Held in the third largest city of Denmark, the 2014 CDI-W Odense on 11 - 19 October 2014 welcomed a full program in the youth rider sections with home country Denmark dominating the pony division with riders Karoline Rohmann, Anne Sophie Sorensen and Sandra Aagaard Hyrm taking the top three spots. In the Juniors and Young Riders sections some internationals caught a spot of the limelight with Germany's Franziska Schwiebert and Sweden’s Sofie Andersson leading the Juniors. In the Young Riders classes Sweden’s Emelie Aldenfalk, home-town girl Maja Andreasen and Danish Henriette Dam Vestergaard were at the top of the leader board.
Danish Pony Power
Winning the team test with 72.949%, Danish and Nordic pony champion Sandra Aagaard Hyrm and her 12-year old palomino pony stallion Der Harlekin B (by Golden Dancer x Dornik B) went on to take second place in the individual test and third in the Kur. She feel that everything at Odense was top, including the awesome live transmission over the web.
“The arena, however, was not always easy to ride in but Der Harlekin B was cool in all three tests,” Sandra added. “I had a good feeling under the saddle on the first day, and I am particularly happy with our win on that day, specially as my pony time is coming to an end."
According to Sandra, Der Harlekin B was not at all influenced by the large aren, and that during their two years together he has felt almost like Sandra’s trusted advisor in the competition ring. “Der Harlekin B is in my view one of the most beautiful ponies in Europe at the moment, and he is only getting better every day, stronger over the back and he can be ridden with softness.”
Making a recent change of coach, Sandra has chosen to train with the national team coach, Jette Nevermann, and employ her daughter, Carina Nevermann Torup, as her personal trainer. “This team is the best in class that can educate me to the next level, now that I have my Junior time in front of me.”
Winner of the individual pony test with 73.943%, Anne Sophie Sorensen and her golden oldie, 21-year old gelding Jumanji, were third in the team test, and second in the kur. Odense became their best international show of the year. “Jumanji is a very nice pony, he always does his best in the arena and it is a pleasure to ride him every day," said Sorensen. "The weather during the CDI was nice, but a little bit cold.”
Trained by her father, Ulrik Soerensen, who is the Danish national team trainer for both the Junior and Young Riders, Anne is currently riding four different horses and ponies everyday which gives her a lot of training and keeps her in good shape. “My focus is to build up my horses and my riding in the right way and to keep them healthy and happy," she added.
Rising to take the kur victory with 76.250%, Karoline Rohmann and 8-year old pony gelding Adriano B (by De Angelo) had a challenging start as the chestnut pony was a little bit scared of the big screen on the first day. The pair finished fifth in the team test, but got better as the show went on, lifting to third in the individual before winning the kur. “There were many people here in Odense, and it was so nice that they came to see us ride. It was very big and a pleasure to ride here," said Karoline.
Trained by Sanne Henningsen, who was also competing at the CDI, Karoline stated that Sanne is a very good trainer and is very focused on her and how she is doing when in competition. “When I'm at competitions I also get training by the Danish team trainer, Jette Neverman," Karoline added. "I really like to get instruction from her when I'm at shows, and I'm very relaxed and not nervous when I'm trained by her, because then I know that it's good what I'm doing. I'm very focused on how I sit, and I'm still trying to get my pony stronger and I can see everyday, that it's getting better and better, and that's my motivation.”
Juniors Schwiebert and Andersson in Front
The Junior division saw some internationals take the lead spots with Swedish youngster Sofie Andersson and 11-year old Swedish warmblood mare Donna Samba (by Sandros Bube x Bernstein) take the top spot in the individual and kur tests with 72.061% and 74.250%, edging out team test winner Franziska Schwiebert on the 9-year old Hogholm's Facel Vega (by Akinos x Triumph), who took the team test for Germany with 71.577%.
“The show went very well and I'm very happy with the performances and the results," Sofie told Eurodressage. “My horse felt very good at the show. She became fresher and happier each day. She's such a positive horse and it was clear that she liked the arena. The weather was sunny until monday when it started to rain, but the atmosphere was fantastic and it was the fourth year I competed in Odense. It's always a very good atmosphere there.”
Her everyday trainer is Sofie’s mother, who is also with her at competitions, but she also have the chance to train with Susanne Gielen and Jan Brink. “Right now we're focusing on getting Donna Samba stronger. Her self-carrige and suppleness has improved a lot lately," Andersson explained.
Germany’s Franziska Schwiebert told Eurodressage that the competition was good, but that her horse was very excited in the grand arena, though that didn’t stop her from enjoying the feeling she had riding in that big atmosphere.
“It’s not very often that the younger riders get to ride in the big indoor,” said Franziska.
Riding her horse Hoghom’s Facel Vega for 7 months now, Franziska trains with her father Rainer, but likes to prepare for the big competitions in solitude. “My preparation for competition is to hear music and let nobody speak with me. In this way I prepare myself and my horse," Franziska explained.
Young Riders Aldenfalk, Andreasen and Dam Vestergaard On Top
The Young Rider team test win went to Swedish rider Emelie Aldenfalk and her 10-year old gelding Winton (by Warsteiner x Donnerfly) who took first with 70.482%, leaving home town girl Maja Andreasen and the 11-year old gelding Skjoldsgaard Monte Vo (by Münchhausen), to win the individual test on 72.807%. In the kur to Music Danish Henriette Dam Vestergaard topped the leader board.
“The show went very well for me and I did three good tests,” Emelie told Eurodressage. In her first ever international competition as a young rider, Emelie had her horse feeling very nice despite his big eyes on the first day. “He was little scared in the big arena the first day, but overall he felt very good throughout the weekend," she said.
Trained by Maj-Karin Ekblom Alhberg, Emelie will enjoy her last year in juniors and aims to keep on improving on an already very successful beginning in the Young Rider division.
Danish Maja Andreasen made the transition to Young Riders level in 2014. With her elegant bay Monte Vo she won the individual test.
“Last year I was riding in Odense too and won both the classes I competed in,” said Maja. “This year is my first year as a Young Rider and the show went very well for me. There was a good atmosphere and people were happy. The staff made sure that everything went as it should on time.”
According to Maja there was strong competition, which meant that a Young Rider had to ride a flawless test to win. Trained by Joachim Thomsen everyday, Maja focuses on keeping her horse supple and happy.
The Kur to Music victory went to Henriette Dam Vestergaard, who won the Danish Young Riders Championships a month ago. Aboard the 12-year old Danish warmblood Leopold (by Loudini x Temple Wind xx), Dam Vestergaard scored 75.125% for freestyle victory.
Trained by Susanne Barnow, Dam Vestergaard won the freestyle ahead of Aldenfalk and Andreasen.
"It just went really well," Henriette told Eurodressage. "He was so focused and it was just at joy to ride him. Our music was a mix of Enya and Safridou. It was a really close run but I got 78% for the artistic part from three judges so maybe that made the difference."
The young rider wrapped up a fantastic 2014 show season winning team and individual gold at the 2014 Nordic Baltic Championships as well as the national title at the 2014 Danish Young Riders Championships. Surprisingly she was not considered for the Danish team for the 2014 European Young Riders Championships but Dam Vestergaard cited she was fine with that. The rider is now aiming for the Under 25 Grand Prix division.
by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage - Photos © Ridehesten
Related Links
Scores: 2014 CDI-W Odense
Engermann and Dam Vestergaard Win 2014 Danish Junior and Young Riders Championships
Sandra Aagaard Hyrm Wins 2014 Danish Pony Championships