Germany Golden in Team Competition at 2024 European Pony Championships

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The German pony team picked up the gold medal at the 2024 European Pony Championships in Opglabbeek, Belgium, on Thursday morning 25 July 2024.

Germany has dominated pony sport for years, with occasionally Denmark or Great Britain stealing their thunder, but this year they were back in the  number one spot, although they clearly felt the heat from runner-up, silver medal winning Denmark. The Swedish pony team pulled a stunt and moved into the bronze medal position, well ahead of Great Britain.

The pony team championship test is being judged by Patricia Wolters (NED), Alban Tissot (FRA), Knut Danzberg (GER), Freddy Leyman (BEL) and Frederico Pinteus (POR).

German Golden Girls

Team Germany took the overnight lead in the pony team competition on Wednesday with Hanna Clauberg posting the high score of the day. She rode 7-year old German riding pony stallion Dacapo B (by Dornik B x Golden Dancer) to a  73.428%. On Thursday, however, team mate Madlin Tillmann and her new ride, Chilly Morning (by Calido G x Sandro Ace) topped her result with a 74.143%. Tillmann took over the ride on the long-legged bay pony from 2023 European Pony team Champion Julie Schmitz-Heinen and was the last rider for Germany to go.

The German camp strategically set up its pawns to leave nothing to chance. By-passers on the long side were stopped by policing parents, team mates held the ropes of the flags to prevent them from tapping in case a breeze picked up. The control of the surroundings was almost maniacal. Tilmmann rode a very elegant first trot extension, there was smooth crossing of the legs in the half passes. In trot the horse has a peculiar expression in his left hindleg mechanics, particularly visible in the second trot extension. In the right walk pirouette the pony became slow, the left one was small. The extended walk was good but the pony jogged before the transition. The extended canter right was very straight, but in the simple changes the walk became short. Overall the canter had good balance and was ridden with much control. It was a nice, clean, controlled test.  She received scored between 72.143% and 76.000%.

The third contributing score for Germany was Leni-Sophie Gosmann's 72.772% which ranked her seventh. Aboard the 8-year old Diamantini EA (by Diamond Touch x FS Pavarotti) she rode nice trot extensions, a good clear walk with a super V-moment in the extended walk. There was a blip in the rhythm in the second trot extension. The extended canter was lovely but in the final simple change the pony jogged. Overall Diamantini could be more equally elastic on both reins and often bopped his head. 

Germany scored a team result of 220.343 points. The drop score was still a 70.943%, achieved by Feodora von Roeder on Morgensterns Delicius.

Silver for Denmark

Not far behind Germany was Denmark in silver position with 219.457 points. 

Ingeborg Schou spearheaded the Danish campaign with a second place finish on 74.371%. Aboard the 16-year old German bred FS Calimero (by FS Dior de Luxe x FS Challenger) she had the judges almost in unison. The chestnut ground his teeth and the S-half voltes were quite big, but she really excelled in the canter work which was nicely uphill and ridden with much focus. 

Sofia Rosenkilde and the 10-year old German bred Cosmo Royale (by Cosmopolitan x Casino Royale K) was Denmark's last rider to go . The liver chestnut is a powerful, scopey mover with lots of dynamics and forward expression. Overall he could be a bit more closed in the frame and carrying. He had good balance in the counter canter and the rein back was well executed. They posted 72.943% for fifth place. 

Denmark's third score came from Victoria Bang Zindorff on Del Classico with 71.857%.

Bronze for Sweden

Sweden surprised this year with a team of high quality dressage ponies that were well presented. They posted a team score of 215.142 points for bronze. 

Sweden's best scoring rider was Wilma Bornhager on the 8-year old Swedish bred Frans Isak. She posted 72.057% on Wednesday and she ended up finishing 10th with that mark. Team mate Wilma Holmgren finished right behind her on the 19-year old (!) Oldenburg former licensed stallion and now gelding, Casino Royale K (by Champion de Luxe x Top Nonstop). She was 11th with 71.914%. The chestnut gelding has a very easy going trot, but came off the track in the left shoulder in. There was a slight loss of the rhythm in the right walk pirouette and overall he could be more actively marching in walk. The canter was nicely uphill. 

Ronja Kardos produced the third score for Sweden with a 71.171% and 13th place aboard the 14-year old dun Nice One (by Sjodalens Magnet x Rolls Royce). She was the last to go for Sweden on Thursday morning. In the trot the rider did not properly ride into the corners but skated through them. The pony was overall active and forward. The extended walk was limited in overtrack but the canter was the highlight gait with a very good counter canter. 

Best of the Day

The best ride  of the day came from Great Britain's Abigail Gray who won the class with 75.114%. Great Britain placed fourth with 212.171 points . Aboard team routinier George Clooney BS, a British bred KWPN registered pony by Caesar  (full brother to fellow team pony Ella, who excelled on Wednesday), Gray rode very beautiful, ground covering trot extensions, smooth half passes, but there could be a bit more bending on the right volte. The walk in between the walk pirouettes lacked some activity, but the extended walk was good with plenty of overstep. The second trot extension was a highlight and the rein back well ridden. In the right counter canter the pony lost a bit of clarity in the 3-beat rhythm. Overall the canter work was will ridden but the striding could be more expressive. They finished with a good end halt. Gray, who is in her last year on ponies, is trained by Sarah Higgins. 

Another stand-out performance came from Polish Pola Guerquin-Koryzma aboard the 9-year old German bred Milky Way PP (by FS Mr Right x Gershwin B). The pony stood out with his very good basic gaits, nice walk. The pair painted a very constant, balanced image. With improved bending and flexion this pony can score even more than the 72.800% that placed them sixth in the team test. 

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

Eurodressage took photos of all competitors in Opglabbeek (we do our best to catch everyone. We have all ponies and juniors, some children). 
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Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2024 European Pony, Children, Junior Riders Championships
Scores: 2024 European Pony, Children, Junior Riders Championships