Roller Coaster Weather and Repeat Titles at 2024 Croatian Dressage and Young Horse Championships

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2024 Croatian Dressage Championships

The 2024 Croatian National Dressage Championships took place in Zagreb on 27 - 29 September 2024 and faced ever changing weather conditions.

On the first day of competition it was sunny with a lovely sunset and a pleasant wind, but on day two, Saturday 28 September, it poured rain and the whole time schedule got pushed back by an hour and a half in order to give the outdoor footing a chance to drain from the heavy rainfalls during the night. On Sunday it was back to pleasant weather in time for the Freestyles. The

The Championships were judge by Željko Valuh, Ivana Cigit, Ivana Ljubić, Sanja Olujić and Anica Rojec.

Youth Classes

Gita Žitković successfully defended her pony champion's title from 2023. Her pony, 19-year old Welsh pony Rain in Otago (by Small Land x Starlyte royal Fanfare), goes in semi-official retirement after teaching several very successful Croatian riders and starting their national and international careers. Since 2017, this pony has delivered seven national champion's title in either the pony, children, or junior division for Kaya Probst (2017, 2019), Tonka Žitković (2020, 2021, 2022) and Gita Žitković (2023, 2024). Silver went to Ela Lukicic on Reitland's Feeiza, bronze was for Olivia Marton Mihaldinec on Golden Lui H.

Gita Žitković continued her string of success by also claiming the children's title aboard Dior. She is the first rider in the history of Croatian dressage to hold both titles at the same time. On day one she scored 80,607% in the preliminary test, the highest dressage score achieved in Croatia. Silver was for Dora Drazic on Montjuic and bronze for Mia Vidovic on Aramis.

Junior podium: Iva Lasic, Sofija Bibic, Tin Zitnjak

The winner in the junior division was last year's champion Sofija Bibic, aboard Numero Duo. She edged out Iva Lasic on Q-012 and Tin Zitnjak on Acolito II for the other two podium places.

Young rider Tonka Žitković successfully defended her Young Riders' title from 2023 aboard Beltano with a moving freestyle and a one-handed final extended trot down the centerline. She was joined on the podium by Gita Susic Mikulan on Little Lord 91 and Marko Tomljenovic on Chelsea Hotel No 2.

Seniors

The senior championship is contested at small tour level and last year's winner Mija Brnić successfully extended title in 2024. This is Mija's 6th consecutive Senior title since 2019 with the last 3 titles being aboard her stallion;13-year old Croatian Sport horse Darling (by Dante van de Stuyver x Amadeus).

„This Championship was special, full of emotions and something I will remember always. Words cannot describe how grateful I am to my dance partners Lily (of the Valley) and Darling, who have me the opportunity to believe that everything is possible,“ she wrote on her social media.

Paula Polić, a newcomer to the Senior category, after moving up from Young Riders, slotted into 2nd place with a big smile on her face. This pair has been competing together successfully since 2018 aboard Ferrero. The bronze medal was for Tajana Mrazović aboard Topas.

Para

This category saw only one pair: Denis Žuljević and Triple Crown 4. A rather new combination, they showed a lot of talent and promise for the future. They didn't have much luck on Saturday with the rain absolutely starting to pour during their test, but when the sun appeared on Sunday they shone, showing fluent elastic canter and trot work.

2024 Croatian Young Horse Championships

Two weeks before the Nationals the 2024 Croatian Young Horse Championships took place at the same venue as last year, Garestin equestrian centern on 14 September 2024.

Their standards for this year were set higher as two foreign judges - Miguel Concalves (who was here in 2023) and Jacques van Daele, alongside Ivana Ljubić, a Croatian judge - were officiating at this event.

The judges had a realistic but firm approach to all riders and horses and gave immediate feedback to each rider after each test, wether it went good or a bit less.

The day was very rainy and cold but, which resulted in a lot of cancellations in all categories, but the remaining riders bravely pushed through it.

4-YO

The 4-year old division was the biggest one of the championship with 10 horses participating.

Three „brand new“ faces and for the first time all top three placed horses scored above 70%. The winner was Mija Brnic aboard Celine (by Coeur de Croatie x Landro L). They scored a winning 76.800%.

The second place went to Lucija Stokovic on Lord of Las Vegas (by Leron x ?) with 72,200%, while Katarina Coric and Bella (by ? x Spartacus TN) placed third with 70.600%.

5-YO

There were five pairs in the 5-year old age division.

The gelding Omarinus (by Cizandro x Fabricius) is the new 5-yo champion. He was the only one from last year's podium of 4-year olds that got to the podium again. He has been gelded since and changed riders to Tijana Špoljarić, showing a much more confident test, earning 67,800%%. He still has his big expressive trot, but the canter is now more controlled and he showed his walk, still a bit tense but with massive improvement since last year. A few weeks later he helped Špoljarić secure a 3rd place in the Senior Amateurs category at the National Championships.

The silver went to Gita Sušić Mikulan aboard Cocco Cascol (by Cascol Z x Cro Cop) with 63,600%.

Opus One d'Arx (by Fontaine x Parcival) under Vanda Ljolje showed massive amounts of talent and he is very expressive but sadly he got a bit overwhelmed with the scenery at the venue. He got 63,200% for third place.

Last year's 4-year old champion Otazu did not compete this year to defend his title

6-YO

Four horses competed in the 6-year old division.

Feel The Wind (Furst Jazz x Wolkentanz II) and her rider Pia Damjanić successfully defended their title from last year. The mare showed the same talent, consistency, eagerness to work and has settled in well in the 6-yo test, which is really exciting for the future. They scored 67,600%.

Calypsa B (by Carpaccio x Lito) and her rider Elizabeta Božić successfully defended their vice-champion title from last year. The mare is still as elastic as before and has kept the activity and big strides. They got 64,400%

Pluto XXXI-11 (by Pluto Xxx-11-1 x Incitato Xi-9) and Vanda Ljolje made it a podium finish this year with a correct test. They scored 61,000%.

7-YO

This is always the smallest class and this year there were two pairs.

The little mare 1760 Miss (by Pasha) , who was pulled out mid-test by her (then) rider last year as a 6yo for having issues picking up the canter, is this year's 7-yo champion but with a different rider this time, Pia Damjanic. The test was far from a fault-free one with issues the canter work (58,197%), but it resulted in happy tears and joy from her owner Lidija Rijavec, who rode her in 2023.

The second horse in the class, Roo (by Ramiro x Conquest Of Paradise)ridden by Napan Sasa, got eliminated through the score (51.256%) by not achieving the minimum 53% required.

Results: Dressage Championships - Young Horse Championships