The 5-year old Obsession Taonga and the 6-year old Naqueen became the winners of the consolation finals at the 2024 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Ermelo (NED) on 5 - 6 September 2024.
The top three horses of the consolation class qualify to compete in the finals alongside the top 12 horses from the preliminary test, bringing the total to 15 horses in each final on Saturday and Sunday 7 - 8 September.
The 7-year old consolation finals are still on-going today, 7 September 2024, and will conclude shortly after 14h00.
5-YO: Obsession Taonga
Dutch young rider Lara van Nek and her mother Willeke Bos' home bred KWPN stallion Obsession Taonga (by Vitalis x All at Once) won the 5-year old consolation finals with a 2.6% gap with the runner-up. Scoring 89.60% the black stallion impressed the judges in a high quality field of horses. The panel rewarded the stallion with 8.5 for walk, 9.5 for trot, 8.6 for canter, 9 for submission and 9.2 for general impression.
"Yesterday I made a mistake myself, but today it was smooth sailing," said 19-year old Lara Van Nek. "The feeling was so good. I had to give it my all to obtain a top three placing and go through to the final. We receive so much support from the sidelines, that makes it even more fun. Of course, it also extra special that we have bred Obsession ourselves. My mom does not leave my side, I think she might be more nervous than I. Now it’s time to enjoy the win and then: our full focus on Saturday.”
Danish Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen and Helgstrand's Westfalian stallion Feinstein (by Franklin x Rock Forever) placed second with 87.00%. Bred by Hendrik Schulte-Märter, Feinsten received a 7.2 for walk, 9.5 for trot, 9 for canter, 8.8 for submission and 9 for general impression.
The podium was completed by Straight Horse Sun King (by Sir Donnerhall x Blue Hors Zack) under Danish Mette Sejbjerg Jensen with 85%. The horse is bred and owned by Mogens Pedersen and Eva Götze of Straight Horse broodfarm. He got 7.2 for walk, 9.2 for trot, 8.8 for submission and 9 for general impression.
6-YO: Naqueen
The KWPN bred Naqueen (by Trafalgar x Samba Hit) won the consolation final for six-year-old dressage horses with a score of 85.8%. Under Kim Noordijk the dark bay stallion got 8 for walk, 8.8 for trot and canter, 8.5 for submission and 8.8 for general impression. The bay is NRPS licensed under the name "This is Naqueen". He is bred and owned by J. van der Meijden.
“It all came together today! Naqueen was very focused, and I am so proud of him," said Noordijk. "I know he has so much quality and I hope he can stay as relaxed as he was today. Hopefully I can ride the same way on Sunday. I am already thrilled to reach the final. That was our goal coming here and we have achieved it.”
The second place was claimed by Bernadette Brune's Hanoverian licensed stallion San to Alati FRH (Secret x Bellisimo) under German Stefanie Viehoff-Wolff) with 84.7%. He got 9.3 for walk, 8.2 for trot and canter, 8.4 for submission and 8.5 for general impression. The liver chestnut is bred by Kerstin and Lena-Marie Klose.
The third place went to Danish Mette Sejbjerg Jensen aboard the Danish warmblood Straight Horse Floriana (by Franklin x Blue Hors Zack). Bred and owned by Straight Horse, the mare was now presented in a much better tempo and garnered more points than in the preliminary test. She got 8.2 for walk, 8.5 for trot, 8.3 for canter, 7.9 for submission and 8.5 for general impression. Straight Horse qualified three horses for Ermelo and all three of them made it into the finals.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Eurodressage is taking photos of (pretty much) all competitors in Ermelo. No reproduction allowed - NO SCREENSHOTS!
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses