Impressing the crowds at the 2012 CDI-W Stockholm Swedish rider Kristian von Krusenstierna made the most of his local advantage and earned Grand Prix and Kur scores over 70% aboard the Swedish warmblood stallion Biggles (by Briar x Krevad x Falstaff).
"I am very happy about my success in Stockholm and a bit surprised too," Kristian told Eurodressage. "It was a lot of fun to do a good performance on a “home ground” as the competition was just 10 minutes from where I live!"
Scoring 70.2% to finish fifth in the Grand Prix and 71.9% to land seventh place in the Kür, Kristian was particularly impressed with the marks he received for piaffe. "I was awarded many 8's in the piaffe, as the frame was far better then before," said Kristian. "The piaffe and passage were, for me, the highlights of our test!"
Kristian got the ride on Biggles in June 2010, taking over the horse from Jan Brink, who had educated him to Grand Prix level. The bay stallion is bred by the Lundberg Persson family. "Biggles likes big arenas, and a year ago he was a bit too fresh at these events, but now he is calm and more focused," Kristian explained. Kristian said he can feel the horse getting better with every outing. "He is much more calm and focused now and he feels more secure and safe in a lot of the things in the test over the last half of this year."
Certain that the Stockholm Grand Prix was their best performance so far, Kristian knows that before the Kür Biggles got a bit excited and perhaps carried some of that into the arena. "When Kittel got his scores the audience went wild and as he rode just before me in the freestyle, for the first minutes of our freestyle Biggles was still a bit fresh," the rider admitted. "But as long as the judges and crowds are happy, I am to!"
Acknowledging that he rides in a different way to Jan Brink, Kristian is hoping to introduce some of his style to the stallion while the rider attempts to adopt some of Jan's style upon himself which the horse recognizes. "We are very different as riders, but I know Jan very well so I try to teach Biggles half my style and try to learn myself half Jan/Biggles style!"
Kristian was surprised by the pressure that arose from his self-imposed expectations when he took on a horse from such a well known and talented dressage rider. "Yes I feel pressure. I want so much from myself and I try to be as good as I can with the horses I have at the moment," he said.
Training with Nicole Werner and Edward Gal for the past one and a half years, Kristian hopes to work hard in 2013 and hopefully get a spot on the national team. "For sure I will fight for a spot in the Swedish team for the Europeans and I really want a good individual result there," he stated.
With some other exciting horses in work, Kristian is kept busy at the dressage facility Ågesta on his family's farm in Farsta. Always on the look-out Kristian searches for horses that have their own engine and can carry themselves easily. "Currently I have a very nice 6 year old Stedinger mare who I hope will do small tour next year. I also have a couple of 7 year olds (a Romanov x Don Schufro, a Romanov x Midt West Ibi Light, and a Welser), who will do the small tour next year as well. My 3 year old by Lord Leatherdale x Krack x Jazz, I purchased at the KWPN auction in February this year and he got the highest scores among all 3-year olds in Sweden."
Eager to soak up as much knowledge and experience as possible Kristian hopes that on the day he gets that super horse he will be prepared. "I am inspired to further my dressage career by all the good riders," he explained. "I can learn something from all of them, but for sure watching Edward ride is very inspiring!"
Kristian finds it especially rewarding to get a longtime schedule for each horse and watch the horse grow. "We have to let the horse have the time to develop self-carriage and balance, and then we get to see what happens with the horse's attitude, expression and gaits when that hard work is done!"
The 35-year old Swedish rider is happy about the major development the sport of dressage has underwent in recent years. "We have seen a bigger interest every year and that is so fun," he stated. "I can think of lots of nice publicity that our discipline is getting now. The horses are better bred for the sport and there seem to be more dressage riders. It looks positive! I don’t want to think of all the negative publicity I do notice it, but I just keep my focus on the positive things! A lady came to me yesterday and said that she saw the Kür in Stockholm and last time she saw the Grand Prix live was 8 or 10 years ago. Her reflection was that she thought the horses were a lot more elastic and lighter and the riders had more feeling and ability. What the “normal viewers” say about our sport I think is very important and I liked what she said!"
by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
Photos © Ridehesten - Kim Lundin
Related Links
Scores 2012 CDI-W Stockholm
Swedish Equestrian Federation Celebrates Centenary during 2012 CDI-W Stockholm
Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven Triumphs on Home Turf at 2012 CDI-W Stockholm
Biggles to Kristian von Krusenstierna
