©Equestrian Life

By Roger Fitzhardinge

It's always a great show when after three days the final class generates the most interest. The Grand Prix Freestyle, sponsored by Longvue, started in the evening and what a great evening of entertainment it was to be.

The stands were full, as were the wonderful individualized gazebos that flanked the long side of the arena.

The show had been like a journey to the top of a mountain. As you climb the going gets tougher and the air thinner. You find fewer friends to help you, and you end up feeling alone, but you are driven to make it. Each rider has to be hungry, and they have to take the knocks along the way; from the four-year-olds to the five and six, then the climb to Prix St George, and then, finally, the top of the mountain; the Grand Prix Freestyle.

As in any climb to the pinnacle there are a lot of climbers who, for whatever reason, fall away and never complete the journey or get see the scenery along the way. The scenery for those who make it is something that stays with them forever. They can fill people with the thoughts of what it's like, but unless you have walked the path to the top of the mountain you cannot experience the views you see past the level you climbed. For the minority who get to the top of the mountain - through talent, determination, dedicated training and some luck along the way - it is sometimes very hard to hear criticism from those base campers who reckon they have been to the top, and are in a position to pontificate about how the Grand Prix riders should ride. They usually haven't really seen a view past base camp, yet become delirious about the view they imagine they have seen from the top; experts without making it.  It is no wonder riders have to be tough and resilient and as the saying goes, ‘the wiser you are, the less you say!’

Needless to say the Grand Prix riders did us all proud, and what a fantastic class. The numbers who have managed to reach the top of the mountain are increasing in Australia, and the way they make it to the top is becoming easier as those who know the roadways can guide them. Of course, when you have climbed the mountain once, the next time is easier and the next time easier again, as long as you are open eyed and observant of your path and the others who climb next to you, knowing when to rest and when to push hard. How can someone who has never climbed to the top of the mountain, guide someone who has?

Talking of mountain climbers who know the path and now make it seem like a walk in the park, making the journey look confident and easy is Mary Hanna. With Hamag W Stroma by Jazz (a bloodline that Mary really gets on with), who had barely had a Prix St George start in the middle of last year, now looks well conformed. This big leggy bay mare has some great trot work, and is developing strength and carrying capacity, but at this stage is still struggling a little with keeping the activity and engagement. She tends to crouch and get a little slow in the tempo, especially in the canter work, and in the pirouettes, sitting and pushing to keep an activity in the canter steps, would be an improvement. The passage at times was lacking in lift and energy but all the movements are there, it's now only a matter of developing the strength to produce a better adjustability and activity within the paces. A 10th place with a 66.32% was indeed pleasing for them. A mere 0.3% behind, in eleventh, was Alexis Hellyer and Wacca W. This combination look bright and breezy and it's really only the lack of consistency in the piaffe steps that is holding the marks back. The rest of the work is looking good. Sheer Etiquette for Susan Paix was not as good as has been previously seen. The mare looked a little behind the leg and the frame was not always consistent in this test, and the pair finished on a score of 63.4%.

Clive for Kylie Riddell had some impressive parts, especially the piaffe and the passage, which were real highlights. Clive was well and truly into the music, so much so that he forgot what he was doing at times and Kylie had to get his mind back on the work. Good riding and a good job overall for 63.15%. Kylie is one who has made the journey to the top of the mountain, and now it's time to look at the view. No doubt with more tests and arena savvy, the scores will improve for sure.

Ebony Park Abe and Natasha Althoff Kelly did not have the best ride, with this willing Friesian stallion and rider with unfortunately too many mistakes, spoiling the marks. Who knows what happened to AEA Metallic but he was absolutely no having a bar of any movement whatsoever. He had his manhood in a tangle from the moment he entered the arena. He was really quite crazy to say the least and it was quite out of character. One would have thought that he would have settled a little as the test went on but NO he was in fact a fool throughout. His hind legs were often way higher than his front legs and they were pretty damn high! At times they looked like they were going to have a go at overtaking the front ones; quite a feat and nearly successful! It was a complete disaster and in the interview after the test Dirk explained he had warmed up better than ever and Metallic simply lost it; perhaps a culmination of the atmosphere and excitement from the previous few month’s hectic shows, but who knows why. He is a stallion and it happened. With technical marks as low as 52%, it was a shame to see this horse so upset, and this stallion had really been improving and the crowd was looking forward to a good test but not to be.

Up in ninth place were a delighted Michelle Baker and Coldstream Dante by Coldstream Vienna.  This big black gelding danced his way through the piaffe and passage in time to the music and with great expression. A highlight and so effortless. The canter tour was clean, with no mistakes but this is where he looses a few marks, as his changes are neither so straight nor expressive with a high front leg. A 66.85% was pleasing for this horse and rider who have not been long at this level and Dante - who was a hot and nervous horse - shows absolute confidence in his training and rider, and actually has time to look around and enjoy himself. It is what dressage is all about.

In eight place was Tango V for Caroline Wagner who guided this Jazz gelding around the arena to fabulous casual and soothing music with crescendos in all the right places. A 67.67%, with a couple of judges having them in fourth place for the artistic and the music, was truly fitting for the wonderfully melodious performance.

In seventh place came Luxor 118 for the young and talented Katharine Farrell. A score of 69.02% was well deserved, with inspiring music orchestrated in the USA for this seriously delightful chestnut gelding. The harmony between Kate and Luxor is inspiring and there is no doubt that to have made it to the top of the dressage mountain by the age of nineteen is some feat, and to see Kate you know she is enjoying the view!    

Urestan, an imported gelding by Florestan and ridden by Pauline Carnovale, scored a great 69.075%; another horse with fabulous piaffe and passage with springs in his feet! The canter tour lacks a little expression and the collected trot as well. Great extended paces and good frame, but just could be a little more elastic in the connection and the collection for the bigger marks.

In fifth place was Remmington by Riverdance, from a thoroughbred mare that was the dam of Sue’s Grand Prix horse Manhattan. A score of 69.5% was a great score for this young and ever improving combination. The music was from the Smurf movie, and quite different. A mere 0.25% separated Sue, Pauline and Katharine. Amazing to see the top seven horses all above 69%. A few years ago that would have easily won a freestyle in Australia... not now!

In fourth place it was Bates Antonello for his new rider John Thompson. Antonello was previously owned and trained and campaigned by Louisa Hill form NZ, and this horse has been competing at GP for many years now and represented NZ at London Olympics with Louisa Hill. John Thompson purchased the horse whilst in New Zealand only a few months ago and is aiming for the Olympics at Rio. Antonello has always been a piaffe and passage machine and proved he still is one. The piaffe on the spot was regular, and for big marks. It was great to hear the applause for this combination at the end of their test and a 71.75% was fantastic. John must have felt like he had been airdropped on to the top of the mountain for sure, and what a good job he did as he has not been together with this horse for long at all, and to score over seventy and be in fourth place was a real buzz.

In third place was the pair that drew last; the beautiful mare Daimantina V and Maree Tomkinson. The mare was on her best for sure, and scores were from 75.125% down to 69.252%. The mare made no mistakes and the flying changes as always a highlight. Maree was out to make amends for a few mistakes that she made in the Grand Prix and that she did. Diamantina was really focused and now for one who did not cope so well with the atmosphere, she is showing the years of patient and consistent training and the experience she has gained form traveling the world to compete. Maree enjoyed the extra lift they gained form the atmosphere, and at the end of the test the mare stands rock solid for her applause form the appreciative crowd. At her quick interview at the end of their test, Maree always speaks as it is, and when asked if she thought she would win her reply was,

"Win or lose it is just a fact that this mare is always the winner in my heart". They ended up third with a score of 71.75%, unable to creep past Brett Parbery who put together his best freestyle yet with DP Weltmeiser by Weltmeyer. This black gelding, that at his last outing looked a little worried about the work, was relaxed and regular throughout the test. They made a mistake in the one tempis but then corrected them on a spare diagonal line. Quick thinking saved a few placings and Brett is always thinking and concentrating, yet looks so perfectly positioned and so still in his position and stature. The piaffe was as solid as it has ever been and Brett was pleased with the horse’s demeanor and he gave it all a go. The pirouettes were better and more controlled. It was a very consistent test with room still for bigger marks when the trot and canter develop a little more cadence and lift, but as always, the consummate mountain climber never looses a step or mark. He rides as if he has made it well and truly to the top of the mountain, is acclimatized and as a consequence can look around and breath easily, enjoying the view from there. It was actually Brett Parbery who started the analogy of climbing the mountain to Grand Prix level, that was inspired after reading the book Into Thin Air written by Jon Krakauer. His score of 71.95% put him in to second and a mere 0.2% ahead of Maree; just as well he made a second line of one tempis! Wim Ermes from the Netherlands actually had them in the lead with a great score of 74.125%, to be ahead of Mary Hanna and the in form Umbro who won the class with a great score of 73.725%.

Umbro is off the back of a huge win and freestyle record at the CDI Bradgate Park. Mary had won the Grand Prix the previous day and was absolutely fired up after entering the arena and hearing the score to beat with the applause for previous horse. It was easy to see that she was on a mission and out to beat her record. Sometimes less is more and the test looked a little pushed. A mistake in the two tempis on a curving line and then utilized a spare centerline to make amends. Mary repeated the one tempis that she had already made on the curving line perfectly well. This was costly but there were enough marks in reserve to cover that up! Umbro has a very good, impressive front leg with plenty of knee that gives a great impression, poll that is high and Mary rides with great preparation and positioning for all the movements but there was this night a distinct lack of suppleness and flexibility of hind legs. In some of the transitions to the more collected paces Umbro did not really show the clarity and ease but was tight. Who knows; the pressure being last, the atmosphere and the intensity of the night and Mary being the ultimate goal chaser must have got to Umbro a little. This lack of engagement and elasticity perhaps, comes from a neck that at times is a little short and tight. If anyone knows about the road up that mountain, it's surely Mary and for sure she gets the very best out of Umbro - another one by Jazz - and Mary says that she is excited by his sudden improvement and that she sees him still with time, able to get even better and stronger. For sure Mary’s experience from the lead up training and competitions to London and then Normandy again strengthens Mary’s insight to riding at the top end. You can’t beat experience and you can't put an old head on young shoulders, and that is the fantastic side of riding and being competitive in dressage is that it's a sport that caters for experience, and age has no bearing.

For sure once Umbro is stronger and more in balance with the hind leg better under his body, then his ability to relax and take a little longer neck will improve the marks. After all Mary has only been on Umbro again since the end of last year. He is a super horse and as with all Mary's freestyles the music is not only emotive but also easy and full of emphasizing notes, always a Spanish hint about them just for an international flare. It was a fabulous win and perhaps Mary was really trying to better her record score and this perhaps produced a little tightness and lost his easy swinging way. It was a great win and a win is a win!

The class was exciting, entertaining and above all full of talent with well-trained horses. The standard is so much improved and as Mary explained in her interview, it is always great to have everyone getting better and better percentages and improving there skills, as there is no room for complacency and it makes everyone strive for excellence. It makes for great competition and it makes everyone pay attention to the training and correct riding. It's about getting that extra mark wherever you can. Riding every movement and never losing concentration and focus on your horse and test.

PSI Dressage and Jumping With The Stars came to an end. It was as if everyone was able to see the journey they had made. They could see the road they had to tread to get to the next ridge and to be able to gain an insight in to where they were headed. They could indulge in the experiences and journeys that others higher up had taken, and so were drawn in to continue the journey and to enjoy the views.

What a wonderful plethora of horses and dressage, and what a fantastic showcase of Aussie talent. It was an experience and thanks to the sponsors and the committee that pulled it all together and - above all - thanks to the common thread, the wonderful equine athletes that warm our hearts with their willingness to learn and perform.