ERMELO, Netherlands, Aug. 3, 2017–Thursday was a full day of young horses doing dressage, five, six and seven years old all competing in preliminary divisions trying to secure the title of World Champion.
This is the first time I have spent significant time in Holland, most of my European travels have involved Germany, and there are definitely a few first impressions.
The Dutch have wind turbines everywhere…and I mean EVERYWHERE. There actually seem to be forests of wind turbines on my drive to the gorgeous KNHS show grounds. It turns out that there is a good reason for this. The wind was strong and relentless today.
I pity all of the vendors, as everything was at the mercy of gusts that would not have been out of place in the worst of our Florida summer storms. However, I am pretty sure that Holland secured at least a week’s worth of energy from wind- generated power today.
Enough about the weather, although those that know me understand that weather fascinates me almost as much as horses.
The classes for the five and six-year old horses are only half way through, and the quality is high.
In the past, I have always wanted to take home a handful of horses from this competition but this year I could fill a boat. They weren’t always well ridden or rewarded by the judges but so many have beautiful correct mechanics that will, in the right hands, clearly develop to successful FEI competitors.
The bloodlines are very modern, with no dominant standout sire or studbook.
To showcase this observation I present a photo essay of fun horses from day one.
Cesar Parra "immediately provisionally suspended" FEI while it "investigates the "disturbing and abhorrent images and videos" of his training techniques. Parra is suspended from competing nationally and internationally.
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