Isabell Werth First Champion of Saab Top 10 Dressage at 2017 CDI Stockholm

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2017 CDI Stockholm

The very first champion of Saab Top 10 Dressage has been crowned at the 2017 CDI Stockholm on Sunday 3 December 2017. It is Isabell Werth (GER) with Emilio, who won the Grand Prix Kur to Music with 86,875%. Runner up is not Danish Cathrine Dufour, but Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and his mare Deja.

Kittel scored 83,000%. German Helen Langehanenberg (GER) finished third on Damsey FRH with 82,665%. Cathrine Dufour, who was second in the Grand Prix, dropped to fourth place.

Isabell Werth and the 11-year-old Emilio gave the audience and judges a very relaxed impression – well balanced in the extensions and easy back in collections. Emilio is still a young horse but has the advantage of having a champion in the saddle. With a fantastic show they pulled off a personal best together with 86,875%.

"I am really proud and it’s an honor to be the very first champion of Saab Top 10 Dressage. We, as riders, are so happy that we in Saab found a sponsor that supports us in this final, the whole package is perfect," said Werth. "The way Emilio did it today was perfect, it's not easy to warm up here, there is a lot to see and hear. I'm very happy with this weekend. It’s something special with this audience here in Stockholm, they have the exact feeling of when they can clap or not and this gave us just a super finish. There are many challenges in our program between collection and extension, for example from extended canter back to pirouette."

Patrik Kittel and Deja, a 13-year-old Swedish warmblood, were on fire! The two finished at 83,000%, a personal best for this combination.

"Deja is a very soft horse with a heart of gold. For me today it was so much power in everything, from audience, to judges, horses and riders," said Patrik Kittel. "Deja did some really good piaffes in the ring today; the test was just flowing for us. The coolest thing for me was that when you work with something for a very long time and it comes out like this, like all I have been hoping for... It is really a very good day at the office!"

Isabell Werth and Emilio During the competition a world record was set in spectator judging. Over 900 people in the audience used the app where you can do your own judging of the riders.

"The audience here at Sweden International Horse Show is really interested in the sport and has a high knowledge," said Kittel. "It is quite close between the spectator’s scores and the judges'. I think that is a good way to interact with the people in the arena and is something we have to work more with in the future."

Helen Langehanenberg and 15-year-old Damsey FRH, a horse she has only had since 2016, were third. The horse has, despite his age, developed a lot the past year and during the program he is light in his movements, calm, secure and safe. Langehanenberg pullde off a really nice show with a refreshing test for the audience. They also scored a personal best of 82,665%.

"I am super happy with my test, Damsey was so fresh but relaxed today, when we entered the arena he just wanted to do this," said Helen. "I don’t know what I could have done better. I’m ending up third today, I hadn’t really expect that. I love doing the freestyle and the horse was just perfect! I’m going home very happy after today's show and will go to sleep with a smile tonight!"