Sprehe and Desperados Cruise to Victory in Grand Prix for Special at 2015 CDI Hagen

Germany's Special test WEG bronze medal winning Kristina Sprehe and Gestut Sprehe's Hanoverian licensed stallion Desperados cruised to victory in the Grand Prix for Special at the 2015 CDI Hagen at Hof Kasselmann on Friday 24 April 2015. A very willing panel of judges helped her to a whopping 80.780% score. 

The Grand Prix for Special was scheduled on Friday at this year's "Horses and Dreams Meets Australia" and the 28 competitors were able enjoy beautiful, sunny spring weather with ideal temperatures to compete in. The panel of judges for the class included Susan Hoevenaars (AUS), Reinhard Richenhagen (GER), Dietrich Plewa (GER), Marietta Almasy (FRA) and Christof Umbach (LUX).

Sprehe and her 14-year old Desperados (by De Niro x Wolkenstein II) were the clear favourites for the victory and when the scores flashed on the board it was obvious that the panel was willing to help her into the winner's circle. Four judges scored her test between 81.70 and 82.50 but Umbach kept his score more conservative and stayed at 75.40% which felt a bit more realistic that than the floated eighty percentage marks.

Sprehe produced a high quality ride with piaffe that has improved considerably as it was more off the forehand than in the past, but the entire ride was rough around the edges. It did not look effortless and the otherwise very elegant rider had to work hard with visible half-halting to steer clear. In the entire trot tour the nose had to be much more out, despite the flowing half passes and powerful extensions. The extended walk was top class with excellent overstride but in the collected walk the black stallion became slight lateral before and at C. The piaffe showed good improvement with the horse lowering the haunches even more and taking more weight behind while staying on the spot. Most of the passage was regular but in the second one he could not find an even rhythm. The two tempi changes were too exuberant with the horse swaying to the right and getting wide behind. Also in the extended canter the nose was behind the vertical as Sprehe was holding on to her boisterous steed. One flying change to the right in the zig zag was short behind, the one tempi changes were lovely and the pirouette small.

Anabel Balkenhol has made her come back this winter aboard the 15-year old Hanoverian Dablino (by De Niro x Wanderbusch II) who had been injured for a few years. The duo scored 76.160% to finish second and the walk once again proved to be the chestnut's major achilles heel as he paced, even in extended walk! Dablino is such a world class horse though. Today he executed a perfect halt at entry, fantastic pirouettes, and uphill tempi changes. The passage was super elegant, the piaffe still creeping a tiny bit forward but pure in rhythm. There was a break in the rhythm in the first trot extension and there was a bit of tension in the ground covering half passes. The poor walk and a few tiny tension problems certainly kept Balkenhol's from coming close to 80%. 

Tinne Vilhelmson and Antonia Axson Johnson's 13-year old Hanoverian Don Auriello (by Don Davidoff x White Star) slotted in third with 74.940%. Tinne and her tall bay beauty are a delight to watch. The Swedish rider is a true example of good horsemanship: keeping her horse up in the bridle and so soft in the contact at all times. There was a mistake in the rhythm of the second trot extension, but the extended walk was outstanding. The exit of the second piaffe was difficult and especially n the second passage the horse clearly lacked activity from behind. The extended canter was ridden with guts and power, the one tempi changes were so uphill but in the two's Don Auriello swayed to the right and two changes were short behind. The pirouette left could have had more bending, the right one was better. Vilhelmson finished her test with a sweet final centerline.

Hubertus Schmidt and the 12-year old Trakehner stallion Imperio (by Connery x Balfour) landed fourth place with a royal 73.360%. Schmidt rode an neat test with the attractive bay stallion but the horse was behind the vertical almost the entire time, dropping in the poll. There was a break in the rhythm in the extended trot and in the first piaffe Schmidt wobbled too much in the saddle to stimulate his horse into generating a rhythm. The collected walk lacked collection and the first few flying changes in the zig zag were short behind. Imperio is a very lightfooted mover and is an attractive horse, but there were quite a few small issues that meddled with the overall neatness of the ride. The piaffe and passage are promising though.

Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - No Reproduction Allowed

Eurodressage's Astrid Appels took photos of all Grand Prix riders competing in the CDI Hagen. If you are interested in photos, contact us by email with your name and the name of the horse.

Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2015 CDI Hagen