2008 CDI Hagen

Photo Report - High Quality Grand Prix Rides at Hof Kasselmann

All photos copyrighted Astrid Appels/Eurodressage
No reproduction without permission/payment

Olympic Fever is on in Germany as the first German Olympic selection trial took place at the CDI Hagen. All German Olympic candidates were on the scene showing their best horses. With only three spots available only Isabell Werth is certain of hers.

In the upcoming weeks Nadine Capellmann (on Elvis), Heike Kemmer (on Bonaparte), new comer Matthias Alexander Rath (Sterntaler Unicef) and Monica Theodorescu (Whisper) are currently the top A-listed dressage riders who need to fight for consistent 72% scores if they want to go to Hong Kong.

In Hagen, Isabell Werth and Heike Kemmer proved to be the strongest performers of the show. Werth and Satchmo scored a near world record in the Grand Prix Special and Kemmer won the Kur tour with Bonaparte.

Isabell Werth and Madeleine Winter Schulze's Satchmo (Sao Paulo x Legat)

Werth on Satchmo

Kemmer on Bonaparte (by Bon Bonaparte)

Kemmer shows Bonaparte once in a blue moon. The elegant chestnut has battled with injuries and is only shown for team selection when absolutely necessary. In the kur, he started of quite spookely and a bit tense but then mellowed out and put down a world class performance in which the piaffe and passage were solid.


Nadine Capellmann and Elvis (by Espri). The chestnut gelding used to be quite wonky in the piaffe and single tempi changes but he has become more confirmed and steady. The wow-effect of his extraordinary passage and extensions have been replaced by a less spectacular but much more appreciated confidence and solidity.

Monica Theodorescu and Whisper (by Welt Hit I).

Classical dressage the way it is and should be. This pair is a pleasure to watch and is gaining strength and balance in the Grand Prix movement with each outing.

A typical non-smiling Capellmann face.
Loosen up, you are riding one of the best horses in the world! Where's is that smile ???????!!!!!!

This is how we like to see it!

A smiling Monica having fun on Whisper!

 

Everybody gathered round the show ring to watch Matthias Rath perform on stepmom Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff's Sterntaler (by Sion). Their Grand Prix ride contained a few communication errors in the zig zig and a piaffe showing what some call "The Rusty Twitch" (one leg kicking out high in the piaffe). The Special was much better. As Sterntaler has basic gaits for a 10, he scores ultimate marks in the extensions and walk. Rath did a wonderful test showing nerves of steel; only the contact with the bit was too delicate.

If there is one horse - not ridden by a Dutch or German rider- that could win an individual medal at an Olympics or a World Championships', it would be Laura Bechtolsheimer's Mistral Hojris (by Michellino). Laura was scoring 77% marks in the Grand Prix Special until she made a few mistakes. This horse can challenge Satchmo and Salinero in his performance if the ride stays fault-free.

Laura's parents Wilfried and Ursula Bechtolsheimer recently acquired Andretti HRH (by Aarking xx) from Italian Anna Paprocka-Campanella as Laura's second Grand Prix horse (following the retirement of Douglas Dorsey). Not chossing to play it safe and stay home for a long time, Laura opted to throw herself in the ring with this horse straight away and learn as they go. There is much potential in this pair so keep an eye on them!


Australian Hayley Beresford on the Lusitano stallion Relampago de Retiro. Beresford is working at Isabell Werth's stable in Rheinberg where she rides 8 horses a day. Isabell can be seen in the background.

American Heather Blitz has also relocated to Europe. She works in Denmark and is now showing her Danish Warmblood gelding Otto (by Rambo) at Grand Prix level.

Another ex-patriot: Canadian Christilot Boylen-Hanson on Mr Hermosilla's black gelding Gachino (by Gardez)

Belgian Jeroen Devroe earned an individual Olympic qualification score in Hagen and will head to Hong Kong.


Jeanette Haazen on the Belgian warmblood stallion Quicksilver (Latano x Touch of Fairway xx)

Haazen on her number one Grand Prix horse Nartan (by Jazz)


Australian Mary Hanna on Port Said

Hubertus Schmidt riding Mary Hanna's Rambo.

Jane Hannigan on Maksymilian (by Elcaro)

George Williams on Rocher (by Rolls Royce)


Carl Hester took over the ride on Dolendo (by Donnerhall) from his partner Spencer Wilton with the goal to qualify for the British Olympic team.

Right: Emma Hindle and Lancet (by Wenzel) have secured their spot on the British team together with Laura Bechtolsheimer

Above and Right: Helen Langehanenberg on a real lady: Oldenburg mare Responsible

Chinese Olympic candidate: Lina Liu on Piroschka

Australian Olympic hopeful Brett Parberry on Victory Salute. The horse has a superb piaffe and passage but is too stressed to come to a good performance. Tension from his mouth to his tail needs to be fixed first to get high marks.

Mexican Bernadette Pujals on Vincent

What a difference with three years ago. At the 2005 European Championships, Rigoletto (by Rubinstein) was already a Danish team horse but the bay gelding has improved tremendously, gaining in strength. He is now a steady 70% scoring mount!

Wow! what a difference four weeks of training can make. At the 2008 World Cup Finals, Susan Duddy's Donna Carrerra was uneven in the passage and lost many points because of it. Now Rozzie Ryan has trained for four weeks with Tineke Bartels in The Netherlands and the difference is huge. The mare is really progressing and rose to the occasion and finished third in the Grand Prix Kur with 70.40%.

Another Brit going for an Olympic team spot: Anna Ross-Davies on Liebling II.

The horse with the best passage of the show: Clearwater, under Anne van Olst

Van Olst's Dexter (by Traumdeuter)

Brigitte Wittig on Charatan (by Consul x Bismarck)

Japanese Mieko Yagi on Dow Jones. They are already qualified for the Olympics. Yagi trains with Hubertus Schmidt.

Bularussian Svetlana Yevshchik on the Belarussian gelding Dombai (by Bec xx x Difer).

Dr. Ulf Möller and Swiss judge Beatrice Burchler-Keller

Show organizer Ullrich Kasselmann gets honoured for his hospitality

Dr. Möller Junior assists with the drag

A champion's sash.

All photos copyrighted Astrid Appels/Eurodressage
No reproduction without permission/payment

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