Danish Carina Cassoe Kruth and the Danish warmblood mare May Day Graftebjerg danced to victory in the kur to music at the 2018 CDI Vestfold "Arctic Equestrian Games" in Norway on 19 - 21 February 2018.
Carina Cassoe Kruth and her 15-year old Danish warmblood mare May Day Graftebjerg (by Dream of Heidelberg) were fourth in the Grand Prix with 68.065% and opted to ride the freestyle instead of the Special. They won the Kur to Music with 72.885%.
Cassoe Kruth was very frank about her performances in Vestfold: "I did actually not have the best Grand Prix," she admitted. "She was a bit tense overall and there was some big mistakes. For the kür she settled a lot more and I had a really nice ride and I am very happy. Nice test with no mistakes and doing the best she could on the level she is right now. It is only the second time I rode the freestyle. The first time was in Mechelen."
Carina has known May Day, who is bred by the late Arne Bjerg-Nielsen, since the mare was a youngster. However, she has only been riding the mare for one year after tragedy struck her family. The mare was originally owned by Carina's mom and her husband Kasper Olsen.
"Kasper trained and educated her, until we lost him to cancer a year ago," said Carina. "When I took over the ride and bought her for myself May Day had not competed in four years. We did our first Grand Prix in August 2017 at a national show."
The 33-year old Carina Cassoe Kruth, who is married to Casper Cassoe, chair of the Danish warmblood society, made her CDI debut on May Day in Herning in October 2017 in the Intermediaire II (69.184%) and Grand Prix (65.420%). Two months later they traveled to the CDI Mechelen and now added Vestfold to their tally. The pair trains with Andreas Helgstrand.
"Her best qualities are her piaffes and canter pirouettes," Carina explained. "The passage is getting better. The same with the series, but there is so much more to improve since she's only been on Grand Prix level for such a short time."
Cassoe Kruth, who has her 7-year old World Championship finalists Heiline's Danciera and Red Diamant coming along, will be competing May Day at the CDI Herning in two weeks time and aims for the 2018 Nordic Baltic Championships in May.
"In Herning I am hoping to improve my scores especially in the Grand Prix," she smiled. "And I'm hoping to ride some World Cups when the new season starts. And then some international shows during the summer."
Photo © Celina Ludvigsen
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