The 2021 CDIO Aachen kicked off on Thursday morning 16 September 2021 with the Prix St Georges class, which was won by Helen Langehanenberg on the very elegant mare, Schöne Scarlett.
2021 Special CHIO Edition
The 2021 CHIO Aachen is taking place in a very different edition with limited spectator capacity due to corona. The organizers were only allowed to sell tickets to 30% of its capacity, although the local authorities increased that amount to 50% at the start of the week.
In the 2020 corona year, the CHIO was initially postponed to the month of September and then eventually called off, the first time a CHIO Aachen ever got cancelled since 1898 (!), although no shows were held during World War II.
With not only the Olympic Games taking place in Tokyo this summer as well as the European Dressage Championships in Hagen last week, the CHIO Aachen was not able to attract the world super stars to its show as those horses are not having a rest. This meant that many top riders are bringing their second or third horses, or riders from nations otherwise not invited now get a chance to compete at this prestigious venue.
Opening Class for Schöne Scarlett
Helen Langehanenberg and the 8-year old Hanoverian mare Schöne Scarlett (by Scolari x Londonderry) topped the board with a convincing ride in which the elegant mare showed lovely tempi changes and ability to collect in the half pirouettes. She was crooked at times, but still produced quality work.
Judges Susan Hoevenaars, Katrina Wust, Yuri Romanov, Francis Verbeek-van Rooy, and Christof Umbach rewarded Langehanenberg with a winning score of 76.324%. Three had the pair first, two second.
The dark bay mare, owned by Heidi Bouws, competed for the first time in Aachen and for the first time in five months as rider Langehanenberg had been in Tokyo as German team reserve and won team gold in Hagen at the Europeans last week.
"We spent that time practicing Grand Prix exercises,” Helen Langehanenberg explained about the horse's five month absence from the show ring. “She was totally unimpressed (in the Aachen arena). When it comes to her character, she is simply a dream!"
Wandres and Scholtens
A beautifully pregnant Emmelie Scholtens returned to the international arena after a break of four months with Ad Valk's 8-year old KWPN stallion Indian Rock (by Apache x Vivaldi). The gorgeous dark bay breeding stallion with the most picturesque face is a very talented mover, but needs to develop a bit more strength from behind. He obediently listened to his rider's aids and posted 74.500% on the leader board for third place.
Ones to Watch
A pair definitely to watch is Spanish duo Guillermo Garcia Ayala and the 9-year old PRE stallion Poeta de Susaeta (by Cacique IX x Oficial XXIX). Owned by the breeder, the black stallion competed at the 2017 and 2018 World Young Horse Championships and made his international small tour debut last May at the CDI Camarma de Esteruelas in Spain. This was the duo's first ride at FEI level outside Spain - aside from Ermelo of course - and they definitely stood their ground in a field of very established professional riders. They scored a well earned 72.176% for fifth place.
Matthias Rath has a lovely developing Prix St Georges horse in the licensed stallion Thiago GS (by Totilas x Warkant), who is home bred by his step mom Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff out of her international Grand Prix mare Wahajama. The compact Oldenburg stallion has lovely gaits, but could be a bit more steady in the connection. He scored 71.147% for seventh place.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - No Reproduction allowed
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Related Links
Scores: 2021 CDIO Aachen
2020 CHIO Aachen Cancelled, Withdraws Option to Host in September
