Excited to see the first ever CDI in Cascais, Portugal on 18 - 20 May 2018) the town that I have called home for the past 8 years, I arrived on the Friday with high expectations.
Not only was it the first CDI on my doorstep, but it was also being run by Dressage First, which has an excellent reputation for their well executed and welcoming events. I wasn’t disappointed, and worrying that my bias was affecting my judgement I was delighted to note that every foreign rider, trainer, or judge that I spoke with during the weekend felt the same as I did.
The surface, the weather, the organisation, was as the Portuguese say “melhor era impossivel” (to be better would be impossible), and the team have certainly set a high standard for international dressage competition in Cascais, which they hope will become a biannual event.
“Cascais is located on Europe’s West coast, surrounded by sea and mountain and only 20 minutes away from Lisbon International Airport. With wonderful restaurants and hotels, amazing night life, beautiful natural sights and temperate weather, the laid-back feel of this picturesque village was the perfect background for a CDI, “ said Frederico Pinteus of Dressage First.
With 10 different countries competing at the debut event, Frederico says they were surprised by the foreign interest, especially from countries like Denmark that are not so close to Portugal.
On the other hand they believed that this interest was a reflection of all the hard work and commitment they had employed, combined with the good facilities of Centro Hipico Costa do Estoril (wonderful footings, safe stables, and friendly atmosphere).
FEI Danish 5* judge Leif Törnblad agreed that the show in Portugal was “extremely well organised”, and commented on how impressed he was with the development of the Portuguese horse, and the Portuguese horsemanship.
Leif also commented that the Portuguese team was well placed at last years European Championships, and that the standard of Young riders, Juniors and Ponies was also good during the weekend, in spite of the fact the number of entries was very low.
Even as a reporter it’s always nice to come and go to and from the beach between classes, so I imagine for the riders from the colder climates it would be a bit like a vaca-petition!
Pony, Children and Junior Classes- Low Entries but Good Quality…
“Hemingway B and I will know in two weeks if we have qualified for the Europeans, and this year we hope to consolidate that 70% score and train very hard over the summer with a great trainer," she said.
Graça Abecasis and Divagante do Pilar took both the team and individual children tests with 68.485% and 70.385% ahead of Afonso Antunes and Viçoso da Broa who took the lead in the kur with 67.559%.
The junior division was again dominated by Sebastiao Lucas Lopes on the 13-year old Lusitano Arrogante (by Rico) and by Italian rider Melanie Bartz riding the 10-year old KWPN gelding Delgado (by Oscar x Sandro hit).
“It was during this weekend that I got my best ever score, “ said Sebastiao, who scored 70.29% to win the Individual test. “Arrogante was tense on the first day, but we still managed to perform a good test. The best moments for me during the weekend were during the canter tour, as we are now excelling in that area. What I would like to continue to work on is having Arrogante working more and more with an uphill tendency.”
Winner of the Junior Kur, Melanie Bartz, hasn’t had an easy few months, having to change trainer due to what she calls very unfortunate and unsportsmanlike behaviour from her previous coach. However, Melanie didn’t let that stop her progress, and I was happy to note how well the pair are performing together.
Although Melanie rides for Italy like her younger sister Lisa, she is stabled at the event grounds in Cascais and the pair have quickly become a part of the Portuguese dressage community.
“I am also happy for my sister Lisa that reached and consolidated the 70% with her pony Hemingway B. Now we will have to wait two more weeks to know if Delgado and I are selected in the Italian team for the Europeans," Melanie added.
Making the Trek From Denmark…
Interesting story for the star of the Young Riders, Maria Dahl-Bruun and 17-year old mare Volstrupgaards Cassiopeia (by Come back II x Caletto III) , who changed their plan to go to the CDI in Denmark because of the Rhino virus!
“It was actually our plan to go to the CDI in Denmark, but because of the rhino virus we decided to cancel and go to Estoril instead. This virus is an aggressive herpes virus that attacks the nervous system of horses and can potentially paralyse them. Multiple horses in Denmark had to be put down so we did not want to take the risk of going to Denmark," Dahl-Bruun explained.
“I really liked the event. It was well organised and the organisers helped with everything if you needed something," she said.
Maria worried that the warmer weather would be a shock for the mare who is more accustomed to Danish conditions, but luckily she adapted very quickly and was able to produce her best!
“I was concerned that she would feel really tired in the heat, and while she did feel a bit tired the first day she felt really good for the rest of the competition," she added.
Now with Maria for about a year and a half, Cassiopeai is "a queen with a lot of confidence" and that if you gain her trust she will do anything for you.
“When I got her it took me almost two hours to get her in the trailer but now she goes straight up. However, if someone else tries she won't. If you make her happy she will make you the happiest rider. I really love her personality and would never change how she is!”
Before her next CDI Maria says she wants to work on Cassiopeia's expression in the trot throughout the ride and get the walk pirouettes more stable.
“My plan is to keep our curve going upwards and my goal is to complete in a championship. If I got the chance to go to Hagen and compete that would be my plan for the next few months," she said.
Fitting in Study and Competition Life…
Brazilian rider Giovana Pass and 9-year old stallion Eleito Plus (by Peralta dos Pinhais x Sinfonia) dominated the small tour. The Olympian was excited to claim her first victory outside Brazil!
Second in the Prix St Georges with 66.030% to Joao Castelao and Gaviao das Salgadas, Giovana took the top spot in the Intermediate I with 68.294%. She was happy that the CDI Cascais fit into her busy schedule!
“Cascais was in a good date for me and that is why I came. Of course it was exciting to win the Intermediate I. The mares and colts in the paddock behind the arena was a little tricky, but in general it was great," she said
With just one competitor in the Under 25 division, Italian rider Francesca Rapazzoli and Rhadamanthus didn’t have much competition, and finished the Under 25 Intermediate II with the lowest percentage of the show (57.461%), but lifted it in the Under 25 Short Grand Prix to score 64.701%.
Tough Competition and a Full Field in the Big Tour…
Vasco Godinho and the licensed Lusitano stallion Bariloche JGR have come a huge way in a short time after debuting in Grand Prix last year and you can see them forming a very solid partnership.
“I felt Bariloche went very well as I have been riding him for a while now. It is really a pleasure to ride this horse and we are still both getting a lot of experience at big tour level. This is evident as on the second day we made some mistakes that cost us points," said Vasco.
The pair finished second in the Grand Prix Special on the second day. Vasco says that he feels the horse still has a lot to give, and this will come with time and competition experience.
“I think Bariloche has an outstanding potential because I feel I can improve on everything. We are on the right track, and I am very happy with the help and support that our coach Paulo Caetano has given us. He has been fundamental," Vasco explained.
“As for the event, it was simply spectacular, and everything was very well organised, and I have to mention the absolutely perfect surface. Special mention to my entire team, my family, and to Christine who supports and helps me in everything I do.”
Vasco was also excited to note that on day two, even with some errors in the Grand Prix special, one 5-star judge gave them 75%.
“This for us is fantastic," Vasco cheered.
Training Highlights with Kyra and Daniel…
A highlight for me during the three days was watching kyra Kyrkland warming up Portuguese rider Daniel Pinto with the Trakehner x Lusitano cross bred Santurion de Massa on the Friday morning before the start of the CDI.
But looking at the scores later I noticed quite a large discrepancy in the judging, with the pair placing first (71,413%) with one judge and 13th with another (64,130%). I wondered if they watched the same test?
This was luckily rectified on the second day when Daniel finished in the top spot, and the judges were more harmonious in their marking.
Winning of the Grand Prix Special on the Saturday with 73.170%, Daniel says that he felt the horse in super form in both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix special. He thought both tests were well executed.
“Santurion is in great form at the moment and on the first day I felt him really relaxed and working well with me,” said Daniel. "On the second day I perhaps rode a little more for points, and the test was perhaps sharper than on the first day, and we received a ten and two nines for our piaffe! However, as a rider who wants to keep their horse healthy and working well, I preferred the test the first day where we executed the exercises with more fluidity and ease, but still showing the expression and talent that this horse has to give.”
Daniel says his plan is to head to Aachen, and then to the Europeans in 2019, but the main goal is the Olympics in 2020!
Finally Portuguese rider Miguel Ralao and Xenofonte d'Atela took out the Grand Prix Kur with a very tidy 71.870%. Miguel was really pleased, and felt excited about what more can come from their growing partnership.
“After over a year off it’s good to have Xenofonte back in shape! Despite some improvements we still need to do, I had a very good feeling in a very nice show!” he replied.
Cascais CDI- A Successful Debut
You could see that everyone there was having a good time, and making the most of the sun! Plus the team at Dressage First came up with a fun way to get people to the CDI dinner on the Saturday night. Every rider who scored over 63% would go into a draw that was made during the dinner and only riders present at said dinner could win. The prize? Seven nights in Cabo Verde!
This year’s winner was international rider representative, Joao Victor Oliva, who, given this added bonus, I am sure would say that he enjoyed the CDI very much!
One thing is certain, as a rider who is desperately trying to get back riding, to compete at the Cascais/Estoril CDI!”has certainly become one more thing on my list!
by Sarah Warne - Photos © Rui Pedro Godinho
Related Link
Scores: 2018 CDI Cascais