One
of the few European tv channels that provide full coverage
of the main equestrian events in the world are the German
stations ZDF and WDR. World Cup Finals, CHIO Aachen,
World Equestrian Games, the German horse lover is never
disappointed in the wide range of equine broadcasts.
Sunday
May 5, 2002, was once again a day filled with whinnying
excitement on screen. The World Cup Finals Show Jumping
in Leipzig, Germany, featured at least one hour of horsey
tv satisfaction for those who could not make it to the
Neue Messe in Leipzig. The Finals were won by Otto Becker
with Dobel's Cento, an enormous and impressive Holsteiner
breeding stallion with extraordinary jumping potential.
However, a more striking factor drew my attention during
the finals.
While
stallions and geldings lifted their feet over 1.50 and
1.60 meter obstacles, it were the mares with an attitude
that impressed me the most. The leading jumper dames
in the arena were not the gorgeous stallions prancing
around in the ring, but the alpha mares with their ears
flat in the neck, their hindquarters bucking after every
jump, and just showing so much energy, eagerness, attitude
and capacity that they easily outbeat their male counterparts.
Rolf
Goran Bengtsson's Pialotta and Ray Texel's Fleur were
the mares that impressed me the most. With 20 centimeters
space left above any obstacle, sky is not the limit
for these duchesses. And for Ludger Beerbaum's Gladdys,
a temperamental dame, the Finals seemed a piece of cake.
And by the way, keep track of names like Goldika, Chandra
and Butterfly Flip.
One
of the few European tv channels that provide full coverage
of the main equestrian events in the world are the German
stations ZDF and WDR. World Cup Finals, CHIO Aachen,
World Equestrian Games, the German horse lover is never
disappointed in the wide range of equine broadcasts.
While
stallions and geldings lifted their feet over 1.50 and
1.60 meter obstacles, it were the mares with an attitude
that impressed me the most. The leading jumper dames
in the arena were not the gorgeous stallions prancing
around in the ring, but the alpha mares with their ears
flat in the neck, their hindquarters bucking after every
jump, and just showing so much energy, eagerness, attitude
and capacity that they easily outbeat their male counterparts.
