German Sanneke Rothenberger made her international come back aboard her 2011 European Young Riders' Champion horse, Deveraux OLD, and won the CDI 3* Big Tour at the 2015 Vidauban Dressage Festival CDIO on 6 - 7 March 2015. Rothenberger and the 14-year old Oldenburg bred Deveraux (by De Niro x Rohdiamant) won the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Kur to Music with two polished rides.
Rothenberger last competed her beautiful black gelding in Vidauban one year ago, winning the Under 25 division after the horse had a three year break from the international show ring. Now competing as a senior, Sanneke had no problems topping a modest field of 10 riders. In the Grand Prix on Friday she posted a winning score of 71.460% with a secure and safe test ahead of Swedish Marina Mattsson on Beckham with 70.080%.
In the Kur to Music Rothenberger rode accurately to the music. Her horse has huge shoulder freedom in passage but could track up more behind. In the piaffe he stays rather small, but is regular and obedient. In walk Deveraux needs to improve on his ground cover. The pirouettes and trot extensions, however, were a highlight. Rothenberger scored 74.400% and edged out Estonian Grete Puvi (previously known as Grete Barake) on the KWPN bred Talent with 72.200%
"I was a bit insecure in the Grand Prix because it had been a while since I last competed him," Sanneke told Eurodressage. "In the kur he felt super even though he had to perform to Wolke Sieben's music. I hope to create his own freestyle in the near future."
When asked why it took so long for Sanneke to make her come back with Deveraux, the Bad Homburg based rider replied frankly. "It was often very difficult to make a competition plan either because of my studies or because of his health," said the 22-year old Sanneke, who studies at the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel. "Deveraux will always be a very special horse to me and of course I hope to ride many more beautiful shows with him. He is very unique."
Photos © Astrid Appels - No Reproduction allowed
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Eurodressage On the Scene at the 2015 Vidauban Dressage Festival