Ingrid Klimke and Franziskus. © Roger Fitzhardinge
By Roger Fitzhardinge from Herning, Denmark
What a treat to sit in the stands, next to the arena and watch all the 95 horses entered here at the FEI World Championships. Of course, my eyes were on the Aussies who were second on at 10.20am and then it was non-stop until 7.30pm.
To watch the different warm-ups, the attitudes towards the following days competition, with some practicing parts of the test, some the whole test, some in snaffle bridles, some only working on simplistic basics, some really waking the horses up and keeping them electric, some in rising trot in piaffe and passage, some only walking and others very forward and excited.
Riders in grey boots, blue boots, national uniforms for all the riders the same, some very casual, and some extremely serious.
To watch the trainers with each combination and make similar exercises and ways of going with the national coaches and comparing the outlines, activity, ways of riding the collection and the extensions and the degrees and all in between.
Some working purely on relaxation and suppleness and others riding absolutely in competition frames. It’s amazing and when you watch the big guns, its simply exceptional and there were many horses that just made me drool with envy that the degree of collection and activity and confidence with the balance and the flexibility to the highest degree of activity can instantly be converted in to total relaxation and stretching.
Carina Cassøe Krüth and Heiline’s Danciera. © Roger Fitzhardinge
There are so many wonderful horses through-out all the teams. The attitude of the horses resemble the empathy and correct training. It is easy to see the best and it’s easy to see the not so best but there is 90% that are in the middle and are capable of being in the top 30 to go forward to the special after two long days of competition.
With the draw, a team is made up of four riders and the top three riders scores are taken to determine the teams score and the countries usually like to slot the better riders in the second half of the draw.
The competition on the first day will see the countries with the big names coming to the fore. Like Germany, Great Britain, America, Denmark, Sweden all having a team of very strong horses with no real tail to the teams.
Who to watch
The ones to watch on the first day of the Grand Prix that will work towards the team medal and find some of the top 30 horses to go in to the Special. It’s a hard one as there are many good horses.
Richard Davison for GBR is on Bubblingh, by Lingh, and is the first of the Brits. A leggy bay horse that has seen good scores but today a little long and not super connection, but will no doubt attract the judges’ eye.
To follow them is our Jayden Brown and WillingaPark Sky Diamond. On seeing them in training today there is no question that Beanz will attract attention. Of course, the results will be sought by primarily a clean test where correct tests may lack the pizzaz but to show the correct test and look towards a team result, a clean test is first and foremost. From what was seen today, Jayden will be secure and this horse’s appeal and energy levels will impress and of course Jayden shows a very good degree of harmony with this expressive horse. A highlight will be the pirouettes and the piaffe and passage, and the sweeping trot/work. It will be very interesting and let’s hope for a good start to the young gun in the team and for Terry Snow and the Willinga Park team, but no matter what they have given it a real nudge.
The grey for the Dutch team in Hexagon’s Ich Weiss for Thamar Zweistra is interesting indeed. Not the most amazingly outlined horse but something about his presence and expression. He is young and has done a lot of CDIs of late and it will be interesting to see what the judges think. It will be a fun test.
For me, Blue Hors Zack was a bit of a sensational standout in training today, ridden for Denmark by Nanna Merrald Rasmussen. A beautifu,l upstanding stallion who has the most workmanlike attitude and movement to burn. He has to be in the top few, but as is known, it is up to making a clean test but what a horse…a must to watch! Let’s hope he didn’t leave his best work in the Warm Up today. I saw it and it was power and uphill and super expressive and a fabulous top line.
Franziskus for Ingrid Klimke is also a standout in this field if he is as good as he was in training. Modern, elastic, expressive, kind and considerate now and, with Ingrid in the saddle, the pair look beautiful. The epitome of balance and control, and this stallion is now so round and through and uphill, it’s astonishing. He is progressing so well and could easily be on the top at the end of the first day. An outstanding horse and snap rider to wow the judges in the first group.
John Thompson and Chemistry. © Roger Fitzhardinge
John Thompson and Chemistry will be first out of the New Zealanders. At this moment, it’s unknown if they will have a team as Gaylene Lennard and the really good gelding Jax Johnson was no trotted up as he was unwell with a temperature. It has been decided that if the blood work and vets are ok and his temperature has subsided, he will be trotted in the morning and fingers crossed all will be ok. Chemistry looks like he has lost a lot of weight since departing Australia and was quite tight and hectic in training. The canter lacked the fluency we have seen. The piaffe and passage energetic but not soft and the great energy John has created creating some tight expressive steps but staccato and not always in a sweet even rhythm but after today’s experience he hopefully will be a little easier tomorrow with a better degree of self-carriage and lateral looseness. What a feat to be here – a must watch test.
A horse that looked in wonderful shape today was the mount of Gareth Hughes for GBR and Classic Briolinca. This mare was amazing in training and with Carl Hester offering his words in Gareth’s ear it certainly looked better in the activity than has been seen. Plus the harmony and ease of everything he did was sweet to say the least. A great warm up for this combination and a great start up to feel good with that confidence of the mare being so on to the job will give Gareth a great feeling. Another to not miss!
Gareth Hughes and Classic Briolinca. © Roger Fitzhardinge
The second Australian follows this in Calanta and Mary Hanna. Some fabulous moments especially in the canter work in the familiarisation. The trot showed some moments of brilliance but some lack of balance, for whatever reason, was evident in the trot extensions and half passes. At times the passage was so flamboyant and let’s hope the balance stays better in the test and gains some great marks.
Denmark’s Carina Cassøe Krüth and the simply glorious smaller black mare by Furstenball x De Niro, Heiline’s Danciera, was amazing. Pushed on full throttle today creating so amazing work but perhaps a little too forward and hurried but for sure in the test coming back a little off the accelerator and what a test could be brewing. Another super horse, all quality, and no holding back. Watch this one!
Now for Germany’s Benjamin Werdl and Famoso OLD. Today a little slow with the hand and legs but a striking big bay with all the movements established and soft but looked a little holding back but a different story in the test!
Benjamin Werdl and Famoso OLD. © Roger Fitzhardinge
What a treat for the first day and what an array of interesting horses. It is going to be a great day and there are a few outstanding horses at the top and then there is a big number that could finish all over the place depending on mistakes alone!
It will be amazing. Perhaps Franziskus will top the day but it could be any one of many!!
When the Aussies will ride:
Jayden Brown and WillingaPark Sky Diamond will ride 13th at 9:17pm AEST.
Mary Hanna and Calanta will ride 41st at 3:09am AEST.
You can find out more about the upcoming competition schedule here.
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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