Friday morning at sunny Hagen continued with the second part of the CDI3* Grand Prix. Danish combination Nanna Skodborg-Merrald and Blue Hors Zepter had set the benchmark yesterday with 78.739 percent and held on to the lead today. From today’s starters U.S. team stalwart Steffen Peters and 16-year-old Suppenkasper mixed up the final standings by piaffing into third position behind Skodborg Merrald and Patrik Kittel (SWE) with 72.872 percent. Hot on their heels with 72.239 percent were Henri Ruoste (FIN) with his up and coming Grand Prix mare Tiffanys Diamond.

Photo – The top 8 riders in the CDI3* Grand Prix with judge at C, Monique Peutz-Vegter and Ulli and Francois Kasselmann (© Foto Dirk Rüchel)

Another eagerly awaited U.S. combination were Anna Buffini and Fiontini, who finished in seventh place with 71.783 percent. American selectors can be pleased: out of the top 15 who can continue onto the GumBits Grand Prix Special on Sunday, seven athletes are sporting the Stars and Stripes flag.

Comments from around the showground:

Steffen Peters (USA) & Suppenkasper (© Foto Dirk Rüchel)

Steffen Peters (USA): “Right away from the start I had a good feeling — in the first rising trot, first piaffe and passage. It’s absolutely amazing, at 16 years old, Mopsie (Suppenkasper) still wants to do it. He doesn’t have to do it, but he wants to do it. There are moments like in the extension where I am still holding him back a bit. To ride such an honest horse for seven years now is something I never take for granted, I appreciate him so much. In December and January I was hospitalised a few times with some blood clots. Of course I had perfect strength coming back, but he took care of me. He said, ‘I know you might not be 100 percent, but I give you 100 percent.’ That’s the type of horse he is. It’s super exciting to place third behind Nanna and Patrik, on to the Special now.”

Francois Kasselmann (Host): “Without events like this it would be very difficult to host Olympic and Paralympic Games. This show is a qualification for a lot of countries, so it was most important to add it to the calendar.”

The CDI1* tour got underway with the Prix St Georges in the afternoon. Finnish Grand Prix rider Emma Kanerva presented her just eight-year-old Nürnberger Burg-Pokal finalist Bond Girl and easily captured the win and the hearts of the judges. Mani Nasrin’s Mani’s Endeavour under Steffen Peters was awarded second place ahead of Hof Kasselmann rider Lydia Jordan (SWE) and Despacita. Entry to the showground is free of charge and live stream platform ClipMyHorse.TV shows all the action from Hagen as well.

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