Rath Rakes In Second Trophy at 2011 CDI Munich

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2011 CDI Munich

Matthias Rath and Totilas raked in their second trophy of the week by winning the CDI 3-star Grand Prix Special at the 2011 CDI Munich on Friday 3 June 2011. Their highly anticipated show debut in the Grand Prix yesterday drew approximately 8,000 people to the show. Fortunately the Special was much less crowded and it became obvious that a big burden was lifted from Rath's shoulders. Their Special ride was much better, even though impeccable fine tuning is still a far cry from home.

Both in the halt at entry and the end halt Totilas came behind the vertical. The first trot extension had much front leg but little overtrack and this repeated itself quite a few times. The passage on the track was absolutely superior to that shown in the Grand Prix. It was off the ground, regular and rhythmical though the stallion should keep his head slightly more steady instead of bopping it up and down. The trot half passes were certainly a highlight. The extended walk totally lacked stretch in the neck despite the horse overtracking. The collected walk was a bit tense but clear in rhythm. The piaffe seems to be Rath's biggest challenge at the moment as he can not yet control the steps of his horse nor the regularlty because the black has so much sit. The passage on the serpentine in between the two piaffes was a bit hitchy and the transitions can still be smoother. The transition to canter was convulsive as well. The tempi changes today were much better in ground cover with a hind leg clearly reaching under the body but the horse struggles with staying straight. The left pirouette was fantastic, the right one lacked roundness. In general it was a beautifaul ride, much better than the Grand Prix, but there is still a lot of work lying ahead in horse and rider getting on the same wavelength. It would also be nice to see less pressure on the curb because the curb rein was getting shorter and shorter towards the end of the test.

Rath scored 79.838% with 78.458% as 'low' score (from brand new O-judge Isobel Wessels) and 81.875% as high score (German judge Dietrich Plewa).

Carola Koppelmann and her 18-year old chestnut Hanoverian Le Bo (by Lauries Crusador xx) finished second again with 70.274%. Her test was highlight by the beautiful, well suspended passage work and the effortless at which the Grand Prix movements were executed. Only in piaffe, the gelding could have more sit behind and lift in the shoulder. Austrian Victoria Max-Theurer and her Westfalian stallion Eichendorff (by Ehrentusch x Ferragamo) landed a third place with 69.313%. They had problems with the flying changes and collection in piaffe and passage, but the horse was nicely uphill in the frame with the poll as highest point.