After a few years of dropping small tour classes from their program, the organizers of the 2013 CDI Wiesbaden decided to reschedule the Prix St Georges and Intermediaire I both only for the national dressage riders. Nevertheless both classes attracted foreign riders to take part. The field of competitors wasn't too big and even though a few very interesting horses were shown, the overall quality, also reflected in the scores, was not extraordinary.
As a Wiesbaden first-timer Uta Gräf saddled the 8-year old licensed Rhinelander stallion Damon Jerome NRW (by Damon Hill x Guy Laroche) had quite an easy time securing another win at small tour level after he had already won the Burgpokal qualifier at the CDI Mannheim a fortnight ago. Quite early on Saturday morning the dressage arena was not yet very
crowded which surely helped all of these younger horses to settle and
focus on their job.
In the castle park of Hessen's capital the leggy Damon Jerome showed a mature ride. The liver chestnut has made progress since last year which shows in his canter pirouettes, his extra muscles and the ease with which he executed the movements.
The first extended trot was elastic and with sufficient overtrack, but Gräf rode it a bit conservatively at the end. The shoulder-in was expressive and floating, but with a minor interruption in the rhythm towards the end. The second shoulder-in was smooth and impulsive. The horse executed both walk pirouettes, in which several horses really struggled, very well. The turns were small and with pronounced steps of the hind-legs. In this movement the stallion was in such self-carriage that Gräf only rode with the weight of the reins which caused some spectators to discuss if this is a real contact anymore or not. The extended walk is usually Damon Jerome's forté and even though he didn't fail at Wiesbaden, the strides could have been a bit more ground covering towards the end of the diagonal. Both canter pirouettes were good and quite centrered with the stallion sitting more on his hind-legs than in the previous season. In the 4-time-changes DJ started with leaving the right leg behind which cost quite some points but the rest was faultless. The 3-times were ground-covering, but not yet 100% straight, even though there is progress to be seen. Uta Gräf still has to give visible aids to make her stallion change. In the extended canter Gräf risked something and it was ground-covering and uphill. With 73.526% Uta Gräf and Damon Jerome NRW's victory was never in danger on that overcast morning at Wiesbaden.
"DJ wasn't as relaxed as at Mannheim, then he gets a bit introvert, but I am still very happy with him and to win here with more than 73% is quite a feat," Graf commented.
Hubertus Schmidt was able to place the only 7-year-old Sansolino second with 69.421 % behind the popular, winning pair. Sansolino's neck still needs to become a bit more muscled, but he denied his young age and inexperience with a quite faultless performance. The first extended trot appeared a bit hasty and lacked overtrack. The trot tour on both leads with shoulder-in, volte and half passes were both in very good rhythm and with pleasant impulsion. In particular in the half-pass the Hanoverian (by Sir Donnerhall x Rubinstein I) showed good self-carriage. Whereas the first walk pirouette was too big at the beginning, the second was better, but a bit hesitant behind. Sansolino executed a relaxed extended walk with good stretching of the topline. The canter half-passes were remarkably belanced and in rhythm for such a young horse which can also be said about the half-canter pirouettes. The horse stays well with his rider and executes the pirouettes quite small, only the hind-legs could show more elasticity. Both flying changes tours were faultless, but here the liver chestnut needs to become straighter and should show more uphill tendency.
Blue Hors stud's Maria Anita Andersen slotted in third with 68.63%. The Danish shooting star of the CDI Bremen rode the big framed Oldenburger Rebelle (by Don Schufro x Regazzoni). The liver chestnut mare is a leggy elegant type and has very elastic movements. The trot seems to be her strong spot. On the first diagonal Rebelle virtually floated with lots of energy from her hind legs, pure in rhythm and with significant overtrack, but unfortunately she didn't come in front of the vertical. The 9-year-old undoubtedly has lots of talent, but in general she needs to carry herself better. Rebelle was putting high scores on the board until the first walk pirouette. it cost valuable points as it was way too big, resulting in marks between 5 and 6. The second was a bit better, but the judges weren't in unison, awarding between 5 and 8! The 9-year-old mare started the extended walk a bit hasty, but improved in the course of the diagonal and showed good stretching. The canter pirouettes were still too big, even though Andersen tried to collect her horse stronger before the second which was better and scored between 7 and 8.
During the flying changes it was remarkable how quietly and balanced the Dane sat in the saddle and as a consequence how straight this horse already is. Only the neck should be more open overall and especially in the extended canter. There, after risking a lot, the mare regrettably had a break in rhythm at the end of the diagonal resulting in the marks 4 and 5.
Text and Photos by Silke Rottermann
Related Links
Scores 2013 CDI Wiesbaden
Youth Riders Selected for 2013 Wiesbaden European Championship Selection Trial