There was an air of eager anticipation at the Addington High Profile dressage competition on Saturday 22 January as enthusiasts waited for the Grand Prix debut of Carl Hester and Mrs Luard’s 9 year old Valegro (by Negro) ridden by Charlotte Dujardin. They were not disappointed, as despite a few ‘green’ mistakes this powerhouse young horse scored an impressive 74.610%
to take the 25 horse class ahead of Dujardin’s employer and trainer Carl Hester, who in turn was riding Dujardin’s horse Fernandez (by Florestan).
There was great excitement in the audience and jubilation in the Hester/Dujardin camp when Valegro’s scores were announced, including three 10s for extended trot and canter. While warming up for his own test Hester joked that he “might as well get off now”! But all was not lost as he nailed a mistake-free test to finish second behind his protégée on a score of 74.255%, with two of the three judges having him in first place.
In third place was another exciting combination in Nikki Crisp riding her own Pasoa (by Damocles), with a score of 72.482%. This mare’s expressive paces and personality really catch the eye and her rider was thrilled with their result. In fourth place was European and WEG team silver medallist Maria Eilberg and Two Sox (by Ehrentusch), who deservedly scored 71.702% with their usual stylish and accurate test. Maria’s younger brother Michael was not far behind with Dr and Mrs Bechtolsheimer’s Monet (by Michellino).
All these combinations showed correct training and elegant riding and it augurs well for Team GBR to have such improving strength in depth in the build up to the London Olympics 2012.
Speaking from his Gloucestershire home on Tuesday morning, Hester commented on the continuing intrigue of his stable jockey riding his horse. “Having been a rider for 20 years I am now thrilled as an owner to see Valegro and Charlotte in action and to have produced them to this standard. It’s great fun and they are one of the most exciting up and coming combinations in dressage today, having won 9 out of 11 international classes over the past year. Charlotte’s horse Fernandez is ‘the professor’; he stretches his body to the limit to give the maximum in his tests. When I heard Charlotte’s scores announced on Saturday it really motivated me to ride the best test I could. My other Grand Prix rides Uthopia and Rosso will be coming out in March and both Charlotte and I will be campaigning for team selection.”
Nikki Crisp reflected on her lovely mare’s performance and their journey to this point. “I’ve owned Pasoa since she was 5 and she was very difficult as a young horse. I didn’t want to push her harder in her training and I’m delighted that she is now comfortable in the work, as with fine tuning she will do everything for an 8. She doesn’t have a single weak area and her piaffe/passage is spectacular. I’m very grateful to the World Class Programme for sending me to Imke Schellekens-Bartels in Holland 18 months ago. I’ve been back 3 times since and it has really helped to establish the GP movements. My aim for this year is to do as many international shows as possible and score consistently over 70%. I will fit in more training with Imke around my campaign and I also train with Erik Theilgaard here in the UK.”
By Jayne Caudle for Eurodressage.com
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Scores 2011 CDN Addington
Valegro Second in Prix St Georges at 2011 CDI Zwolle
Minderhoud and Tango Win 2011 CDI Zwolle Grand Prix