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2006 World Championships
for Young Dressage Horses
Damon Hill NRW Renews World Champion's Title
August 8, 2006
 The
Westfalian stallion Damon Hill NRW (by Donnerhall x
Rubinstein) extended his World Champion's title this
year by dominating the 6-year old division at the 2006
World Championships for Young Dressage Horses. Last
year, he won the 5-year old division under Ingrid Klimke's
student Helen Langehanenberg. This year, Damon Hill
reigned supreme under Klimke herself in the first and
second round. The liver chestnut stallion had no
serious competition from the other horses. Damon Hill's
movements
are extremely
dynamic and elastic, and though he has that pony like
expression to him, he was the big man of the show amongst
the 6-year olds.
In the first round, the trot was engaged, uphill,
balanced and well regulated. Klimke had to make minimal
corrections and it all seemed to flow automatically.
The transition from walk to canter was a bit hesitant
but the flying changes were correct. Their overall
9.2 score put the strongly in the lead in the preliminary
round.
 In the Finals the trot tour was lovely, especially
the traversal movements were outstanding. In the
extensions he pushed himself a bit high to avoid complete
usage
of the back, despite the fact that there was good
opening of the frame and overtrack. The extended walk
was outstanding
but both walk pirouettes were mediocre. Three out
of four flying changes were excellent, one went wrong.
The judges commented, "this is how one should ride.
He was 98% completely concentrated on the rider," referring
to the one failed flying change. He scored 9.5 for
trot, 9.0 for canter, 8.9 for walk, 9.0 for submission
and 9.8 for general impression. Overall: 9.24.
Klimke
was really happy with her World Champion's title.
"I'm very happy that this year I could ride
him myself and wasn't injured," Klimke said. "Of
course I felt some pressure to win and wanted to do
as good as my student," she joked. "I'm ecstatic to
have such a fantastic horse in my stable."
Text
and Photos copyrighted Astrid Appels/Eurodressage
- No reproduction allowed without permission
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