2004 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses

Cold Shower for Holga Finken and Belissimo

July 14, 2004

Definitely considered to be one of the medal favorites in the 5-year old division of the World Championships were young horse specialist Holga Finken and the Rhinelander stallion Belissimo. Unfortunately, the 2004 Verden experience was a cold awakening shower for them, a reality check that being a favorite does not always mean being the champion.

In the first qualifying round, Belissimo (by Beltain x Romadour II) lived up to his name and put down a beautiful test. Walk, trot and canter were all very forward, elegant and rhythmical. His supple walk showed good overtrack and scored 9.0, his trot was very uphill (9.3) and his canter, which is ground covering, scored a 9.6. The overall first round score was 9.38 which placed them second. All the stars were in the right place for Finken and Belissimo to win at least the silver the next day.

But Alas, it wasn't meant to be. Finken, who scored his 8th Bundeschampionate title in his career in September 2003 aboard Belissimo, had to compete right after Florencio and Belissimo's gaits just didn't look that spectacular anymore.

Furthermore, Finken rode a program error in the finals, forgetting to do the pirouette in walk at C. The bell rang, Finken got distracted, rode the kurzkehrt, but from then experienced a loss of concentration. Funnily, he whispered interrogatively at Hans Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen, who was standing on the sideline, where he had to make the transition to canter. Despite this loss of concentration, Belissimo showed his best canter in the finals, wonderfully uphill and with the hind legs reaching far under the body. Also worth mentioning is Finken's light and steady contact with the bit.

Next year better Belissimo.

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

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