German based American Jennifer Hoffmann and German Grand Prix riders Jessica von Bredow-Werndl swept the FEI level classes and stole the show at the 2015 CDI Lamprechtshausen in Austria on 4 - 6 September. The Austrian CDI featured two Grand Prix tours with 19 riders in total competing in them; the Special tour was won by German Stephan Koberle.
Winning both the Prix St Georges and Intermediaire I, American Jennifer Hoffman reigned over the small tour. Aboard Gestut Letterberg's Westfalian stallion Florentinus V (by Florestan x Londonderry), Hoffmann scored 70.526% and 70.316% for a double victory.
The 9-year old Florentinus V has competed in four CDI's at small tour level this 2015 show season and has been a consistent 70% scorer. Jennifer is ecstatic about the progress her horse is making.
"This was so far our best CDI. I feel it is an enormous success," Hoffmann told Eurodressage. "It was exactly four years ago that weekend when he won the 5-year old reserve champion's title at the Bundeschampionate with a 9.2 score! That same year he also had high scores in the Finals at the World Young Horse Championships in Verden. As a 6-year old he went back to the World Championships Finals and Bundescahmpionate. And now his first clean sweep at small tour; what a career."
Catching the spotlight at Grand Prix level were Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and her rising Grand Prix horse Zaire, an 11-year old Dutch mare by Son de Niro x Jazz. They won the Grand Prix for Kur with 72.120% and blitzed the kur with 76.504%.
Jessica says Lamprechtshausen was the first time the pair were really able to enjoy themselves in the arena.
“In the previous years this mare was just too nervous and there was too much tension during the tests for better results," von Bredow told Eurodressage. "In Lamprechtshausen I could feel that she is getting more and more self assurance and sovereignty. That makes me really excited about our future!”
Jessica acquired Zaire as a 5-year old and she says she truly loves this amazing mare. She describes her as a real ballerina with incredible possibilities. “She's a very sensitive horse with so much power, attitude and elegance," Jessica added.
Trained by her brother Benjamin (Werndl), Jessica also receives help every 6 to 8 weeks from German co-team trainer Jonny Hilberath, who comes over to “keep an eye on her”.
“In addition to that once a month Andreas Hausberger from the Spanish riding school in Vienna helps us with the piaffe and passage work. I think, it's very important to develop the horses as personalities, and to make them proud. My training, for example, varies a lot. No day is ever like another one! I try to make my horses' days as diversified as possible to keep them curious and happy. I would describe my way of training like: playful consistency. With Zaire, for example I do some extra training sessions to increase her trust and self confidence. I do some ground work, ride with noise or loud music, hack out in the forests a lot, or even ride in the dark with her… And it seems to pay off.”
by Sarah Warne - Photos © Rainer Dill - LL-photo
Related Links
Scores: 2015 CDI Lamprechtshausen
Strobl and Porsche Make a Clean Sweep at 2015 CDI Lamprechtshausen