FEI PRESS RELEASE - Dutch dance back to the top at Rotterdam

Few nations have been as dominant in their home Nations Cup as The Netherlands. After finishing off the podium last year, the Dutch reasserted their dominance at home with a notable victory Thursday in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ of Rotterdam (NED).

Led by Chef d'Equipe Patrick van der Meer, the quartet of Edward Gal (Glock's Total Us), Marlies van Baalen (Habibi DVb N.O.P.), Emmelie Scholtens (Indian Rock), and Dinja van Liere (Hermes N.O.P.) kept Denmark at bay with a total score of 222.392, led by van Liere's 77.891% in the CDIO5* Grand Prix test. 

Denmark, who won the series' last leg at Compiegne (FRA), finished second with a total score of 220.349. They were just ahead of Germany (219.435), who captured the opening leg in Wellington (USA).

The Netherlands has now won four of the last five editions of this event. They have only lost on three occasions in the last 11 years. 

"It's always nice to win, but to win here in Rotterdam is very special. It was really nice. We also had some tests with some unexpected results. There were some mistakes, there was some tension, but at the end, especially Dinja—she lifted us all up. We won, and that's super."

Patrick van der Meer (NED)

The Dutch squad was the only team to have all four of its athletes score above 70%, including its drop score—van Baalen's 70.435%. But it was team anchor van Liere who really rose the team's average with the 12-year-old stallion, Hermes N.O.P., her bronze medal-winning partner from the 2022 FEI Dressage World Championships (DEN). Their 77.891% score was not only the highest score put forward by the team, but it was also the highest of the competition.

"This was only our third competition this year, and he just keeps getting better. He's really a champion in the piaffe and passage, but he's such a complete horse. He can do it all and has so much talent.

Dinja van Liere (NED)

"He can be a clown sometimes and make up his own test, so I have to stay sharp, but I'm so proud of him and so happy with our performance today," van Liere added.

Both Denmark and Germany kept things close, and the team anchors proved to be the separators. With some horses affected by the venue's big atmosphere at the multi-disciplinary CHIO Rotterdam, Carina Cassoe Krüth (DEN) and Heiline's Danciera putting up a rather surprising score of 67.674%, which was ultimately dropped from her team. Isabell Werth (GER) boosted her team with a 76.935% score aboard Wendy de Fontaine, but it was not enough to match The Netherlands' collective consistency.

It was a particularly triumphant return to team competition for Gal, who took a sabbatical of nearly three years from competitive sport following the Tokyo Olympic Games (JPN). Rotterdam marked just the second international competition for Gal and the 12-year-old stallion Glock's Total Us since 2021, but they came into the event in strong form, having won both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special at CDI3* Exloo (NED) in May. The pair received a 73.196% from the judges in Rotterdam, second-best on their team.

"For almost three years, I didn't ride in any competitions, and I just started again," Gal said. "I didn't have to start all over again with [Glock's Total Us, because] he has so much experience. Now he will settle down a bit in the stable."

Rotterdam is the penultimate leg of the 2024 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series, but for the Dutch, the competition plays an additional role, acting as the final test before the nation selects its team for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games (FRA). With big names on the Dutch roster, van der Meer certainly recognized the talent within the group he put forward to compete Thursday.

"We're close to [the Olympics in] Paris and making the selection...I'm not only here as the chef d'equipe but also as the sports director, and I'm really happy with all the riders here," van der Meer said. "When you see the big names here and then being able to win, it gives a great feeling."

Ahead of the series finale at Falsterbo, Germany leads the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ standings with 30 points. Denmark sits second with 28 points, just ahead of Sweden (27 points). 

Full results

Holland, Denmark and Germany in top of today´s Nations Cup in Rotterdam

Dinja van Liere from The Netherlands rides Hermes N.O.P. during the FEI Dressage Nations Cup in Rotterdam NED on 20 June 2024 - Copyright © FEI/Leanjo de Koster

The window for definite team spots will close 8 July

Rotterdam is together with Aachen (1-7 July) the two final big events where the countries are able to do a final test of their long listed combinations for the Olympics.

A few combinations are already officially short listed, such as Germany´s TSF Dalera BB with Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and America´s Suppenkasper with Steffen Peters.

The Dutch team getting ready for Paris

Today´s big team winners were the 🇳🇱Dutch team with top combination Hermes and Dinja van Liere which has been “out of the game” since a super strong 2022/2023 season where they had to withdraw from the World Cup final in Omaha back in April 2023. They were back at the scene end of March this year in Aachen and today they showed their serious card for the Olympics with a top winner performance.

Nice halt, good diagonal balanced with nice power, supple well balanced half passes, best for left, good halt bit tense rein back, good diagonal, super into springy active passage, easy into piaffe AT THE spot active and flow out to active 100% regular passage, good relaxation and over track for extended walk, super collected walk, could be a bit sharper for passage at M, SUPER 2ND PIAFFE active at the spot, smooth transitions, nice into canter, nice 2 times, good extended canter, error change, count error zigzag, super 1 times, good 1st pirouette, super 2nd on the hind legs, nice into trot, good diagonal small lack of balance, sharp back to collected trot, super nice passage, easy in and out, active piaffe, super final, super halt.

Glock´s Total US & Edward Gal - Short neck bit long frame halt, expressive diagonal, huge crossing for both half passes, super halt with rein back, power diagonal tiny short neck, super into big passage, tiny tension into big piaffe with rhythm and balance good out into passage, extended walk need bit more search for the hand, good collected walk, super into passage, tiny unbalance before turn, active piaffe, bit high hind legs, tense before and into canter, good 2 times, bit conservative extended canter, good zigzag, good 1 times but tiny short hind, super 1st pirouette sit balance in top for both, nice into trot, power diagonal, big passage in front, easy into piaffe tiny forward better under the body, good passage, bit open halt.

Indian Rock & Emmelie Scholtens - Good halt, good diagonal, nice uphill crossing and reach half pass right, lack bit go left, good halt with super rein back, good diagonal, nice back bit tense passage, bit few piaffe steps forward trend, good passage, good relaxation for extended walk with over track, nice collected walk, good into passage, good piaffe bit unbalanced tiny forward, good transitions, good into canter, ok 2 times, nice uphill extended canter with freedom,bit tense change, good zigzag, nice control and balance, error begin 1 times and very fight hind jumps, good sit and control 1st pirouette, lost balance 2nd pirouette, good into trot, good diagonal, good passage, small lost of impuls into piaffe, good piaffe, good out nice passage, bit open hind halt.

After today the Dutch team look like Hermes and Dinja van Liere, Edward Gal and Glock´s Total US and Emmelie Scholtens with Indian Rock and with a sharp eye on Glock´s Toto jr. with Hans Peter Minderhoud.

🇩🇰Denmark getting ready

Today Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Vayron were back in the arena showing even better and more security with top qualities. Today´s only hiccup was from Daniel himself not being quite sharp enough counting for the zigzag which of course was super annoying, as he told H2R after his test. A costly rider mistake but at the same time a lot to like with go and flow and where Daniel is now able to make Vayron both smaller and quicker when asking. During the performance Daniel tells that he now feel that Vayron is much more confidente, but at the same time if he feels a tiny bit insecure “I´m able to just make a tiny adjustment ex by the contact or with my foot and he is quickly by me again,” Daniel tells.

Saturday Daniel will ride his freestyle together with Vayron, as he for the last two shows has done the Special tour with good results. “I look very much forward to ride our freestyle as my music theme is Pearl Habour and I´m using some of the same lines as I rode when I successfully competed Blue Hors Zack., it just brings me so many nice memories,” says Daniel. (Editor notes: it is of course important to be prepared if Vayron and Daniel hopefully are gonna show the freestyle again Sunday 4 August).

Nice halt, supple good power diagonal, uphill good flow half pass right, super left, super halt with rein back, power diagonal open balanced, super back to passage, good passage, easy into piaffe, super steps, smooth out to supple big passage, good relaxation and good over track for extended walk, super collected walk, bit tense into passage, super passage, easy into good piaffe steps active, easy out, super passage, super into canter, super 2 times full diagonal, power expressive diagonal, super change, counting error first zigzag, well balanced, super 1 times, super both pirouettes with huge improvement balance and sit, nice into trot, power expressive diagonal, big passage, nice into piaffe, easy out, super final halt.

With team fellows Nanna Merrald with Blue Hors Don Olymbrio, Lone Bang Zindorff with Thranegaardens Rostov and Carina Cassøe Krüth with Heiline´s Danciera they finish 2nd in today´s Nations Cup.

Both Nanna and Lone with very good performances. Nanna with two minor issues and Lone showing an error free performance.

positive wibes

French combination Gotilas de Feuillard and Corentin Pottier keep up their solid work, always in balance, clear tact, good frame, nice contact and accurate. Today with Personal Best placed as no 5 with 73,674%.

Both Flambeau and Flynn with fit, supple and powerful performances where the young ladies Larissa and Flore just ride their chances with success. Both placed as no 8 and no 10.

British Becky Moody with Jägerbomb ones again shows a powerful, well balanced with super frame and contact. They look like the clear reserve combination for the British team.

Wendy de Fontaine and Isabell Werth did not show up for the madatory German Championships lately due to a minor injury. Today the were back showing top qualities. Never underestimate Frau Werth she is right now back for the Olympics together with Dalera and Franziskus from H2R point of view.

Bad day or downward shape curve

The time schedule is getting tight for the Olympics which also means that current long listed combinations has to show their qualities in order to stay at the list or climbing up the list.

For Danish Carina Cassøe Krüth with Heiline´s Danciera 2024 does not look like their 2nd participation at the Olympics. Their shape curve has unfortunately not been positive and today with their lowest ever performance percentage wise. From the side line it looks like a difficult task to keep the mare motivated for the job and therefore more technical issues creeping into the performance today. The judging team today agreed about 67,674%.

Ashley Holzer with Hansel has since very nice Grand Prix performance in Hagen been added for the American long list. Unfortunately Hansel was back at his former very tense mode today and they unfortunately look like they are off the list as quickly as they were added.

Long time partnership Dante Weltino OLD and Therese Nilshagen did not look as if they were on form for today´s performance. Hopefully they will be able to show again in order to bring themselves back into the spotlight for the team.

Here you find the detailed results.

VIDEO - Outstanding Viva Gold / Fahrenheit colt scored 9,5 - 10 - 10 for movements

Viva Gold / Fahrenheit Champion colt - outstanding mover. Photo: Screenshot Clipmyhorse

At Hengststation Tebbel 15 June some very attractive foals were shown. Viva Gold, Kjento and For Dior with top foals.

Viva Gold / Escolar - another outstanding mover scoring 9.5 -9.5 - 10

Kjento/For Final - modern, light footed super mover scoring 9 - 9 - 9

First crop of the stallion For Dior by Fürst Dior / Johnson / Totilas shows some promissing foals (7 in total with 2 for the final) long legged with good expression and nice uphill movements. For a few foals you could maybe wish for a bit more suppleness over the back.

PODCAST - Christian Springborg er klar til at hjælpe avlerne med alt fra reproduktion til vejledning

Ærlighed, åbenhed, dialog og løbende kontakt med kunderne

Christian Springborg driver i dag sit eget firma CS Equestrian, hvor han hjælper avlerne med alt fra klargøring af unge hopper og hingste, til uvildig rådgivning omkring hingstevalg, reproduktion samt et skapt blik på nuværende avlshopper i stalden.

Man mærker tydeligt at det er høj faglighed, et skarpt øje og passionen som Christian bringer med, når snakken går på hestene, hverdagen og drømmene.

Ærlighed, åbenhed, dialog og løbende kontakt med kunderne følger med hos CS Equestrian, det er en uhyre vigtig del for forretningen, fortæller Christian Springborg.

Lyt med her ⬇️ - Du kan altid fange Christian på mobil nr. 20665180 hvis du har spørgsmål.

Klik herunder hvis du vil fange op på tidligere PODCASTS ⬇️

FOHLENSOMMER has started with first foal show at Pape 9 June

Champion filly by Machiatto / Fürst Heinrich - photo: Screenshot/Clipmyhorse

For the breeders

You have a unik possibility to follow the German foal show during the season LIVE at Clipmyhorse. Here you typically can watch a huge crop of foals from the same stallions as the foal shows often are situated at local stallion stations.

For the first foal show this year held at Hengst Station Pape the majority of foals were by Despacito (2015 by Don Nobless/Sandro Hit/De Niro), Santos (2018 by Secret/Don Schufro/Rohdiamant) and Macchiato (2017 by Morricone I/Just Perfect/Donnerhall).

From H2R point of view the foals by Despacito show overall the best way of uphill supple movements with nice expression.

Here below you can find the schedule for the upcoming FOAL SHOW live at Clipmyhorse. (In reverse date order)

72.000 euro 6 yr old mare by Füstenball / Lord Loxley was top price at NRW riding horses

Part of press release:

Münster: A lot of around 50 riding horses and ponies was up for sale at the Westphalian Summer Auction. A total of 41 of these changed hands this afternoon. With an average price of 18,951 euros for the horses sold, the Westphalian Studbook generated a total turnover of 777,000 euros. The Fürstenball daughter Fantasie, head number 1, trotted to the top price with a hammer price of 72,000 euro.

The Westphalian Studbook had 47 riding horses and two riding ponies on offer at today's summer auction. The lot was versatile, so that both professionals and ambitious leisure riders could find the right partner here. The auction candidates were not only talented in their specific disciplines, but some of them were also doubly talented, making them ideal for a horse for a rider making the transition from pony to horse as a or team horses. This aroused the interest of numerous buyers from the Germany and abroad. At an average price of 18,951 Euros, 84 per cent of the auction candidates on offer changed hands. The 31 dressage oriented riding horses and ponies sold for an average of 18,984 euros. The international clientele invested an average of 18,850 euros in the ten jumping candidates sold at auction. The Westphalian Studbook thus realised a total turnover of 777,000 euro this afternoon. 14 of the young talents sold will continue their careers outside of Germany.

The auction lot was opened by Fantasie by Fürstenball/Lord Loxley (breeder and exhibitor: Karl Dercks, Kranenburg). The strong-moving, six-year-old mare has already been victorious in novice class dressage tests for young horses and is ready for the upcoming tasks in the 2024 competition season. 16 bidders fought for the dark bay with 60 bids. In the end, she was sold at the auction's top price of 72,000 euros. Head number 16 Sunrise Avenue was also highly favoured by dressage specialists. The three-year-old son of Sezuan's Donnerhall/Finest (breeder: Jürgen Bunge, Rahden; exhibitor: ZG Bunge, Rahden) impressed with consistently good basic gaits and an outstanding attitude to work. After a long bidding duel, he moved into Belgian ownership for 47,000 Euros.

Three of the dressage horses sold today were worth 30,000 Euros and more to their new owners.

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.

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