Maria Caetano's Freestyle Victory with Great Significance at 2023 CDI Kronberg

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2023 CDI Kronberg

Portuguese Olympian Maria Caetano celebrated a freestyle victory of great significance at the Schafhof International Dressage Festival in Kronberg, Germany, on Saturday 15 July 2023.

"For me the victory here at the Schafhof has really great meaning," said a slightly overwhelmed Maria Caetano. "Matthias and his whole family are good friends for me and great role models in our sport. And I am so proud of my 'little boy'."

Fenix on the Rise

The 'little boy' is Juan Manuel Cordeiro's 13-year-old Lusitano Fenix de Tineo (by Rubi x Oheide). With a score of 75.200%, the pair won the international four-star freestyle, the LOTTO Hessen Prize, at the Schafhof . "In the Grand Prix he was pretty relaxed, today he was a bit more excited because of the approaching thunderstorm, but we still managed to deliver a clear freestyle. I'm super happy!"

In the Grand Prix class, which featured no less than 37 combinations, Caetano placed sixth with 71.000%.

Maria, who competed at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo and the 2022 World Championships in Herning, is preparing Fenix de Tineo for the 2023 European Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck in September by competing him only at a select few shows this season. They began the year in March in Jerez, then represented Portugal in the FEI Nations Cup in Compiegne in May, and now tested their skills at Schafhof in Kronberg.

Caetano has moved to Krefeld, Germany, for the summer in the lead-up to the Europeans.

"Fenix has been progressing step by step during this season," Maria explained. "He is now more mature and strong on his body! Now he can show his amazing piaffe in the ring as well as a more balanced canter and more relaxed walk. He’s such a wonderful stallion that loves showing his character."

Maria's next CDI will be Crozet with her two Grand Prix horses, Fenix de Tineo and Hit Plus.

15-Minute Thunderstorm Delay

Franziska Stieglmaier followed in second place with a score of 74.610% with the 12-year-old Samurai. There was also a happy glow on the face of the runner-up.

"It was only his second freestyle ever, but he did absolutely great." In addition, the pair had to spontaneously postpone their start by 15 minutes - because of the impending thunderstorm, the test was briefly interrupted. "I walked for 15 minutes, then took up the reins again and five minutes later we started. He did a great job with all that."

Third place went to one of the most successful Spanish riders ever: Claudio Castilla Ruiz. With five European Championships, two World Championships and the Olympic Games in Rio, he has a tremendous track record and steered the not-yet-experienced twelve-year-old Hanoverian Lario de Adama de Susa (by Locksley II) to third place with a score of 74.345%.

The four-star freestyle formed the atmospheric conclusion of the fourth Schafhof Dressage Festival. In a few days the Linsenhoff-Rath family welcomes riders and spectators for the 2023 European Children and Junior Riders Championships.