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Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

By Roger Fitzhardinge

The Intermediate Freestyle was won in great style by Furst Famous with a ripping score of 72.8%. This mare oozed around the arena yesterday evening looking rideable, elegant and beautiful in the bridle. The half passes were effortless and the pirouettes the same. A very deserving win.

In second and to the overall winner of the small tour was the big bold Agent de Jeu, ridden by the equally bold David Shoobridge. This gelding was power plus in the freestyle and perhaps not as supple as had been seen in the other classes, but absolutely in favor with the judges to be only 0.8 behind on 72%.  This horse has plenty of room still for bigger marks, and there is no doubt that this pair has a big future. The jump up to FEI needs to now become a way of life, and to settle and be confident and consistent with this horse, who sometimes worries, will be important.

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

David and Agent were overall winners of the small tour, and a consistent and well deserved win with the runner up being Furst Famous. Third in the Freestyle was Mathew Dowsley with the Grey Cadel and a correct test and a couple of late chances in such a tight class did not help his marks. Johnny Depp for David McKinnon was in fourth with a 69.57%.

The standard in this group again as with all the class was high indeed, and with good venues and organizers at the Birds Equisports CDI, the standard and popularity in the sport is bound to continue to grow a lot more and be well done. The judges were all of good comments about the standard and the show, and that is also a very positive step for the sport.

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

The Medium Tour Freestyle was sponsored by Auswest Seeds. This class is really gaining in popularity and is a step up from Small Tour to Big Tour, and the freestyle was a very good class. The unanimous winner was Rozzie Ryan and the liver chestnut gelding Jarrah R by Rozzie’s Grand Prix stallion, Jive Magic. A great test to win, with a 67.5% and an unanimous decision by the three judges. Rozzie has not been on Jarrah for that long, and the step up now to the piaffe and passage really suits this horse who has really settled in to the way of a competing and looks well and truly on the way to the Big Tour.

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

In second place was the beautiful black stallion Stedinger, well ridden by Gina Montgomery with a sensational half pass trot and extended work with such an uphill and expressive shoulder and forehand. It is so apparent at this intensity and standard of competition and at this level that the piaffe and passage is so important. Stedinger made a costly mistake in the twos and then again in the ones. The passage was expressive, but lacked a little energy, while the piaffe was there but a few unbalanced steps were enough to lose big marks. The music was great and the horse looked the part, but all the same a creditable 64.65% to be ahead of Mark Kiddle and Waitano on 63.583%.

Then there was Camilla Palmer (of Birds Equisports Fame) riding her own Glenquarry, another expressive big horse who is still not confirmed and at ease with all the movements, but now starting to settle and gain confidence.

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

Gary Lung and GB Winchester, both freshly back from training in the USA with Stephan Peters, did not show the work that everyone was expecting. There was no doubt that there was a lot of pressure on this combination, as social media had really ramped the whole experience up. The performance was disappointing for those who couldn’t wait to see the improvement. Winchester looked worried and tense, and lacked confidence in the movements. The performance only gained 58.75% a 56.75% and a 62.75% for the technical marks as the confusion in the movements created too many mistakes.  There is one hell of a difference between training and competing and when you have to knit all the movements together it shows about the purity of the aids and the confidence to move from one to another with ease. It’s time to get back into competition mode and I am sure the improvement at the next show will be apparent.

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

This new level is a great class and it is a transition period to get horses settled and confident in the Grand Prix movements and riders are making the most of it.

The Intermediate Freestyle was won in great style by Furst Famous with a ripping score of 72.8%. This mare oozed around the arena yesterday evening looking rideable, elegant and beautiful in the bridle. The half passes were effortless and the pirouettes the same. A very deserving win.

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

In second and to the overall winner of the small tour was the big bold Agent de Jeu, ridden by the equally bold David Shoobridge. This gelding was power plus in the freestyle and perhaps not as supple as had been seen in the other classes, but absolutely in favor with the judges to be only 0.8 behind on 72%.  This horse has plenty of room still for bigger marks, and there is no doubt that this pair has a big future. The jump up to FEI needs to now become a way of life, and to settle and be confident and consistent with this horse, who sometimes worries, will be important.

David and Agent were overall winners of the small tour, and a consistent and well deserved win with the runner up being Furst Famous. Third in the Freestyle was Mathew Dowsley with the Grey Cadel and a correct test and a couple of late chances in such a tight class did not help his marks. Johnny Depp for David McKinnon was in fourth with a 69.57%.

The standard in this group again as with all the class was high indeed, and with good venues and organizers at the Birds Equisports CDI, the standard and popularity in the sport is bound to continue to grow a lot more and be well done. The judges were all of good comments about the standard and the show, and that is also a very positive step for the sport.

The Orange Vet Hospital Grand Prix CDN Freestyle was won by Glogau and Victoria Welch with a simply fantastic score of 68.9 % which would have had them sixth in the placings of the CDI freestyle! The judges were very complimentary and with a great passage it was the clincher in a great class with me (Roger Fitzhardinge) in second place with Weltsohn on 66.45%. A clean test with no mistakes, but a little tension showing with the frame. A little rolled over at times, but great interpretation to the music and Weltsohn seemed to really be with me and showing all the elements of the test with ease and confidence. It’s been a long road back and now he looks ready to step it up a notch and with better expression (which can be sometimes over the top) his marks will improve. It was these two horses’ first attempts at a Grand Prix Freestyle so all looks good here for these to step up to the CDI ranks.

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

In third place and looking great for his experience and age was APH True Seville and Leesa Murray. Seville is 22 years old and looks fantastic and as sound as a bell. It’s a treat to see this horse in fine health and still with the love to perform. It goes to prove that good training and attention to all things healthy pay off in the longevity of a horse’s life in the arena. He is as happy as a lark. Fourth was XL Overtime for Rebecca Walshe from Canberra with a 62.775%. Some moments of tension combined with some super parts indicated the score, but there is room for improvement here for sure with a more consistent demeanor.  Very strong showing for this class.

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

The Jill Cobcroft Grand Prix Freestyle was some absolutely fantastic class and an Australian record has been broken with Umbro for the highest Grand Prix Aussie Freestyle and Mary Hanna taking a score that Ricky MacMillan gained back in 2004 on Crisp. Quite a sensational score in those days and last night Mary had gained a total of 75.95% in an absolutely unanimous score across the board. It was interesting in this historic win to see that Ricky was a judge on the ground jury and she actually had Mary above her record score. The Dutch judge and the French judge giving 77.25% and 77.65% respectively and again 2 % higher than the Aussie judges. Jean Michel Roudier made a comment at the end of the class as to the wonderful standard of the competition and was very, very positive as to the direction of the sport here. He was excited and proud to have been a part of the Bradgate experience. Mary managed to pull off every transition at the correct spots and on the music. Umbro seems to have simply gone up another gear. The music bright and a Spanish influenced style, punctuated the performance.

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

Maree Tomkinson and Diamantina performed the best they have done. This combination danced their way through a great routine. The piaffe was not a highlight, but when you make changes for 9s and great passage then it’s easy to see that the piaffe is a little less but still getting better and better. What was so wonderful was the harmony and ease of the movements. The mare shows expression and flamboyance. Maree is so professional, and despite her disappointment, she is a wonderful competitor and humble in being second to Mary and there is no question that the quality of dressage is amazing. When you get 69.25% with one judge and then a 76.25 % with another it would be a little confusing (the placings for Maree were 7,2, 2, 3, 2). In third place was Caroline Wagner and I am sure she will be so happy. Tango had his dancing slippers on and 4,4,4,5,2 was one of her best performances; yet the highest winner’s scores overshadowed it!

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

Heath Ryan was next on 70.45% and again a stunning performance that a few years ago would have blitzed the show and had tongues wagging, however the standard is now so improved he was only fourth! Kate Farrell was next and Luxor and Kate at the tender age of 19 swept their way around the arena in absolute control and confidence but Luxor was just a little tired after a big time here and a few weeks ago at Boneo Park where he started at the world cup final to be third. Sue Hearn was next with a good 69.25%.

It is amazing that of 13 horses to start the lowest percentage was 67.075% and there were 6 horses over 69.25%. What can be said but ‘GO DRESSAGE AUS!’

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