Swiss pony rider Estelle Wettstein swept the board in the CDI-tour of the pony division at the 2012 CDIO-PJYR Moorsele held at Veronique van Geenberghe's equestrian centre Zilveren Spoor on 17 - 20 May 2012. Aboard her German Riding Pony mare Championess, Wettstein dominated the Team test, individual and Kur to Music with solid seventy percentage marks.
Riding Championess (by FS Champion de Luxe x Dornik B), Estelle scored 71,111% in the team test, 71.016% in the individual and 75.12% in the Kur to Music. Wettstein saddled her number one pony Nice Blue Eyes (by Notre Beau x Principal Boy) for the CDIO classes and achieved similar scores but faced more competition in that division. Aboard the blue-eyed black pony she was 3rd in the team test (71.538%), fifth in the individual (71.098%) and fourth in the Kur (75.000%).
"My ponies felt really good," Wettstein told Eurodressage. "The organisation was super and I'm realy very happy with the results."
Both Championess and Nice Blue Eyes were previously owned by Austrian Sissy Max-Theurer, who acquired them at the Westfalian Elite Auction in 2008 and 2009. Championess was a reserve champion at the 2009 Bundeschampionate and Champion at the 2008 Bundeschampionate. Nice Blue Eyes was Bundeschampion in 2008 as a 4-year old. The ponies moved to the Wettstein stables in 2010 and are now owned by the family.
Wettstein has been a long time pony rider but due to her versatility she has often made her veer towards show jumping. In 2010 and 2011 she preferred to ride on the Swiss pony jumping team instead of making an individual effort in dressage. However, as the 15-year old is gradually consolidating her top 10 position amongst the European dressage pony top, she might decide for the 2012 European Pony Dressage Championships this year in her last pony year. Wettstein also recently begun moonlighting in the young riders' division, gaining experience on her mom Marie Line Wettstein's retired Grand Prix horse Le Primeur (by Lauries Crusador xx).
"I don't know it yet," Estelle told Eurodressage about which discipline she will go for at the 2012 European Championships. "I'm qualified or everything and I will only choose just before the Europeans. But normaly I'm going for pony dressage in Fontainebleau." Concerning her choice in pony, the Swiss is undecided as well. "I don't know. Both are on top form."
The CDIO classes proved to be a tough fight between Dutch riders Jelle Peeters and Rosalie Bos and Belgian Lavinia Arl. The latter won the team test on Equestricons Epiascer (by Ten Ankers Jerolianca) with 72.350, while Jelle Peeters moved into the winning position in the individual test. Aboard the chestnut Welsh pony Den Ostriks Dailan (by Leuns Veld Lord) she scored 73.049%. Rosalie Bos and her 6-year old chestnut Paso Double (by Bodo) reigned supreme in the kur to music on Sunday with 75.875%.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - No Reproduction Allowed!
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Related Link
Scores 2012 CDIO-PJYR