World Equestrian Games Teams Dressage Page 3 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.
Hubertus Schmidt riding the 13yo Hanoverian chestnut mare Wansuela Suerte (below) by Warkant. Hubertus was silver medallist at the 2006 German Championships and has previously been the German Champion. This is his first World Championship competition. He was a member of the 2002 Olympics winning team and 5th individually and holds a Master’s degree in Equestrian Management. Today they scored 69.208%, a disappointing score which was ultimately the discard score for the German team. For the extended walk he was awarded a 4 from some of the judges, however he got a 9 for his one time changes. The final halt was almost non-existent but as the hoof hit the sand the home crowd went wild. Hubertus is fortunate that the new format for the Grand Prix Special will allow him to enter this next competition with no carryover score, unlike previous years. Grooming for Hubertus at this prestigious competition is Australian rider Rachel Wilson, Rachel previously competed the German stallion Prince Noir for Barbara Burrows of Silverdene Stud.
Nuno Vincente for Portugal riding the 13yo Lusitano stallion Nostradamus Do Top (below). This combination produced a very “workmanlike” test without the big flashy movement of some of the previous horses. The horse was a little short in the neck, coming behind the bit in the trot, swinging the legs in piaffe and passage. In the canter pirouettes there was a loss of correct stride sequence as he jumped both back legs together. Many technical errors affected the score of 59.375%.
Constance Menard for France riding the 13yo Dutch bred mare Lianca (below) by Tourist. This big mare was more of an old-fashioned type of warmblood compared to the modern sport horse that we see today.
She has the most amazing brown eyes and gorgeous long ears with turned in tips. She was a little long in the back but she had an amazing jump to her canter and the most expressive “ping” in her passage. She was very loose and expressive but tension in the neck spoilt the frame. A score today of 63.458%, the discard score for France.
Laura Bechtolsheimer riding her father’s Douglas Dorsey a stunning 17.2 hh 15yo gelding by Donnerhall (below). At just 21yo, Laura is the baby of team and an exciting newcomer to senior competition, having previously represented the UK as a young rider. In 2005 she became the youngest rider to win the British National Championship. This horse shows good paces, although the walk is probably the weakest. The trot stride is so huge that they seemed to cross the diagonal in six strides. A great test and a wonderful picture marred only by the horse coming behind the vertical at times. A promising future for this young rider with a score of 67.392%, 26th place overall and a ride in the Grand Prix Special.
First of the Australians to ride was Matthew Dowsley on the German bred Cinderella (pictured above and below), a 10yo mare by Carbid. This beautiful mare, owned by Claudia and Francis Harper had her dancing slippers on for the Aachen ball. There were tears in the eyes of every Australian in the audience as the scoreboard flashed 7s and 8s from the judges, and marks that he was given were placing him in first ranking of the 12 riders before him. In the extended walk she stretched and relaxed her neck, her extended canter was big and expressive. A little sticky in the pirouettes and a little resistance in the 2nd piaffe. A fantastic effort by Matthew and with a score of 66.667% they go on to equal 29th place and a ride in the Grand Prix Special. Well done Matthew, you made us all proud.
Inna Tzydrenkova for Ukraine riding the 10yo gelding Odis(below). Small mistakes were costly for this pair, and the combination of a long back and a short neck resulted in frequent loss of balance.The changes were ridden very forward and she manages this movement very well. A score of 58.333% for this diminutive rider and her rather large horse
Go to Page 4 I have many pictures taken at WEG 2006 If you are interested in purchasing a copy of one please e-mail Berni Saunders
