Scholtens wins tight contest at Neumünster

Partnering the 11-year-old stallion Indian Rock, The Netherlands’ Emmelie Scholtens clinched victory at the ninth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in Neumünster, Germany today.

Already under the spotlight after topping yesterday’s closely-contested Grand Prix, the Dutch pair were awarded the winning mark once again today by judges Ulrike Nivelle (GBR), Clive Halsall (DEN), Hans-Christian Matthiesen (NED), Maarten ver der Heijden (GER) and Henning Lehrmann (GER) with less than 2.5 percent separating the top four this time around.

Their Freestyle score of 81.565 gave Scholtens the edge over Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Forever Young HRH, while German riders filled the next three places, Matthias Alexander Rath (Destacado FRH) clinching third ahead of Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock (Florine OLD) in fourth and Raphael Netz (Great Escape Camelot) in fifth place. Belgium’s Larissa Pauluis (Flambeau) finished sixth of the 15 starters.

For Scholtens, her win today with the horse she competed at the World Championships in Herning (DEN) in 2022 and at last summer’s European Championship in Riesenbeck (GER) was particularly special. 

"I know Indian Rock since he was three years old, I started everything with him, his whole education all the way to Grand Prix and he’s special to me because I rode his father (Apache) and he reminds me of him!”

Emmelie Scholtens NED

said the 38-year-old rider.

Standard

Nowag-Aulenbrock and the imposing chestnut mare Florine OLD set the standard in the first half of the competition with a personal-best score of 79.225, but German compatriot, Rath, went out in front when producing the first over-80% score with Destacado FRH when fifth-last into the ring. 

“It was better than yesterday, he was more on my aids today”, Rath said of the 11-year-old horse who already showed his potential when finishing second as a five-year-old and fourth as a six-year-old at the World Breeding Championship Finals. 

“I know we still have room to improve, but for the test today the plan was in the morning to get together with my trainer Monica Theodorescu and my father, and it was a really nice test”, he said with some satisfaction.

However his score of 80.425 was overtaken by the next pair into the arena, Patrik Kittel sweeping into the lead when earning 81.145 for a test filled with pleasing passage and accompanied by a musical score that had the audience’s toes tapping. Playing to the crowd is what this Swedish performer has always been about, but even this three-time Olympian was very aware of how intimate the Neumünster arena is. 

“Obviously it’s not so easy to ride when the audience is so very close here, and they are very enthusiastic which I really love! We do this to make people enjoy it, to see the harmony between the rider and horse and when people come and show their appreciation we love that. Every rider says we ride better when the audience are with us!”, he pointed out.

Despite the challenges of the arena’s dimensions, Kittel has a special relationship with the Holstenhallen. 

"Neumünster was my first home when I came to Germany and this was one of the first shows I ever attended so it’s quite cool to many years later sit here"

Patrik Kittel SWE

he explained. 

Talking about his test he said, “I had a rider-pilot mistake in the changes today which I quickly corrected but otherwise it was really good and I think the music is really cool, it’s a bit different. For me it’s about just keep riding, have fun and just enjoy being here!” 

Steal his thunder

But Scholtens would steal his thunder when, despite a nervous moment when entering the arena to a wall of sound, Indian Rock earned the biggest score of the day when next to go.

“He was a little bit scared because of the prize-giving from yesterday but he is such a brave horse - I said it’s fine, you can go in!”, she explained after putting 81.565 on the board. 

“He’s a fun horse to go to shows with because he’s easy and he feels he wants to give his all. He has the best character, he’s a stallion but he is so sweet. He’s special to me because of his father also, but it’s about every day how he is when you are with him”.

With Indian Rock’s sire, Apache, Scholtens finished eighth at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2019. Following today’s result she finds herself well within reach of a qualifying place for the 2024 Final, so that has presented her with an interesting question. 

“I didn’t think before about going to the Final but I’m considering it now!”, she said. But of course the decision isn’t just hers. “He feels like my horse but he’s not my horse so I have to discuss with the owners and to be honest it’s also an exciting year this year because of the Olympics so I also have to watch out that everything isn’t too much for him. We have to figure out what is best”, she explained.

One way or another however she will definitely compete at the final leg of the Western European League on home soil at ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in three weeks’ time.

Final

Kittel also plans to go to the Dutch fixture and the man who has been the longtime leader on the League table is already thinking ahead to his trip to the series Final.

“I have luckily now three horses qualified which is a big honour for me. I will take Bonamour to Den Bosch and after that I will have a talk to our Swedish team coach and everyone involved and see if and when and how we do Riyadh”, he said.

And Germany’s Rath also has Riyadh in his sights. Today’s result has rocketed him up to second place on the League table so he is comfortably qualified.

"The plan was with Destacado was to do the World Cup season and to go to the Final. Now with 69 points we are safe and we can plan for the Final and that’s really cool. It would be the second World Cup Final for me and I’m really looking forward to it!"

Matthias Alexander Rath GER

he said.

Meanwhile when it comes to celebrating her victory today, Scholtens said that would be happening on her six-hour drive home to Holland. “It’s a long drive but we often driver further, and when you win then everything feels better!”, she pointed out.

The penultimate leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League will take place next weekend in Gothenburg, Sweden, so don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result

Standings

Podcast med Cathrine “Der er et OL til sommer”

Stadion ved Versailles slottet som danner rammen om sommerens OL.

Lyt med og kom i OL stemning sammen med tidligere OL svømmer Sarah Bro som er vært i Podcasten “Øjeblikket”. Sarah snakker med Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour om drømmen om det første OL i 2016 i Rio og “corona” OL i Tokyo i 2021, og nu med OL i Paris som sommerens mål.

‘Øjeblikket’ er en podcast fra Danske Spil i samarbejde med Heartbeats.

Der er nogle afgørende øjeblikke i enhver stor sportskarriere, hvad enten det er skuffelser eller sejre. Hvad enten det sker ved det første stævne eller den sidste store slutrunde. Det er de momenter, der alle er med til at skabe en topatlet.

Sarah Bro besøger en række af Danmarks bedste idrætsprofiler på deres egen hjemmebane og prøver selv sporten på egen krop. Her fortæller atleterne om de mange timer, de har slidt, og hvordan deres bagland har båret dem frem mod toppen.

Danske Spil sender hvert år overskuddet fra lotterierne direkte til udlodningsmidlerne, og sidste år var der mere end 1,5 mia. kr. til idræts-, kultur- og foreningslivet i Danmark. Overskuddet fra de øvrige selskaber går tilbage til staten – til gavn for os alle.

VIDEO TOP 3 - 2nd place at international Grand Prix debut for Danish combination Lumiere & Anna Zibrandtsen

Lumiere & Anna Zibrandtsen from today´s prizegiving in Polen - photo: private

Both winner and 2nd placed made their international debut today

Lithuanian Sandra Sysojeva (riding for Polen) and her just 8 yr old mare Maxima Bella by Millenium / Competent made their international debut today winning the CDI3 Grand Prix in Kalen, Polen. A well moving and very talented young mare with a lot of natural go and of the ground movements, still showing a bit of positive tensions. Only a small error creeping in for the one times with a change with parallel hind. 70,044%.

Another international debut combination was Danish Anna Zibrandtsen with her 10 year old gelding Lumiere by Floricello / Gigolo they finished 2nd 69.956%. Super expressive and well balanced for the entire trot tour, with power for extensions and supple half passes, the transitions into the first two piaffe tours becomes a bit insecure while the final piaffe tour at the centerline was with much better flow into the piaffe. Expressive passage with super elevation and good balance. Transition to canter becomes bit unbalnced, but for the rest a well performed canter tour with super nice line of two times, huge jump through the body, straight and nicely placed at full diagonal only scored 8,0 - 7,5 - 7,0 - 7,0 - 7,5! For the entire test super steady and light contact.

Anna was pleased about her performance with Lumiere today. “I had a really nice feeling in there, for the transitions passage/piaffe/passage we still need to bring the timing from the warm up, and our pirouettes has clearly improved. He is a very happy and positive horse, so I feel very confident as we just need some more experience in the test together.”

Videos of top 3 (captured by Dressage24.pl)

2022 DSP Champion stallion Dream Royal winner of stallion performance test in Munich today

Results 4 yr old

Top score among the 4 yr old stallions for short Performance test in München was Trakehner stallion Rockingham by Saint Cyr / Kaiser Wilhelm.

Some of judges comments: Balanced trot with good swing, extensions missing bit more 8,5 - canter good of the ground clearly improved 8,5 - nice walk with good rhythm 8,5 - rideability need bit more search for the hand but clearly improved over the days 9,5, overall impression 8,5 = 8,8.

Results 5 yr old

5 yr old Dream Royal (Don Royal / Quadroneur) winner.

Some judges comments: Uphill movements for trot and canter nice mechanics with good power, super swinging trot 9,0 and nice under the body uphill canter 9,0, walk bit tensions need bit more clear relaxation for walk rhythm, but improved over the days 7,5, rideability he will, but tiny tension 8,6, overall impression 8,8 = total 8,56

Ekspert teams i DRF regi

Gårsdagens nyhed fra DRF (link nederst i artiklen her ⬇️) omkring medaljedrømme til det kommende OL afføder lidt tanker fra H2R.

Med OL næsten lige om hjørnet, og dansk top dressur i skarp opstilling, er det klart drømmene går på ædelt metal til sommerens OL i Paris.

Inden de danske ekvipager når så langt, at der bliver sat navne på dem der skal repræsentere Danmark på det oplympiske ridestadion i Versailles fra den 30. juli - 4. august, skal alle kandidaterne ud i kamp om pladserne.

Iflg. sportsplanen er de officielle iagttagelser med henblik på OL udtagelse til stævnerne: Hagen 24.-28. april, Compiegne 1.-5. maj, DM 24.-26. maj samt Rotterdam 20.-23. juni med 8. juli som sidste og endelig dato for udtagelse.

“Baseret på dialog med eksperttræner SENIOR og andre fagrelevante eksperter er elitesportschefen for dressur overordnet ansvarlig for udtagelser til landshold og CDI/CDIO’er SENIOR.”

Wolfram Wittig eksperttræner/teknisk rådgiver siden 2021

Når man kigger tilbage på de ændringer som forbundet kom med i 2021, var planen fra DRF, at man ville have en række forskellige eksperter ind omkring landsholdet, i forhold til input og sparring bl.a. omkring træning af ekvipagerne. For den del der hedder eksperttræner/teknisk rådgiver, har DRF i den forgange periode alene valgt at gøre brug af tyske Wolfram Wittig.

Derfor vil det være et af de steder som DRF´s nye bestyrelse, som udpeges til april, åbenlyst bør kigge ind i, da man aldrig har haft den oprindelige tiltænkte diversitet i forhold til eksperttræner/tekniske rådgiver konstellationen.

Set udefra kunne “konsulentmidlerne”, som lige nu bliver betalt af Team Danmark frem mod OL, kunne de godt bruges endnu mere målrettet i forhold til de enkelte teams.

Hver topekvipage har jo i forvejen deres egen hjemmetræner, fysio, mentalcoach osv., og midlerne bør derfor kananliseres direkte ud til atleterne, så de i langt højere grad bliver medbestemmende om, hvor de selv mener, der skal sættes ind i forhold til at optimere mulighederne for ædelt metal til Danmark ved de store mesterskaber.

Talent- og eliteudviklingen

Med øget støtte ud til de bedste atleter, kunne det være en ide at de skulle give “noget tilbage” til sporten.

Et eksempel kunne være, at man som repræsentant for det danske landshold skulle forpligte sig til f.eks. at tage to upcoming ryttere under vingerne for en periode. Ideen bag kunne være at klæde de næste danske stjerner på - drømmene skal skabes, og talenterne skal kunne spejle sig og suge ny inspiration og træning til sig fra Danmarks bedste ekvipager.

Læs nyheden fra DRF her.

Ser frem til næste skriv som kommer i næste uge fra DRF som hedder “Potentialegruppen og den endelige udvælgelse”.

Er du endnu ikke helt i OL stemning, så kig videoen herunder ⬇️

Anna Zibrandtsen og Lumiere klar til international debut i polske Kalen-Towarzystwo

Anna Zibrandtsen - foto: H2R

International Grand Prix debut i weekenden til Anna og Lumiere

Anna Zibrandtsen og den 10-årige svenske varmblods vallak Lumiere e. Floricello/Gigolo, avlet af svenske Anette Andersson er klar til deres international Grand Prix debut i polske Kalen-Towarzystwo, som er beliggende sydvest for den polske hovedstad Warszawa.

Ekvipagen debuterede nationalt sidste år i Grand Prix og blev senest nr. 2 til EOR´s landsstævne i januar med 72,1%.

Grand Prix klassen går fredag og Grand Prix kür søndag. (Der findes endnu ikke endelig tidsplan).

Iflg. arrangørernes hjemmeside ligner det at man kan følge med via livestreaming, men det er desværre før set ikke at være muligt. Link til startlister og livestream findes via H2R kalenderen her.

𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐞, 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧

The year 2024 has started and the breeding season is almost upon us. In addition to breeding, sport at the highest level is also very important to us.

With the Paris Olympic Games in later this year, our focus is on this, for the stallions Glamourdale and Everdale.

Therefore, these stallions will only be available through frozen semen in 2024.

In addition to these stallions, Negro will also only be available in 2024 through frozen semen.

To order frozen semen, a request must be submitted one week in advance by email: info@vanolsthorses.com.

KWPN Stallion Show summary

⬆️Danish Warmblood stallions Sarai L by Secret/For Romance and Magic Mckee L by Total McLaren/Negro, bred by Stutteri L-Horses and co-owned by Stal van de Sande both selected for the performance test - photo: Timo Martis Fotografie

100 stallions in two days

When you attend the KWPN Stallion Show, it´s a pure breeding event added a smaller show part for Saturday evening. Starting friday morning with 55 stallions and the final part of 45 stallions saturday morning with subsequent presentation of selected stallions and presentation of the new Premium stallions. In between also with honouring of stallions and breeders.

Successful Danish/Dutch cooperation

Breeders and owners Karsten Bundgaard (hidden behind daughter Ellen) and Maria Rudbeck next to co-owner Peter van de Sande. Photo: H2R

On the positive list all the way were also the two Danish Warmblood stallions Sarai L and Magic Mckee L. They were already presented and selected for Danish Warmblood stallion show taking place 6-10 March 2024 in Herning, but they were also selected through the KWPN late pre-selected end of December.

Both stallions did not disapoint and definitely showed themselves in the light of a bright future for both breeding and sport. Of course the breeders from Stutteri L-Horses in Denmark Maria Rudbeck and Karsten Bundgaard were very excited going to s´Hertogenbosch for the first time presenting stallions for the KWPN licensing commission, but at the same time they felt confident with Peter van de Sande as co-owner and presenter as he has been a long time partner of the KWPN commuity. Meeting the three of them together at the stables after the selection was just the epitome of what a partnership can bring in the world of our beloved horses.

High quality of the majority for the 2024 KWPN stallion show

From the pre-selection (watched online) H2R picked a total of 14 stallions to keep an eye on with extra quality for the stallion show. From a nerdy point of view this “private H2R pre-selection” from the official pre-selection days makes it easier to join the stallion show in order to be focused all the way and having time to both get some new ones at the “list” and also to scatch a few.

Remember the name - ROMERO RDS by Glamourdale / Jazz - photo: Timo Martis Fotografie.

Five Premium stallions

New at H2R list from following the licensing was the premium stallion by Glamourdale / Cum Laude, well moving, modern and look like a stallion with a very nice overview. Also new at H2R list was the Lantanas / Negro with good power and expression.

Missing for the H2R Premium list was the grey powerhouse Glamourdale / Jazz like also the Ibiza / Apache and Dancier Gold / Desperados.

The D´avie / Sandro Hit stallion appointed Premium was a modern type but clearly missing more strength from behind with push under the body.

Not licensed

One single stallion was missing at the “accepted for the performance test” list. No 359 by For Romance / Dorado. This stallion already showed a super walk from the pre-selection and again at the stallion show, eventhough he was a bit long for the topline, but still very functional of the ground movements with super suppleness.

Catch up on Horse2rider Instagram or Facebook for running posts with videos from the event.

Highlights and program for the up-coming KWPN stallion show

100 young stallions ready for 2nd inspection

Two very intensive KWPN stallion days comes up Friday and Saturday in s´Hertogenbosch.

H2R favourites from the pre-selection

Day 1(13 december)

  • No 495 Raoul by Secret / Negro (stallion type, nice natural supple, nice frame and good balance).

  • No 395 Rico by Ibiza / Apache (long legged, uphill, expressive, supple mover).

Day 2(14 December)

  • No 359 Rossini by For Romance / Dorado (not the most modern type but super supple mover in all three gaits including very good walk).

  • No 420 Rovian LH by Jovian / Dream Boy (beautiful modern super expressive, power ful trot and canter but unfortunately short in the walk for the free presentation).

DAY 3(15 December)

  • No 383 Romero RDS by Glamourdale / Jazz (stood out with a lot of stallion expression, supple and powerful. This boy for sure look like a very interesting stallion for the breeding and future sport).

Day 4(16 December)

  • No 444 Ramblas by Lantanas / Glamourdale (Lantanas with super positive imprint for his offspring with super expression and supple movements).

  • No 532 Rome USB by Vaderland / Zambuka (supple uphill with very nice supple movements through the body).

  • No 339 Dream Dynasty TF by Dynamic Dream / Vitalis (best Dynamic Dream for the pre-selection).

Day 5 (18 December)

  • No 321 by Dancier Gold / Desperados (modern elegant type with lovely suppleness and power, bit one the toes for the walk).

  • No 305 Red Spirit by Blue Hors Monte Carlo /Daily Diamond (still very young body wise but very well moving with freedom and suppleness for all three gaits).

  • No 540 Red Knight DSV by Vivino / For Romance (nice frame with good suppleness and expression, bit long top line combined with a bit short croup).

  • No 480 Rico by Mac Madison / Glock´s Toto Jr (super nice uphill quick of the ground with power movements).

Day 5 (late pre-selection 29 December)

  • No 499 Sarai L by Secret / For Romance (super expressive, modern and supple mover).

  • No 525 Magic Mckee L by Total McLaren / Negro (powerful, big framed, well balanced stallion).

Schedule for the two stallion show days:

55 stallions will be presented for 2nd inspection (Friday) - link for detailed start list here. H2R list: 321 Dancier Gold / Desperados, 339 Dynamic Dream / Vitalis, 395 Ibiza / Apache, 420 Jovian / Dream Boy, 480 Mac Madison / Glock´s Toto Jr, 495 Secret / Negro, 499 Secret / For Romance, 525 Total McLaren / Negro, 540 Vivino / For Romance.

45 stallions (Saturday) - link for detailed start list here. H2R list: 359 For Romance / Dorado, 383 Glamourdale / Jazz, 532 Vaderland / Zambuka, 305 Blue Hors Monte Carlo / Daily Diamond, 444 Lantanas / Glamourdale,

Blue Hors introducerer kvalitetshingste tilgængelige på kølesæd ved EU-stationen på Fyn (nyhed på Bluehors.dk)

Blue Hors er stolte af at meddele, at fem af vores fremtrædende hingste nu vil være tilgængelige på kølesæd på vores nye EU-station på Fyn.

For at sikre klarhed understreger vi, at avlere i avlssæsonen 2024 alene vil have adgang til kvalitetssæd fra vores anerkendte hingste via transportsæd, der er således ikke mulighed for inseminering på hingstestationen.

Vi opfordrer venligst avlere til at holde sig opdateret via vores hjemmeside for information om sædtransportruten, der fortsætter som sædvanligt i samarbejde med Katrinelund.

De fem hingste tilgængelige på kølesæd er:

Det er vigtigt at bemærke, at Blue Hors Zack også vil være tilgængelig, men udelukkende via ICSI hos VetEmbryo, da han fremover nyder sin pension på en stor fold med havudsigt. Derudover vil Blue Hors Don Olymbrio blive en del af Nannas kollektion af Grand Prix-heste og vil være tilgængelig på frostsæd.

Martin Klavsen, Lene Hansen, Kaj Rosenlund og Lasse Bendixen udgør det erfarne team, der vil drive hingstestationen på Fyn og sammen vil de sikre den bedste service til vores kunder.

Vi ser frem til at byde velkommen på Fyn og ser spændt frem til den kommende avlssæson.

Britain´s Fry and Everdale shine again in Amsterdam

For the second time this season Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry and Everdale left the opposition in their wake at the eighth leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2023/2024 Western European League in Amsterdam (NED) today.

In yesterday’s Grand Prix they pinned Germany’s Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz into second place and longtime league-leader Sweden’s Patrik Kittel into third with Touchdown. Today they did it all again, but this time with a wider winning margin that left them well clear of the rest of the field.

Fry has now moved comfortably into third place on the Western European League table from which the top nine will qualify for the Final in Riyadh (KSA) in April. 

"I’m still taking it in I guess, to win here in Amsterdam is kind of a dream - especially with such a competitive field of horses and riders! Everdale has been feeling so good the last two days and I’ve had two really great rides so I couldn’t really ask for more!"

Charlotte Fry GBR

she said.

Field

The 15-strong starting field was filled with exciting talent from first to last, and judges Isobel Wessels (GBR), Patricia Wolters (NED), Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel (NED), Raphael Saleh (FRA) and Maria Colliander (FIN) had the Dutch partnership of Marieke van der Putten and the 12-year-old Totilas gelding Torveslettens Titanium RS2 NOP out in front at the halfway stage on a score of 79.725.

Second to go after the interval however, Belgium’s Flore de Winne and Flynn FRH took the lead when posting 80.315. This pair have been showing great promise this season, de Winne’s quiet balance helping the 10-year-old stallion sparkle as he continues to learn his trade while presenting a pleasing picture. 

Next in however, multiple gold medallist Werth opened up the whole competition with big marks from the outset with Quantaz whose score of 86.455 was never going to be easy to overtake. The enthusiastic crowd loved the German star’s trademark punchy performance and rose to their feet in appreciation as the five-time FEI Dressage World Cup™ title-winner pranced out of the arena at the end of her test with a big smile and a wave.

Fry followed with an imperfect first halt, but the scores started piling up for piaffe/passage and rock-solid flying changes, and boosted by four 10’s for Choreography and five more for Music and Interpretation they pushed the new target score up to 88.180 which proved impossible to better. 

Sweden’s Kittel posted 84.905 for third place despite a muddled moment when he dropped his reins early in the test, and when the Danish duo of Nanna Skodborg Merrald with Blue Hors Don Olymbrio and Carina Cassøe Krüth with Heiline’s Danciera posted 84.030 and 82.905 they slotted into fourth and fifth places respectively, Belgium’s de Winne sealing sixth spot at the end of the day.

Consistent

Tokyo 2020 Olympic partners, Fry and Everdale, have been enjoying a really consistent run of form having also won the sixth leg of the Western European League in Mechelen (BEL) in December, just two weeks after finishing second in London (GBR). Today’s result has firmly sealed a qualifying spot for the Dutch-based Briton at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2024 in Riyadh (KSA) in April, but with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the horizon there is no perfect plan in place just yet.

“Everdale is going to have a small break now. There are a lot of stallion shows coming up and then hopefully we will go to Den Bosch (s’Hertogenbosch NED) and then do the outdoor season with Glamourdale so we will see how it all works out”, said the rider who with her other superstar stallion, Glamourdale, took double-gold at the FEI Dressage World Championship in 2022.

At the post competition press conference there was much talk about the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and asked which horse she intends to bring Fry wouldn’t commit herself - “I’m very lucky to have two really top horses at the moment so we will see!”, she replied.

Meanwhile when asked if she expects to be in Paris, Werth modestly replied, 

"it’s not so easy to get in a team, especially in Germany or Great Britain. There are only three to go and I will try my best and we will see!"

Isabell Werth GER

Spoiled for choice

Kittel, who has long led the Western European League standings, admits he is spoiled for choice when it comes to horses for both the World Cup Final and the Paris Games.  

“I’m lucky because I have a couple of horses in the World Cup and I can do more shows without having to ride so much on each horse which is very good. For me that’s like a big bonus at the moment”, he explained. But he takes nothing for granted.

Where Paris is concerned he said “I think for every rider the Olympic Games is something we always dream of but it’s always in the stars. The day you are there and you’ve done your test and you say thank you to the judges - that’s the day you know you’ve ridden in an Olympics!”, he pointed out.

The Western European League now moves on to the final three stages at Neumünster (GER) in three weeks time, Gothenburg (SWE) at the end of February and ’s-Hertogenbosch (NED) in early March.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….


Result

Standings

VIDEO - Everdale and Lottie Fry were flying into the World Cup Grand Prix victory today in Amsterdam

Everdale & Lottie Fry winner of World Cup Grand Prix today - photo: EQWO.net/Petra Kerschbaum

Everdale and Lottie shows a great partnership in the arena, and they really make a picture of power and harmony during their performance. The way Lottie is able to ask during the test and every time with positive respons from Everdale makes the clear explanation of dressage. Today they started out with a bit of excitement for the entering halt but from there they just collected valueable point throughout their test.

Even though just three of the five judges saw them as winners, they were undoubtly the clear winners of today.

Quantaz and Werth has not been at start since last years Europeans, even though the scoreboard said 76,8 they were clearly not at the usual sharp level, especially for the transitions, but as we know Werth she will go for it tomorrow.

Both Danish combinations were in top with 4th place for Heiline´s Danciera and Carina Cassøe Krüth, with a few unbalanced moments today, but still scoring 74% followed by Blue Hors Don Olymbrio and Nanna Merrald showing a solid performance with a few minor things but without any technical issues.

Here you find the entire results. Running comments from more of the combinations to be found at Horse2rider Facebook.

Full winner test ⬇️

Ændringer i championat for dressurheste

Nyhed på DRF.dk

Ændringer i Pavo og DRF’s championat for dressurheste

Når Pavo og DRF’s championat for unge heste afvikles i løbet af 2024, bliver det med en ændring af konceptet for alle årgange og derudover med en række ændringer for 4-års hestene. Ændringerne er indført for at bidrage til at give de unge heste den bedst mulige introduktion til tilværelsen som konkurrencehest.

Kun fire kvalifikationsstævner for de 4-årige heste
Med den opdaterede regel i DRF’s Fælles Bestemmelser, der ikke tillader 4-års heste start til konkurrence før 1. juli, vil der for denne årgang alene være fire kvalifikationsstævner mod seks kvalifikationsstævner for de øvrige årgange. Det skyldes, at årets to første kvalifikationer i hhv. Nordvestsjællands Rideklub (D4) og Billund Sportsrideklub (D9) ligger i maj og juni måned.

Nyt program og indførsel af harmoni-karakter for de 4-årige heste
Tilbage i 2017 indførtes det, at 4-års hestene skulle fremvises i et program fremfor efter anvisninger. Det har fungeret godt og har bl.a. understøttet bedømmelsen af de unge hestes ridelighed. Programmet har dog for nogle syntes at været lidt krævende for de unge heste, og derfor er der nu udarbejdet et nyt program med lavere sværhedsgrad og kortere ridetid på banen. Det nye program vil blive offentliggjort snarest.

I forlængelse af dette vil der i 2024 også indgå en ny karakter i bedømmelsen af de unge heste - nemlig en ”harmoni-karakter”. Dermed er der nu seks karakterer i de 4-årige hestes bedømmelse, der alle vægter det samme (trav, galop, skridt, ridelighed, kapacitet, harmoni). Den nye harmoni-karakter skal beskrive i hvor høj grad, det der vises på konkurrencebanen er:

”Et tillidsfuldt partnerskab udviklet i overensstemmelse med træningsskalaen, hvor hesten er fremvist i korrekt form og tempo med lukket mund og rolig haleføring”.

Det er altså form, tempo og afspændthed hos den unge hest, der vil blive kigget på, ligesom harmoni-karakteren i høj grad også skal afspejle, hvor godt samspillet er mellem hest og rytter. Det betyder fx, at der kigges på, om rytteren har forståelse for og udviser hensyn til den unge hest, og om hesten ser let og behagelig ud at ride på og går for små og usynlige hjælpere uden anstrengelse for rytteren, som er grundprincipperne for dressur og beskrevet i DRF’s fordringer.

Ingen mellemrunder
Mellemrunderne er kommet og gået i championatskonceptet. Der er nemlig både for og imod afviklingen af disse. For nogle er det et mere realistisk delmål at sigte efter end en endelig finaleplads. Det er dog mange ture, de unge heste potentielt skal gå, hvis de skal gå en eller to kvalifikationer, en mellemrunde og et finalestævne med flere klasser på få dage. Da der samtidig er kort tid mellem årets sidste kvalifikationsstævner, den tidligere mellemrunde-termin og finalen i uge 41, er det besluttet at lade mellemrunden udgå.

Det er et hårdt program for de unge heste, og erfaringen fra 2023-sæsonen viste, at nogle heste nåede at blive trætte fra mellemrunden til finalestævnet. Derfor vil det i 2024 være de heste, der på tværs af kvalifikationer landet over scorer højest, der opnår de eftertragtede finalepladser. Der er 40 finalepladser i spil for 4-års hestene, 24 finalepladser for 5- og 6-års hestene og 14 finalepladser for 7-års hestene.

Agria becomes Official FEI Insurance Partner (FEI PRESS RELEASE)

FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez and CEO of Agria Agnes Fabricius at the signing of the agreement at the FEI Headquaters in Lausanne (SUI)  (Photo credit: FEI/Elisabeth Fransdonk)

In a partnership designed to provide innovative insurance solutions for an enriched life with horses, the FEI has announced that Swedish owned Agria are now the Official FEI Insurance Partner.

Founded in 1890, Agria has provided equine insurance and digital veterinary advice to equine owners in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, United Kingdom, and Germany. The company also has long-standing collaborations with National Equestrian Federations. Through their partnership with the FEI, which will run from 2024 through to 2028, Agria now aims to take these services to more countries in Europe.

“We’re pleased to be partnering with Agria, whose commitment to providing top notch insurance services, is a part of their overall mission to ensure equine welfare and preventative healthcare for animals,” FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus said. 

“The FEI’s partnership with Agria is not just about connecting the FEI’s stakeholders with people who have years of expertise in insurance. This venture is also about communicating on the opportunities for prevention, as preventing injuries is an important aspect in sustaining horse welfare around the world.  

“Agria brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and expertise from their own in-house equine veterinarian experts as well as from their long-standing collaboration with equine organisations, scientists and breeders.”

The FEI’s partnership with Agria follows a successful digital collaboration between the two organisations on the ‘What makes a champion?’ series which aired in 2022. Five equestrian athletes were interviewed for their views on the importance of mindset, team support, and passion to make an equestrian sporting dream a reality. The digital campaign had over 300,000 video views and 1 million impressions and has laid the foundation for a successful collaboration.  

"Through our collaboration with the FEI, Agria has the possibility to connect with more equestrian stakeholders than ever before and we’re excited about the opportunity to explore new markets and work for equine wellbeing and improved equine health on a pan-European level,” CEO of Agria Agnes Fabricius said. 

“The FEIs education and awareness campaigns and research projects in combination with the Agria Research Foundation which has one of the world’s largest equine injury databases, gives us a unique platform to spread injury prevention knowledge within the equestrian community and influence ethical standards among all types of horse owners.”

Agnes Fabricius, CEO of Agria, is a rider and small-scale breeder of SWB horses

About Agria

Agria is a leading animal insurance provider, founded as the first animal insurer in 1890 in Sweden. With a mission to provide peace of mind for animal owners and with a strong commitment to animal welfare, Agria has established itself as a market leader in animal insurance and digital veterinary care, providing services in multiple European countries.

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