Entering the international arena on Ekwador, the London Olympic ride of Katarzyna Milczarek, Belgian Grand Prix rider Marc-Peter Spahn was satisfied with his results at the 2014 CDI Hagen on 23 - 27 April 2014, where the pair finished 12th in the Grand Prix and 8th in the Grand Prix Kur to music. After just 6 months working with the horse, Spahn is aware that there is still a long way for them to go together.
"I have taken the time, during this half a year, to get to know Ekwador and understand him," Marc told Eurodressage. "I have a feeling that he has done the same and we have tested each other step by step and I feel we now are on the same wavelength."
Spahn scored 67.540% in the Grand Prix and 71.000% in the Kur to Music. The pair still has a long way to go so Marc planned to ride carefully in Hagen and to search for control and a nice feeling on the horse.
"He was very concentrated and reacted well on the things I asked from him in Hagen. At home, we usually go a little further than this and I dare to ask him for more. As soon as I really feel that this is certain and safe and with no more misunderstandings, I will desire more in the show arena. In any case, at Horse & Dreams we both got to know each other better and I have gained a lot of information. After seeing the videos , I can adapt my feeling better and can tune in to how it looks."
Marc describes the Holsteiner stallion Ekwador as a great horse to work with, but he also admits he had some problems with Ekwador on the day of training before the test. On the day of the show he felt nice though and he really wanted to join Marc in achieving his objective.
"He was obedient and he waited on all signals. He is very intelligent, a real professor, and so sometimes he can be more responsive than I wish, and starts doing his own program. He's super handsome, and I have always loved his look. He is a real King of the stable," he explained.
The 14-year old stallion Ekwador has the thoroughbred sire Heraldik xx, that led the WBSFH eventing rankings with his offspring competing at the highest level in all three disciplines. His Holsteiner dam Enigma traces back to the unsurpassed Cor de La Bryère and Landgraf I.
According to Marc, Ekwador knows he is beautiful and acts like that, literally and figuratively, and Marc enjoys getting to know the king inside and out!
"All days I study him, not only under saddle, but also in the stable and in hand while walking or grazing. Everyone who works with me and with him, the owner l'Roubi Roubi, grooms, chiropracters, farrier, the vet, all have their stories about the King, and I like to listen to how they experienced him and this is also where I get a lot of information about his "directions for use”."
Spahn first spotted Ekwador five years ago under Polish Katarzyna Milczarek and he was crazy about the horse right away. Searching for a Grand Prix horse that would fit him Marc talked with London based fashion degisner l'Roubi Roubi about the horse and convinced hom to take the next flight to Berlin.
"I tested the stallion twice and watched the movies and made the decision together with Mr. L'Roubi in mid-October last year that we could have the stallion at our stable in Niebert, The Netherlands," Spahn explained.
With three international competitions on the horizon starting with Lipica, Munich-Riem and Rotterdam, Marc is also going to ride the two mandatory national shows in Belgium, the CDN Diepenbeek & CDN Hulsterlo Belgian Championship, to fulfil the Belgian WEG selection criteria.
"As a rider you have to always have the highest goals in mind and try to go for it. Our technical advisor and national coach has these shows, among others, designated as observation shows for the WEG 2014," he said. "If they decide that I am ready, I'll go. If it comes too early, I will just proceed with my training and then decide again for the next target."
To perfect his dressage performance, Marc says he needs the perfect mirror, a person who is watching critically and helps him out on the ground.
"Right now I get a lot of help from my partner Ykje Baron. She is pretty level-headed when she helps me and tells me exactly how she finds it. Sometimes it is hard too, but because of her critical eye, you really want to become better. I have also already contacted Tineke Bartels, because I trained with her in the past and I've learned a lot from this great professional woman. She has so much experience and can explain it very well, the feeling that you have to search for. We agreed that I should become first a combination and to take the time for tuning in to each other. I know that if there are problems, she would immediately help me. Until now, there has been no big problems, I just took the time to read carefully the 'operating instructions'. Tineke always has a full schedule, but she has always helped me with Anders (his previous GP horse) and she will help me now with Ekwador."
Text by Sarah Warne - Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Scores - 2014 CDI Hagen
2014 Belgian Dressage Squads Updated
Belgian Road to 2014 World Equestrian Games Set
What's Happening: November 2013 - Part 1
