Due to the low scores at the first CDI qualifier in the Wittenberg, Herentals, the KBRSF Dressage Commission was urged to host another selection show. None of the Grand Prix and Prix St. Georges riders were able to gather a score higher than 63%
, a required standard for a three star CDI, in Herentals.
The show at Equestrian Centre Gerrits resulted for most riders in a same disappointment. Three Grand Prix riders were invited and the appearance of one particular combination was some sort of surprise. Stefan Van Ingelgem already showed his intentions for GP at the George Wahl clinics throughout the winter. His seven year old Russian warmblood Bravurnik was already performing piaffe, passage and tempi changes every single stride. But with Bravurnik being so young it was only logical that Mr. Van Ingelgem would still continue riding PSG - Intermediaire I for the 1999 season. In Vliermaalroot Bravurnik seemed to control his GP movements pretty well, but with a rear in his pirouette and tempi changes from the left to the right instead of going straight a score of more than 63% amazed everyone including the rider himself.
Ludo Verbraeken performed better than at the Wittenberg. He showed more fluent piaffe-passage transitions and 100% straight tempi changes. Juturn's piaffe contained more elevation than last's years trampling. A score of 58% was a little underrated by judges Otten and Meersmans, especially when one looks at the contrast with Koen Verdegem's performance with Kiwi (59%).
De Wittenberg also counted as trial for the European Championships for Young Dressage horses. Most riders received a notification of the Belgian Equestrian Federation three weeks before the trial; a period which is definitely too short to prepare a young horse for such an important day. We do hope that the dressage commission shall try to sparse their intentions for such trails on an earlier notice in the future.