Tag Archives: Charlotte Dujardin

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Dressage, FEI

Dujardin Does a Special Double on Dramatic Day in Aachen

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Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro. (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

Aachen (GER), 15 August 2015 – Defending champions, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and her much-loved superstar gelding Valegro, made it two-in-a-row when clinching Grand Prix Special gold at the FEI European Dressage Championships 2015 in Aachen (GER) this afternoon.

On a day of huge tension, sizzling excitement and wonderful entertainment in the hallowed Soers arena, the 30-year-old rider managed to lay to rest the memory of her only significant defeat in the incredible career she has enjoyed with the horse she calls Blueberry. All three medals were hard-earned, and the record-breaking British duo set yet another new FEI European Dressage Championships Grand Prix Special target score of 87.577, overtaking the 85.699 they set in Herning (DEN) two years ago.

There was plenty for the host nation to celebrate too when Kristina Bröring-Sprehe recovered from a much less impressive test in the team event to really show what she is made of to claim silver with Desperados FRH. The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Johnson TN took bronze, but it was bitter-sweet for the Dutchman, as his life-partner and team-mate, Edward Gal, who lifted The Netherlands to team gold on Thursday, was eliminated when last into the arena with Glock’s Undercover.

Set the standard

Perhaps the bravest performance of the competition was produced by Denmark’s Anna Kasprzak who set the early standard when 12th into the arena with Donnperignon. The 25-year-old was kicked in the chest by her 16-year-old gelding after Tuesday’s horse inspection. “I was in the hospital; nothing was broken but I have a lot of pain,” she said after posting a good mark of 73.473 this afternoon. “In the team comp it was difficult; it hurts to breathe, but today I am really satisfied; we really did our best.” And she was still out in front when Germany’s Isabell Werth and Don Johnson FRH set the arena alight an hour later.

Werth’s popularity with her knowledgeable home crowd is second to none, but they gasped in disbelief when, instead of going into half-pass right, she asked Don Johnson FRH for walk and he obediently obliged. She corrected her mistake very quickly and then, demonstrating exactly why she has such a legion of fans who admire her sheer determination and consummate skill, the multi-medalled rider just carried on calmly with a big smile on her face.

She laughed about it after putting a mark of 75.924 on the board. “What happened? Maybe I’m too old or maybe I’m too blonde; you can choose whatever you want!” she said. “It was really stupid, but remember in Herning three of the medallists went the wrong way, and today I think maybe it was a bit of entertainment for the spectators!”

The second session ended with a lovely ride from Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven, who raised the bar once again when posting 76.148 with the ever-elegant Don Auriello, but the medallists all came from the final group of 10 in which Carl Hester was first to surpass the Swedish rider’s target. His massive gelding, Nip Tuck, had turned intermittently shy on him during the team test, but today produced a much more confident performance.

“He was brilliant,” he said afterwards. “For such a big horse, I have to be able to make quite a lot of adjustments to keep him balanced at the moment, but he absolutely did everything I asked; he let me help. I’m smiling from ear to ear… he’s gone and nailed it for me today.”

Topped the leaderboard

His score of 77.003 topped the leaderboard until Bröring-Sprehe set off with Desperados FRH who produced one of the few flawless tests of the competition. Hopes had been pinned on the fabulous black stallion and his 28-year-old rider to retrieve the situation when things didn’t go Germany’s way in the team competition. It didn’t happen then, but the pair was completely in tune today, floating through extended trot and presenting a really attractive picture. When a massive 83.067 went up on the scoreboard the cameras swung to German Chef d’Equipe, Monica Theordorescu, and the tears of joy were clearly visible in her eyes.

“They looked so beautiful together, and I’m so very proud,” Theodorescu said afterwards. “I train Kristina at home and she is such a nice and quiet person. I knew what a nice job they could do, and today they were so harmonious; it made me very happy!” the three-time Olympic team gold medallist said.

The German’s advantage didn’t last long, however, as Dujardin, looking nervous but determined, strode down the centre line and set about the business of wowing the crowd with Valegro’s trademark piaffe, passage and extravagant extended trot. All of the Ground Jury had placed Bröring-Sprehe in pole position a few minutes earlier, and they were in total agreement once again when coming up with a final mark of 87.577 for the British duo, who took over at the head of affairs despite a mistake at the end of the one-tempi changes.

Spain’s Beatriz Ferrer-Salat has enjoyed a fantastic week, ensuring her country’s berth at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with a brilliant performance in the team event. And once again today she produced a sparkling test from the 14-year-old gelding Delgado who posted 77.395 to temporarily take bronze medal spot. But the penultimate partnership of Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Johnson TN edged them out when scoring 79.034, and now only his Dutch counterpart, Gal, was left to challenge for gold.

Feeling ill

It had been an uneasy 24 hours in the Dutch camp leading up to today’s competition, however, with team gold medallists Gal and Minderhoud both feeling ill. And Gal was clearly having problems with Glock’s Undercover, who was reluctant to even enter the arena to begin his test this afternoon. The Dutchman persevered, but the gelding was so over-excited he piaffed instead of doing his first halt, and the tense test was finally drawn to a premature close when the Judge at C, Andrew Gardner, rang the bell and stepped into the arena to tell Gal that he couldn’t continue because of blood in the horse’s mouth.

Bronze medallist, Minderhoud, admitted afterwards that he was feeling weak during his test. “My legs felt a bit like spaghetti,” he said, but although he was deeply disappointed for Gal, he was delighted to have picked up his very first individual European medal. Silver medallist, Bröring-Sprehe, said she enjoyed herself much more today. “It was easy to ride,” she said. “On the first day there was a lot of pressure, but today Desperados was very concentrated and I had such a good feeling in passage and piaffe!”

A bit laid back

Gold medallist Dujardin talked about her determination going into the arena today. “On Thursday (team competition) I was a bit laid back and I was just going in there for a clear round, but because I made mistakes on Thursday I was like right, that’s it; I’m sick of this, and I wanted to go in there and better my performance. I know Valegro can do much better than that. I think the whole thing of last year coming here, it wasn’t really great for me and I worried about the heat for Valegro as well. But today he felt in great form and I thought, I’ve just got to ride it, and I did – I felt I just had a good ride from start to finish.”

Her friend, trainer, fellow team-member and mentor, Hester, described his protégé’s success as “another great moment. I’m really happy for Charlotte and I want people to love the horse as we all love him, and it’s great to see him back at his best!”

Now all the focus is on whether Valegro can produce a second back-to-back European Championships double by topping tomorrow’s Freestyle, in which he and Dujardin are drawn last to go.

For more information on the FEI European Championships 2015 in Aachen, visit www.aachen2015.de.

Full results of FEI European Championships Aachen 2015 here.

Facts and Figures:

The top 30 horse-and-rider combinations following the team competition – less one withdrawal – went through to today’s Grand Prix Special at the FEI European Dressage Championships 2015 in Aachen, Germany.

Germany’s Totilas and Matthias Alexander Rath, lying in sixth place, withdrew yesterday.

All four members of the gold-medal-winning Dutch and silver-medal-winning British teams made the cut into today’s Grand Prix Special.

Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro won the title for the second time in succession with a new European Grand Prix Special record score of 87.577.

They previously set the record at the Championships in Herning, Denmark in 2013 with a mark of 85.699.

The silver medal went to Germany’s Kristina Broring-Sprehe and Desperados FRH, with The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Johnson taking the bronze.

Judges marked 12,600 movements. The Judges Supervisory Panel changed 35 marks = 0.278%.

Tomorrow’s Grand Prix Freestyle will bring the FEI European Dressage Championships 2015 to a close.

Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro are also defending the Freestyle title.

Quotes:

Isabell Werth GER, about smiling during her test: “What should I do? It has not been the championships we wanted to have, and in the end maybe now we can have another story for the show!” Did Johnny get confused? “No, he was super I’m so proud about the horse; he was much better than me and it was good to show him in a really good way – that was my goal – because I have no chance to be one of the best and that was really the goal to show him and work for his image.”

Carl Hester GBR, talking about Nip Tuck: “He has the perfect balance of what you want in a dressage horse. He wants to go; he really wants to work; he is a little bit nervous, but he tries his best to be on my side. I have such a great relationship with him.”

Charlotte Dujardin GBR: “It’s tough when you’re in front of a German crowd; you know they’re really behind them (the German riders); it’s like us when we were in London, it’s such a fantastic feeling to know you have all of the home crowd behind you. This crowd is fantastic here, not like your average crowd; they all know what we’re doing… after my first extension I must have gotten a good mark because I could hear Oooooh!”

Charlotte Dujardin GBR, talking about getting a standing ovation from the crowd: “It’s such a great feeling, to come out and know that they’ve really appreciated what I’ve done. It’s incredibly tough knowing you have to go in there and nail it, do your best, enjoy it – it’s tough to do all that and remember that this is a thing that I enjoy and I love and it’s my passion. You can get swept away, nerves kick in and everything else. Today I honestly did go in there and I did enjoy it.”

Carl Hester GBR, talking about Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro: “Of course you get a day like today the weather suits him (Valegro). It’s a little bit cooler; he’s fresher; he enjoys this sort of weather; he loves atmosphere anyway but when he’s hot and tired he’s hot and tired, and he doesn’t really lift to the situation whereas today he was back to full power and he had just that one tiny mistake. Charlotte rides at home for three months doing flying changes and never makes a mistake, and we go to a championship and she gets this ‘why is he making mistakes?’ and she keeps making the odd error and no. 15 (in flying changes) he went short behind. But we must not focus on one flying change; he really was at his best today… she’s happy, and I’m just relieved that for her Aachen is put to bed, so she’s come back and done what she can do anywhere else in the world!”

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Aachen:

Niels Knippertz
Press Officer
nielsknippertz@chioaachen.de
+49 (0) 241 9171 182

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

*Featured/Spotlights, Central Park Horse Show, Dressage

Dujardin and Other Decorated Riders Announced for US Open Dressage Competition in Central Park

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Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro. Photos by Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén, Isabell Werth, Laura Graves, and Patrik Kittel will join Charlotte Dujardin to compete at the event.

Only a few hundred tickets still available!

August 14, 2015 – New York, NY – A star-studded cast of dressage riders will make their way to the 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show Sept. 25-26. The talented lineup that includes five of the world’s top 11 ranked riders will compete in the inaugural U.S. Open Dressage event.

The U.S. Open Dressage Grand Prix on Friday and the $75,000 Dressage Freestyle, presented by the Axel Johnson Group, on Saturday will highlight the schedule. The number-one dressage rider in the world over the last 24 months and double Olympic Gold Medalist, Charlotte Dujardin, will make a rare trip to New York City with her famed mount Valegro.

German rider Isabell Werth, one of the most celebrated equestrian Olympians of all time with five gold medals and currently ranked 7th in the world, will also make the trip to the U.S. along with Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén and Patrik Kittel, ranked 6th and 11th respectively. Spain’s Juan Matute Jr., recent European Junior Champion and one of the world’s most talented up-and-coming riders, will also compete.

North America will be well-represented with rising star and 9th ranked rider Laura Graves and her mount Verdades making a trip to the big city, along with Catherine Haddad Staller and Charlotte Jorst, all riding for the USA. They will be joined by Canada’s Ashley Holzer and Karen Pavicic to round out the competition.

Laura Graves and Verdades
Laura Graves and Verdades

Laura Graves commented, “I am beyond excited to be invited to this very special event in Central Park. This year will be a real showcase and I am looking forward to a strong competition. I have one thing on my mind going into 2016 and that is Rio. This show is the perfect stepping stone on that path.”

After the 2014 debut of the sold-out Rolex Central Park Horse Show, Mark Bellissimo, CEO of International Equestrian Group, LLC (IEG), is pleased to see the reach and impact of the thrilling event expand to more international talent this year.

“We work hard to make sure the show itself is as special as it can be, but it is the riders who truly make it unforgettable,” he said. “We are very proud to present the best in sport across so many disciplines in the heart of New York City.”

Rolex Central Park Horse Show Dressage Schedule:

Friday, September 25th
1:30 PM – U.S. Open Dressage Grand Prix

Saturday, September 26th
6:30 PM – U.S. Open $75,000 Dressage Freestyle, presented by Axel Johnson Group

The second-annual Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature five days of multi-discipline equestrian sport. The schedule will include the inaugural U.S. Open in the following categories: Jumpers, Dressage, Hunters, U25 Jumpers, and Arabians.

Tickets are now on sale for all events at the 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show. There are only a few hundred tickets still available for the event and they are anticipated to sell out. Tickets can now be purchased at http://bit.ly/1AV2imv.

Additional information, including matinee performances, will be announced in the coming weeks on www.coth.com and www.centralparkhorseshow.com.

Media Contact:
Shin-Jung Hong
Nicholas & Lence Communications
ShinJung@nicholaslence.com
Tel: 212.938.0005

Equestrian Media Contact:
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jenniferwoodmedia.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Central Park Horse Show, Dressage

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro to Compete at Rolex Central Park Horse Show Sept. 25-26

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Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro at the 2015 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final. Photo by Lauren Fisher for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Rolex Central Park Horse Show Tickets Now on Sale

New York, NY – Double Olympic Gold Medalist Charlotte Dujardin, one of the most celebrated dressage riders in history, and her world-famous mount Valegro, will perform at the 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show Sept. 25-26. The world’s number-one ranked rider over the last 24 months, reigning European and World Champion, as well as 2015 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final Winner, Dujardin and Valegro will be making a rare appearance in front of their U.S. fans.

Catch Dujardin and Valegro Friday, Sept. 25, in the U.S. Open Dressage Grand Prix at 1:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 26, in the U.S. Open $75,000 Dressage Freestyle, presented by Axel Johnson Group, at 7 p.m. to see if they can beat the world-record scores they have already set in the Grand Prix and Freestyle.

“We are so excited and fortunate to be working with Charlotte, groom Carl and Valegro at the inaugural U.S. Open Dressage event. They are truly one of the great combinations in dressage history,” commented Mark Bellissimo, CEO of International Equestrian Group, LLC (IEG).

Abby Newell, principal of Piaffe Limited and agent for Charlotte and ten other British Dressage competitors, added, “Mark and International Equestrian Group have been an absolute pleasure to work with on securing Charlotte and Valegro. Both Carl and Charlotte are very aware of how visionary Mark has been in the U.S. and didn’t hesitate for a moment when he invited Valegro to take part [in the Rolex Central Park Horse Show]. Particularly, given the event is in such a stunning and high profile location, we are all very much looking forward to the show and exploring more ideas on working together in the future.”

Tickets are now on sale for the 2015 Rolex Central Park Horse Show. There are only 1,000 tickets available for the event and they are anticipated to sell out. Tickets can now be purchased at http://bit.ly/1AV2imv.

The following rooms are being offered to the Rolex Central Park Horse Show Attendees at the discounted rates indicated: Essex King: $499; Park View Essex King: $599; Central Park Queen with Park View: $599; Essex Junior Suite: $599; Manhattan Suite: $799. The above rates reflect a discount of $330 per night on all King and Queen sized rooms as well as the Junior Suites and a $201 discount on the Manhattan Suite. Rooms must be reserved by August 28, 2015 to qualify for these rates.

Rooms at the JW Marriot Essex House New York are limited and will sell out early, so early booking is encouraged. To book, please click here: http://bit.ly/1JFgbq5. In the “Please Select Guest Type” box, select “Attendee” when making a reservation.

For more information on the JW Marriot Essex House New York, please visit: www.jwmarriottessexhousenyc.com.

Additional information, including matinee performances, will be announced in the coming weeks on www.coth.com and www.centralparkhorseshow.com.

Media Contact:
Shin-Jung Hong
Nicholas & Lence Communications
ShinJung@nicholaslence.com
Tel: 212.938.0005

Equestrian Media Contact:
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Lindsay Brock
lindsay@jenniferwoodmedia.com

Competitions, Dressage, FEI

Dujardin and Valegro Make It a Delightful Double of Reem Acra Titles

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Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin holds the new Reem Acra trophy aloft after making it a back-to-back double of victories with the amazing Valegro at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015 Final. (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

Las Vegas (USA), 18 April 2015 – The sensational British duo, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, secured their second consecutive title when winning the Freestyle at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015 Final at the Thomas & Mack arena in Las Vegas, USA today. On an afternoon of superb sporting entertainment during which the spectators played a major role, the Olympic, World and European title-holders threw down another of the iconic performances that have set them apart from the rest over the last four extraordinary years.

They came close to their world-record Freestyle score when posting 94.196, and finished almost 10 percentage points ahead of their nearest rivals, The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover who scored 84.696. Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Unee BB slotted into third with 80.464, and America’s Laura Graves lined up fourth with Verdades on a mark of 79.125.

“I’m just living the dream!” Dujardin said, after accepting the beautiful new trophy designed by New York fashion designer, Reem Acra.

New dimension

Dressage has taken on a whole new dimension at the Thomas & Mack Centre this week. American spectators are encouraged to totally immerse themselves in what is going on in the ring, and they clapped and roared their approval throughout every test. It was clear from the outset today that they would be louder than ever, but the horses and riders rose to the challenge, and many revelled in it. Denmark’s Mikala Munter Gundersen and her 15-year-old mare, My Lady, set the arena alight when sixth to go, their musical score carrying the audience with them all the way and ensuring the leading mark of 75.018 at the halfway stage of the competition.

But it just kept getting better and better, Russia’s Inessa Merkulov and Mister X producing another real crowd-pleaser when first to go after the break as the handsome gelding rolled out his expressive trot extensions and great piaffe/passage for a mark of 76.911 to take the lead.

And if ever there was a stage that suited Isabell Werth and El Santo this was it. The German rider always throws her heart and soul into every test, and even though her 14-year-old gelding decided, like several others, that the spotlight on the beautiful new Reem Acra trophy that took pride of place by the ringside was extremely suspect, the lady who has stashed 14 Olympic medals into her trophy cabinet just rode him through a scary moment and drew a riotous reaction to her courageous extended canter and hip-swinging passage for a new leading mark of 77.875.

Raised the bar

The Netherlands‘ Hans Peter Minderhoud raised the bar higher again with a quality ride on the elegant Glock’s Flirt that put 79.036 on the board, only to be immediately overtaken by America’s Laura Graves and Verdades. This bay gelding was much happier in the arena today, and his every move was greeted by applause as he posted 79.125. But then along came Dujardin and Valegro, who just blew the rest away as they punched out passage and piaffe of the finest calibre, pirouettes that drew gasps of disbelief from the crowd and a final march down the centerline that was greeted with rapturous applause as their massive score went up on the board.

Follow that

Edward Gal had to follow that, and despite the pressure produced great work from Glock’s Undercover who, earlier in the week, was very sensitive to the atmosphere. In the Thomas & Mack arena there is nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, but the black gelding held his nerve to rocket his rider up to second spot, and they wouldn’t be demoted.

America’s Steffen Peters had the audience in the palm of his hand as, second-last to go, he scored 80.286 with Legolas, but sadly he was eliminated after a small amount of blood was found on the horse’s side at the post-competition vet-check. With Peters’ score set aside, that allowed Graves to move up into fourth spot when the final pair, Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Unee BB, was awarded 80.484 and third place despite some early mistakes, the 14-year-old gelding, Unee BB, recovering his equilibrium to deliver some fabulous passage/piaffe and extended trot.

Close to perfection

But once again it was all about Dujardin and Valegro whose performance today was very close to perfection. The sport of Dressage has entered a whole new era thanks to the incredibly high standard they have set. Edward Gal said this evening, “When I started out, scoring over 60% was something, then it was 70% and then 80% – but now it seems 90 is the new 80! To come out on the top now you need near-perfection, and with the horses we have we can compete very close to perfection.”

Dujardin said this evening that she wondered if the crowd’s enthusiasm would be difficult for Valegro today, but instead, “He just went, yahoo! I must be doing something they like!” She down-played her role in yet another vintage performance. “Valegro just loves his job. I don’t have to force him to do anything. I just sit there and steer and off I go; there’s no sweating, no pushing, no pulling; he knows his job and it’s just fantastic!”

When asked about the wall of noise in the arena, she said, “That’s what it’s all about! I don’t go into the ring to do less than a 10, and Valegro lets me do that. If he gets worried I know I can reassure him; he trusts me, but he’s always been a brave horse.”

And she was made an incredible offer by Reem Acra, who has supported the FEI World Cup™ Dressage series for the last five years. When Dujardin thanked her for her sponsorship of the Western European League and Final this evening, Reem Acra replied, “I’m very happy to do it. And you know, Charlotte, that your wedding dress is coming from me!”

For further information on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final in Las Vegas, USA from 15 to 19 April, visit www.worldcuplasvegas.com or contact Press Officer Marty Baumann, marty@classic-communications.com, +1 508 698 6810.

Full result here – http://eventcontent.hippoonline.de/1000/docs/R_06.pdf.

Facts and Figures:

Defending champions, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, made it a back-to-back double of wins when coming out in the Freestyle competition at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015 Final at the Thomas & Mack arena in Las Vegas, USA today.

The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover filled second place with a mark of 84.696.

This was the 30th anniversary of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage series. The inaugural Final took place in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands in 1986 where Sweden’s Anne-Grethe Jensen came out on top for Sweden.

The Ground Jury for today’s competition consisted of: At K, Annette Fransen Iacobaeus SWE; At E, Hans-Christian Matthiesen DEN; At H, Stephen Clarke GBR; At C, Liselotte Fore USA; At M, Peter Holler GER; At B, Maria Schwennesen AUS; At F, Francis Verbeek von Rooy NED.

Winning rider, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin, was presented with a brand new silver trophy designed by New York fashion designer Reem Acra. Complete with a leather belt and silver equestrian buckle it marries Reem Acra’s two passions – horses and fashion. The new trophy has been mounted on the original base that has been used for the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final since it was first presented at the Final in 1986 at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED).

Quotes:

Charlotte Dujardin: “I don’t think about the pressure, because that’s distracting and things can start to go wrong so I just go in there to do the very best I can do!”

Edward Gal: “I wouldn’t normally be the oldest one (on the podium); usually Isabell is here! I feel like I’m 25, and after a few operations I could look like it too!”

Robert Dover, US Dressage Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor: “Sadly Legolas did have a tiny bit of red on one side following his test; the rules are clear and we understand the decision that was made. Steffen is the ultimate sportsman and true ambassador for the sport. When you watch riders, like Steffen, who are so loving and sympathetic to their horses, have something completely unexpected happen, all you can feel is immense empathy and sadness for them.”

Edward Gal: “My horse was nervous on the first day but when you have control you can cope better. The clapping was okay, although it got a bit wild in the prize-giving! The audience is really with you in the ring; they like it and they show it. It’s fine as long as it doesn’t make you make mistakes!”

Ground Jury President Lilo Fore: “From where we sit, the judges can only see good horses and riders. No matter how many years I am doing this job, the excitement never goes away! Horses nowadays are such amazing athletes. Their movement is more exuberant, they have more suppleness and their impulsion and collection is better than ever before.”

Laura Graves: “I was happy that my horse was more relaxed than Thursday. It was fun and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Edward Gal: “The very best should win and Charlotte does such an amazing job and we need horses and riders like them in our sport.”

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl: “I had a roller-coaster of emotion in there today. He (Unee BB) was a bit scared of the light on the trophy and there were some mistakes at the beginning so I thought now I have to go for it, but he did a really good job. I was very pleased at the end.”

Laura Graves: “It’s exciting to have the World Cup in the US, and yes, Las Vegas is surreal. I left my hotel before six this morning and there was a party going on in the bar. And what’s really special is that the crowd brings the party to the stadium!”

FEI YouTube: https://youtu.be/DOQuSmcBAOs.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Las Vegas:

Marty Baumann
Press Officer
marty@classic-communications.com
+1 508 698 6810

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, FEI

Great Britain’s Dujardin Shines, and Peters Springs a Nice American Surprise

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Defending champions, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, lived up to expectations when winning the Grand Prix on the opening day of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas, USA. (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

Las Vegas (USA), 16 April 2015 – Defending champions, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, lived up to expectations when winning the Grand Prix on the opening day of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas, USA today. The reigning Olympic, World and European title-holders produced a brilliant test to finish over six marks ahead of The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover, but the big hero of the day was America’s Steffen Peters who lined up third with Legolas just over two marks further adrift.

The home crowd was naturally hoping for strong performances from their two contenders, and, fourth to go, Laura Graves and Verdades were hotly-tipped to give the leaders a run for their money. But it was 50-year-old Peters, winner the last time the FEI World Cup™ Finals visited Las Vegas in 2009, who once again lifted American spirits with a master-class of superb horsemanship.

Tested concentration and nerve

The arena itself is a challenge at the Thomas & Mack Centre, providing only just enough space to fit the dressage boards inside, and the proximity to the crowd tested concentration and nerve. Graves‘ 13-year-old gelding, who has been on fire on the outdoor Florida circuit over the last few months, found it intimidating as her rider pointed out after posting a score of 74.314. “He was at 80% in the warm-up, but he was nervous going in (to the arena) and he was really hot down the first centreline. Luckily we have that extension to get out some of it, but then it just turned into some of our turns – he would get something in his eye, a flash or whatnot – and he just backed up a little. But he was really obedient; he really tried to be brave, so I couldn’t ask for any more,” she explained.

One contender whose nerves definitely didn’t show was the oldest horse in the competition, the 18-year-old Painted Black, who was previously ridden by nine-time FEI World Cup™ Dressage champion Anky van Grunsven from The Netherlands, and who is continuing to thrive for new partner, Morgan Barbancon Mestre. The 23-year-old Spaniard produced an extraordinary test, with the stallion apparently on springs through lovely passage and piaffe and giving it his all through extended trot for a score of 73.786.

Whole new level

But once Dujardin and Valegro set sail the bar was raised to a whole new level. The British rider had been concerned about her multiple-record-breaking gelding who she said had been “a bit flat” over the last few days. But when the lights went on the curtain came up he turned into the showman the world has come to know and love. Pounding out his trademark passage and piaffe, strutting his stuff through extravagant extended trot, and producing the most exquisite of pirouettes he soared to the top of the leaderboard with a mark of 85.414, and none of the rest would come near that.

Germany’s Isabell Werth has competed in 14 FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals and the double-champion can always be relied upon to be competitive, but with a mark of 72.843 with El Santo she had to settle for eighth place today. The main challenge came from the final three, Peters demonstrating his craft by coaxing some wonderful work from the 13-year-old Legolas whose trot-tour was copybook. Posting 76.843 the American was in runner-up spot before Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover set off.

No-one knew what to expect of this edgy black gelding in this electrifying environment, and he broke into canter in the movement requiring walk to passage. But the quality of the rest of his test was good enough for a mark of 79.057, and once Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Unee BB made some mistakes including fluffing their two-tempis, then they had to settle for fourth place ahead of Graves in fifth and Barbancon Mestre in sixth.

Bounced back

Dujardin was delighted that Valegro bounced back today. “He had a massive journey and it hit him as well as the temperature change, but I got on him today and he was all ready to go. I think he just knew what he had to do and that’s what I mean – he just never lets me down!” she said.

Peters was on a high, because he knew his third-place result was unexpected. “It’s a big surprise to a lot of people and myself too!” he said. He competed Legolas in Florida in January “and it didn’t go so well”. The horse had a break following last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy, and had only just come back to work. His poor result was a shock. “We got barely 70%, so I knew if we wanted to qualify for Las Vegas we needed to change things drastically,” Peters explained, and it seems he left nothing to chance. “He’s had lots of outings and we even went to an event three hours north where there were about 100 people and a lot of noise and atmosphere. We recorded cheering and music, and put it on a five-minute sound-file and played it over the audio system. We prepared a lot, and I’m thrilled because it has worked out beautifully!” he said, and no-one could argue with that.

Strain

Gal said that the trip from Europe was difficult for horses, and not being able to ride for three days while they were in quarantine was also a strain. “But he felt actually quite okay,” he said of Glock’s Undercover. “He was good in training, but today in the walk to passage we made a mistake. Sometimes I find the tension flows away and then comes back up again when I’m riding him, but he did good. A year ago I couldn’t have done what we did today,” he said, knowing that his horse is still improving, even at 14 years of age.

With everyone scoring well over the required 60%, all 18 now go through to the Freestyle which will decide the new champion, and with Dujardin and Valegro in sparkling form it seems a back-to-back double is very much on the cards for the wonder-horse and his super-talented rider. But Laura Graves hasn’t given up hope of making a big impression when the Freestyle gets underway at 12 noon on Saturday.

The American who rocketed to centre stage with a fifth-place individual finish in Normandy last summer said this afternoon, “That’s where we’re going to pull out the big guns, hopefully! Now having this one (the Grand Prix) under our belt, we’ll have a little school tomorrow, and I know my horse will be more confident on Saturday and then we’ll push the envelope!”

For further information on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final in Las Vegas, USA from 15 to 19 April, visit www.worldcuplasvegas.com or contact Press Officer Marty Baumann, marty@classic-communications.com, +1 508 698 6810.

Full result here.

Facts and Figures:

Olympic, World, European and reigning Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage champions, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and the gelding Valegro, won the Grand Prix at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final at the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas, USA today.

There were four former FEI World Cup™ Dressage winning riders amongst the start-list of 18, and three of them claimed the podium placings, 2010 champion, The Netherlands’ Edward Gal, finishing second with Glock’s Undercover, and the USA’s Steffen Peters, who topped the podium in Las Vegas in 2009, standing third.

The Grand Prix decides the starting order for Saturday’s Freestyle which will decide the fate of the 2015 Reem Acra title.

FEI YouTube: https://youtu.be/bz3qwSNiJ-4.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Las Vegas:

Marty Baumann
Press Officer
marty@classic-communications.com
+1 508 698 6810

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

Uncategorized

Double Olympic Gold Medallist Charlotte Dujardin Joins Brooke USA as Global Ambassador

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Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro.

Chooses the World’s Largest International Equine Welfare Organization for First Official Charity Partnership

Lexington, KY – February 13, 2015 – Double Olympic Gold Medallist and international Dressage superstar Charlotte Dujardin today announced her first official charity partnership. She has become Global Ambassador for equine welfare charity the Brooke and its American branch, Brooke USA in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Brooke, whose President is HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, operates in 11 countries around the world helping to improve the welfare of working horses, donkeys and mules that support the livelihoods of more than 600 million people globally.

Charlotte, named The Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year in 2014, shared the news with her supporters on social media today:

“Today, I officially become Global Ambassador for the Brooke – an incredible charity that is dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in some of the world’s poorest communities. I’m very proud to be associated with a cause that is committed to making a real difference to the lives of animals that are less fortunate than those we have here… I look forward to sharing more with you soon,” said Charlotte.

Petra Ingram, the Brooke’s Chief Executive, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Charlotte into the Brooke family as our new Global Ambassador. We were so impressed with Charlotte’s enthusiasm for the Brooke and her willingness to help, despite how busy she is. Hopefully together we can raise awareness of the issues these working animals face every day of their difficult lives. We are so grateful to Charlotte for giving up her time to this very worthy cause.” The Brooke began operations in Egypt 80 years ago when its founder, Dorothy Brooke, rescued 5,000 former war horses left behind after the First World War. Last year alone the Brooke reached approximately 1.5 million working equines in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, benefitting several million of the world’s poorest people who depend on them.

www.BrookeUSA.org

Media contacts in the UK:
Tatjana Trposka (The Brooke): Tatjana@thebrooke.org / 07780 689891
Abby Newell (Piaffe): abby@piaffe.co.uk / 07850 542 877

Media contact in the US:
Cindy Rullman (Brooke USA): Cindy.Rullman@BrookeUSA.org / 859-296-0037

The Brooke

The Brooke is an international animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules. The Brooke believes that animal suffering is preventable and that good animal welfare protects human livelihoods. 100 million working equines are the engines that power the developing world, doing the hardest jobs under the toughest conditions to support the livelihoods of 600 million people. That’s 9% of the world’s population. The Brooke works together with local communities to bring about lasting improvements to the lives of their working animals. With 80 years of experience from 11 different countries, the Brooke reaches more working equines than any other organisation. Last year the Brooke reached over 1.5 million working horses, donkeys and mules, and is on target to reach two million working equines each year by 2016.

Brooke USA, a 501(c)(3) charity located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, exists solely to support the overseas work of the Brooke.

Brief History of the Brooke:

On arrival in Egypt in 1930, Dorothy Brooke, the wife of a British cavalry officer, sought out emaciated horses that were used as beasts of burden on the streets of Cairo. These walking skeletons were once gallant war horses serving Britain, Australia and America in the First World War. When the conflict ended in 1918, they were sold into a life of hard labour in Egypt. Her pleas in a letter-to-editor were heard, and with help from the British public, Dorothy raised enough money to buy back 5,000 of the surviving horses. She then went on to set up a free veterinary clinic in Cairo in 1934 – the Old War Horse Memorial Hospital – and the beginning of the Brooke as we now know it.

Susie Webb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, FEI

Dujardin and Valegro Produce Another Amazing Performance in Amsterdam

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Reigning champions, Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, strutted to victory once again at the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League in Amsterdam, The Netherlands today. (FEI/Arnd Bronkhorst)

Amsterdam (NED), 31 January 2015 – Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro swept to victory with the greatest of ease at the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League series in Amsterdam, The Netherlands today. The 29-year-old rider only returned from New Zealand a few days ago after presenting Masterclasses in Hamilton and Christchurch, and admitted to feeling “seriously jet-lagged”. But such is the exceptional relationship she has with the 13-year-old Valegro that she only fell 0.4 points short of the world-record Freestyle score the pair set at Olympia, London in December when coming out on top by a considerable margin again this afternoon.

Today’s result sheet reflected that of yesterday’s Grand Prix, with exactly the same horse-and-rider combinations filling the top five places. The Netherlands’ Danielle Heijkoop (Siro NOP) filled runner-up spot ahead of Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (Unee BB) in third, and Dutch riders Diederik van Silfhout (Arlando) and Hans Peter Minderhoud (Glock’s Flirt) claimed fourth and fifth places. However, despite the quality of the field, Dujardin’s absolute supremacy was unmistakable as her nearest rival finished more than 11 marks behind her winning score of 93.900.

Great day of sport

The Amsterdam crowd was treated to a great day of sport, with Germany’s Isabell Werth and El Santo NRW lighting up the arena with a powerful and expressive test that just oozed with fun. When you have a trophy cabinet filled to the brim with Olympic and World Championship gold medals you are entitled to have as much fun as you like, and with her 14-year-old gelding grooving to the sound of David Bowie, the 45-year-old veteran swept into the lead on a mark of 76.775 just before the judging break.

However, Denmark’s Agnete Kirk Thinggaard, who has rocketed to prominence this season, went out in front as soon as the action resumed when posting 78.050. This pair is exciting to watch, showing great balance and rhythm in passage in particular, and demonstrating tremendous harmony between their music and their floorplan.

Two rides later, however, Dujardin and Valegro set the new target so high that there was never any doubt about the final outcome. The Olympic, European and World champion was smiling even before she began, and Valegro just settled to his job, drumming out that now familiar perfect piaffe and passage and sitting steady and low in canter pirouette as the scores came tumbling in thick and fast. Britain’s Stephen Clarke and Dutch judge Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode each awarded the pair artistic marks of 98.00 while Isabelle Judet from France gave them 96.00, and when their final total of 93.900 went up on the scoreboard it was very definitely a done deal.

Confident performance

Heijkoop wasn’t intimidated, however, following with a smooth, confident performance that highlighted her black gelding’s exceptional piaffe for a mark of 82.375. And Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who continues to lead the Western European League standings after today’s leg, once again presented her courageous floorplan that embraces difficult transitions including canter to piaffe/pirouette to walk, for a strong score of 80.900.

Penultimate performer, Diederik van Silfhout with Arlando NH, posted 79.950 for fourth place while fellow-Dutchman, Hans Peter Minderhoud, brought the competition to a close with a calm and elegant test from Glock’s Flirt for fifth spot.

Winning result

Dujardin was quick to thank her trainer, friend and mentor, Carl Hester, after today’s winning result. “Carl kept Blueberry (Valegro) ticking over while I was away in New Zealand; I’m always so grateful to him,” she said. She wasn’t too pleased with her ride in yesterday’s Grand Prix, however, even though she won that by more than a seven-point margin. “I was really jet-lagged and I was terrible; I was so angry with myself for the way I rode!” she insisted this afternoon.

She talked about what Valegro has been doing since re-setting the Grand Prix and Freestyle world records at Olympia last month. “He had a couple of weeks off over Christmas and then I started riding him for a couple of days before heading off (to New Zealand). But I only had three days to ride after I got back this week, so he’s a pretty amazing horse!” And looking ahead to the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Final where they will be defending their title, she said, “He won’t be doing anything until then. He isn’t the kind of horse that needs competition all the time, so our next outing will be Las Vegas, and after that we’ll be concentrating on getting ready for the European Championships.”

Reflected

Runner-up, Danielle Heijkoop, reflected on her performance, saying, “We had a bigger score at Mechelen (BEL) in December, but I’m very happy with how we went today.” Talking about her trainer, Anky van Grunsven, who is a nine-time winner of the FEI World Cup™ Dressage title, 27-year-old Heijkoop said, “We think alike; our attitude is that things can always be better, but for me the most important thing right now is that you can see our score is getting a little higher everywhere from last year; it’s all improving.”

Now riders are already thinking ahead to how their horses will respond to the bright lights and electric atmosphere of the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas in just over two months’ time. “I’m so excited about it!” said Dujardin today. “I know the crowd starts clapping before the finish, and the place is buzzing all the time, but hopefully Blueberry will be OK with all that and will put on a great show.”

Runner-up, Danielle Heijkoop, says that her gelding, Siro, can be “a little bit crazy” during the prize-giving ceremony and after he comes out of the arena, but that he is usually a thorough professional during his test. “Actually I think he will love it in Las Vegas; when he’s doing a test he really enjoys the crowd, and I hope it won’t be a problem for him.”

For further information on the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 series at Amsterdam, The Netherlands, go to website www.jumpingamsterdam.nl or contact Press Officer Charlotte Gunnink, Email media@jumpingamsterdam.nl, Tel +31 20544 5720 or (mobile) +31 6383 25326.

The next leg will take place Neumuenster, Germany on Sunday 15 February 2015. For details of the German fixture, visit http://reitturnier-neumuenster.de or contact Press Officer Andreas Kerstan, Email andreas.kerstan@comtainment.de, Tel +49 4307 872 973.

Detailed result here.

Facts and Figures:

Amsterdam, The Netherlands presented the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League today.

15 riders from 8 nations, including six from the host country.

Today’s winners were the defending series champions and World No 1 combination, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro from Great Britain, who re-set both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle world records at the previous fixture at Olympia in London last month.

Their winning Freestyle score of 93.900 today was just 0.4 percentage points short of the world record they set in London at 94.300.

The British partnership also won yesterday’s Grand Prix at the Dutch fixture, with a winning mark of 86.140.

Today’s Ground Jury consisted of: At E, Stephen Clarke (GBR), At H, Isabelle Judet (FRA), At C, Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode (NED), At M, Adriaan F. Hamoen (NED), and at B, Peter Engel (GER).

There are three further qualifying legs left to run in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League – at Neumuenster (GER) on 15 February, At Gothenburg, Sweden on 28 February and at ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NED) on 14 March.

The series Final will take place in Las Vegas, USA from 15-19 April.

Quotes:

Charlotte Dujardin GBR, talking about Valegro: “He was just fantastic today. It’s always such a pleasure to ride him; he’s so great!”

Danielle Heijkoop NED: “My next competition will be at Den Bosch I think, but I have to talk to Anky (van Grunsven) about it first.”

Full standings here.

FEI YouTube here.

Reem Acra FEI Hub http://fei.org/fei/sponsors/reem-acra-and-fei gives access to extensive information about the series.

FEI World Cup™ Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, is now in its 29th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup™ Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

The complete rules, calendar, updated ranking and results are available here.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Amsterdam:

Charlotte Gunnink
Press Officer
media@jumpingamsterdam.nl
+31 205 445 720

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

Competitions, Dressage, FEI

Dujardin and Valegro Hit the Heights of Another World Record Score

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Charlotte Dujardin. Photo: Kit Houghton/Hpower.

It was another World Record breaking night at Olympia, The London International Horse Show. Crowd favourites and World Champions Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro not only duly won the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Freestyle, supported by Horse & Hound, but broke their own World Record score that they set here last year as well as claiming their third successive victory at the Show.

The pair entertained the full house with their practically foot-perfect programme to a compilation of emotive music from the soundtrack to the film ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, the same music that won them the World Championship title at the World Equestrian Games in August. They made piaffe-pirouettes, passage half passes and bold daring extensions look easy and the test that has to be the best freestyle ever ridden, received a standing ovation from a full house and a mark of 94.3% from the judges.

“He is the most incredible horse; he just keeps giving and giving,” said Charlotte, who in April this year became the first Briton to win the World Cup title since the inception of the series in 1986. “I was absolutely thrilled with my ride – the last piaffe pirouette I was nearly in tears he was with me all the way.”

As last year, leading Dutch rider Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover were second, with a test that made the most of Undercover’s rhythmic passage and piaffe. It was Edward Gal who in 2009 set the standard in freestyle, breaking the then world record score when winning at Olympia with Totilas.

“Charlotte, I know how you feel,” said Edward. “A standing ovation is a really great feeling because we work really hard and it makes the work worthwhile.”

Olympia debutante Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, a former European Young Rider Champion, gained third place with Beatrice Burchler-Keller’s Unee BB – an elegant black stallion by Gribaldi.

“It was a privilege for me just to sit next to Charlotte and Edward,” she said. “While I have not had a World Record feeling yet I am working on it.”

Danielle Heijkoop and Siro N.O.P., trained by Anky Van Grunsven, winner of the World Cup on nine occasions from 1995 to 2008, were fourth.

“Charlotte’s test was just out of this world – I honestly thought in 2009 that we would never see the same again,” said Stephen Clarke, President of the Ground Jury. “I am not sure what it is about this show that produces such dressage – the horses are incredible here.”

To view the full results, click HERE.

For more information, please contact Hannah Rawdon-Mogg, hannah@revolutionsports.co.uk, +44(0)7786 052926 or +44(0)207 592 1207.

Olympia will broadcast live on BBC2 on Sunday 21 December and is available to view on Eurosport, the BBC Red Button, online and connected TV on Wednesday 17, Thursday 18 and Monday 22 December. In addition a special highlights program will be aired on BBC2 on Tuesday 23 December at 13:45.

Olympia, The London International Horse Show
The first international horse show took place in the Olympia halls in 1907. Olympia, The London International Horse Show, the event we see today, was started by Raymond Brooks-Ward in 1971. This year’s show takes place on 16-22 December 2014 in the Olympia Exhibition Hall, located in West Kensington London. The show will play host to a packed timetable of all things equestrian and is expected to welcome over 90,000 visitors. It is regarded as one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious equine competitions. The show mixes top class equestrian action, including FEI World Cup™ Jumping, Dressage and Driving with family entertainment, such as the Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National which raises money for Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Kennel Club Dog Agility. The show’s official charity for 2014 is The Injured Jockeys Fund.

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage, FEI

Dujardin and Valegro Set Olympia Alight with a Double of New World Records

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Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro produced a performance close to perfection when winning tonight’s fifth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League at Olympia in London (GBR) with yet another world-record-breaking score. (FEI/Kit Houghton)

Olympia, London (GBR), 17 December 2014 – Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro produced a performance close to perfection when winning tonight’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League qualifier at Olympia in London (GBR) with yet another world-record-breaking score. They set the previous record at the same venue 12 months ago when posting a mark of 93.975, but this evening earned 94.300 for an even more spell-binding display of harmony between horse and rider. And this latest triumph came just 24 hours after the dynamic duo beat their own world record in the Grand Prix in which The Netherlands‘ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover also had to settle for runner-up spot.

Dujardin admitted tonight that Valegro’s performance this evening almost brought her to tears. “When we were doing the last piaffe/passage I was welling up and I had to say to myself, ‘Don’t cry, don’t cry!’” she said. “He tries so hard to get it right; it’s an incredible feeling when you go in there in front of all those thousands of people and he just wants to perform and to give you his best,” she added.

A little history

There was a starting field of 14, and The Netherlands‘ Katja Gevers and Thriller took the early lead with a score of 72.276 before Irish national champion, Judy Reynolds, made a little history as the first rider from her country to qualify for the Freestyle at the prestigious British fixture, posting a creditable 70.000. Talented young German, Soenke Rothenberger, was out in front at the halfway stage with Favourit on a mark of 77.825, but that would only prove good enough for sixth place at the end of a magical night.

Gal gave it his best shot with Glock’s Undercover, but after a solid start the horse’s tension increased to leave them on a final score of 83.550, and Dujardin and the 12-year-old gelding she calls Blueberry just blew that away when following with a stunning test during which they picked up 25 maximum scores of 10. From the moment they set off, horse and rider were as one, gliding seamlessly from movement to movement and perfectly synchronised to their musical score from “How to Train Your Dragon”. The first time they performed to it was last April when they added the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2013/2014 title to the staggering list of successes they have racked up during their relatively short career together. But tonight their musical interpretation was in a different league altogether.

Hit everything on time

“I felt that I got into the music and he got into the music, and it felt like everything seemed to flow and to fit, and I hit everything on time,” Dujardin said afterwards. The crowd thought so too, rising to give the phenomenal partnership a standing ovation.

Ground Jury President, Great Britain’s Stephen Clarke, said, “I didn’t honestly think we’d get that feeling again. In 2009 Edward (Gal) broke the world record here and it was the most magical evening I can ever remember, then Charlotte does it tonight and it’s just out of this world! I don’t know what it is about this show, but the horses are incredible here!” he pointed out.

He teased Dujardin about her spectacular performance. “The walk tonight wasn’t quite as relaxed… and there was 9.5 for paces, 10 for harmony, 10 for choreography, 9.5 for difficulty and 10 for the music. Charlotte you’d better sharpen up a bit!” he said.

Runner-up Gal, who was 2010 series champion with the great Totilas, joked that he needs to “practice a little bit more – I’m just 10% behind!”, while Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, whose third-place finish tonight with Unee BB leaves her sharing the lead on the Western European League table with fellow-countrywoman Fabienne Lutkemeier, said, “I haven’t had a world record breaking feeling yet, but I’m working on it!”

The Netherlands’ Danielle Heijkoop steered Siro NOP into fourth ahead of Dujardin’s great friend and mentor Carl Hester whose 10-year-old gelding, Nip Tuck, was the youngest horse in the competition.

Dressed as a chicken

Dujardin first appeared under the spotlights at Olympia back in 1996 when taking part in the traditional Christmas finale – dressed as a chicken. She cut a rather more elegant figure tonight sitting on the fabulous 12-year-old gelding who has more than realised all her dreams.

“When I first started Grand Prix I had three goals,” the 29-year-old rider explained, “to ride at Olympia, be on a team with Carl (Hester) and to get to London (2012 Olympic Games). The first year I got here I won and I couldn’t believe it. Last year I broke my final world record here, and this year to break two in one show is absolutely outstanding!” she added.

When asked if she thought she could achieve an even higher score that the one she laid down tonight, the Olympic, World and European champion replied, “I don’t know, I just keep doing these tests and things just get better and better… my confidence and his confidence are just growing and growing and it makes you be able to ride more and more and go for more. I get braver as a rider and he gets more confident as a horse.” And when asked if she thought it possible to earn a maximum 100% sometime in the future, she laughed and said, “It’s not far off now; I’m getting there!”

For further information on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 leg at Olympia, London (GBR), go to www.olympiahorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Jo Peck, JoPeck@hpower.co.uk, +44 1753 847 900.

The next leg of the series will take place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on Saturday 31 January 2015. For all enquiries about the Dutch fixture, go to website www.jumpingamsterdam.nl or contact Press Officer Charlotte Gunnink, Email media@jumpingamsterdam.nl, Tel +31 20544 5720 or (mobile) +31 6383 25326.

Full result here.

Facts and Figures:

The London International Horse Show at Olympia presented round five of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League series tonight.

Olympic, World and European champions Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro (GBR) made it a back-to-back double of new world records when following Tuesday’s Grand Prix record-breaking result of 87.460 with tonight’s new Freestyle record of 94.300.

14 horse-and-rider combinations lined out in tonight’s competition.

Runners-up, The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover, finished more than 10 percentage points behind the winning pair.

The Ground Jury consisted of: At E, A Fransen Iacobaeus SWE; At H, B Maurel FRA; At C, S Clarke GBR; At M, P Holler GER; At B, I Wessels GBR.

Dujardin recently won The Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year 2014 award.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, who finished third tonight with Unee BB, shares the lead on the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League table with fellow-German Fabienne Lutkemeier.

The next leg of the series will take place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on Saturday 31 January 2015.

Quotes:

Charlotte Dujardin GBR, talking about tonight’s standing ovation: “It’s emotional just to walk out and have that feeling with all those people standing up, to ride in front of them; we don’t really get to see the home crowd and let them experience it. Now they’ve witnessed it, it’s very special for them.”

Edward Gal NED, talking about his performance with Glock’s Undercover: “The first part I was really happy until he started cantering and he got a bit too excited. We had mistakes in the two tempis and one pirouette was not so good, but we got better again.”

Charlotte Dujardin GBR, comparing the pressure of standing up at a Sports Award ceremony to competing at Olympia tonight: “Coming here is the easiest thing in the whole world after standing up in front of 12,000 people; coming here is a breeze! Standing in front of 12,000 people – I’m not used to that. I was like a nappy horse; I wanted to run out! My heart was pounding beyond belief; literally thought it was going to come out through my dress! When I got up on stage I was okay. Coming here I was like, I can definitely do this; maybe I should do it more often!”

Full standings here.

Reem Acra FEI Hub http://fei.org/fei/sponsors/reem-acra-and-fei gives access to extensive information about the series.

FEI World Cup™ Dressage, the only worldwide series in this discipline, is now in its 29th season. The series, created in 1985, comprises four leagues: Western European, Central European, North American (including Canada) and Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Asia). Each FEI World Cup™ Dressage qualifier consists of a Grand Prix test, which in turn is a qualification for the Freestyle to Music competition, where league points are accumulated towards places in the Final. Judged on both technical and artistic merit, the FEI World Cup™ Dressage combines art, sport and partnership between horse and rider at the highest level and consistently proves a winning formula with audiences all over the world.

The complete rules, calendar, updated ranking and results are available here.

By Louise Parkes

Media Contacts:

At Olympia:

Jo Peck
Press Officer
JoPeck@hpower.co.uk
+44 1753 847 900

At FEI:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

*Featured/Spotlights, Dressage

Dujardin Smashes Grand Prix World Record at Olympia

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Charlotte Dujardin. Photo: Kit Houghton/Hpower.

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro once again delighted a packed house at Olympia, The London International Horse Show, producing a World Record score in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Grand Prix supported by Horse & Hound. The mark of 87.46% beat their previous record, set by the World, Olympic and European Champions at the World Cup Final in Lyon earlier in the year.

Charlotte, who has come to the Show directly from The BBC Sports Personality of the Year in Glasgow, complete with a bad cold, was as equally delighted with the new record score especially as it was their first competition since The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in August.

“We don’t set out to break a record it just happens – we just want to do our best and any record is a bonus,” said Charlotte, who always looks forward to competing at Olympia.

She said, “It is a great end to the season and fantastic to be competing in front of the home crowd and Blueberry never fails to rise to the occasion.”

The pair heads the draw for tomorrow night’s World Cup Freestyle with Charlotte promising to ‘let rip’ to the routine that is set to the music from ‘How to Train Your Dragon.’

Dutch team rider Edward Gal, a regular and popular visitor to Olympia, was second with Glocks Undercover NOP with the high mark of 80.12%, albeit still 7% adrift of the winning score. The Dutchman admitted that having to follow Charlotte was not ideal preparation for a test.

He said, “Glocks got very excited by the clapping and I had to hold him back at the beginning of the test but I was very pleased that he found his one-time changes again as he had totally lost them yesterday.”

Fellow Dutch rider Danielle Heijkoop and Siro NOP were third with British rider Carl Hester and Nip Tuck in fourth.

The top fifteen from tonight’s Grand Prix class will go forward to tomorrow’s World Cup Freestyle starting at 8:10pm.

The opening night saw record attendance figures at Olympia for a Grand Prix competition. The final performance of the evening welcomed Kauto Star and Laura Collett who performed a dazzling dressage display in the famous Olympia arena.

To view the full results, click HERE.

For more information, please contact Hannah Rawdon-Mogg, hannah@revolutionsports.co.uk, +44(0)7786 052926 or +44(0)207 592 1207.

Olympia will broadcast live on BBC2 on Sunday 21 December and available to view on Eurosport, the BBC Red Button, online and connected TV on Wednesday 17, Thursday 18 and Monday 22 December. In addition, a special highlights program will be aired on BBC2 on Tuesday 23 December at 13:45.

Olympia, The London International Horse Show
The first international horse show took place in the Olympia halls in 1907. Olympia, The London International Horse Show, the event we see today, was started by Raymond Brooks-Ward in 1971. This year’s show takes place on 16-22 December 2014 in the Olympia Exhibition Hall, located in West Kensington London. The show will play host to a packed timetable of all things equestrian and is expected to welcome over 90,000 visitors. It is regarded as one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious equine competitions. The show mixes top class equestrian action, including FEI World Cup™ Jumping, Dressage and Driving with family entertainment, such as the Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National which raises money for Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Kennel Club Dog Agility. The show’s official charity for 2014 is The Injured Jockeys Fund.