Dutch Emmelie Scholtens rode Titan Wilaras and Joop van Uytert's KWPN stallion Estoril to victory in the 5-year old consolation finals at the 2014 World Young Horse Championships in Verden, Germany, on Friday afternoon 8 August 2014. Estoril will join second placed Litvinenko Sjaelstofte and third place Revolution the other 12 qualified 5-year olds in the Finals on Saturday.
The top three ranked combinations of the consolation finals qualify for the Finals so much was at stake to do well in the second round. Most horses appeared more relaxed and at ease compared to their first round in the WM-arena in Verden. The panel of judges was almost the same as in the preliminary test. For the consolation finals it consisted of Ghislain Fouarge (NED), Wojciech Markowski (POL), Kurt Christensen (DEN) and Dietrich Plewa. Their scoring was quite puzzling though and the ranking of the number one pair raised questions.
Scholtens' Estoril is a drop dead gorgeous horse: fantastic, expressive face with beautiful eyes, a nice body, long legs and a cresty neck. The horse is not at all a bad mover, but today his gaits did not come to full expression in the ring. Scholtens rode the horse very tight in the neck and constantly behind the vertical. She held him so much in trot that there was absolutely no medium nor extended trot. Instead the typical Dutch stallion, gifted with much knee action, moved like a hackney on the diagonals: quick legs, high knees and no overtrack at all. This trot scored 8.7. The walk was quite relaxed and the horse strode energetically. It earned him a 7.6. The canter was uphill and bouncy, the simple change was quite good, but the canter stayed quite round and the horse could have stretched more in the frame in the lengthenings. The gait was generously marked with 9.4. The panel did not care very much for this far from ideal frame and awarded Estoril a 7.7. The talented and eye catching Estoril is certainly a stunner but today was not on best form. With 8.6 for general impression, the horse averaged 8.40 which put them at the top of the leader board.
Anne Troensegaard and the Danish bred Trakehner stallion Litvinenko Sjaelstofte (by Imperio x Pidroneur) impressed the panel with its scopy gaits. The trot is ground covering and expressive, the walk was active and had huge overtrack but the rhythm could have been clearer with a more outspoken V showing. In canter, the chestnut stallion could be more elastic. The horse got a very generous 9.2 for trot and 9.0 for walk. The canter scored 7.7 and for submission he got 7.4. With 8.4 for general impression the pair finished on 8.34 and a second place.
Swedish Anna Svanberg and the Swedish warmblood gelding Revolution (by Skovens Rafael x Furst Heinrich) were the third ranked pair with 8.18. The dark bay gelding is correctly schooled for his age. He is willing to work and has a good balance in trot, also on the curved lines. He might not be flashy, but he's correct. He scored 8.8 for trot. The rein back was a bit hesitant to the aids. The walk is clear in the rhythm but lacks overtrack and it earned him a 6.5. In canter, he made big strides, engaged from behind and carried himself well in the counter canter but was slightly croup high. The judges awarded him 9.4 for canter, 8.0 for submission and 8.2 for general impression.
Completing the top five but missing the final was Danish Sanne Henningsen on the Danish bred stallion Gasolin (by Doolittle x Tiberias) who finished a hair's breath behind Revolution with 8.14. Scholtens and Barcelona Horses' strapping Andalusian stallion Genciano BCN (by Datil VII x Napoleon II) improved their act considerably in the consolation finals. The horse showed a fantastic trot, with huge reach in the legs and textbook extensions. Emmelie had this horse much better in the bridle than Estoril. The grey stallion got 9.0 for trot, 7.0 for his not so ground covering walk and 8.3 for the uphill but round canter. With 7.7 for submission and 8.3 for general impression, Genciano finished on an 8.06.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED (NO FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM)
Eurodressage's Astrid Appels was on the scene taking photos of all WCYH riders in Verden. Contact us if you are interested in photo prints, digital images, collages or albums.
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2014 World Young Horse Championships