2006 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses

The Surprise Conquest of Uzzo and Patrick van der Meer in Verden

August 8, 2006

I bet you no one would have ever thought that Uzzo would become the new 5-year old World Young Dressage Horse Champion? When Sir Donnerhall made two lethal mistakes in his finals ride and Susan Draper's San Remo got underscored by the judges, all of a sudden everyone -- judges, audience and rider -- came to a shock realisation that Uzzo was the highest scoring horse in the Finals. This explains the utter joy, happiness and tears on Patrick van der Meer's face during the award ceremony. What an interesting finals. Goes to show that an underdog can win!

The 2006 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden were blessed with good weather. After a full month of tropical heat in July, rain and thunder storms were terrorising Western Europe begin August, but it was a miracle that the Verden show grounds got spared from rain from Thursday to Sunday. A miracle! The show was set under a shimmering sun and with the young horse classes taking place in the big stadium arena, a real "championship feel" returned to Verden (which was a bit absent last year with the World Young Horse Championship being ostracized to a small ring at the far end of the race track).

OK, back to Uzzo. This KPWN branded Lancet x C-Indoctro gelding was the best performing 5-year old of the Dutch team and already madea a striking impression during the first round. Van der Meer and Uzzo put don a very safe performance in which the lightfooted, flowing trot was the highlight. There could have been more flexion of the hocks in the canter and Uzzo could have stretched more into the contact during the rising trot section, but overall, the bay did an outstanding job and scored 8.3 in the first round. He placed fifth, two placed behind the Dutch pair Hans Peter Minderhoud and Uptown.

In the Finals, Uzzo looked even sharper. The trot was uphill, smooth, balanced and showing outstanding self carriage. Only the extensions were a bit conservative as there could have more lenghtening in the strides. The walk was good, but there could have been more over step. In canter, Uzzo was active and engaged but the hind legs could have jumped more under the body. Sometimes there was a slight loss of rhythm. Overall, the lightness with which Uzzo moved and the fantastic soft contact that Van der Meer maintained with the horse's mouth. Uzzo was relaxed in his work and that's what we love to see. He scored 8.58 overall.

Text and Photos copyrighted Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed without permission

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