Dressage-News

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

FRANKFURT, Germany, Dec. 22, 2019–Don Johnson FRH was given a rousing farewell in a victorious CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle Sunday that was the final competition for the 18-year-old Hanoverian gelding after nine years of top sport.

Isabell, who credits Don Johnson with keeping her in in high performance dressage between Olympic and world championship mounts, showed off the best of the horse in their 120th Big Tour competition that was awarded 82.845%. The record included two European Championships and a World Cup Final.

The crowd packing three tiers of this stadium, began claaping in unison well before the end of the performance when the music switched to “Feliz Navidad,” (Merry Christmas), just three days before Christmas.

Isabell rode the final centerline one-handed, as the crowd started rising to its feet to give a standing ovation to “Johnny” and the world’s most successful equestrian (10 Olympic medals). Absent from the appearance was owner Madeleine Winter-Schulze at home recovering from an injury, but a formal farewell ceremony is expected to be held in Verden, Germany, home of the Hanoverian breed, next year.

Olympic and championship team mate Dorothee Schneider on Faustus was second on 78.785% and fellow German Matthias Bouten on Meggle’s Boston third on 78.195%.

Benjamin Werndl on Famoso led a German sweep of the Grand Prix Special with a score of 76.617%.

Ingrid Klimke on Franziskus placed second on 76.128% with Jill Marielle-Becks on Damon’s Satelite NRW third on 74.809%.

Results:

CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle

CDI5* Grand Prix Special