Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

TRYON, North Carolina, Sept. 12, 2018–With the big guns still to come, Germany took an early lead Wednesday in the World Equestrian Games team medals Grand Prix with Sweden in second place and the United States lying third. Elsewhere at the combined world championships of eight horse sports, a bizarre series of events triggered by International Equestrian Federation (FEI) officials sending some of the 130 endurance horses on different courses led to the event being canceled altogether.

An estimated 8,000 spectators turned out to watch the first day of dressage in which Jessica von Bredow-Werndl of Germany riding the 11-year-old Trakehner mare TSF Dalera BB that began Big Tour only six months ago was the highest scoring individual on 76.677 per cent, only the fifth international Grand Prix for the pair.

“She was mega concentrated,” said Jessica after the ride, “and I am just flashed how well she handled the atmosphere. It is only her first year of real big Grand Prix and she does it as if she had done it since 10 years already.”

Sweden’s Juliette Ramel on Buriel K.H. posted a personal best 75.248 per cent to place second individually and move her team into the second spot after the first of two days of the Grand Prix in which 15 nations are vying for a place on the medals podium. Juliette and Buriel were on Sweden’s team at the 2016 Olympics.

“I did a lot of walking during the warm-up for not making him too tired.” Juliette said. “When he gets tired he is stressed. And today he walked in very relaxed and even the applause did not phase him. Most of that is my trainer’s doing. Patrik Kittel gives me a lot of confidence and he believes in us. And that makes me stronger.”

Adrienne Lyle of the United States on the 11-year-old stallion Salvino also posted a personal best score of 74.860 per cent in the first championship for the horse that began Grand Prix 18 months ago. The score was the fourth highest individually but put the U.S. third in the team standings. The previous best score for the pair was 74.581 per cent set two months ago.

After days of concern over the possibility to the WEG being disrupted by Hurricane Florence, projected to make landfall on the Carolina coast, only a shower occurred Wednesday. The latest weather reports lowered the threat of the hurricane that now was forecast to have little or no impact on dressage here.

Only one score from two combinations that rode Wednesday were applied to the standings, with each team having two more pairs competing Thursday for the top three scores counting.

Thursday will see the top combinations battling for supremacy–world No. 3 American Laura Graves on Verdades and the Olympic teammates Kasey Perry-Glass on Dublet, German superstar Isabell Werth on Bella Rose and German Olympic team gold medal duo of Sönke Rothenberger and Cosmo, Charlotte Dujardin on Mount St. John Freestyle, the British rider’s successor to Valegro, and Carl Hester, the dean of British dressage, on Hawtins Delicato.

“I was so proud of Salvino,” said Adrienne. “He is a lot less experienced than many horses here, but he handled everything like a seasoned professional. I am thrilled that we were able to put in a strong score for our team–that was our number one goal.

“We got poured on by torrential rain in the warm up, followed by some serious  heat and humidity once the rain stopped. Despite the conditions, Salvino still came to the table and tried hard for me. He is a wonderful horse with huge talent which we are only just beginning to tap in to, and I’m very excited about him and honored to be here.

“I had a great time riding out there in front of the home crowd. That’s something I’ve never gotten to do at a major championship before, it was awesome. “

She thanked her “incredible team”–“most amazing owner” Betsy Juliano, coach Debbie Mcdonald, grooms Morgan Klingensmith and Dorte Sorensen, team coach Robert Dover, and Hallye Griffin and the USEF staff.

Spencer and the 15-year-old Super Nova in their third Championship together but acting as pathfinders for the first time for an early draw, scored 74.581 per cent.

“He felt amazing, really good,” he said. “He does get nervous but I felt him relax as the test went on. The nerves did show in his first piaffe but I’m so pleased.

“It’s been a difficult year with injuries to both of us but it’s brilliant to now get the job done. He’s 15 now and fully grown up and he’s learning to deal better with the big atmosphere. I didn’t mind going first and knew it was really important to get a good mark for the rest of the team to build on so I’m glad I did my job.”

Steffen Peters, the most experienced championship and Olympic rider on the U.S. team, rode Suppenkasper as a late substituion for Rosamunde who did not handle travel from California to Tryon well.

Suppenkasper, “with the barn name “Mopsi”, that he began competing this year after being acquired by longtime sponsor Four Winds Farm as a prospect for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,  “was a bit nervous coming in.”

“I am very happy how he handled it,” he said. “His changes felt nice, he is still developing. He loves his apples and his cookies but he really loves having his nose scratched. I am scratching his nose a lot. He is like a big puppy dog, like a big Labrador.

“At the end of the day, if a [73.494 per cent, his score] is your drop score you have a hell of a team.”

The endurance competition was described as a “catastrophe” from the start when officials appointed by the FEI sent horses on different courses. The horses were recalled, some had traveled long distances, and a second start set.

Some horses were sent off a second time but others were so stressed that the event was canceled. Some of the riders on course were not notified and became so angry when they learned of the cancellation later that local police had to be called to quell the possibility of violence.

Results:

Grand Prix Team & Individual —  Day 1 of 2

Judges-K: Susan Hoevenaars-AUS E: Andrew Gardner-GBR H: Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel-NED C: Katrina Wuest-GER M: Anne Gribbons-USA B: Hans-Christian Matthiesen-DEN F: Annette Fransen Iacobaeus-SWE

Team Standings Day 1 of 2