Swedish Power in 2021 CDI Ludwigsburg Grand Prix

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2021 CDI Ludwigsburg

The two youngest horses in the Grand Prix de Dressage - presented by BEMER Int. AG - were at the top: Touchdown and Denoix PCH are both nine years old, are experiencing their first Grand Prix season and both are stallions.

Touchdown has a great work ethic, his rider Patrik Kittel (Sweden) said. "I didn't want to attack at all, I went into the test thinking, let's have a go," said the Grand Prix winner, who was rewarded with 76.82 per cent. "He has only ridden a rural Grand Prix once, but he gives me an incredibly secure feeling as a rider. I've had a lot of horses, but never one that was so clear from the head. He has a good attitude."

At home he is sometimes not so easy, occasionally a bit "grumpy", but in a test he is always very focused. Eagerness to work and talent, that also characterises Denoix PCH, says the second-placed Reitmeister Hubertus Schmidt from Borchen (72.97 %). "This was only his third international show. I can't say that he is always easy to handle," Schmidt admitted with a laugh, "but in a competition he always does a great job. Outside he is sometimes so cheeky that I think you can't ride him in. But then you get to the Aachen stadium and he performs so super there." The smart Oldenburg Denoix PCH has already convinced in the NÜRNBERGER BURG-POKAL and as second placed horse in the final of the Louisdor Prize. Denoix PCH did not make his Grand Prix debut until June 2021. "I was very satisfied with today's test, even though we had two big mistakes in there," Schmidt admitted, although he wants to analyse his scores again in detail.

Third place remained "in the family": Lyndal Oatley, who has been Patrik Kittel's wife for eleven years and is Australian, took third place with the KWPN gelding Eros and smiled happily after hearing the result. Her partner is a very strict trainer, but also her husband, who is always very nervous when she rides. Good for him: "My wife is a really strong rider, that always calms me down a bit," Kittel said with a smile.

Wandres wins the first competition of the day

Frederic "Freddy" Wandres won the first event of the day at the International Ludwigsburg Dressage Festival with Harrods with a score of 74.26 percent in the Intermediaire I, presented by navalis nutraceuticals GmbH. For the dressage rider, who is also a member of the Olympic squad, the CDI in front of Schloss Monrepos represents a kind of "home game", as Wandres grew up in Kehl in southern Baden and made his competition debut in 1995. He completed his training at the Kasselmann stable in Hagen a.T.W. and is now one of the best German riders. Hubertus Schmidt with the only seven-year-old Estelle and the 26-year-old Linda Knoll (Ostrach) with FBW Fairplay H completed the top trio.

Dr. Werner Hildenbrandt, Chairman of the RV Ludwigsburg-Monrepos and initiator of the idea for the International Dressage Festival, did not hide his joy about the successful debut in front of the castle. He and Ullrich Kasselmann realised the idea. "What Ulli has put on here is fantastic. The ambience, the atmosphere - I am sure we will see many more spectators here on Saturday and Sunday." Horses, riders, music and exhibition in the white pagoda tents attracted onlookers from the spot who were happy to stay and enjoy dressage.

Admission to the event is free, live coverage is provided by the equestrian portal www.clipmyhorse.tv.