Tag Archives: Daniel Bachmann Andersen

Competitions, Dressage, FEI

Bachmann Andersen Wins Dramatic Last Leg in Den Bosch

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Daniel Bachmann Andersen pictured with his wife Tiril Bachmann Anerud and Robbie Sanderson. (FEI/Leanjo de Koster)

Langehanenberg pips reigning champion Werth for runner-up spot

Denmark’s Daniel Bachmann Andersen (28) threw down the performance of a lifetime to win the edge-of-the-seat tenth and last leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2018/2019 Western European League at ’s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands. Last to go, it seemed he had a mountain to climb to overtake the fantastic score of 84.875 posted by Helen Langehanenberg (36) who had just pushed her German compatriot, and reigning series champion, Isabell Werth, off the top of the leaderboard.

But the Danish rider and his 14-year-old stallion, who began the season with a brilliant victory on home ground last October in Herning (DEN) where they also left Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH in their wake, really pulled out all the stops to do it once again. Their winning margin was tiny, just 0.015, but their mark of 84.890 rocketed them into pole position on the day and into fourth in the final standings on the Western European League table.

On an afternoon of sparkling sport there was plenty to keep the Dutch crowd pleased, with both Anne Meulendijks (MDH Avanti NOP) and Emmelie Scholtens (Apache) giving a great account of themselves before Hans Peter Minderhoud took the lead with Glock’s Dream Boy when posting a score of 81.635. However, third-last to go, World No. 1 Isabell Werth, put 82.930 on the board to go out in front, and that was the target Langehanenberg was chasing when next into the ring.

And the lady who was crowned 2013 FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion was on fire, Damsey completely composed and concentrated as they forged way into the lead. The smile on her face as she punched the air after the final halt said it all. “This was the best test we’ve ever done!” Langehanenberg pointed out. But Bachmann Andersen wasn’t going to be intimidated. “I saw Helen’s score just before I went in and I decided I was just going to go for it – and I did!” he said.

And Zack answered his every call, demonstrating his ever-growing confidence and immense ability. He’s an extraordinary horse, because he lost an eye due to an injury when he was six years old, but it certainly doesn’t hold him back. “He’s well used to it and he knows his job and he believes in me – but he is truly amazing!” the Danish rider said of his 15-year-old stallion.

“Today he just rocked it and it felt so good; he has so much power and now he can really absorb the degree of difficulty in this Freestyle. We finished very close, Helen and I, and it’s amazing to ride against these great German and Dutch riders who are bringing out their ‘A’ game. This is another really important moment in my career!” — Daniel Bachmann Andersen (DEN)

Now he’s really looking forward to the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg (SWE) which kicks off on 3 April. His strong league result will ensure a good place in the drawn order, and he can’t wait to take on the best of the rest when the moment comes. “Zack will have a little rest now and I will slowly build him up for Gothenburg. I know what the Swedish crowd will be like: it will be electric, but that only makes him better!” he pointed out.

There are nine spots at the Final available to riders from the Western European League and Germany’s Langhanenberg and Dorothee Schneider will join their fellow-countrywoman and defending champion Isabell Werth when the action begins. But despite finishing third, eighth. and tenth respectively on the WEL League table, Germany’s Benjamin Werndl, Frederic Wandres, and Fabienne Muller-Lutkemeier will miss out because only three riders from each National Federation are permitted to compete.

Completing the WEL line-up will be Bachmann Andersen, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven, The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud, Portugal’s Maria Caetano, and Ireland’s Judy Reynolds.

Watch highlights here.

Final Western European League Standings here.

By Louise Parkes

Media contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Competitions, Dressage, FEI

Home Win for Daniel Bachmann Andersen at Opening Leg in Herning

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Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack. (FEI/Ridehesten.com/Kristine Ulsø Olsen)

Daniel Bachmann Andersen (28) and Blue Hors Zack were definitive winners of the first leg of the new FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2018/2019 Western European League season on home ground in Herning, Denmark. All five judges put the Danish duo into pole position while Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg (36) steered Damsey FRH into second spot ahead of Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven (51) and Don Auriello in third.

“It was a fantastic Freestyle today – no mistakes and very easy, very light and smooth. Yesterday Zack felt tight during the Grand Prix and we had a few mistakes. But today he was suppled up a little bit more and that paid off a lot,” Bachmann Andersen said.

Langehanenberg won the Grand Prix ahead of Vilhelmson Silfven in second and Bachmann Andersen in third. But the Danish rider who became part of the Blue Hors Stud team four years ago was determined to do better.

“I felt I had a chance to win today but I knew I had to be humble. Helen and Tinne could also do good so I had to ride really well – I took my chance and I rode my chance!” — Daniel Bachmann Andersen (DEN)

The bar was raised to over 80 percent by six-time Olympian, Vilhelmson Silfven, when third-last to go with her 16-year-old gelding. The pair finished second at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Gothenburg (SWE) two years ago and were on the Swedish team that finished fourth at last month’s FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA.

However, their mark of 80.90 was immediately bettered by London 2012 Olympic team silver medallist Langehanenberg whose brilliant record at the FEI Dressage World Cup Finals includes victory with Damon Hill NRW in 2013. A score of 81.40 with the 16-year-old stallion Damsey FRH put her out in front when second-last into the arena, but her advantage was short-lived.

Big marks included two scores of 9.9 for Degree of Difficulty from judges Katrina Wuest (GER) and Mariette Sanders-Van Gansewinkel (NED) as Blue Hors Zack soared to the top of the leaderboard on a final tally of 83.37 for victory. Bachmann Andersen was delighted with the horse who he says has “an amazing temperament; he’s sharp and yet he’s still very calm.”

“He’s also a breeding stallion and he’s not just my horse; he’s my friend and my partner; he’s everything to me! He was given up a bit by other riders who had him before; he wasn’t easy because he’s very sensitive, so I had to get into his heart and get him to trust me – now what we have is very special!” — Daniel Bachmann Andersen (DEN)

And Zack is also special because he’s blind in one eye. “There were a few issues to work on and a lot of bumps along the way, and he was actually 12 years old when he made his debut at this level of the sport, but he just got better and better from show to show after that,” Bachmann Andersen added.

However, after this great result, Zack will take a break because he’s had a busy year, finishing seventh at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2018 in Paris (FRA), competing successfully in Aachen (GER) in July, and finishing 10th individually in the Grand Prix and 17th in the Special at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ last month.

“My plan now is to give him a rest until the qualifier in Amsterdam (NED) in January, and I definitely want to make it to the Final in Gothenburg with him,” the Danish rider said.

Watch highlights here.

By Louise Parkes

Media contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46