Sönke Rothenberger and Fendi Declare Their Intentions with 2023 CDI Hagen 4* Grand Prix Victory

Exactly one year after Sönke Rothenberger premiered his new Grand Prix horse (Kjaerholm's) Fendi in the national Louisdor Cup qualifier in Hagen, the pair declared its intentions for something greater - German team selection - by winning the 4* international Grand Prix for Special class at the 2023 Horses & Dreams competition in Hagen, Germany, on Thursday 20 April 2023.

Where is Spring?

The day was bleak, sombre, grey, wet and very cold and although the fruit trees are in full bloom and the first leaves are showing, nothing reminded of spring yesterday. The weather was depressing and with it the atmosphere at the show. All spectators, riders, team members were dressed in full winter gear with big downy duvet coats, hats with pompoms, gloves, scarves and a facial expression set at sixty thirty. Grumbling, moaning and groaning sounded louder than the background music provided by Markus Hinzke. 

Fortunately the quality of horses in the 4* Grand Prix for Special brought some cheerfulness to the beautiful arenas at Hof Kasselmann. A very strong field of competitors with numerous team and squad riders made their first outing on German soil at an outdoor competition this 2023 calendar year. 

The class was judged by an experienced panel, consisting of Elke Ebert, Susanne Baarup, Peter Storr, Henning Lehrmann, and Elisabeth Max-Theurer. They were in the mood for some high scores

Stake Their Claim

German Sönke Rothenberger and the 9-year old Danish warmblood bred Kjaerholm Fendi (by Franklin x Diamond) were the winners of the 2022 Louisdor Cup for Developing Grand Prix Horse. He got whopping scores in Frankfurt, but at their international debut in October 2022 in Leeuwarden (NED), the first international Grand Prix score was a more "modest" 71.543%. There would be nothing of the sort in Hagen, where Germans have to declare their intentions at the start of the season. The pair won the class with 77.152%, receiving scores between 75.435% (Baarup) and 78.370 (Storr). Four judges had them first, one third.

The talented Danish gelding was a sensation list year but in his first classic Grand Prix looked a bit less natural going. Still the pair showed fabulous things: great trot half passes, good big diagonal steps in the rein back, very nice sit in the pirouettes. The passage had a lovely silhouette and activity, but at times the right hindleg could engage and carry more. The piaffe shows good promise and enough leg lift but the horse still leans on the forehand. The extended walk had plenty of overtrack but the 4-beat rhythm needed better articulation. Also in the trot extensions one would like to see more overstep. Overall it was a very impressive ride but it needed a bit more polish in the transitions and finish of the execution of the movements. 

As we already wrote last year, this horse is a clear team candidate for Riesenbeck this summer as Germany is in desperate need of succession with the top thinning out dramatically in the last few years. 

Scandinavian 2 - 3 - 4

Danish Nanna Skodborg Merrald returned from her second place at the World Cup Finals in Omaha (USA) on Blue Hors Zepter to trailer the 12-year old Hanoverian Blue Hors St. Schufro (by St. Moritz Junior x Don Schufro) to Hagen. The trot extensions showed plenty of shoulder freedom, but there could be more overtrack. The half passes were big and the rein back well executed. The first piaffe was rather small, but St. Schufro showed a nice relaxed extended walk. In passage the hindlegs did not come enough under the body and the second piaffe was hesitant and leaned on the shoulders. The two tempi changes were ok but could be straighter, the ones worked out but the right changes appeared easier. Overall it was a solid test, but we preferred the one we saw in Mechelen.  They scored 75.848% for a second place. 

Swedish Patrik Kittel and the 11-year old Westfalian mare Forever Young HRH (by Furst Fugger x Don Bosco) we saw three weeks ago in Aachen at the Festival 4 Dressage and we preferred their Hagen test, which was probably one of the best ones we've seen of this horse so far. The trot extensions were energetic, the half pass right was good, but in the left one the hindquarters trailed a bit. The rein back had big steps that could have been more diagonal. The passage was quick and electric off the ground, but in piaffe she doesn't truly sit and gets wide in front. Also the second and third piaffe seemed like there weren't enough steps, but would have to rewatch and recount those. I doubt it. The horse needs a full diagonal to do the two tempi changes, the zig zag was good, the ones too. In the mouth the horse could chew more as she looks a bit static.  They received 75.674% for third place. 

Scandinavian 4 - 5

Dannish Andreas Helgstrand and Bolette Wandt's 9-year old Danish warmblood mare Queenparks Wendy (by Sezuan x Soprano) were the first ones to go in the class and finished fourth with 74.304%. The pair has had a bit of a rollercoaster entry into the international Grand Prix world with two successive eliminations because she bit her tongue and drew blood. In Hagen there was a lot of white foam in her mouth. The black mare is the more solid Grand Prix horse of the two Andreas has (aside from Jovian). While his stallion is more spectacular, Wendy produces the more established work. The trot appears quite mechanic at times and the extended trots are hectic, but the extended walk was good and the passage is expressive. The second piaffe especially had nice rhythm and was on the spot. In the two tempi changes she's crooked to the right and this also showed in the zig zag and right hindleg articulation in passage. The pirouettes were small and on the final centerline she still had plenty of energy. They scored 74.043% for fourth place with marks between 73.152% and 75.326%

Swedish Therese Nilshagen and her 16-year old Oldenburg stallion Dante Weltino (by Danone x Welt Hit II) are the more seasoned pair on the circuit, competing in their 8th year at international Grand Prix level. They showed big trot half passes, but the black dragged his feet in the rein back. The extended trots are impressive in front, but don't show that much overstep. The extended walk had plenty of overtrack but he could have marched more through the body. Dante Weltino is always very solid in the canter work with nice tempi changes, a superb canter extensions, and good pirouettes although this time he changed behind in the right one. In piaffe there could have been more suspension. The contact is always soft and friendly in this combination, but Dante Weltino could be more steady in the head position. He tends to bop his head a bit. They landed fifth place with 73.174%.

- Text and Photos © Eurodressage (this article expresses Eurodressage's' eye-witness account and opinion about the competition).

Photos © Eurodressage - No Reproduction ALLOWED / NO SCREEN SHOTS ! - Eurodressage took photos of (almost) all competitors. If you are interested in photos for social media use, send us an email. 

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