2010 CDI Cappeln
With less than a month to go before the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, British team member Laura Bechtolscheimer nailed her last minute preparations with the 15-year old Michellino Gelding Mistral Hojris (by Michellino x Ibsen). The pair proved untouchable in both classes, scoring top marks to secure a double win at the Cappeln CDI, Germany, 20 August 2010.
The British combination took the grand prix for kur on 76.64%, a substantial 7.7% higher than Sweden’s second place contender Patrik Kittel and went on to seize the grand prix freestyle with 81.45%.
Laura commented, “It was great preparation before WEG, I made a few mistakes in the changes but I was really happy with the way Alf [Mistral Hojris] was going. I wasn’t so happy with our performance in the grand prix, it was very hot and I used my old style of warming up and didn’t really get him started, the performance was not spectacular. I made sure I allowed longer for warm up in preparation for the freestyle, got him into action and he was fantastic! We’ve all got our fingers crossed he travels well for WEG now.”
View a Photo Report of the CDI Cappeln in the Image Gallery Below (19 images on 4 pages)
Photos © Barbara Schnell
10_weg_gal_totilas_3830
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_gal_totilas_3830.jpg?itok=IYLSClj1
Edward Gal and Totilas are about to start their Grand Prix Special ride which would lead them to their second gold medal at the show
10_weg_bechtolsheimer_mistral_3703
/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_bechtolsheimer_mistral_3703.jpg?itok=0I6fUbl_
Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris were on great form and won silver
10_weg_bateson_nartan_3138
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_bateson_nartan_3138.jpg?itok=ApwQn_nV
American Katherine Bateson had Nartan stamping out a good piaffe and passage
10_weg_eilberg_twosox_2634
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_eilberg_twosox_2634.jpg?itok=ym4_uNlU
The entire silver medal winning British team moved onto the Grand Prix Special. Here you see fourth rider Maria Eilberg on Two Sox (by Ehrentusch)
10_weg_garciamena_norte_2914
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_garciamena_norte_2914.jpg?itok=3rvXhwbK
Jose Antonio Garcia Mena's Norte has as much freedom and scope in his front leg as Totilas. The combination really exceeded all expectations and finished 23rd in the Special with 68.000%
10_weg_hansen_casmir_3064
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_hansen_casmir_3064.jpg?itok=y1W6lb-b
Danish Sune Hansen did his best with Casmir in the Special but unfortunately the horse was not always as regular in his work. They ended up 30th with 64.708%
10_weg_hester_liebling_3328
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_hester_liebling_3328.jpg?itok=fSb7CHu3
Carl Hester and Liebling were not able to repeat their brilliant performances from the 2009 European Championships. Now owned by John Risley, Liebling II only recently returned to Hester to be a team horse.
10_weg_hoketsu_whisper_2989
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_hoketsu_whisper_2989.jpg?itok=TIWV58w6
Always a great pair to watch: Hiroshi Hoketsu on Whisper. The sensitive mare has a stunning piaffe and passage but in the Special there were quite a few mistakes in the test and finished 31st (61.625%)
10_weg_holzer_popart_3273
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_holzer_popart_3273.jpg?itok=F6medFMX
Always good for a smile: Ashley Holzer on her Dutch warmblood gelding Pop Art (by Amsterdam)
10_weg_kanerva_sinispirit_2969
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_kanerva_sinispirit_2969.jpg?itok=iw6Xh9S8
Finnish Emma Kanerva on the chestnut Sini Spirt. They put in a very energetic ride, but the horse needs much more sit in the piaffe. He tends to pull his hocks high instead of moving the hind legs towards the gravity point
10_weg_konyot_calecto_1261
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_konyot_calecto_1261.jpg?itok=Y9OhwMQm
Tina Konyot on the Danish warmblood stallion Calecto V (by Come Back II). The V does not stand for the Roman number 5 but for Viegaard, the stallion station he came from.
10_weg_milczarek_ekwador_2697
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_milczarek_ekwador_2697.jpg?itok=WR_rBLFz
Polish Katarzyna Milczarek on poster boy Ekwador (by Heraldik xx)
10_weg_minderhoud_nadine_3473
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_minderhoud_nadine_3473.jpg?itok=JsFadXUw
Hans Peter Minderhoud and Nadine didn't have their best ride in the Special, despite a few highlights such as the half passes and one tempi's. A bad strike off to canter and a major capriole on the centerline made them end up with 68.333%
10_weg_rath_sterntaler_3416
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_rath_sterntaler_3416.jpg?itok=EmwSDu-b
Rath and Sterntaler are slowly becoming a combination: the contact with the bit is better, but the piaffes are still non-existent: either there is no piaffe (at X) or they are tiny. The walk was the best of the day. Surprisingly low score: 70.250%
10_weg_rath_0_0871
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_rath_0_0871.jpg?itok=ZLkRmOyA
Matthias' father Klaus Martin and stepmom Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff are very pleased with their son's performance
10_weg_sanna_alabaster_2876
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_sanna_alabaster_2876.jpg?itok=n_HqoVqT
Australian Rachael Sanna on Jaybee Alabaster. The horse has an inexpressive front leg, especially in trot, but Sanna did her best to get the most out of her mount. Solid canter work pulled the score up to 67.000%
10_weg_telde_larina_2608
/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_telde_larina_2608.jpg?itok=iemp6K-n
Still green at Grand Prix but definitely with potential for the future: Minna Telde's Larina Hom
10_weg_trussell_anton_2826
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_trussell_anton_2826.jpg?itok=LHIP7SRD
There's much more in the tank of Belinda Trussell's Anton. He's a super talented horse but needs more energy and electricity to truly sparkle and go beyond the 70% barrier.
10_weg_vanolst_clearwater_3095
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_vanolst_clearwater_3095.jpg?itok=A0vBQZQw
Danish Anne van Olst and the Danish warmblood Clearwater (by Carpaccio). They slotted in 18th with 68.958%
10_weg_werth_warumnicht_3590
/index.php/sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/edimage/image/10_weg_werth_warumnicht_3590.jpg?itok=SXkdsAqC
Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht were not on best form. The horse was often behind the vertical and the test was filled with mistakes. The extremely generous 72.000% still put them in the finals