Christopher Hector enjoys a day of magic dressage at Aachen
Rebecca Ashton took the photos…
Okay I know I am a hopeless nostalgic, and I realise that the new stadium at Aachen provides way better, more comfortable viewing for thousands more spectators. But I do fondly remember the old arena, with very limited seating on two sides, a row of bushes down the other.
Isabell and Fabienne in 1991 – ignore the rabbits and the Terriers
And yes, I was there the day a couple of Terriers put up a rabbit in the bushes which then ran across a very short diagonal in the middle of Isabell Werth’s test.
Monica Theodorescu and Ganimedes also around 1991, now German Team Coach. No fancy arena edging back then, and see the three little judges boxes in a row behind Monica...
On the short side down the far end, the trainers, including some of the greats, sat a stern line of wise men as they analysed horse and rider, and shared their observations, and this time it’s not just nostalgia, for as one very acute observer of the dressage scene lamented that the main problem facing dressage today is VIP judges, who make sure they give great marks to the stars, even if the work is terrible. My pal suggested that back then when those trainers got together and conferred, they reached a consensus on the good and the not good, and this wisdom found its way into the judges boxes. Alas this happens no more…
The first combination into the arena, Elysias (Jazz / Rhodium) and Karen Nijvelt for The Netherlands, underlines one of the hot topics of conversation, just why are the cupboards of some many nations who usually field tough teams, empty? It’s not just the Dutch and the Brits and even the Germans, who are having a tough time finding team members.
In the end the score is 69.87 which is pretty much spot-on for work that was short and tight in front, and out behind…
Atterupgaads Orthilia
Atterupgaads Orthilia (Gribaldi / Donnerschlag) was a star with Britain’s Fiona Bigwood, before she was sold to Denmark for Agnete Kirk Thingaards. Since then the ride has gone to Blue Hors stable jockey, Nanna Skodborg Merrald, and Denmark is one nation whose cupboard is full to overflowing. It’s a fine test, calm, precise, athletic and Nanna is a very gifted rider. The piaffe / passage tours are great as are the pirouettes. Seems the judges are saving their marks for the stars later in the draw – 73.348 is mean – but the triumphal march of the Danes is well and truly on track for ‘Gold at the Herning’ sort of WEG.
Quartett
Katie Duerrhammer for the USA and Quartett (Quaterback / Dream of Glory) are an appealing combination, compact, bright, forward, and Katie is coached by Adrienne Lyle who rides in the style of her long-term trainer, Debbie McDonald, tactful and correct. They are a little under-marked on 71.456.
Famoso
Benni Werndl and Famoso (Farewell III / Welt Hit II) for Germany, the work is soft and flowing, the horse has that extra something, charisma. The first piaffe travels too far forward, but the second is fine, the pirouettes better, 74.869 into first for the moment but don’t get too comfortable Benni, the big kids will be out soon enough.
Holland’s Marieke van de Putten and her gelding, Torveslettens Titanium RS2 (Totilas / Stedinger), have that Dutch spikey brilliance, but as is so often the case with the Dutch horses, the tail screams tension, every time the rider makes a new request. 72.695.
Syriana
Australian Mary Hanna and her mare, Syriana (Sir Donnerhall / Bormio xx). The trot diagonal is a bit hurried and the half pass trails behind. A very good extended walk, but the piaffe is a bit of a struggle, and the twos drag the score down as does the zig zag and the pirouette right. They finish on 67.457.
Dante Weltino for Sweden
I confess I have always loved Therese Nilshagen’s Dante Weltino (Danone I /Welt Hit II). The black stallion has star power, and finally the judges find their 8 button for the halt, even an 8.1 for the stunning extended trot, just lovely correct passage and fine piaffe. 7.2 for that extended walk is mean. Super up in front canter, 7.9 for the collected, 8.4 for the extended, but mistakes in the changes drag them right down, they finish with great pirouettes and extended trot, but the damage has been done. This has been the most brilliant test so far, but the mistakes hurt 73.152
Marshall-Bell
Daniel Bachman Anderson has had a rocky road to Aachen, when fellow Danish team candidate, Andreas Helgstrand sold his horse, Marshall-Bell (Blue Hors Don Romantic / Michelino) out from under him. Fortunately the young rider who is the new owner, had a sense of decency, and gave the gelding back to Daniel to ride until after the World Title in Herning.
It was a solid enough test, a few glitches here and there, but with a month or two more to consolidate the combination, the chestnut looks to be a solid team horse. The Danish team situation is… interesting. The word is that Princess Nathalie lost the role of team coach after a push from the Helgstrand camp, and Wolfram Wittig was appointed Technical Advisor. But yesterday, as Cathrine Dufour worked in Bohemian, Nathalie, and her long time coach and advisor, Kyra Kyrklund were there arena side, and today, the pair are in the support crew box while Daniel rides. 73.696.
Franziskus
Local hero, Ingrid Klimke is next with her stallion Franziskus (Fidertanz / Alabaster). The stallion tries to liven things up with a couple of little kick up as he passes the in gate circling the arena. Of course Ingrid has him concentrating when they enter the arena. The halt is fine, the diagonal of trot powerful, but even with this great rider in the saddle, there’s no disguising the fact that Franziskus is no superstar. Score 72.217.
Fiderdance
Australia’s Simone Pearce and Fiderdance (Fidertanz / Don Schufro). Super entrance, impressive trot diagonal, big reaching half passes, and the pair are actually in the lead right now. The piaffe is a bit modest, but it is a great languid walk, the horse happily accepting the contact, the curb hanging loose. Whoops! There goes the mark for the twos – 4.4 drags them down, but 7.2 for the ones starts to repair the damage. Fine pirouettes and a very polished centre line. Score 72.261 but the judges are a bit all over the shop, was it 4th, 7th, 5th, 14th, 12th or 15th!!! (boo! Anne Gribbons).
Heline’s Danciera for Denmark
Heline’s Danciera (Fürstenball / De Niro) and Carina Cassøe Krüth, this is a most attractive mare, bright, active, engaged, super half pass, hitting every marker on the spot. The best rein back of the day, lovely passage and they have taken the lead, and consolidate it with an 8.3 for extended walk. This is elegant, correct riding. An 8 for passage right at the end for a 74.5. They are first on Christoph Umbach and Mariette Sanders-van Ganswinkel’s ranking thus far, nineth on Ms Gribbons’ standings – her top horse at the moment is Thamar Zweistra and Hexagon’s Double Dutch, currently 15, 11, 18 and 10 with the other four judges. Go figure…
Wow right now the Danes are holding down 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, with Cathrine Dufour and her new ride, Vamos Amigo to come….!
Kontestro
Representing Finland, Henri Ruoste’s Kontestro doesn’t look like a modern dressage horse, he looks exactly how his papers would suggest, Holsteiner bred by Contendro out of a Cassini II mare, but no-one has told the gelding that. He is such an athlete and the good marks are flowing – 8s for passage, 8.5 for a pirouette left and 8 for the one to the right, doesn’t hurt. The final centre line is majestic, 8.6 for the passage, 8.1 for the transition. They finish on 76.783 and yet again the lead changes.
Duke of Britain
Duke of Britain (Dimaggio / Rubinstein), what he lacks in flamboyant natural paces is more than made up by the skill of his rider, Fredric Wandres. The piaffe is great, pulling a score of 8.3, there’s even an 8 for the final piaffe. Once again we see how great schooling can work its own magic. Yes the combination slips into the lead. 77.217.
Eros
Lyndal Oatley and Eros (Sir Oldenburg / Ferro) for Australia. The grey is neat and correct, the test is just a bit underpowered and cautious, nothing terrible but nothing to tempt the judges into tossing marks at it. 70.739
Touchdown
Touchdown (Quaterback / Sack) and Patrik Kittel, now the Swede has been riding much more quietly and tactfully for a long time now, but I think this is the best test I’ve seen from him. Lovely extended trot, super half pass, it’s a very stylish test, now if Patrik could just scrap the hula hoop routine with his hips in the flying changes… 75.587.
Vamos Amigo
Now the moment we have all been waiting for, Cathrine Dufour and Vamos Amigos (Vitalis / Hotline). A perfect entrance and halt for an 8.2 and we are away, hold onto your hats ladies and gentlemen, you are watching a special bit of history. Fabulous piaffe, passage and transitions, effortless flying changes, amazing pirouettes, they are creeping closer to the magic 80 – and that’s what they score 81.44! And yes sitting in the support team box, there’s Nathalie and Kyra, love that, and love the way Cathrine coolly accepts the applause at the end of her test.
Quantaz
For so long this arena has been dominated by one of the world’s great rider / trainers, Isabell Werth, can she do it again this time on DSP Quantaz (Quarterback / Hohenstein)? Alas no, the horse has a wicked shuffle ‘extended’ walk and then gets a bit lateral when it collects. But Isabell can still pull scores out of the hat, 8.4 for the ones, 8.1 for the pirouette right, and 8.4 for the final passage, but you can see from Isabell’s reaction at the final halt, she knows it has been just a test. 76.413 for fifth but wow what a day!
And now for a few more of Cathrine and Vamos Amigos…
