The Danish team claimed gold.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Roger Fitzhardinge reports from day two of the Grand Prix in Herning
Sunday saw the second half of the Grand Prix dressage take place at the FEI World Championships in Herning, with team medals decided – Denmark claimed the gold, Great Britain took silver, and Germany walked away with the bronze.
Australian Simone riding Fiderdance achieved a PB of 73.463% for 19th place individually, while Lyndal and Eros scored 72.189% for 25th, from 93 competitors. Combined with yesterday’s terrific score of 69.674% from Jayden Brown and Willinga Park Sky Diamond (41st), the Australian team finished in 8th place from 19 countries. Being the highest ranked from Olympic Group G, Australia now has a team spot secured for Paris 2024.
Simone Pearce and Fiderdance.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Read Roger’s full report below…
By Roger Fitzhardinge
Melissa Galloway and Windermere J’Obei W competed for New Zealand. This wonderful chestnut gelding, bred by David Woolley in New Zealand (who also bred Gaylene Lennard’s Jax Johnson), became well respected when he won most Big Tour classes at Willinga Park’s Dressage By The Sea in 2020 (the most wonderful competition venue, situated 270 kilometres south of Sydney). It was this International venue and event that inspired Mellissa so much that she packed up and moved to Germany, and has been training with Anne van Olst. It’s a tough gig for sure and after this event – the first time NZ has had a Championship team – she will be returning to New Zealand for a rest and regrouping. It was an impressive test indeed and J’Obei looking very balanced, with a slower more cadenced trot and the same in the canter. It was truly a very well performed test with no real lows nor highs, but confidently and positively ridden. The pirouettes were very uphill but perhaps a little slow in the tempo. A very solid and pleasing performance for the humble and charming Melissa and J’Obei, who was the most confident in the presence of the big arena atmosphere. A score of 70.978% for 33rd place.
Ryan Torkkeli riding Sternenwanderer for Canada was a very interesting horse during the warm up days, with a huge trot and not so good in the canter but a very interesting and different type. Unfortunately, several minor mistakes marred the score and also he lacked collection in the arena. The canter was uphill but seriously cadenced, and that didn’t make the balance so easy. A score of 68.354% saw them back in the middle of the field.
José Antonio Garcia Mena and Divina Royal by Desperados is a big chestnut with expansive paces and the scores for the movements varied quite a lot. Great extended trot, while the half passes scored well for many that would say the quarters were trailing. The piaffe was a weak area today, with Divina Royal tending to keep the forelegs too far back behind the shoulders and so the horse lacks balance and then the transition out was also not so good. A very balanced and calm looking rider with a great position and feel on this big warmblood, that isn’t often the breed you see the Spaniards ride! A 71.817% saw them make the top 30 for the Special.
Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, by Everdale from a Vivaldi mother, was always going to get good points. This chestnut was a little immature as far as concentrating during the warm up days, as he is only 9; it’s a good enough reason! One thing that you immediately notice is the attention to grooming and presentation and especially to the tail. The overall picture is simply as good as it gets. There is not a hair out of place and this combination simply demand attention and that she certainly did. Imhotep has a huge extended trot and expressive half passes with wonderful reach. As always, Charlotte was not going to give a point away. Imhotep is still young as far as experience goes, and he was quite opened-eyed and looking around a little, but he ended up with 77.407% and a good fourth placing for this young horse.
The first of the two Aussies horses, Eros is a charming dappled grey by Sir Oldenburg from an Olympic Ferro mother, owned by Lyndal’s parents. ‘Ross’ was very solid in his attitude and ethic to the test on the warm up days and the Grand Prix was exactly that. The harmony between Lyndal and Eros was so apparent. He took on the preparation for every movement with total understanding and confidence. Nothing looked forced, pushed or trying too hard. Every movement came up well and it was a bit surprising that the scores started a little mean, but as the test went on the judges got happier and awarded good marks that were well deserved. Great pirouettes, and the piaffe and passage throughout were a real highlight. It was a wonderful test for Lyndal, who was quite emotional on the way out as she was so appreciative of everyone cheering for her and the support that she was given. She was overjoyed with the work they had done. Her score of 72.189% means she’ll start in the Special!
Lyndal Oatley and Eros.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Daniel Bachmann Andersen on Marshall-Bell by Blue Hors Don Romantic had some pressure, as the Danes were knocking on the door for a gold medal in the teams following day one’s results. This leggy, tall chestnut horse with the most energetic hind leg made a great test, and what a beautiful rider indeed. 76.584% was a great score and again the Danes edged closer to the gold medal and the crowd were getting excited!
Therese Nilshagen and the ever beautiful black stallion Dante Weltino of Sweden was up for a big test to make sure no mistakes that cruelled her scores recently at CHIO Aachen. Unfortunately, what a heartbreaker for Therese ,as he was on 84% and a 9.5 for the extended trot… and then Dante Weltino in the piaffe became behind the leg and really off the contact and poor Therese had one hell of a job to get him out into passage – but then it was great passage. He was a little behind the leg in all the paiffe movements, and what a shame as some of his work was absolutely sensational to say the least. One day he will rise with no mistakes to see him at the top of any field! A final score of 74.456% was so disappointing for all.
Germany’s Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz, by Quaterback from a Hohenstein mother, and what a wonderful face this 12-year-old bay stallion has (as did Hohenstein). As would be expected, a super test with accuracy to burn and a very even and uncomplicated look, but even though there was a 5.5 for the collected walk and 6 for the extended walk, Isabel made a creditable 77.127%. This put them into 5th position and the closeness of the teams was so exciting and anyone’s game at this point. A clean test is what Isabell can make, and no real highlights but everything looked good. A shame the walk is what it is, but still what a super rider and one who knows how to drag marks out of judges.
Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper of the US were riding for their lives, with this tall leggy gelding being by Spielberg from a Krack C mother. What a huge yet well-balanced horse. Steffen made a few glitches and a score of 74.767%. I am sure this was a little disappointing for the USA, but it seems that even the smallest mistake in the piaffe and the marks really fall, and once that happens, to claw your way back is so difficult. The horse seems to get a little over engaged in the piaffe and goes a little swaying in front, and the judges didn’t like this!
Gaylene Lennard and Jax Johnson were the third for the NZ team following Melissa Galloway, and John Thompson who competed Saturday. It was not a great lead up, when the 12-year-old gelding by Johnson TN spiked a temperature and was unwell to attend the trot up. The FEI granted permission to wait 24 hours and they had their trot up the next day. All was well, and he was fit and ready to go. This was a huge ask for Gaylene, who is not only attending the most enormous competition she has attended and her first in Europe, but is amongst the best of the best in the world in the final Grand Prix group. She rode a fantastic test and the horse showed some wonderful work in the passage and the trot work, and great changes that were so uphill. What a grand job Gaylene did, but she had had a run of bad times since leaving NZ and it just didn’t seem to be her turn; it was later announced that they were eliminated at the gear check, as Jax had bitten his tongue. Talk about bad luck, seriously! Gaylene had been delighted with her score that is no longer available, but I think it was 69.4% or the like.
Emma Kanerva and Greek Air, by Gribaldi from a Florestan mare, for Finland. What an elegant chestnut horse and what a wonderful ride. Fluent half passes and ground covering extensions, and expressive work that was still supple and adjustable. What a great, harmonious partnership indeed and a well deserved 73.028%.
Victoria Max-Theurer and Birkhofs’ Topas FBW, by Totilas out of a Sandro Hit mare, for Austria. It was not this combination’s day. The stallion was not happy to stay round and had several moments of half pulling the reins out of Victoria’s hands, and the pirouettes were not at all good with this attitude in the contact. He did not want to play the game and that was that. It was only a 68.68%.
Jose Daniel Martin Dockx on Malagueno LXXXIII, a bay 12-year-old gelding for Spain. They gained a 71.149% and the good thing was that put him in 30th place and the final spot for the Special.
Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Charlotte Fry and the amazing Glamourdale. Lottie is 26 years old, diminutive and never holds back for chasing the tens, and riding for Great Britain the pressure did’t worry this seasoned competitor. Well there was no question that they were in for a big score. The trot work was explosive yet balanced, with sweeping half passes and the extended trot was amazing. The transitions were quite exceptional. The engagement and push is as you want to see. Words simply can’t explain the extended canter, and when the mark of 9.5 appeared and the crowd let out a deep breath of excitement. The score was around 85% at this point and in the second canter pirouette he thought a trot or even walk transition may add a bit of interest and the score went down to 80%. The final extended trot, passage and piaffe was back to his exceptional ability! The crowd went wild and Lottie, who is usually reserved, was over the moon with excitement. The score stopped at 80.838% but the audience scored 81.024% via Spectator Judging. Look out world, Glamourdale is coming through. (It’s very probable that they will win the Special as passage to extended trot and back will really suit these guys!)
Now the last of the Australians, Simone Pearce riding the Gestüt Bonhomme-owned Fiderdance. A really up-in-front chestnut stallion at 13 years old, by Fidertanz 2. What a fantastic ride. This is a new relationship and they hardly know each other. It would look like Fiderdance was a little behind the leg, and there is a whole lot more in there, but Simone nursed him around and never gave any impression that he was being a little lazy… but if he was a little more enthusiastic about being forward, there is a whole world of bigger marks available! Still, a PB of 73.463% for 19th and a start in the Special.
Simone Pearce and Fiderdance.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
The one that we were waiting to see, and the final team rider of the Netherlands, was Emmelie Scholtens and the Apache stallion, Indian Rock. In training he was exceptional, but he has not competed for some time. Unfortunately, he left all his amazing work for me to see two days ago. He was not like he was in training, and for sure there is a lot to see yet with this awesome stallion. He was a little flat today and not as quick and sharp as was seen in warm up. That is a little what stallions can do, and to organise a work routine and time spent in the saddle with them at big competitions is a work in progress. Today he was just a bit lazy and slow in the tempis, but wait until he brings the warm up work to the arena! Happy with 74.410% and into the Special, so we will see what happens, and it’s going to be bigger and better.
Emmelie Scholtens and the Apache stallion, Indian Rock.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour has to be the most favoured rider at this show riding Vamos Amigos by Vitalis. This unassuming bay gelding has it all in power, strength, mental strength and above all a harmonious connection with the wonderful Cathrine… a really sympathetic, understanding, thoughtful and happy ride. The home crowd was crazy and the atmosphere electric. After Lottie Fry, it was a big test to win and get the Danes in front for the team competition! After a high start, the score dropped off after the first piaffe and passage, and then it started to climb back up. The ride was full of harmony between the horse and the rider, with compassionate feeling. Vamos Amigos was a little keen and tense at times and wanted to roll over a bit in the frame, but the suppleness was evident. There is room for much bigger marks once he learns to wait a little more, and the work is a little more relaxed. He is such a worker, and full on is the only option and that’s a great trait, but to wait and then the progressive drawing forward is what produces the huge marks and for sure this will happen here! The crowd went absolutely crazy at the end of the test and when the crowd wanted to start clapping, there was a huge ‘be quiet’ from the Danish crowd and not a noise was heard! A great halt to end and a final result put them in the lead with a great 81.864% This looked to secure the teams comp for Denmark but there was still a great USA rider to come.
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Vamos Amigos were the highest placed individuals.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
Patrik Kittel and Touchdown by Quaterback for Sweden, and a big and tough position to ride from, but Patrik loves the pressure and it sees the best in him. What a test; the trot work was so forward and expressive, with clear differences from extended to collected, and then to piaffe to passage. It was a great test and the scores were well deserved, and what an achiever when it comes to showing off in the ring… like rider like horse… a great score of 76.522%.
Frederic Wandres and the ever talented and honest chestnut, Duke of Britain FRH, by Dimaggio from a Rubinstein mother. This horse is as honest as, and the Kasselmanns were here to support them as the horse’s owners. A super honest worker and another that has no real highs nor lows, and is as honest as the day is long. Freddie and this horse have a great relationship and what a test of nerves here for Freddie to be the lynchpin for the German team. A very solid, honest test with no mistakes and that is what was set out to do. So, a score of 76.661% to finish in 9th place.
The very final rider for the USA was Adrienne Lyle and the enormous pressure of waiting until the end of 93 horses to ride must create pressure alone! Salvino is a lovely brown Sandro Hit x Donnerhall 15-year-old stallion, and he was super impressive in the warm up days. What a great horse and a great rider, and followed up by a great coach. It takes a comparable, decisive and wise team to produce world champions and this could well be one of those rare times where all the ducks are in a line! However, it wasn’t to be and despite a great scoring test, a huge mistake in the canter zig-zag that saw them having to walk to get the canter lead back after making several attempts. This was the downfall, and it was a disappointing 74.394%.
Adrienne Lyle and Salvino.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
The Team Championship and was won by Denmark and you can’t imagine the excitement of the crowd, it was so fabulous to watch!
The medal ceremony saw:
GOLD: Denmark
SILVER: Great Britain
BRONZE: Germany
What a great two days of competition!
The Grand Prix Special takes place today, Monday 8 August, and you can view the draw here.
Lyndal and Eros will ride the Grand Prix Special at 11pm AEST tonight, followed by Simone and Fiderdance at 11.30pm AEST.
Read more about the Aussie dressage team in the August issue of Equestrian Life here.
You can watch all the action from the FEI World Championships in Herning via Clip My Horse TV.
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