2004 Bundeschampionate

Big Wopper "Wambo" Is Wonderful

September 6, 2004

There will be many people who won't agree with the judges (and me) but Wambo is just wonderful. He's not a swan, but nor is he the ugly duckling. This distinctively marked chestnut with blaze and huge stockings beams into your eyes when he flashes by, and he is a tidbit long in the back. He's enormous, powerful and you don't want to get your foot stuck under his hooves.

Wambo moves with so much balance and rhythm, never losing the beat whether he is moving in walk, trot, or canter, straight, in bends or traversal movements. Ridden by Hans Peter Bauer, the Hanoverian registered Wambo (by Walt Disney x Espri) showed great self carriage and swing in his body. His flying changes were the highlight of the test. Where are the days when flying changes seemed hard for a 6-year old?

So why didn't he win? The walk pirouettes weren't correct enough and the final extended trot could have been performed with more risk; at least that is what the judges thought.

Maybe looks do kill, in the literal sense than, and Wambo lost his first place because he's just not a pretty horse. Overall, Wambo should have shown more suppleness in the body. His beat is like the running of a Swiss watch, but due to his massiveness he is a tiny bit deprived of flexibility. Trainingwise this horse is definitely on the road to FEI. We love to see him again soon.

Text and photos copyrighted Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed!

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