New York, USA, 16 September 2015 – From 23-27 September, top equestrian athletes will gather at one of the most stunning venues worldwide for the second annual Rolex Central Park Horse Show. Attempting to defend her Rolex Grand Prix title will be Georgina Bloomberg, daughter of former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.
New York City’s Rolex Central Park Horse Show was a smash hit in its inaugural year in 2014. The enthusiastic New York audience was gripped by the spectacular performances of top-class horse and rider combinations in this unique setting – and this year’s expanded renewal is set to be even more impressive. Rolex’s longstanding relationship with horse sport is well-known, which made it the automatic first choice as title sponsor for 2015.
The showpiece class will be the Rolex Grand Prix on the Friday night of the event (25 September), where the world’s finest horsemen and women will battle it out in the heart of the city. Bloomberg was a highly popular champion last year in front of her home crowd, and will most likely be set on maintaining her champion status.
CENTRAL PARK VISIONARY
The Rolex Central Park Horse Show is the brainchild of Mark Bellissimo, Managing Partner and the largest shareholder in Wellington Equestrian Partners LLC, which stages the annual three-month Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Florida.
Bellissimo wanted to bring the thrill of equestrian sport to a wider audience and conceived the daring idea of staging a show in Central Park – in the Trump Rink.
Mark Bellissimo said, “The Rolex Central Park Horse Show made a spectacular debut and is poised for an even greater year as we introduce the U.S. Open for Equestrian Sport. We will be welcoming more equestrian disciplines to the heart of New York City as a showcase for equestrian sport in the United States.” He added, “Showcasing the many facets of the horse world in the heart of New York City is an exciting endeavour for us and the equine industry in general. We are also very proud to continue our relationship with NBC Sports and we will be broadcasting the event to equestrian enthusiasts across the nation and the world.”
FIVE DAY SHOW
The five-day Rolex Central Park Horse Show will feature action from several equestrian disciplines, including Show Jumping, Dressage, Hunters and Arabians, and is the perfect showcase for equestrian sport in the United States.
The luxury Swiss watchmaking brand has been associated with the very best equestrian athletes, through its family of Testimonees and international shows for more than 60 years. The attributes of precision, performance, courage and sportsmanship for which equestrian sport is recognized resonate through Rolex’s approach and philosophy.
Rolex Show Jumping Testimonee Kent Farrington was among the winners of the inaugural show, and said, “I think this is one of the best venues we can have to showcase our sport. It is really exciting to be here and be a part of this event.”
DRESSAGE SUPREMO ISABELL WERTH
Rolex’s Dressage Testimonee, the incomparable Isabell Werth, travelled from her home country of Germany to take the show’s maiden Dressage challenge, and has recently confirmed that she will return to compete in 2015.
She said, “Central Park is such a nice show. There have been some great improvements for this year and horses are now allowed to stay in the park overnight. This will make it more of a real competition and adds excitement to the show and the sport.”
When asked which of her top horses she will take to New York, the former Olympic gold medallist said, “I will probably take El Santo; he is very experienced with large arenas and flying to events. It is a very special atmosphere, heightened by the great crowd.”
Many more of the world’s most illustrious equestrian athletes have already announced their intention to compete in this special venue. There is no doubt that the Rolex Central Park Horse Show will join the select list of the most desirable equestrian events for both spectators and competitors.
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 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.
22 September 2014 – New York, USA – The first annual Central Park Horse Show, presented by Rolex and produced by The Chronicle of the Horse, yesterday concluded four days of top horse sport featuring the world’s best horses and riders in Show Jumping and Dressage, in New York City’s Trump Rink.
Georgina Bloomberg Wins Inaugural $210,000 Central Park Grand Prix CSI 3*
Twenty-three of the world’s best horses and riders jumped in the inaugural $210,000 Central Park Grand Prix CSI 3*, presented by Rolex, with an exciting victory for New York’s own Georgina Bloomberg riding Juvina on Thursday 18 September. The Central Park Grand Prix was televised live on NBC Sports Network as the first live primetime broadcast of equestrian sport on a major sports network. Later in the evening, New York native Lucy Deslauriers rode her horse Hester to victory in the $20,000 Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by PwC.
Thursday’s competition was just the beginning of an exciting four days of equestrian sport in New York City’s beloved Central Park. The Central Park Horse Show continued with its second day of show jumping competition on Friday 19 September under the beautiful New York City skyline. The evening featured a $50,000 “NYC vs. The World” Team Speed Challenge, presented by Donald J. Trump, with a win for Suncast® Corporation’s World Team. Representing his home nation of Ireland, Conor Swail won the competition overall with the leading round aboard Lansdowne.
A $5,000 Junior/Amateur Speed Challenge was held later in the evening with a win for 22-year-old New York based rider Hilary McNerney and Oscar. Rolex Testimonee Kent Farrington, the number 3 ranked rider in the world, guided the winning efforts in both competitions serving as captain of the victorious Suncast World Team as well as training McNerney to her win.
Farrington commented on the event following another great evening of competition representing his winning team. “I think this is one of the best venues we can have to showcase our sport,” he stated. “It is really exciting to be here and be a part of this event, getting it off the ground. A special thank you to everybody that has put big efforts into making this happen – Mark Bellissimo, Donald Trump, Rolex being our sponsor here, all the staff of the park, and everybody that has helped. I think for the first year, it’s a success, and I know there will be big efforts into making it better. I think that this could turn into a major stop on our tour and turn into a world-class event.”
Isabell Werth and El Santo NRW Win First Ever Central Park Dressage Challenge
Five-time Olympic Gold Medallist Isabell Werth of Germany won the inaugural $40,000 Central Park Dressage Challenge, presented by The Axel Johnson Group, riding El Santo NRW on Saturday 20 September. The United States’ Steffen Peters brought his superstar mount Ravel out of retirement for one special freestyle, and Jan Ebeling retired his famous mare Rafalca after the duo had their final performance together. It was an incredible night celebrating the beauty, grace, and power of dressage.
Performing their freestyle in Trump Rink with an incredible backdrop of skyscrapers in the New York City skyline, Rolex Testimonee Isabell Werth and El Santo NRW received a score of 82.042% from the judges to take top honors in the dressage challenge. Dutch rider Hans Peter Minderhoud showed his mount Glock’s Flirt to a score of 78.833% to finish second, and Canada’s Karen Pavicic and Don Daiquiri scored a 73.500% to place third. El Santo NRW is a 13-year-old Rheinlander gelding by Ehrentusch x Rythmus owned by Madeleine Winter-Schulze and Isabell Werth. The rider has had great success with the talented horse in Europe and decided to bring him to the United States for the first time for this very special evening.
“I have to say thank you in the name of all riders for the great idea for this event,” Werth stated. “In the beginning when I heard it, I couldn’t believe, but I was waiting to see if it was really coming true, and it really came true. I say a big thank you. It is a special event. If you go here through Central Park and if you arrive in New York, you can’t imagine that you will compete here in this arena. It was a lot of fun and a pleasure to be here.”
Along with the evening’s freestyle competition, dressage star Steffen Peters brought his famous Olympic and World Equestrian Games partner Ravel out of retirement for one special performance. The 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding last competed with Peters in 2012 after a career that launched them to the front of the world dressage stage, including an individual fourth at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, wins in the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Final (Las Vegas) and the 2009 Aachen CDIO (GER), two bronze medals at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (KY), and two U.S. Equestrian Federation National Grand Prix Championship titles. The exciting evening at Trump Rink showcased the world-renowned duo for one final performance of their award-winning freestyle.
U.S. Pony Club Games and The Shetland Pony Steeplechase
Saturday also featured two matinee performances with various exhibitions representing different disciplines of equestrian sport. The United States Pony Club Games highlighted New York’s top young Pony Club riders in a series of entertaining and competitive games. The inaugural Central Park Grand National Shetland Pony Steeplechase races, part of the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Series presented by Charles Owen, saw jockeys age seven to 16 riding atop one of the world’s most adorable pony breeds.
U.S. Vaulting Team & Polo
The 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games’ U.S. Vaulting Team showcased their world-class horseback gymnastics thanks to sponsor Akiko Yamazaki. Polo’s rising stars also took to the ring thanks to support from Wellington’s Grand Champions Polo Club. The U.S. Polo Association Central Park Polo Challenge concluded a fantastic weekend on Sunday afternoon.
For more information on the inaugural Central Park Horse Show and full results on all the competitions held over the four days, please visit www.centralparkhorseshow.com.
Rafalca Retires; Ravel Returns for Final Performance
New York, NY – September 20, 2014 – The Central Park Horse Show (CPHS), presented by Rolex and produced by The Chronicle of the Horse, hosted its third day of competition in New York City’s iconic Central Park on Saturday featuring an evening of beautiful dressage competition and special performances from some of the world’s best horses and riders. The CPHS concludes on Sunday, September 21.
Five-time Olympic Gold Medalist Isabell Werth of Germany won the inaugural $40,000 Central Park Dressage Challenge, presented by The Axel Johnson Group, riding El Santo NRW. The United States’ Steffen Peters brought his superstar mount Ravel out of retirement for one special freestyle, and Jan Ebeling retired his famous mare Rafalca after the duo had their final performance together. It was an incredible night celebrating the beauty, grace, and power of dressage.
Performing their freestyle in Trump Rink with an incredible backdrop of skyscrapers in the New York City skyline, Isabell Werth and El Santo NRW received a score of 82.042% from the judges to take top honors in the dressage challenge. Dutch rider Hans Peter Minderhoud showed his mount Glock’s Flirt to a score of 78.833% to finish second, and Canada’s Karen Pavicic and Don Daiquiri scored a 73.500% to place third.
El Santo NRW is a 13-year-old Rheinlander gelding by Ehrentusch x Rythmus owned by Madeleine Winter-Schulze and Isabell Werth. The rider has had great success with the talented horse in Europe and decided to bring him to the United States for the first time for this very special evening.
“I have to say thank you in the name of all riders for the great idea for this event,” Werth stated. “In the beginning when I heard it, I couldn’t believe, but I was waiting to see if it was really coming true, and it really came true. I say a big thank you. It is a special event. If you go here through Central Park and if you arrive in New York, you can’t imagine that you will compete here in this arena. It was a lot of fun and a pleasure to be here.
“You need a special horse also, who can deal with the atmosphere here,” Werth added. “I’m really pleased with ‘Ernie.’ He did a great job. I did a really good freestyle, and I am completely happy. I had great days here; it’s my second time (in New York), but this was a special time here. It was like holidays with my horse. We are happy to come back!”
Werth also commented on the great atmosphere of the venue, which is unlike any other. “The really most impressive view is if you see the skyline from that point of view,” she stated. “If you are in the ring and you look around, this is really unbelievable, especially when you come from Germany! It’s a completely different arena or event or atmosphere to a normal show. It is something special because you are in the middle of New York. We have no other show where it’s in the middle of skylines and atmosphere like this. This is really unique and special.”
Hans Peter Minderhoud came to New York for the very first time for Saturday’s competition and was also impressed with the park setting.
“The arena is really amazing. Of course in Europe we have some great venues, but the big difference is for our horses,” Minderhoud stated. “You need a bit of a special horse. They came here this morning, and you’re not in the arena a lot. It’s tricky to go through the park, but my horse coped really well with it. I was very happy with the test. He had no mistakes, and he was really trying and going for it. For me, it was really wonderful to be here. It’s my first time in New York. As Isabell said, a big thank you to the organizers. We had a wonderful week, and it’s so nice to be in the city. I think we’ll definitely come back next year.”
Pavicic stated, “I’m thrilled to be here, and it’s an honor to be third amongst these two great riders here. I’m thrilled with my horse. It’s been a fantastic journey this year, for sure.”
Along with the evening’s freestyle competition, dressage star Steffen Peters brought his famous Olympic and World Equestrian Games partner Ravel out of retirement for one special performance. The 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding last competed with Peters in 2012 after a career that launched them to the front of the world dressage stage, including an individual fourth at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, wins in the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Final (Las Vegas) and the 2009 Aachen CDIO (GER), two bronze medals at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (KY), and two U.S. Equestrian Federation National Grand Prix Championship titles. The exciting evening at Trump Rink showcased the world-renowned duo for one final performance of their award-winning freestyle.
Ravel has spent the majority of his retirement at owner Akiko Yamazaki’s Four Winds Farm in Woodside, CA. When Yamazaki called to tell Peters about the idea to bring Ravel back for one night in New York, Peters knew it would be a very special opportunity.
“We were in Europe when I heard about this wonderful idea that Mark and his team put together so perfectly. I was already in France when Akiko called me and she said, ‘Guess what? You and Ravel are going to New York and you’re going to show there.’ I said, ‘Okay, great! Let’s do it!’ It’s very exciting to be here,” Peters acknowledged. “I am so proud of Ravel. Even being two years in retirement, he just gave all of his energy and expression that he had in the time when he was in his prime. I’m super excited to compete here. I’d love to get a chance to come here next year. It was awesome.”
“He was already so excited this afternoon when we had familiarization (in the ring),” Peters said of Ravel’s experience. “He is such a fun horse. It’s nothing to do with work. People tell me, ‘You make it look so easy.’ He just wants to do it. Going forward, he’s so wonderful in the bridle and still so elastic. To get to ride him once more in a freestyle is so extremely special. It’s really hard to put in words what Ravel really does for us. To compete and to show him, in what I like to call the center of the world, is really special. Central Park is just amazing. What a special feeling tonight.”
Following Ravel’s return to the ring, a moving retirement ceremony was held for Jan Ebeling’s FEI World Cup and 2012 London Olympic Games mount Rafalca, as the mare concludes her successful show career. At 17 years of age, the Oldenburg mare owned by Beth Meyer, Ann Romney and Amy Ebeling will now enjoy her time at Ebeling’s farm The Acres in California. Ebeling has plans to breed her at the beginning of the year and will keep the mare in light work. “I would like to see her out of my window with a baby in my back pasture,” he smiled.
“It was bittersweet, of course. She went fantastic. She didn’t feel like she’s 17 at all!” Ebeling said of Rafalca’s beautiful retirement ceremony and final freestyle performance. “This horse has given me so much.”
“The decision was made to retire her, and what a place to retire a horse,” he stated. “This horse show is unbelievable. Thanks to the organizer. I know you really have to stick your neck way out to do these events. I’m speechless. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to retire my horse here. I’d like to also say thank you to my family, friends, and sponsors that have made this journey for me possible. I hope I come back with another horse. I was familiar with Central Park, but I never thought I would ever ride here!”
Mark Bellissimo, CEO of International Equestrian Group (IEG), concluded another fantastic night with his closing remarks, stating, “This was a very special evening. We had some special champions here this evening, and it was amazing to see high quality dressage here. I’d like to thank Axel Johnson Group for their sponsorship of this event. Our goal was to prove you could get it done, so in many ways having some great athletes come here was icing on the cake. It was a great crowd; they were very engaged, so it was very exciting.”
In addition to the winning prize money, Wellington Equestrian Realty LLC presented a special Owner’s Award to the winning owners of El Santo NRW, Madeleine Winter-Schulze and Werth, for the Central Park Dressage Challenge. A $5,000 donation to charity in their honor will be made.
Saturday also featured two matinee performances with various exhibitions representing different disciplines of equestrian sport. The United States Pony Club Games highlighted New York’s top young Pony Club riders in a series of entertaining and competitive games. The inaugural Central Park Grand National Shetland Pony Steeplechase races, part of the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase Series presented by Charles Owen, saw jockeys age seven to 16 riding atop one of the world’s most adorable pony breeds.
Young dressage phenom Barbara “Bebe” Davis represented the next generation of dressage stars. The 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games’ U.S. Vaulting Team showcased their world-class horseback gymnastics thanks to sponsor Akiko Yamazaki. Polo’s rising stars took to the ring thanks to support from Wellington’s Grand Champions Polo Club. One-of-a-kind inspirational equestrian entertainment concluded the matinees as Australian Horseman Guy McLean and his equine partners demonstrated the strong bond between horses and humans.
Along with the wonderful competition for the evening, VIP guests enjoyed beautiful seating and dining thanks to VERANDA magazine. VERANDA magazine is the sponsor of the interior design of the VIP tent including crystal chandeliers from Troy Lighting and carpets from New Moon.
The U.S. Polo Assn. Central Park Polo Challenge will conclude a fantastic weekend on Sunday afternoon at 3 pm. Entertaining matinee performances will also be held on Sunday at 9 am and 12 pm. For more information, please go to www.centralparkhorseshow.com. For tickets, please go to centralparkhorseshow.tix.com.
Discounted Hotel rooms are available at the JW Marriott Essex House at the following link: http://bit.ly/1nRumC6.
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About The Chronicle of the Horse
For 76 years, The Chronicle of the Horse has been the industry leader in providing news coverage of national and international sport horse competitions. Through our award-winning weekly magazine and web coverage we offer everything from competition results to compelling features and thought-provoking commentary. The Chronicle Untacked quarterly lifestyle publication launched in 2013 to rave review. Read more at www.chronofhorse.com.
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Isabell Werth, riding Warum Nicht, is pictured at the prize-giving in Lyon, France together with Frederique Martin-Baste, Manager, Commercial, FEI (centre) and Lyon Show Director Sylvie Robert (right). Photo: PSV J Morel.
HADDAD POISED TO SNATCH LEAD FROM WERTH AT THE FOURTH LEG IN LONDON by Louise Parkes
London (GBR), 9 December 2010 – Germany’s Isabell Werth, a double-winner so far this season, holds a slender lead as the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League series moves to the hugely popular Christmas Show at Olympia in London next week. However Werth’s decision to skip the British fixture and to aim instead for the following leg on her home turf in Frankfurt four days later has left the door wide open for second-placed Catherine Haddad to forge ahead in the rankings.
The German-based American is only one point adrift of the leader, and with third-placed Ulla Salzgeber from Germany and fourth-placed Dutch rider Christa Larakkers also missing from the action, Haddad’s nearest challenger is British veteran, Richard Davison, who lies fifth with 32 points and just eight points off Werth’s total of 40. The British Olympian won the opening leg of the Central European League in Lipica, Slovenia last May and was fifth in the Western European League qualifier at Lyon in France in October with Hiscox Artemis. Haddad collected points at the same two European venues, but owes her advantage to a very successful trip home to her native shores in October where she took the Grand Prix and Freestyle honours at Devon, Pennsylvania with her 10 year old gelding Winyamaro.
Isabell Werth is writing her final diary for horsesinthesouth.com following her performance at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Here is Isabell’s final entry…
Since the WEG…
I’ve been very pleased with how everything has gone since the WEG, notably my wins in Odense (with Satchmo), in Lyon (with Hannes) and in Stuttgart (with El Santo). Each competition went very well and my horses are in great form. When we were in Stuttgart, I rode El Santo in the Freestyle to music by Roberto Blanco – the one from Aachen. It’s fun, and it’s different to other music and that made it exciting! Then for the last qualifier in Frankfurt I’m actually not sure which horse I will take – Satchmo or Hannes.
Hannes was in good shape when he got back to Germany from the WEG, and I was surprised he had no problems and how fit he was. Quite soon after he arrived home he was back to his normal fitness. He wasn’t necessarily as supple as he should have been but in general I was really happy.
Isabell Werth and Warum Nicht FRH made it a back-to-back double of wins in the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series. She is pictured with Frederique Martin-Baste, Manager, Commercial, FEI (centre) and Sylvie Robert, Show Director at Lyon (right). Photo: PSV J Morel.
WERTH MAKES IT A DOUBLE IN LYON by Louise Parkes
Lyon (FRA), 29 October 2010 – Isabell Werth made it a back-to-back double of victories when winning the second leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series at Lyon in France this evening. Just five days ago the German rider topped the opening round at Odense, Denmark with a great performance from Satchmo, and tonight she brought out her 2007 series champion Warum Nicht to head the line-up once again.
“I was really satisfied with Hannes tonight,” she said, referring to her 14 year old chestnut gelding. “He had a lot of power and he felt very impressive,” she added.
Runner-up was her compatriot and another former World Cup champion Ulla Salzgeber whose 11 year old gelding Herzruf’s Erbe has re-opened the door into the very top level of this demanding sport for his 52 year old rider. Salzgeber, who was Dressage World Cup champion in 2001 and 2002 with the legendary Rusty, has been waiting patiently in the wings for another special ride. “After I retired Rusty I always said I would only come back when I had a horse that was good enough to go the top again, and now I have one!” she said proudly after finishing less than one full mark behind the winning score. Third place went to the very pleased Valentina Truppa from Italy with Chablis. “This is my very first World Cup competition, so I am very happy with my result!” said the rider who competes in the uniform of the Caribinieri.
Germany's Isabell Werth and Satchmo won the opening leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Series in Odense, Denmark today and is presented with her award by Lisa Wells, Director of Special Events for Reem Acra.
WERTH AND SATCHMO WIN OPENING LEG OF REEM ACRA FEI WORLD CUP DRESSAGE SEASON by Claartje van Andel
Odense (DEN), 24 October 2010 – German dressage ace Isabell Werth threw down the gauntlet with a clear victory in the first leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Odense, Denmark today.
Last to go, and chasing the target set by Denmark’s Princess Nathalie Zu Sayn Wittgenstein who pipped her for the honours in yesterday’s Grand Prix, Werth produced a score of 81.00% to reverse the placings, while The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud once again steered IPS Tango into third.
Riders from eight nations qualified for today’s Freestyle competition but it was clear the host country’s Zu Sayn Wittgenstein was going to be the one to beat. Yesterday she set the arena alight with a wonderful performance from her 13 year old gelding Digby, and such was the jubilation of the home crowd that the arena commentator had to call on the excited spectators to quiet down in order to allow the next competitor to take their turn. Today the crowd went wild with joy once again as the 35 year old rider, who became a mother this summer but who is still showing as much of a competitive edge as ever, produced a personal-best Freestyle score of 80.05% when fourth-last into the arena.
Isabell Werth is writing a diary for horsesinthesouth.com as she prepares for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games from 25 September – 10 October. Here is Isabell’s third entry…
Preparations for the WEG since Aachen…
After Aachen, we had the German Championships (Münster) where I took Hannes, my second horse after Satchmo, to compete. He did very well, winning twice and then one week later, Satchmo competed in Cappeln in the Grand Prix. Unfortunately, we made too many mistakes in the Grand Prix but we had a good Grand Prix Special which was very encouraging.
I won’t be competing again until WEG, but from the 12–15 September we will have our last team training session, and on the 16th of September the horses will fly out to Kentucky via Cincinnati. This is a really important week for me as the time has come for me to decide which horse (Satchmo or Hannes) I’ll take to Kentucky. It’s quite exciting as both horses are in great shape, although to be honest, Hannes is more consistent at the moment. It’s a wonderful luxury to have as they were so good in Aachen but it will be a difficult decision to choose only one.
Isabell Werth is writing a diary for horsesinthesouth.com as she prepares for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games from 25 September – 10 October. Here is Isabell’s second entry.
Plans beyond the CHIO Aachen and towards Kentucky (WEG)…
I was back in the saddle very quickly after the birth of my son, Frederik, and I’m feeling really well. My plan is to get in the best shape possible before Kentucky, and it’s encouraging that Satchmo and I have become more and more consistent in our performances as the months have gone by.
I was really pleased with how both horses (Satchmo and Hannes) performed at the Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen, and with a score of more than 75% I feel we can be quite satisfied and happy. However, we have higher expectations over the coming weeks and months, and the plan is to sort out the mistakes and concentrate on the finer details of our programme.
Between now and WEG we will go to the German Championships in Münster and following that the nominations will be announced, so I’m hoping that we can find our best form for that performance. We now know that the Dutch riders are very strong and so is Laura Bechtolsheimer, so we will be hoping to finish closer and closer to Laura and Adelinde (Cornelissen). Edward (Gal) seems to be in a league of his own but the other two riders are definitely within our reach.
