![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Unee.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDay one of the Grand Prix was not exactly riveting. By the time I went to lunch, we hadn\u2019t seen a mark over 7.9 on any movement. It is going to be far worse in the future when the lesser ranked teams all go together on the first day, and the big kids go on the second! And that is exactly what is going to happen thanks to the change introduced at the last FEI General Assembly, and voted for by the Australian delegation of Grant Baldock and Warwick Vale! What a relief both of them have been consigned to the dustbin of history. With the judges on day one secure in the knowledge that they are looking at the also-rans, it will be amazing if we get a movement mark of better than 6.9 as our riders compete in front of empty stands at future championships.<\/p>\n
It is so short-sighted since there are many powerful forces in the Olympic movement looking for a chance to axe equestrian altogether, and this will only be another weapon for them to use. It is also profoundly unfair to the passionate bands of supporters, not to mention riders and horses, from countries \u2013 like Australia – who are trying to bridge the gap, trying to grow dressage in their country and who need the incentive of competition at the highest level to keep the process happening. Okay, their rider just turned in a sub 64 but they still clap and cheer because they know the struggle it has been just to get here.<\/p>\n
We saw an okay test from the Dutch rider, Patrik van der Meer riding Uzzo (Lancet \/ Indoctro) for a 72.4, but there was obviously an influx of flies during his test, since the horse was swishing its tail most of the time.<\/p>\n
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Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and the charming Unee BB – the less famous Gribaldi son – Totilas is the most famous – and he’s available in Australia through IHB – check him out<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Unee BB (Gribaldi \/ Dageraad) and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, the first of the Germans, had a smooth, harmonious, accurate test for a 75.186, helped by a well-deserved 8.2 for the rider and that was about it in the first half of the day.<\/p>\n What buzz there was \u2013 as always \u2013 is about Totilas. I wasn\u2019t at the trot up, but all the good judges I talk to, swear the black stallion was lame. The judges did have a bit of a conference but pass\u2026.! The feeling is that at best, he will do the Grand Prix, then retire (forever?) For that we have to wait for the second day.<\/p>\n So with the aid of the excellent WiFi service in the press stand, I do what I spend a lot of time doing: investigate the blood lines. I need the WiFi because the start sheets include horses with no breeding information, even though you can fill the gaps in less than a minute with a couple of mouse clicks\u2026<\/p>\n As per usual, the stallion best represented is Donnerhall, who, while he has only one of his own progeny in the list, has sons and grand-sons, that contribute 13 of the 71 starters, just on 18%, and I am prepared to bet that by the time we have the top fifteen decided, that percentage is going to be way higher. This is what makes Donnerhall the greatest dressage sire of them all, his ability to produce stallion sons, who in turn sire stallion sons.<\/p>\n The most represented D stallion is the wonderful De Niro, with four, and his son, Danone (out of a Weltmeyer mother) Two of the De Niros are also out of Weltmeyer mares \u2013 Weltmeyer may not have been a stallion maker, but he has produced fine broodmares, although he was given a running start with a selection of 200 of the best mares Hanover had to offer in his first season\u2026<\/p>\n The Trakehner Gribaldi (Kostolany \/ Ibikus) also has four, while there are four stallions each with two representatives: Rubin-Royal (Rohdiamant \/ Grundstein), Jazz (Cocktail \/ Ulster), Dimaggio (Don Primero \/ World Cup I) and Lancet (Wenzel \/ Shogun).<\/p>\n All of these sires competed at Grand Prix level, although only Donnerhall, Jazz and Lancet were really top international competitors.<\/p>\n Arlando (Paddox \/ Mytens) – above – and Diederik van Silfhout, are sitting on 80 after the halt. Very cute but still front legs waving, hind legs trailing. Mistake in 2s hurts, 8.1 for piaffe, grabs the lead for the orange army. 75.846<\/p>\n Fiona Bigwood (above) produces a super test on Atterupgaards Orthilia (Gribaldi \/ Donnerschlag) \u2013 lots of 8s, 8.4 for extended. 8.1 passage, 8.2 for the passage \/ piaffe \/ passage transitions, 8.5 for extended trot and an 8.1 for the rider. Score 75.8. and the Brits are still in the hunt, the Dutch just .46 in front. And the patch on the rider’s eye? After her accident Fiona has double vision without it…<\/p>\n Last for the day, Isabell Werth and one of my least fave horses, Don Johnson (Don Frederico \/ Warkant) – above. It\u2019s high behind, and swampy backed, but Isabell has that capacity to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. 8 for the halt and they are away, in the passage \/ piaffe tour the horse shows a weird rhythm, or anti-rhythm, he holds right diagonal longer. The ones are a disaster for a 4.7. They are generously marked for 74.9.<\/p>\n I must confess that I spent much of the second day over in the cleaner atmosphere of the eventing dressage ring, only to return to the fat horse class as the crowd cheers for Hans Peter Minderhoud and his stallion, Johnson (Jazz \/ Flemmingh) – above – \u00a0with a score of 77.586 to take the lead.<\/p>\n Carl Hester did all he could to catch him on Nip Tuck (Don Ruto \/ Animo) – above – who looks less like a gentleman\u2019s hunter and more like a dressage horse than when I saw him last. What an extraordinary talent Carl is to get such a tune out of a pretty ordinary conveyance. There is an 8.6 for the rider from the judges, and thunderous applause from the big crowd. Carl is rightly the most popular figure in the world of dressage. 75.4.<\/p>\n Time for Toto. My colleague (full-time equestrian journalist on a leading German magazine) dashes up to take her place. She has been watching the warm up\u2026 And? When he is tense he is alright, but the minute he relaxes, he looks lame, off hind. And he looks lame as he trots out of the halt, there are whistles and catcalls from the crowd. The movement-by-movement marks chose this moment to disappear. Odd that. There is a mistake going into the ones, and the canter pirouette – once the black stallion\u2019s party piece – looks grumpy and put upon. More lame trot across the diagonal, and that\u2019s it. His final test?<\/p>\n Five judges have him low, German! Katrina W\u00fcst, 72.9. and 20th<\/sup>; Sweden\u2019s Annette Frans\u00e9n-Iacob, 74.6, 13th<\/sup>; Eddy de Wolff van Westerrode, 73.2, 10th<\/sup>; France\u2019s Jean-Micheal Roudier, 71.6, 21st<\/sup> \u2013 one judge thinks it is worth a 79.3 (Anne Gribbons \u2013 her 3rd<\/sup> highest) and ye gods, two think it is worth 80!!! Denmark\u2019s Susanne Baarup, 80.1 and 4th<\/sup> and Britain\u2019s Andrew Gardner , 80.1 and 4th<\/sup>. They end up on 79.8 and most people I meet afterwards, even the Germans, think this is not good for dressage. As Bob Dylan once put it Money doesn\u2019t talk it swears, obscenity who really cares, propaganda all is phony\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Next morning we see that Ms Barrup has been appointed to the Jury at Rio, this comes a week after she was one of the jury that infamously awarded Andreas Helgstrand a silver medal at the World Young Horse. Exactly what message is the FEI dressage committee sending?<\/p>\n Hello, the individual marks are back in time for a really cool test from the French pair, Karen Tebar and Don Luis (Dimaggio \/ Rubinstein) – above. She picks up an 8 for her passage entrance down the final line and an 8.1 for the rider, 73.829, which means two plus 70 scores for Team France, well done Jean Bemelmans, master trainer.<\/p>\n It\u2019s great to see Beatrice Ferrer-Salut back with a nice horse, Delgado (De Niro \/ Weltmeyer) – above. A lovely flowing, correct test for 77.186, and Spain, like France has qualified for Rio.<\/p>\n Edward Gal and Glock\u2019s Undercover – above. It\u2019s little wonder they award 9.2 for the rider, since this test is almost totally manufactured by the guy in the saddle. On all the marks for the horse\u2019s natural movement, the scores are down, like 7s for extended trot, but half pass, piaffe, passage, pirouette, all 8+, even a 9.4 for piaffe. Impressive, not sure it\u2019s really dressage. Still a score of 84.2 with Baarup and 83.8 from de Wolf van Westerrode, they were of the opinion that it was the best test of all\u2026 even better than the divine Charlotte and Valego (Negro \/ Gerschwin).<\/p>\n To tell the truth it was one of Charlotte\u2019s less celestial performances. Some abs fabs stuff and a few little glitches (7.7 for the rein back, 5.6 for the ones) \u2013 the horse is still the greatest I have even seen, hopefully he will really turn it on in the Special and the K\u00fcr. Still three judges have it on 83, one of 85 \u2013 Surprise, the Brit!<\/p>\n![\"Arlando\"](\"http:\/\/www.horsemagazine.com\/thm\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Arlando.jpg\")
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