Matthias Rath and the 8-year old Dutch warmblood licensed stallion Bretton Woods (by Johnson x De Niro) won the Prix St Georges and Intermediaire I at the 2014 CDI Kapellen in Belgium, but each time had Dutch Petra van Esch on Fido Dido (by Florencio) on his heels. She claimed the Intermediaire I Kur to Music on Sunday.
Rath and Bretton Woods made their international small tour debut in February competing in the Developing Prix St Georges horses classes at the CDI Vidauban in the South of France. The pair now moved up to the regular small tour tests and seemed to manage the work load well. The black stallion looked very confirmed in the movements, but in the Prix St Georges he was very strong in the bridle. Rath did his best to keep the aids subtle but he had to half halt the horse a lot while the stallion retracted his tongue and was strong in the hand. Nevertheless, Matthias was able to produce good movements and won the Prix St Georges with 72.368% and the Intermediaire I with 73.237%.
After claiming the Intermediaire I at the 2014 CDI Roosendaal last week, Petra van Esch and her sympathetic bay Fido Dido are turning out to be very strong small tour competitors. The bay is very appealing to the eye and stands out in the trot and canter extensions. He was second in the Prix St Georges with 71.342%, second in the Inter I with 72.395% and won the Inter I kur to music with 73.475%.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED
Eurodressage's Astrid Appels was on the scene taking photos of ALL riders at the CDI Kapellen. Contact us if you are interested in photo prints, collages or albums.
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