Hesselhoej Donkey Boy
Today the program of the Longines FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses continued with the second qualification for the five-year-olds. Similar to yesterday, the crowd could enjoy incredibly high-quality horses in the youngest age category. The top 3 of yesterday got competition from some seriously talented horses. The Danish Jan Møller Christensen presented Hesselhoej Donkey Boy (Era Dancing Hit x Milan), that won the Danish National Young Horses Championships as a four-year-old with a 10 for his walk. Today he scored no less than 9.64. The walk earned a 9.8, the trot and perspective a 9.7 and the submission and uphill canter received a 9.5, making this stallion certainly one to watch on Sunday. “Naturally, I am really happy with the test of today. In my opinion, the walk is his best gait, and he received the highest grades for that. I think our chances for the final are quite good. The test will be more difficult, but Donkey Boy is up for it. His rideability is one of his best qualities and the counter canter, one of the most challenging figures in the final, forms no problem for him. So, I am looking forward to the finals!”
The Hannoverian stallion Don Martillo (Don Juan de Hus x Benetton Dream) is currently leading the rankings and the favourite for the final with the German rider Ann-Christin Wienkamp. The pair noted the mega score of 9.76. Andreas Helgrstrand and the Oldenburger stallion Ferrari Old (Faundation x Blue Hors Hotline) complete the top three. The best 12 horses will come back in the final, to which the top 3 of the tomorrow’s small final will be added as well. President of the jury Eddy de Wolff van Westerrode looks forward to Sunday: “We saw some really nice horses today and got to give high points again. Sunday, the test will be a bit more difficult and the atmosphere will be exciting. The top scores are quite close to each other, so anything can happen in the finals. The battle is not over just jet!”
