Woodlander Farouche and Michael Eilberg took ownership of the dressage arena winning the invitational Advanced Medium Freestyle to Music at Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor, Great Britian on 14 - 17 May 2014. For the first time Windsor features a CDI Grand Prix tour this year. However, the Advanced Medium freestyle was a national class.
Eilberg was awarded a huge aggregate score of 84.05% from judges Leif Tornblad (DEN), Andrew Gardner (GBR) and Maarten Van Der Heijden (NED) - although Tornblad's individual score was over 89% - and they won the class with a margin just short of 10%.
"She is an impressive mare," said Tornblad. "She is extremely well balanced throughout and her paces are not exaggerated - the front and hind legs match which is how it should be - she is the complete package."
British judge Andrew Gardner commented; "Without doubt she has presence which comes from her size and temperament. Everyone is watching her and so far each time she has delivered.
The chestnut mare, an elegant 17.2hh, bred by Lynne Crowden and owned by Alison Walton and Ferdi Eilberg, has not been beaten since winning the six-year-old World Young Horse Championship in Verden in 2012.
"Everybody expects her to do well and that does bring pressure," said Eilberg. "But once I'm on and riding her talent takes over and I forget. The feel she gave me in extended canter is unbelievable - she felt mega."
Gloucestershire based Charlie Hutton and Judy Peploe's Super Blue were the ones who came closest (74.278%) to Eilberg. The pair performed a tidy, on the beat freestyle that was well synchronised and choreographed to the music from Pink Floyd's album The Wall - well suited to the powerful Super Blue.
Young rider Charlotte Fry from East Yorkshire took third place with the 10-year-old Z Flemmenco (71.455), owned by her Grandmother Mrs Rosemary Shewen. 18 year-old Fry, the highest placed member of the British European Junior team last year, was the Northern Winter Regional Advanced Medium Freestyle Champion earlier this year with Flemmenco and the pair is long-listed for this year's Junior European Championships.
Photos © Risto Aaltonen
Related Links
International Dressage Competition Returns to Windsor in May 2014
Hester and Tomlinson Receive MBE Medal at Windsor Castle
Postcards from Windsor: Europeans Kick off Today in Windsor