81,196% international debut for Mount St. John Freestyle with Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour

Awesome new international combination for the Danish team

Danish Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour made her national debut in the beginning of November together with 14 year old top mare MSJ Freestyle scoring 76,767% and today they made history entering the international Grand Prix scene bringing themselves directly into the exclusive +80% Grand Prix list scoring impressive 81,196% with an AWESOME performance.

Last time MSJ Freestyle entered the international scene was back in May 2021 together with Charlotte Dujardin.

As the video of the full test is still not available online you here have the performance from H2R eyes:

Good halt, power balanced diagonal, good flow and crossing for both half passes nice uphill, superb halt with rein back, balanced power diagonal, smooth into passage, super passage, easy transitions, piaffe at the SPOT, trending 80,6%! good extended walk, super collected walk, bit late into passage, super passage, WAUW piaffe AT THE SPOT, smooth transitions, super passage, nice into canter, super 2 times, good extended canter, WOW zigzag, good 1 times, tiny 1st pirouette, WAUW 2nd, super into trot, power diagonal uphill expressive, TOP FINAL CENTERLINE.

Even with today´s impressive 81% score there is still room for improvements - of course in the tiny details. Today´s judging team did fully agree with at +80% test for Freestyle and Cathrine.

Cathrine is able to show our sport in the absolute best way - lightness, power, accuracy, balance, suppleness and not least happiness for both rider and horse in the arena performing as a true combination.

Cathrine also took the victory in the international 6 yr old preliminary test with Swedish bred mare Zimillione.

Top of the class:

Atterupgaards Orthilia is back home

18 year old Atterupgaards Orthilia is back at Danish Stud Atterupgaard with her breeder Kristine Munch Sinding - private photo

The now 18 year old Oldenburg brilliant ring mare Atterupgaards Orthilia by Gribaldi / Donnerslag is back where it all started at Danish Stud Atterupgaard.

Tilly has always been the heart horse of breeder Kristine Munch Sinding, and when she was asked whether she was interested in having Tille back she did not hesitate. “It´s kind of a dream being able to have her back in stable after she left 10 years ago”.

Tilly´s career started in 2009 where she was awarded Brilliant mare at OLD Elite mare show and under Maria Falkner Hansen and Katrine Sandholt Møller she was also successful at Young Horse level. Her first international start was in 2013 under Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour at Young Rider level winning individual competition in Addington, UK.

Fiona Bigwood and Atterupgaards Orthilia became partners in October 2013 (article at Eurodressage), and they made their international debut in Barcelona 2015.

2015 - Team silver European Championships with the British team, Aachen

2016 - Rio Olympics, British team silver

Beginning of 2017 Tille was back in Denmark sold to Agnete Kirk Thinggaard. They only competed ones in 2017 and twice in 2018, and after that Tille was sidelined and was first back in business under Nanna Merrald in January 2021.

2021 - Team bronze, Hagen

2022 - 5th in World Cup final, Leipzig

2022 - part of CDIO5 winning team, Aachen.

Final time Orthilia and Nanna competed was at CDI-W Lyon in October 2022.

Tilly is still in training and will of course continue with her daily routines back home at Stud Atterupgaard. As a youngster Kristine often rode her in the forest, and she always said whenever she had the chance to have one of her own Grand Prix horses back in stable she would pick up riding again. Tilly will now fulfill this dream eventhough the daily rider will be Kristine´s daughter Cornelia, who is successful at junior level and of course now able to learn from one of the absolute best Grand Prix horses in the world.


VIDEO - Martin Dockx and Malagueno turn on the magic in Madrid

There’s nothing quite like a home win, and today Spain’s Jose Daniel Martin Dockx and the 13-year-old stallion Malagueno Lxxxiiii thrilled the home crowd with a superb victory at the fourth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in Madrid (ESP).

Fourth-last to go in the field of 13 starters, they threw down the gauntlet from the very beginning of their Freestyle performance when moving straight into canter pirouette followed by tempi changes. And their foot-perfect piaffe/passage and seamless transitions between the two movements consistently boosted their scoreline to the winning mark of 80.870.

Yesterday the pair had to settle for third in the Grand Prix behind the French runners-up Morgan Barbançon and Sir Donnerhall ll OLD and Germany’s Matthias Alexander Rath and Destacado FRH at the head of affairs. But today Rath had to settle for second place with a score of 79.720 while Spain’s Beatriz Ferrer-Salat and Elegance lined up in third when putting 78.425 on the board and Barbançon slotted into fourth spot.

Martin Dockx could feel the improvement in his horse today. “The pirouettes, especially the one to the right was better, the relaxation was also a bit better, the changes felt more relaxed and I think all those things made a little bit of a difference between yesterday and today - I’m really very, very happy!”, he said this evening.

Surpassed

Once the eventual winners had surpassed Barbançon’s target score of 78.030 it was down to the final three to overtake them. And with too many mistakes fellow-Spaniard Jose Antonio Garcia Mena and Gladiador Do Lis did not present a threat when putting down a score of 75.330, although they finished strongly with marks of 8 and 9 towards the end of their test.

Rath and Destacado were the penultimate partnership but couldn’t quite make the 80 percent mark, although Rath was so pleased with his 10-year-old stallion’s performance that he clapped with delight after his final halt. And when Ferrer-Salat finished just behind him it was Martin Dockx who took centre stage at the post-competition press conference which was conducted in front of an eager and enthusiastic public audience. 

This was only Malagueno’s fourth Freestyle today. “We made one in Aachen (GER), one in the Championship of Spain, and one last year in Sicab (Seville) and my expectation was that if I could be third like I was yesterday in the Grand Prix it would be great to be on the podium again. But today the Freestyle went really well so we are very, very happy and proud of the horse!”, the 49-year-old Spanish rider said.

He said Malagueno is a lovely character.

"He is super nice and super sweet, I can put my little daughter on him, he’s not scared of anything yet he has enough power to do Grand Prix - so he is very special!"

Jose Antonio Martin Dockx ESP

The pair were in the Spanish team at the FEI Dressage World Championship in Herning (DEN) last year and at the FEI Dressage European Championship in Riesenbeck (GER) this summer.

“I see such an improvement in him now. In the beginning the difficulty was that he was always too tense, he’s a very sensitive horse with a lot of power and he wants to give you all he has and sometimes he can’t control the power. Now he’s getting more relaxed and making it more easy for both of us!”, Martin Dockx explained.

Breed

Malagueno is an Andalusian, a distinct breed also known as a PRE or Pure Spanish Horse (pura raza española) whose history can be traced all the way back to the 15th century. The stallion’s next outing will be at Sicab 2023 in Seville (ESP) next week.

“We have to be there because we have to make a good representation of our breed because people from all over the world come to this show! Then he will have a break that he deserves and then we would like to go to the World Cup in Doha (QAT) in February”, Martin Dockx said.

Further down the line is an even bigger ambition. “I would love to get him to Paris (2024 Olympic Games), it’s a long way but this is the goal even though it will be very difficult. In Spain now we have a lot of horses with a lot of quality and in eight months a lot can happen, but I hope we can make this goal come true!”, he added.

Today’s result has shaken up the Western European league leaderboard, with Rath moving up to fifth place behind fellow-German Raphael Netz in fourth and Denmark’s Nanna Skodborg Merrald in third place. With a significant 54 points Barbançon has improved to second position but Sweden’s Patrik Kittel still sits at the top of the rankings with 68 points going into the fifth leg in London (GBR) in three weeks’ time.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result

Standings

Top price at 44.000 euro for 5 yr old gelding Blue Hors Spectrum at Blue Hors OnLive Auction tonight

18 young horses were sold at tonights OnLive auction at Blue Hors.

Top price went to 5 yr old gelding Blue Hors Spectrum, former approved stallion by OLD and DWB by Sezuan / Sandro Hit, bred by Stutteri Pax sold for 44.000 euro to a local buyer.

Three horses were sold for 44.000 euro, 42.000 euro and 40.000 euro.

Belgium Frederic de Backer was ones again actioneer in the arena, and during the auction buyers from Great Britain, Swizerland, Austria, Spain, Norway, France, Finland and Germany were active bidding online together with the Danish bidders.

Here you find the full list of prices.

FEI statement on Danish TV2's documentary, "Operation X: Secrets of the Horse Billionaire"

FEI statement on Danish TV2's documentary, "Operation X: Secrets of the Horse Billionaire"

The FEI is aware of the distressing images presented in Danish TV2’s documentary, "Operation X: Secrets of the Horse Billionaire" that involved Andreas Helgstrand. The FEI takes all allegations of horse abuse very seriously and at all times the welfare of the horse must be paramount. 

The welfare of horses is at the core of our values and regulations, and any action or omission which causes or is likely to cause pain or unnecessary discomfort to a horse constitutes a violation of our rules.  

Equestrian sport is built on a foundation of respect and welfare for our equine partners. Any deviation from these principles is unacceptable, and the FEI remains resolute in its commitment to upholding the highest standards of equine welfare, maintaining the integrity and wellbeing of our athletes - both equine and human. 

As this is an ongoing situation, we are unable to provide further details at this time. The FEI will however collaborate closely with the Danish National Federation, and there is a mutual recognition of decisions and any sanctions imposed. We will continue to communicate as the situation develops, and want to assure the equestrian community, our stakeholders and the public, that we are rigorously addressing this issue. 

It is for the governing bodies to assure that there are rules in place to sanction any welfare breaches and uphold horse welfare, and there is an onus on everyone within the equestrian community to adhere to such rules and best practices in equine care and welfare, in order to maintain equestrian sport in a strong, healthy and ethically sound way for the future. 

Last year, in June 2022, the FEI created the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, an independent body tasked with addressing societal concerns related to the use of horses in sport, and to provide an independent evidence-based ‘framework’ to guide FEI regulations policies and practices in relation to equine welfare and wellbeing. 

Their Final Report “A Good life for horses. A vision for the future involvement of horses in sport”, which was delivered to the FEI Board on 18 November 2023, and presented to the FEI General Assembly on 22 November, will now form the basis of an action plan and roadmap for implementation to be discussed at the upcoming FEI Sports Forum in April 2024. 
 
We are committed to ensuring that horses involved in sport experience positive welfare throughout their lives, and that the FEI’s regulations, policies and practices, as well as the wider community’s actions reflect these principles, and we will continue to address actions and behaviours that are in contradiction with our values. 

Official Press Releases from the Danish National Federation can be seen here: https://rideforbund.dk/nyheder-2023 

Detailed information on the composition, aims, work, and timelines of the EEWB Commission is available here:  https://equinewellbeing.fei.org/

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

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…..

Result

Standings

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.

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

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