Hans Peter Minderhoud and his new small tour horse Ziesto bested the small tour field in the national Prix St Georges, Intermediaire I and Intermediaire I kur to Music held during the 2013 CDIO Rotterdam on 21 - 23 June 2013. The Austrian owned Dutch warmblood stallion (by Lancet) wooed the Dutch and Belgian judges' panel into putting top seventy percentage scores on the board throughout the weekend.
In the Prix St Georges Dutch judges Patricia Wolters, Herman Smit, Jacques van der Harst and Paulien Van Nispen-Knols were joined by Belgian I-judge Jacques van Daele to asses an international group of dressage riders for this national class. The scores were all over the place, again, which shows that the small tour continues to be a challenge to judge.
Hans Peter Minderhoud received a generous score of 76.737% in the St. Georges with Smit's 78.947% as high score and Van Daele's 73.289% as a more realistic low score. The bright bay stallion Ziesto (by Lancet) is a fantastic horse, truly shining with his superb trot, but in Rotterdam the walk was problematic as it was lateral in the collected walk and tense in the extended. Also in the pirouettes Ziestro struggled with the balance and self carriage but the tempi changes were uphill. Overall the horse looks very promising for the future.
Dominique Filion and the chunky Dutch bred mare Wenicienta (by Rosario x El Corona) were the runners-up with 74.737%. Her scores ranged from Smits's 70.789% to Van der Harst's 79.737%. The black mare is a very strong mover with an active hind leg but she was still slightly tense and grinding her teeth in the test.
Swedish Mads Hendeliowitz and the Oldenburg bred Jimmie Choo (by Sandro Hit x Don Schufro) slotted in third with 71.789%. His scores ranged from Van der Harst's 67.105% to Wolters' 74.737%. The dark bay Oldenburger has amazing potential with his super elastic and powerful trot and it will be very interesting to see him make the transition to Grand Prix soon.
Text and Photos by Astrid Appels - No Reproduction Allowed
Eurodressage photographer Astrid Appels took photos of all combinations competing at the CDIO Rotterdam. Contact us if you are interested in prints of your photos!
Related Links
Scores 2013 CDIO Rotterdam
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