The Prix St Georges class at the 2013 CDI Drachten on Friday 4 January 2013 was probably the most exciting class of the day with several future stars entered to compete at international PSG level for the first time in their career: Emmelie Scholtens and Apache, Adelinde Cornelissen on Zephyr, Edward Gal with Asther de Jeu and a come back from Dutch Champions Lynne Maas on Salo.
Emmelie Scholtens and the KWPN licensed stallion Apache (by UB40 x Inspekteur) made their international show debut in Drachten and they made it work. As a youngster the dark bay Apache was always all over the place, whinnying during a test, totally unfocused and unable to walk because of tension. In Drachen the gorgeous stallion showed incredible maturity and was the most focused we had ever seen him. While the medium trot was ridden as a full blown extended trot, the trot work overall was high class. The stallion was active, light footed and ground covering. The collected walk could have been a fraction more relaxed and in the extended walk the stallion got tense, curled his neck, did not lengthen the frame nor the stride and did not stretch into the contact. The canter was nice with the horse showing good potential for collection in the half pirouettes. The 4 and 3-tempi changes were correct but the flying changes to the left are more difficult for the horse and he becomes croup high in them. The combination scored 73.973% to win the Prix St Georges.
Lynne Maas and Salo returned to the show ring after an 18-month period of injury. The 2008 and 2011 Dutch Indoor Prix St Georges champions still haven't moved up to Grand Prix level, but nevertheless the combinbation shines with their experience and confirmation in the small tour. The almost black Ferro offspring is an eye catcher and produced a beautiful PSG test in Drachten. The rider tends to lean back a little in the saddle but overall the combination is a joy to watch. The sympathetic Salo showed superb trot extensions, great collected walk and turns on the haunches and fantastic 3 and 4 tempi changes. He could have been a tad bit lighter in the contact and in the extended walk the horse should make a longer stride but in general it was a great test which deserved its 73.447 score. They finished second.
Adelinde Cornelissen made her international small tour debut aboard the home bred Dutch warmblood Zephyr (by Jazz x Farmer x Appolonius). The bay gelding is a very elegant and lightfooted mover with a nice touch of knee action. Overall he needs to gain more power in the hindquarters and push more from behind but the 10-year old, who only started serious dressage training at age 6, is an interesting horse to watch. The trot work was lovely but the horse opens the mouth and retracts the tongue. The collected walk was good and the walk pirouettes very small. The extended walk had two hooves overtrack. The canter work had promise with good 3 tempi changes. However in the 4-tempi one change was short behind and there was also a hiccup in the change at C. The sympathetic Zephyr has potential for growth and scored 71.473% to rank third.
Edward Gal made his Prix St Georges debut with Emmy de Jeu's 8-year old Dutch warmblood mare Asther de Jeu (by Contango x Jazz). The mare has scored a few whopping marks at national small tour level but at her first international show Asther got too hot despite her talent. The mare is a bit long in the back but is very eager to work and quick behind. The collected trot is slightly passagey. Her trot work has much suspension and elegance with very good balance and self carriage. The medium trot was very good, the extended trot could have been ridden more. In the collected walk there was a lack of fluidity and the mare lost the clarity of rhythm. The extended walk was very nice with a long rein and two hooves overtrack. In the extended canter the mare became very hot and regularly lost the clarity in the 3-beat rhythm as she was over-collected. The canter half pass to the right was tense and short and the flying change at X forced. The pirouettes, however, were outstanding. The mare really took the weight on the hindquarters, sat and showed excellent potential for collection. In canter Gal shortened the curb rein more and more and the mare crept behind the vertical in the tempi changes. However Edward seemed to have control over each step. The 4 ad 3-tempi changes were tense but correct. The judges rewarded the test with 71.131% and ranked them fourth.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - No reproduction allowed
Eurodressage was on the scene at the 2013 CDI Drachten to take photos of all riders. If you are interested in ordering prints from this event, please contact us at info@eurodressage.com
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