Swedish Patrik Kittel and Arlette Jasper-Kohl's Danish warmblood mare UNO Donna Unique won the Intermediaire I at the 2012 CDI Hagen on Thursday 26 April 2012. The Swedish European Kur bronze medallist rode a concentrated test in windy weather to score a whopping 75.895%.
A poor halt before rein back, a loss of balance in the canter zig zag and swinging two tempi changes because the rider sways in the saddle with each change, were only small imperfections in the otherwise very powerful and expressive ride. Especially the trot work was very impressive with good activity and energy from behind.
Isabell Werth and her huge dark bay Oldenburg Laurenti (by Laurentio x Walldorf) improved considerably compared to the Prix St Georges and put straight sevens and eights on the score board. The only bobble came at the end of the ride in a trot transition for which they got 4s. The duo scored 73.053% to finish second.
Austrian Victoria Max-Theurer and her beautiful Oldenburg mare Della Cavalleria (by Diamond Hit x Rubinstein) impressed with light footed trot work. The rein back was not very diagonal and the tempi changes lacked straightness in the horse's body, but otherwise there were no major issues in Victoria's test. She scored 72.500 to rank third.
While the CDI Intermediaire I and CDN Upcoming Grand Prix horse Intermediaire II were the top dressage classes of the day, the crowds' attention was also drawn to Matthias Rath, who made the surprise decision to ride Totilas in the the Grand Prix for Kur on Saturday instead of the Grand Prix for Special on Friday.
Initially Rath had announced to ride the Special tour as those two Grand Prix classes count as nations' cup tests at the 2012 Olympic Games. He stated that there would be plenty of other opportunities to practise the freestyle. Today, team Totilas changed its mind, according to BILD.de, and will go for the freestyle classes.
By switching tours, Rath will avoid a confrontation with Charlotte Dujardin's Valegro, Anabel Balkenhol's Dablino, Isabell Werth's Don Johnson, Anna Kasprzak's Donnperignon and Victoria Max-Theurer's Augustin. The switch does not automatically means that Rath will have a free ride to the top. In the Grand Prix for Kur he'll meet Laura Bechtolsheimer on Mistral Hojris and Kristina Sprehe on Desperados amongst others.
Photos © LL-foto.de
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2012 CDI Hagen