Thursday the 6- and 7-year-old horses was in the ring at the Danish Young Horse Championship at the World Cup show in Herning. The level was high across both classes, where Helgstrand Dressage had several horses competing, all showing great strength and rhythm.
”Horses for the future” in the 7-year-old qualifier!
In today's preliminary round of the 7-year-old championship, One To Remember and Valerio 42 demonstrated why they are "definitely horses for the future". In a strong field of competitors, both delivered power and great rhythm, which the judges rewarded with placings for both.
2nd place for One To Remember & Eric Guardia Martinez – 81.784%
Expectations were high for the pair, who were the best-placed at the qualification rounds, where they notably scored a 10 for the canter and 9.7 for both capacity and harmony at the qualifier at Vilhelmsborg.
Once again, One To Remember showed why he is worth remembering. "A powerful canter that just covers the ground. Lovely flying changes and pirouettes. Big, powerful canter with a lot to offer – 9.5," the judges stated.
He also impressed in the trot: "Powerful trot with great mechanics. Lovely suspension and good shoulder freedom. Comes with real power and elasticity… – Definitely a horse for the future."
Score: 9.2 – 8.5 – 9.5 – 8.5 – 9.3 – 8.8
3rd place for Valerio 42 & Marianne Yde Helgstrand – 79.503%
Valerio 42 and Marianne also showed great rhythm and performance – particularly in the trot, where they impressed the judges: "Rhythmic, powerful, and elegant trot. Comes around the short side really well and almost impressively out into the extension, where he really goes for it – 9.2."
Valerio 42 played another strong card in the canter, where he also demonstrated why he is "Definitely a horse for the future". The judges stated: "Really powerful canter with good jump through the body. Lovely flying changes and pirouettes. Shows very good talent for collection, as well as good balance and self-carriage – 9.0. Definitely a horse for the future"
Score: 9.2 – 8.5 – 9.0 – 8.4 – 9.0 – 8.8
In addition, Fiontino & Álvaro Oliveira also competed in the 7-year-old qualifier, securing their spot in the B-final.
Merita & Dizzy and Annabella & Flirtfaktor ready for the 6-year-old championship final.
The level was very high in today’s 6-year-old qualifying class, where Dizzy and Merita Hagrén took 5th place, sharing the exact same overall score as the 3rd and 4th place riders – 85.143%.
Expectations were high for Dizzy and Merita in today's qualifier following their 2nd place finish at the World Breeding Dressage Championships (WBCYH) earlier this year.
Dizzy also showed why she is "a really lovely and light-footed horse with a lot of quality," as the judges put it.
"The trot is light-footed and active – always coming from behind – which looks very good. Very nice going forward in the medium and extended trot. Nice crossing in the half-passes.
Really good marching forward-stepping walk with active impulsion. Nice stretching forward to the bit – we really liked it. The canter is active with good jump and carrying capacity. Nice flying changes."
Score: 8.8– 9.0 – 8.6 – 8.0 – 8.8 – 8.2
6th place for Flirtfaktor & Anna Pidgley – 84.857%
Flirtfaktor and Anna Pidgley also had a great test around the arena, and the judges had plenty of praise for them as well: "Active and light-footed horse going forward in the trot. Working nicely over the back, nice half-passes, and a good extended trot with great forward movement and smooth collection coming back.
Active canter coming nicely over the back in the extensions. Good flying changes."
"A lovely horse with a lot of quality," the judges concluded.
Score: 9.2 – 8.5 – 8.2 – 8.2 – 8.5 – 8.4
In addition, For Royalty & Aitor Bravo scored 81.143% and secured their spot in the B-final.
