Grand Prix Special

Grand Prix Special
by Bonnie Rombach

Friday and Saturday evenings there are competitions in the dressage stadium under flood lights. There were often seats available during the day, but the evenings were sold out. On Friday six of the regional associations were entered in a 4 horse quadrille competition at the advanced level. Required movements included half passes at the trot and canter, flying changes, and extensions. Taking risks such as stirrup on stirrup half passes or crossovers at extended canter were taken into consideration in the judging, as well as consistency and harmony and the suitability of the music. The Aachen regional group did a super job using as their entrance and exit the Elephants’ March from Disney’s „Jungle Book," but the four horses were of different sizes and colors. The last group from the Kleve region won with 4 very similar, big moving chestnuts (there is that winning color again) whose performance equaled the Aacheners but who presented a more harmonious picture.

Saturday morning and still no rain - I told everyone that I brought the beautiful summer weather with me from Canada.

The number of entries in the Grand Prix Special was reduced to the top 24 from the Grand Prix. The lowest score from the Grand Prix from these 24 competitors was 64.6%. (The lowest score from all was 57.76%). This top group included 8 German riders, 4 from Holland, 3 from Sweden, 2 from Denmark, 2 from Spain, 2 from Switzerland, and the single riders from Great Britain, Finland, and Italy. To really understand the power in the German line up, if two teams from one country were allowed in the Nations Cup, Germany would have won gold and silver. The three best of their second group of four still had a total score better than the best of the Dutch (5200 to 5188). Keep in mind that the team score is made up of the best three out of a possible four scores per country.

Even though the stands were not completely full for everyone’s test, when Gigolo and Isabell Werth entered the arena, people seemed to materialize as if beamed in by the „Enterprise." It was also fascinating to watch the scoring system on the screens in the press area. For the first time the scores were shown, as they were being recorded on computer in the judges’ booths for each movement from each of the 5 judges. Gigolo received, among others, a 10 from one of the judges for his canter pirouette - rhythmical, relaxed, soft and balanced. I would have given him a 10 for the supple beauty of his extensions. His total score for first place was even higher than the day before with a 77.36%.

The most improved ride going from 6^th place in the Grand Prix with 70.72% to a 2^nd place in the Special with a 74% was Nadine Capellmann-Biffar and her chestnut Grundstein son Gracioso. I was told that there had been some concern in the past about his nomination for the team because he was not always consistent. If the inconsistencies are in a range above 70%, who cares!

As can happen to anyone, Louise Nathhorst, Sweden, and Walk on Top had a big error in the first Piaffe (resistance, non performing) and a weak last piaffe which dropped her down to 7^th place in the Special with a score of 69.58% from a 2^nd place in the Grand Prix just under 73%.

Consistently third (and my personal favorite) was the Russian bred horse, Rusty, with Ulla Salzgeber, Germany. At 10 he is young for a Grand Prix horse, compared to Gigolo who is 15. He still has a chance to be the world’s best in the future.

Anky van Grunsven, Holland, and Gestion Olympic TCN Partout are not to be forgotten in the mix. At this competition he was consistently fourth. He has an eye catching rich color and a very expressive passage and piaffe, at least from the side. He gets under and lifts rhythmically and high, but from the front and back he swings a bit too much back and forth. He has a huge open stride in his canter extensions for which he received 9’s.

The chestnut Oldenburg stallion, Donnerhall, with Karin Rehbein, Germany, remained consistent, tying for fourth in the Special after a very respectable third place in the GP. Kyra Kyrklund as an individual rider from Finland, did well with a 9^th place in the Grand Prix and a 12^th place in the Special with the chestnut stallion, Flyinge Amiral. She is an excellent rider and the crowd appreciates her. Another pair that deserves mentioning is Coby van Baalen, Holland, with her fancy black Dutch stallion, Olympic Ferro.

In addition to the regular competitions, the spectators were treated to extra show numbers. Can you imagine a Pas de Deux with two humped camels? - oriental music, native dessert costumes and two camels doing half passes, shoulder ins, and flying changes at the canter. Well done! In addition there was a presentation with a young man (dressed like an Indian) and two gray mares, loose, no equipment, not even a halter, playing in the arena, sitting down, lying down, having what looked like a good time just being together.

Altogether there is so much going on at once around the ALRV competition site, that one person cannot possibly take in all of it. I would have loved to join the more than 40,000 spectators who gathered in the forest to watch the marathon drive in ideal weather, but it was more important to me to watch the Grand Prix Special. My brother-in-law rode on the carriage of the American, James H. Fairclough, from A to D as judge for the proper direction and gaits driven during the marathon.

The press, the workers, and the competitors and grooms are well taken care of. Food and drink is provided, including (in addition to the meals with a different menu every day) soft drinks, beer, wine, cheese, ice cream, deserts and coffee. Super weather, good food and drink, the best of the best horses, riders, and drivers in the world - what more could a true horse lover desire?

Email Bonnie Rombach: Lorbas@aol.com

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