Rebecca Ashton reports from the world’s greatest horse show,
she also took the photos
Fantástica! Aachen never disappoints, and this year with Spain being the showcased country, it was flashy and bright. The organisers even managed a bit of Spanish weather for us with the temperature soaring into the mid 30s on the first few days, which deteriorated into an “Aussie winter” of rain, wind and 14 degrees by the end of the week.
But the story of the show in the Deutsche Bank Stadium had to be that of Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus. The pair from Belgium began the show with a second in the Grand Prix with 78.348%. When questioned if he expected such a good score, Justin’s blunt answer was, “Yes.”. Zonik Plus was almost foot perfect and at only nine years old, he’s going to be an exciting horse to follow. Justin reflected, “At home it is better of course, but to bring it to competition, this is in the future”. The future proved very close and the pair won the Special two days later (cracking 80%) and the Freestyle (almost hitting 90%).
Justin and Zonik Plus trying out the Aachen arena before the action starts
Justin, 37, bought the black, Zonik stallion as a two and half year old from Portugal, and has trained him ever since. Justin is quiet and shy and seemed completely overwhelmed with the results and the attention, but at this rate, will have to get used to all the accolades and questions from the media. He seemed genuinely completely gobsmacked by the whole, wonderful experience. As a rider, he is soft and quiet, gently guiding his barefoot, young stallion, and he’s received numerous offers for the horse. “I was going to sell him to build my own stable, but one and a half years ago I decided to keep him, and the stable can wait,” said Justin.
In the Special, which was both his, and the horse’s second ever, he said: “At some points I supported him and at other points he supported me.” And that’s the sort of beautiful bond these two have.
By the Freestyle, that feeling was there, and it was a near perfect performance. The music was ethereal, moody and strong. “I want to reflect the sensitive part of Zonik Plus, and me.”
”I had a super connection with him today. Every day he has grown. Everything was perfect today. Now I want to bring that feeling into the Grand Prix.” They thoroughly deserved their standing ovation from the knowledgeable Aachen audience. The horse, who seems born to this atmosphere, just took the whole, huge Aachen experience in his stride like he had done it a thousand times.
Isabell Werth has a completely different horse and a completely different freestyle. She and Wendy de Fontaine wowed the crowd like no one else can. She enjoys every second and her passion just seems to get stronger and stronger…and it’s infectious. There was even a big “Whoop!” from the German as she nailed her ones, which had proved a problem in the Special.
The most perfect music and an extraordinary freestyle. The highest score was from C judge Katrina Wüst who scored the pair 90.775%. The final placing was second behind Justin, where she had also finished in the Special, although she had won the initial Grand Prix.
After the Freestyle, Isabell enthused, ”She was more relaxed today. My canter work was much better, more relaxed and the walk was there. There was the relaxation and the dynamic. She has shown improvement day to day”.
And that’s the genius of Isabel Werth. She will always fix her problems. She leaves no stone unturned, and she does it all with such good fun. And as for Wendy, “She loves to compete, she’s super nice and uncomplicated. She’s a real fighter, very cool and not mare-ish at all.
“She’s so clear in her mind and so focused. She’s really a performer. The whole body of the horse has improved. She’s only 11. “
The legendary German rider also gained a standing ovation, and the clapping began well before the final centreline, with Isabell smiling through the whole test.
Frederic Wandres and his ever reliable Bluetooth were on the podium twice during the 5* competition, with a third in the Grand Prix and again in the Freestyle. That reliability is built on trust. “He’s a very sensitive horse. I have a good connection with him. I spend a lot of time with him. He loves attention, he really asks for it. He’s a little bit spoilt. If I’m not there, my partner Lars spends a lot of time with him”
Bluetooth with Freddy and Lars
And as for the freestyle? “I was riding to new music. ‘All You Need Is Love’. This message, everyone gets it. I really like my music. You want to give the feeling that you have with your horse to the audience,” said Freddy.
Becky Moody was competing in her first Aachen, and what a show it was. With a fourth in the Grand Prix scoring 75.718% on Jagerbomb , the powerful home-bred gelding surprised Becky by being as hot as he was, and not too keen to show any halts. ‘It took me by surprise. In Paris he was hot, but he was hot all the time. He was quite hot when I stretched him here on Tuesday, but yesterday he was great, super ridable, very relaxed, walking, halting. And then I got on him today and didn’t expect to have what I had. If I had known he was hot, I would have done a bit more with him this morning, given myself a little bit more time, but it’s all learning.”
And learn they did as Becky and Jagerbomb climbed to third place in the Special with 78.404%. Becky really believes her gelding is a high 70s scoring horse.
Katharina Hemmer with Hubertus Schmidt and Denoix
Katharina Hemmer is another who has blasted onto the world stage with her trainer’s horse, Denoix. Hubertus Schmidt handed over the reins to his young student a few years ago, and the combination haven’t looked back. Katharina’s riding is soft and the pair just don’t miss a beat. Hubertus lead the 13-year-old Destano gelding quietly into the arena each test, whispering assurances as they went.
Katharina and Denoix
The combination placed fifth in both the Grand Prix (75.413%) and the Special (77.447% and gained a place on the German team for the Europeans in Crozet. The Freestyle was being ridden to perfection, when just as they turned onto the final centerline, there was a miscommunication, which unsettled the horse and he remained quite sharp all the way into the final halt. Just one of those things, but unfortunately expensive.
Katharina and Denoix, team members for the Europeans
Katharina, Frederic and Isabell will be joined in Croset by Ingrid Klimke and Vayron. This pair competed in the four-star competition and really clicked in the Special, winning with 74.128% The bay stallion is a giant, and Ingrid slight, so it has been quite the journey for them to learn each other’s ways in a very short amount of time, but it is really now starting to come together.
Ingrid and the giant, Vayron
Ingrid informed, “For me it’s just so interesting to learn, and I’m just happy that he’s never trodden on my foot. His are so big! He is such a soft gentleman. He’s very sensitive and really reacting to fine aids, otherwise I could not do it. He was so successful with Daniel. So I’ve tried to get to know him, know his personality and tried to let him know that he can trust me. At home I already feel so confident in every movement. If I can bring it in the ring faultless from movement to movement, that is now the real challenge, that he is confident and I am quick enough and can support him. He is just wonderful.”
Isabel Freese and Total Hope (Totilas) won the four-star Grand Prix on 74.261% after storm delays that saw the event conclude at midnight. They had to settle for third in the Special (73.660%) behind Ingrid, and Henri Roust on the 13-year-old Tiffanys Diamond who were in second place on 73.872%. In the Grand Prix, Henri and his picture-perfect Tailormade Temptation mare were third on 73.087%, edged out by Sandra Sysojeva on Maxima Bella who scored 73.696%
Ingrid and Vayron, winners of the Special
In the Prix St Georges, it was really a case of four seasons in one competition. The class began for Becky Moody and Magic Dream JB in 36 degree heat, and finished after two stops due to thunder and lightening storms. Some combinations were really in the pouring rain and Marieke Van De Putten pulled out the highly anticipated About You RS2, after preparing twice to ride. She thought a third time was just too much to ask of the youngster.
Frederic Wandres and Quizmaster
Frederic Wandres and his small tour stalwart Quizmaster won the test on 73.912%. Ingrid Klimke was last to go about two hours late, and it is a reflection on her professionalism and skill that she could pilot her “special” youngster Diafys (DeLorean 2) around for a super second place on a score of 72.647% .
Dinja Van Liere on her very matcho Mauro Turfhorst (another Zonik) was third on 72.382%. The stallion had a big spook in the first corner, which possibly cost them the win. The latter combo ended up winning the Inter 1 with power and precision scoring 75.294% This nine-year-old is really going to be something flash.
The only Aussie in the dressage lineup was 21 year old Kate Kyros who rode her 12 year old Dutch bred Apache stallion, Intro K, in the small tour. They came 12th in the Prix St Geoges with 66.323% and seventh in the Inter 1 on 69.382%. What a great experience to ride at the world’s biggest show!
The Europeans should be an exciting tournament in a couple of months. Isabell Werth is loving this, in her words “spicy”, competitive environment, and she always steps up in these big Championships. Wendy gets better and better, and with a little bit of smoothing around the edges, she’ll be right in the running.
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour of Denmark with MSJ Freestyle has already won the Special at Paris Olympics, but they didn’t come to Aachen. No doubt they’ll be fired up to prove that win in Paris wasn’t a one off.
Lottie Fry should be there on Glamourdale. Not only did they take team and individual bronze in Paris, but also won the World Cup final this year in Basel. They also did not come to Aachen this year.
And now the Belgium team member Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus seem to be hitting their peak at just the right time. The horse is only nine, but still will certainly be in the running for an individual medal.
As for the teams, you’d have to think Germany will be hard to beat. Team GB will surely be on their heels and now Belgium with Justin Verboomen and Larissa Pauluis riding Flambeau are also looking like they wouldn’t mind taking home a bronze, having taken the second place at Aachen in the Nations Cup behind Germany. But we’ll have to wait for that…
