On Thursday morning 19 April 2012 the World Cup finalists were allowed to school their horses in the main arena of the Brabanthallen in 's Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. Riders grabbed the opportunity to show their horses round the arena and many also brought along their rising stars.
Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud saddled their upcoming Grand Prix stars Undercover (by Ferro x Donnerhall) and Donna Silver (by Don Schufro x Willemoes). Adelinde Cornelissen show cased her new Grand Prix horse Galahad (by Jazz) and Isabell Werth rode her small tour horse Bella Rose (by Belissimo x Cacir AA). The German Olympic champion did many lateral flexions of the horse's neck and schooled piaffe and passage always in a bent frame (in a shoulder in or travers position). The horse was almost always in a deep frame, but long in the neck with long reins.
While the World Cup Finals are the winter apex of the annual competition calendar, several riders decided to spare their top horses from this event in preparation of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Check out the snap shots which Eurodressage took this morning at the main arena.
Photos © Astrid Appels - No Reproduction Allowed!
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2012 World Cup Finals