Unfortunately no Mount St. John Freestyle & Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour for Nations Cup in Rotterdam

15 yr old mare MSJ Freestyle & Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour - photo: Horsephoto.dk

With an updated entry list for the upcoming CDIO5 Nations Cup in Rotterdam, the Danish team has been changed.

Originally the fairly new Danish top combination Mount St. John Freestyle and Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour were at the Nations Cup team at CHIO Rotterdam together with Daniel Bachmann Andersen with Vayron, Carina Cassøe Krüth with Heiline´s Danciera and Blue Hors Don Olymbrio with Nanna Merrald.

Freestyle and Cathrine is unfortunately no longer at the list, instead Thranegaardens Rostov & Lone Bang Zindorff will join the Danish team in Rotterdam.

H2R caught Cathrine which of course is super sad that she had to withdraw from Rotterdam and tells: “Free had a small accident in the paddock which means she is only allowed to do some small jogging for the next week, and therefore she will not be in top form for Rotterdam.”

For now it´s all about getting Freestyle ready for the final selection for the Danish team, with definite entry for the Olympics July 8.

A look down the entry list the Belgium, French, Dutch and Swedish teams look like they show their strongest combinations for CDIO5 Rotterdam.

Entries for rotterdam:

Huge Grand Prix class in Hagen devided into two days

Hagen

With 49 combinations for the CDI3 Grand Prix in Hagen, the first 41 were scheduled for Thursday and then the last 8 for Friday morning.

Danish top combination Blue Hors Zepter and Nanna Merrald were yesterday at start for the first time since Lövsta Top 10 in Stockholm back in December last year.

As Zepter earlier this year suffered from a hoof abscess everyone were looking forward to their “comeback”.

For Nanna and her long time trainer Michael Søgaard the plan was clear, an error free performance without asking to much. No doubt the entire dressage world were online to follow one of best combinations in the world.

“How does he look? Is he fit? Do they need to prove themselves?” - a lot of questions to be asked, and no doubt Nanna for sure also felt the pressure. But they went into the arena did their things together with top qualities, no mistakes and winning the class with a clear 78,739% performance, 4% ahead of Jovian and Patrik Kittel. They are definitely back and with the message of today that they will not be at start for Grand Prix Special in Hagen, is with only 50-days to go before the Olympics a very wise decision for the Danish team.

Blue Hors Zepter, MSJ Freestyle and Vayron are the current Danish top contenders for the Olympics, and at the end of the day the best combinations fit to compete will make the team.

Sweden and America

The picture for the Swedish team also slowly getting more clear and besides anchormen Kittel and Nilshagen, Sofie Lexner with Inoraline W and Maria von Essen with Invoice look like the current contenders for the 3rd spot. Nothing decided yet and still time for a few important observation events for each country.

All american long list riders were at start with Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper in top placed 3rd and at start this morning. They showed a strong performance and scored just below 73%, which look like their current level.

Adrienne Lyle has two horses for the long list, Lars van de Hoederheide and Helix. With Lars she choose to retire from the test yesterday when she was doing the two times as she felt he wasn´t really up for the job (stated on FB). Together with Helix she was placed 5th with 72% follow by countryman Endel Ots with Bohemian scoring just below 72%. For both horses a bit short and tight frame makes the overall picture and at the same time with easy and effortless performances.

Danish Warmblood mare Fiontini with Anna Buffini were in day two part of the Grand Prix with start this morning. And from an overall picture, with suppleness, balance, power, elasticity, super frame and quality they were actually more like judge at B, Alice Schwab (AUT) saw them for 73,9% - they finished 7th with 71,783%.

Here you find the entire results.

48 horses at Helgstrand Online auction tonight - top price 35.000 euro (average price was 7.300 euro)

Most expensive no 2 a 6 year old mare by Valverde / Sezuan sold for 35.000 euro to Germany.

No 3 sold for 26.500 euro to Austria and no 7 sold for 21.500 euro to Swizerland.

Eight horses were marked with “auction closed and not sold”.

The total price of 40 sold horses was 293.500 euro which makes an average price of 7.300 euro.

Link for the auction here.

CDI3* Grand Prix in Hagen: Zepter holds the lead in the interim

Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN) & Blue Hors Zepter © Foto Rüchel

Press release, 6 June 2024

Hagen a.T.W.)  It was a truly international vibe at Hof Kasselmann today with team jackets from all around the world lining up around the jumping stadium to support their fellow countrymen and women. Today the CDI3* Grand Prix got underway with the first 41 of a total of 49 entries in the class. There are plenty of high-profile names looking to make an impression this close to Olympic selection. One of them was Danish rider Nanna Skodborg-Merrald and her European Championship partner Blue Hors Zepter, who scored 78.739 percent to hold the provisional lead after the first part of the Grand Prix concluded this afternoon. It was the first competition since December 2023 for the son of Blue Hors Zack, but with this score the pair made clear where its plans are headed. Second place went to Swede Patrik Kittel on the stallion Jovian on 74.783 percent. 

The entire U.S. Olympic Short List is going head to head in Hagen for the first time and five of the seven shortlisted combinations made their presence felt this afternoon. Endel Ots held the lead on Bohemian for a long time, they posted 71.891 percent in their first competition outside the United States and finished today in fourth place. Ashley Holzer and Hansel got close in their European debut — 71.457 percent — but it wasn’t until another ZEN Equestrian owned horse, the Apache son Helix under Adrienne Lyle pipped them to finish in third place in the preliminary standings. Nanna Skodborg-Merrald completes the top six on her young Grand Prix star Blue Hors Znickers. On Friday from 8.10 am the final seven riders will start in the Grand Prix. 

It is also the first time that Hof Kasselmann hosts a Para Dressage event and the first class to go is the CPEDI3* - Grade III - Grand Prix Test A from 9:50 am. Entry to the showground is free of charge and live stream platform ClipMyHorse.TV shows all the action from Hagen as well. 

Comments around the showground: 

Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN): “It was amazing to have Zepter back in the ring. That was the goal and also to have a clear, safe round. Nothing crazy special, but he felt really nice and was happy and wanted to do it. The plan to ride here came up a month ago, because the facilities are always great in Hagen. The footing is so good and that’s really important to me this close to Paris.”

Endel Ots (USA): “I was really happy with my test. It’s the first time showing the Grand Prix in Europe and I was quite nervous in the warm-up. But I had to pretend that I wasn’t and it worked, I really had fun. Normally I don’t smile so much in tests, but I did today. It felt very at home, I really love the horse. He’s such a good boy: I took him for a hand-walk this morning, warmed him for 15 minutes and then went in. I’ve only ridden him for four months now and each time I go in the ring I learn a new little thing about him. I’m just very thankful to be here. It’s awesome to have the whole U.S. group here all together supporting each other. It’s so cool to also have the Para riders in the same barn!”

Ashley Holzer: “That was amazing, I’m so excited! Hansel hasn’t done a lot and he hasn’t travelled a lot. P.J. (Rizvi) and I share him and Katherine (Bateson Chandler) is the most amazing coach. It’s just so fun to come to a show and feel him just grow in confidence. He was so scared at the beginning and it was tricky riding him through things. It’s rolling the right way now, he’s getting that focus in the ring now. I cannot thank the Kasselmann family more, they have been the most wonderful hosts at this show. We have to walk a little bit to the ring, which makes it more of a championship type of show. I think that’s super important, we don’t have a lot of venues where we can have this sort of atmosphere.”

Louise Nathorst (SWE): “It’s super important for the Swedish team to have this event. We can have the riders compete at a good facility with good grounds.”

Emma Booth (AUS): “Our preparation has been a bit rocky up to this point with me getting injured just under six weeks ago, but we are glad to be here and give it a go. We found out about this Para Dressage show when we started planning the trip to come over. It’s awesome to have it run at the same time as the CDI with everybody here in the one venue. I visited Hof Kasselmann for Horses & Dreams a couple of years ago, but this year it’s my first time riding here. We have a little Aussie team here, which is great. It’s nice to have some familiar faces around and feel part of the team. We just had the horse inspection and we are competing Friday and Saturday.”

Galloping on to the Paris Olympic Games

3D Graphic of Château de Versailles, Equestrian venue for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.  © Paris 2024

PART OF FEI PRESS RELEASE by Louise Parkes

Today marks the 50-day countdown to the start of the equestrian events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the excitement is mounting with every moment.

The three Olympic disciplines of Dressage, Eventing and Jumping will take centre stage in the beautiful gardens of the Palace of Versailles from 26 July to 6 August, so here are some things you might like to know when marking your calendar and making your plan to follow it from start to finish, whether you are travelling to the French capital or watching the action from afar.

The venue

Initially built as a simple hunting lodge, the magnificent Château de Versailles was home to the court of Louis XIV in 1682 and became the epicentre of French royalty. In 1883 it became a national museum open to the public and it was the first French site to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979.

The Paris 2024 equestrian events will play out over its 2,000 acres of parkland, and a temporary outdoor arena, flanked by several stands, has been created on the Etoile Royale esplanade to the west of the Grand Canal at the heart of the palace’s gardens. The Eventing cross-country course will take competitors across the Canal and along both sides of it, with the Château providing the most stunning backdrop.

Despite challenging weather conditions works on site are well up to speed with all major infrastructure in place including field of play, warm-up, training arenas and stable tents. Right now internal fit-out is underway including stable boxes, the veterinary clinic, the media centre and the judge’s tower. The main cross-country obstacle features such as water jumps, banks and ditches have been completed for some time, and other obstacles will be brought in as pre-constructed portable jumps and positioned by the course designer in the coming weeks. 

It won’t be long until all the facilities are buzzing with even more activity when the horses begin to arrive on 24 July.

Dressage

The first Horse Inspection for Dressage will be held on Sunday 28 July at 08.00, and at 11.00 on Tuesday morning 30 July the first 30 horse-and-rider combinations will compete in the Grand Prix while the remaining 30 will do their tests on Wednesday 31.

The top ten ranked Teams in the Grand Prix, including those tied for tenth place, will qualify for the FEI Grand Prix Special which will begin at 10.00 on 3 August and will decide the Team medals.

The second Dressage Horse Inspection will take place at 08.00 on 4 August and will be followed at 10.00 by the Grand Prix Freestyle. This is the Individual Final Competition which is open to 18 combinations qualified from the FEI Grand Prix. The Individual medal ceremony is scheduled for 13.30 on Sunday afternoon. 

Officials for Dressage will include: 

Ground Jury President          -    Raphael Saleh (FRA)
Ground Jury Member            -    Henning Lehrmann (GER)
Ground Jury Member            -    Isobel Wessels (GBR)
Ground Jury Member            -    Mariette Sanders (NED)
Ground Jury Member            -    Magnus Ringmark (SWE)
Ground Jury Member            -    Michael Osinski (USA)
Ground Jury Member            -    Susanne Baarup (DEN)

The Judges Supervisory Panel will consist of:

Member                    -    Andrew Gardner (GBR)
Member                    -    Mary Seefried (AUS)
Member                    -    Henk van Bergen (NED)

There will be a total of 15 Teams and 45 athletes along with 15 Individual competitors. The qualified Teams are France, Denmark, Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, USA, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Canada,  Australia, Portugal, Finland.

Another 15 countries will be represented by Individuals. Places are allocated through FEI Olympic Groups, qualification events and the FEI Olympic Ranking list.

Deadline

There’s just over two weeks left to go before the deadline for National Federations to submit Certificates of Capability to the FEI on 25 June while Monday 8 July is the deadline for Definite Entries. By then we will have the full list of horses and athletes in all disciplines, including those on the reserve lists. 

The Games of the XXXlll Olympiad are just around the corner. Don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

Timetable

https://inside.fei.org/system/files/Paris2024%20Timetable%2029April2024_2.pdf

Rules and Regulations for all disciplines here

https://inside.fei.org/system/files/FEI%20Olympic%20Regulations%20Paris%202024%20Equestrian_Approved%20at%20FEI%20GA%202022_Updated_26%20January%202024_Clean%20Version.pdf

German Championships comes up from Thursday

German Championships is always interestering to follow and with the Olympics near the final selection gets closer. For The German combinations it is mandatory to participate at the national championships, but with Wendy de Fontaine with Isabell Werth ouf of competition due a minor injury they will still have the chance if Wendy will be fit for Aachen.

Schedule for championships:

Thursday 13.30 Grand Prix 1st qualifier for Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle

Saturday 10.30 Grand Prix Special (best 20 combinations from GP) 🥇🥈🥉

Sunday 11.45 Grand Prix Freestyle (best 12 combinations from GPS)🥇🥈🥉

Here you find link for start & results. The entire event will be LIVE at Clipmyhorse.

Highlight for the upcoming HANN Online foal auction - final bid up starts 6 June at 7 pm

A total of 27 dressage foals are at the 33rd Verden Online auction. The bidding is open now and the final bid up starts Thursday at 7 pm.

From H2R point of view no 101 by Fürst Bellisaro / Spörcken and no 107 by McLaren / Rubinero. Both super supple uphill mover with super “antritt”.

No 118 by Secret Escape / Danone I with lovely expression and round soft push from the Danone like hind legs, not the most flashy shoulder freedom, but still one for H2R top list.

Here you find the entire collection.

Malagueño and José Daniel Martin Dockx on their way to Paris with strong Grand Prix at Spanish national championship

Screenshot Clipmyhorse

Spanish national championships

This weekend the national Spanish championships takes place in Barcelona. From yesterdays Grand Prix at a quick view from the latest Spanish performances a clear picture comes through for the first two combinations for the upcoming Olympics, as both José Daniel Martin Docks with the 14 yr old PRE stalion Magagueño and Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo with 15 year old Lusitano stallion Euclides Mor both look like the very safe cards for Paris.

Quincallo de Indalo stopped by judge at C

The lovely Quincallo de Indalo with Alejandro de Barca has not been out since last years Europeans but from yesterday´s performance they looked super sharp. Unfortunately there were some huge judging disagreement 15 - 11 - 3 - 3 - 12 and they were placed as no 7. They showed a strong expressive trot tour, good walk tour where judge at C Dutch Mariette Sanders-Van Gansewinkel rang the bell and came out with the white napkin, but there was nothing visual and he continued his test. Good canter tour without any technical issues and super final. They are back on form and Quincallo looked fresh and fit. They look like the 3rd combination for Paris.

Other team contenders for the long list

Borja Carrascosa was 3rd with his still young an inexperienced Frizzantino and finished no 10 with Sir Hubert. Into the final run for the last spot could also be José Antonio Garcia Mena with Gladiador Do Lis finishing 5th.

For German based Severo Jurado Lopez this season has been a bit diffucult gaining the scores for bringing him into the Olympic team. Severo only showed Fürstenglory OLD once this season in March in Lier scoring 71.5% and yesterday they were back with some judging disagreement into 70,609%.

Multiple Olympic rider Beatrice Ferrer-Salat and Elegance finished just outside the placements with 70,935%.

Here you find the entire results. The championships can be follow LIVE at Clipmyhorse.

Danish Warmblood mare Quinn G ready to defend the World Champion title with Charlotte Dujardin in the saddle

World Champion for 5 yr old in 2023 Danish Warmblood mare Quinn G & Betina Jæger - photo: H2R

Exclusive addition for Danish Warmblood long list for WCYH in Ermelo

When it last year was announced that Danish Warmblood World Champion for 5 year old horses Quinn G by Quaterhit / Fassbinder ridden by Betina Jæger, bred by Stutteri G, Helene Geervliet was sold to British Olympic team medalist Fiona Bigwood, the entire dressage world were of course super excited.

Lately the now 6 year old mare was shown in training by Carl Hester and also successfully competed by Carl at 6 year old level in Hickstead in the beginning of May winning both classes scoring impressive 98,4 and 97,0!

Of course Danish Warmblood and the entire dressage world would love to see Quinn G back in Ermelo defending the title. Owner Fiona Bigwood and Carl Hester agreed on bringing Quinn G back for this years World Championships, but as Carl already has a very busy schedule in September the rider will be changed.

Instead no other than former Olympic and World Champion Charlotte Dujardin will make her debut at the World Championships in Ermelo in the saddle of Danish Warmblood mare Quinn G. The plan is that Charlotte will make her debut together with Quinn during the final British selection for WCYH in Ermelo at Hartpury which takes place end of June.

Danish Warmblood selectors will of course like for everyone else living abroad have a video of Quinn G and Charlotte Dujardin before the final Danish Warmblood selection takes place in Denmark 23 & 24 July.

Whether they will compete as part of the quota for Danish Warmblood or as a Wild Card from the organiser is of course still open.

About going to Ermelo for the first time Charlotte Dujardin says: “I feel very excited and honoured to ride Quinn, I´m also looking forward to having my own and Peter Beshaw Secret Agent in the 5 year olds.”

Secret Agent is by Secret / De Niro bred by Nicole and Frederik Seifer.

Enjoy the World Champion performance from 2023 here below ⬇️

Indtryk fra Danmarksmesterskaberne 2024

MSJ Freestyle & Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour suveræne vindere af DM 2024 - foto: horsephoto.dk

Et stuvende fuldt stadion med høj sol og fantastisk stemning, det var hvad årets DM i Vallensbæk bl.a. bød på. Sport på højeste nationale plan med et seriøst twist af ekvipager fra den absolutte internationale top, gav præcis den stemning og sport som alle var kommet for. Og i år for første gang i mange år med udenlandsk dommer, som var ingen ringere end kommende OL dommer fra Tyskland Henning Lehrmann.

Foto: H2R

Det var tydeligt at arrangørerne bag DM stævnet havde hænderne fulde med det store arrangement. Men set og hørt fra sidelinien under vejs, var det med optimale baner (forberedt og vedligeholdt af Bluhme Dressage), gode træningsmuligheder og gode stald forhold. Alle uhyre vigtige faktorer for at rytterne og deres heste kan præstere optimalt.

Måske overraskede det, at så mange dressurentusiaster havde fundet vej til Vallensbæk, idet gearingen i forhold til forplejningen desværre ikke kunne følge med. Men mon ikke arrangørerne kan nå at rette lidt op på den del inden den kommende weekends DM for juniorer og ungryttere.

Med så mange mennesker til et DM, bragte det stemningen op på et niveau, man ikke har mærket siden Broholm-tiden. Der var fuld applaus og opbakning til alle ekvipagerne i bedste mesterskabsånd.

Sporten

Årets felt til DM var på 28 ekvipager og efter førstedagens Grand Prix var de 15 bedste klar til søndagens kür finale.

Ikke overraskende var Cathrine og Free i front efter førstedagens Grand Prix, om det skulle være med knap 7,5% forspring ned til Carina og Danse, var måske ikke helt så tydeligt som pointtavlen viste. Men fakta er at MSJ Freestyle og Cathrine mestre kunsten i harmoni og afspændthed kombineret med høj kvalitet og det skal naturligvis også give tydelige vinderpoint.

På papiret var der lagt op til spænding om bronzemedaljen, og den spænding holdt helt til slut, hvor Lone Bang og Rostov i overbevisende stil også meldte sig seriøst ind i kampen om sølvet. Men et stærkt udlæg på førstedagen fra Carina og Danse sikrede dem alligevel sølvmedaljen. Et nyligt trænerskifte for Carina og Danse, som nu har berider Jon D. Pedersen på sidelinien, har givet tydelig ændring i specielt Grand Prix turen med mindre pres og bedre flow i passage/piaffe turene, selvom piaffe aldrig bliver highlight for ekvipagen, så har de rigtig mange andre ting under vejs på +8 skalaen, med skridtturen, serier og pirouetter.

Fra sidelinien var det tydeligt at Lone var klar på en fest da hun rider på banen til gårsdagens kürfinale, og det fik hun også sammen med sin rutinerede partner Rostov. Og festen var ikke kun på banen, men også hos dommerne som fortjent satte ekvipagen på 2. pladsen i den individuelle kür konkurrence, og parret slutter flot igen i år på podiet med bronzemedaljen. Lone og Rostov er jo allerede en del af a-truppen, og vi vil formodentlig se dem til start til stævnet i Aachen som ligger i starten af juli.

DM bliver jo afgjort med resultaterne fra både Grand Prix og Grand Prix kür. I forhold til mesterskabsformatet havde det været mere relevant om man i år havde valgt at det skulle afholdes Grand Prix og Grand Prix Special, idet Grand Prix Specialen er afgørende for sommerens holdkonkurrence til OL.

Selvom det var med afbud fra Nanna Merrald, grundet hendes søsters bryllup, så var Nanna og hendes kæreste alligevel klar på sidelinien til søndagens kürfinaler, hvor Blue Hors rytter Sophia Ludvigsen med Blue Hors Quintana igen i år stod øverst på podiet efter U25 küren.

Daniel havde ladet Vayron blive hjemme efter deres succesturen i Compiegne, og istedet medbragt den 10-årige Sezuan / Carex hoppe Shirley, som han fik vist rigtig ordentlig i Grand Prix´en med lidt spændinger, mens gårsdagens kür var tydeligt forbedret selvom det ikke helt blev reflekteret på pointtavlen. Parret slutter som samlet nr. 7 i årets DM. Daniel modtog en særlig ærespræmie givet af Dressurens Venner: “For hans altid sobre måde at fremvise en hest på, og for at være en god kammerat og have den bedste holdånd. Daniel er garant for at hestens velfærd er i fokus, og det er vejen frem,” var ordene fra altid velforberedte stadionspeaker Pia Switzer.

Rune Willum på plads i trænerstolen - foto: H2R

Lige udenfor podiet slutter Favour Gersdorf og Nadja med en flot 4. plads. Det stadig forholdsvis nye trænerskifte til Rune Willum ser ud til at bære succesfuld frugt. Generelt et billede med endnu mere kontrol, mere smidighed i traversader og forbedret kvalitet i galopturen samtidig med at passage/piaffe turene er med super balance og rytmik hele vejen. En ekvipage som vi helt sikkert vil se mere til inden OL, og som skal holde sig skrape indtil endelig udtagelse.

Anna og Quel Filou arbejder med forskellige ting sammen med Wolfram Wittig, og lige nu giver det sig udslag i forbedringer på nogle punkter, samtidig med at der må gives køb på andre ting. Men weekendens DM har klart bragt dem tilbage på sporet efter et lidt svært forår, og det ser ud til at udendørs sæsonen bringer tingene bedre sammen. Et skønt harmonisk billede med gode kvaliteter, som lige nu bare til pudses lidt skarpere af.

Højest placeret debutant i DM feltet er Kenneth Damgaard med hoppe UNO Day Sun. H2R fangede Kenneth og hans træner Vibke Degn Andersen efter gårsdagens kür finale, hvor parret slutter på en samlet 6. plads.

Lyt med her ⬇️🎧

Grand Galiano og Rikke samler værdifuld erfaring for hver gang de rider ad midten, og Grand Galiano er stadig super ung med sine blot 9 år på det sværeste niveau, så tingene bliver også sat sammen og gradvist forbedret i et tempo som ser ud til at være afstemt efter styrkeforholdet. Parret slutter som samlet nr. 7.

Joachim og Vichy Pax er også inde i en positiv udvikling. Mest bemærkelsesværdigt er de forbedrede serier, hvor Vichy tidligere har toppet op i stedet for at springe under i changementerne. Det ser ud til at være et issue som Joachim er ved at have knækket koden til, og efter at have konsulteret Kyra Kyrklund efter Grand Prix´en, så var der selvfølgelig et lille ekstra værktøj i Kyra´s uudtømmelige værktøjskasse, som Joachim fik med i forberedelserne til gårsdagens kür. Parret bliver samlet nr. 8. Kyra er jo med på sidelinien som en del af Cathrine´s team frem mod OL.

Næste stop frem mod OL

DRF har ikke sat navne på de ekvipager som skal repræsentere Danmark til stævnet i Rotterdam fra 19.-23. juni som formodentlig sidste stop inden endelig udtagelse, men Cathrine bekræfter overfor H2R at planen er at hun skal ride Freestyle i Rotterdam, da der “stadigvæk skal pudses lidt af her og der,” som hun udtrykker det.

Så mon ikke vi får Vayron og Danciera på banen i Rotterdam også, og indtil videre er planen jo at Blue Hors Zepter og Nanna er til start 6.-9. juni i Hagen.

U25 mesterskabet

Med et kig tilbage på tidligere U25 mesterskaber, så var det ofte præget af ældre heste som allerede havde aftjent deres værnepligt i seniorsporten. Det billede har tydeligvis ændret sig, og i dag ser man ofte de unge ryttere på yngre heste, som udvikler sig sammen.

Udover de kendte i toppen af feltet er ny på U25 niveauet Ida Bjørn med Hussmanns Jackson, som lige nu banker seriøst på for en plads i truppen med kvalitet og rigtig god ridning.

Mesterskab i lille-tur

I den forgangne weekend har Holland også afholdt nationale mesterskaber og her finder man ikke kun mesterskaber i U25 og senior, men bl.a. også i lille-tur.

Det er jo ikke nogen hemmelighed at det er langt fra alle som nogensinde kommer til at ride Grand Prix, så derfor kunne et mesterskab i lille-tur, Prix St. Georg og Intermediaire I være særdeles attraktivt at lave sammen med mesterskabet i stor tur. Ikke at det skal tage over for Bundgaard Byg, som jo hvert år tiltrækker mange ekvipager til vinterens landsstævner, men være et supplement som rytterne også kunne ride i udendørs sæsonen, og samtidig være en del af DM-stemningen med tilhørende medaljer.

Indtryk fra førstedagen til Dansk Varmblods iagttagelse til UVM

5 års Lygums Zelina e. Blue Hors St. Schufro / Blue Hors Zack, avlet af Lygum Horses og ejet i fællesskab med rytter Victoria Vallentin - foto: Horsephoto.dk

Vallensbæk ridecenter danner i år rammen om DM stævnet, og i dag startede man ud i med førstedagen til årets UVM iagttagelse.

Vejrudsigten svigtede desværre ikke. Det startede med små regnbyger gennem dagen, og sluttede af med solid regn, men alle heste og ryttere lod sig heldigvis ikke mærke med det pludselige vejromskifte.

Generelt stor tilmelding og dermed også mulighed for at se mange ekvipager i hver årgang, både kendte og ukendte.

Udtagelsesproceduren er ofte til diskussion og dette år uden undtagelse. Fra flere ryttere på sidelinien var der ønske om, at man brugte førstedagen som i dag med gennemridning af det indledende program, og så istedet for igen imorgen at skulle gennemride samme program en gang til, at man kunne bruge tiden på at arbejde på nogle af de udfordringer hver enkelt ekvipage havde i dagens programridning. Dertil kommer at flere også mente, at én dag til den endelige udtagelse i juli måned med gennemridning af finale programmet vile være optimalt. Måske yderligere bakket op af træningsvideo fra hver enkelt ekvipage evt. 14 dage inden sidste udtagelse.

Uden at kende det præcise antal som de tre dommmere udtager til den endelige udtagelse i juli måned, vover H2R allerede efter dagens første runde at sætte navne på de ekvipager i hver årgang som ligner de bedste kandidater.

H2R bruttolisten er angivet herunder og med ⭐️ -markering på de ekvipager som H2R allerede nu har på den endelige liste til UVM.

Nogle få ekvipager stod rigtig skarpt i dag og ligner sikre valg - 5 års Svalegårds Hot Driver (fuld video findes på Thehorse2rider Instagram) og Valiant, 6 års Straight Horse Floriana og 7 års Blue Hors Santiano (fuld video på Thehorse2rider Instagram). For begge top ekvipager Valerie B med Anne Mette Strandby Hansen og Lyngbjergs St. Paris med Victoria Vallentin var der tekniske udfordinger i changementerne, som kræver lidt mere arbejde inden de også er de helt sikre valg.

5 års

Deltagerfeltet var idag 20 ekvipager.

  • ⭐️Lygum´s Zelina med Victoria Vallentin

  • Vera DWB med Sandra Harholm Hansen

  • Quater Son med Nicolai Cens Christiansen

  • Atterupgaards Sterling Moss med Selina Solberg Vittinghus

  • Grevens Zeze med Silje Bakken

  • Straight Horse Sun King med Mette Sejbjerg Jensen

  • ⭐️Valiant med Frederikke Gram Jacobsen

  • ⭐️Svalegårds Hot Driver med Carina Cassøe Krüth

  • ⭐️Slangerupgaards Saffron med Anne Troensegaard (deltog ikke i dag, grundet kværkeudbrud i stalden)

6 års

Deltagerfeltet var ialt 19 ekvipager.

  • FA Viviani DWB med Lone Bang Zindorff

  • Franka med Emma Ahlberg

  • Redhead med Lovisa Wessblad

  • ⭐️Lille Kærgårds Sisco DWB med Silje Bakken

  • ⭐️Straight Horse Floriana med Mette Sejbjerg Jensen

  • EQ Secret Suprice med Susanne Barnow

  • Franko Unik med Frederikke Gram Jacobsen

  • ⭐️Valerie B med Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen

  • ⭐️Valegro Majlund med Lone Bang Zindorff

  • Grevens Sirius med Eric Guardia Martinez (deltog ikke grundet behandling efter folduheld, men video tilsendes)

7 års

Deltagerfeltet var på ialt 13 ekvipager.

  • ⭐️Blue Hors Santiano med Nanna Merrald

  • ⭐️Hønnerups Qlision med Michael Grønne Christensen

  • ⭐️Svalegårds Hot Boy DWB med Trude Hestegen

  • ⭐️Lyngbjergs St. Paris med Victoria Vallentin

VIDEOS - Glamourdale and Lottie Fry back in great form with double win in Aachen

Glamourdale & Charlotte Fry - photo: H2R

Glamourdale back in super form

Soon the final preparations towards the Olympics comes up and with a long competition break for World Champion combination Glamourdale & Lottie Fry it was an important event in Aachen now.

Glamourdale and Lottie has not shown since last years Europeans where they won individual silver in freestyle.

Both performances in Aachen with top qualities with just a few minor things to be adjusted. A very clear picture of their strength towards Paris.

Rigth now the British team for Paris look like Imhotep, Fame and Glamourdale.

78,935% Grand Prix ⬇️

80,447% Grand Prix Special ⬇️

Detailed results Grand Prix here.

Detailed results Grand Prix Special here.

PODCAST - Two hearts one soul

Maxima Bella & Sandra Sysojeva - photo: H2R

The story about the young super mare Maxima Bella and her rider and owner Sandra Sysojeva

During Horses & Dreams 2024 in Hagen H2R caught international rider Sandra Sysojeva for a chat about her super mare Maxima Bella. Sandra is from Lithuania where she also is based, but competing for Poland.

Sandra and her just 8 year old Maxima Bella entered the international Grand Prix scene back in February.

A few of the quotes from Sandra during our chat:

You can get a good horse one time in your life usually you don’t get it, I’m lucky that I bought it.

The riding comes more from thinking, if somebody ask how I taught piaffe and passage, it just came.

When you train alone sometimes it can be that you ride to much, I always have this rule, every time do it like once, maximum repeat it because you can really enjoy the passage and piaffe.

At 6 years she was so hot, how would I do a flying change. I will never do flying changes. I started with normal single flying changes. I sent her (Dominika) a video after two weeks she was doing one by one.

Here below you can listen to our chat where we also were joined by Dominika Krasko (friend/groom/trainer etc.)

Huge line up for Danish national championships including Mount St John Freestyle & Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour

Danish national Championships next weekend with Grand Prix Saturday afternoon and Grand Prix freestyle Sunday afternoon.

A total of 28 combinations are ready and with MSJ Freestyle and Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour as top favourites for the title. Cathrine also bring Vividus QRE for the championships.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen brings the young mare Shirley for the Championships as Vayron with his recent top performances at Compiègne already has proven that his form curve is on the rise.

Recent top placed at Compiègne Heiline’s Danciera and Carina Cassøe Krüth are also at the list.

Neither Nanna Merrald and Anna Kasprzak are on the list. Nanna will be at start the following weekend in Hagen together with Blue Hors Zepter.

Entries

Paris Hopefuls Descend on Hagen in June

PART OF PRESS RELEASE

Press release, 17 May 2024

(Hagen a.T.W.) For the second time this year Hof Kasselmann in Hagen at the Teutoburg Forest will become the focus of the international dressage world: From 6 to 9 June riders vying for selection for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will have the opportunity to contest a CDI and CPEDI at three-star level. Much is at stake this close to Paris and while Germany’s elite will be at the national championship event in Balve, athletes from 24 other countries will take the opportunity to show their form and fitness in Hagen.

High-profile entries

The line up for the CDI3* tour, which includes a Grand Prix Special and a Freestyle, features the seven athletes and eight horses, which have been selected to the US dressage team Olympic short list for continued observation ahead of Olympic team selection later this summer. Anna Buffini on Fontini, Adrienne Lyle with Lars van de Hoenderheide and Helix, Anna Marek and Fire Fly, Katherine Bateson-Chandler with Haute Couture, Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper, Marcus Orlob and Jane as well as Endel Ots on Bohemian all plan to use Hagen as one of three required observation events. Other high-profile combinations on the entry list include Danish super star Nanna Skodborg-Merrald, who has entered both Blue Hors Zepter and Blue Hors Znickers. The former hasn’t been seen since his second placing in the CDI5* of Stockholm in December 2023, but would have to be considered Nanna’s number one hope for Paris after piaffing to silver in the Grand Prix Special at the 2023 Europeans. Sweden is represented by team stalwart Patrik Kittel with new ride Jovian, Juliette Ramel on Gideon K.H., Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén with Esperance or Hyatt, Malin Wahlkamp-Nilsson on Zackson as well as emerging pair Sofie Lexner and Inoraline W, who put their names on the map at Horses & Dreams meets Portugal at the same venue in April. Australia’s Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe and Lyndal Oatley with Dante’s Herzchen continue their campaign for Paris, as are Portugal’s top riders, Maria Pais do Amaral, João Pedro Moreira and Antonio do Vale. Finland has also qualified a team for Paris, the first time since Seoul in 1988, and with six Finnish athletes riding in Hagen, the competition for team selection will be hot. 

To emulate Championship atmosphere the dressage arena will be set up in the jumping stadium at Hof Kasselmann. The dressage program also features a small tour and an international U25 tour.

Jumping stadium at Hof Kasselmann © Mhisen

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