Celebrated like rockstars, top three Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Isabell Werth and Patrik Kittel. Photo by Rosita Dahlberg
Text: Diana Dunbar, photos: Rosita Dahlberg
Sweden International Horse Show took off last weekend and with over 78 000 tickets sold it was an entertaining mix of show, sport, and great Christmas atmosphere. The concept of bringing together the top ten in each discipline is a continued success both for the audience and riders. This year some unusual events occurred in the rides.
Dressage
Leader of the FEI Dressage World Ranking List Jessica von Bredow-Werndl showed us once again that she is the new Queen of Dressage. She won the CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle with 88.760% together with talented TSF Dalera BB (b. 2007 by Easy Game 8, Handryk). Even though she started in the wrong canter, after the walk, and had another couple of hiccups before the half pass, she still scored high with the judges.
– I was a little bit confused to be honest and I felt an in-secureness I haven’t felt for a long time. That was a good reminder to me to be really in the here and now and stay connected with my horse.
Jessica was happy with the performance of her horse and won a baffling check of over 70 200 EUR.
Another unusual twist during the competition was that Isabell Werth rode the wrong way in her Freestyle with DSP Quantaz (b. 2010 by Quaterback 6, Hohenstein 4). She shook her head and looked disappointed while leaving the arena.
– I was so happy with the horse. I was so unhappy with my stupid mistake. Normally I should go on the left pirouette, but I went in the right pirouette after the two tempis, and I thought shit shit shit. Now what do I have to do? And then I was confused, and that was the reason why I had the one tempi mistake after.
She still came in on second place with 85.360% and commented that she would celebrate this first event with Quantaz with a glass of red wine.
Jumping
First out in the jump-off of the International CSI4* Grand Prix 1.55 m. was Olivier Philippaert with H&M Miro (b. 2012 by Diamant de Semily, Kannan). He took short turns, had high speed and the time of 41.96 seconds looked hard to beat. He had a great flow and made no mistakes in his jump-off.
– I think that next year Miro will be my first horse and I hope to go to the championships with him.
Starting as the last one came Peder Fredricson with H&M Christian K (b. 2007 by Namelus R, Lbh Calvados). He had some maneuvering troubles in the first round, but still started the jump-off in high speed.
– I have a new bit on him, called a hackamore. Christian usually rushes a bit, and the hackamore gives me more control. I have had it since Rome three competitions ago, and he is more comfortable now without a bit in his mouth.
Coming into the combination deep, Peder’s old eventing reactions set in. He leaned back and let go of the reins to give the horse full freedom over the second obstacle of the combination, continuing the jump-off on long reins.
– Sometimes you must turn before you can see the distance, and I came in a bit deep on the combination. I thought it would not work out, but Christian made it, and I was surprised and decided to continue my plan and shorten the reins as we went.
He came in on the time of 41.55 seconds winning the class and over 26 700 EUR.
– I didn’t think that I would win the class, because he is not the fastest horse as he jumps so high. But I was last out and knew where I could take chances. I knew I’d won because of how high the audience cheered. The cheering is so loud, it’s not like that anywhere else, especially not for a Swede.
As a part of analyzing his rounds, Peder gets help from a man who uses a analyze tool developed for alpine sport. It can provide head-to-head videos, but most importantly the time between each jump, compared to for example the one faster than him, so Peder knows what to train on.
Eventing
The indoor eventing classes made their entrance to the big arenas a few years ago and are here to stay. When it is dead silent in the arena during the rides of the international jumping classes, this is totally different. High loud upbeat music, the speaker commentating live and the audience shouting and clapping all riders throughout the course.
The final class of Agria Top 10 Indoor Eventing 3* was won by French Maxime Livio with Boleybawn Prince (b. 2004 by Colin Diamond, Clover Hill). He took home the premier of just over 18 000 EUR and beat Frida Andersen by just 00.01 seconds. He went in quite calmy with half long reins, but the big brown gelding was sure footed and took one stride at a couple of distances where the others took two earning them the win.
