The international equestrian competition in Donaueschingen, Germany, might be a top weekend for show jumping, but when it comes to CDI dressage, the event has considerably lost its flair with an ever decreasing amount of riders competing there. This year the two international big tour classes had a field of just nine riders, all German.
German A-team riders Isabell Werth and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl shared the spoils in Donaueschingen, both taking home a trophy. Werth and Madeleine Winter-Schulze's 16-year old Hanoverian gelding Don Johnson (by Don Frederico x Warkant) topped the Grand Prix with 77.940%. Brand new mom Jesscia von Bredow-Werndl is back from her baby break and placed second on Beatrice Burchler-Keller's 16-year old Dutch warmblood stallion Unee BB (by Gribaldi x Dageraad) with 76.640%. The third placed pair, Benjamin Werndl on Flora Keller's 13-year old Westfalian Daily Mirror (by Damon Hill x Florestan) followed in the distance on 72.000%.
"I get nervous when he doesn't even buck or jump once (in the warm-up)," said Werth about her still frisky and cheeky 16-year old. "He can now finally show his maturity and athleticism which he has developed." Von Bredow was very pleased with her show come back. "I can transfer things better after my baby break, because I've been spending more time on the ground and been coaching. Those impressions I have now applied in the saddle," said Jessica.
In the Grand Prix Special, Werth and Von Bredow swapped places. Von Bredow scored a strong 77.157% for the victory, while Werth faced some piaffing issues with Don Johnson. The temperamental bay gelding refused to piaffe after the walk section and also messed up the one tempi changes. Werth scored 72.510% to place second but the experienced 5* judging panel had her marks ranging from 69.118% to 75.981%! Alexandra Stadelmayer and the 12-year old Dutch wwarmblood Lord Lichtenstein (by Lord Loxley x Gribaldi) finished third with 70.843%.
"That was fun today," said Jessica. "He is fit, he loves the shows, and likes to show himself. He lost some weight and increased his fitness. I had to work a bit at home as he was always piaffing." Werth explained her ride by joking that he was too much of a good boy in the warm up ring. "He threw his head down at the halt at entry and then I already knew I would be walking on the line," she stated. Alexandra Stadelmayer was thrilled with her third place. "At the start of the class I thought that Bennie (Benjamin Werndl) would not let me go in front of him, but he did. I always ride against myself though. I don't look at the scores of others."
Photo © Stefan Lafrentz
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