Isabell Werth and Fabienne Lutkemeier became the stars of the big tour classes at the 2016 CDI 5* dressage competition held at the beautiful castle park of Schloss Biebrich in Wiesbaden, Germany, on 13 - 16 May 2016. The Friday classes were all cancelled due to excessive rain fall, but on the other days the show went on as planned.
Werth and Weihegold Dominate Special Tour
Isabell Werth and Christine Arns-Krogman's Oldenburg mare Weihegold (by Don Schufro x Sandro Hit) dominated the 5* Grand Prix Special Tour with major high scores, almost cracking the magical 80% barrier.
The duo aced the Grand Prix with 79.480%, far ahead of runner-up Hubertus Schmidt on the Trakehner licensed stallion Imperio (75.220%). In the Grand Prix Special the topped the board with 79.804% and referred Schmidt once more to second place (74.510%).
"For us the Special in Wiesbaden was very valuable," said Werth. "The mare is in super form but there still are a few issues, a bit of home work that we are taking home from here." Werth won in Wiesbaden for the twelfth time in her career. "More important than that number is that I achieved this with many different horses. I'm honoured that since yesterday I have been named honorary member of the Wiesbaden Riding Club. It means motivation and obligation to me to come come back to this show the next years."
The German A-squad riders are racing hard to earn top scores and grab the attention the Olympic team selection committee. Schmidt and Imperio once more proved consistency, while 2012 German Olympic individual rider Anabel Balkenhol had to retire her spooky Dablino from the Special.
"I preferred to have kept the distance (with Werth) closer," Hubertus Schmidt commented. "I got annoyed by one pirouette today, but I'm very happy with Imperio's motivation and contact with the bridle. He is very focused and does not get distracted, which is an advatange."
Lütkemeier Reigns in the Freestyle
In a beautiful floodlit setting Fabienne Lütkemeier won the Grand Prix Freestyle with Qui Vincit Dynamis on Sunday evening 15 May 2016. The pair danced to 76.750%. On the day of the Grand Prix, she already stated: “I never competed in the floodlight freestyle in Wiesbaden with him before. So I am very excited to see how it will go tomorrow, but I trust on his wisdom, he is 17-years-old.”
And she was right, the Oldenburger gelding performed superbly. They received eights for their piaffe and flying changes and for elasticity and harmony between rider and horse. Afterwards the International Business School graduate from Paderborn smiled: "I am completely happy with Quinci. He did such a good job and we really enjoyed it. I have used D’Agostino’s Freestyle as I did during the World Cup Final in Las Vegas. It is a difficult Freestyle, but Quinci can do it and it fits him."
Second place went to Juliane Brunkhorst and her 11-year-old Hannoverian stallion Fürstano with 74.350%. The pair received high marks for their half-passes in trot and in canter and passage. Italy’s Valentina Truppa finished in third place with the 19-year-old Chablis with 73.450%. Valentina was in tears after her test and said: “I have been riding him since he was three-years-old. He means more to me than a boyfriend.”
Photos © Stefan Lafrentz - WDM
Related Links
Scores 2016 CDI Wiesbaden
German Team Potentials To Appear at First Observation Event at 2016 CDI Wiesbaden
2016 CDI Wiesbaden Becomes World Dressage Masters' Station