Roger Fitzhardinge reports from the Grand Prix Special

On Monday, the top 30 combinations from the weekend’s Grand Prix contested the Grand Prix Special at the FEI World Championships in Herning. Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale claimed the gold for Great Britain on 82.508%, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Vamos Amigos took the silver for Denmark with 81.322%, and the Netherlands’ Dinja van Liere was awarded the bronze with Hermes on 79.407%.

Simone Pearce and Lyndal Oatley had both qualified for the Special with terrific Grand Prix tests. Simone and Fiderdance scored 72.584% for 25th, however unfortunately Lyndal and Eros were eliminated due to some unevenness in the final stages of the test; following a thorough vet check post-test, ‘Ross’ was found to be fine and well.

Full results here.

Read the full report from Roger Fitzhardinge:

So first of the two Aussies was Lyndal Oatley and Eros, and after a great Grand Prix yesterday there was a bit of good hope for her and this fabulous grey. They started really well, though Eros didn’t look quite as good as yesterday; he was just looking a little like he was holding himself. The trot work was perhaps tense and holding back a bit. They were scoring 7s for the piaffe and passage, and there was a lot of that, and they were close to 70%. The canter tour was better forward, but it was after coming back to trot and as they were in extended trot on the long side, the bell rang. Lyndal walked back to the judge and after a short discussion Lyndal and Eros left the arena at walk.

Lyndal Oatley and Eros.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

What a sinking feeling and no-one really saw any irregular steps that would make you wonder. Apparently, the judges decided that there was too much irregularity in the trot to finish the test, and she was up to the last centreline. Strange that they would stop them that far through the test, but that’s the judges prerogative and there is no discussion. Everyone was concerned, but Eros has been thoroughly checked out and is absolutely fine. Lyndal says his tension in the arena today was noticeable to her and he was worried, and he showed this with some uneven steps which the judges acted on. It is all for the welfare of the horse and Lyndal says it’s always better to be sure than sorry. The best news is that he is absolutely fine and will not miss a day’s work. Not the best way to end a great Championship, but be assured he will be back to give it another shot.

Dante Weltino, ridden by Therese Nilshagen for Sweden, is one that has always been a wonderful horses and still shows amazing work, but he does like to keep Therese on her toes as to what tricks he has stored up for the day! Therese is a beautiful rider. There were mistakes in the passage to canter transition, where he swung his quarters out and threatened to take the wrong lead and then did the transition well off the line. This stallion is just stunning and 9.5 for extended trot and today no mistakes in the piffle to passage as yesterday, with a really active and uphill enthusiastic way. Therese was surely keeping him in front of the leg before the passage transitions and what a beautiful test, but then in the two tempi changes it appeared that Therese rode the ones to X but then realised it was twos, and started the twos. A 3.5 was not helpful. Still waiting for a clean test from this combination, so perhaps that will come in the Freestyle. All the same, its’ what dressage should be: a combination of power, suppleness and energy. Therese sits so well, and the aids hardly seen. It’s beautiful, despite the few minor glitches: 74.848%.

Therese Nilshagen and Dante Weltino.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Indian Rock, ridden by Emmelie Scholtens of the Netherlands, had so much more enthusiasm today, with wonderful elasticity and a hugely uphill way of going. There were no mistakes until the first of the twos, when a counting mistake lost marks and then they ran out of room in the one tempis, and a mistake at the end, but still a fair mark of 7.1.

The Grand Prix was disappointing for what had been seen in the days leading up. Indian Rock is a horse that is a serious talent and truly sitting in the piaffe, also carrying this through to the passage. With many others, the piaffe can be a bit like passage on the spot with little obvious lowering. The pirouettes were so sitting also, and balanced for a huge horse: 74.164%.

Indian Rock and Emmelie Scholtens of the Netherlands.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

The wonderful elegant stallion Fiderdance and Simone Pearce, the second to ride for Australia, were better again today with a more forward feeling. The half passes and the regularity were super; in fact it was a mistake-free test and Simone rode very well indeed and the adjustability and feeling of understanding and the two being on the same page was obvious. The canter could perhaps cover a little more ground, but was well balanced and no mistakes in the changes. It was a very correct test and considering the fact that they have only been together for a short time, this looks a super horse for the future. Elegant and expressive, and he was really with Simone today for a score of 72.584%.

Salvino and Adrienne Lyle of the USA made up for her test yesterday, where a huge mistake in the zig zag destroyed her score. Today the balance was good, especially at the start, but this test is very long and hard work and towards the middle of the canter work the stallion made some movements pushing the forehand down and lost the uphill way. Still, many good marks and even throughout, with some good piaffe – but the feeling was that the passage looked a little like forward piaffe, and for more positive marks the passage could cover more ground. A few of the changes to the right made a look of stiffness and going up and down with the forelegs, and almost not changing as he did yesterday in the Grand Prix.

Franziskus and Ingrid Klimke, who was as always charming and kind in her demeanour, and that attitude is easily seen in all her horses. This stallion has improved so much over the Covid period and her Grand Prix was great. They were impressive from the start, and extended trot to passage and back are really suited to this combination. Ingrid totally showed how to do it, and almost some 9s for the extended. A very clear transition from walk to piaffe, as was the passage to canter. A mistake at the end of the canter half pass saw a low mark and great two tempis; 8. Balanced ones and an 8, and nearly an 8 for the pirouettes. What a test and what a rider; it was like she had all the time in the world and another good day at the office with a score of 73.526%.

Juliette Ramel and Buriel K.H. of Sweden rode a simply wonderful test in all ways, but for a mistake in the one tempis, but expressive and better again than in the Grand Prix. The canter tour can become a bit tight and tense, but today it was really well executed and perhaps the marks could have been little more positive! 75.456%.

Gareth Hughes and Classic Briolinca for Great Britain were pretty fantastic indeed; in fact, the English judge gave them an 80%. Gareth tested positive to Covid two days ago but seems to be ignoring it all and getting on as if nothing is wrong! Despite this, his test was a tactful combination of energy and control. The ease with all the movements gain great marks throughout, and the only glitch was some strange lacking in balance seen in one of the several extended trots. Classic Briolinca is a quality type and has movement to burn. A score of 77.280%.

Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Touchdown, as always a smooth and accurate test that we have come to expect, and they delivered yet another example of controlled energy combined with mental focus and joy for the movements. Great passage and extended trots gaining consistent high 7s. The Swedish fans are excited, as is Patrik with his performance, and solid as a rock for a 75.486%.

Patrik Kittel and Touchdown.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

It was then a 73.708% for Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper of the USA.

Benjamin Werndl and Famoso OLD, and a 78.237%. They were a whole lot more energetic today than in the Grand Prix, but still showing a lack of bend and pushing the hindlegs. The changes too were lacking the lowered hind legs and were rather a little croup high. The final centreline was very good and the potential that the judges saw yesterday came through at the end today, and it was a whole lot better as there was a lot of comment that the judges had given this pair some high marks for work that was described as boring by many. Today was certainly better for sure, and certainly the piaffe and passage were great. Perhaps Ben was playing the safe team test yesterday and pulling out all stops today, and it showed. Famoso looked like a different horse, and well ridden.

Benjamin Werndl and Famoso OLD.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

The Danes were hot again, with Marshall-Bell for Daniel Bachmann Andersen. They gained a lot of marks. This horse has a very strangely articulated hindleg, which is especially noticeable in the passage, but still good marks and it’s difficult to work out when the hind legs come so far up off the ground – way higher than the front feet – how this constitutes the criteria for passage. For such huge, elevated canter it’s strange that when it comes to the pirouette they are not so uphill. Just interesting to think, is this taking the weight and pushing off the ground… or just bouncing?

Heiline’s Danciera for Denmark ridden by Carina Cassøe Krüth, and what an absolute pocket rocket this black mare is. The extended trot and passage received plenty of eights, as did the passage and the extended walk. She is so active and energetic, yet rhythmical, and fabulous to say the least. One mistake in the twos and a 4.9 and a 7.7 for the ones. This mare is a ballerina and such a trier. At the end of the test, she stood rock solid and walked out to the pounding music and the crowds here clapping wildly. What an absolute delight for a 75.426%. Balance, flare, attitude and poise are all words that spring to mind!

Nanna Merrald Rasmussen and the wonderful and popular Blue Hors Zack for Denmark. They are into it from the get go! The fluency and ease in the extended trot is obvious, as it is in the half passes. There is something special about this, and it’s the amazingly wonderful attitude to the bridle and the submissive contact… elastic contact. Then a mistake in the ones and 4.4! Then a mistake when trotting out of the second pirouette, and the first error of course today when she headed off across the diagonal in extended trot instead of on the long side, and a 2% deduction for the error and still 73.000%.

Blue Hors Zack and Nanna Merrald Rasmussen.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, and as expected big marks for this young horse. The neck sometimes is a little high and short, but what a rider. A pat for the good effort in the ones at C for him, and he fell into trot! No problem and back into it. The pirouette on the centreline was a bit strong, and then getting fairly strong and forward, yet Charlotte hiding it with confidence (and a prayer) and a strong finish on the centreline to score 77.523%.

Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Hermes and Dinja van Liere for the Netherlands. Wow, a test that is far from boring! What an amazing horse that enjoys every move, and there is no short straw in this horse’s repertoire: 79.407%. The attitude in the bridle and the ease with which the test was ridden was well and truly rewarded. A very light-footed and active horse that has great passage that is the highlight, as are the transitions in and out of passage with regular and even piaffe. They took home the bronze medal in the end.

Dinja van Liere and Hermes took the bronze medal.

Vamos Amigos and Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour scored 81.322% for silver. Now that was a totally different test to what was seen yesterday. It was truly harmonious and the balance throughout was fabulous, with the uphill attitude maintained throughout. The crispness of the transitions from extended trot to passage and from passage to extended trot were shown to the highest level. It was a brilliant test that showed exceptional harmony. It was one of those tests that was so captivating, from the entry to the halt. What a treat.

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Vamos Amigos.

Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale. WELL… sorry, but seriously what an amazing test! They scored 82.508% to claim gold. And that was with a walk to piaffe that could have scored way more. There were tens and the extended canter was off the Richter scale. There was a slip up in the canter transition from the passage, and a one tempi to correct, so not totally mistake free. The extended trot scored 10s, and so it went on… you could hear a pin drop. Just exceptional and truly what dressage is all about, and the sweetest most humble and unassuming person – and the relationship between the two was so, so obvious. You see some tests, such as Totilas and Valegro, and this test was one of those very special moments that will last for everyone’s lifetime. Glamourdale and Lottie were truly in sync, and if you want to see harmony and flare that was it!

Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale, gold medal winners.

DSP Quantaz and Isabell Werth just showed what champions they are in their own right. To follow Glamourdale and Vamos Amigos, and she was incredible with her bay. The walk marks cruelled her chances of big final marks, but she was fighter to the end. A truly amazing woman and rider! To see the preparations to present every movement in the best way to get every mark… it may not be the best talented horse, but sure as hell Isabel is amazing and a champion in her own right.

What can you say, other than what a competition!
Other than that…