Riyadh 2024 Finals set to have the largest prize-fund in FEI World Cup™ history

In a landmark moment in FEI World Cup™ history, the organisers of the FEI Jumping and Dressage World Cup™ Finals, scheduled to be held in Riyadh (KSA) between 16-20 April 2024, have contributed to a groundbreaking increase in prize money for the competitors. 

The pot for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final already sits at an impressive 1.3 million Euros. Now thanks to a generous donation by the Organising Committee, the prize money for the 2024 Jumping Final will be doubled, reaching an extraordinary total of 2.6 million Euros.

This significant increase in prize money - the highest amount ever seen at an FEI World Cup™ Final - is likely to be a one-time opportunity, making the 2024 World Cup Finals™ in Riyadh an exceptional and unprecedented event.  It also highlights the Organisers’ dedication in welcoming the global equestrian community to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and for the first time as hosts of the FEI World Cup™ Finals.

The FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final will also benefit from a substantial boost, with an additional 100,000 Euros being injected into its prize fund. The Dressage prize money - already set at 300,000 Euros - will now be bolstered to an impressive 400,000 Euros.

The Longines FEI World Cup Trophy - photo: FEI/Richard Juillart

FEI Secretary General, Sabrina Ibáñez expressed that;

“The FEI is privileged to have the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation as a key ally in equestrian sport, and there is no doubt they are fully onboard when it comes to raising the bar for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final and the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2024 to an unprecedented competitive level."

"The generous welcome of the equestrian community to Saudi Arabia, coupled with the wonderful commitment made by the Organising Committee to the growth and success of the sport, will foster a spirit of excellence."

Sabrina Ibáñez, Secretary General, FEI

"Thanks to the steadfast support of Longines, the FEI’s Top Partner for the last 11 years, and the invaluable contribution of the Organising Committee, we can look forward to demonstrations of world-class talent in two of the FEI’s Olympic disciplines at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final and the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final, only months before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”

Riyadh, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a whole, has been emerging as a formidable host for equestrian events for some time.

In 2023, Riyadh successfully hosted 11 FEI events, with the momentum continuing in 2024 with another 12 planned, as well as the city of AlUla set to host the FEI Endurance World Championship in 2026, as announced at the FEI Board Meeting in Mexico City (MEX) last month. 

No stranger to the world stage in equestrian sport, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has already clinched two Olympic medals in Jumping – an individual bronze in Sydney in 2000 and a team bronze in London in 2012.  More recently, they secured their Jumping team a place in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Olympic Qualification Event in Doha (QAT) in February 2023, and took gold in both team and individual Jumping at the Asian Games in Hangzhou (CHN) this year.

2024 will be a year of world-class equestrian sport once again, with Jumping and Dressage only half the complement of the FEI World Cup Finals™ on the cards for the year.  It all kicks off with the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final hosted in Basel (SUI) from 11-14 January, and the FEI Driving World Cup™ Final in Bordeaux (FRA) from 1-4 February. 

Don’t miss a hoofbeat…

OLD stallion licensing from 20 - 21 January 2024 in Ankum

42 young stallions selcted for OLD licensing

From watching the entire video collection for the 2024 licensing it is very difficult to find the real WOW factor stallions.

Many of the stallions look pretty much “over agile” hind for the trot, in the canter you want to see more uphill cantering up through the shoulders and not least the walk missing more suppleness over the back. Said that this video presentation is of course just a glimp of each stallion.

The positive imprint for this collection is that more stallions are “just” M-sized which means they might become normal L-sized 170-172 cm stallions at 5 yr old.

From H2R point view no 63 is the most complete stallion. Super stallion type, active quick of the ground trot with push and freedown, nice round uphill front legs and supple walk.

No 82 by Zack / De Niro is a very appealing stallion for the trot and canter with a super nice natural body strength, but unfortunately the walk seems somewhat limited.

Here you find the entire collection.

Schedule:

The entire licensing will be broadcasted LIVE at Clipmyhorse.

Gratis eksklusiv masterclass for seriøse, målrettede ryttere (4 forskellige datoer)

Dyrlæge Lynette Ramsay inviterer til GRATIS WEBINAR

Vil du også gerne lære hvordan du optimerer sundhed og performance hos din konkurrencehest? I denne masterclass får du den nyeste evidensbaserede viden om hvordan sportsheste holdes sunde og velfungerende.

Giv din konkurrencehest de bedste forudsætninger for succes ved at forstå, hvordan sundhed, velvære og performance hænger sammen.

Få viden om skjulte sygdomme hos rideheste. Denne stille trussel kan påvirke din hests sundhed og præstation.

Forebyggelse er nøglen til holdbarhed. Ved at være proaktiv og identificere potentielle sundhedsrisici kan du forebygge skader og sygdomme, og derved forlænge din hests langsigtede holdbarhed.

Du tilmelder dig lige her:

https://simplero.ramsayequinemedical.com/webinar

Masterclass: Optimering af sundhed og performance hos konkurrencehesten

Med dyrlæge Lynette Ramsay, som har gennemgået den amerikanske specialistuddannelse i intern medicin hos hest.

📆 Torsdag d. 28/12/2023 kl. 16:00 - 17:00

📆 Fredag d. 29/12/2023 kl. 14:00 - 15:00

📆 Tirsdag d. 2/1/2024 kl. 16:00 - 17:00

📆 Torsdag d. 4/1/2024 kl. 13:00 - 14:00

Beata Stremler and Fürstin Bea OLD takes the preliminary round for the Louisdor Preis final

Fürstin Bea OLD & Beata Stremler winner of preliminary Louisdor Test - photo: EQWO.net

10 combinations ready for Louisdor Preis final

The top of today´s preliminary round became very close but from the side line still clear victory for Polish Beata Stremler and her lovely Fürstenball daugther Fürstin Bea OLD. Well balanced with power from first step, showing lovely overall qualities with three really good basic paces, presented in a steady closed uphill frame with good contact and balance all the way. For a few moments you could wish for a bit more, but very clever first performance day from Beata and they definitely look like the full package for Sunday´s final.

Yara Reichert shows her two stallions Springbank II VH and Valverde, shows two really nice performances with very obedient and high talented boys. For some moments Valverde becomes bit to high in the neck and missing the full suppleness over the back and today a few minor things creeping. Springbank is a big supple boy and at the same time he looks super honest and obedient in the ring. The walk has always been a highlight and today he ones again showed his strength.

Also Helen Langehanenberg showing two horses for the finals, Danish Warmblood mare Straight Horse Ascenzione and Schöne Scarlett - both girls still missing bit more security to be in top of the field.

Interesting with Frederic Wandres as co-commentator at Clipmyhorse today, with many nice comments during the performances.

Ingrid Klimke has two Franziskus sons qualified for the final, both with some clear similarities to Franziskus as Frederic Wandres also stated.

Sunday at 9.00 is the final.

Dujardin and Imhotep steal the London limelight

Not for the first time in her career, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin set the arena alight when steering Imhotep to victory at the fifth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in London (GBR) tonight. And, mirroring the result of yesterday’s Grand Prix, compatriots Lottie Fry with Everdale and Becky Moody with Jagerbomb filled second and third places. 

Dujardin is always a crowd-puller, her spectacular record in the sport guaranteeing big audiences and plenty of profile. And once again this evening she didn’t disappoint.

From a starting field of 14, she stood out from the rest when putting a score of 89.465 on the board with the horse with whom she has great hopes. Not since her glory days with the magnificent Valegro has the 38-year-old rider seemed so excited about the future as she continues to build her partnership with the 10-year-old gelding who is known at home as Pete. 

At the FEI European Championship 2023 in Riesenbeck, Germany in September, where the pair helped their country to team gold before claiming  both Grand Prix Special and Freestyle bronze, Dujardin was already delighted with the progress being made by her relatively unexposed chestnut horse. She made no secret of the fact that she is targeting the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with him, and tonight’s indoor event was another big step along that road. He rose to the challenge magnificently.

“This is Pete’s first indoor show so he felt a little bit nervous with the atmosphere which was absolutely buzzing tonight. I was so proud of him, yesterday he was a little bit tense but tonight he felt a bit better, he’s just not got that experience of doing these shows, so I was so pleased with how he dealt with everything here.

"He never lets me down, he tries so hard and he’s a horse I just love to bits, and there’s so much more to come!”

Charlotte Dujardin GBR

she said.

Brilliant night

On a brilliant night for British dressage, Lewis Carrier took the lead with a mark of 76.195 as the second-half of the competition got underway with a lovely performance from the 15-year-old Diego V who was settled, secure and light in his rider’s hands.

Belgium’s Flore de Winne overtook them with the elegant black stallion Flynn FRH who belied his nine years of age with a very polished presentation that earned 77.020. And then French rider Morgan Barbançon squeezed fractionally further ahead when scoring 77.025 with the veteran Sir Donnerhall ll OLD who, at 17, is a full eight years older.

But then Dujardin and Imhotep blew the competition away, consistently scoring 8.5s and 9s, and earning three maximum score of 10 for Choreography and four more for Music and Interpretation. All five judges - Henning Lehrmann (GER), Susanne Baarup (DEN), Andrew Gardner (GBR), Jacques van Daele (BEL) and Magnus Ringmark (SWE) were in complete agreement as they put the pair well out in front.

Next in, 43-year-old Becky Moody wasn’t intimidated however, throwing down a spectacular test with her home-bred nine-year-old gelding Jagerbomb who showed remarkable maturity in the security of his passage and piaffe, and who stormed through extended trot to put 83.675 on the board.

And then, last into the ring, Lottie Fry and Everdale who helped bring home Olympic team bronze in Tokyo and European team silver later in 2021, pushed Moody and her young star ride down to third when scoring 85.040 to decide the final line-up. Everdale is Imhotep’s sire, so it was a horse-family affair at the post-competition prizegiving.

Incredible

Runner-up Fry described the atmosphere in the ExCel arena tonight as “incredible and like no where else!” And she was pleased with her result. “I think this was one of my favourite tests I have ridden. With this new music it was amazing to ride, and Everdale was just brilliant tonight!”, said the Olympic, World and European medal-winning rider.

Talking about her experience tonight, Moody said “you dream about riding at this show, it is somewhere that we all aspire to compete at. I was incredibly nervous in the build-up and my horse is a legend.

"Being on the podium with Lottie Fry and Charlotte Dujardin is amazing! They both inspire me on a daily basis. They are incredible role models, and it is incredible being sat next to them. But I do have every intention of beating them in the future!”

Becky Moody GBR

Dujardin described Moody as “fantastic, it’s been an incredible show for her and it’s great to have her now as a back-up for the team next year”, which is quite some confirmation with Paris 2024 now very much on the horizon.

Talking about her own test tonight, Dujardin said, “the first transitions to piaffe, they could have been a bit better but at the start we didn’t quite get going where I needed him, but then he settled into it and really took it in his stride. But that’s where he’s still a bit green and I’ve only done that floor-plan once before. 

“My pirouettes felt fantastic and the degree of difficulty in that test is phenomenal, it’s way beyond a 10! The two’s into the one’s into the piaffe/pirouette, he’s only 10 years old but you ask him a question and he’s answering it. There’s so much to be proud of with him!”, she concluded.

The Western European League now moves on to Mechelen, Belgium in two weeks’ time for round six of the 11 qualifiers on the road to the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024 Final which will be staged in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia next April.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result

Western European League Standings

VIDEO CLIP - Danish Warmblood ready with 23 stallion selected from Vilhelmsborg (West) - Secret offspring were shining

43 stallions were ready for the final Danish Warmblood stallion pre-selection yesterday at Vilhelmsborg.

All stallions were presented free in the arena with subsequent announcement which ones were selected for presentation on hard surface. A total of 27 stallions were selected for hard surface and presentation by lunging, and 23 received a ticket for the licensing taking place in Herning from 6-10 March 2024.

A small review with H2R eyes for this year’s stallion selection of course brings in the focus on the new breeding commission, and from the side line they managed to do a proper selection including an extra selection after the lunging part where 4 stallions were pulled of the list.

Hannoveraner stallion Secret was represented with two absolute top samples. The Secret/Fantastic son presented by Helgstrand, bred in Germany was undoubtedly the champion of the day. Shining black coat, beautiful stallion look, supple in all three gaits, great overview, super attitude, uphill, long soft front legs and hind legs with natural push under the body. As a close „runner up“ Sarai L by Secret/For Romance I, bred by Danish Stutteri L and presented by Stutteri L & Dutch Stal van de Sande. A super modern, long legged, open framed stallion, with supple natural movements in all three gaits and also very nobel and handsome expression with good overview all the time. Same owner combination also showed a big framed son by Total McLaren / Negro, super nice presentation free and missing bit more power and security for the lunging part.

Jovian was also represented with a couple of sons, and not the most obvious combination but still look like a very nice match with Revolution on the dam line. The best of the Jovian sons was the attrative Nordentoft´s Jerome with Revolution as dam sire, out of successful young mare Roxette. Also Jefferson de Fontaine with gold medal mare Prima Donna by Blue Hors Don Romantic as dam. Stutteri Åtoften also showed a very attractive Jovian son with Revolution as dam sire. Stutteri Straight Horse show together with Helgstrand Dressage a Zonik son out of one of the most successful damlines in Denmark, Don Romina.

More than a handful of very attractive young stallions in top of this years Danish Warmblood pre-selection.

The selectors also kept a sharp eye at each presentation and everyone were clearly aware of the wellfare of the young horses throughout the pre-selection days.

Here below you can watch a few clip from some of H2R favourite stallions.

Selected stallions 13 December:

Selected stallions from 10 December (Riders Cup, East):

Proud James by Jameson RS2 / Johnson winner of KWPN stallion performance test with Pjethro by Kjento/Desperado as runner up

21 days testing of the 3 year old KWPN stallions

Today was the final day of the KWPN autumn performance test and a total of 8 stallions were finishing their testing.

Bert Rutten chair of the KWPN licensing commission was doing the commentating during the final presentation, telling about each stallion, their develop, temperament and overall impression during the testing. “This grey stallion shows an incredible balance, a very good movement technique with good hind legs, an uphill tendency andd a fantastic character. He is very trainable and light footed.”

All 8 stallions finished their test with accepted results and are now fully approved for the KWPN stud book.

Today´s winner was KWPN Premium stallion Proud James by Jameson RS2/Johnson, bred by Y.M.M. van Maasacker, owner Andreas Helgstrand.

From H2R point of view an active uphill mover in the trot with lovely shoulder freedom, super walk over the back with good reach and nice over track, the canter is a bit diffent from left to right, as the right is shown with bit more volume and spaciousness.

The final scoring was:

9,0 walk - 9,0 trot - 9,0 canter - 9,0 suppleness - 10 posture/balance - 9 rideability & attitude - 9 potential as a dressage horse = 91 total score.

Placed 2nd was Pjethro by Kjento/Desperado, bred by A.J. BEERENS, DE MOER and owned by Van Olst Horses. The scores for Pjethro:

Walk 8,5 - trot 9,0 - canter 8,5 - 8,5 suppleness - 9,0 posture/balance - 9 rideability & attitude - 8,5 potential as a dressage horse = 87 total score.

Comments from Bert Rutten: “The characters of the stallions for this performance test were really positive and that is of course also for the stallion Pjethro. He is very willing to work, has a lot of go and moves with a lot of impulsion, strength and attitude”.

From H2R point of view and very nice well balanced stallion in all three gaits, moving like his sire with a super posture always in a clear tact. A very good looking and attractive chestnut stallion.

Van Olst Horses also had two more stallion with accepted performances tests - Princeton by Glamourdale / Don Schufro and Power Dancing by Glamourdale / Johnson.

The full results will be available here later.

VIDEO CLIP - 6 stallions selected from 1st Danish Warmblood pre-selection today

Riders Cup placed between Næstved and Ringsted at Sealand, Denmark were today´s host for the first of two Danish Warmblood pre-selection days.

Today 13 stallions were presented for the licensing commission and 6 stallions recieved a ticket for Danish Warmblood stallion licensing taking place in Herning from 6-10 March 2024.

All stallions were well prepared for the presentation and the licensing commission did selected the stallions with a good sharp eye today.

From H2R point of view Atterupgaards Beluga and both VH Stuteri stallions were the absolute top of today.

Next pre-selection is Wednesday at Vilhelmsborg where a total of 42 dressage stallions are ready for the pre-selection.

Selected stallions today:

Nalegro by Painted Black/Negro with Lottie Fry with 2nd victory in Dutch stallion competition

𝐍𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌-𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟖𝟖,𝟐 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬

"Powerhouse" that's how judges Marian Dorresteijn and Sven Rothenberger described Nalegro after his performance in Ermelo. Just like in Kronenberg he won the M-Class of the Anemone Horse Trucks Stallion Competition. With his rider Charlotte Fry, the stallion received 88,2 points.

The judges rewarded him with a 9 for his amazing canter and overall impression. “This really is a powerhouse, a horse with a very strong hind leg,” tells Marian enthusiastic. “The walk has a lot of power. He has a very active way of walking. The trot is also characterized by strength, in which it shows the ability to easily collect on the hind leg. Today the canter was a highlight with a lot of power and good extensions, after which he collects back very nicely on the hind leg.”

Mecklenburger Körtage with "home soil advantage" for the 2023 Champion stallion by Danciero/San Amour/Fürst Romancier

Champion stallion bred by Gestüt Lewitz and presented by Paul Schockemöhle.

This years champion stallion did not stand out (from H2R point of view). A big framed stallion missing bit more sharpness from hind, like also the freedom of the shoulders were not as we want the best to show nowaday, but showing super walk like his World Champion sire. From H2R point of view it look a bit like a “home soil advantage” champion today.

Reserve champion by Vivaldos / Dancier / Rascalino bred by

From the presentation videos for the auction this stallion showed something extra and he did not disappoint for the licensing. Super supple from behind including supple topline making him able to push up and out through the shoulders in a very nice balance. Let´s see what the buyers think when the auction starts tomorrow online. Link for the auction here.

2nd reserve champion by Dynamic Dream / Finest / Dancier bred by

A super well moving boy with a lot of elasticity, missing bit of suppleness over the back and still not as appealing as no 49 mentioned above.

The other premium stallions:

2 - Birmingham/Fürstenball

8 - De Niro Gold/Abendtanz

10 - Diamond First/Christ

15 - Dynamic Dream/Franklin

42 -Totilas/Imperio (1D)

47 - Vitalis/Fürst Heinrich

53 - Zenon/Top Gear


Mecklenburger stallion licensing comes up Friday 8th and Saturday 9th December

Mecklenburger stallion licensing takes place from Thurday. A total of 53 stallions are selected for the licensing.

Gestüt Lewitz presenting a total of 11 stallions, and also for the licensing Dynamic Dream is the stallion with most sons a total of 5 stallions for this licensing at Landgestüt Redefin.

Schedule:

H2R picked the favourites from the auction collection, but from the total list of stallions more very interesting stallions are presented.

The V-blood dominates again with three very attractive stallions. From this video presentation no 1 by Vivaldos / Dancier is the BEST stallion seen in 2023. Super angles with active supple push from behind both free and by lunging in all three gaits - both videos here below.

Will keep an eye on all of them for the licensing as it is possible to follow the entire event at Clipmyhorse.

No 1 - Free and by hand

No 1 presentation by lunging:

No 5 - A super supple mover with stallion look.

Presentation free and by hand:

Presentation by lunging:

No 28 - Another attractive Vitalis son. From the free presentation he is not super attractive, but by the lunging he shows himself with super qualities.

Presentation by hand and free:

Presentation by lunging:

Blue Hors Zepter and Nanna Merrald were as close as just 0,67% from the victory today

Danish Nanna and Daniel at Lövsta Top 10 Dressage

Today Nanna and Zepter showed a brand new freestyle with 80´s theme. The music is produced by Dutch Joost Peters, the master of freestyle music, and it suits Nanna and Zepter perfectly. When it comes to practising the lines with the music Nanna did not manage to practise with the new music before today´s premier, but Nanna´s experience did not fail as she manage to show the test of high degree of dificulty and with smooth lines. The small transition issues from the Grand Prix were solved for today´s freestyle, only tiny things were the two times series at the end where Zepter nearly took of but Nanna kept the control, unfortunately two errors creeping in for the jokerline.

No doubt Nanna and Zepter were today´s winner, and both judge at E German Katrina Wuest and judge at H Portugues Frederico Pinteus saw them in front. Jessica it´s soon time to leave the top!

Huge progress for Vayron & Daniel

Lövsta Top 10 was first time out since the Europeans for Vayron and Daniel Bachmann Andersen. The huge stallion has really developed body wise since Riesenbeck, and in the arena he looks super confidente, as the arena is pretty much packed with huge back drop and running wide screen. For today´s freestyle some minor issues creeping in.

Overall the frame, the quality of the piaffe tours, balance in and out of the piaffe tours and passage has developed nicely. For both the Grand Prix and the freestyle the pirouettes still need a bit more control and balance. Extensions in both trot and canter and half passes are with top qualities. As Daniel tells he is very happy about the development of Vayron both physically and mentally, he has develop with big steps since Riesenbeck, and now he is able to bring big parts from the warm-up into the arena.

H2R comments during the tests:

Dalera - Good halt, passage half pass to trot half pass, to passage, piaffe at C 7-8 steps, out passage, diagonal small lack of balance into piaffe pirouette, passage half pass to trot half pass, extension to piaffe turn, collected walk in good balance to nice extended walk could be a bit more active, picking up for canter, half pass, extended canter, nice 1,5 pirouette left, 2 times on curved, extended to 1,5 pirouette, missing bit balance and control, to 1 times, half pass left, extended short diagonal, transition, to passage, to piaffe, half pass passage, piaffe to half pass passage to halt. 90,295%

Zepter - Super entry in passage, superb halt, out into passage to piaffe turn on the hind legs turn out into half pass passage to half pass trot, back to passage and change in music, WOW piaffe at C and transitions, half pass right trot to half pass passage left - WOW WHAT a super freestyle mood, piaffe turn on the hind legs, out into extended trot, transition to canter, 2 times tiny tense into 1,5 pirouette, extended canter, transition to walk, good extended walk stretching, collected walk short diagonal, transition to canter to super 1,5 pirouette, WOW 1 times, back to priouette, zigzag canter, end with another super sit balanced pirouette, joker line 2 times small error, transition to trot, passage springing from leg to leg, into piaffe fan WOW smooth on the hind leg and out into passage. Applauding audience. 89,625%

Vayron - Entering in BIG passage, super halt, out in WOW extension, to passage, piaffe turn at C to passage half pass left, to trot half pass right, passage, piaffe turn at A to passage half pass right, half pass left trot, big reach uphill to passage, piaffe at the spot in good rhythm nice transitions, to collected walk to extended walk - good quality, canter at C, change of music, bit unbalanced out of pirouette to half pass, better 2nd pirouette, extended canter WOW back to pirouette left, out into 2 times BIG, waiting for the music to extended again, better balance right pirouette, super 1 times, joker line with super 1 times, bit stocked for transition to trot, extended trot to X into piaffe fan, really nice balance out into passage on hand to superb halt. 83,125% (placed 6th.)

Here you find the entire results.

Match made in heaven - Mount St. John Freestyle and Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour

Double debut victory in Kronenberg for Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour with MSJ Freestyle - photo credit: Timo Martis

Two international debut starts - both above 80%

How can this even be possible?

It´s an outstanding horse, which had one of the world best riders Charlotte Dujardin in the saddle for the education, showing an outstanding former show record and competition experience, and now moved to another world class rider being able to continue this path - it´s the recipe on this weekends success.

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and her team are over the moon after such an outstanding debut. One thing is dreaming about success taking over a former top horse and make this horse “your own”, another thing is actually making it happen as we just experienced this weekend.

“To me this weekend is still totally unreal. Can’t believe that we actually did what we did, Free & I. When finishing the GP I had tears rolling down my cheeks after the last piaffe - unbelievable. I have said it before but from the first time I sat on her I felt that we were connected and being able to show such a partnership already truly shows that she’s allowed me into her heart already! I am beyond grateful to family Zinglersen & Family Blundell that they wanna be a part of this amazing journey - to me it is really something unique to share this journey with such lovely & passionated people ❤️thanks to Free and our whole team!”, tells Cathrine.

New co-owner Zinglersen family, Louise Zinglersen says: “I am just so grateful that Emma Blundell thought of Cathrine as Freestyle's new partner, and that it was possible to get the opportunity for us to join an ownership together with Cathrine and Rasmine. My family and I love following Cathrine's journey with the horses including her top management, dedication and deligence. Freestyle is undoubtedly a very special horse. You can feel her passion for it. She definitely knew that she was back at competition and she was shining together with Cathrine.

It was the first time during this weekend that we went as a team with Emma and her parents. A large team around Freestyle, which means that we are able share our journey together all of us. It's amazing, and really something special. And of course the support Cathrine gets from everyone around, it means a world to the entire team,” Louise said.

For now Cathrine has no new competition plans with Free.

Denmark and Danish dressage can only be humble and thankful for this new partnership. 🙏🏻

Dalera, Zepter and Emilio takes the podium for today´s Lövsta Top 10 CDI5 Grand Prix

Timing, accuracy, flow, suppleness, experience and partnership - all words for today´s top three in Stockholm.

Dalera and Jessica keep in shining and remaining the pair scoring highest, but said that with Danish glasses Nanna and Zepter look like the next combination to beat them. Could it be tomorrow? Zepter and Nanna are ready with a brand new freestyle with music from the 80´s.

For Dalera the unsteady entering halts has become a clear issue. A usual Jessica does not what´s in the tank for the Grand Prix even though some issues creeping - also today. For the first time the half pass to right was not in same balance and flow as the left, also reflected into canter zigzag.

Breaking the 80% barrier today, former best GP score was at the Europeans scoring 78,556%. Nanna presented Zepter in a very nice closed and powerful frame today, maybe a tiny release of the pressure into the piaffe tours would have kept the fluency from H2R eye, but asking Nanna about this tiny issue, the answer was clear “I should have made the passage a bit smaller on my way into the transitions”, Nanna said.

Werth and Emilio keep on performing and lately Werth was no longer that convinced about the forthcoming retirement of Emilio at Frankfurt event in a few weeks, as she might postpone his retirement date. He still look fit and motivated with his somewhat cheeky way in the contact for a few moments in every single test.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Vayron finished at a solid 5th place with 74,717%. More confident Vayron in the arena with clearly improved piaffe tours showing good balance and good transitions, like for the pirouettes the first becomes bit unbalanced and big while the 2nd is well performed. Unfortunately missing the two last flying changes for the 1 times.

You can find comments on every Grand Prix ride from today at Horse2rider Facebook.

Dalera - Unsteady halt steps back, supple diagonal, bit tension hind, bit unbalanced half pass right, better flow and go left, good halt with rein back, power diagonal, nice into passage, super into piaffe, good sit and balance for piaffe, smooth transitions, relaxed over the back extended walk with nice over track, bit unbalanced collected walk, good into passage, good 2nd piaffe with sit and balance tiny forward trend, smooth transition, good into canter, error hind mid 2 times parallel, power extension, bit unbalanced zigzag slow to right and quick to left, good 1 times, nice control bit big 1st pirouette, superb 2nd pirouette, smooth into trot, power balanced diagonal, super passage, transition on the hind legs, piaffe sit, passage power, and audience is there with applause.

Zepter - Super halt, power diagonal balanced uphill, nice crossing balanced half passes uphill, super halt at C nice rein back, power diagonal, super into passage on the hind legs, tiny tensions transition to piaffe but well managed, good out into passage, good extended walk nice stretching, super collected walk, at the letter for passage, super passage, small misunderstanding again into piaffe, super piaffe, super out, late into canter at E, good 2 times, power extension, well balanced zigzag, super 1 times, super preparation for 1st pirouette, well balanced, WAUW 2nd pirouette, nice into trot, power diagonal, super passage, super transition into final, super piaffe, smooth out, super final, Zepter becomes bit affected when audience starts applauding.

Emilio - Bit unsteady halt, well balanced diagonal, good crossing half passes, for transition Emilio becomes bit unstable in the contact, good halt with bit dragging rein back, smooth diagonal, super into passage, easy light of the ground piaffe with good transitions, small stumble for extended walk good relaxation, short slow collected walk, sharp at the letter for passage, nice passage, easy into piaffe bouncy at the spot, easy out, transition to canter at E!, nice 2 times, super nice extended canter, good zigzag, good 1 times at the end bit into the hand, good 1st pirouette, super 2nd with sit and balance, bit early into trot, nice diagonal end bit into the hand, nice passage, nice piaffe easy transitions, good halt.

Link here to the result lists.

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