Matthias Rath and the 14-year old Dutch warmblood stallion Totilas (by Gribaldi x Glendale) swept the Grand Prix at the 2014 CDI Wiesbaden on Saturday 7 June 2014. In a field of 30 combinations, in which the level of competition was rather low with several horses and riders affected by the early summer heat, Totilas freewheeled with an improved test to yet another generous score of 82.800%.
With another surprise start at the 2014 CDI Wiesbaden for come back kids Matthias Rath and Totilas after their poof-appearance at the CDI Kappelen two weeks ago, the Biebrich castle park near the river Rhine was flooded with hords of people enjoying the sweltering heat (30°C) and some Totilas magic. As soon as the black stallion had finished his test, the crowds spread out and the main dressage ring was empty.
Rath and Totilas put in an improved performance compared to their first go in Kapellen. The black stallion showed slightly better body and back usage and it all looked more polished, but the contact is still a major issue with the horizontal curb, very tight curb rein, the mouth open in pretty much every single exercise in the test and the head tilted in the second trot extension and first passage.
Rath started his ride entering the centerline crookedly. All extended trots had good overtrack but the horse was still irregular in front with more lift with the left front leg. The half passes were lovely and bouncy. The first piaffe has very good rhythm but could have been a more off the forehand. The extended walk had two hooves overtrack but the neck should have stretched more. The second passage was really nice with a smooth transition into the piaffe; The second piaffe was lovely but coming out the horse overreached in front taking too big a step out. The two tempi changes were ground covering but too swinging behind, the zig zag was a highlight of the test. Totilas' bête noir movement, the one tempi changes, were correct this time, although three changes were very short with the left hind leg. The pirouettes were wonderful. The view from behind in the final piaffe at X showed it was crooked with the horse piaffing on three tracks.
Totilas is a true pleasure to watch but it would be nice if the judges measured out the performance fairly. Basic issues like crookedness and a good contact with the bridle are essential but it is not reflected in the score. This comment counts for several top combinations in the world, as a matter of fact, and is not just Totilas-craze-blindness. In Wiesbaden the German judges were wishful-thinking-scoring with Eisenhardt and Wust as high scorers, followed by Umbach, Matthiesen and Wessels.
The competition in Wiesbaden had a packed field of 30 riders but only 5 scored over 70%. Isabell Werth and Frank Henning's Hanoverian mare Harmonie (by Hohenstein x Werther) finished second with 74.00%. The black mare made her CDI debut at 's Hertogenbosch in March, where it was rough all around the edges. In Wiesbaden the mare showed massive improvement, especially in the high class, rhythmical piaffe and passage. The trot extensions were mechanical and artificial, though, with no swing from behind through the back and in the body. It would be nice to see her a bit more natural in the trot work, but the mare shows promise nonetheless.
Jenny Lang and her 14-year old Holsteiner gelding Loverboy (by Lorentin x Alcatraz) were third with 73.540%. The pair were last to go and rode in the beautiful evening light. The rein back was a bit unconvincing but the piaffe and passage put solid sevens on the board. The horse covered much ground in the extended canter. The pirouettes were scopy and small.
Temperatures were broiling hot and several horses towards the middle of the class showed they suffered from it, appearing less sharp on the aids and making mistakes. Another disturbing fact that happened in Wiesbaden was that two horses showed visible spur marks. One of them had permanent scarring on both flanks, the other (Bernadette Pujals on her extremely talented Grand Prix horse Rolex) got blood on the left flank visible already at the start of the test. At the end of the test, the judge at C Isobel Wessels, checked the cut and decided the horse should not be eliminated despite the blood.
"it was not a straight forward case," Wessels told Eurodressage afterwards. "On the short side we all noticed a small red patch a little while after the test started. It was not so much and after some other movements it was no longer visible so we agreed I would look at the end. When I checked it there was no blood at all only a tiny black mark so it was agreed to have the steward check it and let her continue if no problem. I agree that normally it's clear elimination but in this case not. The horse was fine and it was decided not to react in a negative way. The rider was really sorry too ! As judges we are used to making many decisions and quickly some are easier than others but naturally welfare is high on the list and on this occasion we were satisfied."
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Eurodressage's Astrid Appels was on the scene taking photos of all Grand Prix riders in Wiesbaden. Contact us if you are interested in photo prints, collages or albums.
Related Links
Scores: 2014 CDI Wiesbaden
Rath and Totilas to Compete at 2014 CDI Wiesbaden