Even though the Olympic Games are just over, the Australian equestrian crowds didn't get the chance to cool down from the dressage vibes. December is the month of their national championships
, but the Aussies call this event "Dressage with the Stars" (as celebreties as Isabell Werth, Christoph Hess or Michael Klimke get invited). While the Grand Prix dressage championships attracted only a handful of competitors down to the National Equestrian Centre in Werribee Park, Werribee, it were the Bates Young Dressage Horse Championships that had to lure the audience.
Like most young dressage horse championships in Europe -- with exception of the Bundeschampionate -- each age class only offers a five-some of really talented dressage horses and a whole pack of mediocre 'riding horses'. And it was nothing different in Australia. Isabell Werth and Christoph Hess were invited as guest judges for the show; Hess had to judge and Werth served as guest rider for the finals.
Jaybee Accomplice, an accomplished athlete
The Australian made a combined class for the three and four-year-olds, a strange idea as the difference between 3 and 4-year-olds is so immense that one can not speak of fair judging. It was only natural that the 4-year-old Jaybee Accomplice (Aachimedes x Nice Balance) won at this level. Presented by Nicole Arriagada and marked a 9.0 for rideability by Isabell Werth, Accomplice was praised for his elasticity and great aptitude for work. Second place went to the KWPN bred Mayfield Pzazz (Jazz x Amulet) who won the first round, but had to be content with second place after receiving a 7.5 score in the finals. Werth found Pzazz not so much accepting the bit as she preferred. Runner up became Yaraandoo (Duntroon x Ludendorff) who is bred by dressage rider Heath Ryan but owned by Emannuelle De Denaro. He received a final 7.0.
Cinderella, Fairy Queen
Setting the standard for superb quality in the 5-year-old class was the Verden auction horse Cinderella (Carbid x Werther). Sold in April 2000 for 138,000 DM to Australian Claudia Harper, Cinderella was presented by Matthew Dowsley. Winning the first round with 82.8 points, Cinderella also lead in the finals after being ridden by Isabell Werth. Although the chestnut mare was very spooky and tensed, she did posses most quality and Werth described her as a "workaholic". Her final score was 8.0. Neversfelde Feuer pushed through to a final second place. This Flemmingh x Copernicus-product, bred by Maurice and Jane Bruce, scored 79.4 in the first round and 7.5 under Werth, who liked to have seen the bay more through the neck. The Hanoverian Carbine (Carbid x Wenzel) landed on the runner up-spot with a final 7.0. Presented by Ben Conn, Carbine had to loosen up more in the mouth.
Greenoaks Legend, Champion of Champions
Hanoverians maintained the lead throughout the Australian Young Horse Championships and so did they in the 6-year-old division. Greenoaks Legend (Le Beau x Wiesenbaum) came in fourth in the first round but was finally honoured as grand champion of the show as he scored the highest mark, 9.5, under Isabell Werth during the finals. The chestnut Legend was imported into Australia by Clyde Wunderwald and presented at the show by Heath Ryan. Mary Hanna's Swedish stallion Moliere (Mid West Ibi Light x Mongh) was ridden by Matthew Dowsley and placed second eventually. According to Werth, the dark bay needed more suppleness throughout his body. Heat Ryan's second horse Greenoaks Dundee (Duntroon x Dobrock) finished third.