Britain’s Dressage Golden Girls in Action at London International Horse Show
Organisers of London International Horse Show have today confirmed a stellar list of international Dressage entries to this year’s edition of the Show which runs from 13–18 December at ExCeL London.
The Show will host FEI World Cup™ action in three disciplines, including the CDI5* Dressage that takes place on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 December, with a new presenting sponsor – Bret Willson Dressage International Ltd, supported by long-time sponsor Horse & Hound. Britain’s golden girls of Dressage, Charlotte Fry and Charlotte Dujardin, head the high-quality list of entries for the 2023 FEI Dressage World Cup™ competition at London International Horse Show.
2022 double FEI Dressage World Champion, Fry, will be looking to reclaim the titles that she won at the Show last year, when she took home both the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Grand Prix and the Freestyle to Music. This year, Fry – a London International Horse Show ambassador – will bring her Olympic bronze medal-winning mount Everdale, with whom she won the CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle to Music at Compiègne earlier this year.
Looking ahead to the Show, Fry said: “The London International Horse Show is one of my favourite shows of the year. Being able to compete at this level in front of my home fans is very special, and there is always an amazing atmosphere. The 2022 Show was incredible for me and I hope to be able to do the same again.”
Fry’s British teammate, Dujardin, will return to the Show where she achieved her World Record breaking performances with her Olympic gold medal winning partner, Valegro. Dujardin has had an impressive season following the birth of her daughter in March. Having made a successful international comeback at Royal Windsor Horse Show, Dujardin and Imhotep – the horse she will bring to London – have gone from strength to strength, including winning team gold, individual silver in the Grand Prix and individual bronze in the Freestyle, with a score of over 90%, at the FEI European Championships in Riesenbeck in September.
Compatriot, Lewis Carrier, was another to have a strong performance at Royal Windsor, and will head to London with Diego V, a KWPN warmblood he has produced himself from a four-year-old. Also achieving a podium position at Royal Windsor was Emile Faurie, who will ride Bellevue in London. Adding to the British entries and looking to impress selectors ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be Becky Moody, riding Jagerbomb – the horse she rode to victory in the CDI3* Freestyle to Music at both Hickstead and Hartpury and at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships during the summer.
The home riders will be challenged by a strong international contingent. France’s Morgan Barbançon will partner Sir Donnerhall II, a horse who recently led her to victory in the Freestyle to Music at CDI-W Wierzbna Bialy Las, and with whom Barbançon has competed at multiple championships. Fellow French rider, Alexandre Ayache, will also make the trip to London with his FEI European Championship mount Jolene.
The sole representative from Germany comes from United Kingdom based Kathleen Kröncke. Whilst Caroline Chew will represent Singapore aboard Blue Hors Zatchmo, and Abigail Lyle will ride Giraldo for Ireland.
For a full list of entries for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ presented by Bret Willson Dressage International Ltd and supported by Horse and Hound ⬇️
50 DV ungheste klar til Unghestechampionatet (+10 følgende som er reserver)
Fire egnethedstester er afsluttet
Tilslutningen til årets egnethedstester har været større end i mange år. Årets sidste egnethedstest fandt sted i går i Region 1 med et kæmpe deltagerfelt på 60 startende. Desværre var der ekvipager på venterliste som ikke kom til start. (Mon ikke der for fremtiden er basis for opsamlingsheat i både øst og vest, hvis deltagerantallet igen springer rammerne).
Til årets Unghestechampionat er ALLE ekvipager med mindst 820 point kvalificeret (51 ialt), og idet Kecia Sandvig med Foxy Secret MJ har redet kvalifikationen i både region 3 og i går i region med samme point 840 tæller de alene en gang. Susanne Barnow og Kjeldgårdens Django har også deltaget to gange med hhv. 820 point fra region 5 og 870 point fra region 7. Det giver en ekstra plads til den bedste af de ekvipager som slutter med 810 point og højeste score i kapacitet og ridelighed.
De 10 reserver er alle ekvipager med 810 point, ialt 14 ekvipager, hvoraf de 6 er med bedste kapacitet og ridelighed og de restende er ligeplacerede med 8,0 i kapacitet og 8,0 i ridelighed.
Region 3
Region 5
Region 7
Region 1
For Romance I top prices with 61.000 euro and 51.000 euro at DSP Online auction
Queen Isabell reigns supreme with Emilio in Stuttgart
With all the authority that she carries as the most consistently successful athlete in the sport of Dressage, Germany’s Isabell Werth strutted to victory with Emilio at the third leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in Stuttgart (GER) tonight.
In a competition in which multiple rising stars and established performers produced combination-best results it all came down to Werth’s last-to-go ride, and she aced it with confidence and style.
Emilio was in the zone from the first beat of their musical score. There was a level of true togetherness about the pair throughout their test, and the 17-year-old gelding gave his all. Werth could feel an extra dimension to him tonight.
"From the minute we started and I said to him, ‘come on, let’s go!’, he was just so cool, and he stayed the same during the whole test! There wasn’t a second when he was tricky or hot, and he was full of power and listening to me!"
Isabell Werth GER
"I think he was feeling really proud of himself so he just wanted to do his best!”, said the lady whose record in equestrian sport is second to none.
Fascinating
From the outset tonight’s competition was a fascinating one, and it was Swedish star Patrik Kittel who put it up to the rest of them when eighth to go just before the halfway break with the 13-year-old Bonamour who put a big target score of 81.340 on the board.
This pair have not competed together at top level many times, but they have posted three recent wins including a Grand Prix/Freestyle double in Budapest (HUN) last month.
Next to come close to that target was exciting young German, 24-year-old Raphael Netz, who didn’t hide his delight when posting a personal-best 80.115 with the 12-year-old Great Escape Camelot when fourth-last into the ring. This young man has a formidable record at U25 level and finished seventh with Camelot at the opening leg of the Western European League in Herning (DEN) four weeks ago.
Then the Finnish partnership of Emma Kanerva and her lovely chestnut Greek Air also posted a PB of 80.375 with an exhibition of real partnership before Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald set the new standard at 82.965 with Blue Hors Don Olymbrio.
The handsome stallion showed a charming blend of power and light-footedness, their only error a slight blip in tempi changes, and the horse seemed to eyeball judge at C, Denmark’s Hans-Christian Matthiesen, as he turned from his final halt knowing he had done a really nice job.
Class of his own
But Emilio was in a class of his own today.
"To be honest I think maybe this is the best test we’ve ever done - he was on fire today!”
Isabell Werth GER
said Werth after bringing the competition to the perfect conclusion with a score of 86.880 that put the result beyond any doubt.
Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s gelding simply cruised through his test with incredible ease and as he carried Werth up the final centreline for their one-handed ride to halt the crowd were going wild because they knew they were watching the winners.
The atmosphere in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Halle was something all the leading riders talked about post-competition. “It was outstanding - something more than ever today, the support of the crowd was incredible!”, Werth said.
For Skodborg Merrald her result today was her third runner-up finish from three starts so far this season, but with 51 points already on the leaderboard she is well on the road to the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2024 which will take place in Riyadh (KSA) next April.
She too felt the electricity in the fully packed stadium. “It was like a party in there - that was the craziest atmosphere I’ve ever experienced!”, she said.
Agreed
And third-place Kittel agreed.
“You never know how horses will react with so many people, the music and the special atmosphere, but my horse did a great job and I really enjoyed it!”, he said.
He has no intention of stepping back from further legs of the league despite his strong lead on the league table with 68 qualifying points already accumulated so far. “My horses are really fit and in great form so I’m happy with today and I intend to keep going!”, he pointed out.
Werth meanwhile will be taking her time in planning her season with a view to the Final. “I need to sit down and work it out, because of course we have to look towards Paris (2024 Olympic Games) too. I will ride some more qualifiers but I’m not sure which ones I will go to just yet”, she explained.
The next of the 11 Western European League qualifiers is just a week away when the action moves to Madrid (ESP), so don’t miss a hoofbeat…..
Werth in front again - this time in CDI4 Grand Prix with Rothenberger in second position
11 year old mare Superb by Surprice / Donautau with Isabell Werth winner of CDI4 GP Stuttgart with 73.435%
As the official retirement for 17 year old Emilio is planned to take place during next month international event in Frankfurt (according to Reiterjournal), it looks as if Werth is now stepping up again with 11 year old mare Superb as she last month made comeback in Troisdorf, as Superb has been sidelined since June 2022.
The mare looks super fit and motivated and brings a lot of basic qualities. Still during their performance Superb look as if she want to do to much and this is reflected by some either big steps or minor tension. One of the lovely part from this mare is the walk tour as she here brings both suppleness and quality for both extended and collected walk. And overall no weak exercises.
Matchball OLD & Sönke Rothenberger 2nd placed with 72.543%
Today Sönke Rothenberger was back with his fairly still new partner 11 year old gelding Matchball OLD. This spring they had some issues and challenges as the seem to be past now, and Matchball was shining today. Super supple in all three paces, nice in the frame and seems much more comfortable in the piaffe tours where he is now able to show much relaxation and no major issues for the transitions. Today the 2 times were just for the textbook of dressage at least worth 9´s, straight, uphill, full diagonal, open frame and huge through the body changes, but only rewarded with 8 - 7,5 - 7,5 - 8 - 8,5! Unfortunately judge at H Sandrine Trimborn went a bit in wrong direction with 70%.
Placed 3rd Dorothee Schneider with 11 year old Dayman, also a pretty new combination (former rider Sascha Schultz LUX) as Dorothee only has shown him at two event earlier this year, in June in Achleiten and July in Neu-Anspach. Today judge at C very experienced Ulrike Nivelle saw the combination placed 10th with 69%, but they finished with 72,261%. For most part of the test the gelding was unfortunately not fully balanced in the rhythm often showing the one frontleg clearly higher than the other.
Futher down the list
Fabienne Müller-Lütkemeier brought both her Vitalis horses for Frankfurt. With Valesco she had some issues during the beginning of the season where the piaffe tours were very limited. For this issue Fabienne seems to have found the key and he really looked good today, only with the collected walk as the weak part today.
Stuttgart look like a challenge for more of the combinations. Denoix and Katharina Hemmer were not at point as we´ve seen them for the outdoor season. Also Thiago with Matthias Rath were struggling with top tensions today.
Fie Skarsøe´s Lusitano stallion Imperador Dos Cedros look a bit tired and missing more go and flow for the trot work especially for the passage tours.
Werth & Emilio winner in front of Merrald & Don O in CDI-W Stuttgart today - Helgstrand & Wendy 3rd
Werth with another winner smile, today together for the 55th international Grand Prix level victory together with 17 year old Emilio.
The judges did not fully agree on today´s winner as Werth with Emilio were placed 1-2-1-1-2 and Nanna with Don O placed 2-1-2-2-1. Just 12 points between the top ladies today.
Emilio & Isabell Werth - Not steady for the halt, good diagonal, good half passes small unbalance in contact before transitions, bit tense halt with rein back, good diagonal, easy into passage, good transitions, super piaffe, easy out with good passage, tense hurried extended walk, ok collected walk, good into passage, easy transition into piaffe, missing a few steps, good out into passage, good into canter, nice 2 times, extended canter good, well balanced zigzag, good 1 times, super nice 1st pirouette, 2nd even better, good into trot, well balanced diagonal, good passage, super into piaffe, nice piaffe good out, super halt.
Blue Hors Don Olymbrio & Nanna Merrald - NEW PERSONAL BEST - Good halt, power diagonal could show bit more open frame, good half passes best crossing and flow left, good halt nice rein back, power diagonal, nice into passage, super into piaffe, sit balance top piaffe, nice transition to good passage, nice extended walk could show bit more over track, bit tense collected walk waiiiting for next to come, good into passage, 2nd piaffe super sit supple of the ground, nice transition to passage, good into canter, nice 2 times bit short neck, power extended canter, super zigzag, super 1 times on the hind legs, super sit for 1st pirouette, 2nd better balanced super sit, good into trot, power diagonal, super passage, super piaffe, good passage, good halt.
Best piaffe tours ever for Don O with lovely balance and super sit.
Comments from Nanna after today´s performance “he felt damn good today☺️”.
Queenparks Wendy & Andreas Helgstrand - Good halt, power diagonal bit hurried, good flow for half passes, bit open halt and bit hurried rein back, good diagonal, good into passage, good passage, nice into piaffe, few steps but nice balance with good transitions, good passage, good extended walk bit looking, good collected walk, nice into passage, super passage, need bit more forward search and few steps, good passage, tense into canter, bit tense 2 times, power extended canter, bit tense change, good zigzag, good 1 times, lack bit more sit and strength for both pirouettes, good into trot, good diagonal, good passage, nice into piaffe, best piaffe with more space, nice transitions, good final.
Link to full results here.
Full list of selected stallions for OLD main licensing taking place 20 & 21 January in Ankum
47 young stallions selected for OLD stallion licensing taking place in Ankum 20 & 21 January 2024.
Stallions with most sons selected are Vitalis, So Perfect and Escolar with each 3 sons.
New youngster for Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein
Another chestnut moving into the stable at Nathalie
Together with 9 yr old Danish Warmblood gelding Blue Hors Fifty Cent by Franziskus / Donnerball, former Danish national team coach Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein recently made her international small debut in Hagen with top placements.
Recently Nathalie added a new exciting youngster for her stable at Berleburg. The 3 year old stallion by Vitalis / Fiderbach, bred in Belgium, registered in OLD and purchased in Denmark.
“I have been looking for quite a while, but without any specific schedule as I wanted to find the right horse. With now another chestnut boy at my stable I hope he will fulfil my expectations for the future. To me he is the package I´ve been searching for. Super handsome, three really good basic gaits, natural soft in the body and a lovely temperament - that´s my basic needs for a horse for the future,” tells Nathalie.
3 year old stallion by Vitalis / Fiderbach
50 heste og treholdskift - besøg hos Stutteri L-Horses
Maria, Ellen og Karsten foran hoveddøren til Stutteri L-Horses. Foto: H2R
Det hele startede med, at Karsten Bundgaard fik en frederiksborger hoppe i konfirmationsgave. Senere købte han endnu en hoppe e. fuldblodshingsten Drumhead, og idag er de to hopper grundstenene i al avl hos Stutteri L-Horses, som drives af parret Maria Skodborg Rudbeck og Karsten Bundgaard på ejendommen beliggende, lidt syd for Skanderborg i det midtjyske.
Formiddagsholdet på vinterfolden - foto: H2R
Treholdskift
Vintersæsonen har meldt sin ankomst, og det betyder, at hestene som altid har deres faste rutiner. Helt lavpraktisk går hestene på vinterfold i treholdskift, og dermed er alle hestene selvfølgelig ude hver dag, og samtidig også med plads i en halmboks i løbet af døgnet, enten alene, to eller tre sammen alt efter alder.
Et kig rundt på den firlængede ejendom med udsigt til de store sommergræsfolde, der fører ned til den lokale sø vidner om, at Maria og Karsten ikke keder sig. De står nemlig selv for pasning af de 50 heste HVER DAG, 365, 24/7 dog med en enkelt betroet pensionær, som kan træde til hvis det brænder på. Dertil kommer, at Karsten har fuldtidsjob som HR-konsulent, mens Maria er skolelærer (dog på knap fuld tid), samtidig med at parret har datteren Ellen på knap 1,5 år.
Man er ikke i tvivl - parret keder sig ikke. Men ikke desdo mindre bliver H2R mødt med et bredt smil, et fast håndtryk og stort velkommen fra både Maria og Karsten, som her lidt op af formiddagen allerede havde været igang længe. Maria havde også lige klaret de hjemmebagte boller og den hjemmelavede lagkage til kaffen.
Fremtidens stjerner holder øje med hvad der sker - foto: H2R
Kun det bedste er godt nok i avlen
Det runde bord i køkkenet har været samlingssted for mange gode diskussioner gennem årene. I vinterhalvåret fordyber Karsten sig ofte i detaljerne bag skærmen, for at være forberedt til den kommende avlssæson. Når det kommer til avl og hingste, har vi jo alle sammen vores favoritter, men før debatten nærmest er kommet igang, bliver stamtræet analyseret - for hos Karsten handler det også om indgående kendskabet til hoppestammerne. Det er ikke nok med et smukt velgående individ i 2023, det handler også om hvad hoppenstammen har produceret, og derfor er der mange “modehingste” som aldrig får lov at videreføre deres gener på stutteriet. “Hvis vi skal bevare kvaliteten i avlen, så skal vi også beholde de bedste individer at avle videre på”, siger Karsten uden tøven i stemmen.
Karsten er også passioneret springhesteavler, som et par smukke skimler på vinterfolden vidner om. Den gren af avlen kommer fra fuldblodshoppen efter Drumhead. Her gælder nærmest kun en regel; alle stammerne er med heste, der har gået de højeste klasser, det betyder alt i springhesteavlen, at præstationerne kan følges i hele stamtræet, fortæller Karsten. Endnu en smuk skimmel hoppe går på ridehestefolden, nemlig en skøn bronzemedaljehoppe e. Belantis/Hohenstein/Florestan I.
De toneangivende hingste
Avlen på stutteriet tog de afgørende skridt, da afkom efter hingsten Florestan I kom til verden. Florestan I har sammen med Trakehnerhingstene Hohenstein og Hochadel givet det fundament som avlerparret idag høster frugterne af, ligesom også Belissimo M har efterladt et positivt aftryk.
Hingsten Secret har vist sig at være en særdeles god kombination med hoppestammerne på stutteriet. Lige nu krydses der fingre for, at Secret vil være tilgængelig igen i det nye år, da den jo både på hingstesiden, og ikke mindst på ridehestedelen, har leveret varen.
På ejendommen er der mere end et lysende eksempel på, hvorfor Secret helt sikkert får genvalg, nemlig da Karsten trækker en superædel, særdeles velpropotioneret og langbenet 2 års sort skønhed ud på staldgangen med navnet Soulsister L e. Secret/Apache/Florestan I. “Hun bliver her i stalden” forsikre Karsten med et bredt smil på læben, inden han sender hende tilbage i boksen.
For årgang 2024 har Karsten også kigget skarpt på brugsegenskaberne, og derfor var valget i foråret bl.a. Blue Hors St. Schufro og Donkey Boy, som sammen med Bon Coeur udgør faderhingstene blandt de kommende dressurføl.
Familiebeslutning
Maria og Nanna Skodborg Merrald er kusiner, så snakken gik til en familiekomsammen om hvorvidt Karsten skulle bruge Blue Hors St. Schufro. Aftalen blev, at hvis Nanna blev mindst nr. 3 til stævnet i Herning tilbage i marts, så ville Karsten bruge ham på en hoppe, og hvis placeringen var højere, så ville han bruge ham på to hopper. Og med resultatet til CDI5 i Herning med hhv. en 2. plads i Grand Prix klassen og en sejr i küren, så venter stutteriet selvfølgelig to afkom til foråret efter Blue Hors St. Schufro.
Nyt kapitel
Avlerparret får ofte henvendelser fra interesserede købere af afkom, og tilbage i foråret fik Karsten en opringning fra hollandske Stal van de Sande (avlere og tidligere ejere af hingsten Next Level), der var interesseret i, at komme forbi for at se DET BEDSTE de havde i stalden. De var naturligvis velkomne, men som så ofte før tænkte Maria og Karsten, det bliver nok ikke til mere, indtil Peter van de Sande meddelte, at nu havde han et par datoer, og så var aftalen i stand. Kendskabet til van de Sande var allerede ret godt, idet Karsten havde brugt Next Level på en enkelt hoppe i 2022, så han og Peter van de Sande var rigtig godt på bølgelængde med mange af de samme værdier i både avl og sport.
Dagen for besøget oprandt, og Peter van de Sande havde taget en forretningspartner med. De fik en grundig gennemgang af hver enkelt hest i stalden, herunder naturligvis også unghingsten Sarai L (født 2021) e. Secret/For Romance/Belissimo M som Maria og Karsten kendte de umiddelbare kvaliteter på. Dagen endte med, at der var lavet aftale om ikke bare Sarai L, men også om yderligere to heste, der nu har forladt stalden i Skanderborg til fordel for fremtidig opvækst i Holland.
Det var ikke kun Sarai L som skulle have passet klar, men også den 2-årige hingst Magic Makee L e. Total McLaren/Negro/Florestan samt hingsteføllet Dodge Viper L e. Donkey Boy/Bellissimo M/Cannon Row xx rejste til Holland. Et spændende samarbejde om tre ekstraordinære heste, som alle parter har store forventninger til, og med målet om i første omgang, at gøre de unge herrer klar til forbesigtigelser og så tage tingene derfra.
Sarai L (medejer Stal van de Sande) ⬇️ (foto: @Equigeniek)
Hårdt arbejde med smil på læben = passion
Karsten havde aftenen før afhentet en hoppe, som havde overnattet et par dage på Højgaard Hestehospital i Odense til observation for kolik - heldigvis var hoppen nu hjemme igen og fit for fight.
Staldgangen var fejet, og de heste som endnu ikke havde haft foldtid, hyggede sig inde. Stalden er delt op i 3 afdelinger, og hvor der er mulighed for det, går hestene sammen to og to, eller tre og tre alt efter alder. Alle hestene er vant til at blive håndteret, og det er tydeligt, at både Maria og Karsten vægter den del højt - også selvom der er mange heste. I sagens natur får hopper, føl, ungheste og unghingste lov at løbe ind og ud selv, via en drivgang til vinterfolden, hvor Maria har jobbet som guide, når de rammer stalden. Bigballer er stillet op på staldgangen, så det er nemt at smide frisk halm i boksene, ligesom også wrappen ligger klar og udmugningen sker ved maskinkraft hver 14. dag. Forbruget af wrap lyder på 500 baller hvert år!
Ved siden af den store fælles vinterfold findes nogle mindre luftfolde, som er forbeholdt ridehestene. Pt. er Maria´s egen ridning på standby grundet datteren Ellen, men et par af de spændende damer på folden, nu med fremskreden vinterpels, er Maria´s konkurrenceheste.
Beliggende centralt ovenfor foldene findes et nu tre år gammelt 20 x 40 ridehus med en række store lyse bokse, vaskefaciliteter, opvarmet sadelrum og solarium. Rammerne og mulighederne bringer også spørgsmålet om egen rytter op. Både Maria og Karsten kunne selvfølgelig godt tænke sig, at holde hestene hjemme under både tilridning og træning, men indtil videre har avlerparret valgt, at have et par forskellige samarbejdspartnere, der hverisær bibringer med deres professionelle ekspertiser alt efter alder og uddannelse.
Hos Stutteri L-Horses står hele avlerpakken anno 2023 knivskarpt; Erfaring, flid, målrettethed, resultater, visioner og stadig med drømme som giver grobund for spændende avl for fremtiden. H2R takker for en god dag med indblik i et erfarent stutteri, der samtidig er topmoderne på den solide måde, og glæder sig til at følge med i fremtiden.
Tiden på uret på staldlængen var gået i stå, mens alt andet på stedet bar tydelig præg af dynamik og energi. Foto: H2R
Vaderland at the top of the price list at Westphalian Auction sold for 20.500 euro
Kjento and Lottie with national Prix St. Georg debut and ticket for Jumping Amsterdam
Kjento & Lottie Fry - photo: Timo Martis
8 year old Kjento and Lottie with 76% Prix St. Georg debut
Yesterday Lottie brought Kjento for their first national Prix St. Georg with a massive 76% win. Super active well balanced all the way in a nice natural open frame. The tact and rhythm in the trot work is something special, good walk tour with good relaxation for the extended walk, strong canter tour with highlights for the series, into the first half pirouette a small lack of forward search creeping in and the canter is lost for a second, 2nd half pirouette is well balanced with good quality.
Lottie and Especial by Everdale / Vivaldi also took the victory in a combined Grand Prix, U25 and Inter II class with 72,283. Overall with some minor tensions and smaller technical errors but well managed by Lottie with super piaffe / passage tours, bouncy of the ground with lovely pendling tail.
Clip from their test here below ⬇️
KWPN podcast featuring international judge Maria Colliander about harmony and judging young horses
Fiontini & Severo Jurado Lopez 2017 World Championships Young Horses - photo: Timo Martis
During this years World Championships for Young Horses member of the Dutch KWPN stallion licensing commission Floor Dröge met international judge Maria Colliander for an interesting conversation about judging the young horses.
Click at the photo here below to listen to the podcast through Spotify ⬇️
25 November with Blue Hors Winter Auction - riding horses
19 young horses will be for sale at Blue Hors Winter Auction Saturday 25 November at 7 pm.
A closer look into the collection where H2R picked three favorite horses that looks interestering for further education. There is no information available about the full predigree. For the video presentation of each horse, you could also wish for video in walk by hand on hard surface.
Blue Hors Spectrum is former approved stallion for OLD & Danish Warmblood and bred by Stutteri Pax.
NEXT BLUE HORS EVENT ⬇️
Broodmare and Youngstock Auction - Christmas Show & Stallions 2024
At Blue Hors we would like to invite you to our Christmas show in our beautiful heated show arena here in Randbøldal.
We look forward to presenting you with an interesting programme, where we will also give you a preview of our stallion collection of 2024.
Lövsta Top 10 Dressage 2 & 3 December
Nanna Merrald & Daniel Bachmann Andersen are ready for Lövsta Top 10 - photo: H2R
Lövsta Top 10 Dressage
Sweden
Patrik Kittel
Therese Nilshagen
Denmark
Nanna Skodborg Merrald
Daniel Bachman Andersen
Germany
Isabell Werth
Jessica von Bredow Werndl
Sönke Rothenberger
The Netherlands
Dinja van Liere
Thamar Zweistra
France
Morgan Barbancon
Schedule
Saturday 2 December at 11 am - Lövsta Top 10 Dressage Grand Prix
Sunday 3 December at 10.30 am - Lövsta Top 10 Dressage Grand Prix Kür
Start lists ready for first KWPN stallion competition 13 November in Kronenberg
This year the KWPN stallion competition start Monday 13 November in Kronenberg.
8 December in Ermelo
2 January in Groningen
Finals takes place during KWPN stallion show in February 2024.
The stallion competition will again this year be possible to follow live at ClipMyHorse.
Photo: Nalegro(Van Olst Horses)
Top price 170.000 euro for top stallion - Ten premium stallions awarded
Top prices:
HANN PRESS RELEASE
Dressage stallion licensing with premiere of the FRH Cup
Verden. The ten best young stallions of the 2021 crop were awarded a premium at the Verden licensing of dressage stallions. Seven of them found a new owner at the stallion sales. The most expensive: a liver chestnut by Bon Courage, who was auctioned off for 170,000 Euros. A total of 30 of the 54 stallions were licensed for Hanover.
The Bon Courage/Rotspon son (breeder: Hans-Ludwig Dittmer, Rhadereistadt, exhibitor: ZG Dittmer, Rhadereistadt) presented himself at the highest level on all three licensing days. "We'll see him again in sport," was Heike Kemmer's comment on the liver chestnut, who will be trained at the Schulten-Baumer dressage stable.
A black stallion by Dancier Gold/Vivaldi (breeder: Michael and Claudia Roehrhoff, Mönchengladbach, exhibitor: Gestüt Sprehe GmbH, Löningen), in whose veins flows the blood of Isabell Werth's Olympic mare Weihegold, was sold for 150,000 Euros. After the liberalisation of the stallion licensing, he will go down in Hannoveraner history as the first Oldenburg horse to be licensed in the Niedersachsenhalle and awarded a premium.
A regular customer from Schleswig-Holstein won the bidding duel for an extremely strong-moving Le Formidable/Florencio son (breeder: Catharina Harten Denker, Beesten, exhibitor: Katharina Ehrengut, Bad Oldesloe) and can now call him her own for 135,000 Euros. A stallion owner from Emsland secured a Secret/Lord Loxley son (breeder and exhibitor: Johann von der Decken, Krummendeich) for 110,000 Euros. "Riding horses are made from these ingredients," said breeding director Ulrich Hahne, describing the large-framed brown. An eye-catching chestnut by Benicio/Valentino (breeder: Dr Michael Lühs, Wagenfeld, exhibitor: Gestüt Allerhop, Hambüren) will move into a box in France. The extremely likeable premium stallion opened the licensing with head number one. Another stallion station in the west of Lower Saxony is home to a powerful black stallion by Dancier Gold/San Amour (breeder: Martin Honigfort, Haselünne, exhibitor: Heinrich Gießelmann, Barver), for whom the auction hammer fell at 55,000 Euros. The last premium stallion up for sale was worth 40,000 Euros to a loyal customer from Bavaria: a liver chestnut from the first crop of the Celle state stud stallion Von Und Zu, who has a Santino dam (breeder: Heiko Feldhus, Grethem, exhibitor: IB Berger, Sulzbach-Rosenberg). Like the premium stallion by Le Formidable, he once enriched the lot at the Verden Foal Auction.
German state studs also secured excellent uncut diamonds. A Bon Vivaldi NRW/Royal Blend son (breeder and exhibitor: Wilhelm Kamps, Cuxhaven) went to Celle, who was sold for 50,000 Euro by the director of the state stud, Dr Axel Brockmann. The Marbach State Stud purchased a black stallion by So Unique/Totilas (breeder and exhibitor: Willem Klausing GbR, Diepholz) for 30,000 Euros, while the Moritzburg State Stud spent 106,000 Euros on a Totilas/Sir Donnerhall son (breeder: Thorsten Hogrefe, Stöcken, exhibitor: BG Enning und Laufhütte, Düsseldorf).
A Dynamic Dream/Lord Loxley son (breeder: Andreas Ingenbleek, Kevelaer, exhibitor: Elsbeth Schult, Hünxe) was sold for 100,000 Euros to supporting hands in Luxembourg. This makes the liver chestnut the most sought-after licensed stallion without a premium. The unlicensed stallions also met with great interest. A buyer from Baden-Württemberg paid 50,000 Euros for a Dynamik Dream/Don Nobless son (bred by Johannes zur Lage, Bersenbrück, exhibitor: Gennadii Sydorenko, Kiev/Ukraine).
The statistics show an average price of 70,542 Euros for 24 licensed stallions. Several highly successful international dressage trainers secured young talents for the big dressage arena. An average of 23,024 Euros was paid for 21 unlicensed stallions.
The stallion sales opened with a show programme packed with hippological highlights. In addition to the presentation of the premium stallions, an entire bloodline took centre stage. Bolero by Black Sky xx/Bleep xx, born in 1975, has characterised Hannover's dressage horse breeding for almost half a century. His genes are still in demand today through his heirs such as the stallions Bon Courage, Bon Amour and Bonhoeffer. Bolero's breeder Heinrich Behrmann, Stedebergen, was honoured to the applause of the audience. It was fitting that the breeder of this year's Grande Prize winner, Bon Coeur by Benetton Dream/Sandro Hit, also received her certificate. The circle was completed with the Benicio/Desperados son Beck's (breeder: Christian Thelker, Venne). The bronze medallist at the World Championships for five-year-old dressage horses was awarded the FRH name affix of the Hanoverian Sponsorship Association, as was the Hannoveraner Champion of five-year-old dressage horses, Shakeela by Secret/Royal Blend (breeder: Wilfried Putz, Wiesentheid). The Fritz von der Decken Prize is awarded to the most successful stallion breeder of the past evaluation period. It went to Dr Kerstin Klieber and Stefan Sandbrink. In their honour, the privately owned stallion Federer by Farrrell/Livaldon (breeder: Wienke Winkelmann, Wurster Nordseeküste), who entered the Verden stallion park three years ago, danced through the Niedersachsenhalle.
It goes without saying that breeding and sport go hand in hand in Verden. The FRH Cup for seven to nine-year-old dressage horses celebrated a successful premiere. After the presentation of the young stallions on the triangular track, the Niedersachsenhalle was well filled and provided a great backdrop for this premiere! The DSP gelding Diamante Negro by DeLorean/Fürst Romancier won with Juliane Brunkhorst (76.179 percent). Second place went to ZINQ First Vienna FH FRH by Vitalis/First Dance (breeder: Beekenhof GmbH & Co KG, Bommelsen) and Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel (73.455 percent). The small final had already been held in the morning. Here, the Escolar/Rohdiamant son Escamillo (breeder: Dr Carolin Langhorst, Ratingen), masterfully ridden by Manuel Dominguez Bernal, showed his quality and won with 75.040 percent.
Liver chestnut by Bon Courage/Rotspon. Photo: Hannoveraner Verband
Here you find the entire prices.
Germany’s Wandres pips Denmark’s Skodborg Merrald in Lyon
Germany's Frederic Wandres steered Bluetooth OLD to victory in today’s second leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League in Lyon, France where Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors St Schufro finished second head of Pauline Basquin and Sertorius de Rima Z IFCE from France in third.
In yesterday’s Grand Prix, Wandres also pipped Skodborg Merrald by almost a full three percentage-point margin. Today however it was a closer contest with the judges panel of Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel (NED), Christof Umbach (LUX), Raphael Saleh (FRA), Jacques van Daele (BEL) and Henning Lehrmann (GER) awarding a score of 83.415 to the winning pair while the runners-up posted 82.995.
It was also close between third and fourth, with Basquin’s 80.815 giving her the edge over Sweden’s Patrik Kittel on 80.610. The Netherlands’ Emmelie Scholtens and Indian Rock finished fifth on 79.830 and Morgan Barbançon from France posted 78.320 with Habana Libre A for sixth place.
Overtook
Wandres overtook Skodborg Merrald when second-last to go and was delighted to find himself with maximum points.
“I always had Lyon in my schedule and was looking forward to coming here. Yesterday in the Grand Prix he was already very good, and I feel we improved a few things in our Freestyle so he was even better today.
"I could not be more happy with two wins this weekend. I am delighted with my horse - today and the whole season"
Frederic Wandres GER
Talking about where the improvements came today he explained, “I wanted to show a little more the piaffe after my test yesterday. I watched the video and could really see, I know the horse could do better and I tried today. It is very important for me to show consistency through my test and I am really happy”, he explained.
Bluetooth’s consistency is undeniable. Together the pair won the Grand Prix and Freestyle at Hagen (GER) in April, were on the winning Nations Cup team at Aachen, Germany in July and competed at the FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck, Germany in September where they finished sixth in the Grand Prix, seventh in the Grand Prix Special and ninth in the Freestyle. This weekend’s double at Lyon has been the icing on the cake in a very strong season.
Asked about his plans for Bluetooth over the coming months, Wandres said that he has discussed that with his team “and we decided that this was the last show for him this year. He will come with us to Florida (USA) at the end of December and will enjoy some time off and do one show over there to get him ready for the outdoor spring shows. I don’t want to ask him too much…. the goal for us next year is Paris (2024 Olympic Games).”
New
Skodborg Merrald performed a brand new Freestyle for the very first time today.
“I really enjoyed riding it! I think it fits my horse very well and shows his qualities”, she said.
The 12-year-old black stallion Blue Hors St Schufro has had time out of competition due to a busy breeding season, but he was in fine form in early spring when posting a series of wins and second placings at Herning in Denmark and Hagen, Germany and he has clearly found form again.
“My focus was on Zepter for the European Championship”, said the Danish rider who steered Blue Hors Zepter into second place at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023 Final in Omaha, USA in April and then went on to multiple placings at the FEI Dressage European Championship including team bronze and second place in the Freestyle finale.
“I’m really enjoying having him (Blue Hors St Schufro) back in top shape, and he felt very good both days”, she added.
She intends to compete both Zepter and St Schufro throughout the Western European League series and has the third leg in Stuttgart, Germany in two weeks time already in her sights.
Progression
Pauline Basquin said she has seen “a very nice progression” in the performance of her third-placed gelding Sertorius. “Everything we put in place is paying off now, and the horse has progressed very well. It is not only about the technical things, but the whole team and the work we have done in the past year. My horse is in a really good mindset and I am very grateful for my team…..I feel very emotional tonight!”, said the Frenchwoman.
Of course she had the support of the spectators on her home ground today. “I felt the public behind me, and their encouragement. I was feeling very special and this will be a great memory for me and my horse! I am very proud, not only proud of me but proud of my horse and the French team. I was proud to wear the colour of my country and proud for everyone who supported us”, she added.
Show Director Sylvie Robert said this evening, “we are very thankful to the FEI for their trust, and very happy to host the FEI Dressage World Cup™ year after year here in Lyon. And we are happy to see our French riders performing so well in front of their home crowd! We are looking forward to following them all along their journey to Paris…..”
VIDEO - World Cup Grand Prix result Lyon today Wandres, Merrald & Scholtens
Blue Hors St. Schufro & Danish Nanna Merrald placed 2nd in today World Cup Grand Prix
Blue Hors St. Schufro back in great form after a busy breeding season
Last time Nanna was showing St. Schufro was back in April in Hagen. Today they showed a beautiful test with lots of power and expression with lightness and in a beautiful frame all the way.
Blue Hors St. Schufro & Nanna Merrald - Nice halt but tiny tension hind before halt, power diagonal, super crossing uphill balanced half passes, SUPERB halt with rein back, lovely diagonal, nice into passage, good passage, tiny forward flow piaffe super sit, good transitions, nice relaxation for extended walk, super collected walk, at the letter for passage, small tensions for piaffe bit travel forward, super into canter, tiny swing big 2 times, power extended canter, nice zigzag, super 1 times, huge sit and balance for 1st pirouette, tiny tension for 2nd pirouette, nice into trot, expressive diagonal, lovely passage, bit forward final piaffe, nice transitions, good halt.
Today´s winner Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD has become a very strong combination. The way Frederic is able to motivate and keep his horses supple and happy, has really become his thing. From the beginning of Bluetooth career he never look like the top horse he has developed into now. The timing for showing the power and at the same time the way Frederic is able to bring Bluetooth back on the hindlegs is the way of really nice dressage.
Bluetooth OLD - Good halt, power balanced diagonal, nice side picture, good half passes uphill, super halt with rein back, super diagonal, back for transition into passage super, nice passage, nice transitions, bit travel piaffe, nice passage, could show bit longer frame for extended walk, super collected walk, need bit sharper transition at M, good passage, bit travel piaffe, nice into passage, nice into canter, good 2 times, good extended canter, nice balanced zigzag bit late final change, good 1 times, both pirouettes need more sit parallel hind 2nd at the end, good into trot, power diagonal, lovely back on hind leg for transition, nice passage, super into piaffe, active passage, nice into steady final halt.
Emmelie and Indian Rock shows many great things, but at the same time Indian Rock seems to lack more clear power from behind which becomes an issue for a few times for today´s performance.
French Pauline Basquin with Sertorious de Rima took everyone with storm at the Europeans, and today they were back in good form, not quite as sharp and expressive as in Riesenbeck, but really likeable presentation in a way of riding everyone appriciate to watch.
For Kittel the piaffe tours were not as settled as we´ve seen them recently with Forever Young, and some tensions and backwards trend kept them from higher marks today.
Morgan Barbancon has with Habana Libre a very nice successor for Sir Donnerhall II. Lovely side picture just missing the last security and flow for the piaffe tours.
Florine OLD and Bianca showed a solid performance where the judges went very high at the beginning of the test, but overall some good work but missing a bit more expression and power.
For both Quater Back Junior and Flambeau today´s performances were successful eventhough with a few minor mistakes but both kept focused on the job without big tensions.
Here below ⬇️you can watch the entire Grand Prix class.
To watch top 3 - move the time line to:
32.50 - Blue Hors St. Schufro & Nanna Merrald - placed 2nd with 74,044%
2.04.00 - Indian Rock & Emmelie Scholtens - placed 3rd with 73,304%
2.13.20 - Bluetooth OLD & Frederic Wandres - placed 1st with 77,043%
Carl, Charlotte or Lottie: London International Top Tipped Riders
British Dressage Riders Line Up to Compete at London International Horse Show
The FEI Dressage World Cup™ competition at London International Horse Show is one of the key events at the Show and has, in the past, seen some of the most important record-breaking achievements in the sport. This year, Bret Willson Dressage International Ltd is the new presenting sponsor and the class continues to be supported by Horse & Hound. The competition is set to feature some of the world’s best Dressage combinations including several of Britain’s most accomplished riders.
Taking place on the first two days of the Show, the Grand Prix provides a fitting opening to the Show on Wednesday 13 December, and the Freestyle to Music is always an exciting end to the competition on the evening of Thursday 14 December. Last year, Great Britain’s double world championship-winning combination, Lottie Fry and the 12-year-old black stallion Glamourdale wowed both the audiences and judges with their spell-binding performances, featuring their immaculate piaffe, passage, and signature extended canter to take home both the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Grand Prix and the Freestyle to Music.
The London International Horse Show provides a final chance for British riders to impress selectors on home soil before Paris 2024 Olympic selection. Whilst entries are yet to be confirmed for this year, spectators can expect to see breathtaking and inspirational performances from elite dressage riders, including members of the British gold medal-winning team from this summer’s FEI European Championships.
British Olympic Dressage rider and Dressage consultant to the Show, Richard Davison, stated; “British Dressage is in fantastic shape at the moment with many new combinations starting to compete at top level. This class in London is the pinnacle of the sport in the UK where we have seen many records, and hearts, broken. I know that my fellow British riders, Carl Hester, Charlotte Dujardin and Lottie Fry are really looking forward to getting back in the International Arena again to show what they and their horses are made of. All British riders fight for a place at the Show and this year Becky Moody and Lewis Carrier stand as good a chance as any to make the cut.”