It has been my 2022 new year's resolution to personally cover a few new international dressage competitions instead of the usual high profile shows I go to like a homing pigeon. One of these new CDI's on the calendar and not such a far drive away from ED headquarters is the CDI Troisdorf, a stone's throw from the buzzing German city of Cologne.
CDI Troisdorf: By Riders, for Riders
Located at a newly revamped Haus Rott equestrian centre, the CDI Troisdorf presented a very nice, low-key intimate style competition. Shouldered by German amateur rider Lukas Blatzheim, the competition had only one show ring, a beautiful outdoor arena with green paddocks and trees surrounding it, and the warm-up indoors. Only the constant zooming of the busy motorway traffic behind the lorry park reminded the attendants of the nearby urbanization.
The crew at Troisdorf had big smiles on their faces and worked a long weekend with relentless enthusiasm. Their first international was hosted in 2021 and had around 50 riders. With their second edition this year they were already bursting at the seams: 120 show horses and a few more training one that came along, were too much for the premises although the staff worked hard to accommodate everyone to their wishes. The balance for this show probably lies at 100 horses max.
Grand Prix Debut for Thiago
The handsome Thiago's international career began in 2021 at small tour level with starts in Munich, Deauville, Crozet, Aachen and Randbol. At the beginning of 2022 they showed in the medium tour at the CDI Ornago in Italy, before making the leap to Grand Prix in Troisdorf.
The testosterone fuelled stallion has quite a presence in the arena with his gorgeous looks and three outstanding basic gaits. The 9-year old is still very green at Grand Prix and it showed in the test. In the Grand Prix he struggled with the piaffe, which either travelled too much forward or lost the rhythm. It kept the score at 70.565%, which was still enough for the victory. The judges (Vietor, Saleh, Holler, Stukelj, Danzberg) were not on the same level of what they saw. Slovakian judge Vietor had the pair at 68.913% and German judge Holler rewarded the ride with 73.152%.
Bastings Wins Special
Bastings has only competed the bay gelding at three CDI's before Troisdorf, starting in 2020 at the CDI-W Brno and returning there in the Czech Republic in 2021 to claim the victory in the World Cup qualifying freestyle class. In 2022 they also showed in Kronenberg with a 69.739% in the Grand Prix.
Luxembourg Charge
With the 2022 World Championships in Herning on the horizon, Luxembourg Grand Prix riders have been coming out this spring in full force.
In Troisdorf, Schulz and Dayman were third in the Grand Prix with 70.283% and second in the Special with 69.787%. The Westfalian is extremely gifted for piaffe and passage but in the tempi changes the rider struggled in the saddle.
A third Luxembourg Grand Prix rider was in Troisdorf making their mark: Mathis Goerens on the 10-year old Westfalian stallion Riptide (by Rock Forever x Show Star). After placing 7th in the consolation finals at the 2019 World Young Horse Championships, the pair made its national Grand Prix debut in 2021 and competed in the Louisdor Cup qualifier at the 2022 CDI Hagen. In Troisdorf they posted 66.326% for 8th place in the Grand Prix. The dark bay stallion is also talented for piaffe and passage, but throughout the test was flexed to the right, not yet showing the desired bending and elasticity on the left rein and overall straightness.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED
Eurodressage was in Troisdorf on Thursday and Friday and photographed all riders competing those days. If you are interested in our photos, email us.
Related Links
Scores: 2022 CDI Troisdorf
Inaugural CDI Troisdorf Welcomes International Riders with Extra Focus on Amateurs and Young Horses
