For the 20th time did the German Dressage Team win team gold at the European Dressage Championships. Located at Hickstead, England, the 2003 European Dressage Championships was the scene for an overwhelming victory of the German "Mannschaft"
in the Grand Prix team championship test. After three rides, the Germans were already certain of their gold medal and no country was able to pose a threat.
Winning the Grand Prix with an astonishing score of 78.29% was Ulla Salzgeber on Rusty. Despite being tormented by the legal lawsuit about Rusty having tested positive to doping use at the 2003 World Cup Finals, Ulla rode one of her best tests ever. Feeling confident about herself and her horse, Ulla offered to ride first for the German team on Thursday August 14, 2003. Salzgeber and Rusty excelled in their usual fortes such as the flying changes. Judge Stephan Clarke even gave a 10 for the tempi changes every single stride.
Second best German rider was new comer to the team, Heike Kemmer on the elastic Hanoverian gelding Bonaparte (by Bon Bonaparte). With a 73.917%, Kemmer and Salzgeber turned out to be the anchor riders for the team. Klaus Husenbeth was a little more stressed than his female team mates.
"Piccolino arrived at Hickstead with a fever. Fortunately, we were able to ride on Friday, giving Piccolino an extra day to recuperate," Husenbeth said. Husenbeth finished sixth with 71.958% "I am so happy, because I was so nervous before the test," Husenbeth stated.
The German scratch score was 68.000% and ridden by Isabell Werth on Satchmo. The Hanoverian gelding traveled to Hickstead slightly injured, as the bay had slipped in his stall and sustained a small wound on his leg which had to be stitched. Fortunately, Werth and Satchmo had to ride on Friday as well. The inexperienced Satchmo ran his first major championships and appeared a bit unconfirmed in the ring.
Germany won team gold with a total of 5380 points, beating the Spanish team who were the recipients of the silver medal with 5101 points and the bronze British team who gathered 5079 points in total.
Isabell Werth's trainer Wolfram Wittig commented that "we [Germany] are not so far ahead, but the other countries are just so far behind."
Historical Bronze Medal for British Team
Not so very surprising was Spain winning the silver medal as Reserve World Champion Beatriz Ferrer Salat provided the third best class score in the Grand Prix. Riding her Hanoverian Beauvalais, Ferrer Salat scored 74.000%. Team member Rafael Soto followed in ninth position with 71.250%, while Ignacio Ramblas gathered 67.292% (20th) on the recently gelded Distinguido and Juan Antonio Jimenez received 67.500% for his ride on the Lusitano Guizo (21st).
Overjoyed was the British dressage team who won the bronze medal in their home country. They had to wait ten years -- since the 1993 European Championships in Lipica -- to claim a medal again at the European Championships. With three riders scoring over 70%, the British team has finally moved to a higher level and shown their quality at a major competition.
Best British performance came from the astonishingly improved Emma Hindle on Hanoverian stallion Wie Weltmeyer. Hindle, who puttered for years at the 65% limit, has transformed into a confirmed Grand Prix rider and presented her stallion in a brilliant way. The judges recognized the difference and awarded her a 71.083% and 10th place. Following strongly in 12th position was new comer Nicola McGivern on another Hanoverian, Active Walero, with 70.500%. Leading British rider Richard Davison had to settle for a 14th place with 70.042% aboard the Danish bred mare Ballaseyr Royale.
"I've always believed in Royale. She's a lovely mare with a lovely brain who always rises to the occasion in the arena," Davison told reporter Seamour Rathore. "We have had good times and lean times over the years and there have been many occasions when things just haven't worked out," Richard added. "But dressage insiders always knew that we were capable of doing better — it was just the outside world who didn't realise it until now."
The British scratch score was Emile Faurie's 66.458%. Riding Rascher Hopes, Faurie got the best out his nice Rascher Hopes, who just lacks that extra touch of brilliance to be a European Top 20 horse.
Second best German rider was new comer to the team, Heike Kemmer on the elastic Hanoverian gelding Bonaparte (by Bon Bonaparte). With a 73.917%, Kemmer and Salzgeber turned out to be the anchor riders for the team. Klaus Husenbeth was a little more stressed than his female team mates. "Piccolino arrived at Hickstead with a fever. Fortunately, we were able to ride on Friday, giving Piccolino an extra day to recuperate," Husenbeth said. Husenbeth finished sixth with 71.958% "I am so happy, because I was so nervous before the test," Husenbeth stated.
The German scratch score was 68.000% and ridden by Isabell Werth on Satchmo. The Hanoverian gelding traveled to Hickstead slightly injured, as the bay had slipped in his stall and sustained a small wound on his leg which had to be stitched. Fortunately, Werth and Satchmo had to ride on Friday as well. The inexperienced Satchmo ran his first major championships and appeared a bit unconfirmed in the ring.
Germany won team gold with a total of 5380 points, beating the Spanish team who were the recipients of the silver medal with 5101 points and the bronze British team who gathered 5079 points in total.
Isabell Werth's trainer Wolfram Wittig commented that "we [Germany] are not so far ahead, but the other countries are just so far behind."
Dutch Team Disappointingly Fourth
The Dutch dressage team ended in the ungrateful fourth position and was seriously disappointed with that. Only two riders were able to rise to their expected level and that were Ellen Bontje and shooting star Antoinette Falandt. The latter, who was considered to be Holland's third team member, launched herself into the anchor position by finishing 8th with 71.292%. Falandt rode her Dutch bred Jarwo (by Ferro) with lightness and impulsion through the test; only the piaffe had to be more on the spot. An international Grand Prix rider since 2001, Falandt considered herself the debutante of the team, but can now expect a team place in the 2004 Dutch Olympic team.
"I never even considered going to the Olympics, but since today it's a bit more reachable," Falandt said. Falandt trained Jarwo herself but called in assistance from Coby van Baalen one year ago. "I made great progress since I have been training with her," Falandt explained.
Second best Dutch rider was Ellen Bontje on the 18-year old Gestion Silvano N, who gave a youthful performance of 70.875%. Especially the extended trot was a highlight in Silvano's test, showing balanced extension in the collection. "Silvano has been reborn this year," said Dutch chef d'equipe and O-judge Jan Peeters, "he has been a joy to watch. Only that small mistake in the zigzag took down the score as that movement counts double."
Ellen Bontje was extremely pleased about her Holsteiner stallion. "Silvano felt really safe and was constantly at my aids. My score could have been higher, but I don't care. I just love it that people, who usually say that Silvano has become old, are now gazing at him with awe." Bontje is not thinking of retiring Silvano. "As long as he tells me that he wants to do this, we keep going on. When I notice it has become too much for him, I'll stop immediately. If we are allowed to go to the Olympics, I will make sure that Athens will be his final competition."
Arjen Teeuwissen, individual silver medallist at the 2001 European Championships, was extremely disappointed with his Grand Prix ride. Scoring 67.583% and placing 19th, Teeuwissen felt abandoned by his Dutch warmblood Gestion Goliath T. The bay gelding was unresponsive to the aids and totally ran without flair.
"It was terrible, what a deception," Teeuwissen said, "the days before the competition Goliath was fit, responsive to my aids and quick behind. Now he didn't react, wasn't round and felt dull. I rather came out of the arena with points I didn't deserve and be happy about my ride, than with many points and an unsatisfied feeling." Teeuwissen also said that a horse is not a machine which can be handled with a key. "I knew that I couldn't expect to perform the same way as in 2001, but I did hope for a place in the top eight."
Fourth team member Edward Gal filled up Anky van Grunsven's position, who withdrew from Hickstead due to an injured Salinero. Gal rode the young Flemmingh offspring Gestion Lingh. With a few mistakes in his test -- for instance an error in the piaffe -- Gal scored 65.625% and ranked 29th. "I felt Lingh slowing down for the piaffe and I came too strong with my leg," Gal explained, "it's a pithy but I am here to learn and gain experience. I learnt more in those 10 minutes than in one whole year."
Edward Gal and Gestion Lingh only rode their eighth Grand Prix but is considered to be an Olympic team hopeful by Jan Peeters. "I try to set new goals every time and to perform better each time. Athens is still not a goal for me. I will first ride at the CDI Rotterdam and see what happens there. Maybe Athens can become a goal, I don't know." Gal's trainer Anky van Grunsven thought that her student deserved a higher score. "I thought it deserved a 69%, but you have to subtract 2% because of that error in the piaffe. That means that 67% would have been fair. I hoped Edward to ride 70%, so I'm a bit disappointed," Van Grunsven said.
What ruling Olympic Champion Van Grunsven did not put in perspective is that new comers on the scene are penalised for major mistakes, while ruling champions are allowed to make a certain amount of mistakes without dipping under the 70% line.
Photos © David Charles
Back to the 2003 EDC Index