Crisjena has won the 2010 KWPN Mare Championship held at the 2010 KWPN Paardendagen in Ermelo, The Netherlands, on 20 August 2010. Bred by Jan de Bruijn and owned by Ad Valk, this mare is by Vivaldi out of Odjena (by Cabochon).
Nine mares from three groups were invited to the Champion's Ring and according to judge Arie Hamoen, Crisjena was the best mover of all. The bay mare was praised for her textbook conformation and gaits.
Cabola, by Vivaldi out of keur mare and 2000 KWPN mare champion Pabola (Ferro x Darwin), finished in reserve champion's position. The mare is owned by Ad Valk as well and is bred by one of Holland's most famous breeders, A.A. van der Koppel, who also bred Ad Valk's licensed stallion Apache.
The top five was completed by Chi (by Uphill x Cabochon), Callisto MH (by United x Casanova) and Cidamorka (by Jazz x Zuidhorn).
There were quite a few riders who were unable to perform at their level. Certainly one of them was Tinne Vilhelmson on Favourit. Her horse refused in all three piaffes. Too bad, she normally scores in the low seventies.
At the CDI Copenhagen she was scoring round 70%, unfortunately at WEG Anne Troensegaard did not get any further then 65.447% for her Grand Prix on the Danish bred Seduc (by Induc)
There's much more in Otto's tank than the 66.553% he got. American Todd Flettrich rode a tiny first and last piaffe but a great piaffe and passage in the middle of the test as you can see on this photo
A tiny trot but a HUGE piaffe and passage. Nathalie Zu Saeyn-Wittgenstein's Digby made it all the way to the Grand Prix Kur! They even exceeded the expectations and finished 7th in the freestyle
The second Italian individual rider was eventing rider Susanne Bordone on Dark Surprise. Beautiful extended trot but poor piaffe. They got stuck at 64.340% (52nd)
Belgian Stefan van Ingelgem didn't have an ideal preparation for WEG. While he was in Kentucky his father unexpectedly passed away and Stefan flew back home for the funeral. He made it back on time for the GP and scored 66.638% (37th)
Belgian Jeroen Devroe expected more of the Games. Depsite a delicate test, the horse lacked engagement in the passage. With 67.532% they were the highest ranked rider to miss out on the Grand Prix Special. Bummer
Belgian Claudia Fassaert went to WEG because a Belgian eventing horse got lame which opened a spot on the plane. Her Donnerfee has only been doing the GP for 5 months and got a more than decent 66.255%
Daniel Pinto and Galopin de la Font are a very experienced combination at Grand Prix level. They were 49th with 65.319% and became the "lowest" scoring Portuguese rider on the team.
Portuguese Goncalo Carvalho and Rubi are new comers on the team and did pretty well. The whole right lacked some energy and sparkle, but the potential is there. With 66.766% they ended up 35th
More history was written: for the first time a Norwegian team participated at WEG. Here you see Cathrine Rasmussen on Orlando. This pair lives in Denmark and is trained by Andreas Helgstrand
A bad piaffe: horse pulls the hocks high and there is absolutely no sit. This horse is not the only one which refuses to take the weight on the hindquarters