Germany Takes the Lead in Team Ranking at 2024 European Pony Championships

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2024 European Pony, Children, Junior Riders Championships

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Germany has taken an early lead in the team competition of the pony division at the 2024 European Dressage Championships for ponies, children and junior riders. Held at Sentower Park in Opglabbeek, the 2024 European Youth Championships bring together a massive field of young competitors, aged 12 to 18, competing for medals in their respective divisions.

The Euros started on Tuesday 23 July with the horse-inspection early in the morning, followed by arena familiarization. While rain showers dampened the spirits a little bit, today, Wednesday 24 July, was blessed with perfect, moderate summer weather. Plenty of sunshine and nice temperatures for the horses and ponies to compete in.

Sentower Park is a huge, modern competition venue boasting much experience in hosting (mainly show jumping) shows, but the cross over to dressage happened seamlessly and all teams were in high spirits for the biggest title fight of the year for dressage riding "kids."

Germany In the Lead

A packed kiss and cry corner at the 2024 Pony Euros

Germany has taken an early lead in the nations competition with 144.371 points after two rides, although the point difference with second placed Denmark is rather minimal (144.000). Sweden is following in third place (142.314 pts) while home nation Belgium took a strong start and is in pursuit of a podium place. It currently stands on 138.972 points. Eleven nations from across Europe partake in the team championship.

The pony team championship test is being judged by Patricia Wolters (NED), Alban Tissot (FRA), Knut Danzberg (GER), Freddy Leyman (BEL) and Frederico Pinteus (POR).

At the moment they saw the best ride in Germany's Hanna Sofie Clauberg aboard the 7-year old German riding pony stallion Dacapo B (by Dornik B x Golden Dancer), full brother to Italian team pony Derano B (Salome Bartz). Clauberg and her chestnut dun stallion showed trot work in a very steady rhythm and the frame was very consistent with a quiet contact in the mouth both in trot and canter. In walk he got slightly short-long in front before the right pirouette and he did not have the most generous overtrack in the extended walk. Also in some of the simple changes the walk steps could have been articulated more, particularly at C. Overall the picture was very solid but the elasticity in the bending and flexion to the left could be improved. They scored 73.428% which took them provisionally to the top of the leader board at the end of the class at noon time. Clauberg trains with evergreen pony coach Stefanie Meyer-Biss.

Feodora von Roeder on Morgensterns Delicius

Germany's second score of the day was 70.943% achieved by Semmieke Rothenberger's student Feodora von Roeder aboard the 12-year old Rhinelander stallion Morgensterns Delicius (by FS Daddy Cool x The Breas My Mobility). As first to go for her team the pair produced a very fluent and flowing trot tour, but the pony got wide behind in the extension and the rein back was crooked to the right. There was a small blip in the left extended canter and he became lateral in the final simple change, but in general the pony was consistent in the bridle. Their individual scores did not differ that much (70.000 - 72.286% but in placings that was between second and eight, which is a sign how close the pairs rank at the top).

Denmark Chasing

Filippa Jaeger Jensen on Crown Charm of Royal

The Danish pony ladies, led by team trainer Lisbet Seierskilde, are chasing the Germans for gold, but much can happen still tomorrow with the second group to go.

Today two daughters of international Danish Grand Prix riders made their team debut at a European Pony Championship. Danish 2018 WEG tea rider Betina Jaeger's daughter Filippa Jaeger Jensen finished second, so far, aboard her beautiful 13-year old palomino stallion Crown Charm of Royal (by Casino Royale K x Monte Christo). The stallion plays a little eye-trick with his neck, appearing broken in the second vertebra (falsche Knick). Overall it would be nice to see the poll more up and the nose out, but young Jaeger rode a solid round on her team premier. The trot work was a tad quick and the pony should cover more ground in the extended walk. The extended canter left was the best one. The balance on the bent lines and voltes was good. The judges particularly liked this pair and rewarded her with a generous 72.143% although their individual marks were between 69.000 and 73.000%

Danish GP squad rider Lone Bang Larsen's daughter Victoria Bang Zindorff debuted aboard the 10-year old German stallion Del Classico (by D-Day x Classic Dancer). She was called up as reserve after Rikke Schoubye Johansen and D'Artagnan withdrew due to fitness issue. Victoria lived up to the expectations and slotted in fourth so far with 71.857%. The lovely chestnut halted squarely but stretched. The trot was not always secure in the rhythm, particularly in one extended trot and volte. The pony paints a pretty silhouette but one would like to see him collect and carry a little more from behind so his self carriage improves. The true canter work was well ridden.

Sweden Impresses

The Swedish pony girls took an impressive start of the competition with Wilma Bornhager leading the way on the 8-year old Swedish bred Frans Isak (by Sibelius x Vermont RP). The chestnut has a lovely frontleg with much freedom in the shoulder and ground cover in his basic gaits. In the extended canter left he lost the elasticity in the top line and the pure 3-beat rhythm. This is probably the work point of the moment with this lovely pony, to improve the elasticity and swing in the top line. They scored 72.057% for a provisional third place. Their marks ranged between 71.571 and 74.571%.

Team debutant Josefine Lindstedt and her 11-year old Dutch bred palomino Falco (by Leuns Veld's Winston x Hagelkruis Valentijn) are capping off an amazing first season at international pony level with a 70.257% score in their first test at their first European Championships. The athletic and spritely Falco particularly earned point in the trot transitions and simple changes. The second walk pirouette was a bit of a challenge. They are seventh provisionally.

Quick Notes

Belgium is aiming for a pony place at the Europeans in their home country and Helena Theeuwes did her part, for sure, aboard the 8-year old ZfDp registered Matteo (by Mr Right x Dornik B). The long legged chestnut with white blaze is an eye catcher and the second part of their trot work was very fluent and balanced. The collected canter right was well balanced but the first simple change on the S-volte could have been ridden better. They posted a strong score of 71.029% although their result was marred by big discrepancies between the judges: 73.714% and 68.286%

Rather underscored was the ride of Darcey Blaze Marcus aboard the 15-year old KWPN registered and British bred mare Ella (by Caesar x Santano), a full sister to fellow team pony George Clooney B.S. Ella does not have the most streamlined conformation as she stands a bit croup high, but she produced the best trot extensions of the day and overall the silhouette was quiet and peaceful, which is what dressage should look like. The peacocky walk probably tampered with a higher score but the 68.257% felt stingy.

Tomorrow the team test comes to a conclusion with group two starting at 9h00 in the morning.

- Text and Photos © Eurodressage (this article expresses Eurodressage's' eye-witness account and opinion about the competition)

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