On-the-spot report – Christopher Hector enjoys the dressage in Amsterdam
Anke Gardemann took the photos…
The World Cup Grand Prix in Amsterdam featured an all star lineup of horses and riders.
Hans Peter and Dream Boy
The first out was Dutch team combination, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Dream Boy (Vivaldi / Ferro), and once again it occurs to me that one of the problems with Dutch dressage is that they don’t sit, it’s not just the widespread chair seat, they are plain sloppy in the saddle. Dream Boy is such a lovely stallion but he looks so unhappy. 72.326
Lottie and Lars van de Hoenderheide
Charlotte Fry has lived in the Netherlands for over a decade, and at times she rides more Dutch than the Dutch. It’s not a pretty picture with the Belgian bred Lars van de Hoenderheide (Negro / Layout) – really short in the neck – the curb working overtime, really hollow in the back, really out behind, everything is croup high and ugly. 73.109 is generous.
Nanna and Zack
It is so nice to see Zack (Rousseau / Jazz) at the age of nineteen looking so healthy, so beautifully muscled, and so fresh. He is sweetly ridden by Nanna Skodborg Merrald. This is what engagement looks like, observe the lowering behind in the piaffe, look to the way the test flows. 76.196 but they have probably paid the price for going so early in the draw.
Emmelie and Desperado
Emmelie Scholtens is one Dutch rider who sits beautifully, and it shows in her stallion, Desperado’s test. He gets a bit rushed in some of his trot work but it’s clean and athletic, with a super final centre line. 74.696. The stallion is by Vivaldi out of a Havidoff mare, indeed four of the first six to go are by Vivaldi, with one in the next group by his son, Vitalis.
Daniel and Zippo
Daniel Bachmann Andersen is one of my favorite riders, he sits so elegantly in the saddle, his hands so quietly effective, and it’s great to see him riding Zippo M.I. a son of the stallion that took Daniel to the top, Zack. The gelding is a real athlete and Daniel is taking him gently into the big sport. 74.609.
Kirsten and Foundation
Kirsten Brouwer’s chestnut stallion, Foundation, looks so like Jazz the stallion Kirsten rode at the end of his career, and yes, Foundation is by United but out of a mare by Jazz. Lovely frame, big unhurried trot, flowing half passes, a modest but rhythmic and correct piaffe, he swaps behind in one canter pirouette but the other is grand. A lovely test, second with Peter Storr on 79.348, sixth (!) with the German judge, Ulrike Nivelle on 73.478 (behind some seriously ordinary tests) and they eventually finish on 75.087 in fifth just behind Zack.
Ingrid and Franziskus
I must confess I never thought Ingrid Klimke would be able to persuade Franziskus (Fidertanz / Alabaster) to really come to the party, but it is not wise to underestimate Ingrid, she has the bay stallion so with her, so rideable, and Ingrid is on top of every little detail, never giving away a mark. Big expressive changes, fabulous pirouettes, and a stunning last big trot. They are second with two judges, fourth with two, but way down in seventh place with the Dutch judge, Maarten van deer Heijden for a final score of 76.261.
Dinja and Hermes
In the past I have not enjoyed watching Dinja van Liere and Hermes (Easy Game / Flemmingh), but today it’s better, dramatically better, the bay stallion looks so much more relaxed, even his tail looks relaxed, and so now we can really sit back and appreciate his athleticism, his scope and his brilliance. First with three judges, second with one, and fourth with Denmark’s Susanne Baarup, they finish on a total of 79.739, eighty plus with three. The question now is can the last pair to go – Isabell Werth and Emilio (Ehrenpreis / Cacir aa) – catch them.
Isabell and Emilio
I have learnt never to doubt the powers of Isabell in a showdown. She has concentration of heroic proportions, totally focused on every point, daring the judges not to give her marks, actually I think she is hypnotizing them. Each move of the test comes up just like it is supposed to, Emilio is really in top form today. Catch Hermes? Not quite, in the end less that two percentage points separates them, they score 77.957, but what a great class we have just witnessed!