Dressage-News

By ILSE SCHWARZ

ERMELO, Netherlands, Sept. 9, 2022–The morning dawned bright and sunny, and having learned my lesson last year that the winner could be the first to go, I was in my car bright and early along with just about every other young horse enthusiast in the area so it took me only 10 minutes to get to the KNHS/KWPN headquarters, and then another 15 minutes to do the final quarter mile. I have been excited to see this class. The five-year-old horses were such a strong group last year, it usually follows that the age group stays strong assuming most figured out their flying changes, a decent half pass and more collected way of going. Quite frankly, after the disappointing quality of the five year olds Thursday, I needed to see something a bit special and motivating.

In fact, the six-year-olds did not disappoint, showing the sort of quality one would expect to see at a competition of this level across the entirety of the class of 42 horses. Of course, the top group were standouts, all with something a little extra special. But the competition for a place in the top 12 heading straight to the finals was very strong and far from clear cut.

Honestly, any of the next five or so combinations easily deserved to make the finals, making for a very interesting small final Saturday. We consistently saw expressive trots, balanced effortless half passes with good reach, which is not something to be taken for granted with six-year-old horses. Good riding, steady frames and generally steady connections with many of the horses made this a very enjoyable class to watch. From beginning to end.

The champion of 2021, the Danish stallion Hesselhoej Down Town (Hesselhoej Donkey Boy x Blue Horse Zack), ridden by Jeanna Hogberg was the winner with a final score of 9.48.

This stallion is just so consistent in his work with strong 9s scored in every category. He is a very elegant, lighter build stallion with a trot that is expressive and light footed, for a score of 9.5. He showed great ability to collect and extend in trot and canter and demonstrated effortless half passes and a top quality walk, 9.6. His changes were easy and correct, he was quiet in the connection, steady in his frame and just a delight to watch, leading to a submission score of 9.5.

Interestingly, only 0.08marks separated the top three horses, all scoring 9.5 for submission.

In second was the impressive KWPN stallion, Las Vegas (Ferdeaux x Wynton).

Las Vegas finished third in this class in 2021 with a different rider. He is now ridden by Emmelie Scholtens. He was the only horse awarded a 10, which he received for canter. His walk was his lowest score, for 8.2. If Emmelie can squeeze a couple more points out of that in the final, he is a real chance for the top place. His trot is elastic, powerful, uphill with tremendous scope and scored 9.8. His overall score of 9.42 just behind the winner.

In third place was another competitor from 2021, the Oldenburg stallion Global Player (Grand Galaxy Win x Blue Hors Don Schufro) ridden beautifully by Eva Möller. This stallion doesn’t have the power or scope of the first two horses but Eva doesn’t give away a single point. It is so correct, elegant, harmonious and accurate. I am not sure where she can find that little bit extra that will be necessary to pull ahead of the others, but I also know that if anyone can do it, she can. He had 9.5 for trot, 9.4 for a very good walk and 9.0 for canter for an overall score of 9.4 points.

I think the top three places will remain between these horses, they just had that something extra that separated them from the large group of very good horses. I think the excitement of the finals will be to see just how much these horses can lift their scores. One horse that just may do it is the exquisite KWPN mare Lightning Star (Ferguson x De Niro) ridden by Kirsten Brouwer. This mare was a top finisher in 2021 with an ethereal quality and such tremendously elegant movement. Today she just lacked a little of that presence and expression and finished in 11th place with 8.28 points.

Of the North American competitors, Jennifer Hoffman on the Hanoverian stallion Mani’s Endeavor (Morricone x Foundation 2) finished 12th and moves directly into the finals.

They had a very strong trot tour, with power, elasticity and a great ability to collect and extend for a score of 9. There was some small tension in the walk which kept the score to 7.7 and then mistakes in the changes which was very expensive, canter 8.2. The submission score of 7.7 was also affected by the stallion really falling through the right leg and hitting the outside rail through much of the shoulder-in. Yes, the judges notice this! So she has a great opportunity to lift their score.

Sabine Schut-Kery and the KWPN stallion Gorgeous Latino (Glock’s Toto Jr x Rubiquil) were literally just out of the top 12. The stallion was ridden in such a soft harmonious way, with no mistakes, but no real highlights, although the walk was very good scoring 8.8. Should they find just a little more expression and power, especially in the trot, they have a god chance to make the finals.

Finally, the delightful Oldenburg mare Siri (Dante Weltino x Sandro Hit) ridden by the always smiling Hannah Beaulieu of Canada has such an expressive and light footed trot, with the mare seeming to barely touch the ground. The walk was OK, but the mare finally gave in to the atmosphere in the canter and had too many mistakes and too much energy bubbling over to be in the top group. But what a horse for the future. Fingers crossed they take a deep breath in the small finals Saturday