With none of the German mega stars attending the 2017 CDIO Rotterdam, the road was clear for America's sweetheart Laura Graves to capture the trophy in the 5* Grand Prix on Thursday 22 June 2017. The Nations' Cup Grand Prix in Rotterdam became a tropical thriller with all the ingredients for an entertaining and interesting, top level competition: high quality horses, atypical performances due to the heat, wind picking up, objects flying away, and weird scoring.
America's number one Laura Graves rode her first European show of 2017. For U.S riders 2017 is a non-championship year so the World Cup Finals at the beginning of April were the highlight event of the year. Graves went from competing in the sterile, unchanging environment of Wellington, to being thrown with the lions into the electric indoor arena in Omaha for the World Cup. Her first Euro-outing in Rotterdam presented quite the challenge as the outdoor stadium definitely presented its own challenges: The atmosphere in Rotterdam was certainly championship-like with the big grandstands and crowds, all set in 32° summer heat. When Laura and Verdades came into the arena a brisk breeze had picked up, heralding the thunderstorm that broke out right after the class.
Graves and the 15-year old Dutch warmblood Verdades (by Florett As x Goya) began with a first ground covering trot extension, which was slightly hurried. The half passes were big and sweeping, the halt for rein back hesitant but the steps backwards were big. The second extension was better, the first passage very elegant but with the poll dropped. There was no sit in the first piaffe and it crept too much forward. The extended walk had good overtack but the nose could have been more out. The second passage was much better as well as the second piaffe which stayed more on the spot but Verdades is still unable to close the frame in it. Instead he stretches out the front and hind legs. The canter work was rock solid: a safe extended canter, fantastic tempi changes, a very good zig zag, balanced pirouettes. Verdades' third trot extension was the best one and the final centerline with passage was very expressive though slightly crooked to the right before the piaffe.
The judging panel in Rotterdam was one full of experience with five 5* star judges: Isobel Wessels (GBR), Susan Hoevenaars (AUS), Hans-Christian Matthiesen (DEN), Evi Eisenhardt (GER), and Francis Verbeek (NED). Graves produced a very good ride, not her best, but certainly the most superior one of the day. It earned her a winning score of 79.460%. It's a pity the piaffe remains to be a problem, otherwise the 80% would easily be cracked. The fact that there were still small imperfections explained the big difference in the scores: Eisenhardt had her at 76.400%; the other four were more optimistic with Hoevenaars even rewarding the test an 81.200%.
The best performance from a home hero Dutch rider came from Madeleine Witte-Vrees on the 10-year old Dutch warmblood Cennin (by Vivaldi x Donnerhall). Madeleine had her chestnut stallion on top form in Rotterdam, riding her best test ever so far. The trot and canter extensions were massive, the extended walk fantastic. The horse crossed the legs well in the half passes but could have developed more suspension in them. The first piaffe has a nice rhythm and was on the spot, but Cennin needs to get more off the forehand. In passage the horse has much lift in front but the hindlegs are not always very engaged behind. The first passage was good, the second a bit weak from behind. The canter work was secure with strong tempi changes. The zig zag could cover more ground to the left and the right pirouette was a bit big. In the final piaffe at X the horse swung in front. Cennin scored 75.660% for a fantastic second place in the Grand Prix.
American Olivia Lagoy-Weltz could not have wished for a better European debut. Her 13-year old Danish warmblood Rassing's Lonoir (by De Noir x Loran) was on point and was with his rider the entire time. The first trot extension was conservative, the half passes nice, and the horse developed a good rhythm in the first piaffe. Lonoir achieved two hooves overtrack in the extended walk but the rhythm was mediocre. Lonoir was very consistent in the bridle and steady in the neck, though the horizontal curb could be released a bit more. The horse was uphill in the extended canter but the nose could have been more out. The tempi changes were ground covering but the hindquarters swung a bit to the right. The pirouettes were small though there was a loss of impulsion in the right one. The new pair on the European scene scored an impressive 74.580% for a third place finish. Lagoy-Weltz has been trained to Grand Prix level by Lars Petersen, after which she switched to Debbie McDonald. Olivia has also been working with an unidentified German trainer most recently.
Swedish Therese Nilshagen and the 10-year old Oldenburg bred Dante Weltino (by Danone I x Welt Hit II) are one of those pairs that could be solidly scoring over 75% and be one of the world's best combinations if their test riding becomes more polished. As last combination to go it was interesting to see if they would capture a place in the top three, but a few blemishes made them land fourth place with 73.820%. The very sympathetic licensed stallion has a beautiful side silhouette. He is very graceful in the trot work with big extensions and elegant half passes. He is always very happy and soft in the contact, even though he still can't keep the poll as highest point throughout the ride. The extended walk had good overstep but the stride length could be longer. A sneeze unbalanced him in the passage. The second piaffe was ok, but he can do better. The extended canter was very uphill, the zig zag could have more ground cover and the last change was crooked. The tempi changes were good, the exit from the left pirouette was a bit sloppy. Overall the duo was a pleasure to watch.
Hans Peter Minderhoud and the 15-year old Dutch warmblood stallion Johnson (by Jazz x Flemmingh) did their first show in eight months time and finished fifth. The bay looked fit and fresh despite the heat and worked hard for his rider. The rein back was a bit rushed and in the first piaffe he got narrow behind, almost crossing the hind legs. The passage was very expressive, even though the right hand leg not always tracked up equally. In the walk the horse ran a bit out of steam. A sneezing fit disrupted the two tempi changes, but the extended canter was very nice. The tempi changes were straight but in the zig zag the horse could have covered more ground. The left pirouette was the best one of the two. They scored 73.400 %.
After the Grand Prix, Team USA leads the provisional ranking with 225.600 points despite their big set back due to the elimination of Dawn White-O' Connor on the 15-year old Westfalian Legolas. The bay gelding showed good trot half passes but was very tender in the first trot extension and unlevel in the second. The judge at C rang the bell and excused the pair from the test. The Dutch team are provisionally in second place with 222.080%. Holland's third score came from Edward Gal and the 15-year old Voice. The black stallion produced good tempi changes and small pirouettes but the piaffes were problematic with the right hind leg stepping far out from under the body and the horse showed the tongue throughout the test. Team Sweden is in third place so far with 212.400%. Sweden's second best ride came from the brand new National Champions, Rose Mathisen on Zuidenwind. Third rider Juliette Ramel finally made her come back on Buriel KH after ten months away from competition (their last show was Rio!). Ramel and the hyper talented Buriel appeared ring rusty with the horse constantly dropped behind the vertical. The passage and piaffe were still superb.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - No reproduction allowed
Eurodressage's Astrid Appels was on the scene taking photos of all dressage riders. If you are interested in digital files or prints for personal use, social media, etc. contact us.
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