Euro Update: Isabell Werth Takes Second World Cup Qualifier Victory in Frankfurt

Euro News from Eurodressage.com

Only one week after the London Olympia Horse Show, the Frankfurt World Cup Qualifier took place in a great atmosphere and with Cristmas carols. Isabell Werth and Satchmo rode their special Freestyle to music called "Hymn of Emotion" with sopran voicing by Sibylla Duffe. Werth and Satchmo made their Freestyle as sparkling as they could without taking special risks, thus giving the preference to harmony, lightness and easiness.

Their winning test did cast a spell on the audience and the judges. Difficult transitions from extended canter into a pirouette and two tempi changes into one tempi changes impressed judges and audience alike. But almost the most impressive was the modesty and harmony in the performance. Isabell herself looked very much at ease and also more modest and in herself than she normally does. She didn’t take part in evening sessions in Stuttgart out of respect for the memory Dieter Schulze, the late husband of her horse owner and friend Madeleine Winter-Schulze who died last week and to whom she owes so much.

Last year Isabell Werth took the WC win aboard her chestnut Warum nicht FRH in the Grand Prix Freestyle scoring 79,25%, now she was rewarded with 82,0%. There is no doubt that Isabell Werth wants to go for it and give all she has, bringing her to the WC Final at the end of the season in April 2009 in Las Vegas.

Runner up was the German reserve for the Olympic Games in Hong Kong, Monica Theodorescu aboard Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff's 10-year old talented chestnut Whisper. Monica had some special music tunes of Joe Cocker and Lou Reed to show the quality of her Whisper even more. Whisper has a walk for the ultimate  score and so were her tempi-changes. The impression of the pair also was one of greatest harmony and pleasure in performing.

Chairman of the judges Mariette Withages said: “The harmony was the decisive impression of the three first placed riders. They all were an example of the way we judges very much like to see dressage.” Read More

Diederik van Silfhout Wins the 2008 Young Rider World Cup Final

Dutch reigning European Young Rider champion Diederik van Silfhout is the new winner of the World Cup Final for Young Riders. In the third and decisive test of the World Cup Final for Young Riders Diederik once again took the lead, thus leaving the runner up position to Danish Anna Kasprzak and her stallion Blue Hors Future Cup.

“Yes, I have been expanding now my European platform to the world”, the son of Grand Prix-rider Alex van Silfhout said joking.

Danish Anna Kasprzak had chosen for Michal Jackson to express the power of her 12-year old stallion Future Cup (by Florestan). The special choreography wih extensions and tempi changes on round lines were highlights. French Antoine Lion kept his best test to the last, thus being rewarded with the third position. German Kathleen Keller and Florestan did a nice test but lacked some impulsion and engagement compared to the first three. She was rewarded with the fourth prize.

The 19-year old Laura Noyes of Falmouth, Maine, rode her own Trakehner bred Syncro, who is by Enrico Caruso out of the ATA recognized exceptional mare Sonset (Habicht x Magnet x Marsuk ox) to the third place in the B-Final.

Encouraged by international rider Ann Kathrinn Linsenhoff all riders added a present to Unicef under the big Christmas Tree as well, which was next to competing and celebrating friendship and hospitality another good thing to share with each other. Read More

Alltech Title Sponsor of the 2009 European Dressage Championships

Global animal health and nutrition company Alltech captured the full attention of the equine industry with the announcement that they will sponsor the 2009 European Jumping and Dressage Championships in Windsor, Great Britain. With this new sponsorship agreement, Alltech, already sponsor of the 2010 World Equestrian Games, is now title sponsor of two of the largest FEI Championships in the world.

“In 2006, Alltech made history by becoming the first ever title sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and today’s announcement represents another first. With the Alltech FEI European Equestrian Games, we are reaching out with our industry partners to each and every horse owner and trainer across Europe as well as bringing the excitement into the homes of millions of television viewers,” explained Alltech’s Founder and President, Dr. Pearse Lyons.

He continued, “our company is all about improving animal performance through nutrition – and our aim is to build the first superbrand in the animal health and nutrition industry. We believe that associating our brand with this international equestrian event and linking it to animals performing at their peak will take us one step closer to reaching this ambitious goal.”

“The FEI is delighted to see Alltech become the title sponsor of one of the highlights of the 2009 sporting equestrian year,” FEI Secretary General Alex McLin commented. “Some of Europe’s best horsemen and women will convene at Windsor for the 2009 Alltech FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships and we are looking forward to an event of the highest competition and organisational standard.”

The Alltech FEI European Jumping & Dressage Championships will take place from the 25 to 30 August 2009 at Windsor Castle. These championships mark the first time that the FEI European Jumping Championships and the FEI European Dressage Championships have been held together at the same venue. It is estimated that over 60,000 visitors will attend during the six days of the competition. Read More

More Euro News at Eurodressage.com

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