Catalog online for upcoming OLD stallion pre-selection 15 - 17 November

145 young dressage stallions ready for OLD pre-selection

Both Dynamic Dream and For Romance I are represented with 8 sons, while Viva Gold and So Perfect has 7 sons for this pre-selection.

The main licensing takes place 18 - 21 January in Ankum due to extensive renovations at the auction hall in Vechta.

The 2024 Stallion Licensing will be divided into two parts: The emphasis will be on show jumping stallions from Thursday to Friday, January 18th to 19th, followed by the stallion market. From Saturday to Sunday, January 20th to 21st, dressage-oriented candidates will take the stage and further be auctioned. Due to logistical reasons, it will not be possible to organize a stallion gala as part of the 2024 licensing event.

Schedule for pre-selection:

Wednesday 15 November

  • 09.00 - catalog 1 - 17

  • 12.30 - 13.15 - lunch break

  • from 13.15 - catalog 18 - 37

Thursday 16 November

  • 09.00 - catalog 38 - 66

  • 12.30 - 13.15 lunch break

  • from 13.15 - catalog 67 - 99

Friday 17 November

  • 09.00 - catalog 100 - 121

  • 12.30 - 13.15 lunch break

  • from 13.15 - catalog 122 - 145 + late entries

Here you find the entire catalog

FEI PRESS RELEASE - Kittel is king at opening leg in Herning

Sweden’s Patrik Kittel concluded an exceptional week of success with victory in today’s first leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League series in Herning, Denmark.

The 47-year-old three-time Olympian has long been master of the art when it comes to Freestyle performances, and with the 11-year-old gelding Touchdown he pinned an army of Danes into the minor placings.

On an emotional afternoon for rider Nanna Skodborg Merrald and the entire Blue Hors team, it was Blue Hors Zack who slotted into runner-up spot for the host nation ahead of compatriot Lone Bang Zindorff and Thranegaardens Rostov in third. Fourth and fifth places also went to Denmark with Andreas Helgstrand (Queenparks Wendy) pipping Anna Zibrandtsen (Quel Filou) while Germany’s Felicitas Hendricks (Drombusch OLD) slotted into sixth

“It’s difficult to put in words what a cool experience it was today!”, Kittel said. “The last time I won (a qualifier) was in 2017 and I think that was the last time I was really emotional when they played the national anthem!

“I knew all the (Danish) girls and Andreas would be really fighting to get up there and I tried to put that all behind me and go in and my horse just went unbelievably. I have to say that the lap of honour - with Scandic I’d be holding on for dear life - but Touchdown is so cool so you are high-fiving the entire audience! It’s an amazing feeling and the people in Boxen arena are so supportive, it’s great sport and it’s a great atmosphere to be in!”, he pointed out.

Pole position

All six judges - Per W. Nielsen (DEN), Peter Storr (GBR), Mariette Sanders-Van Gansenwinkel (NED), Susanne Baarup (DEN), Hans Christian Matthiesen (DEN) and Henning Lehrman (GER) - put Kittel in pole position for a soft and fluent test that earned a score of 84.065. 

Skodborg Merrald’s 82.820 gave her the edge over Bang Zindorff whose mark of 81.760 was a personal-best however.

Skodborg Merrald admitted that she was fighting back the tears when the audience greeted herself and the 19-year-old Zack with such enthusiasm before they started. “It was bit emotional in the beginning when the audience welcomed me really nicely, clapping a lot. I felt the tears a bit there and I said to myself come on now, you have to pull yourself together and do your best! I think he really did his very best and I did as well today!”, she said.

Yesterday the pair had to settle for eighth place in the Grand Prix due to multiple mistakes. Today however they were mistake-free. “He was much more powerful, much more with me the whole way around. I was so, so proud, it was the best possible way for me to finish with him!”, she said of the horse that last year helped to make Danish Dressage history when part of the gold medal winning team at the FEI World Championship at this same venue.

Warm-up

Bang Zindorff’s warm-up wasn’t the way she wanted because her coach and fellow-competitor, Helgstrand, went two horses ahead of her. “Normally he helps in the warm-up so I had to use my husband! But he did a really good job and then Andreas came out and helped me for about five minutes. My goal was no mistakes and I succeeded so it was fantastic!”, she said.

Kittel talked about his plan for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ series. 

“I’m very lucky at the moment to have so many good horses, four top top horses in my stables so one can rest and one can go and it’s a luxury that I’m very well aware of”, he explained.

“I will do Lyon (FRA) and Stuttgart (GER) with two different horses and I will take a decision about the Final when the day comes but first you have to qualify. But the World Cup series is so good. It starts in Herning with an amazing show and Stuttgart, Lyon they are all mega shows so whether you aim for the Final or not it’s great just to compete. I just take one show at a time and enjoy it!”, he said.

Four wins

He lined out in four classes at Herning and won all four, including the 3* Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special with Gallerias Bohemian, the 13-year-old gelding that carried Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and to individual silver and bronze at the FEI European Championships in 2021.

He talked about the pressure of taking on such a successful horse from another top rider.

“Everyone has very high expectations and it’s not so easy. People are very quick to judge you, and Cathrine did such an amazing job with this horse. But even with the most well-educated horse you have to become a partner, and that takes time. I’ve only ridden him for 2.5 months and I need time to get to know him. Horses are not machines and neither are we, and we have to connect with them.

“Here in Boxen it was a risk taking him. I know the Danish audience have seen him with Cathrine and i wanted to do good and do the horse justice and Cathrine too. Here was the first time we did two fault-free tests together and that’s a lot of fun!”, he said.

Top ride

Kittel also competed Skodborg Merrald’s latest top ride, Blue Hors Zepter, in the past and he talked about what happens when horses move between top riders.

“I adored that horse and Nanna adored that horse. People think we are grumpy with each other when a horse changes (to another rider) but if the horse does well with another rider it actually gives me confidence that I did a good job with that horse! She rides it and does an amazing job, better than I did, but I’m happy with that! The horse has developed and bloomed….it’s part of the business and part of the game to do that, and it makes us riders happy to see the horse is performing well with someone else”, he insisted.

Today it was all about Touchdown however, and taking that top spot in Herning on the road to the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024 Final which will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia next April.

Next stop in the Western European League qualifying series is Lyon (FRA) in two weeks time where another win for Kittel would bring him very close to an early-season qualification spot.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat…… 

FULL RESULTS

Scandinavian podium at the opening leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup Herning

Scandinavian podium at the opening leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup Herning

Patrik Kittel (SWE) riding Touchdown secured the first win at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League in Herning (DEN) today ahead of four Danish riders.

Patrik Kittel with Touchdown. Photo: Ridehesten.com/Kristine Ulsø Olsen

Press release

“I cannot remember when I last won four classes in a weekend,” said Patrik Kittel. He clinched the victory in the FEI Dressage World Cup Freestyle presented by ECCO in Herning (DEN) riding the brilliant Touchdown by Quaterback to victory with 84,065% in the opening leg of the World Cup-series in the Western European league.

Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald had an emotional weekend, as she decided to ride her Olympic Partner Blue Hors Zack by Harmony’s Rousseau for the very last time in international sport. The 19-year-old breeding stallion, made some mistakes in the FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix on Saturday, but in the Freestyle Zack was focused and Nanna was very pleased with her Freestyle –shown partly to the tune: Time to Say Goodbye. They earned 82,82% from the judges Susanne Baarup (DEN), Hans-Christian Mattiesen (DEN), Henning Lehrmann (GER), Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel (NED) and Peter Storr (GBR). Coming into second place.

Going in as last rider in the impressive Jyske Bank Boxen, Lone Bang Zindorff (DEN) focused on riding a flawless test, and after her final salute, it was mission accomplished.  With her 13-year-old mare Thranegaardens Rostov by Romanov she mowed from a 5th placed in the World Cup Grand Prix to a podium place, when she placed herself in front of her trainer, Andreas Helgstrand riding the 9-year-old Danish Warmblood mare Queenparks Wendy by Sezuan into fourth place with 81,160%

“I have to say, the lap of honour, having Touchdown being so cool, I could high-five the audience and it’s an amazing feeling. The people in Boxen are so supportive – it’s great sport and it’s just a great atmosphere to be in”, said Patrik Kittel at the press conference.

You have the possibility to watch the press conference here below ⬇️

About FEI Dressage World Cup

Four leagues (the Western European League - WEL, the Central European League - CEL, the North American League - NAL, and the Pacific League -PAL.) makes this series truly global and provide athletes from all around the world with an opportunity to qualify for the Final which will be taking place in Riyadh in April 2024.

In Western Europe, the level of Dressage is huge, and the world’s best riders will attend this World Cup League again this year. The series will take us to 11 different venues in Western Europe this season. The series opened in Herning (DEN). 

Nanna Skodborg Merrald med Blue Hors Zack. Photo: Ridehesten.com/Kristine Ulsø Olsen

Lone Bang Zindorff med Thranegaardens Rostov. Photo: Ridehesten.com/Kristine Ulsø Olsen

Maria Caetano and 11 yr old Lusitano stallion Horizonte winner of CDI3 Grand Prix in Madrid today with 73,891%

More than 5.5% ahead of no 2

The lusitano stallion Horizonte brings the full Iberian package for the Grand Prix sport and aditionally passage, piaffe, transitions and pirouettes are of very high qualities.

Caetano and Horizonte made their international debut back in February and won their last competition end of September in Lissabon with 70,152%.

Good flow and expression, no technical issues but still room for improvement, as ex into entering halt is with two trot steps, bit unbalanced into canter from passage, series are bit swinging and final transition to trot lacking more flow.

Here you find all start and results. The entire event is available to watch LIVE at Clipmyhorse.

Videointerview med international OL dressurdommer Susanne Baarup

International 5* dommer Susanne Baarup - foto: H2R

OL dommer for 2. gang

International dommer Susanne Baarup sad også med som dommer til weekendens championatsfinaler på Blue Hors, og den kommende weekend er hun igen klar til at dømme World Cup i Herning.

Det var selvfølgelig med stor glæde og stolthed at Susanne i sidste uge fik den officielle meddelelse om at hun nu for 2. gang kan kalde sig OL dommer (var dommer til OL i Rio 2016), idet hun også udpeget til at være en del af dommerteamet til næste sommers OL i Paris.

Hele dommerteamet til OL er:

  • Raphael Saleh (FRA) - president of the ground jury

  • Henning Lehrmann (GER)

  • Isobel Wessels (GBR)

  • Mariette Sanders (NED)

  • Magnus Ringmark (SWE)

  • Michael Osinski (USA)

  • Susanne Baarup (DEN)

VIDEO - The future of Danish top Dressage was also shown this week at Blue Hors

Vividus QRE & Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour winner of YH GP at Blue Hors

Young Horse Grand Prix successfully introduced in Denmark this weekend

The future of Danish Dressage was gathered at beautiful Blue Hors this weekend for the national young horse championships and the premier of young horse Grand Prix tour for 8-10 year old horses towards the big sport. (A new series like we know from Germany’s Louisdor Preis).

For both the top riders but also upcoming riders this is a great chance to bring either the young horse into Grand Prix level or both yourself and your horse into this level, it also gives a pretty nice picture of what´s coming next for the big sport from a young age.

A young age at Grand Prix level

The Danish team World Champions from 2022 in Herning were all four ready with young talented horses this weekend at Blue Hors.

From H2R point of view the most important part of this young horse Grand Prix is that the horses are presented as the young horses they actually are at this very demanding level. When watching from the long side you really get every single exercise how the horses are able to performe. The lightness in the contact, the clarity and quality of the paces, the control and suppleness and not least how sharp they are to the riders aides. All these elements are clearly reflected in the entire performance and also by the scoring.

From following these youngsters at a few previous nationals shows and even the development from Friday to Sunday how they all grow into the job, and as also Cathrine stated after her ride Sunday: “Today he reminded me about a true Grand Prix horse”.

Judge at C Sunday was Danish international 3* judge Christine Prip. “I think it is a really good initiative with young horses GP as part of a gentle transition for the young horses who comes out and work at GP level, where we as judges are also careful that they are young horses and the focus is on the good development and tendency in the work, and of courses with a little more tolerance for “beauty flaws” that obviously are rooted in a lack of routine. It was a great pleasure to see the well-trained young horses being guided around in the best possible way and the level was also very high. It was also really nice to see several of our Grand Prix riders (Cathrine, Nanna and Carina) in action in the young horse classes where really good and correct young horse riding was demonstrated - so the entire educational path was demonstrated in the best possible way over the weekend,” says Christine.

Enjoy the winner performance from 8 year old Vividus QRE & Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour here below⬇️

19 yr old KWPN stallion Blue Hors Zack says goodbye at CDI-W Herning together with Nanna Merrald

Zack ready for well deserved retirement

Successful 19 yr old Blue Hors Zack by Rousseau / Jazz bred by B. WILSCHUT, BOSSCHENHOOFD (NED) will say goodbye to the Danish audience and the international dressage scene during next weekends World Cup in Herning.

Blue Hors Zack was spotted by former Blue Hors manager Esben Møller at KWPN stallion licensing at was purchased to Stud Blue Hors.

He was educated at Grand Prix level by Daniel Bachmann Andersen, and they competed at two World Cup finals, one time WEG and one time European Championships, before Nanna took over the ride beginning of 2021 where Zack became her first Olympic partner at Tokyo 2021 Olympics and they were also part of the Danish team gold in Herning at World Championships in 2022.

Sunday Blue Hors Zack will finish his career with start no 58 at international Grand Prix level.

Blue Hors Zack is sire of 41 approved sons and 27 offspring competing at Grand Prix level. Among the most successful offsprings are: Blue Hors Zepter, Glock’s Zonik, Sezuan, Jameson RS2, Straight Horse Ascenzione and Zippo M.I.

Informations at Blue Hors website about Blue Hors Zack:

Our world-class stallion Blue Hors Zack launched his career as a 3-year-old champion stallion at the Dutch stallion licensing, where he was purchased by Blue Hors. Shortly afterwards he was approved in Danish Warmblood and was used extensively, especially in Danish and German breeding, from a very young age. In sport, Zack just keeps getting better and better. He was not ready for Grand Prix until he was 12, and he is still developing.– He has been an incredibly strong and durable horse, he has almost never been sick or injured, and so every day he is super ready and motivated to work – even the day after a big event, when he has to take time off, says Zack’s former rider Daniel Bachmann Andersen.

He debuted in international Grand Prix at the age of 13, after which his and Bachmann Andersen’s journey to world elite dressage took off at high speed. They soon became part of the Danish national team, representing Denmark at the WEG 2018 in Tryon, and became the best Danish equestrian pair in the Grand Prix, ranked at 10. They have since won the World Cup qualifiers in Herning and ‘s-Hertogenbosch, 7th place in the 2018 World Cup final in Paris and 4th place in the 2019 World Cup final in Gothenburg. At the Danish Dressage Championship in 2018 the pair ranked No. 8, then claiming victory as the Danish champions in 2019. The pair has achieved numerous international victories and top placings, including Amsterdam, Neumünster, Paris, Uggerhalne, Aachen, Hagen, Darmstadt, and Salzburg. In 2019 they won the CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle in Falsterbo with over 85%, and at the European Championships 2019 in Rotterdam they finished individually at No. 7 with 83.711% in the Grand Prix Freestyle. Zack finished the FEI 2019 competition year ranked at number 6 in in dressage, making him the world’s highest-ranking stallion in dressage.

In 2020, he ranked as no. 10 on FEI’s World Ranking in Dressage

His sire Rousseau won the stallion performance test in dressage in Ermelo in 2002. In the same year, he won the Pavo Cup in Holland with an up till now never reached score. By both test riders, he got a perfect 10. At the age of 5 he won the stallion performance test in ’s-Hertogenbosch and thereafter the silver medal at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden.

Zack is the second foal out of the mare Orona, whose first foal by Neostan (Florestan) won intermediate (M) level dressage classes in the Netherlands as a six-year-old. Orona herself succeeded in intermediate (M) level classes and finished a very good IBOP test (mare performance test). She also produced two KWPN elite mares, one of them is by Blue Hors Don Romantic. Orona is a daughter of the Grand Prix stallion Jazz, one of the most sought-after stallions in the Netherlands, who was successful in international top sport. In 2013, he was 2nd on the WBFSH ranking for dressage stallions.


Indledende 6 års med dominans af Laudrup-Dufour og Merrald

6 års holdet

Et stærkt 6 års hold bestående af i alt 21 ekvipager som blev bedømt af Mette Svare Ehlers og Helle Westh. Det var igen i dag konstruktiv, informativ og retvisende efterfølgende kommentering fra Mette Svare Ehlers.

De to unge internationale damer Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour og Nanna Merrald satte deres flotte aftryk på dagens 6 års indledende klasse med deres outstanding ridemæssige færdigheder og erfaring.

Cathrine viste hoppen Zimillione forbilledligt frem, selvom man under vejs godt kunne fornemme, at det var en opgave der krævede en rutineret rytter, men alligevel kun med et enkelt udfald på vej ind i den første traversade, men med en situation som Cathrine lynhurtigt havde under kontrol. Det forbilledlige kom til sit udtryk med den utvungne form og måden den unge hest får lov at være i sin egen ramme på, bare understøttet og guided af en af verdens absolut bedste ryttere.

Placeret som både nr. 2 og nr. 3 finder vi endnu en verdensklasse rytter nemlig Nanna Merrald med hingstene Blue Hors Santiano og Blue Hors Monte Carlo placeret i nævnte rækkefølge og alene men en minimum margin mellem dem på blot 0,200. Set fra sidelinien synes Monte Carlo bare at være dagens kammerat i svøb. 100% ærlig og med Nanna hele vejen i en balanceret og ubesværet tur, hvor Santiano går i et lidt højere gear i traven men som også giver lidt mere at arbejde med for Nanna under vejs. Og hvis man skal evaluere lidt på karakterne så gik Monte Carlo til dagens højeste ridelighed, men belønnet med 9,2 mod Zimillione med 9,3.

Hingste My Vitality og spanske Eric Guardia Martinez er en super harmonisk ekvipage og blander sig også fortjent i topstriden i dag.

De flittige bliver også belønnet med at have gode heste med i dagens 6 års felt, nemlig Future Dressage rytter Fredrikke Gram Jacobsen med tre heste, Atterupgaard rytter Selina Vittinghus med to heste og snart forhenværende EVO rytter Anne Marie Hosbond med to heste.

Nu venter B-finalen i morgen tidlig hvor de sidste 3 ekvipager til finalen skal findes.

IOC confirms the equestrian disciplines for Los Angeles 2028! 

FEI PRESS RELEASE

The FEI President has welcomed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) confirmation of the equestrian disciplines for the Los Angeles 2028 sports programme following the IOC Executive Board meeting held on 12 and 13 October in Mumbai (IND). 

“We are delighted with the IOC’s announcement that the equestrian disciplines at competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be on the Los Angeles 2028 sports programme,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. 

“Equestrian has been part of the Olympics since 1912, and with such a strong heritage and enthusiasm for the sport in the US, we are looking forward to delivering successful and engaging Games, focussed on the future and the values which make it unique in the sporting landscape.

“This is only the beginning. Venue confirmation in the coming months and quotas for LA2028, which will be decided after Paris 2024, will be our next big milestones in the lead up to these Games. We are actively pursuing all avenues and making sure we have our finger on the pulse, as we look towards not only LA28 but also Paris24 which is just around the corner!” 

The IOC press release on the programme of the LA28 Olympic Games can be viewed here (cf. section LA28 discipline programme).

Host nation heroes headline opening leg in Herning

Three athletes from the Danish team that clinched bronze at the recent FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck, Germany will be in action when the first leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League gets underway on their home ground in Herning (DEN) next week.

Nanna Skodborg Merrald, who also took Grand Prix Special silver in Riesenbeck, Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Andreas Helgstrand will be joined by compatriots Anna Kasprzak, Nadja Aaboe Sloth, Anna Zibrandtsen and Lone Bang Zindorff as the battle for qualifying points towards the Final which will take place in Riyadh (KSA) next April begins.

37th season

The FEI Dressage World Cup™ is entering its 37th season, and only one Danish rider has ever taken the title. That was Anne-Grethe Jansen who came out on top with Marzog at the inaugural series finale at ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in 1986, pinning Great Britain’s Chris Bartle and Wily Trout into second place and Switzerland’s Christine Stückelberger and Rubelit von Unkelruf into third. 

Jansen came back to finish second with the same horse in 1987 at Essen (GER), and since then there has been an irregular run of second-place finishes for Danish contenders at the Final. 

Lars Petersen steered Blue Hors Cavan into runner-up spot at ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in 2002 and Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and Digby were second behind The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival in Leipzig (GER) in 2011. Cathrine Dufour and Vamos Amigos were runners-up in Leipzig (GER) in 2022 and Skodborg Merrald was second at the 2023 Final in Omaha (USA) last April partnering Blue Hors Zepter.

For the second year in succession it was Germany’s star partnership of Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and the mare TSF Dalera BB who reigned supreme at the US fixture, having already swept all before them at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the FEI Dressage European Championship in 2021.

Eight nations

Athletes from eight nations - Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, Netherlands and Sweden - will compete next week including Swedish veterans Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven riding Devanto and Patrik Kittel with Touchdown. 

Kittel has long been a stalwart of the popular indoor FEI Dressage World Cup™ series and is much-loved by spectators around the globe for his joyous and flamboyant Freestyle performances, while Vilhelmson Silfven stood second behind The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud at the 2016 Final on her home ground in Gothenburg (SWE). Caroline Darcout (Lord Django) and Marina Mattsson (Helix) will complete the Swedish line-up.

For Finland, Emma Kanerva who competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games, will compete with the 12-year-old stallion Greek Air who won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special at Neustadt Dosse (GER) in August this year. Germany will be represented by 23-year-old Felicitas Hendricks, who with Drombusch OLD took double-gold at the FEI European U25 Championship in Pilisjászfalu (HUN) in July, and by 24-year-old Raphael Netz who has enjoyed a string of successes with Great Escape Camelot this year. 

This pair helped their country to second place in the Nations Cup at Rotterdam (NED) in June where they also finished third in the Freestyle, and in August they won the Grand Prix and finished second in the Freestyle at CDI-W at Wierzbna Bialy Las in Poland. 

Corentin Pottier (Gotilas du Feuillard) from France, Yuko Kital (Amandori) from Japan, Justina Vanagaite (Nabab) from Lithuania and Dutch competitors Devenda Dijkstra (Hero) and sisters Denise and Jeanie Nekeman (Boston STH and Ferrari) wrap up the startlist for Herning next week.

Hot-shots

The Danes however look set to be the ones to beat, Skodborg Merrald who is currently number three in the world rankings, bringing Blue Hors Don Olymbrio, the 15-year-old chestnut KWPN stallion with which she finished third in the Freestyle at Hagen (GER) in April and second in the CDI4* Freestyle at Aachen (GER) in July this year. Like Bachmann Andersen she was a member of the historic Danish side that won World Championship team gold in Herning in 2022. 

Bachmann Andersen brings Zippo MI, the 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding he steered to victory in the Nations Cup in Falsterbo (SWE) this summer where the pair also finished second in the Grand Prix Special.

And double-Olympian Helgstrand will partner the exciting nine-year-old KWPN stallion Jovian who was a winner as both a 5-year-old and 7-year-old at the FEI World Breeding Dressage Championship and who was on that bronze medal winning European team in Riesenbeck last month. 

First stop
 
The Western European League consists of 11 legs, and Herning is the first stop before Lyon (FRA), Stuttgart (GER), and Madrid (ESP) all host rounds in November. Then the action moves on to London - ExCel (GBR) and Mechelen (BEL) in December before the new year begins at Basel, St Jakobshalle (SUI) and Amsterdam (NED) in January 2024 followed by Neumunster (GER) and Gothenburg (SWE) in February and finally ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in March.
Only London - ExCel will stage the Short Grand Prix as the preliminary competition, all the other venues opting for the traditional Grand Prix.  

The top nine finishers in the League will qualify for the 2024 Final along with the defending champion, von Bredow-Werndl, who is automatically qualified provided she competes twice during the season.

The story of the 2023/2024 season will begin to unfold with the Grand Prix in Herning on Saturday 21 October at 13.15 local time followed by the Grand Prix Freestyle on Sunday 22 October beginning at 14.15. It’s going to be another super season, so don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

Further information about the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 series here

2023 championatsfinalerne skudt igang med indledende 4 års, 5 års og 7 års i dag

Overordnet for dagens præstationer var der ingen ekvipager som havde store uheld eller store udfordringer i de flotte omgivelser på Blue Hors.

4 års holdet

Ikke overraskende tog den 4-årige KWPN hingst Opoque sejren sammen med Mette Sejbjerg Jensen. Selvom den røde hingst ikke shinede helt som i hverken Ermelo eller da han vandt kvailfikationen i Bogø, så havde dagens dommere Niels Erik Bøchmann og Dennis Holst ekvipagen forrest. På +listen hos H2R findes også Dribbler med Ida Hoffman-Bang placeret som nr. 9, og nr. 16 Valiant med Frederikke Gram Jacobsen, som sidste ekvipage med direkte i finalen. Foxy Secret MJ placeret som nr. 18 (som forhåbentlig når med i finalen via trøstfinalen) lignede en 4 års hest og blev også fremvist som en 4 års hest af Kecia Sanvig.

Ingen tvivl Opoque er en klasse hingst, og at den præcist bevæger sig på en måde som ligner kvaliteter for fremtiden. Desværre fanger dommerne ikke helt dagens detaljer, eller ihvertfald vælger de ikke at kommentere på væsentlige værdier som at kunne bevæge smidigt og velbalanceret op gennem hjørnerne, samt evnen til at bevare balance og bæring når der gives efter på tøjlen.

Når dommerne skal bedømme en 4 års hest så handler det endnu ikke om samlingsgrad, men helt basic som det fremgår af bedømmelsesskemaet.

Trav: Takt, eftergivenhed, elasticitet, afskub, rygsving, rummelighed, villighed til at lade sig samle.

Skridt: Takt, afslappethed, energi, rummelighed.

Galop: Takt, eftergivenhed, elasticitet, naturlig balance, afskub, villighed til at lade sig samle, rummelighed, op-ad-bakke tendens.

Ridelighed: Eftergivenhed, kontakt, ligeudretning, lydighed og evne til selvbæring.

Kapacitet: Potentiale som dressurhest Træningsstandard baseret på "træningsskalaen".

7 års holdet

Samme dommerteam var klar til det efterhånden noget reduceret 7 års hold med blot 12 startende. Her havde Helene Melsen en super travl eftermiddag med hele tre heste til start, mens Susanne Barnow havde to heste til start.

Verdensmesterekvipagen Danciero og Anna Kasprzak indtog igen banen med en flot og velfortjent sejr som udløste 10 i ridelighed og 10 i kapacitet. Danciero er ikke nogen flyvemaskine, men alle tre grundgangarter er rigtig gode, grundarbejdet er iorden, og det afspejles i bløde overgange og øvelser som ikke giver udfordringer. En super happy athlete.

Susanne Barnow var klar med begge sine UVM heste og selvom Skovdals Dexter gik hele turen i dag tydeligt med næsen bag lod, så var dommernes fokus i stedet på Åtoftens Dancing Memory, som egentlig kun gik momentvis i en for snæver holdning, men blev tydelig trukket i rideligheden.

Altdominerende var Donkey Boy afkommene i 7 års klassen med i alt 4 afkom ud af de 12 startende.

5 års holdet

I 5 års klassen var der dommerskifte med Mette Svare Ehlers og Helle Westh, og selvom finale pointene generelt sad lidt mere yderligt, så var argumentationen og forklaringer fint i tråd med pointene. Desværre manglede man en af dommerne på langsiden, da det var tydeligt at ex. hvis hesten var stærk i kontakten, så var det selvfølgelig sværer at se når dommerne alene var placeret på kortsiden.

Indtil sidste ekvipage var det kæmpernes dag i toppen af klassen med store kraftfulde heste fremvist af dygtige unge damer. Sidste ekvipage hoppen Blue Hors Bonsai med Nanna Merrald i sadlen kom jo til finalen med 9,90 fra mellemrunden - en karakter som vel nærmest kun er til den ekvipage som kan gå på vandet, og det kan de trods alt ikke endnu. Bonsai er også en stor og imponerende hoppe, flot udtryk i traven, god skridt måske ikke helt i det niveau som dommerne så det i dag da den smidighed og løsgjorthed skulle være lidt tydligere til 9,0. Galoppen er flot med stor kvalitet når Nanna rider fremad men bliver lidt mere begrænset kvalitetsmæssigt når hun samler lidt mere ind. Super ridelig, fantastisk form hele turen, flot kontakt og ja det ligner bestemt hest til fremtiden under Nanna.

På H2R +siden i 5 års klassen er det også SK Fanello med Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour - smuk, blød og velredet fremtidshest, Fabulosa med Anne Marie Hosbond bringer bare flot form og naturligt go i alle tre gangarter. Vallakken Fabergé med Josefine Hoffmann står der bare top hest på også selvom den endnu ikke kan bære grundtraven, men laver flotte øgninger, super skridt og kvalitetsgalop. Det ligner en hest som man skal holde øje med i fremtiden.

Lyngbjergs St. Paris og Victoria Vallentin træner mod næste års udfordringer

Vallentin Dressage med Victoria Vallentin og Jesper Bisgaard Nielsen er startet på et ny fælles eventyr, her med endu en Blue Hors St. Schufro hoppe, nemlig 4 årige Lygums Zalina som parret ejer sammen med avlerne Henning og Tine Lygum Jensen - foto: H2R

Når dette års championatsfinaler starter imorgen på Blue Hors, bliver det uden sidste års verdensmester ekvipage Victoria Vallentin med superhoppen Lyngbjergs St. Paris. Parret var igen i år en del af truppen til UVM i Ermelo, men ligesom hos så mange andre unge heste, så har skridtet fra L til M niveauet også mødt udfordringer. Derfor er det et helt bevidst valg at Victoria og Paris bliver hjemme i år, og istedet fokusere på at få rutine og sikkerhed inden næste step.

Nyd et par klip fra træningen forleden dag med Victoria og Paris herunder ⬇️

Vallentin Dressage i nye omgivelser

En oktober dag gik turen mod det midtjydske, nærmere bestemt lige udenfor Brædstrup, hvor Victoria Vallentin og Jesper Bisgaard Nielsen har lejet en dejlig stald med 24 store lyse bokse. Samtidig er der spa afdeling, tilhørende lufte- og græs folde, udendørs bane og velfungerende ridehal (begge 20 x 60) - alt sammen under samme tag, kort afstand til deres private bolig i Skanderborg, hvor de yderligere har plads til 25 ungheste i løsdrift med tilhørende 7 HA marker.

Victoria her med den 3 årige hoppe Fynch Love e. Fynch Hatton som parret købte tidligere på året, og som var udtaget til OLD Eliteskuet i Rastede. Foto: H2R

Et kig i boksene i stalden vidner om mere end en håndfuld spændende heste. Parret er allerede kommet rigtig godt fra start med deres fælles business, som jo for Victoria´s vedkommende består i at ride og uddanne hestene, mens Jesper står for den forretningsmæssige del, samtidig med Jesper også tager ved når der er brug for hjælp fra jorden, til både de unge heste i træning eller som øjnene på jorden. Derudover har Jesper tre unge hingste inde, som skal forberedes til forbesigtigelse. Victoria har jo været begunstiget af at have haft sin far, berider Søren Vallentin på jorden i 25 år, og han dukker selvfølgelig stadig op, når der er behov for det.

Med “nærmeste nabo” som nu er Daniel Bachmann Andersen, har Victoria fået mulighed for at køre til Julianelyst ca. hver 14. dag for at få andre skarpe øjne og inspiration til den daglige træning. Der er ingen tvivl om, at Daniel også ser Lyngbjergs St. Paris som en absolut usleben diamant. Og når ekvipagen er til træning på Julianelyst sidder far Søren ofte med på sidelinien, så de nye vinkler på uddannelsen og træningen kan bringes med hjem på flere niveauer.

Hverdagen

En typisk dag starter kl. 8, hvor de første heste gøres klar til arbejdet. Udover Victoria, som står for ridning af hestene, er Anne Krarup Pedersen også ansat som rytter i teamet. Den dag var de to ryttere alene i stalden, og klarede selvfølgelig selv alle de ting der følger med, da groom Mathilde havde fået fri i anledningen af sin egen fødselsdag. Derudover er der også et par weekend-hjælpere tilknyttet, så alle inkl. Victoria og Jesper deles om weekendvagterne.

Kombinationen med at have heste inde med henblik på salg og heste i fast træning, hvor Victoria og Jesper gennem længere tid har haft samarbejde med bl.a. United Dressage om indkøb af talentfulde heste, og senest også med Ingrid og Poul Thøgersen som har været med til at sikre Lyngbjergs St. Paris fortsatte uddannelse under Victoria, gør at der er omsætning i butikken, men samtidig også arbejdsro til at kunne lave det langsigtede arbejde. Også familien Guldbrandtsen (avlere af Valerie B) og Stald Unik v. Morten Skov, er blandt kunderne i stalden, hvor Jesper bl.a. har fået en helbror til Valerie B ind til klargøring til forbesigtigelse, og Victoria er klar til championatsfinalen på Blue Hors med den 4 årige Roll on Unik e. Revolution / Blue Hors Don Olymbrio.

Med godt en måned i de nye omgivelser og salg af en håndfuld heste, og flere på ventelisten for at blive gjort salgsklare, så er der nok at tage fat på. Som Jesper ser det nuværene marked, så er der efterspørgsel på velredne heste, som kunderne kan komme op på og som giver en god fornemmelse. “Sælgeren har brug for både vejledning og sparring omkring salget, og så behøver priserne på hestene jo ikke altid at være i euro”, siger Jesper med et smil på læben.

Selvom det var en helt almindelig fredag eftermiddag, så var der besøg fra både Marianne og Jesper Jørgensen (United Derssage) og Morten Skov fra Stald Unik - foto: H2R

Next generation of young German Grand Prix horses looks very promising

8 yr old Fortunity S & Nuno Palma E Santo placed 2nd with 78,532% at Guxhagen.

Top field for Louisdor Preis final

Final qualifier for the prestigious Louisdor Preis final took place this weekend during the national event at national event Guxhagen-Dörnhagen. In total a field of 10 combinations are qualified for the finals taking place in December in Frankfurt.

From this years qualifiers in Hagen, Wiesbaden, Kronberg, Donzdorf and Guxhagen following the new young Grand Prix horses coming up it really shows some nice talented high quality horses. This series is for 8-10 year old upcoming Grand Prix horses, and eventhough the talent is obvious it is still a pretty tough challenge for an only 8 yr old horse being not just able to do the exercises but also bringing it all together in a full test.

The absolute highlights from H2R point of view was 2nd placed this weekend Fortunity S by Franziskus / Weltmeyer with Nuno Palma E Santos, super expressive trot, strong passage bouncy of the ground with nice regularity, super sit and activity for piaffe tours, good walk tour and solid canter,not the biggest canter but without any technical issues (78,532%). Winner of Guxhagen qualifier was 8 yr old stallion Frizzantino by Finest / Quaterback with Borja Carrascosa (79,830%) - lot of expression and power with super nice qualities but still a bit to much tensions.

Franziskus is at top of the list as the only sire with 3 offsprings for Louisdor Preis final this year, Fortunity S, SAP Freudentänzer and EQUITANA´S Firlefranz.

History and successes

Denmark´s Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Veneziano won the finals back in 2018 and Danish Warmblood gelding Fendi with Sönke Rothenberger won last year with record score. This year Danish Warmblood has also been represented at the qualifications with Straight Horse Ascenzione & Helen Langehanenberg, Tørveslettens Sunshine & Anna Blomgren and Blue Hors Odin Unik & Mathilde Kofoed-Nielsen

Former famous Louisdor Preis winners ex: El Santo NRW, Dablino FRH, Weihegold OLD, Emilio, DSP Samy Davis jr., TSF Dalera BB and last year with Danish Warmblood gelding Fendi.

8 year old or 9 year old for the Grand Prix

With this excellent series for the young and upcoming Grand Prix horses the age of 8 year old seems fair as the finals are in December and first here they have to do the proper Grand Prix test.

H2R question: “Does the international rules need a change?” Today you have the possibility to debut your 8 year old horse at international Grand Prix level from 1 January in the year they turn 8 year old.

It is the most demanding level and we see more and more often that the only 8 year old talented horses also starts at international Grand Prix level, as the top riders of course also are the ones being able to produce them at that young age. With all eyes on our sport and the welfare of the horse it´s now time to change the rules so that we give our young talented top horses one more year to develop before entering the big international stage.

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