The 2018 CDI Hagen Horses & Dreams wrapped up on Sunday 29 April with a Grand Prix Special victory for Sönke Rothenberger, who beat Isabell Werth on Emilio after the Grand Prix winners made a mistake.
Sönke Rothenberger takes off with Cosmo
The two rising stars in the German championship squad, 23-year-old Sönke Rothenberger (Bad Homburg) and his eleven-year-old gelding Cosmo were able to repeat their success in the Grand Prix Special from last year. After a Grand Prix speckled with mistakes they impressed with a great performance in the Special. The pair scored a winning 82.255% even though the individual judges' marks differed greatly going from 79.894% to an 84.787%
“Cosmo felt more consistent today, he got used to the atmosphere remarkably quickly. Although I decided to still stay on the cautious side in the extended canter. I’m still playing with fire,” Rothenberger smiled.
Second place went to Isabell Werth (Rheinberg) with Emilio on 81.383% (her scored ranged from 78.936% to 84.255%!!), ahead of Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (Tuntenhausen) and Zaire E with 77.872%.
Kristina Bröring-Sprehe Dominates the Freestyle
They placed in first ahead of Severo Jesus Jurado Lopez (ESP) and Deep Impact in second and Patrik Kittel (SWE) and Delaunay OLD in third. The trio was in for a special treat at presentation time; to honour the partner country Jordan the lap of honour was performed on camels. Riders and spectators alike loved the unusual spectacle.
Golden Rider Badge
The Kasselmann family had also organised a surprise for three other dressage riders. Felicitas Rost (Rotenburg), Zina Facklam (Preussisch Oldendorf) and Alexa Westendarp (Wallenhorst) received the prestigious Golden Riding Badge as part of Horses & Dreams meets the Royal Kingdom of Jordan. They were awarded the special honour for ten wins at advanced level.
2018 Horses & dreams, a Great Success
“We enjoyed a wonderful atmosphere on the show grounds since day one, for me personally, this was one of the best Horses & Dreams we ever had,” enthused event host Ullrich Kasselmann. The great relationship to the Jordanian Royal House and the resulting partnership opportunities in particular made this Horses & Dreams meets the Royal Kingdom of Jordan to a festival of hospitality. The venue was alive with oriental sounds and delights on each day of the event, and attracted tens of thousands of spectators on the sunny weekend days.
Kasselmann with camels
For 2019 Ullrich Kasselmann is already looking forward to several sponsorship commitments, “And we will be sure to utilise the newly erected floodlight towers and further develop the show. It already made for a wonderful atmosphere this year.”
There’s one tradition Ullrich Kasselmann is not going to part with, “We can’t announce the next partner country just yet, but I can already confirm that it will be a European country.”The next event at Hof Kasselmann will be Future Champions from 13 to 17 June 2018, the world’s largest young rider show. Kasselmann is looking forward to welcoming the young dressage and jumping talent, “I’d say about 80% of riders competing here at Horses & Dreams have started their career at Future Champions.”
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Related Links
Scores: 2018 CDI Hagen
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2018 CDI Hagen