Helen Langehanenberg and the Westfalian bred liver chestnut mare Damon's Delorange won the 5-year old dressage horse finals with a record score of 9.8 at the 2012 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf, Germany, on Sunday afternoon 2 September 2012. The German Olympic team rider accomplished an interesting feat as she also won the Bundeschampion's title with Delorange's full sister Damon's Satelite.
Langehanenberg and the 5-year old Damon's Delorange (by Damon Hill x Rubin Royal) won the preliminary test with 9.1 and improved on their performance in the finals. The panel of judges, consisting of Horst Eulich, Hans Peter Schmitz and Dieter Schule, gave the athletic mare unprecedented scores: 9.5 for trot and canter and 10 for walk, submission and general impression. With an overall of 9.8, Langehanenberg shares this record score with Dr. Ulf Möller on Placido achieved at the 2000 Bundeschampionate (Poetin scored 9.5 in 2003, Samira 9.7 in 2007).
Damon's Delorange is part of a family of extremely successful dressage mares, all trained and competed by Helen Langehanenberg. Full sister Damon's Devine was former Bundeschampion (2010) and silver medallist at the 2011 World Young Horse Championships. Full sister Damon's Satelite won the Bundeschampion's title this year in the 4-year old division. All mares are sired by Damon Hill and out of Rapunzel (by Rubin Royal x Donnerhall x Hitchcock). The breeder of this string of success mare is Christian Becks, owner of sire Damon Hill.
Owner Becks claims he has received many offers for his mares but is keeping them. One of them will be prepared for the 2013 World Young Horse Championships in Verden next year, the other will go to his daughter Jil Marielle.
The Westfalian stallion Revolverheld (by Rockwell x Landstreicher) became the reserve champion in the 5-year old division. Full brother to licensed stallion Rock Forever, Revolverheld was well presented by Ann Christin Wienkamp, scoring 9.3 in total with 9 for trot and canter, 9.5 for walk, submission and general impression. Commentator Christoph Hess said that, "this is what a horse should move like at the highest level of equitation." Last month Revolverheld won silver at the World Young Horse Championships. The stallion is bred by Maria and Heinz Könemann.
The bronze went to two horses, which tied on a score of 8.8. Mike Habermann and the Hanoverian Don Darius (by Don Frederico x Markus Deak xx) received 8 for trot and straight 9s for walk, canter, submission and general impression. The stallion is bred by Claus Quast and owned by Rudolf Otto Fuchs. He is leased to the Celle State Stud.
The second bronze medal went to Norwegian Isabel Bache aboard the Hanoverian Bobcat (by Breitling x Silvano). The liver chestnut gelding is bred by Hans-Heinrich Oltmann and owned by Holga Finken. Born in November 2006, Bobcat caused quite some commotion recently, as he was selected to represent Germany at the 2012 World Young Horse Championships in Verden. He was, however, denied participation because of his late birthday. International WBFSH rules determine that a November 2006 born horse is actually 6-year old, while the German breeding rules stipulate that such born horses are only 5. At the Bundeschampionate he competed in the 5-year old division and won bronze. He received 9s for trot, walk and general impression and 8.5 for canter and submission.
Check out a photo gallery from the last day of competition at the Bundeschampionate.
Photos © Selene Scarsi and LL-foto.de
Related Links
Scores 2012 Bundeschamionate
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2012 Bundeschampionate