On the spot report from Christopher Hector
The future of dressage in Germany is in good hands, tactful, correct, sympathetic hands… that’s the obvious truth after the twelve horses have competed in the first go round of the Burg-Pokal, a Prix St Georges competition for young horses entering the ranks of the big sport. It was sheer delight to see one after the other, young horses that were classically schooled and beautifully shown, and guess what, only one with a protesting tail, the rest looked serenely confident in their work…
It started with the first test, the Hannoverian gelding, Quaterline (Quarterback / Hotline) ridden by Dorothee Schneider. I find it hard to think of another really top class international Grand Prix rider who is also a mega-star in the young horse classes but that is Dorothee, she is really special, she is also the master of rhythm, Quaterline’s trot is bouncy, and loose through the body, the big trot is so unhurried, so correct. A big clear walk, and a balanced, uphill canter, everything looks easy for the horse. They leave on a totally loose relaxed rein as do the overwhelming majority of horses in the class..
He that is first will later be last, sang the Bard of our Generation, but in this case, Bob Dylan got it wrong, with a score of 75.048, they will be there at the end of the class, but a fresh face from Switzerland is not going to let Dorothee have it easy. Thirty-year-old Andrina Suter has another Hannoverian gelding, Del Curto (Dimaggio / Wolkentanz II) sweetly flowing, they finish close in second on 73.682.
But wait there’s more from this talented twosome. Dorothee is back with the Oldenburg gelding, Dante’s Hit (Dante Weltino / Sandro Hit), really making it hard for herself to win the class. It’s more or less a carbon copy of the first test of the day: correct, accurate, expansive, and Dorothee has that quality of great riders, she is invisible but she’s there at the end of the test with a huge smile, she has just taken the lead with a score of 75.146 (I liked the first horse better, and so did three of the five judges).
Dorothee Schneider und Dante´s Hit.
Foto: Sportfotos-Lafrentz
Let’s not forget Andrina, she is back with her ‘baby’ Briatore, a Westfalien gelding by Belissimo out of a Dreseman mare. The trot is deliberate, soft, loose, everything sings. This is a horse that has been classically educated, and it is no surprise to learn she has been working with the Swiss National coach, Oliver Oelrich, formerly co-trainer of the German Youth Team. They finish on a score of 75.146 and we have a tie for first going into the final!
A win at the Bundeschampionate for the current Swiss National Coach, Oliver Oelrich, former co-trainer of the German Youth Team
Andrina Suter and Briatore NRW
Foto: Sportfotos-Lafrentz
They finish on a score of 75.146 and we have a tie for first going into the final!
Meet Andrina…
Are you a full time dressage rider?
“Yes, I ride the young horses and bring them to the next level and go to shows…”
In Switzerland?
“Yes, in Switzerland most of the time. This year I hope I can go a little bit more to international competitions and ride the big tour. I mainly work at home.”
And it was Oliver Oelrich who suggested that your horses were good enough to go to Frankfurt for the Burg-Pokal…
“In the past I didn’t have the horses to go to this show, the horses just weren’t good enough. Oliver said, now you have the good horses you should go for the Burg-Pokal. Okay, let’s try!”
You have competed at the European championships?
“Yes, as a Junior and a Young Rider, and in the under-25 Championship. I had a good horse to learn on, but it was not a horse to go on with.”
Who were the people who taught you how to ride so correctly?
“In the beginning it was my mother, she was a student of Paul Weier, she learned from him, and gave the knowledge to me.”
What is the dressage scene like in Switzerland, big, little…
“It’s not big but we have many good riders and good horses, I don’t know why our teams don’t go better, but I think with Oliver, we are in a good way.”
Do you have ambitions to take these horses to Grand Prix?
“Del Curto is near, he has been competing Intermediaire II, in Switzerland, he won the Championship with 71, 72, and I think next year he goes Grand Prix.”
And your goal, Paris?
“For me it is a big dream and goal but I think it is a realistic dream.”
Photo – Jens Feierabend
full results here https://results.equestrian-hub.com/frankfurt/939/dressage/2160338