Chris Hector grabbed the chance to have a quiet word with Carl at Rio…
Photos by HippoFoto
When we did our little interview at Aachen last year, I asked how were we going to get the judging right after it had been very bad at Aachen and you said you thought it was working itself out, that does seem to have happened here…
“I’m thinking that, and I’m glad you said that, because I don’t get the feeling anymore that we are riding against riders who will automatically be given points. That’s not a good way to compete – but I don’t get that feeling now. It can’t happen really now because of the Judges Review Panel, because of the knowledgability of journalists, because of the knowledgeability of the crowds, you can’t get away with it.”
Carl and Nip Tuck, looking elegant
The knowledgeability of the crowd here was perhaps a little lacking when they were booing Jurado Lopez’s score…
“But at least they have passion. Who could be disappointed with that score, really – I know they were booing a bit, but the horse got a great score, at the end of an Olympics, that can happen.”
The Princess was on song when she came in today with Valegro…
“She was amazing, and I have to say, watching her ride today, it was measured, it was controlled. I could see her doing everything she could, not to make the mistakes she made last year. The half halts, get it sitting, ride the movement, finish it, re-balance – rather than just like go go go. I don’t want him to look like that any more, I just want him to be neat and tidy, he has enough activity when he is sure, he doesn’t need all this… and I think looking at last year, not only was he bored of the game, but he was also being over-paced, because everybody was trying to beat him. This time, by not having her competing on the big wide stage, she went there and rode like she would do at home. It was fantastic.”
Charlotte and Valegro, as close to perfect as it gets…
Everybody is desperately interested in Valegro’s retirement but no-body cares about Barney…
“He can’t retire! If he can come seventh at the Olympics, I’m not stopping now. First of all, I would like that horse just to prove a point, come on – no hind legs, no paces, you can do it. We can do a bit better. I’ve ridden some great horses in my life, but I enjoy riding that horse the most, I really do. Sitting on Barney, I’m riding presence, going round today, you are sitting behind a neck like that, and he starts to go, and when he’s more relaxed and starts to use his body like he was today. In the Grand Prix he was so nervous, but today when his body moves, his hind legs don’t look so much not part of him. Honestly you sit there, and he is so lovely in my hands, when I have him really light and on his hind legs, it’s just the best feeling, the feeling of changing something…”
Isn’t that supposed to be what dressage is about…
“I know we say that Chris, but not every horse is capable of it. If we all trained with the rules and the blocks of the training scale… I haven’t been able to put those blocks in place with that horse. The contact came as he has got more on his hind legs, some things have been back to front a little bit with him. That’s alright.”
Has Charlotte got the next superstar in her stable?
“I do, yeah. She’s got a seven-year-old mare, Freestyle, which belongs to the Mount St John Stud, it won its first Prix St Georges with 76. It has a temperament like Valegro, and when it moves, you don’t hear it on the floor. It is a very light, elegant horse. It piaffes like an elephant on a drum. If you painted it white it would be an Andalusian. I think she is the next one.”
Charlotte’s next superstar? Freestyle (Fidermark x Donnerhall x Atatuerk) Photo: Kevin Sparrow
“Charlotte and I have invested a lot, we’ve got seven-year-olds, six-year-olds, five-year-olds and four-year-olds, and Charlotte is going I’ve found another one, let’s buy this one. No – NO more money is going into horses. That’s it, we have enough because we have about twenty two.”
Off he goes, smiling, into the next stage of the world’s dressage future…
This season breed a top dressage performer, stallions available from International Horse Breeders from top European stallion station PSI Go to www.ihb.com.au
Vitalis
Fürstenball
Sir Donnerhall
