The Austrian Dressage World Cup is on this weekend in Salzburg. There were 14 Starters in today’s, (Saturday 23rd of January 2021) competition, and Ireland’s Anna Merveldt kept the Irish Flag Flying High for Ireland, when she and the Lusitano Stallion Esporim, put in a fantastic performance to finish on a score of 70.239% just outside the Top 10 in 11th place. This is a superb score from the such a young horse, at just 12 years old, and certainly there is a bright future ahead for this combination.
Speaking of young horses, there was only one younger horse in the competition today, another exciting combination from Denmark with Carina Cassøe Krüth and her mount the 10 year old Dutch Warm Blood Mare, Heiline’s Danciera put in a beautiful performance to finish on a score of 72.804% to come 7th overall.
There were to my mind 14 world class riders competing today, with many of the World leaders in Dressage in the arena, so I enjoyed the escape by watching every beautiful step they took with their noble mounts. For a brief part of my day I felt the semblance of normality once again, watching my heroes enjoy some incredible moments in their Sport of Dressage.
Some of the Highlights for me in today’s competition were no surprise, our own Anna Merveldt of course, but both the Swedish Riders and the German Riders were on point. For Sweden Antonia Ramel and her mount the KWPN Gelding, Brother De Jeu put in a beautiful, elegant performance to finish on a score of 73.5 % to finish in 6th place. Her mentor, Swedish Rider Patrik Kittel followed her performance, with an equally elegant, smooth and forward test, on the Oldenburg gelding, Delaunay Old to finish in 3rd Position on a score of 76.087%. Patrik’s was a lovely test to watch and his position is to die for, in my humble opinion.
Of course the German Riders were also on song today, with amazing positions and stunning performances from all. Dorothee Schneider and the Hannovarian gelding Faustus put in a Fantastic performance, with great energy from start, to finish on a score of 75.174% in 4th place overall. Helen Langehanenberg, also produced a very crisp, beautiful test with her mount, the mare Annabelle to finish in 5th place overall on a score of 74.457% just behind Dorothee. Of course the top 2 places were both German Riders with Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl and her mount the Mare TSF Dalera BB, who put in an incredible performance to finish on a score of 79.630%. However, this still wasn’t enough to secure the win as Isabell Werth the Maestro herself was last to go. At the beginning of her test Isabell and her mount, the mare Wiehegold Old, seemed to be behind on the score board, however, experience and precision, along with amazing talent paid off, as the pair finished on a whopping score of 81.848% to take the win.
Other performances that I thought were super, were from Morgan Barbançon and her mount the stallion Sir Donnerhall II Old, finishing on a score of 72% to finish in 9th Position. Also the Italian Rider Francesco Zaza and his 18 year old mount, the mare Wispering Romance, put in a very crisp and obedient test to finish on a score of 66.935%.
Some amazing performances in all, and so looking forward to tomorrow. I have shared the FEI Video of the performances, just in case you missed the action. Enjoy! As always,
To Your Equestrian Success,
Roma