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2002
World Equestrian Games
Grand
Prix Special - September 13, 2002
Debbie
McDonald In For The Gold
 The
excitement and controversy continues to pump through
the veins of riders and spectators in the Chapin Center
during the dressage phase of the 2002 World Equestrian
Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. The American Debbie
McDonald had the ride of a life time today, scoring
76.120%, and ranked second in the Grand Prix Special.
McDonald rode a wonderfully expressive test with superb
lateral movements, nicely jumped pirouettes and large
tempi's. Brentina is such a lovely mare and is currently
the only horse on the scene whose qualities can be compared
to those of Rusty or Farbenfroh. Judge Volker Moritz
estimated Brentina's performance the highest of them
all and gave her 80.000%.
In
the Special, McDonald only had to give way to home country
favorite Beatriz Ferrer-Salat who scored 77.000% with
her Hanoverian gelding Beauvalais and won the class.
Beauvalais is a spectacular horse but sometimes comes
too deep and too tight in the neck. Above all, had Brentina
not stumbled in the extended trot, which made her break
into canter, McDonald would definitely have won the
class and maybe even lead in the provisional classification.
 Germany
was abdicated today when both Nadine Capellmann and
Ulla Salzgeber were pushed into third and fifth position
by outsiders Ferrer-Salat, McDonald and Wilcox. Lisa
Wilcox had again two small bobbles in her otherwise
gorgeous test aboard Relevant. Right before the canter
half pass, her Oldenburg stallion misinterpreted a half
halt for a halt and on the centerline Wilcox, having
yesterday's mistake on her mind, could not relax Relevant
for his final tense piaffe. "He's so extravagant in
his movements and sometimes overdoes the piaffe," Wilcox
explained. She scored 75.680% and ranked fourth.
So,
what happened to Germany? Well, Farbenfroh made a mistake
in his flying changes, probably because he lost impulsion.
Riding at the hottest moment of the day, Capellmann
had to deal with a tired Farbenfroh, yet she still made
him show the most divine, supple exercises. With 75.880%
and a third place, Capellmann is still leading the individual
classification.
 Ulla
Salzgeber had to deal with the same problem as Capellmann,
a mistake in the flying changes on exactly the same
spot on the diagonal. Nevertheless, Salzgeber received
74.120% and Rusty was the lightest and sharpest on the
aids.
The
grand finale, the kur to music, is Sunday evening September
15, 2002, at the Chapin Center and promises to be most
exciting one in history. Germany has always been able
to cope with a setback during a competition, but will
the country's proficiency and horsemanship reign again
this time? Debbie McDonald can be the first American
rider to win an individual medal, and it might even
be a gold one. "I told you we would be kicking at the
door, and not knocking," Brentina's owner Jane Thomas
commented after McDonald's ride.
By
Astrid
Appels for Dressagedaily.com
Provisional
Individual Classification
Rider - Horse - Grand Prix - Grand Prix Special - %
GP + GPS
1. Nadine Capellmann - Farbenfroh - 77.960 (1) - 75.880
(3) - 153.840
2. Beatriz Ferrer Salat - Beauvalais - 74.560 (4) -
77.000 (1) - 151.560
3. Debbie McDonald - Brentina - 74.640 (3) - 76.120
(2) - 150.760
4. Lisa Wilcox - Relevant - 74.200 (5) - 75.680 (4)
- 149.880
5. Ulla Salzgeber - Rusty - 75.640 (2) - 74.120 (5)
- 149.760
Related
Links
2002 World Equestrian Games Coverage
Image copyrighted: Phelpsphotos
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View
the Web Photos Album of today's Grand Prix Special
Horsesdaily
On the Scene at the 2002 World Equestrian Games
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