Capturing a spot amongst several of the world's most formidable combinations, Danish rider Lone Bang Larsen and her Danish bred gelding Fitou L (by Florestan x May Sherif) was proud of her fourth place in the Grand Prix with 72.489% and second place in the Grand Prix Special with 74.688% at the 2013 CDI Hagen on 17 - 21 April 2013.
"It has really been a fantastic weekend in Hagen, " Lone told Eurodressage. "It is such a nice show and I was so pleased with my results."
Competing at her first outdoor show of the season, Lone admits she was a bit nervous before Hagen, particularly as it was hard to prepare for the conditions. "We had such a long winter so we have not been able to train outside," she said. Arriving in Hagen two days before the competition, Lone revealed that Fitou felt really happy, but also a little tense. "It was great to have those days to get him used to everything, as after a few days I felt him begin to really relaxed."
Lone had a really nice Grand Prix ride and felt that Fitou was working with her the whole way! "It was such a pleasure to ride him in the first day of Grand Prix and in the Grand Prix Special he felt even better!"
Getting back into competition last year after giving birth, Lone competed last summer at the Nordic Baltic Championships and won gold for the Danish team and also took the gold individual. "After the Championship my trainer Hasse Hoffmann and I agreed to take a winter break from the shows to improve our training for this season," she said.
Certain now that Fitou has never felt better, Lone believes that their plan with the winter training -- to improve both the horse and herself -- paid off. "I must say that in Hagen I could really feel a big difference from last year, as Fitou is much stronger now, and I am more relax in my riding."
A fantastic horse to ride, Lone loves that Fitou, who is bred by Karsten Bondergaard, has so much power. She feels the horse has no major weakness. "He is good in walk, trot, and canter, plus it is very easy to collect him."
Bought as a yearling, Lone originally tried to sell Fitou at four years of age at a very cheap price! "However, no-one thought he would be any good. That was my luck," she said. Bang Larsen kept her bright bay partner to herself and competed at the 2004 and 2005 World Young Horse Championships in Verden before making the transition to FEI level.
Led into dressage through her riding parents, Lone started in jumping, but when her pony got sick she was upgraded to mum's dressage horse. "First I tried to force mum's horse to jump, but that was not a good idea. So then I had to start in dressage," she reminisced. "I have been on the Danish junior and young rider teams from when I was 12 years old and when I was 14 I did my first Grand Prix on my mum´s horse. It was not a big success but I did it," she laughed.
With many young talented horses on the way, Lone also has an 8-year old gelding by Romanow that she is looking forward to taking out to the shows. "Before that though, we still need some more good training at home together."
Lone always tries to keep the horses happy in their training and she make them work off the lightest aids possible. "I am trying to ride them a lot outside and also take them to the forest."
With her next show planned for Wiesbaden mid May, Lone is really looking forward consolidating her form. She will then head to the Danish Championships with the hope of team consideration for Aachen and maybe even the European Championships in Herning.
by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2013 CDI Hagen
Lone Bang Larsen, Pregnant But Aiming for 2010 WEG