Dressage-News

MANNHEIM, Germany, April 29, 2021–Isabell Werth rode Bella Rose to victory in the Maimarkt Turnier CDI4* Grand Prix Special Thursday to complete a successful return to competition of the world’s No. 1 combination after a coronavirus-imposed break of 19 months.

The result of 80.277% for Isabell and the 17-year-old Westfalen mare reflected the brilliance with seven marks of 10 and some rusty mistakes receiving awards of four points from all five judges for collected canter and three marks of four and two of five for one-tempi changes.

However, the final result coming after a win in Wednesday’s Grand Prix extended the partnership’s string of Big Tour victories to 22 stretching back to 2014, and includes team and individual gold at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon and a sweep of the 2019 European Championships. The Europeans were the pair’s last competition before this event.

Fellow German team rider Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on the 17-year-old Zaire-E scored 78.724% for second, the same place as in the Grand Prix. The result was only 0.188% off their best of 78.912% set in September last year.

A highlight of the competition was the Big Tour debut of German Olympic team gold medal rider Hubertus Schmidt on Denoix PCH for third place on 74.362%.

Hubertus and the nine-year-old Oldenburg stallion (Destano x Pik Noir), owned by American Nancy Gooding of Plum Creek Hollow Farm in Larkspur, Colorado, were reserve champion in the 2020 Louisdor Prize, the prestigious German developing Grand Prix series.

Results:

CDI4* Grand Prix Special