Champion of Champions, Iresias L.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
By Roger Fitzhardinge
The PSI Dressage and Jumping With The Stars again saw some great young horses in the 4, 5, 6 and 7 year old dressage classes.
Admittedly there was some interesting judging and comments for some of the classes. The judges critique the horses at the end of each group and say a few words about them, which is interesting indeed. Some judges seem to think they are being helpful by pointing out everything that is wrong, and sometimes that list seemed to be extremely long. Terms that seem in vogue are: “not up in front of the rider’s leg”, and this term was often used for horses that seemed to be on double arch and running away from the rider’s aids!
“More over the back” and “more suppleness” were another two terms that came up a lot. For sure you could say this about the likes of even Valegro. It was a shame that the judges were not more encouraging and endearing to the positive and good points first… and then offer an opinion that may help the riders towards better marks and be more fitting with purposeful comments for each individual horse and rider. This aside the eventual winners of the classes were for sure well deserved and beautiful horses!
In the four year old class it was an equality of score on 78.2% to the Aber Hallo-bred stallion Aber Halo MI who is out of the Sir Donnerhall mare Sugarloaf Sirhara — who was herself a Champion for Daniella Dierks and the Mulawa team. This stallion was a beautiful type and soft and easy over the ground but a little quirky in the contact at the halt. The black gelding imported at the end of 2017 was Yarramee Fonzie, who is owned by Sharyn McCombe and was ridden by Justine Greer. This black elegant tall gelding by Firestone and out of a Polansky mare was a very appealing 4 year old with quite an amazingly uphill canter. He scored well for all his paces and his rideability was a highlight.
Braveaux, ridden by Gina Montgomery.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
The five year old class saw an impressive win with a great 86.8% to Iresias L for Gina Montgomery. This big, powerful bay stallion is owned by Sarah Hanslow and was imported just over a year ago and was a winner also at the last DJWTS. He is by Johnson and out of a Ferro mare. Gina actually won the first round on the ever-impressive stallion Braveaux and Iresias L was second. In that first round, Braveaux spotted something as he headed on a 20 metre circle towards the judges table and made three splendid levades and waved to the crowd before continuing on as if nothing had happened and despite this still scored 85.4%. There was much talk about him still gaining a good submission mark, but this was not so much a resistance to the rider’s aids but the stallion getting a genuine fright from outside. He continued straight on with the work as if nothing had happened and did not look resistant to the rider at all. Others with lack of honesty to the bridle and lack of balance and terribly unsteady contact throughout deserved the low submission mark, but in the case of Braveaux it was understandable that this was not rider-made resistance but the reaction of a stallion to a scary situation. There is a difference. Gina ended up third after the second round with Braveaux on 80.8%, with the very well presented SPH Santarina ridden by Daniella Dierks and scoring 81.8% for second. SPH Santarina is by Sandro Hit out of the imported mare Donner Carina, who with Judy Dierks won at DJWTS herself (2005 and 2006) and represented Australia at the World Young Horse Championships at Verden. The sharp moving SPH Santarina has plenty of gusto in all the paces and draws the eye, but needs now to sit a little more and have a more uphill frame.
SPH Santarina and Daniella Dierks.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
The six year old class was the class of the show that really had a few good ones at the top and then a considerable tail… and it always seems to be this way in this age group here. Could it be that it is at this stage that the flying changes are introduced, and a time of reckoning in the accepting more of the disciplined work and so the wheels fall of a little. This is not to say that the winner was not an outstanding mare. Penny Hill Sophia from WA — ridden by Emma Hayward and bred and owned by Michelle James — was exceptionally wonderful in the trot work especially. She was elegant and cadenced, but just the slightest tension and it showed more in the canter and the walk. This elegant brown mare is by Sir Donnerhall and out of a mare by Weltruhm. It is certainly a powerful yet elastic and beautiful horse; no question with well deserved marks and a win with 80.0%. From South Australia was Bluefields Honduras and Heather Currie. This very correct brown gelding is by Hofart and out of a mare by Rotspon, and what a great horse for the future, full of presence and power yet ridden in a wonderfully confident frame and cadence by Heather, who always strikes a fabulous pose and her horses all beautifully conditioned and turned out. She is the consummate presenter of young horses and always looks the part. This horse will be one to watch closely as they progress… look out Grand Prix as here we come!
The seven year old class was an impressive field and event, and though only eight in there they all were very well trained horses and a great class to enjoy. The seven year old class has a judge at C who judges the technical section as if a normal test with every movement being marked and a percentage at the end for the test, and at the side two judges mark as for the young horse with a mark of ten for walk, trot, canter, submission and perspective. The scores are added and averaged and the total percentage reckoned. It was Daniella Dierks and SPH Renaissance who won with 75.9% just ahead of the wonderfully talented elegant mare in She’s Nice for Elliot Patterson on 75.5%. Renaissance is by Royal Hit from PSI Oktavia, who is in turn by Clintino and she has already won champion young horse awards at DJWTS and another to cap off an amazing run for owner and breeder Andrea Beatty. The mare She’s Nice (an understatement) is by San Amour from an Akribori mare and bred by PSI. This mare is sweet as and elegant; not dissimilar in type to Penny Hill Sophia. Elliot rode her well and very expressive changes helped the overall impression.
SPH Renaissance, ridden here by the guest judge, was the seven year old young horse champion.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
So ended the four champions and the next day saw the five of them ridden by visiting rider from PSI in Frederic Wandres (GER). Fonzie was first out and what a great showing, but a little unbalanced at times and short in the neck — however Fredric commented on his fantastic canter. Aber Halo certainly left his halo in the warm-up classes, as he was not rideable for the guest rider. Once Frederic mounted, the stallion was absolutely overawed by the moment and simply could not move, frozen to the spot. Then after some coaxing from Fredric he whizzed off only to do it twice more, so very sensibly Frederic dismounted before it was a serious disaster as the stallion ran through the arena surround. Aber Halo was too scared to think properly and this was a shame as he had shown well in the tests.
Gina’s ride, Iresias, was very rideable and the canter work amazing and in balance in a working pirouette, gently and well ridden by Frederic and it was obvious the stallion gave him a good feeling as he didn’t want to get off. The mare Sophia also gave a great ride and showed very expressive trot work, but become a little tense which was a shame. But needless to say, a truly wonderful horse. Renaissance also gave Frederic a great ride, and he had a ball playing with the changes and the beginnings of all the exercises towards Grand Prix. Frederic commented on what a great ride and fun the horse was to work with, and complimented the riding by Daniella.
Penny Hill Sophia, ridden here by the guest judge.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
It was Iresias L who was sashed the Champion of Champions, and much a favourite of the crowd as well. It was not an easy decision as there was much discussion between Henning Lehrmann (GER), Francis Verbeek (NED) and Jane Ventura (AUS) with comments and guidance regarding the rideabilty and feeling from Frederic before the decision was made.
What great champions in their own rights and what a great line up. Well done to all the horses and riders — it was a good showing, but still more attention needing to be made on the basics and the rideability and thoroughness to enable better balanced, uphill and confident dressage horses.
So ended Dressage and Jumping With The Stars for another year, with everyone heading off to the corners of this vast continent Australia with work to do for the next year’s classes. A great show and a great atmosphere for horses. Riders, judges, coaches and spectators alike. One big family reunites each year to check the progress of their horses and what an interesting time!
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