Ingrid Klimke and the black Westfalian gelding Dresden Mann (by Dresemann) became the winner of the Prix St Georges at the 2012 CDI Hagen on Wednesday morning 25 April 2012, but new comers Laurenti and UNO Donna Unique stole the limelight and drew the biggest crowds to the stands.
Klimke and Clodagh Wallace's gelded Dresden Mann were safe and secure in the St Georges but could have shown a bit more activity and electricity from behind. The walk was very well regulated with on the spot pirouettes. While the contact was soft the horse could have been a bit more steady with the head. The combination put straight 7 and 8 on the score board throughout the test to average a total of 73.684% and win the class.
It was refreshing to see a German young rider showing off her talent and skills as well as her riding superiority in a field dominated by mainly professional dressage horse. Former European Junior Rider Champion Charlott-Maria Schurmann had a very clean, meticulous ride on her liver chestnut mare Donna Jackson (by Dr. Jackson). Her score of 73.026% was well earned and made her the runner up of the class.
Swedish Patrik Kittel made his show debut on Arlette Jasper-Kohl's Danish warmblood mare Uno Donna Unique (by Don Schufro x Falkland). The black mare was a former World Young Horse Champion and has matured into an FEI horse. Kittel presented the mare with much brio and energy but had some minor imperfections in the ride which meddled with the score. The entry on the centerline was crooked. The trot work was very expressive and dynamic with the mare nicely at the vertical, but she was quite body-tense as she observed the surroundings. The collected walk was clean but could have been more relaxed, the extended walk was very nice. The canter work was solid, but the half pirouettes were big and in the tempi changes she became tight in the neck with the nose dropping behind the vertical. The rider also wiggles much in the saddle during the changes which affects the otherwise harmonious silhouette. Kittel and Donna Unique showed tremendous potential and their 72.061% score ranked them third at their first CDI.
Matthias Bouten saddled Isabell Werth's 8-year old Rhinelander Flatley (by Fürst Piccolo x Ehrensold) to finish fourth on 71.228%. Bouten put straight 7s across the board in the trot tour and got 8s for the canter work. A hiccup with the flying change at C between the half pirouettes pushed the score down a bit.
Monica Theodorescu and her home bred Westfalian gelding Tattoo (by Tuareg x Ramiro's Sohn) completed the top five with 70.307%. They had their highlight in trot with beautiful shoulder-in and balanced voltes.
Dorothee Schneider and the Trakehner stallion Polarzauber TSF had a rocky start upon entry but delivered strong work in trot. The bay gelding earned a string of sevens for the canter exercises. With 70.219% they placed sixth.
Austrian Victoria Max-Theurer and the elegant Oldenburg mare Della Cavalleria (by Diamond Hit x Rubinstein) were the last to score above 70% in a field of 32 riders in total. The refined mare is extremely light footed in the trot work. The tempi changes were very confirmed and secure despite a big mistake in the tempi's every four strides. Max-Theurer's confidence got affected by this mistake and rode the threes swinging in the saddle from left to right with each change, making the series lack in straightness. The pirouettes were nice but big. They were seventh with 70.888%.
Isabell Werth and her tall dark bay Oldenburg gelding Laurenti (by Laurentio x Walldorf) made their CDI debut as well. The gigantic powerhouse has amazing movement potential, but still needs to grow and mature. He has big gaits but could be quicker from behind. He was a bit impressed with his surroundings which affected the harmony and flow in trot. Laurenti produces massive flying changes but at the moment they are more up in the air than forward. He showed good sit in the pirouettes and much ground covering in the trot and canter extensions. The contact, however, was still an issue with Laurenti pulling on the bit in the collected walk and beginning of the extended walk as well as being unsteady on the bit in canter. With 69.430% they slotted in eight.
Text by Astrid Appels
Photos © Lars Lewandowski
Related Links
Scores 2012 CDI Hagen
Kohl Family Acquires Donna Unique for Patrik Kittel
Laurenti, New Ride for Isabell Werth
