By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

HAGEN, Germany, April 26–The 2012 competition debut for Totilas has been marked by flip-flops as rider Matthias Alexander Rath did not decide until the last minute whether to contest the Grand Prix Special or the Freestyle at the outdoor season’s first major competition in Europe, the Horses & Dreams CDI4*.

Totilas, now 12 years old, will be making his first start since the European Championships last August amid speculation that has become more heated as the black stallion approaches the first anniversary of his international competition career with Matthias as his rider. The German took over the reins from The Netherlands’ Edward Gal who with Totilas became the top ranked combination in the world, setting record scores in all three Grand Prix levels.

The uncertainty over strategy in this Olympic year comes after a series of public relations gaffes, among the on-off decision to switch from training with his father to the Dutch national coach, Sjef Janssen, and a stammering response to a question from a radio reporter as to which was the most important–a German team gold or an individual bronze medal at the London Olympics. Germany has traditionally placed more emphasis on team results than those of the individual.

The show is staged by Performance Sales International, owned by Paul Schockemöhle and Ullrich Kasselmann. Paul arranged the purchase of Totilas and has partnered in the ownership with Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff, Matthias’s stepmother. Ullrich Kasselmann was responsible for the training and sale of Legolas to Akiko Yamazaki as the new ride for Steffen Peters

The theme of this year’s Horses & Dreams is Great Britain with typical British foods of fish and chips, Guiness (which is Irish, but the Germans are no slouches when it comes to making beer) in a bar in a converted red double-decker bus, Uion Jacks and British-flagged clothing everywhere.

This dressage and jumping competition draws many of the world’s top combinations.

Not surprisingly, the British theme extended to the competitors and the lineup includes three of the four British combinations that won team gold at last year’s European Championships–world’s No. 2 Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro and Emile Faurie and Elmegardens Marquis.

From Germany, Isabell Werth with Don Johnson. Kristina Sprehe and Desperados, Anabel Balkenhol and Dablino and Monica Theodorescu and Whisper and combinations from more than a dozen other countries, including Australia and the United States.

So competition for Totilas (Gribaldi x Lominka x Glendale) will be stiff.

Matthias and Totilas initially opted for the Freestyle where he was to ride for the first time to his new music, a Michael Jackson compilation.

Then, the pair switched to the Grand Prix Special which is vital this year as it is the second of two phases for the Olympic team competition, the first being the Grand Prix, which he confirmed in an interview broadcast just last Monday.

Wednesday night, they switched back to the Freestyle.

The schedule begins with the Grand Prix for the Special on Friday, Grand Prix for the Freestyle on Saturday and both the  Special and the Freestyle Sunday.

In the Intermediaire 1, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel on Uno Donna Unique were the victors with a score of 75.895 per cent, Isabell Werth on Laurenti second on 73.053 per cent and Austria’s Victoria Max-Theurer on Della Cavalleria OLD third on 72.500 per cent.

Uno Donna Unique (Don Schufro-Falkland) is a Danish Warmblood mare who won the world championships as a  six-year-old in 2010.

Nr	Reiter	Nation	KNR	Pferd	E	H	C	M	B	Gesamt
1	Patrik Kittel  RV Appelhülsen e.V.		527	Uno Donna Unique S / DK / R / 2004 / Don Schufro / Falkland  / 102RE58 / B: Stutteri UNO ApS,	75,263% 286 (1)	73,553% 279.500 (1)	76,974% 292.500 (1)	76,447% 290.500 (1)	77,237% 293.500 (1)	75.895% 1442 300,00 EUR
2	Isabell Werth  RFV Graf v.Schmettow Eversael e.V.		840	Laurenti W / Oldenburge / BAY / 2004 / Laurentio / Walldorf  / 103CM29 / B: Winter-Schulze, Madeleine  / Z: Alberding, Erich	72,763% 276.500 (2)	70,526% 268 (6)	73,816% 280.500 (2)	74,342% 282.500 (2)	73,816% 280.500 (2)	73.053% 1388 220,00 EUR
3	Victoria Max-Theurer		196	Della Cavalleria OLD S / Old / Schwb / 2003 / Diamond Hit / Rubinstein I  / GER45556 / B: Max-Theurer,Elisabeth  / Z: Münstermann,Elisabeth	72,763% 276.500 (2)	72,500% 275.500 (2)	73,816% 280.500 (2)	71,711% 272.500 (4)	71,711% 272.500 (5)	72.500% 1377.5 160,00 EUR
4	Matthias Bouten  RFV Graf v.Schmettow Eversael e.V.		257	Flatley 2 H / Rhld / B / 2004 / Fürst Piccolo / Ehrensold  / 103CM28 / B: Schult,Tobias  / Z: ZG Gielessen,Judith u.Johannes	72,368% 275 (4)	72,500% 275.500 (2)	72,763% 276.500 (4)	72,237% 274.500 (3)	71,974% 273.500 (3)	72.368% 1375 120,00 EUR
5	Ingrid Klimke  RV St.Georg Münster e.V.		225	Dresden Mann W / Westf / Schwb / 2004 / Dresemann / Florestan I  / 102MC51 / B: Wallace,Jason  / Z: Vornholt,Hubert	71,053% 270 (6)	71,053% 270 (4)	71,447% 271.500 (5)	69,605% 264.500 (7)	71,974% 273.500 (3)	71.026% 1349.5 100,00 EUR
6	Dorothee Schneider  Frankf.Turnierst.Schw.Gelb e.V		416	Polarzauber TSF H / Trak. / B / 1996 / Charly Chaplin / Tenor  / GER24773 / B: ZG Gerke GbR,  / Z: Gerke,Hermann	70,395% 267.500 (7)	70,658% 268.500 (5)	71,447% 271.500 (5)	71,711% 272.500 (4)	69,737% 265 (7)	70.789% 1345 100,00 EUR
7	Charlott-Maria Schürmann  RV Gehrde e.V.		216	Donna Jackson S / Bay / Df / 2001 / Dr.Jackson D / Fruehlingsklang  / 103EH64 / B: Schwätzler,Helga  / Z: Schwätzler,Helga	71,579% 272 (5)	70,526% 268 (6)	70,526% 268 (7)	69,474% 264 (8)	71,053% 270 (6)	70.632% 1342 50,00 EUR
8	Theresa Wahler  RG Klosterhof Medingen		190	Danone II H / Hann / R / 2002 / De Niro / Weltmeyer  / 103OA30 / B: Wahler,Burkhard  / Z: Helmcke Dr.,Bianca	68,947% 262 (9)	70,132% 266.500 (8)	68,684% 261 (11)	68,026% 258.500 (11)	69,211% 263 (8)	69.000% 1311 50,00 EUR
9	Shawna Harding  Amerika – United States		791	Rigo W / HANN / BLACK / 2001 / Rotspon / Weltmeyer  / 102TE32 / B: Rowe,Tonya	69,868% 265.500 (8)	65,263% 248 (13)	68,947% 262 (9)	70,921% 269.500 (6)	67,237% 255.500 (11)	68.447% 1300.5 50,00 EUR
10	Fie Christine Skarsoe  Club Hippique Beaufort		842	One Night Stand W / KWPN / OTHER / 2001 / Olivi /  / 102XK84 / B: Börner Dagmar  / Z: W. Verdellen, Horst (Nl)	68,026% 258.500 (11)	68,289% 259.500 (10)	68,816% 261.500 (10)	68,289% 259.500 (10)	67,500% 256.500 (10)	68.184% 1295.5 50,00 EUR
					Total = 1.200,00 EUR
	nicht plaziert:
11	Monica Theodorescu  RFV Warendorf e.V.		520	Tattoo 15 W / Westf / Db / 2003 / Tuareg / Ramiro’s Son I  / 103CP46 / B: Reitanlage Theodorescu GmbH u.Co.KG  / Z: Theodorescu,George	68,421% 260 (10)	68,816% 261.500 (9)	68,553% 260.500 (12)	66,053% 251 (19)	68,421% 260 (9)	68.053% 1293
12	Jennifer Hoffmann  ZRFV Coesfeld-Lette e.V.		474	Rubinio 55 H / Westf / Db / 2003 / Rubin-Royal / Florestan I  / USA42518 / B: Hoffmann,Jennifer  / Z: Bunge,Jürgen	65,263% 248 (15)	67,237% 255.500 (12)	69,079% 262.500 (8)	67,895% 258 (12)	67,105% 255 (12)	67.316% 1279
13	Lorraine van den Brink		402	Orlanduns W / KWPN / B / 1996 /  / NED05292 / B: Brink,Lorraine van den	66,842% 254 (12)	64,868% 246.500 (15)	67,632% 257 (13)	69,474% 264 (8)	66,184% 251.500 (13)	67.000% 1273
14	Anne van Olst		792	Validus W / KWPN / BAY / 2002 / Negro /  / 103OT54 / B: Knudsen,M.	63,816% 242.500 (21)	68,289% 259.500 (10)	66,447% 252.500 (15)	66,711% 253.500 (17)	66,184% 251.500 (13)	66.289% 1259.5
15	Bernadette Brune  RSC Osnabruecker Land e.V.		597	Kasimir TSF H / Trak. / B / 2002 / Ivernel / Charly Chaplin 1  / 103DC82 / B: Brune, Bernadette  / Z: Gestüt Tasdorf	65,263% 248 (15)	64,211% 244 (19)	66,711% 253.500 (14)	67,632% 257 (13)	65,789% 250 (16)	65.921% 1252.5
16	Victoria Michalke  RA München e.V.		581	Zelano W / SAnha / B / 2000 / Zenturio / Landstreicher  / GER42605 / B: Michalke,Susanne  / Z: Saib,Paul	65,921% 250.500 (13)	64,342% 244.500 (18)	65,921% 250.500 (17)	66,447% 252.500 (18)	65,658% 249.500 (19)	65.658% 1247.5
17	Juliane Brunkhorst  RV Harsefeld u.Umg.		252	First Class 69 S / Hann / F / 2004 / Fürst Heinrich / Rubinstein I  / 103OA29 / B: Otten-Willers,Martin  / Z: Otten-Willers,Martin	64,474% 245 (18)	64,474% 245 (17)	65,395% 248.500 (19)	67,500% 256.500 (14)	65,789% 250 (16)	65.526% 1245
18	Emma Kanerva  Reiterverein Altenautal e.V.		250	Fiaro Lacendos W / Westf / B / 2004 / Fürst Piccolo / Rapallo  / 103NE34 / B: Kamp,Simone  / Z: Kamp,Simone	65,132% 247.500 (17)	65,132% 247.500 (14)	66,316% 252 (16)	64,868% 246.500 (23)	65,921% 250.500 (15)	65.474% 1244
19	Jonas Elvebakk		255	Fitou E W / WESTF / F / 1999 / Fleurop / Ehrentusch  / GER27580 / B: Siv H Dahl Kvaernhaugen  / Z: Erpenstein Dr.,Heinz	63,947% 243 (20)	64,605% 245.500 (16)	64,868% 246.500 (21)	65,263% 248 (20)	65,000% 247 (21)	64.737% 1230
20	Holga Finken  RV Aller-Weser		291	Hofgraf W / Hann / R / 2004 / Hofrat / Weltruhm  / 103OI40 / B: Zintl,Stephanie  / Z: Richert,Werner	65,395% 248.500 (14)	61,842% 235 (24)	65,658% 249.500 (18)	63,816% 242.500 (25)	65,789% 250 (16)	64.500% 1225.5
21	Kim Huizer		404	Oxford 15 H / KWPN / B / 1996 /  / NED41857 / B: Huizer,Kim	62,500% 237.500 (24)	62,632% 238 (22)	65,000% 247 (20)	67,237% 255.500 (15)	64,211% 244 (23)	64.316% 1222
22	Martin Christensen  Stall Tannenhof e.V		465	Rossano R W / Old / Db / 2002 / Rohdiamant / Weltmeyer  / GER43407 / B: Bauer,Gudrun  / Z: Ratermann,Hubert	64,079% 243.500 (19)	62,105% 236 (23)	64,211% 244 (23)	65,000% 247 (22)	65,263% 248 (20)	64.132% 1218.5
23	Briana Burgess  RFV Warendorf e.V.		508	Sugar Boy 11 W / Old / B / 2002 / Sunny-Boy / Palermo  / 102VM53 / B: Burgess,Briana  / Z: Ebken,Birgit	60,658% 230.500 (26)	62,763% 238.500 (21)	64,211% 244 (23)	67,237% 255.500 (15)	64,342% 244.500 (22)	63.842% 1213
23	Terhi Stegars  Club Hippique Beaufort		455	Rash 2 W / Old / R / 2003 / Ron William / Cordeur  / 102QS85 / B: Kayser,Tanja  / Z: Bruns,Hans-Jürgen	63,553% 241.500 (22)	63,158% 240 (20)	64,605% 245.500 (22)	64,737% 246 (24)	63,158% 240 (25)	63.842% 1213
25	Michael Klimke  RV St.Georg Münster e.V.		259	Floredo 2 W / Westf / B / 2004 / Florestan I / Donnerhall  / 103NI35 / B: Kappel,Uwe  / Z: Siemon,Barbara	63,026% 239.500 (23)	61,842% 235 (24)	63,158% 240 (25)	65,132% 247.500 (21)	64,079% 243.500 (24)	63.447% 1205.5
26	Ona Dewaegenaere		184	Dabanos D’O 4 W / BWP / B / 2003 /  / BEL42524 / B: Dingenen,Denis van	62,237% 236.500 (25)	59,342% 225.500 (28)	62,105% 236 (27)	62,895% 239 (26)	63,026% 239.500 (26)	61.921% 1176.5
27	Isabel Bache  RV Kirchwalsede u.U. e.V.		209	Don Elfredo H / Hann / F / 2004 / Don Frederico / Eisenbarth  / 103NQ79 / B: Schaerffer,Bernhard  / Z: Beyermann,Henry	60,526% 230 (27)	60,526% 230 (26)	62,237% 236.500 (26)	60,921% 231.500 (28)	61,842% 235 (27)	61.211% 1163
28	Daniela Groenke  RC Olympia Stadion Berlin e.V.		241	Farina 857 S / Sachs / B / 2002 / Florestan I / Rosenkavalier  / 103GQ47 / B: Ansorge,Erika  / Z: Ziegenbalg,Günter	59,868% 227.500 (29)	59,474% 226 (27)	60,395% 229.500 (29)	62,763% 238.500 (27)	59,342% 225.500 (29)	60.368% 1147
28	Claudia Dörn  RSC Osnabruecker Land e.V.		220	Dorigo W / Old / R / 1998 / De Niro / Noble Roi xx  / GER43462 / B: Dörn,Erika  / Z: Heitmann,Hans-Jürgen	60,395% 229.500 (28)	57,895% 220 (29)	61,974% 235.500 (28)	60,000% 228 (29)	61,579% 234 (28)	60.368% 1147
ret.	Anouk Vlaar		400	Opale 2 S / n.b. / 1995 /  / NED07781 / B: Vlaar,Anouk