The 5-year old San to Alati, the 6-year old My Toto, and the 7-year old Big Bang became the winners of the consolation finals at the 2023 World Championships for young dressage horses in Ermelo, The Netherlands, on 4 - 5 August 2023. The top three placed combinations in each consolation class qualifies for the final.
5-YO: San to Alati
Three German horses filled the podium of the small final for the five-year-old dressage horses on 4 August 2023. San to Alati (by Secret x Bellisimo) and Stefanie Wolf were awarded the winning score of 84.6%, while About You II (by AC-DC x Estobar) and Mette Sjebjergs Jensen followed close behind with 84.4%. The third ticket to the final was handed to Happy Days di Fonteabeti (by Valverde x Wup) and Maxi Kira von Platen as they obtained 83.8%.
"The three horses that advance to the final put on a much better performance than yesterday," said judge Monique Peutz on behalf of the jury afterwards. “San to Alati really surprised us. Yesterday he seemed a bit tense, but today he was great. An elegant and lovely frame throughout the test.”
Today’s scores would also have secured the top three a spot in the final during the first round. “For these young horses it is fantastic they are given a second chance to qualify for the final. Impressive surroundings like these can be challenging and today’s winning horses certainly deserve a place in the final tomorrow. In our eyes, they have a shot at the medals too.”
Owned by Bernadette Brune, the liver chestnut San Alati was bursting with energy in the prize giving ceremony. “Yes, I felt the energy in the ring as well. He did a superb job today and gave me a wonderful feeling," said a proud Stefanie Wolf. “San Alati was a bit shy yesterday, today he showed what he is capable of. He felt so much more supple, I will try to repeat it tomorrow. It is a pleasure to ride here and now we even got a ticket to the final! Wow, super!”
The highest marks of the five-year-old Secret-offspring were the 8.8 and 8.7 for his trot and perspective. The chestnut stallion bred by Lena-Marie & Kerstin Klose experienced fierce competition from About You II, who received a 9 for the trot. The ZfDP-bred stallion owned by Yara Reichert and bred by Stefan Borgmann, was also awarded one of the best marks for the walk in this class: an 8.5. The Italian bred Hanoverian mare Happy Days di Fonteabeti proved well-matched with her male compatriots as she received an 8.7 for her trot and 8.5 for perspective.
With both About You II and Happy Days di Fonteabeti qualified for the finals, Danish horse dealer Andreas Helgstrand owns no less than 8 (!!) of 15 horses qualified for the final. A game well played!
6-YO: My Toto
The six-year-old Toto Jr. offspring, bred and owned by Aad Both and co-owned by Lida Both-van Loef and Miga Horses, received a 9.4 for his walk and a 9.0 for the perspective. According to chairman of the jury Adriaan Hamoen, the gelding showed off his talents significantly better than during the qualification.
“The horse was clearly more relaxed and then his impressive qualities really come out to shine, plus we get to award higher marks. The entire top three gave a much better performance than yesterday.”
Rider Hans Peter Minderhoud is visibly pleased after the test: “My Toto felt even better than yesterday and that resulted in higher marks for every aspect. My goal for Ermelo was to qualify for the finals with both horses and we did it. I am super happy! My Toto’s best quality? His mindset, he always gives it his all and he is such a comfortable horse to ride.”
The Oldenburger mare Chere Celine, bred by Gestüt Meyenburg and owner Gisa Löwe, received two 8.5s for her powerful walk and canter. Chere Celine placed sixth in last year’s final for five-year-old horses and is now granted another chance to prove herself in the 6-year old final. The DWB-bred Hesselhoej Double Up, bred and owned by Hans Jørgen Hoeck., is making his World Championships debut this year. The stallion gave a solid performance logging 8.5s for the canter and perspective on his score sheet.
Arie Hamoen is looking forward to the final on Sunday: “There are a few contenders in the race, I cannot think of only one prime candidate for the title. Even in the final it depends if the horses are on their game that day, it is definitely going to be close.”
7-YO: Big Bang
Möller and the Bon Coeur x Quadroneur offspring, bred by Frank Klakow, posted a winning 76.548% after receiving 7.7 for walk, 8.3 for trot, 8.5 for canter, 7.8 for submission, 8.4 for perspective and 71.696% as technical score. They edged out the German based Spaniard Santiago Damil on the Oldenburg bred L'Amore Per Sempre (by Livaldon x Alabaster) by a fraction of a point. The chestnut mare, bred by Martin Otten, and owned by the rider, scored 76.034%. L'Amore per Sempre got 7 for walk, 9.3 for trot, 8.5 for canter, 7.6 for submission and 8.5 for general impression. With a technical score of 70.268% combined they were second.
The third place went to Dutch born Belgian Tommie Visser aboard his husband Rob van Puijenbroek's home bred Belgian warmblood Quinten Begijnhoeve (by Heros Begijnhoeve x Ferro). The tall dark bay licensed stallion finished third on 74.604%. He got 7.8 for walk and trot, 7.6 for canter and submission, 8 for perspective and 71.608% as technical mark.
British Olympian Laura Tomlinson made a good recovery on her mom Ursula Bechtolsheimer's home bred Oldenburg gelding Full Moon II (by Furstenball x Gribaldi) and finished fourth on 74.443%.
- Text and Photos © Eurodressage (based on Ermelo press releases
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Eurodressage Coverage of the World Championships Young Dressage Horses