2005 World Cup Finals

Danish Delight in Las Vegas

Danish dressage star Andreas Helgstrand, winner of the two Scandinavian World Cup qualifiers, flew to Las Vegas with a real Nordic fighter's mentality. He wanted to kick butt in Vegas and that's exactly what he did by finishing fifth with a 78.500% kur.

Danish judge Hanne Valentin placed Helgstrand and Cavan in third place. "The plus sides were Cavan's piaffe and the many nice tempi changes on the circle. It worked perfectly," Valentin commented. "Some of the trot work was a bit forced, but the canter work fitted perfectly to the music. That's why I put him fourth."

Lita Dove had mixed feelings about Helgstrand's ride. "The judges saw something I did not. The music was jerky. There was some loss of rhythm in piaffe, but it got better when the horse was allowed to go a little forward in the piaffe. On the other hand, absolutely gorgeous were the tempi changes which looked like skipping, like dancing. The horse has beautiful natural gaits, pure and did stay in balance for most part."

Andreas Helgstrand was extremely satisfied with his World Cup Finals. "This World Cup can be compared at the Olympics. I was completely amazed to ride at the Olympics, but here in Las Vegas the atmosphere is much more concentrated," Helgstrand said.

The other Dane qualifying for the finals was Lone Jorgensen on her green Grand Prix horse Ludewig G (by Landfriese x Ibikus). The 10-year old Oldenburg gelding is a very sensitive horse and seems complicated to steer through the ring. With 72.275%, they placed eleventh. "Jorgensen was worried going in, asking everyone to be quiet," Dove wrote. "Ludewig is a loose horse, rather than a power house, so when he gets tight the sparkle is completely missing." Unfortunately, Ludewig did not shine as much as we'd hoped for and he appeared to be a bit stiff and flat in the freestyle.

Nevertheless, Jorgensen was happy with her horse and their World Cup experience. "I'm super pleased. It was worth the whole trip. I was surprised that Ludewig stayed so cool today," Jorgensen said.

More Scandinavian power came from Swedish Jan Brink on Bjorsells Briar. This powerful duo ranked seventh with 77.325% and put in a really solid kur. "Briar was excellent, better canter than I've seen them do. The passage was as great as ever, but the piaffe went almost backwards a few steps and the pirouettes weren't great. The gorgeous half passes were looser in front than before and Brink was riding super," Dove commented.

Text by Lita Dove and Astrid Appels - Photos copyrighted Wiegaarden/Ridsport
No Reproduction Allowed

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