2000 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses

Stefan van Ingelgem and Doncaster 

The only Belgian combination who made it into the final for the 5 year olds was Stefan van Ingelgem on
his Hanoverian Doncaster. The dark bay gelding was bred by Heinrich Christian and came to Belgian as a three year old. Under van Ingelgem the Donnerhall x Watzmann x Perser xx son performed well in several national young horse competitions, resulting in a
victory at the national championships in 1999. It was in Vliermaalroot that Doncaster and van Ingelgem became the 4 year old Belgian Champions and in Moerzeke the reserve champions in the Cup of Belgium competition, behind Mario van Orshaegen
and Sentio van het Goorhof (by Coriolan).

In Arnhem this pair was the best Belgian 5 year old couple. They scored 8.0 twice in the two qualifiers
and in the finals Doncaster moved up to an 8.4 score, making a 24.80 total and a 12th overall place. Doncaster showed himself as a nice 'securely' trained horse with good balance and with rhythmic paces. However, Doncaster could, in general, be more ground covering in his gaits. "The canter had to be a little more uphill and the walk a little more relaxed," said judge Volker Moritz after Van Ingelgem's second qualifying test.

Doncaster is already very settled in his exercises but in the future his movements need to grow a little more in order to get more pezzas, more spark. Nevertheless, a fine performance by a very fine horse.

Image copyrighted Mary Phelps
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