World Equestrian Games
Teams Dressage Page 2
Report & Pictures Berni Saunders (National A Level Dressage Judge)

I would like to acknowledge the very special contribution of my
 wonderful helper Melissa Alexander. Without her help, this report
would have  taken many weeks to complete.
 

First to go for the World Equestrian Games 2006 day 1 of the Teams Competition held on Tuesday 22ns August 2006 is Marcela Krinke Susmelj riding for Switzerland on Corinth a 10yo Oldenburger gelding by Chinook. This combination were placed in the unenviable position of riding at 8 am.  They scored 66.458% and established a good standard for the rest of the field.

Jaroslaw Wierzchowski riding for Poland on Wieland, a 12 yo stallion by Werenfels. A score today of 56.292%.  The test seemed to lack energy, however a good walk was shown.  The piaffe just did not happen and the canter departs were lazy. Pictured below

Anders Dahl riding for Denmark on Afrikka a 16yo gelding. This combination produced an accurate and pleasant test for a score of 66.458%. The sequence changes were correct and flowing. Piaffe crept forward and Afrikka was above the bit at times in the piaffe. 

Igor Maver (below) riding as an individual for Slovenia on the 14yo Lipizzaner stallion Favory Canissa XXII. This would have been a very proud moment for Igor, as it is the first time that Slovenia has had a representative at the World Championships sinced they gained independence in 1991. The test today produced a score of 59.750%. There were moments of resistance and in the extended walk the stallion came noticeably above the bit. The quality of the passage was good, but the piaffe was a little rushed.  The flying changes were not always clean and the canter looked fairly choppy. The ride up the final centre line was full of expression and a lovely finish to the test.

Belgium have not sent a team to a World Championships competition since Stockholm 1990.  First to go for this team is Francoise Hologne-Joux (below) riding a 16 yo gelding Born. This tall, elegant horse had a very flash trot in front but the back end showed a lack of engagement. Unfortunately he rushed in the extended walk. A score today of 59.708%.

Representing South Africa as an individual Natalie Hobday riding the lovely12yo stallion Callaho Wenckstern by Weltmeyer, the first of several offspring of this influential stallion.  Like the previous horse he has a very flash trot in front but little engagement behind.  Today he appeared a little uneven behind in the left trot half pass. The canter half-pass was in good balance and his changes were flowing and clean.  His passage and piaffe were both wide behind and he swung from leg to leg. He fell into the first walk transition and then in the extended walk he came above the bit.  A score of 58.083%.

Kristian Von Krusenstierna for Sweden riding Wilson (pictured below) another big, leggy15yo Swedish bred gelding by Norson. Wilson was a reserve horse for Sweden and was called in to the team shortly before the first vet inspection on Monday, replacing Patrick Kittel with Dall-Mayer.  However, he caused some concern as he didn’t pass the vet check and was asked to represent this morning at 7am.  He was allowed to compete and went on to open for the Swedish team and scored 60.417%, a score which was later discarded from the team. There was no sign of lameness today.  This horse was a very impressive mover with an expressive walk, a floating canter and another big trot in front – lack of engagement behind. He showed tension in the passage, piaffe and transitions.

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I have many pictures taken at WEG 2006
If you are interested in purchasing a copy of one
please e-mail Berni Saunders