The international youth riders' competition in Babenhausen, Germany, on 11 - 14 September 2014, drew an international fields of competitors to one of the last outdoor CDI's of the 2014 show season. While different riders swapped places for the victory in the pony and Under 25 divisions, two German ladies, Nicola Hörnig and Lisa Maier, wielded the axe of power and pulled a hattrick in the junior and young riders' classes.
Nicola Hörnig and her 17-year old Westfalian mare Fortina W (by Farcetto x Olympian Emperor xx) won the Junior team championship test with 70.586%, the individual test with 70.605%, and kur to music with 73.425%.
Young Rider Lisa Maier and the 9-year old Westfalian gelding Long Island Ice Tea (by Laurentianer x Montmartre) also clocked up three 70’s to claim the triple threat in her division. She posted a 70.614% in the team test, a 72.947% in the individual and a 75.850% in the Kur.
“Larry felt very nice and comfortable to ride and he was really concentrated throughout the CDI,” the 20-year old Lisa told Eurodressage.
Long Island Ice Tea has been with Lisa since he was 5, when she bought him directly from breeder Christoph Thiemann.
“He is a really big horse, but even though he is big he is really sensitive and takes care of me," she said. "He is always motivated and wants to work and he always wants to do everything right.”
While the weather in Babenhausen was a bit wet, Lisa was very lucky to get a ride in the dry spells. She enjoyed herself in the big atmosphere.
“I liked the show a lot. There was a great atmosphere and it was a big pleasure for me to win all three tests," she admitted.
Maier plans to get Larry to Grand Prix as well as finish her apprenticeship as a professional rider at the Limbecker GmbH.
“The flying changes, pirouettes, and passage, are all quite safe, so the main thing I need to work on with my trainer (Sebastian Horler) is the piaffe," she stated.
by Sarah Warne - Photo © Barbara Schnell
Related Link
Scores 2014 CDI-PJYR Babenhausen