Dressage-News

By ILSE SCHWARZ

OMAHA, Nebraska, April 6, 2023 If you continue to read my reports, you will quickly realise that I am ALMOST as interested in weather as I am dressage! Most days at home, I am out of my house early and on my first of 8-10 horses often after the sun has barely risen so to cover a show like the World Cup is quite the luxury as nothing generally takes place before lunch. However, this leaves me with energy to spare so I will normally get up and go for a walk/run to explore before breakfast. This morning I opened the door from the hotel and NOPE, no-one needs to be exercising in those below freezing winds!! I spun straight around and went to plan B. Plan B involved eating breakfast and vowing to use the stairs instead of the elevator every time I went from media center to the arena. It’s 78 steps each time up and each time down, so that seemed like a fair trade off…especially while carrying camera gear.

Now for the important stuff. Today was the Grand Prix. This has no real bearing on the final result, no scores are carried forward, but it is important for the rider to get their ranking for the freestyle. If you do well today, you will get a later draw in the freestyle which is always desirable. It also sets the tone for what to expect from each combination. The riders had a group photo session around the World Cup trophy, which was a fun photo session, with the girls all making sure their hair was on point, as it was a photo without protective head gear. Steffen Peters joked that he was a little late as his hair took a little longer than normal to style. It was in this moment with all of the riders lined up that I realized, Steffen was the only male rider competing! Much to the mirth of Isabell Werth, he was also the oldest. As I said, it was a fun photo shoot.

This event is an individual championship, so most of the riders feel less pressure to put in good result for the team. Hence, they are more relaxed and seem quicker to joke and laugh at these types of sessions. The press conference, which will rate more of a mention towards the end of the story was one of the funniest I have attended. An example was with Jessica von Bredow-Werndl being asked if she was enjoying the steaks here in Omaha, only to reply that she was vegan. Steffen Peters jumped in stating that everyone of those steaks that Jessica left behind, he had covered.

After this frivolity it was on to the main event. Many of these horse and rider combinations were new to me, and some were new to much of the judging panel too. The audience was wonderful with their enthusiasm for all fifteen combinations. Obviously some were clear favorites, but everyone was loudly cheered and supported. The final results are long available with Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB of Germany won with 79.922%, Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz also of Germany were second with 77.485% and Nanna Skodborg Merrald and Blue Hors Zeptor from Denmark were third with 76.155%, so my report is going to come as I saw it. In the order they competed with my impressions, more on some than others of course!

First to go was the chunky dappled grey stallion, Hexagon’s Ich Weiss (Hexagon’s Rubiquil x Negro), ridden by Thamar Zweistra for the Netherlands. He is a young stallion at only 10yo, and I have seen him online but that did not really convey his substance. He performed everything in a balanced and fluid way of going, no real moments of brilliance but confident and harmonious throughout. His piaffe is more active behind than infront, but shows good room for development and the passage wasn’t always in perfect rhythm and was a little swinging, both were still good enough for straight 7.0 and 7.5s. He had a very good walk tour, 7.0 to 8.0 from all judges and the test was completely free of mistakes. They well deserved the score of 73.261% and it was a great start to the competition.

The second combination to go was Morgan Barbancon and Sir Donnerhall II (Sandro Hit x Donnerhall) for France. I have been lucky enough to watch Morgan competing on three of her other horses all winter season in Wellington, and I hate to say it, but perhaps the horses she had in Florida all looked more “game fit” than her 17yo partner. The first part the trot tour was elegant and lightfooted until the piaffe, where the horse more shuffled than piaffed and the passage out really lacked any power or lift. There was a mistake at the start of the 2 tempis and then a beautiful extended canter. After this he just seemed to be losing energy, even though the movements were well ridden. In the end the piaffe and transitions, and small losses of balance through the test really impacted the score, 67.376% to finish 14th

Johanna Due Boje and the 15yo mare Mazy Klovenhoj (Bocelli) from Sweden were a completely new combination for me, and this is their first international Champioship. The first thing to delight me about her ride was the background music which was ABBA of course. It worked perfectly. This was a test where everything was basically good, and the judges scores would seem to agree. Many 7.0s throughout, the occasional 6.5s and a few 8.0s. It was fun to watch even though the mare was audibly grinding her teeth at times. The passage was super engaged and although it seemed the second piaffe became almost 4 beat, the judges didn’t seem too worried, so scores for the piaffe and the transitions were also good. The mare got a little tight in the neck on occasion and the trot extensions were an absolute highlight. 69.876% to finish 10th

Caroline Chew and the 19yo Tribiani (gelding by Solo Landtinus x Landadel), riding for Singapore, have come directly from Florida, where they were competing all season. They are a quiet consistent combination, no excitement, no mistakes. They get the job done. 67.531% and 13th.

Jorinde Verwimp and the 11yo gelding Charmer (Charmeur x Quattro B) from Belgium is another I haven’t seen. He is such an attractive horse, he really commands attention as he enters the arena. He has huge extended gaits but his piaffe and passage still look a little young, with mostly 6’s and 6.5’s for the piaffe and the transitions. The mechanics are good, he just looks like he needs a little more time. He got a bit distracted in the halt and rein back but has quite a lovely walk. He loses collection a little in the tempi changes and the zig zag but has a massive canter extension with scores including 8.0s. He really sits in the pirouettes and overall is a glorious horse. He was unlucky to not sneak into his first 70% in World Cup competition but got close with 69.224% and 11th

Marieke van der Putten and Torveslettens Titanium RS2 (11yo DWB Totilas x Stedinger) from the Netherlands enter the arena and I am struck by the chunky pony-esque stature of this gelding. He broke in the first extension, which was unfortunate as, from my angle, it looked lovely, and lost rhythm in the second one, which I had a side view of. It’s an interesting trot extension as his front legs truly change their mechanics from his collected trot, but the hindlegs really stay the same, some will say “just like his Dad”. Also, just like his dad, he has a very impressive piaffe passage tour, receiving 8.0s and 9.0s for all the piaffe, passage and transitions. He piaffes perfectly in place, with true “textbook” mechanics, active in front, lowering behind and very clean transitions. Despite the mistakes in the trot extensions and mistakes in the one tempis, the quality of the piaffe and passage is enough to get them to 70.776% and ranking of 8th.

The first American enters, Alice Tarjan and the USA bred 10yo mare Serenade (Sir Donnerhall x Don Principe). The first trot extension is sensational. Soft and expressive, the judges reward with mostly 8.0s. Good half passes, top quality passage and then a miscommunication into the piaffe. The mare hears “halt” and she does so beautifully. She then goes “oops….ok, I am piaffing now…should I halt again?” and proceeds to halt again instead of going to passage. They are back on track for the second piaffe and passage and the remainder of the test is mistake free. The two tempis are enormous but a little swinging, and the one’s not high scoring. The final trot extension is as glorious as the first but the early miscommunication was too huge to be overcome in the rankings. 67.065% and 15th, but this mare is so very young and just oozing quality.

The next American is hot on her heels, Californian based Anna Buffini and the 16yo mare FRH Davinia la Douce (Don Frederico x A Jungle Prince). This combination train with Guenter Seidel and are just a joy to watch. They never look worried and you have the feeling that everything is pretty effortless. Fluid and confident through all the trot work. The mare gets perhaps a little deep here and there, but never long enough to really affect the scores. Her passage technique puts her a little out behind but she comes under herself beautifully for the piaffe. 70.047%and 9th

After Anna we have a break before the second group, and those in the know hurry to the warm up, which is situated in the midst of the vendors, to watch Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Dalera BB warm up. Lots and lots of breaks, touching on the piaffe, some beautifully executed half pass, a pirouette each way, done almost in slow motion, with such attention to detail and she is ready.

As she enters the arena and canters down the centerline, she really looks so very normal. You definitely don’t look at her and think “here is the current World Champion” and then she starts the work and you really don’t care about her conformation any longer. The expression and reach, and the ease with which she achieves it through the half passes is extraordinary. The piaffe/passage tour is a trademark of the combination with it being elegant, correct, in perfect balance and it all appears effortless. I am sitting behind F and it is easy to see that Jessica’s spur simply doesn’t touch her mare. No surprise that there are 10’s from the judging panel. She has an uncharacteristic hesitation, almost halt, in the collected walk after a good extended walk and then it is into the second piaffe/passage tour. More 10’s for the piaffe and high scores for the passage and transitions. I have goosebumps and start to get a little teary, This combination always does this to me. It’s appears so effortlessly beautiful. Dalera gets tight in the one tempis, Jessica feels this and at the end of them, leans forwards and pats her with both hands, the mare almost smiles at the reassurance from her rider, regains her poise and goes on to deliver a masterclass on how to do pirouettes, both to the left and to the right. In the final trot extension, there is not a single tight muscle in the mares entire body. She is so loose and swinging. More 9.0’s and 10.0s for the final centerline and it is doubtful that anyone else can do better. 79.922% 1st

Ingrid Klimke is a crowd favorite, and unique in her success in both the dressage and eventing world. She is an inspiration and role model for so many riders. The hannoverian stallion,Franziskus (Fidertanz x Alabaster), at 15yo, is oozing stallion power. The connection with the bridle is so steady and soft, his mouth quiet and so still through the majority of the test. It’s something that Ingrid is always stressing in her training and it is wonderful to see it on display in this environment. He doesn’t have the most expressive piaffe, but the mechanics are so very correct and it scores consistent 7.0s/7.5s. The canter work is of high quality, with the zig zag perhaps the best of the day. They show another masterclass on how to ride both canter pirouettes and, quite frankly, I am a little surprised that the score is only 75.543% for 4th. The scores are consistent across the board and that is why I am reporting on the sport and not judging it!

Nanna Skodborg Merrald and the 15yo oldenburg gelding Blue Hors Zepter (Blue Hors Zack x Wolkentanz II) of Denmark are next to enter. This a massive horse in his body, but somehow quite elegant. He has such a kind expression in his eye and he goes around the arena waiting for the bell. This is another horse with a very strong piaffe/passage tour. The steps are engaged, active and show a confidence where you simply “know” that the next step will look exactly like the last. Something all judges love. A really good walk tour, with quite a few 8.0s scattered between the judges and an even better second piaffe/passage tour. The background music over this part of the test is a simple piano arrangement of “Beauty and the Beast” and it is absolutely perfect. The 2 tempis have a couple of ones thrown in for good measure but the zig zag is absolutely beautiful, the judge at M even rewarding it with a 9.0. He had a truly unfortunate “spook and scoot” right before the pirouette left which was super expensive and reminds us just how bloody difficult this sport is. 76.165% and 3rd, with the only test where the scores were wildly split with a 71.957% at F and 79.022% at H. I can’t wait to see the freestyle from this combination.

Steffen Peters and the 15yo Suppenkasper (Spielberg x Krack C) are the absolute crowd favorites and receive a rousing round of applause as they entered the arena. The only pair to receive this and possibly not what Steffen was looking for on his traditionally very hot “Mopsie”. They have a good, but not extravagant trot extension, good half passes, beautiful halt but then hurried rein back and then onto the passage. What a change in how this horse balances his massive body in this movement. He is still super engaged and is now so completely regular behind. The piaffe has also improved in it’s quality with minimal swaying, they piaffe right at me, since I am sitting at F, so it is very obvious and easy to see the improvement. This new quality in the passage is maintained throughout the whole test and Steffen has to be thrilled. Huge 2 tempis for straight 8.0’s from the judges panel but then he gets quite hot through the half pass zig zag He tries to drop behind the vertical, which is perhaps the trade off for achieving incredible sideways ground cover. We see a textbook pirouette left, but Mopsie gets a bit over-reactive in the pirouette right and leaps sideways, Steffen make the best of a difficult start, and just lets it stay big. Despite this, I think this is possibly the best test I have seen from this combination. The judges don’t agree, but I refer to my previous statement about reporting and not judging lol. 74.581% and 5th

Justina Vanagaite from Lithuania and the 10yo gelding Nabab (Sir Donovan x Krack C) find themselves in the final group due to the rules of the draw because they were the highest ranked combination from the central European league. She came into the arena with a smile on her face, clearly ready just to enjoy the experience. They start with a convincing trot tour up to the first piaffe, with many 7.5’s and 8.0’s for their work. Unfortunately the first piaffe has all sorts of weirdness going on behind which apparently only the judge at F could see. Since they have the same view as I do, I am not surprised by the 4.5 that Jean-Michel Roudier gave. The other judges awarded 6.5’s and 7.0 which again underlines how the judges really see different things, and you can only judge what you see. The 2 tempis and big and perfectly placed, using the entire diagonal, but after that things just start to get a bit messy with small mistakes and losses of balance and collection. Nothing dreadful, just enough to pull score down out of the 70’s. She gets a huge reception from the audience who appreciate the effort she has made to be here. 68.913 and 12th

Jessica has left the door ever so slightly open for Isabell Werth to creep through to the lead, and you can be sure that she will make the most of every opportunity. This is Isabells 24th appearance at a Dressage World Cup Final, and she has won five of them. Her horse for this final is DSP Quantaz (Quaterback x Hohenstein), a 13yo gelding. Any way you look at this horse, it just doesn’t seem to be possible that he is a Grand Prix star. The conformation of his back into his hindquarters just doesn’t seem to make any sense but I can assure you that, despite how it appears, this horse, with Isabell in the saddle, can do amazing work. Isabell is the ONLY rider to truly nail the centerline canter/halt transition receiving an 8.5 overall. This is the theme throughout the test. She simply NEVER loses a mark through accuracy. She makes the steep angles of the trot half pass look so darn easy. The piaffe and passage is good, solid 8.0’s plus . So not quite at the level of Dalera. The collected walk is weak but then into the canter. The canter extension is huge with the flying change perfectly placed. The geometry for the zig zag is exact plus high quality half pass of course. Her one tempi’s are far superior to Jessica’s and yet again we see the German pirouette masterclass taking place for both pirouettes. The final centerline shows elastic dynamic passage but, as in the second piaffe, Quantaz sneezes a few times through tension. The scores should be close but I don’t think she will be ahead of Jessica and Dalera. She receives 77.485%.

The score could maybe have been a little higher but Isabell is super happy. At the press conference she commented that “I was very happy because it was not so easy after 2 days quarantine, and more or less 3 days off to start to bring him in shape for the grand prix. He has a strong temperament and is strong minded and he was a bit scared in the first familiarization with the noise, and so that was not so easy for him to become more focused. That was a bit day by day and it improved a bit, but I did not expect that it could work so good today” Both Jessica and Nanna also felt their horses rather “on fire” and will be happy with an extra day in the facility for them to settle before the freestyle competition Friday night.

Simone Pearce from Australia, on the 14yo oldenburg stallion Fiderdance (Fidertanz x Don Schufro) is the last to go. Simone was rather surprised and just a tiny bit worried about being a bit of a let down for the audience after the top ranked riders. Australia generally is in the first part of the draw, but Simone got her ticket being the highest ranked rider of the extra riding slots. So it actually had nothing to with her nationality. She has been competing in the toughest league, the Western European league, to qualify. To be very clear, Simone was far from a let down. She and Fiderdance have become a dynamic combination and super fun to watch. The person responsible for the background music, the riders did not supply their own, did a brilliant job with Simone too. He use music from the Man From Snowy River soundtrack and “Jessica’s theme”, a piano piece, is beyond perfect for the walk tour and into the piaffe/passage. Throughout the test, Simone is quick to reward the stallion with a quick pat when he tries hard. He was anxious in the warm up, being able to hear the crowd cheering and wasn’t too excited to go down through the ingate. Honestly, we would never have known. It’s a very complete ride, the piaffe/passage could use more activity, there was a small mistake in the zig zag and she had too few steps in the final piaffe but the rest of the test is confident and well executed. They receive 71.320% and go into the ribbons with 7th place.