Estonian Tiina Kuusmann and Romantika Go for the Double at 2021 CDI-W Kunkiai

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2021 CDI-W Kunkiai

After a 1.5-year break from international competition, Estonian Grand Prix rider Tiina Kuusmann made a successful return to the arena at the 2021 CDI-W Kunkiai in Lithuania, scoring a double victory at small tour level aboard Romantika.

A Double in Lithuania

The 30-year old Kuusmann dominated a field of 11 combinations from four different nations. Riding her equine partner of four years, Romantika, Tiina swept the Prix St Georges with 70.353%, the Intermediaire I with 71.882% and finished second in the freestyle with 74.560%.

"Romantika was really good this weekend," Kuusmann told Eurodressage. "We had a break from competitions for 1,5 years so I was glad she felt good in the ring. She is quite an energetic horse and sometimes can get too excited at the end of the test. Every day she felt a little bit more confident in the ring, which I was happy about. I didn't expect to win so it was a really nice suprise to get these results."

From Bruks to Kuusmann

The 13-year old Romantika is an Estonian bred warmblood by Romanov out of Goldfee (by Graf Top). The breeder is Heino Engel.

The mare was first competed in the CDI ring by Estonian Diana Pruks, who rode Romantika as a 6-year old in the FEI young horse classes in 2014 in Ypaja, Finland. Two years later Pruks steered the chestnut into her first Prix St Georges test at the 2016 CDI Ruila (EST), followed by the CDI Zakrzow in November of that year.

Tiina and Romantika in the winner's cirlce

Kuusmann took over the ride on Romantika in April 2019 and ended up purchasing her in September 2019.

"When I tried her, I just had a really good connection with her. So Diana and Romantika's owner (at that time) decided I can compete her for the season," Tiina explained about the start of her chapter with Romantika. "Her strengths are, for sure, the willingness to work and the energy. Sometimes it is a bit hard to control her but it is getting better all the time."

Tallin Based

Kuusmann is a professional dressage rider based in Tallin, Estonia.

She first rode down the international centreline in 2011 with the KWPN gelding Stallone (by Kennedy x Nimmerdor). Her next horse was the Estonian bred Rimbaud (by Ramses XII x Schwadroneur) which took her all the way to Grand Prix in 2019 after which she sold the horse to The Netherlands. Romantika is her third big ride.

She used to train daily with Alla Gladõsheva, but a year ago Tiina moved her horses to Kurtna stables and has been working more on her own

"I get also a lot of help from my good friend Grete Hussar and also Marcel Sterrenburg," said Tiina. "Kurtna stables are an amazing stable, owned by Sirly Tillmann. She has built a very beautiful riding venue with very good training possibilities."

Tiina aims to move Romantika up to Grand Prix level at the end of the season. As a second iron in the fire she has the 8-year old KWPN gelding Ivanhoe (by Chippendale x Partout), which she competed in Kunkiai at national M-level.

"I will try to ride Grand Prix with Romantika this season and just keep her happy and fit," Tiina explained about her future plans. "With Ivanhoe I hope to make some starts at Prix St. Georges level this summer and hopefully Grand Prix in the future."

The 2021 CDI-W Kunkiai took place on 21 - 23 May 2021 but will have a second week of CDI competition coming up this weekend, where Kuusmann will ride again.