The horse with the best walk at the show was the Danish warmblood mare Treldegards Shantiana. She finished fourth overall after a surprising, fantastic second place in the first round. The stocky black mare by Blue Hors Hertug x Diamond wowed the judges on the first day with her superb rideability. Her trot is delightfully lightfeeted and swinging. The canter is good, but could be rounder and over the back. Ridden by Dorthe Sjobeck Hoeck, Shantiana is naturally uphill and has a super temperament.
The judges valued that with an 8.4 for trot, 7.9 for canter, 9.2 for walk, 8.2 for submissiveness and 8.5 for general impression. Her total was 8.4 and that placed her surprisingly second.
Shantiana was the last horse to go in the finals and repeated her performance from Friday though there were a few hiccups. There was some loss in rhythm in the extended trot and the mare tilted her head in the circles but her trot was nicely balanced and flowing.
The walk was outstanding, the canter had lovely simple changes but in the extensions didn't open the frame enough. She scored 8.48 and finished fourth.
Shantiana is not immediately a horse you'll see do Grand Prix. She lacks the FEI frame, is a bit short in the back and fixed in the topline, but the mare has three lovely gaits and her rideability is to die for.
Photos © Astrid Appels
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