Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

AACHEN, Germany, July 21, 2018–A powerful German team recovered from a shaky start to capture the World Equestrian Festival Nations Cup over the United States Saturday, while a single judge’s low score may have knocked America’s Kasey Perry-Glass on Dublet from the top of the individual Grand Prix Special.

In a roller-coaster day of the second phase of the Nations Cup, the German superstar Isabell Werth celebrated her 49th birthday by restoring the old bit for Emilio and the horse showed his appreciation by posting the highest score of 79.128 per cent.

Team mate Helen Langehanenberg, admitted she’s still in a whirl for the success in her first competition and just weeks after the birth of her daughter, to ride Damsey FRH to a personal best 78.787 per cent for second place individually and cemented Germany’s victory before a sellout crowd of 6,000 spectators.

“I feel very guilty and I am so sorry for Emilio that I didn’t listen to what he was trying to tell me!” Isabell said.

“Emilio was back to his normal self today and we are a team again!” After her subpar Grand Prix, Isabell had to ride early and was not expected to stay in front. “My colleagues lent me some support there. That was obviously their birthday present for me.”

Kasey Perry-Glass and Dublet, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding, were awarded three scores above 80 per cent, one of 77.553 per cent and a low score from the Swedish judge of 74.681 per cent for a total of 78.787 per cent and third.

Andrew Gardner of Great Britain, the judge at C and one of those giving Kasey and Dublet 80 per cent and putting her second behind Isabell in his placings, described the ride as “polished and harmonious. I got to 80 with ease.”

“AMAZING!!,” Kasey texted dressage-news.com. “I am the luckiest girl in the world to have Dublet. All the honor and love goes to him for being who he is even when I’m not on him. The sky is the limit with this horse and deserves all the love and praise his team and I can give him.

“I’m enjoying the moment.”

America’s Laura Graves on Verdades, the world’s No. 2 combination but the horse provided the surprise of the day with a ride that was awarded a score of 74.085 per cent, the lowest for the pair in a Special in more than four years.

The result contrasted with their winning Grand Prix Thursday that put the United States in the lead for the Nations Cup and their success in the Special here a year ago to beat world No. 1 combination of Isabell Werth on Weihegold OLD.

But as Laura, of Geneva, Florida, pointed out to dressage-news.com: “Poor Diddy! I thought he was exceptional. Best scores we have ever had in the piaffe. I was really pleased.

“He was so scared and it cost us in the things which are normally so easy for him. I think if it had not been for the spooking, it would have been his best GPS. That is horses!

“He is the best in the world, just not his day.”

Isabell, receiving birthday congratulations after the Special, was reminded jokingly that the Grand Prix Freestyle Sunday is on Laura’s 31st birthday. She won the Special in 2017 on her 30th birthday.

The Nations Cup final standings: 1. Germany 464.351; 2. USA 459.371; 3. Denmark 444.106; 4. Netherlands 439.215l 5. Spain 437.685; 6. Sweden 431.447.

Results:

CDIO5* Grand Prix Special