Aachen: Rebecca Ashton reports from the World’s Greatest horse show!

 

and she took the photos…. 

The last big show before WEG in Tryon, Aachen was the place to be, well….it is every year, I guess!. Touted as the ‘Mini WEG’, and with 362,000 spectators through the gates, it was possibly more exciting than usual. The field was wide open as well, and it’s close at the top in all three Olympic disciplines at the moment. Aachen proved that there are plenty of possibilities for who will end up in the medals come September, and horses being horses, we’ll just have to wait and see. There’s never a dull moment in the horse world!

Topsy turvy for Isabell, but she comes out on top in the Kür

DRESSAGE

Who said dressage is boring? Aachen proved that’s definitely not the case! It was Laura Graves taking on Isabell Werth; America against Germany, the pre WEG showdown. There were German team horses missing from Aachen, and Isabell surprised us all by bringing Bella Rose, who only returned to the competition arena a couple of weeks ago in Fritzens, after almost four years off with an injury. She also brought Emilio, leaving at home her top horse, Weihegold.

back in the warmup arena at Aachen, Isabell and Bella Rose

The dressage was full of surprises, prompting American rider Laura Graves to compare the sport to show jumping with the uncertainty of falling rails. “The horses have laughed at us!” she commented after both she and Isabell Werth experienced uncharacteristically low scoring tests.

Clear winners in the Grand Prix, Laura and Verdades
In the 5* Grand Prix, Laura Graves and Verdades (Florett As/ Goya) were the clear winners on 80.606 after the wheels fell off for Isabell and Emilio (Ehrenpreis/ Cacir AA) seeing them finish in 17th spot on 72.516 when the piaffe turned into a disaster. Everyone was in shock, not least being Isabell.

A shock for Isabell in the GP
But there’s a reason Isabell Werth is the queen of the dressage arena. She’s one of the smartest riders out there. Saturday rolled around and the Special was a different story. She won with 79.128 and it was Laura’s turn to have things fall apart when Diddy decided the television camera near F was a monster…for the whole test. Laura explained later, “It was a real surprise for me. He’s hot, but he always feels safe. I’ve never in my life had that happen with him before. I think he surprised himself. The camera was moving really fast. We had uncharacteristic mistakes in things he’d usually get all eights. Some of the other things in the test were the best scores he’s had and I could have done a PB I think. I still love him!” They finished the test on 74.085 and 11th position.

Together again in the Kür

Isabell explained her turn around, “We analysed the Grand Prix and we did some different things yesterday and he was happy with me again. It was a really nice, safe test today but I didn’t expect to stay in front for the whole competition. Maybe it was a gift from my colleagues for my birthday!

“I was very surprised on Thursday. I felt sorry for Emilio because I wasn’t awake or sensitive enough to hear the horse. Usually the piaffe is a highlight, so it wasn’t the exercise, just miscommunication. I have a lot of my attention on Bella Rose if I’m honest, and maybe I didn’t listen to Emilio enough. This is the point; you have to take the time with each horse.”

Fourteen-year-old Bella Rose, (Belissimo M x Cacir AA) was the shining star in the four-star competition. 77.587 in the Grand Prix, 80.149 in the Special and they chose not to ride the freestyle. So, who will be the chosen one for Tryon? “I cannot answer that. Bella will compete again. Emilio is at a top level and there is no more competition space for him. I’m in a great place, but we know it can change. I have my own dream of a plan, but we will see in the next weeks,”was Isabell’s diplomatic reply, but perhaps we could speculate as to what that dream might be.

Emilio was again absolutely with his rider in the freestyle. Isabell loves Aachen and the Aachen crowd love her right back. The cheering from the stands accompanied her down the final centre line to her twelfth Aachen Kür win on four different horses. “I’m really, really happy that we could improve day by day and bring him back to top shape. I knew I had to give it everything. Emilio was really top and the music worked so well. And the final centreline was so special with the crowd.”

Laura’s freestyle comes next

 Laura was back in the top three in the freestyle and although gracious, I sense she would have liked a rug for her 31st birthday.

Kasey Perry-Glass and Dublet – come to the fore at Aachen

Often a rider comes to the fore at a big championships. At the last WEG it was Laura Graves, Rio – Cathrine Dufour, Europeans – Therese Nilshagen and you’d have to say at Aachen it has been Kasey Perry-Glass riding Goerklintgaards Dublet(Diamond Hit/ Ferro).

Part of the US team for Rio and scoring 75.229 in the Grand Prix there, she didn’t get to ride the Special as three of her team mates scored ahead of her. Then things went a bit pear-shaped for the 30-year-old in 2017. “You really have to believe in your horse. We’ve been on a long journey. Rio 2016 was our first year Grand Prix; 2017 was a learning curve. We went through some training differences. He needed a break; I needed a break and he’s got better and better, and now we’re in a good spot.”

Each day at Aachen saw her creep higher up the board. Fifth in the Grand Prix on 76.801, third in the Special on 78.787 and second in the Kur with a score of 85.205. “I am the luckiest girl in the world to have Dublet. All the honour and love goes to him for being who he is, even when I’m not on him. The sky is the limit with this horse and he deserves all the love and praise his team and I can give him.”

Adrienne Lyle on Salvino

The third of Debbie McDonald’s students (Laura and Kasey both train with her) Adrienne Lyle on Salvino (Sandro Hit/ Donnerhall) also performed well, but it wasn’t Steffen Peter’s show. His ride in the 4*, Suppenkasper (Spielberg x Krack C) who was purchased for him from Helen Langenhanenberg is absolutely super. The pair have only been together since February, but if they can find their groove together, it should be amazing.

In the German camp, Dorothee Schneider also had two horses to campaign. Showtime (Sandro Hit x Rotspon), back from an injury break, lasted just one test before a swollen leg meant he was scratched from the four-star Special. It’s a shame because he was looking great, coming second to Bella Rose with a score of 75.652. Is it risky to consider him for Tryon? She also has Sammy Davis Jr (San Remo/Wenckstern) who put in consistent performances. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl also had two mares at Aachen: Zaire-E (Son de Niro x Jazz)in the four-star and a new addition to her stable, TSF Dalera BB (Easy Game x Handryk), who beat Sammy Davis Jr in the Grand Prix with a score of 76.848 for fourth, but there were too many mistakes in the piaffe in the second test, however it’s only the horse’s fourth time riding the Special.

Back in action – and how! Helen Langenhanenberg and Damsey

The other big comeback of the show was Helen Langenhanenberg, back competing just four weeks after the birth of her second daughter. She’s only been back riding Damsey FRH (Dressage Royal/ Ritual) for three weeks. “I think I should ride less!”she beamed.  The combination was chosen to ride the Nations Cup on Friday and when Monica told her Helen, “…stopped breathing for a while! But they are the same tests so I wasn’t nervous. It is absolutely amazing what happened today and I will enjoy it until Saturday.”

She was able to enjoy the whole show coming second in the Special with 79.021 and fifth in the freestyle with 82.575. “I thought Thursday was the best we could do, but obviously not! I’m a bit sweaty so maybe I do need to compete more. He felt fresh. He was really hot today. Everything was easy. He gave me a really safe feeling,” explained Helen.

The German squad certainly has depth.

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Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and Cassidy (Caprimond/Donnerhall) were second in the Grand Prix. Cathrine, 26 was taking it easy with the compact chestnut who never really enjoys the Deutsche Bank Stadium. She told me she stands at the entrance of the arena waiting for the gelding to take a big breath before she enters to do her test. There was one little spook but Cathrine was thrilled how her “pony” handled the atmosphere, “For the first time he coped today,”she said later.

The Special saw a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes from the 15-year-old gelding, and unfortunately at this level, even one or two small errors are very costly. A break in the extended trot possibly cost her a podium spot, but aside from that the test was just so correct and soft, the contact beautiful. The combination have been reliable and consistent all week which resulted in them winning the title of Dressage Champion of Aachen. They’re a pleasure to watch and you can tell they’re best mates. They’re often out walking on a loose rein or cantering around the jumping warm up, and their tests are just beautiful.

Therese and Dante Weltino – gorgeous

As are Therese Nilshagen and the 11-year-old stallion Dante Weltino (Danone 4/ Welt Hit II). Gorgeous riding maybe lacking just the experienced polish of Isabell. But give these riders time. They’re so well trained there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing them at the big shows for quite some time yet. Ask them all who they admire and they all say Isabell, so the dressage great will have to work on keeping them on her left and right at the presentations.

Daniel and Zack, the Danes are looking good…

Another highlight of the show was Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack (Rousseau/ Jazz) who improved over the week, culminating in a pb and sixth place in the freestyle. He’ll be a strong rider for Denmark in Tryon and you’d have to think, all going well, the Danish team would be favourites for the bronze behind Germany and America. However, this week proved anything is possible.

World Champs? Bring ’em on…

 The Germans have had an interesting preparation. Desperados can’t be considered due to injury. Cosmo is out with an infection. Will he be right in time? Will the plane trip have a negative affect on him? Where is Weihegold? Did they just want to see Bella Rose and Emilio? Is the mare tired? I’m speculating here, but we also haven’t seen Charlotte Dujardin and Freestyle and Carl Hester on Delicato compete outside of the UK yet. If they make the trip across the Atlantic, anything is possible. America is on fire and we are waiting with baited breath for all of them. Bring on September!

next comes the eventing

EVENTING

Sammi and Hunter Valley – rip up the leaderboard

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. As a team, Australia was down to two horses going into the cross country. With Koko Story eliminated for unevenness in the dressage and Adelaide Hill pulling up lame before the cross country, it was left to Sammi Birch and Chris Burton to fly the flag. And they didn’t let us down. Sammi Birch ripped up the leaderboard from 23rd spot after a disappointing show jumping round to finish sixth after a great cross country with just four faults.

I caught up with a breathless Sammi after cross-country.“It was great. It’s so intense here that it’s quite hard work. But it’s amazing to ride and the crowd is awesome, and they really get you going and I love my horse! He loves the big occasions so I’m thrilled with him. The course wasn’t four-star dimensions but was very technical. There was every question you could ask, and it just kept coming at you, and the accumulation of all that and everyone’s trying to go fast, and they make mistakes.

“I was a bit annoyed with myself after the show jumping, so I had two gin and tonics and pulled myself together and had a really good sleep.

“Now we go and make sure the horse is ok, go and watch the master Chris Burton on course and try and learn something! Hopefully they’ll want us for WEG, but if not I’ll re-route him to Burghley.”

The cross country king in action – Christopher and Quality Purdey

Chris Burton was in fifth place going into the cross country and he flew around the course under time, the best round of the day in fact, to claim second spot overall. “We’re always delighted to come to Aachen and I’m delighted with my horse. The last part (in the main stadium), it was very hard to go fast. I knew that so I tried to get on top of it before I got in there. What’s nice is that I’d forgotten how incredible that atmosphere is in there. The horses lift again and prick their ears. It’s amazing.”

Andrew Hoy makes his bid for Tryon – with Vassily de Lassos

Riding individually, veteran Aussie Andrew Hoy must be sniffing out a spot on the team for WEG after a super Aachen show. With a final fourth place abroad the nine-year-old Vassily de Lassos.

On song – Julia and Chipmunk

However it was Julia Krajewski who was the star of the show. After a tough 2017, where the German’s team horse Samourai du Thot tested positive to a controlled substance at the Europeans, the current German National Champion has been at the top of her game and Aachen was no different. It was her super dressage score of 19.7 on her individual ride Chipmunk FRH which allowed her to take first place at Aachen despite 6.4 penalties cross country. Tim Lips, who was in second place after the jumping had a run out at 4a.

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Ingrid and Hale Bob – not their show

Germany crashed out in the teams competition after both Ingrid Klimke on Hale Bob acquired 20 jumping penalties at fence 16 (a triple brush) and Julia on Samourai du Thot having a run out at the same fence. However, Ingrid remains the superwoman that she is. I can’t think of anyone else who could compete in the cross country, four-star Grand Prix Freestyle, Inter 1 and the ‘Ride and Drive’all in one day!

Ingrid and Franziskus

Like their warmup?

France sat steady in second place helped by Thibaut Vallette on Qing du Briot and Karim Florent Laghouag on Punch de l’Esques finishing in seventh and eighth spot respectively, while Sweden took the bronze.

Thibaut Vallette on Qing du Briot

New Zealand won the teams after being third after the showjumping, then having solid cross country runs from determined, experienced riders. Tim Price, who was the best performed finishing third individually, thanked his wife for letting him ride Cekatinka. “It was a very testing course both jumping, and time. My mare was fantastic and she looked after me a couple of times. Our priority was a solid team performance which is why we’re so happy today.”

Tim Price and Cekatinka

Course designer Rüdiger Schwarz defended his tough questions which really sorted the riders, “I always know there are very good riders and very good horses here so I can ask enough, a lot of technical questions. You must ride very precisely and at the right speed. It is the biggest short competition in the world that I know. We have very high prize money here (€125,000). So, they have to earn it! It should be a highlight in the season so we try to do that.”

The 35,000 spectators I’m sure weren’t disappointed. The result was hard to predict.

So, the Australian WEG squad will be announced on the 26th July. After Aachen you could argue Chris, Andrew and Sammi have all done what they need to be serious contenders.

Clarke and Balmoral Sensation

It would seem, true to the sport, the teams will be wide open leading into September. Germany proved even the best can make mistakes. New Zealand have just so much experience from 62-year-old Sir Mark Todd to the ‘baby’Clarke Johnstone at 31, who finished the week in fifth place. If they can keep their horses sound, then watch out! It’s also worth noting that five of the top six places at Aachen were taken by Antipodians. if Australia can get the right combinations in place, there no reason they can’t get a medal in America.

Evergreen – Mark Todd and Kiltubrid Rhapsody

SHOWJUMPING

Balmy summer evenings, stadiums full of enthusiastic crowds and some of the best horse-flesh on the planet. Why would you be anywhere else but the main Aachen stadium in July?

The Germans dominated with wins in both the Nations Cup and finally in the centrepiece event, the Rolex Grand Prix.

Just 24 and in the German team – Maurice Tebbel and Chaccos Son

Just 24 and female and in the German team – Laura Klaphake on Catch Me If You Can
(for the past couple of decades the German showjumping team has been very male)

Germany has won the Mercedes Benz Nations Cup for the last three years at the Soers showgrounds. Both 24-years-old, the two youngsters of the team, Maurice Tebbel on the 11-year-old Chaccos Son and Laura Klaphake on Catch Me If You Can, were teamed with Simone Blum (29) on DSP Alice and super experienced Marcus Ehning (44) aboard Pret A Tout. Laura was one of only two riders, the other being Steve Guerdat on Hannah BWP, to ride two faultless rounds. The university student is the ‘girl of the moment’with her 10-year-old mare, owned by family friend Paul Schockemöhle. “It is a dream come true. First of all, because I was actually able to ride in the team, secondly because we won. My recipe for success? I always give my horse a kiss before we enter the ring,”said an excited Laura.

The Master – Marcus Ehning and Pret a Tout

Simone Blum was the new kid on the block with Alice who is back from injury, while the other three team members rode together on the same horses at the Europeans last year at Gothenberg where they placed sixth. The young team proved they can perform under pressure in a big atmosphere…and it doesn’t get much bigger than an Aachen home crowd. Marcus Ehning was also impressed with his team members, “Once you have won here once, you want to win every year! Indeed, we have succeeded in doing so for the last three years. So we are simply happy! The young riders performed superbly.”

The Dutch are back in form – Marc Houtzager and Baccarat

It was a very tight and exciting competition with the Irish just missing out on the title. Chef Rodrigo Pessoa was thrilled with his team if a little sad they hadn’t been able to win. The Dutch are back in form and coming into Aachen after their first place in the Nations Cup at Falsterbo last weekend, they were able to finish with the bronze. 

First double clear for Darragh and Babalou

Out of the 40 starters for the Rolex Grand Prix, 11 made it through to the second round without any faults, such is the quality at this event. It was Ireland’s Darragh Kenny on Babalou 41 (Balou du Rouet/ Silvio 1) who chalked up the first double clear after the mare saved him in a tricky moment at the double.

There’s two now – Pedro Veniss and Quabri De L’Isle

The next rider, Brazil’s Pedro Veniss with the 14-year-old stallion Quabri De L’Isle (Kannan/ Socrate de Chivre), looking great having come back from injury, ensuring there would be a jump off. Ice cool Marcus Ehning on his Nations Cup horse Pret A Tout (Hiram Chambertin/ Stew Boy) was next through, before Swiss rider and Olympic gold medalist Steve Guerdat on Bianca (Balou du Rouet/ Cardento) made the crowd gasp for a moment before clearing the 12 fence course. Luciana Diniz on Fit For Fun (For Pleasure/ Fabriano) rounded out the five-way jump off.

 

Luciana and Fit for Fun makes it five into the jump off

The final standings saw Steve in fifth place with 12 faults, Darragh fourth with four faults and the top three places determined by time, with Pedro taking the third spot. The crowd rode every stride with Marcus, erupting as only an Aachen crowd can, when he crossed the line clear with a time of 38.34. Just over two seconds separated first and second place.

Poor Luciana, clear with a time of 40.96, was devastated having now come second two years in a row. However she was gracious in defeat, “Fit For Fun is an amazing horse and I’m very grateful to be sitting here with Marcus and Pedro. I used Marcus as a role model and I thought I could do the same as him, but my flow wasn’t quite like his. But it gives me the motivation to keep trying.”Ehning won the most successful rider of the show and the 15-year-old Pret A Tout the most successful horse.

 

Marcus, who last won this class 12 years ago, praised his gelding, who he said had already given him confidence in the Nations Cup. Now he must make the decision as to whether he takes the horse to Spruce Meadows, or saves it for Tryon as the horse is unable to compete in both.

 

McLain Ward and Clinta

 Germany, Ireland and The Netherlands must be feeling quite secure heading into the World Equestrian Games with some top rides on the weekend giving confidence to selectors. We must not forget Sweden either with their superstar Peder Fredricson. There was only one Swedish rider, Henrik von Eckermann at Aachen.

Henrik von Eckermann and Castello

 

True to the sport, it will be anyone’s game come September. There are just so many quality combinations going around at the moment. French riders also performed well over the course of the week.  McLain Ward must not be forgotten either with two horses in top form, Azur II, and Clinta  who he won the Prize of North Westfalia. Beezie Madden and Laura Kraut, both seasoned professionals will also be vying for a spot on the host team.

Beezie and DarryLou

What a show! I think I’ll follow Sammi Birch’s example… one long g-and-t if you please…

 

 

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Whatever your discipline International Horse Breeders have a stallion for your mare, and there’s a range of new stallions available for 2018 – but go to the website now and select! www.ihb.com.au 

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