Breaking News: Gal and Moorlands Totilas smash the World Record again!

By Claartje van Andel dressagedirect

“It’s really unbelievable what is happening to Moorlands Totilas and me in only a year of time!”, Edward Gal said, still quit astonished himself about his new record breaking Freestyle he rode tonight in London Olympia. He smashed his own World Record of 90,75% and made it simply 92,30%. Yesterday the black miracle Moorlands Totilas was a bit effected by all the ponies practicing for the Christmas Show and all rumour around. Tonight the black pearl in the knowledgeable hands of Edward Gal danced to victory in an incredible harmonious way, without any tension, totally at ease. “Totally Totilas”, the music created by Dutch musician Joost Peters is called and so be it. There was no single part in Gal’s Freestyle which caused a small problem or slight hesitation.
And again on British soil Edward Gal smashed his own record, his third in the Freestyle. The first was 89,40% scored in Hickstead at the World Dressage Masters. In Windsor at the Europeans he went through the magical 90% barrier and scored 90,75%. And now during  London Olympia he set the record on 92,30%. Can it still be better? Edward thinks it can!
“Moorlands Totilas has no limits.”

Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas smashed their own World Record of 90,75% and made it simply 92,30% Picture archive Ken Braddick

Edward Gal is amazed about the influence performances of Moorlands Totilas even have on non-horsey people: “Even people without horses start to talk about Moorlands Totilas. It’s incredible. Sometimes this brings more pressure on me as well. I always like to do it better than last time. I do know it cannot be always this fantastic as it was tonight. However less good is still good enough!”

His compatriot Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival did a very good job as well. Only her last piaffe failed this time, an unexpected failure of the strong chestnut that has a great piaffe and passage.
British Carl Hester and Laura Bechtolsheimer were pleased as well with the performances of Liebling II and Andretti. “It’s a Dutch party tonight, however for Liebling and me this is a personal record score too”, Carl Hester said.

All eyes in the end were for Edward Gal and his incredible Moorlands Totilas. Edward doesn’t want to think about being the hot favourite now for the World Cup Final win and for the gold medal of the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. “Me a star now? A horse is a horse and anything can happen. I might be a start tonight but at home I’m a down to earth rider training and enjoying my horses. And that’s what makes the daily pleasure after all”, great sportsman Edward concluded.

Standings FEI World Cup Dressage

1. Adelinde CORNELISSEN NED 35
1. Edward GAL NED 35
3. Anky VAN GRUNSVEN NED 34
4. Matthias Alexander RATH GER 27
5. Jeannette HAAZEN NED 24
5. Aat VAN ESSEN NED 24
5. Monica THEODORESCU GER 24
8. Hubertus SCHMIDT GER 23
9. Tinne VILHELMSON SWE 20
10. Hans Peter MINDERHOUD NED 19

Listen to the interview with Edward Gal after his new record breaking performance here

Find all World Records at www.dressagedirect.com/records