CDI-W World Cup Qualifier |
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Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht FRH
won their second World Cup victory after having
won at Odense. |
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Silvia Ikle's Bandoneon freestyle, which premiered
in Frankfurt last year, was once again marvelous.
She finished second in the freestyle |
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Laurens van Lieren
presented Ollright with a far to narrow neck
throughout the Grand Prix. The judges commented
on that fact, and there
was some visible improvement in the Kür the next day. |
Nadine Capellmann and Elvis |
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Capellmann and Werth |
The first horse to spook badly in the Grand
Prix was Elvis. At the end of the first extended
trot,
he was met by the flashlight of some
spectator's camera and by his own reflection in a plexiglass wall.
While he usually isn't a horse that shies away, here he jumped away, and
it took Nadine some time to get him back in line. Their percentage fell
from over 80% to 50%. They made it back up to 69%, and the fact that
such a low score was enough for the third place showed what a difficlut
arena Frankfurt was this year.
Isabell Werth's "Hannes" had similar
problems. He started to get nervous during the half passes, and when
flashlight hit him straight in the face during the second pirouette, he
jumped away as well -- at which point Isabell resolutely interrupted the
test, approached the spectators and told them to stop it and then
resumed her test. during the prize-giving ceremony, Capellmann and Werth
had a story to share. In the freestyle, Isabell won -- just as
resolutely --, while Elvis was still tense and ranked fourth.
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Monika Theodorescu and Whisper won the Grand Prix.
There also was a new special award, the Fritz-Tempelmann-Preis
for the rider who did the best
and most harmonious warm-up. Two judges watched the warm-up arena
especially for that purpose -- and they chose Theodorescu as well.... |
...They probably would have decided differently
on the second day, when Theodorescu had difficulties
to get the chestnut going and did not only use
the whip generously in the warm-up arena but also
couldn't keep the horse from simply stopping a
couple of times during the freestyle. He certainly
has the nerve for a boiling arena like Frankfurt,
but does he
have the spark for Hongkong? |
Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz and Fuego showed a lot
of potential at this year's Global Dressage Forum
-- now they're gathering competing experience.
What a fabulous horse! |
American Courtney King is doing a winter show tour
in Europe, performing strongly at the indoor
shows with Idocus and Mythilus (pictured). |
Carola Koppelmann and Le Bo |
Swiss Marie Line Wettstein on Le Primeur |
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Victoria Max-Theurer on Salieri |
Sonja Bolz on Cockney |
Nathalie Zu Saeyn-Witggenstein on Rioletto |
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It is rather
bitter irony that Patricia Callaghan's horse
is named Joy, because if there
was one "unhappy athlete" in this World Cup qualifier,
it was him. During the freestyle, he successfully
freed himself from his
rider's relentlessly pulling and jerking hand and presented the audience
with images that should really be passé in international dressage. |
2007 Nurnberg Burgpokal Finals |
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The first three horses at this
year's Burgpokal finale were of excellent quality,
but it was Austrian rider Victoria Max-Theurer
who showed the
calmest and most harmonious performance aboard the youngest horse, and
so this year's "German Championship for Young horses" was won by a horse
that was bred and born in Austria, even if it wears the Oldenburg Brand.
Their victory was well-deserved, and they also won the special award for
the smoothest riding style. "My mother would not agree", Vicky joked
during the award ceremony, "but maybe this will convince her to think
twice next time she starts nagging".
Below right: During the Nurnber Burgpokal for
Riders (Kur to Music) the complete judges'
panel
is
seated at C, and they all rise to greet the riders.
Great fun for all. |
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Matthias Alexander Rath's Weltmeyer Junior was the horse with the most
impressive gaits. Unfortunately, _he_ let himself be impressed by the
atmosphere in the Festhalle and started making mistakes in the canter
tour. They placed third in the finale and second in the freestyle. |
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Oliver Oelrich on Show Star |
Show stars indeed -- Oliver Oelrich and Show Star |
Carola Koppelmann on Hinnerk |
Oelrich
and Show Star |
Isabell Werth on Fuchsberger
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Benjamin Werndl on Walid
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2007 Young Rider World Cup Final
The finale of the Young Riders World Cup was dominated by the riders was
dominated by the same riders as this summer's European Championships.
However, the riders who came from abroad were given the chance to show
their freestyles as well in the consolation finale, and they loved the
experience of performing in Frankfurt.
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Dutch Lotje Schoots and Reine B were the runners
up |
Danish Anne Bendix & Cappucino remain one of Europe's
leading pairs. |
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Boaventura Francisco
Freire was the "odd one out", not only because
he was the only guy in the finale but also because
he rode a Lusitano.
Aboard Peralta Pinha, he had already impressed in Nussloch -- and won
many sympathies because of the horsemanship he showed there. In
Frankfurt, they reached a fabulous third place. |
Micaela Mabragana & Granada.
Micaela regretted that Granada didn't show her
whole potential
in Frankfurt, but she enjoyed every minute of
her long trip -- she hails from Argentina, true
dressage diaspora, but lives in New York and
trains with Leondon Gray. |
An unusual sight at the foot of the Frankfurt
fairground tower, which is a distinct part of
the "Mainhattan" skyline |
