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2005 European Dressage Championships
Grand Prix Special Photo Report
Anky van Grunsven and Salinero won the Grand Prix Special
today with 76.160%. Salinero (by Salieri) was extremely
hot to trot. Before entering the ring, the Hanoverian
spooked from the camera and got wound up. Anky was
able to keep the lid on the cooker in the piaffe
and passage tour, but in the canter her horse exploded
and made mistakes in the two's. Van Grunsven's riding
talent prevailed and she was able to save the tempi's
every single stride, but the entire canter tour was
tension frought. In the walk, Salinero would not
relax and stretch. Due to a brilliant piaffe-passage,
Anky was able to keep her score high. "He was a little
too fresh and really nervous in the ring," Anky said
at the press conference. "He took off when the bell
rang so it was not an easy ride for me. He's still
an unbelievable horse; the piaffe-passage and the
trot were really good. He still wanted
to go."
Hubertus Schmidt and Wansuele Suerte
remained to be the best German pair in the Grand Prix
Special. With 75.720% they finished second. Schmidt
did not push his mare too much in the extended trots,
in which she shows irregular steps. The piaffe and
passage were brilliant. Relaxed, rhythmical, at ease.
The tempi changes and the final centerline passage-piaffe-passage
were the highlights of the test. "The halt was not
so good, but everything between the salute and the
end was very good. She was fun to ride. Every step
was under control," Schmidt commented.
Carl Hester and Escapado are experiencing a real high
this weekend with top class rides every day. In the
Special he rode a personal best of 74.320% and placed
third in this European Championship class. Escapado
looked totally at easy in his work. He danced from
piaffe to passage and only the tempi's could be more
ground covering. Hester and Escapado became one in
this Special and the judges rewarded this harmony
with high marks. "It was a surprise for me to be
in this position. He's a lovely horse to ride, very
forward going," Hester said, adding "I'm happy
to retire on what happened today."
Beatriz Ferrer Salat and Beauvalais in better shape
than in the Grand Prix. Beauvalais looked more on
the job, fresher and willing to work. His maturity
and experience in the Grand Prix worked were displayed
and the judges gave them 73.840%
Jan Brink and Bjorsells Briar are going for the bronze.
In the Special they were well on their way for a
place in the top three, but a mistake in the two
tempi's due to a spook from the camera at C reduced
his score to a 73.720% and fifth place in the Special
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