While in Western Europe some autumn CDI's are getting cancelled due to a lack of entries and oversupply of shows since the spring of 2021, the Central European League World Cup qualifier and indoor CDI in Zakrzow, Poland, had no such worries.
A packed field from pony level to Grand Prix made the show buzz with excitement on the weekend of 21 - 24 October 2021.
Werndl and Ferdinand BB Win World Cup Qualifier
Olympic champion Jessica van Bredow-Werndl rode her rising Grand Prix horse Ferdinand BB into his first international Grand Prix class in January 2021 and has been putting the miles and ring experience on the 12-year old Hanoverian by Florencio x Lanciano, owned by Beatrice Burchler-Keller.
Zakrzow was the horse's first World Cup qualifier with the new short Grand Prix test as warm-up round. It was not yet smooth sailing with this quick and difficult programme. They placed sixth with 70.658%. In the freestyle, however, which can be tailored to the horse's ability and strength, Werndl rose to the top of the board and won the World Cup qualifier 78.770%
"Ferdinand saw a few Halloween ghosts in the first test in Zakrzow. He was really scared at the beginning and that was really difficult. During the test it got better and better and he left the arena with a good feeling. Fortunately, the spook was over on the second day," Jessica explained.
Reshuffle
The winner of the Short Grand Prix was Austrian Christian Schumach on Franziska Fries' 10-year old Holsteiner bred Te Quiero SF (by Totilas x Loutano). In his first year at international Grand Prix level, the bright bay has had a busy programme starting his Olympic campaign in May in Ornago, followed by the CDI Achleiten, then flown to Tokyo for the Olympics and the European Championships six week later. Two weeks after Hagen the horse won the Austrian Grand Prix Championships. Another two weeks later he was trailered to Poland for his first World cup qualifier. Schumach won the Short Grand Prix with 72.342% and placed fifth in the freestyle with 75.765%.
At the Austrian Championships, Schumach said that Te Quiero would go back to owner Franziska, but instead he took the Holsteiner to Zakrzow. "At the beginning of the season 2021 we decided that Christian will ride Te Quiero during the whole season and that i am going to take over the reins in winter," Franziska told Eurodressage. "Christian did a fantastic job and Te Quiero was able to gain a lot of experience. At the beginning he had no self confidence and sometimes it was a difficult way, but now he is such a superstar and it's a pleasure to work with him. It was the best decision and I am more than happy with the development. Zarkzow was the(ir) last competition."
Austrian Presence
Austria had a strong presence at the World Cup qualifier in Zakrzow. While Schumach won the short Grand Prix, fellow country mate Timna Zach produced two consistent rounds aboard her own and René Hagemeier's 11-year old KWPN gelding Farant (by Spielberg x Negro).
Zach was second in the Short Grand Prix with 72,184% and third in the freestyle with 77,530%.
Photos © Lukasz Kowalski
Related Links
Scores: 2021 CDI-W Zakrzow
