Three German horses filled the podium of the small final for the five-year-old dressage horses at the Longines FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo. San to Alati (Secret x Bellisimo) and Stefanie Wolf were awarded the winning score of 84.6%, as About You II (AC-DC x Estobar NRW) and Mette Sjebjergs Jensen followed close behind with 84.4%. The third ticket to the final was handed to Happy Days di Fonteabeti (Valverde NRW x Wup) and Maxi Kira von Platen as they obtained 83.8%.
“The three horses that advance to the final put on a much better performance than yesterday”, says Monique Peutz on behalf of the jury afterwards. “San to Alati really surprised us. Yesterday he seemed a bit tense, but today he was great. An elegant and lovely frame throughout the test.” Today’s scores would also have secured the top three a spot in the final during the first round. “For these young horses it is fantastic they are given a second chance to qualify for the final. Impressive surroundings like these can be challenging and today’s winning horses certainly deserve a place in the final tomorrow. In our eyes, they have a shot at the medals too.”
Full of energy
San Alati was bursting with energy in the prize giving ceremony. “Yes, I felt the energy in the ring as well. He did a superb job today and gave me a wonderful feeling”, says a proud Stefanie Wolf. “San Alati was a bit shy yesterday, today he showed what he is capable of. He felt so much more supple, I will try to repeat it tomorrow. It is a pleasure to ride here and now we even got a ticket to the final! Wow, super!”
Fierce competition
The highest marks of the five-year-old Secret-offspring were the 8.8 and 8.7 for his trot and perspective. The chestnut stallion bred by Lena-Marie & Kerstin Klose owned by Bernadette Brune experienced fierce competition from About You II, that received a 9 for the trot. The ZfDP-bred stallion owned by Yara Reichert and Gut Erlbach GmbH and bred by Stefan Borgmann, was also awarded one of the best marks for the walk in this class: an 8.5. The Hanoverian mare Happy Feet di Fonteabeti proved well-matched with her male compatriots as she received an 8.7 for her trot and 8.5 for perspective.
Picture: Dirk Caremans
Results
