Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

ERMELO, Netherlands, Aug. 3, 2019–Jovian, a Dutch-bred stallion ridden by Andreas Helgstrand, won the World Young Horse five-year-old championship Saturday. Andreas also took bronze on Queenparks Wendy while Secret with Sweden’s Jessica Lynn Thomas aboard earned silver.

Jovian (Apache x Tango) and the Danish rider received a record maximum four marks of 10 points–for trot, canter, submission and perspective–with a score of 8.3 for walk and a final result of 9.66 for the victory.

Secret, a German Sport Horse stallion by Sezuan and the Germany-based Swedish rider were awarded 9.64 with marks of 10 for canter and perspective.

Andreas on Queenparks Wendy, a Danish Warmblood mare also by Sezuan took bronze on 9.42 points with a 10 for canter.

For both Jovian and Secret, the packed stands started clapping, cheering and whistling as the horses started the final centerline and both received standing ovations.

Secret, winner of the preliminary competition two days ago, was the ride before Jovian.

“A fabulous horse,” Maria Schwennesen, a FEI 5* judge from Australia who spoke for the ground jury of four members.

“I don’t know what more we can say, always fluid, always so soft. So much to appreciate and enjoy.”

She described the trot as “powerful, on top of that it is elastic and soft and has a gentleness to it, as well.”

Secret, however, should “show more medium trot.” It was “fabulous” but awarded 9.4.

The walk was clear with a huge overtrack. The 9.0 drew boos and whistles from the crowd.

The canter was “wow… fantastic.” A 10, and that drew applause and cheers.

Submission was 9.8 and perspective a 10 that was also cheered.

Andreas Helgrand, whose lineup of 19 horses in these championships that some critics see as developed beyond their capabilities to win ribbons and feed his multinational sales operation, was next with Jovian.

He clearly had heard the criticism and that also directed at the judges in the preliminary competition that rewarded extravagant movements, including Grand Prix level extended trots when the requirement is for medium and collected trot, no extended.

The performance on Jovian was captivating, lower key than in qualifying, and there were few who doubted the pair deserved the championship.

Maria began by describing Jovian as “beautiful” and “an upstanding specimen, fantastic-moving horse,” and the crowd held its collective breath as she said the scores wouldn’t be given as usual after the judges’ critiques of each category but all at the end.

Trot had so much spring and suspension, balanced and in perfect rhythm and tempo throughout the ride.

The walk was the weakest pace, a little stiff though correct in rhythm.

Canter was well-balanced, uphill always, jumped, with “fantastic” seamless transitions between collected and medium.

Maria gave the first mark of 8.3. Silence from the crowd.

“All the other marks are a 10,” she declared and the crowd went wild–a Dutch horse declared world champion in the Netherlands. As a breeding championship the national anthem in the awards–for which, like in most European events, much of the crowd stays–was Dutch even though Andreas is Danish.

Earlier, the final of four-year-old horses, a national competition, not a championship, were staged for the first time alongside the world competitions.

Eva Möller rode So Unique, sired by Sezuan and owned by Helgstrand Dressage, to the title on a score of 9.64 points, including 10 for walk and 9.7 for canter.

Results:

World Young Horse Championships 5-Year-Old

Final for 4-Year-Old Horses