead of Paris 2024.

But more immediately there is tomorrow’s top-30 Grand Prix Special to look forward to and then the Freestyle finale on Sunday. Von Bredow-Werndl won both at the last European Championship in Hagen (GER) two years ago but she looks set to face stiff competition in defence of both of those titles, especially from her nearest challengers in the Grand Prix - Dujardin, Fry, Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald with Blue Hors Zepter and Hester. 

The Special kicks off at 10.15 local time, so don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Startlists and Results here 

Great Britain takes the lead on opening day at Riesenbeck

Great Britain took the early lead in the team standings on the opening day of the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck, Germany today.

A breathtaking Grand Prix performance from 56-year-old veteran Carl Hester with his relatively new ride, the 13-year-old gelding Fame, earned 78.540 for the biggest score of the day, giving his country a narrow advantage over Germany in second place while Denmark slotted into third.

Austria and Spain, both fighting for one of the three team spots on offer for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, are in overnight fourth and fifth places. And France and The Netherlands share that fifth place with the Spanish after all three sides finished on exactly the same scoreline.

The team medals are decided over two days, so another 33 horse-and-rider combinations will compete in the Grand Prix tomorrow before the podium places are confirmed.

Strong target

Mathias Alexander Rath set the first strong target when putting 74.845 on the board with the stallion Thiago GS. “He felt really fresh yesterday at the vet-check, you could see he had a lot of energy and a lot of power. Today I was super-happy how he behaved in the arena, you have to remember that he’s just ten years old and still developing and still at the beginning of his career”, the German team pathfinder pointed out.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen and the 12-year-old stallion Vayron then put Denmark on the map when slotting in behind the German pair on a score of 74.146, despite losing a shoe in the corner of the arena at the end of the final extended trot. 

“Going down the centreline he was fine, but then I went outside and I felt he wasn’t lame, but he felt different. The shoe came clear off and the hoof is perfect so we just have to get it back on!”, he said afterwards. 

He described Vayron as “a very green horse, he’s in his very first Grand Prix season - I think this was his eighth Grand Prix in his life”. He said he’s been riding the horse for just over a year “and we’ve grown together, we had to find each other. He was educated by a top rider, (Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg), but with a complete other length of body and body strength, so I had to get to know him and we had to do some things differently. And I had to give him some show experience as he hasn’t been going to many shows”, the tall Dane explained.

Then Gareth Hughes got even closer to Rath’s score with a lovely performance from the mare Classic Briolinca. After putting 74.565 on the board the British rider said, “I’m over the moon with her, I thought it was one of the best tests she’s done! Very clean, no real mistakes, I was slightly disappointed with the mark but so happy with the mare”. The horse has been a much-loved member of the Hughes family since she was three years of age.

“She’s 17 now and has done several championships and she’s been amazing for me and amazing for the team”, he added.

Leaderboard

As the first day was drawing to a close, the legend that is Isabell Werth produced a new leading score of 77.174 from DSP Qantaz.

"I think it was his best competition this year! He was more relaxed and not fighting, it was easy-going, so that was really nice to feel”.

Isabell Werth GER

The 13-year-old gelding competed in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ series over the winter months to give him more experience, “and I think that was quite helpful. And then we had a little break…..and the next was Aachen”, she explained.

She is really enjoying the facilities at Riesenbeck. “The venue is very super, it’s so professional in the infrastructure, so great, especially now in this temperature and with this weather. When the horses are in the stables it is cool and the air is fresh, so the conditions are perfect.” It has been extremely hot all week, with temperatures today reaching over 30 degrees.

Werth was followed into the ring by Andreas Helgstrand and the extravagant young stallion Jovian who slotted into fifth behind Hughes and pushed Bachmann Andersen down to sixth when posting 74.410. 

The Danish pair were late into the warm-up arena because Jovian lost a shoe, but neither horse nor rider lost their cool. 

“He’s a horse you need a big driving licence for!”, Helgstrand said. Jovian was very full of himself this morning so he took him for a walk. 

“My strategy was to get him to calm down so I could show that walk (in the test) and the walk was there. I couldn’t make it as good as I wanted in piaffe and passage, but at the end of the day I’m happy. He’s a dream horse, and in one more year he will be very, very nice!”, he added.

Master-class

Third-last to go, Carl Hester then put Great Britain out in front with a master-class in the art of horsemanship. 

"If I never did another test again it would be a lovely one to finish on!"

Carl Hester GBR

said the six-time Olympian after putting 78.540 on the board with Fame for the biggest score of the opening day and with a test that had the crowd roaring in appreciation as the pair moved into their final halt.
 
“I absolutely love this horse, I worship riding him. I look forward to riding him every day!”, he said of the 13-year-old gelding that was formerly competed by team-mate Fiona Bigwood, but who was offered to Hester at the end of last year due to her busy life full of family commitments. “She always said this one’s for you when she was riding him and she was right, it was love at first ride!”, Hester said today.

He described Fame as “very spicy and hot” and “a full-time job. It’s not just a case of get on him. He’s in the field all day, he’s a stallion, he goes out all day in his paddock and you have to manage him so he relaxes. 

“He’s the kind of horse I love, a bit quirky and hot but wonderful and kind. You need someone who has time to ride a horse like that…..he wants to go, but he’s the kindest person in the stable and with children and other horses…there’s not been a morning since January when I haven’t thought I can’t wait to get on him!”, he said.

Stands tallest

Meanwhile in the race for Olympic qualification it is Team Austria that stands tallest after today, their top score of 71.724 from Florian Bacher and Fidertraum OLD giving them the edge over the Spanish who also posted two 70 percent scores, the best of which came from Alejandro Sánchez del Barco with the charming PRE stallion Quincallo de Indalo who earned a mark of 71.584.

It will be quite something if Austria can succeed in taking one of the Olympic slots in Dressage this week, just days after their Jumping team earned their ticket to Paris next year against all the odds at the FEI Jumping European Championship 2023 in Milan (ITA). 

Florian Bacher believes they can do it. “It’s looking quite good!”, he said after his impressive ride with the 14-year-old Fidertraum who is competing in his fifth championship.

However there’s plenty more sport to play out before those places are confirmed and the 2023 FEI Dressage European Team Championship medals are handed out. Luxembourg’s Fie Christine Skarsoe and Imperador Dos Cedros will kick off the second day of action at 09.30 local time, so don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Startlists and Results here

https://www.longinestiming.com/equestrian/2023/european-championships-dressage-and-para-dressage-riesenbeck-riesenbeck-horstel

Bakken Dressage med sidste forberedelser inden eliteskuet

Silje Bakken & Michael Møller Flintrup gør klar til Eliteskuet - her med en af de unge hopper, Røjleskovens Secret´s Unique - foto: H2R

Ugen op til Eliteskuet

En ikke helt almindelig tirsdag formiddag i hallen hos Bakken Dressage, hvor de unge hopper går ind i den afsluttende fase frem mod fremstillingen til Eliteskuet i weekenden.

En rutine som Bakken Dressage med Silje Bakken og Michael Møller Flintrup i spidsen, med stor succes har prøvet en del gange tidligere. Ugen op til Eliteskuet er ret fast skemalagt for hopperne, så det hedder mandag og tirsdag under sadel, onsdag og torsdag har de fri, og så er de klar til let arbejde under sadel igen fredag og køretur til Vilhelmsborg lørdag med præsentation under rytter om søndagen.

Forløbet for den unge hoppe

Der er lidt forskel på hvornår de unge hopper dukker op til forberedelse til kåring.

Nogle avlere vælger at sende deres hopper i tilridning i februar, og hvis alt går efter planen bliver der også plads til en pause, inden det går løs mod de sidste forberedelser til kåring og evt. Eliteskue. I den pause benytter avlerne sig også ofte af at få ifolet hoppen.

Den anden model er hvor hoppen kommer i tilridning i maj og gøres klar til kåringen og evt. efterfølgende eliteskue.

Under vejs i forløbet er avlere/ejere naturligvis velkomne til at følge med fra sidelinien i den daglige træning, men ellers sørger Bakken Dressage normalt for at få lavet lidt videomateriale, så avlere/ejere kan følge lidt med fra sidelinien alligevel.

5 hopper udtaget til eliteskuet og 2 yderligere kåret i RDH

I år har Bakken Dressage haft 8 hopper gjort klar til kåringerne, heraf en 2 års og en 5 års, mens de restende 6 er 3 års hopper.

Tilbage i 2018 havde Bakken Dressage også 5 hopper med til Eliteskuet, så det er dagen hvor alt skal klappe, da der ikke er meget tid at løbe på indimellem, fortæller Silje.

Silje, Michael og teamet glæder sig til at vise avlernes og ejernes “produkter” bedst muligt til Eliteskuet. Dømt ud fra de to sorte hopper som H2R fik set til tirsdagens træning ligner det bestemt hopper med højkarat medalje potentiale. (Se video klip herunder).

Medaljehistorikken

Medaljehistorikken fra Bakken Dressage taler sit eget sprog.

2014: Højgaardens Miss Manifique , sølv. 

2015: Højgaardens Miss Unique, guld.

2016: Bøgegårdens Bea, bronze, + Højgaardens Temporina , bronze.

2017: -

2018: Årets hoppe: Grevens Fakina , guld + Gozzip, guld + Højgaardens Lady Gaxie, sølv + Overgaards Me’rell, bronze + Grevens La Choi, bronze + Forever Fine i OLD + kvalificerede Grevens Superball.

2019: -

2020: Vestermarkens Shakira , guld. 

2021: Årets hoppe: Valerie B guld + Graciosa, bronze.

2022: Lygums Zelina, sølv.

Efter Eliteskuet

Når Eliteskuet slutter på søndag, er det alene 3 hopper som går hjem til deres ejere, hvorefter foreløbig 5 heste gøres klar til efterårets egnethedstest.

Få et snigkig på et par af de sorte 3 års hopper som er klar til Eliteskuet.⬇️

SK Ivanna e. Asgard´s Ibiza/Hohenstein (helsøster til Iron) avlet og ejet af Susanne Bastrup Kastberg - foto: H2R

3 års hoppe Røjleskovens Secret´s Unique e. Secret / Blue Hors St. Schufro, avlet af Lene Birk Larsen og ejet af Johanna Charlotte Botved - foto: H2R

4 year old stallion qualifier Thursday with Endorphin by Escolar / Don Nobless in top

Endorphin - photo: hengststation-pape.de

Stallions at Bundeschampionate

The breeding season has finished and now we have the possibility to watch some of the young stallions at the Bundeschampionate.

The weather conditions has been a bit challenging but when the 4 year old horses were ready yesterday they were also supported by the sun, but still with a very wet surface which affected some of the horses.

Clear quality highlight from Endorphin with Greta Heemsoth, lovely development, strong body, beautiful type and three really nice basic gaits showing super suppleness for trot and canter, while the walk looked a bit affected from the wet surface today.

Also Escanto PS brings something extra but the weather conditions also made some kind of impact for their performance.

Førstedagen til landsstævnet i Århus med spændende nye ekvipager

Landsstævnets første to klasse blev afviklet i dag, og til dem som ikke havde lagt vejen forbi Vilhelmsborg var der alligevel mulighed for at følge med via Clipmyhorse som streamer fra hele stævnet.

MA1 med sejr ti Frederikke Gram Jacobsen og For Emotion

Dagens første klasse MA1 blev vundet af Future Dressage rytter Frederikke Gram Jacobsen som fornyligt har overtaget tøjlerne på den nu 10-årige For Emotion e. Foundation / Sandro Hit, som har været lidt rundt omkring i løbet af sin uddannelse, senest hos Jacob Nørby, Gunnarlunda i Sverige og nu tilbage i hos Anna Kasprzak, Future Dressage.

Sammen med Frederikke Gram Jacobsen ligner den powerfulde For Emotion et rigtig godt match. Lidt ubalanceret indridningsparade men der fra en god travtur med dejlig naturlig sving og bæring, skridten bliver lidt dyr i dag da han bliver lidt på tæerne. Den første halvpirouette i galop bliver lidt spændt i starten, der sniger sig en fejl ind i slutningen af 4er serien. Parret vinder klassen med 71,018%

MBO klassen blev vundet af Daniel Bachmann med Ducati de Lux

De to EM ryttere Daniel og Carina har valgt at “forberede” sig til den kommende uges EM, med start af nogle unge heste til stævnet i Århus.

7 årige Ducati de Lux e. Donkey Boy / Blue Hors Zack som i dag gik den 3. start nogensinde. Flot udtryksfuld langbenet hest med god balance i traven, taktfast god skridt og god galop, hvor den stadig mangler lidt mere sikkerhed og balance i changementerne. I dag indløber der et par mindre tekniske fejl, men parret slutter på 73,974% nok til at tage sejren.

Tæt fulgt af hoppen Tophøjs Diadora e. Donkey Boy / Blue Hors Don Romantic med Carina Cassøe Krüth, avlet af Anette Nilausen og Niels Jørgen Johansen. Det var ekvipagens debut sammen og præstationen rakte til dagens 2. plads i klassen med 73,846%. Rigtig god aktiv power i traven hele vejen, under vejs med lidt spændinger, god skridt tur, god galop med lidt spændinger og et par mindre usikkerheder i changementerne.

Tre hurtige EM spørgsmål til Andreas

Jovian & Andreas Helgstrand til UVM - foto: Lily Forado

  1. Første gang mesterskab med Jovian, hvad er dine forventninger?

  2. Hvad glæder du dig mest til i næste uge?

  3. Hvad er dit bud på fordeiingen af holdmedaljerne?

Tidligere mesterskabsmedaljer:

🥉- individuel VM Grand Prix Special 2006 Aachen med Blue Hors Matiné

🥈- individuel VM kür 2006 Aachen med Blue Hors Matiné

🥉- team OL 2008 Beijing med Blue Hors Don Schufro

Countdown for the European Championships next week (schedule, full entries & link for start and results)

Link to start and results.

Entries:

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