Dutch Olympian Marlies van Baalen swept the Grand Prix Kur to Music on the concluding day of competition, Sunday 10 January 2016, at the first CDI competition of the year in Drachten, The Netherlands. The Indoor Drachten event drew a field of 24 Grand Prix riders who are all experiencing Olympic fever with the Rio Olympic Games as year highlight in the summer.
Van Baalen and the 11-year old Rhinelander gelding Ratzinger (by Ricardos x Rubirando) were third in the Grand Prix with 71.00% and won the Kur to Music with 76.550%. She edged out team rider Hans Peter Minderhoud on the 16-year old Oldenburg stallion Romanov (by Rohdiamant x Grundstein II) who finished second with 74.425%. German Nadine Husenbeth, who moved from the Under 25 division to senior Grand Prix, ranked third in the freestyle on Florida (by Fidermark x Grosso Z) with 73.025%.
"Marlies rode a very convincing kur with lots of presence and guts," said the judge at C, Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel. "It was a beautiful test with a nicely constructed floorplan. Ratzinger really moves through the body. We've enjoyed judging him."
Van Baalen also brought along her small tour horse, the 8-year old KWPN bred Dion Johnson (by Johnson x Ferro), and finished second in the Prix St Georges and Inter I kur to Music with him.
"This was simply a very good weekend," Van Baalen commented. "Four times I scored above 70% with Ratzinger and Dion Johnson. On Thursday I got my A-squad score in the Grand Prix and today I rode a personal best score in the Kur to Music on Ratzinger. This is only our sixth show at Grand Prix level. I could really ride him in the freestyle. The transitions went well. "
The Rhinelander Ratzinger is owned by Marlies' mom and coach Coby van Baalen in partnership with German trainer Johann Hinnemann.
"Johann trained him the first few years. I've been riding him since he was a small tour level," said Marlies. "Ratzinger has a lovely character and enormous gaits. We've worked hard on self carriage in the movements and it's going better each time."
Photos © Digishots
Related Links
Scores: 2016 CDI Drachten
Marlies van Baalen Sweeps the 2015 CDI Le Mans with Three Horses
Dressage Stable Van Baalen, Cultivating Talent from Grassroots to Grand Prix