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2003
European Dressage Championships
Ulla Salzgeber Has the Ride of her Life on Phenomenal
Rusty
August 16, 2003
 Journalists
are supposed to be objective. They have to analyse a
dressage test with skepticism and have to fend off all
favouritism. In the case of Ulla Salzgeber and Rusty
I humanly fail at this. There were quite a few remarks
to be made about Gigolo, and even more about Bonfire,
but Rusty is just so superb that there can be no (major)
fault found in this horse.
The Grand Prix Special, the second phase of the 2003
European Dressage Championships in Hickstead, England,
was won by Ulla Salzgeber on her Rusty. This did not
really come as a surprise, was it not for the phenomenal
quality of the test. Never before have Ulla and Rusty
shown such an impeccable test. Rusty was razor sharp
to the aids, expressive in all his movements, impulsive
in each exercise, and just absolutely brilliant in his
appearance. The judges noticed the absolutely amazing
shape the pair was in and honoured their performance
by putting a torrent of 9's and 10's on the score board.
Even though one slight error at the end of the tempi
changes every single stride snuck up into the test,
the 80.36% score was worthy its Grand Prix Special World
Record.
Only American Lisa Wilcox was able to get into the
vicinity of Ulla Salzgeber's performance level. Aboard
Relevant, Wilcox scored top notes for the piaffe and
passage and excelled in elegance and lightness. With
78.32%, Wilcox comfortably finished second. Placing
third and having the show weekend of his life is Swedish
Jan Brink on his licensed stallion Bjorsells Briar.
Brink has brought a ready-set-go Briar to Hickstead
and the horse is a shape-of-a-lifetime. The liver chestnut
stallion passaged with wonderful rhythm and power to
a 75,76% score, beating fourth placed Beatriz Ferrer
Salat on Beauvalais.
 Klaus
Husenbeth and Piccolino are on track to become Germany's
second best combination of the moment. Scoring 74.280%
in the Special, Husenbeth is ecstatic about what is
going on. "We were much more sure of ourselves,"
Husenbeth commented, "and we will go all the way
in the freestyle." The Hanoverian Piccolino arrived
at Hickstead with a fever and needed a few days to recuperate
and to get fit again.
Best Dutch combination in the Special was Antoinette
Falandt on Jarwo. Falandt has said to like the Special
more than the Grand Prix, because it has many more forward
parts. Her preference for the test was reflected on
her score of 71.72% and a ninth place. Gestion Goliath,
who had a disappointing performance in the Grand Prix,
was back to business in the Special. Teeuwissen had
a more responsive horse between his legs and scored
71.24%. Due to his overall 16th place, Teeuwissen, the
2001 European silver medallist, is not allowed to ride
the final leg of the Championships, the Grand Prix freestyle.
by Astrid Appels
Image copyrighted: David
Charles
Related Links
Scores
Grand Prix Special
Germany Wins 20th Team Gold
Medal at the 2003 European Championships
Eurodressage FOCUS: Jan
Brink and Bjorsells Briar
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