Swedish Patrik Kittel and the Swedish warmblood mare Deha (by Silvano x Don Schufro) were the winners of the Grand Prix for Kur held in the Almased Dressage Stadium at Hof Kasselmann's 2016 CDO Hagen Horses & Dreams Meets Denmark on Saturday 23 April 2016. This is the third year in a row that Kittel won the Grand Prix in Hagen.
When observing Patrik Kittel in the warm-up arena, his facial expression already reveals which horse he is riding. If it is Deja, a satisfying smile accompanies even the most difficult exercises of dressage. Piaffe, passage, pirouettes – the premier league of dressage seems to be a playground for the Swedish rider and the 12-year-old Silvano-daughter. The duo accomplishes even the most difficult tasks dressage has to offer with the utmost ease.
“It is a marvellous feeling to ride this horse,” the 39-year-old rider, who is running a training and show stable in Nottuln, smiles. “Deja is always motivated, has a real big heart and a fantastic character, and she always performs at the highest level.” Kittel and Deja feel comfortable in Hagen at the Teutoburg Forest. They won the Small Tour in 2013 and had their victorious debut in the Grand Prix in 2014. Last year, Kittel’s radiant winner’s smile was again shining from the rostrum.It is the same this year at Horses & Dreams meets Denmark, because the duo won the Grand Prix, presented by Helenenhof – Schwiebert-family, for the third time.
Second place went to the third of the World Cup Final that was held only a couple of weeks ago, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with Zaire BB. Third finished Fabienne Lütkemeier with D’Agostino FRH.Patrick Kittel had already announced at the beginning of her career that Deja was probably his horse for the Olympics in Rio. „We have taken the first steps on our road to Rio with this victory!“
Desperados super in the Special
The Almased Dressage Stadium shone in the light of the setting sun on Saturday evening 23 April 2016 when the 15 best horse-rider-combinations from the Grand Prix showed up in the arena. Kristina Bröring-Sprehe and Desperados accomplished once again the best round in the Grand Prix Special, presented by Nordpack GmbH, and they won the test like in the Grand Prix. “I had an excellent feeling, mainly in the passage and in the transitions,” summarized Bröring-Sprehe.
“There were some minor mistakes, but they were clearly mine. Sometimes I think Desperados knows the test better than I do,” smiles the number one of the world rankings. Second place went to two youngsters. Sönke Rothenberger and the only nine-year-old Cosmo presented a convincing round and finished second – their first Grand Prix Special together and the first test of this kind for the horse at all.
Third came in Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with her Unee BB. There will be a break for Desperados after Horses & Dreams before the duo will continue their trip to the Olympics in Rio in August.
National Coach Monica was satisfied: „I think this was an excellent start of the Olympic season. The horses of the national A-Team that participated here in Hagen performed at a very high level; an excellent situation from the German point of view. I am quite optimistic, but am also careful with too much enthusiasm as there is always something that might happen. But we of course don’t hope so.”
Fürst Levantino to win first ticket for 2016 Nurnberger Burgpokal Final
The qualifier for the Nuremberg Cup traditionally starts in Hagen. The prestigious dressage series for 7- to 9-year-old horses can be described as German Championships for developing Prix St Georges horses. Many impressive careers started here in Hagen: Heike Kemmer’s Bonaparte, El Santo of Isabell Werth, Nadine Capellmann’s Elvis or Victoria Max-Theurer’s Augustin are names of winners of the Nuremberg Cup. But despite all tradition, there are sometimes also innovations. As of 2016, only the best 12 horse-rider combinations from the opening competition will have the opportunity to compete in the qualifier – participation had been voluntary before. The pre-selected dozen met on Saturday afternoon in the Almased Dressage Stadium to compete for the qualification.
Fürst Levantino is the first competitor in the Final. The Oldenburg stallion was bred by Paul Schockemöhle at the Gestüt Lewitz, is owned by Bettina Schockemöhle and was ridden by the head trainer in the stable of Paul Schockemöhle, Isabel Freese (NOR). By the way, Bettina Schockemöhle had exclusively ridden the now 8-year-old Fürst Romancier - Sandro Hit-son at the age of five and six. Freese started to train him at the age of seven, except when Schockemöhle had placed him in advanced level dressage tests
Second place went to Helen Langehanenberg with the 8-year-old Spielberg-son Suppenkasper, followed by Kira Wulferding and Benaglio. It is a fantastic tradition in the history of the Nuremberg Cup that parallel to the young horses, the youngest riders are fostered, too. Each stage of the Burgpokal also announces a leadline competition, presented by Nürnberger Versicherungen. Cosima-Nike Schmedt won with Lucky Luke WE in the first division, Elena Meyer zu Reckendorf and Champus the second division.
Photos © Appels - Frieler
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2016 CDI Hagen