Australia's Brett Parbery and Victory Salute finished 10th in the Freestyle at Aachen with a score of 73.18% - Edward Gal and Totilas won the class on a score of 90.96.
Here is a video of Edward's freestyle:
The Special was won by Edward Gal and Totilas - here is a spectator's eye view of their Grand Prix...
Brett and 'Sam' star in Aachen! Grand Prix score 70+! and 10th place - listen to the exclusive interview with Chris Hector
The German Dressage team was once upon a time a very settled affair. Everyone knew months in advance who was going to be in the team, and the joke was, ‘we could select a second team, and still win the gold medal!’
Times have changed. The Dutch swept relentlessly to victory at the European Championships last year, and look like taking out their first ever World Championship in Lexington later this year, while the Germans frantically try to re-group and come up with a winning combination.
Last weekend’s CDI3* at Fritzens in Austria, probably raised as many questions as it provided answers.
Isabell Werth and Satchmo won the Grand Prix for the horses entered in the Special, on a score of 73.53%, and was the winner with four of the judges, although one, Germany’s Katrina Würst, had them third, and preferred the up-and-coming combination of Anabel (daughter of Klaus and Judith) Balkenhol riding the De Niro gelding, Dablino.
In the actual Special – usually Satchmo’s best test – Spain’s Beatriz Ferrer-Salat riding yet another De Niro gelding, the nine year old Delgado, won the class on 74.13%, with Anabel and the 10 year old, Dablino, second on 73.456, followed by Ulla Salzgeber and the Wolkentanz II mare, Wakana O, third on 72.46% Satchmo once again threatened to rear in the piaffe, and was judged fourth on 71.63% - 4th with four of the judges, 2nd with Australia’s Mary Seefried.
According to eurodressage.com’s Astrid Appels: “Though Delgado and Dablino have the talent, athleticism and movement potential that absolutely equals at least Holland's number two horse Parzival, the judges are keeping their 10-score cards in their pockets and still remain "conservative" in scoring these brilliant stars. These two chestnut could certainly challenge the ruling Dutch team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, at least if the slate is wiped clear and all horses are assessed by the judges on equal terms without taking star-status halo-effects into account.”
Certainly the Spanish team are looking a lot better with Beatriz back in the frame and it is nice for the German’s to have yet another Balkenhol lining up for a place in the team, but the next few months are going to be fascinating as the German riders battle it out for a berth on the plane to Lexington…
After the birth of her second child, Ingrid Klimke has lost no time getting back into the action - leading Luhmühlen 3DE**** after the dressage and cross country, only to lose to Britain's Sharon Hunt and Tankers Town by 0.2 of a penalty, when Ingrid's Butts Abraxis had both elements of the double down in the showjumping.
Still Ingrid is on top of the world, as you will hear in this interview with Chris Hector
Western Australian breeder Dolly van Zaane is over the moon that her mare, Faroche has been accepted to breed to Totilas…
DvZ Faroche (VDL Laroche x Barrabadeen Fortune x Falkand x Monopol) was WA's young dressage champion in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and was 6th at the DJWTS as a 6 yr old. She also was the 2005 Elementary Horse of the Year (WA) and the 2006 and 2007 WA Medium State Champion.
According to Dolly: “We decided to retire her from competition after competing Advanced level and she is currently in foal to Soprano (Sandro Hit x Contender x Tin Rocco xx). She was one of the best dressage horses in WA when she was out competing.”
“We are very proud and privileged that DvZ Faroche has been selected to receive frozen semen from the worlds best dressage stallion Moorlands Totilas for this coming season. Faroche is a worthy recipient with her interesting bloodlines (she carries the same Nimmerdor x Marco Polo cross as Moorlands Totilas in his dam line) and her international quality paces and superb temperament.”
“This is like winning lotto and such a huge pat on the back for my breeding program. Faroche is 3rd generation of my breeding. I know we don't know what he'll produce and in a way it is a gamble, but with a mare like Faroche it is a gamble worth taking.”
Contenders for the FEI World Cup Young Rider Final
Shannan checks out the competition
The final selection event for Australian young riders to compete at the FEI World Cup Young Rider final held in Frankfurt, Germany from the 15th to the 19th of December will take place on Friday and Saturday this week at the Australian Young Rider Championships in Toowoomba.
At least twelve athletes will be selected to compete in the FEI World Cup Young Rider final from five regions including; five from Western Europe, one from Central Europe, two from North America, one from South America and two from the Asia, Africa, Pacific region.
Riders are selected based on their best two percentages from CDIY individual and freestyle performances of at least 65% within the 1st of January 2010 and the 25th of October.
We take a look at which combinations could be at the FEI World Cup Young Rider final from the Netherlands, Germany, the United States, Canada, Italy, Portugal and Australia.
THE NETHERLANDS
Angela Krooswijk & Revino II (Image from www.johann-hinnemann.de )
Reigning FEI World Cup Young Rider Champions, Lotje Schoots and Torricelli, are now outside the age restrictions but the Dutch have another promising combination waiting in the ranks, Angela Krooswijk.
She was Young Rider Champion at the Dutch Championships this month in De Steeg riding Revino II (Rohdiamant / Contender). Angela won the Team Championship test with 70.894%, the Individual test with 73.315% and the Kur with 76.7%. You can watch her freestyle at Top Dressage TV: http://www.topdressage.tv/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1196
GERMANY
From Germany, Fabienne Lùtkemeier and D´Agostino (De Niro / Shogun xx) continue to star in the young rider ranks. She was the first German youth rider to win two medals in two divisions at the German National Youth Riders’ Dressage Championships and is the daughter of Gina Capellmann Lutkemeier, who is currently scoring 70% plus on the Grand Prix CDI circuit. Fabienne also has a famous aunt, the former Olympian and World Cup medallist, Nadine Capellmann.
At the European Young Rider Championships last year Fabienne and D´Agostino were silver medallists with 74%. In May, Fabienne competed at the CDI in Wiesbaden to win the Young Rider Kur with a World Record Score of 81.35%.
This month, Fabienne rode D´Agostino to win at the CDIO-PJYR in Hagen with a 76.228% in the Team Championship test. They were 2nd in the Individual with 74.122% and 2nd in the Kur with 76.333%.
Sanneke Rothenberger & Deveraux (Image from 2009anzridertrainingtour.blogspot.com)
Fabienne will be challenged by Germany’s Sanneke Rothenberger riding Deveraux (De Niro x Rohdiamant) the 6-year old World Young Horse Champion and gold medallist at the 2007 World Young Horse Championships in Verden. Although the combination lost to Fabienne Lùtkemeier in the Team Championship test at the CDIO-PJYR in Hagen this month with 73.772%, Sanneke won the Individual test on 75.701% and the Kur on 77.583%.
UNITED STATES
Currently leading the Young Rider World Cup rankings for the United States is Mackinzie Pooley and the 18 year old Oldenburg mare, Jonkara, with an overall average qualifying score of 68.917%.
Mackinzie has put in consistent performances this year. At the LA Winter Championships she won the young rider Prix St Georges with 71.05% and was crowned FEI Junior High Point Champion.
CANADA
Jaimie Holland has a strong chance for selection from Canada on Fleurina (Florestan), a 12 year old Westphalian mare who she has been partnered with since her days on the FEI Junior circuit. Together they represented Canada at the 2009 and 2008 North American Junior Young Riders’ Championships and were members of the 2007 Canadian Junior gold medal winning team.
Now in her third year of Young Riders, Jamie won the Young Rider Team test with 66.474% and the Young Rider Individual test with 65.263% at the CDI3 * Wellington Spring Classic in February this year. In March they won the Young Rider Freestyle test at the CDI-W/Y Palm Beach Dressage Derby with 66.900%.
ITALY
Riccardo Sanavio and the Belgian Warmblood stallion Uson van Essene (Gotthardsen / Goldspring de Lauzelle) represented Italy at the Young Rider World Cup finals last year where they placed 8th in round one with 65.789%, 6th in round two with 67.842% and 4th in the Kur with 72.5%.
The combination was unbeatable in the young rider classes at the 2009 Italian Dressage Championships where they won all three rounds. Trained by the Italian dressage chef d’equipe, Laura Conz, they continue to be the best performing young rider combination in Italy.
At the Lipica CDI-W in May this year, Riccardo won all three rounds of the young rider tournament. In the Team test they scored 69.895%, Individual test 70.474% and Kur 74.180%.
PORTUGAL
There is no doubt 19 year old, Mafalda Galiza Mendes riding D’Artagnan will be selected to represent Portugal in the finals. She had nine first placings throughout the CDI Sunshine Tour in Spain last year with classifications over 70%. In Portugal she’s ranked number one in the National Riders’ Ranking.
At last years Young Rider World Cup final she challenged Lotje Schoots for the title by placing 3rd in round one with 69.895%, 2nd in round two with 71.158% and was the bronze medallist in the Kur with 72.85%.
AUSTRALIA
The top two contenders for Australian representation are New South Wales riders, Alexis Hellyer on Waca W and Megan Bryant on Donnabella. At the Victorian Young Rider Festival Alexis won both the individual (65.965%) and the freestyle (67.833%).
At the Sydney CDI3* Megan Bryant gained a wild card entry into the competition and won the Individual with 67.544% and the freestyle with 70.25%. At the same competition Alexis Hellyer placed 9th in the Individual with 61.404% and 3rd in the Kur with 66.167%.
At Dressage and Jumping with the Stars Alexis took out the Individual and Freestyle classes with 66.053% and 69.25% respectively. As it stands Megan’s average comes to 68.897% to beat Alex’s highest two score average of 68.542%.
The outcome will be decided on Friday and Saturday this week at the Australian Young Rider Championships.
Alex and Waca - will they get to the Final in Frankfurt?
Australian Grand Prix Dressage Champions, Brett Parbery and Victory Salute are making huge progress in Holland and are well on their way to representing Australia at the World Equestrian Games in September.
Since relocating to the stables of Edward Gal, Brett and Victory Salute (aka ‘Sam’) scored 67.021% in the Grand Prix and rounded out the top ten in the freestyle final with 70.55% at the FEI World Cup Dressage Finals in s'Hertogenbosch.
This month the talented combination placed 3rd with a 69.726% in the Grand Prix CDN at Rotterdam. The former saddle bronc rider came close to beating 2nd place getter, Hans Peter Minderhoud on I.P.S. Tango (Jazz), who bettered Brett’s score by 1.034% and is likely to take Anky’s spot on the Dutch team at WEG. Brett’s current trainer, Edward Gal, won the class on Sisther de Jeu (Gribaldi) with a 73.404%.
Typically, there was much discrepancy between the judges. In the breakdown of the scores Maribel Alonso (MEX) had Brett in the lead with Edward on 70.851% while Jacques Vandeale (BEL) placed him 5th with a 66.383%. Linda Zang (USA) placed them 2nd with an exceptional score of 73.617%. Australia’s own Mary Seefried gave a consistent score of 68.936%.
All together seven judges marked the test. Brett said: “It’s a little daunting when you ride in and the judges are watching you circle around for your entry.”
There was nowhere to hide in the Grand Prix arena: “With seven judges there’s no place to make corrections where we normally make them at the far end of the arena.”
Brett was pleased with the final result: “Mentally for me this is the start of our WEG campaign. I’m happy with the start so far but there’s still a long way to go.”
“Sam felt very concentrated all the way through the test. Edward was on straight after me so I warmed up alone with a few comments from him. It all felt good but there’s still more in there.”
There was a difference of 7.23% between Brett’s highest and lowest scores:
“I read through the test papers last night and I thought Jacques (66.383%) was a bit harsh. Linda (73.617%) was very complimentary about the test.”
“Maribel had us winning with Edward so maybe it was a 70, who knows really. I’m not getting caught up in the judging. I just like to watch the video and read my papers and make my own assessment. We know what we have to work on.”
The percentage was an improvement on their score of 68.255 to win Australia’s National Championships last year and Brett confirms the training is the cause of their success: “He’s much better connected and more in front of my leg. I knew that training with Edward would suit us and it has. Still good riding is good riding and my time with Hubertus was the single most important thing that has happened in our development as a combination.”
Riding in the Gal/Minderhoud competition team is proving to be an amazing experience: “It’s great. Edward, Hans Peter, Nicole, Vanessa, who is Edwards groom, and Anna, who works for Hans Peter, are great to us and make us feel like we are part of their team.”
“It was great in the prize giving yesterday. We work all week together and then do the victory lap together. It’s very special.”
Edward rode his test straight after Brett so although he was unable to watch the performance he had the Dutch chef d'equipe, Sjef Janssen, give him a run down: “Being in Holland is great. Everyone wants you to do well. Tineke and Imke (Bartels) also watched and gave me some great advice for the pirouettes. It’s a great team environment in Holland.”
Brett describes Edward’s training methods: “It’s good riding and good horsemanship. It’s nothing new but the simple things done well. If a horse needs to go deep, then they put them there. If not, then they don’t. They train each horse to suit the horse, not to the confines of a system with a name.”
With the pressure now off to gain more MES’s (Minimum Eligibility Scores) Brett devises his competition schedule: “It’s more about managing the perceptions of the combination. Sometimes it’s best to go to small fringe shows and get on the back of some positive judging but I’m confident at the moment so we will go to the big shows, with the least amount of travel. Our plan is to go to Aachen and then to Hickstead for the Masters show.”
Brett also hopes to compete his other horse in Holland, Lord of Loxley, at a local show soon.
Queensland rider Alex Berns has won a Prix St George in Germany on her first outing with the eight year old gelding, Kings Legend (Cildara Conquest / Warrego Windy). The combination has only been together for eight months. Last year, after riding Legend for five weeks, Alex took him to their first competition at the Australian Dressage Championships to place 2nd in the Inter I and 4th in the PSG. Alex says: “Ledgy and I are still bonding and getting to know each other.”
As a young rider Alex had much success on the Aachimedes gelding, Jaybee Acrobat, who she trained from a young horse up to FEI with much success. She was the winner of the Aachen challenge at the Saddleworld Festival of Dressage in 2006.
Alex has travelled to Germany once or twice a year for the last six years originally training with Ton de Ridder, the coach of Australia’s National squad riders, as well as his wife, former Olympian Alexandra de Simmons.
She is currently based in Luxembourg with Gaston Chelius, a former pupil and Bereiter of Klaus Balkenhol. Alex tells me about his teaching methods: “It’s classical, traditional training with a focus on using the least amount of force on the horses as possible to produce complete harmony. His love and respect for the horse shines through and each horse is treated as an absolute individual.”
“Gaston never forces a horse to complete a movement that they physically can't do. Instead we focus on strength and development training. This increases the horse’s confidence to try new and harder movements as well as their actual ability to do so. I’m a rider that loves harmony with my horses, this is what Gaston offers, as well as making the horses completely engage and work by themselves with as little help from the rider as possible.”
Riding takes up most of Alex’s day: “I get up early and have a good training session at the gym. Then I travel to Gaston’s stable where I prepare and ride both of my horses. After my horses, I travel to another local competition stable where I ride and train two young horses and an older mare at medium level. Later I go back to Gaston’s stable to care and spend time with my horses as well as riding Ledgy a second time. By this time I’m usually getting home between seven and eight o’clock at night and finally have some time for myself.”
Being exposed to a high level of professionalism is what Alex believes gives the Germans’ their winning edge: “From an early age all riders are readily exposed to the training methods of the elite and this exposure sets a high benchmark for the young riders to strive for. In my opinion, the average horse in the competition scene throughout Europe is equivalent to our own top horses competing at national and CDI level. It’s great for any Australian rider, I think, to be able to train and compete in such a professional environment. You really see the dedication and commitment involved, as well as the beautiful results.”
In Luxembourg Alex has another FEI horse, Cay (Coriolan / Erle Xlll), who was previously owned by Ton De Ridder and Johan Hinneman. Alex tells me how she found the talented Holsteiner gelding: “When I travelled to Tons every year for training I was always given Cay to ride throughout my stay and in 2006 we decided to purchase him. He stayed in Germany for training and when I visited I would train and compete him.”
“Last year we competed at Vierzon and Pompadour. Cay did quite well in Vierzon but at that time he was having a few problems with his knee and this showed through his results. Cay is a very special horse. He always makes me work and I always have to be ten steps ahead of him. He can be hot at times and is very easily excited, definitely not as easy as Legend.”
“My relationship with him wasn't as strong as I was always only riding him for three months and then I would leave for Australia again. Since I moved here I’ve been able to form a strong relationship with him. At the next few competitions in July I’ll compete small tour on him and after that I’ll compete big tour. I would like to try and qualify Cay for London. He had a recent injury so I think WEG would be too short a time for him to be back in full fitness.”
Alex talks about her plans with Kings Legend: “I’ll stay in Europe to develop Legend’s overall strength and take him up to Grand Prix within the next year. Then I’ll put myself in the best possible position for team selection for the London Olympics in 2012. I’ll be training with Gaston who has also set up regular training sessions with Klaus Balkenhol and Hubertus Schmidt.”
“This is an incredible opportunity to improve my riding and broaden my knowledge of training horses at the highest level. I brought Legend over with me because I feel this horse is as good as any of the top European horses. He gives 100% to his rider and pushes himself to the limit and I really feel that this type of horse is very difficult to find.”
Alex is also looking to purchase a young horse in the next few months to bring up the levels under Gaston’s supervision and is hoping to bring a horse she still has in Australia over to Germany through sponsorship. This would add two more to her team of five competition horses who she will competing around the European circuit this year.
Their next competition is the CDI three star in Vierzon, France, on the 7th to the 11th of July where Alex will compete small tour on Kings Legend and Cay. Two weeks later, from the 23rd to the 25th, she will ride at the CDI three star at Strassen in Luxembourg.
You can keep track of Alex’s success through The Horse Magazine and on her facebook page: http://bit.ly/9nsMMr
VIDEO LINK: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=464575718568&ref=mf
After a short break from the International circuit Australian Chantal Wigan has placed 5th in the Grand Prix at the CDI three star in Achletiten, Austria, with a 65.41%. Chantal was happy with her performance but says there’s room for improvement:
“The test itself was accurate and Ferero was well prepared and willing to produce maybe not his best test but certainly a good start for the season. I have made a conscious effort to ride every step with Ferero which I think has elevated my score.”
She topped one of Australia’s Beijing Olympic team members, Hayley Beresford on Relempago De Retiro (Luar x Argonauta), who placed 9th with a 64.64%.
It was a competitive field with the title taken by Austrian rider Victoria Max-Theurer on Eichendorff (Ehrentusch / Ferragamo) with a 69.49%. Second place went to Spain’s former WEG silver medallist, Beatriz Ferrer-Salat on Faberge (Falkland) with 67.32%
Chantal has been based in Europe since 2006 when she was vying for selection for the Beijing Olympics. Although she gained the required MES’s (Minimum Eligibility Scores) to qualify she did not make the team. Although disappointing the stint provided a valuable lesson:
“The greatest experience in my life so far has been to focus on that goal and not be drawn into the politics. It was a very steep learning curve but you cannot be deterred when enormous tasks are ahead of you.”
Chantal continues to campaign the 11 year old gelding, Ferero ( Ferro / Wellington) who she bought in Germany in April 2007: “He’d never competed in Grand Prix and my first outing with him was colourful. I would have to say he is cheeky, very sensitive and inquisitive.”
I asked Chantal about their competition plans for the year in their bid for the WEG at Kentucky: “I’ve set out a schedule for multiple shows in July which will take me to Pompadour (France) and Hickstead (England). Then in August I will compete in Verden.”
Riders hoping to represent Australia must gain two MES’s of 64% in the 12 months prior to the WEG. Chantal is looking to gain her next MES on July 1st in Pompadour, France: “It’s a great venue and one not to miss for the European riders.”
Since basing in Europe Chantal has returned to Australia once in 2009 to seek sponsorship. She acknowledges the expense of pursuing her dream: “It’s certainly a huge commitment financially as it has been spread over four years. The team selection is only a small part of the overall preparation and without any sponsorship it is difficult.”
Equestrian Australia has certainly not supported the undertaking: “Apart from sending my entries to the European organisers so I can gain entry for the shows, I don't think I’m on the EFA's radar. But I would love to hear from a selector or anyone in the management team.”
During her entire stay in Europe Chantal has maintained a full time training schedule with the 2007 WEG Silver medallist and 2008 Olympic team silver medallist, Imke Schellekens-Bartels.
Imke even competed Chantal’s horse, Ferero, in 2009 placing 7th at the World Dressage Masters in Munich with 70%. Ahead of riders such as Nadine Capellman on Elvis, who was a member of the gold medal team for Germany at the 2006 WEG. And Nathalie Zu Saeyn Wittgenstein on Digby, who was a team bronze medallist for Denmark at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Chantal talks about Academy Bartels: “What attracted me the most is their honesty and empathy towards the horse as an athlete. They have a proven record and an experienced team of advisers including; Tineke, an Olympic medallist, Imke, also an Olympic medallist and Joep, who has published numerous books on the subject.”
In summary of their training methods she principles: “Softness, elasticity and engagement.”
After WEG Chantal hopes to return to Australia and prepare for the 2011 competition season
Another Aussie at Steffen Peter’s
Shannan Makauskas reports
In February, one of Queensland’s most adored Grand Prix combinations packed their bags and flew abroad in the hope of taking one last shot at representing New Zealand on the world stage. Nicole Magoffin and Jaybee Anzac (Aachimedes / Conor Country xx) are standouts in the warm-up arena of any competition. Nicole’s grace and elegance in the saddle coupled with Jaybee Anzac’s charismatic floppy ears seem to win fans everywhere they go. And currently they are based at Steffen Peter’s property in San Diego where the pair is training under Steffen’s guidance four times a week. Nicole is living in a cottage on the property.
On her online Mitavite blog Nicole writes: “When I wake in the morning and stare out my window I see Steffen and Shannon (Steffen’s Wife) riding around the arena. It‘s such a inspiring site. They both go about their ride with harmony, ease and brilliance.”
Jaybee Anzac is the third horse Nicole has taken through to the FEI ranks, winning numerous Grand Prix Championships and being listed for the Beijing Olympic Games on the way. Clemens Dierks once described Jaybee Anzac as: “The best moving young horse I have seen in Australia.”
Nicole met Steffen in New Zealand and spoke with him about training at his barn. When she sold a share in Jaybee Anzac to Tricia Osborne, she was able to realise her dream: “Tricia is a really great lady who has supported both of us.” At the moment Nicole has no fixed plans as to how long she will be staying. She tells me about her experiences so far: “Warming up beside Steffen and Ravel is very inspiring. I knew I was going to enjoy his training but I can say I am absolutely loving every word he speaks!”
“Steffen is so amazing, his training methods are simple and his priority is always the horse’s mental state. Steffen’s priorities are complete lightness and suppleness. He trains everyday working on this within movements. The man is gifted, a true master.”
”I love the progress we are making and striving to get better and better. I am coming home for a month or so and Zac will be leased to a lovely lady over here until I get back. She will train with Steffen’s assistant trainer.”
Nicole describes a typical day for her in Steffen’s barn: “It starts at six, for those who know me I start at eight, I’m not great in the morning”, she laughs. “I watch Steffen ride Ravel. Then sit and watch a few lessons from either Shannon (Steffen’s wife) or Steffen.”
“I spend a lot of time with Zac. Take him for walks, grooming, then we have our lesson. I try as much as possible to have them videoed, then after I seem to still write over a page of tips and training points.”
“There is more than 20 staff here as well as 60 horses stabled and schooled. This barn runs like clockwork, a super routine. The horses’ welfare is always a priority. The horses all get a half hour turn in the yard and schooled five days a week. The weekends here are very quiet, no one rides, the horses just get turned out and rested.”
“Shannon’s and Steffen’s ‘Arroyo’ barn is such an incredible place. Not only is the training here brilliant but the people are just lovely. The staff is happy, the clients are enthusiastic. I really think it’s a reflection of the quality people Shannon and Steffen are.”
“I often just sit and think about how lucky I am to be here. I’m trying so hard to embrace everything and bring it home to my students. I miss my two gorgeous children so much. We speak everyday on skype, a tool I couldn't have done this without, but I’m hanging to be a Mum again.”
“I have flown home quite a few times but missing my kids is the hardest element of my day. I really want to thank my awesome sponsors Mitavite, Horseland and Bella Equus, who have all supported this adventure and of course my awesome parents, friends and students.”
For the time being Nicole plans to continue learning as much as she can while she looks for another horse with Jaybee Anzac’s part owner, Tricia Osborne. If you want to keep up to date on Nicole’s progress you can become a fan of Jaybee Anzac’s facebook page where he shares his thoughts on the work with Steffen and makes fun of Nicole! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jaybee-Anzac/115755826541?ref=ts
There’s no disputing Grand Prix world record holders Edward Gal and Totilas have a spot. Nor is there any speculation about Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival’s place on the team. Imke Schellekens-Bartels and Hunter Douglas Sunrise filled out the gold medal winning team of Edward, Adelinde and Anky at the European Championships in Windsor last year and they continue to star on the CDI circuit. So who will take Anky’s place at the WEG?
Dutch dressage expert and journalist Claartje van Andel who runs the most comprehensive site of International Dressage results, DressageDirect, says Hans Peter Minderhoud is next in line for the throne.
Since Hans and Tango (Jazz / Contender) started their Grand Prix career they’ve made quite an impact on the International scene. They won the Grand Prix freestyle at the CDI3* in the Netherlands in January this year, scoring 74.65%, as well as being runner-up at the National Dutch Winter Championship in March.
Stay tuned for results from the CDIO3* at Rotterdam later this month to see if Hans and Tango prove their worthy of a place at the WEG.
The talented Hanoverian, Ashleigh Drossel Dan (Drosselklang II), was a family legacy. Laurie Lever had his Olympic debut at age 60 on the Victorian trained and bred gelding in Beijing 2008. Last year he passed the horse on to his son, 24 year old Phillip Lever, whose recent results had him on the fast track to the WEG in Kentucky.
Combined with Ashleigh Drossel Dan’s experience, Phillip won his first International Three star in March this year in the 1.50m Grand Prix class in Italy before they went on to star in Australia’s historic pair of Nations Cup second.
Sadly the horse has been sold and Phillip effectively taken out of the run for this year’s Australian Showjumping WEG team. Phillip said: “We were happy with the sale of the horse. Sure going to WEG was a goal at one point but he came to me to sell.”
Ashleigh Drossel Dan was purchased by billionaire heiress, Athina Onassis de Miranda, who is the only living descendant of Greek shipping tycoon, Aristotle Onasis. Reports in Forbes Magazine estimate the value of her inheritance to range from US$600 million to as much as $2 billion.
An article in The Weekly Times, released today, said Athina aims to compete at this year’s WEG and represent Greece at the Olympics in 2012 on Ashleigh Drossel Dan after the reputed multi-million dollar deal. But the horse is also rumoured to be ridden by her husband, two-time Olympic bronze medallist for Brazil, Alvaro Miranda Neto.
Phillip Lever may have lost the ride but he continues to train in Germany where he’s based with Jessica Kurten, the winner of the World Cup Qualifier CSI5* in both Sweden and Germany this year. Phillip said: “I’m really enjoying it here and I’ve learnt so much.”
“I’ve got some really talented horses to choose from, about a pool of five horses, that I’ll be competing on back in Grand Prix in the next six months.”
Former Olympian Mary Hanna has bought the nine year old Sandro Hit gelding, Sancette (Sandro Hit / Contender), from the stables of World Cup winner Steffen Peters.
Mary is excited to campaign Sancette in Grand Prix this year but stressed he’s still green for the level and she will not be aiming him for the WEG in 2010. Instead the combination will be looking to represent Australia at the London Olympics in 2012.
Formerly owned by Gwen Blake, Steffen rode Sancette to win the Prix St George at the Festival of the Horse in California last year with over 70 percent. After only six weeks work with Steffen, at the same show, he placed 2nd in his first Inter 1.
Listen to Chris Hector’s conversation with Mary about how she found her new horse and what she’s been working on at Steffen’s training centre in California
What attracted you about the new horse?
“Brett Parbery told me about him. He’d seen the horse on the internet. He was looking for a horse for himself and he really liked the look of the horse, but felt he was a bit small and fine for him.”
“So I got on the internet and had a look and the horse really appealed to me – he had very beautiful movement, a very athletic horse and more of a leggy, fine type. More like a lady’s horse and I knew he was being trained with Steffen Peters which was kind of appealing to me because I think Steffen is a great trainer.”
Will you leave him with Steffen and train him in the States or bring him back?
“I’m still undecided about that. I came for a week and I have already been here for four weeks and I am going to stay at least another four weeks. I’m just discovering more and more about the horse and I am realising that it is going to take me some time to really get to know him. He’s a little bit special in the way you do things with him.”
“He’s trained by Steffen and I have to find the way to do it in Steffen’s way. I don’t want to have to go home and change everything. I want to try and adjust a little to the horse myself, rather than the horse adjusts to me.”
It’s a very beautiful way of training isn’t it?
“It’s very soft. It’s not confusing having trained with Hubertus Schmidt. It is not unlike Hubertus’s way but it is a very soft way to train. He doesn’t do extreme deep and round at all. The horse is quite up and he likes to have them really through, and like all good trainers, how deep and round you put them depends entirely on the individual horse.”
“But with this horse, because he is a Sandro Hit, then we have to work to have him a little more uphill. I’m really enjoying the training, especially for me because I’ve got Shiraz (Black) and many of the issues of this horse are the same with Shiraz. The Sandro Hits tend to be fairly typical in the way they go. You’ve got to make them soft and you’ve got to make them loose though the poll and very supple to be able to get them through.”
Three time Olympic gold medallist, Anky van Grunsven, shocked the equestrian world by announcing her withdrawal from participation in the 2010 WEG on Monday.Her dual Olympic gold mount, Salinero (Salieri / Lungau), sustained an injury in his stall two months ago and Anky estimates it will take another month for the bruising on his wither to heal.
As a result Anky wouldn’t be able to bring him back in work until July. She told news site Euro Dressage: "The horse will need to be fully trained again to participate in top competitions, which takes at least a whole month, after three months of total inactivity."
"In order not to force the issue and to give Salinero full recovery time, I had to make this disappointing decision."
The 42 year old Anky reported on her own website that she won’t be vying for selection on her silver 2009 World Cup medalist, IPS Painted Black (Gribaldi / Ferro) either.
With inconsistent performances and a slight injury, Anky is no longer confident she could achieve her goal of finishing in the top five on the unreliable stallion.
In an interview with Horses of the Dutch in January this year, Anky reported she would continue with her dressage career until the 2012 Olympic Games if IPS Painted Black has what it takes. But given her recent uncertainty on the stallion’s potential it seems likely she will not be vying for selection in London.
Anky told Euro Dressage earlier this year that the 2010 WEG would be Salinero’s last International show: “By that time, Salinero will be 16 and then it'll be enough. I won't stretch his competition career for the European Championships in 2011. London will just be too late for Salinero."
Perhaps Anky will make an appearance at the WEG on her Palomino Quarter horse, Whizashiningwalla BB (Topsail Whiz / Shining Spark) in the reining arena instead?
Certainties for the Dutch team at Kentucky are Edward Gal and Totilas, Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival as well as Imke Schellekens-Bartels and Hunter Douglas Sunrise. It will be interesting to see which combination emerges over the coming months to take Anky’s place.
Danish dressage star, Princess Nathalie has become a regular visitor to Australia, and has worked with a number of our leading dressage riders. This time, we thought it would be interesting to make a place in the clinic for a different sort of rider, one of Australia’s up-and-coming younger eventers, Katja Weimann on her two star horse, Pluto Mio – coming fresh off a second in Adelaide and a win at Camperdown.
Read the story here!
You can tell in those crucial first couple of steps when horses – particularly young horses – have been ridden correctly… they go easily and without fuss into a nice frame. I guess, given Jamie Coman’s reputation for demanding first class work on the flat, it should come as no surprise that the minute his wife, Sue, and her four year old Nic of Time (by Nicklaus) and daughter, Hayley’s four year old Coolart Farm Hopscotch (by Hamlet) hit the dressage arena, that both the babies were sweetly operating.
Part 1 and Part 2 are online now!
Organizing a Seminar in Portugal is a bit of an oxymoron, things are not so much organized as they happen in this charming country, and so it was with the 1st International Seminar for the Pure Bred Lusitano in Dressage… it happened to distinctly Portuguese rhythms but with a distinguished array of international experts and guests and started with a very Portuguese lineup of dignitaries each with their own little welcoming address on the first morning…
For most spectators there’s a moment in time when a rider passes by and grasps your full attention. It may be the straightness of their back, the softness of their hands or the seemingly easy way they sit to an elevated extension. One rider who possess all of these traits is Matthew Dowsley and I can only wonder how many riders he’s inspired to pursue Dressage in the hope they could one day achieve similar heights.
Read on Here
Her rise to stardom has been one that has developed over time. First a successful hack rider for Kibah Stud she has progressed into a self-made, internationally successful Event rider. With a champion husband, charismatic daughter, hot new property and a string of exciting horses it’s little wonder that the Treasure of the Aussie Eventing world, Sharmayne Spencer, is stoked beyond belief!
Ingrid Klimke is one of those rarest of creatures – the complete horsewoman. She was part of the German Gold Medal Eventing Team at Beijing. At the 2009 German Young Horse Championships she qualified horses in three disciplines, placing in dressage and eventing and winning the Young Riding Horse class for three year olds. She has also won Grand Prix dressage classes, and World Cup dressage qualifiers.
Read Part 1 of this new series here
The 2010 WEG lasts for 16 action packed days: World titles in dressage, reining, endurance, eventing, jumping, para equestrian, vaulting and driving.
The event is being held in specially constructed arenas in Kentucky’s famous Horse Park – and we’ve got some of the best seats in the house (oh yes, A Reserve tickets sold very quickly and we were lucky to get in and buy our seats months and months ago!) If you haven’t been to a WEG before it’s hard to describe the very special excitement – that’s why so many of our travellers on our previous WEG trips have signed up again… We’ve got a great hotel in the ideal town of Frankfort. We’ve got our own buses to get you to and from the competition… and we’ve got a whole lot of exciting add-ons – special dinners, sightseeing, visits to the famed Kentucky Studs, attending the Keeneland races, even shopping excursions. Ask anyone who has travelled on a THM / Organisation Unlimited WEG trip – it’s lots of fun.
For information click the photo above or contact Bridgette Fitzgerald at Organisation Unlimited on 03 9926 3555 or email: bmf@organisationunlimited.com.au
I always thought the combination of young Australian dressage rider, Briana Burgess, and German dressage star, Monica Theodorescu, would be magic, simply because Briana is a very similar style of person and rider to Monica… but there were a few hiccups along the way.
Briana spent some time in Belgium, in a Dutch run stable, and it affected her riding. Monica recalls her arrival: “I was away in Hong Kong when Briana arrived and I asked my mother, how does she ride? DUTCH!”
But it was just a matter of time…
It’s a huge understatement to say it has been a big twelve months for Australian dressage rider, Hayley Beresford. Not only has she achieved the almost unprecedented feat of taking the first horse she ever trained to Grand Prix level to the Olympic Games, but she also married Kia Bullock, AND took the mare Rhapsodie Queen into 5th place at Germany’s top show for young FEI horses, the Nürnberger Burgpokal. Wow!
To read the article follow this link...
The Danish Princess Nathalie soon realized she was not in Europe when the temperature reached forty degrees in the indoor arena. It was a far cry from the minus thirty-five at home! Despite the ambient temperature that surrounded the horses and riders, the Princess was extremely cool (or is that kewl) with her explanations. It was obvious that to her, teaching and riding dressage are not for monetary gain, but for the excitement of seeing horse and rider start to blend as one. To see improvement in the riders so they can then learn new feelings that will make them better. The Princess did not hesitate to climb on board and feel any horse at any moment and there was no messing around. There was only one way and the clear simple basics were back again. Yes another brilliant international competitor and coach, yet again harping on about: Forward, Straightness, Reaction, Rider Position and Contact.
Read the article here
They are, I guess, the glamour couple of the equestrian scene, he, fresh from a win in the Adelaide four star three day event, she, still glowing from her first World Cup Showjumping round victory. Christopher Burton and Julia Hargreaves have recently announced their engagement, formalising a partnership that has seen them set up a smartly equipped training centre: Redleaf Lodge in horsey Wilberforce…
Read more here
Good teaching, like good horse work, consists of doing very simple things very well, and the lesson that Clayton Fredericks put together for his class at Equitana was a perfect example of elegant simplicity in action.
And what could be simpler than a few poles on the ground?
Well they certainly didn’t look that simple to Seamus Marwood’s Wild Oats, who was quite certain dragons lurked within, and just could not get the idea of quietly cantering over them.
As Clayton quipped, “This is every presenter’s nightmare. Am I brave enough to get on Seamus’ horse?”
Find out here
I guess it’s hard for Australians to understand just how specialised the German Horse scene is. While in Australia lots of our top riders have bred their own horses, in Germany the breeders tend to be one group, the riders and trainers another, with not a lot of communication between the two. Wolfram Wittig is a spectacularly successful exception to this rule..
You can find the rest of this article here...
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