A mere 0.2% difference between Be Allex (Ampère x Dalwhinnie) and Lynbjergs St. Paris (Blue Hors St. Schufro x Blue Hors Rockefeller) signals we are on course for a thrilling Provincie Gelderland final for six-year-old dressage horses at the Longines FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo. Allex and Jeanna Hogberg are grabbed the lead thanks to their 89.6% score, with St. Paris and Victoria E. Vallentin in hot pursuit at 89.4%. Dinja van Liere guided Mauro Turfhorst (Zonik N.O.P. x Negro) to the third score of 88.2%
The SWB gelding, bred by Eva and Bo Petterson and owned by Hennix Horses Ab, Västra Hoby Stuteri Ab and his rider Jeanna Hogberg, earned a 9.3 for perspective and a 9.2 for the canter. The Danish former world champion of five-year-old horses, owned by her rider and Four Oaks ApS and bred by Bente Børjesson, also received a 9.3 for perspective and obtained the same mark for her walk. The only stallion in the top three, KWPN horse Mauro Turfhorst, was given the highest mark for submission. This harmony of the performance of the Zonik N.O.P.-offspring, owned by Reesink Horses and Stoeterij Turfhorst and bred by J.W. Greve, was granted a 9.3.
Winner Jeanna Hogberg is overjoyed with this fantastic start to the championship: “I am over the moon! The final on Sunday is always a challenge. That test contains more changes as well, but luckily those come easy to him. Last year, Be Allex placed eighth in the final for five-year-old horses. So, this time my goal is to best that position, but a podium would be even better”, quips the Swedish rider.
The jury team in this qualification was composed of Ulrike Nivelle, Adriaan Hamoen, Anette Fransen Lacobaeus and Jean-Michel Roudier. The quartet shared their enthusiasm about the 45 six-year-olds they evaluated today. “We have seen so much quality. As a jury we worked together very well, we were on the same page in our scores”, says Ulrike Nivelle. Jean Michel Roudier chimes in: “It was a lengthy session, but we are incredibly happy with what we have seen today. High-level sport, plus we were amazed by the improvement in riding, it was all so light and self-carried. We truly believe many of these combinations are on track to the Grand Prix.” As 19 horses obtained 80% or above, this class proved to be super competitive. Adriaan Hamoen concludes: “With so many quality horses there is no doubt we can look forward to a thrilling final.”
Picture: Dirk Caremans
