Tag Archives: Ulla Salzgeber

Salzgeber Leads German Charge at Neumünster

Ulla Salzgeber and Herzruf’s Erbe won the seventh leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League at Neumünster, Germany today where host-nation riders filled the top three places. (FEI/Karl Heinz Freiler)

Ulla Salzgeber and Herzruf’s Erbe led another German whitewash at the seventh leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 series on home soil in Neumünster today. At Stuttgart (GER) last November, host country riders claimed the top four finishing spots led by Fabienne Lutkemeier and D’Agostino. Today, however, 25-year-old Lutkemeier had to settle for runner-up spot behind the veteran Salzgeber who has made a great comeback with the horse with which she finished third at the Reem Acra Final in Leipzig (GER) four years ago.

Standing third in today’s line-up was Isabell Werth who was more than pleased with the improving performances of El Santo NRW, but it was a tough day at the office for Hans Peter Minderhoud from The Netherlands. A breakdown in the sound system meant he had to halt his performance while his musical score was restored to working order. However, last to go in the 15-strong line-up, he demonstrated his consummate professionalism by resuming from where he left off to finish a close fourth with Glock’s Flirt.

Battle for places

With only two further qualifying opportunities remaining, the battle for places at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in Las Vegas in April is in full swing. And for German riders the fight is even tougher because so many of them are well-placed to make the cut, but there is an entry limit of just three from each country.

As today’s competition evolved, Finland’s Terhi Stegars was the one to beat in the early stages, having posted a strong score of 77.600 with her popular stallion Axis TSF. This pair is always a big hit wherever they go, but they need points to be in with a chance of making it to the Final. Finishing 11th in yesterday’s Grand Prix things weren’t looking too optimistic, but they threw down a super performance today in front of a crowd who know them very well.

“I live now in Luxembourg, but it feels like coming home!” said 40-year-old Stegars who had no fears about competing in the intense atmosphere of the Neumünster ring.

“My Axis doesn’t mind it at all,” she said. “I rode him here for the first time when he was three; that was 13 years ago, and his first show ever. I did my professional riders degree here, so people around here know me since I was young. I’ve been gone for a number of years, so it’s nice to come back and show what we have learned together!” she said.

Surpassed

It came down to the final five before her score was surpassed by yesterday’s Grand Prix winners, Lutkemeier and D’Agostino, who posted the first mark over 80 per cent, at the end of an elegant and balanced test that put 80.775 on the scoreboard. Fellow-countrywoman, Isabell Werth, followed with her usual flourish to slot in behind that with 79.850 with El Santo NRW and then Salzgeber set sail to raise the bar even higher.

Herzruf’s Erbe’s career has been interrupted more than once by injury, and he spent 11 months on field-rest before returning to the competition ring at the end of 2013. But this indoor season, the chestnut horse has rallied brilliantly, finishing third and then fourth at the Reem Acra qualifiers in Lyon (FRA) and Odense (DEN) last October before winning both the Grand Prix and Freestyle in Frankfurt (GER) in December. “After Frankfurt I was hoping we can win a bit more, and today I would have been very happy to just finish in the top three!” Salzgeber said after posting 82.775 which would not be bettered.

There were still two to go, however, and the penultimate partnership of Hoennerups Driver and Anna Kasprzak from Denmark made a big impression with a lovely test. His rider put the quality 11-year-old Danish-bred gelding through an uncomplicated floorplan that demonstrated lightness, calmness and natural rhythm along with some glorious extended trot suggesting huge future potential. Their score of 78.300 placed them fourth, but they dropped one spot to fifth after Dutchman, Minderhoud, brought the competition to a close.

So consistent

About her winning ride, Salzgeber said, “His highlight is that he is so consistent, he’s not looking around, he is with me and that gives you control so you can ride every exercise like you want it.” She has decided, however, that she will not campaign the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage circuit any further with Herzruf’s Erbe. “At this stage I’m in seventh place on the leaderboard but he is 16 years old now and, for the sake of his welfare, I think it’s best to stop the World Cup qualifiers to be fair to him. The European Championships will be our next target,” Salzgeber explained.

Runner-up, Lutkemeier, said of her test today, “There was a little mistake in the flying change after extended canter but my horse was more settled than yesterday and really focused, so I am very pleased with him.”

Isabell Werth was delighted with her third place finish. “I’m really happy and really proud that the first three places went to Germany today, and I’m very happy that I got an improved score from Amsterdam!” she said. About El Santo NRW, she continued, “He had a long break of about five months from international competition so I’m really happy that we are on our way back and our scores are close to what they used to be. Today was a good experience, so we will go to Gothenburg now.”

Indeed Gothenburg in Sweden presents the penultimate qualifying opportunity for riders in the Western European League in two weeks’ time, as the pressure for one of the coveted places at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2015 Final nears boiling point.

For further information on the seventh leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 seres at Neumuenster, Germany, visit http://reitturnier-neumuenster.de or contact Press Officer Andreas Kerstan, Email andreas.kerstan@comtainment.de, Tel +49 4307 872 973.

The next leg of the series takes place at Gothenburg, Sweden on Saturday 28 February 2015. For information on the Swedish fixture, check out website www.gothenburghorseshow.com or contact Press Officer Mayvor Thorin, Email mayvor-thorin@gotevent.se, Tel +46705 828420.

Detailed result here.

Facts and Figures:

The VR Classics at Neumunster, Germany staged the seventh leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League series today.

The members of the Ground Jury were: At E, Katrina Wuest, At H, D Evi Eisenhardt, At C, Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode, At M, Leif Tornblad, At B Marietta Almasy.

German riders Ulla Salzgeber (Herzruf’s Erbe), Fabienne Lutkemeier (D’Agostino) and Isabell Werth (El Santo NRW) filled the top three places.

Today’s winning rider, 56-year-old Ulla Salzgeber, previously won back-to-back FEI World Cup™ Dressage titles in 2001 and 2002 with the legendary Rusty.

Salzgeber also finished third at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final with Herzruf’s Erbe at Leipzig, Germany in 2011.

Fourth place went to The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Flirt whose Freestyle was disrupted when his musical score failed during his test.

There are two further qualifying legs left to run in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage 2014/2015 Western European League – 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:

Ulla Salzgeber GER: “He (Herzruf’s Erbe) rode his first show again in November 2013 and he’s been on his way back over the last year.”

Fabienne Lutkemeier GER: “Next for him (D’Agostino) is Dortmund, then I will take Qui Vincit Dynamis and Diamonds Forever to Den Bosch.”

Isabell Werth GER: “Las Vegas is not the target for my first horse, Bella Rose. The European Championships is the big plan for her this year. She’s only 11 and I don’t want to make her nervous or confused by going indoors now. We did it right last year [ahead of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy where Werth and Bella Rose were on the gold medal winning German team].”

Terhi Stegars FIN: Talking about her experience in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League this season: “I’ve had quite a nice time on the circuit but my goal was not to do it for long because I got married just before the start of the World season and Las Vegas was never my goal. But now we hope for the best!”

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 Neumünster:

Andreas Kerstan
Press Officer
andreas.kerstan@comtainment.de
+49 4307 872 973

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

Salzgeber Does the Double in Lyon

Germany’s Ulla Salzgeber and Herzruf’s Erbe won the second leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 series in Lyon, France this evening. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Lyon (FRA), 28 October 2011 – German riders dominated the line-up in Lyon, France today where Ulla Salzgeber and Herzruf’s Erbe won the second leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 201l/2012 series ahead of two other former series double-champions.  Salzgeber, who recorded back-to-back victories with the great Rusty in 2001 and 2002, pipped fellow-countrywoman Isabell Werth and the horse with which the latter recorded the second of her two successes in 2005 – Warum Nicht – while Monica Theodorescu, champion in 1992 and 1993, steered Whisper into third place.

Salzgeber was particularly pleased with her result, as she only had a few short days to prepare her horse ahead of today’s competition. She has not long returned from the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico where her protégé, Constanza Jaramillo, was in action.  And it was a successful venture as the Colombian rider, competing with her trainer’s former ride Wakana, helped scoop team bronze as well as her country’s qualification for next year’s Olympic Games in London.

Continue reading Salzgeber Does the Double in Lyon

Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2010/2011 – Round 8, Neumunster

Germany's Ulla Salzgeber, winning rider at the eighth leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Neumunster, Germany today riding Herzuf's Erbe is presented with the trophy by Lisa Wells, Reem Acra.

SALZGEBER SWEEPS TO VICTORY IN NEUMUNSTER AS GERMAN RIDERS DOMINATE ONCE AGAIN by Louise Parkes

Neumunster (GER), 20 February 2011 – Ulla Salzgeber and Herzuf’s Erbe swept to their second victory in the Western European League of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Neumunster, Germany today where fellow-Germans Isabell Werth and Helen Langehanenberg slotted into second and third places.  Salzgeber has been in formidable form all season, placing herself in a prominent position on the leaderboard when winning the Central European League qualifier at Kaposvar in Hungary last October before coming out to win again at Frankfurt, Germany in December.  And the 52 year old rider did it in style once more today, getting the edge over Werth with a performance that oozed professionalism, confidence, control and harmony and which restored her to pole position on the league table ahead of the final two qualifying rounds.

The Holstenhalle in Neumunster is an atmospheric venue that buzzes with the excitement of its informed and enthusiastic audience, so horses are tested to the limit.  Despite the tension however, the 15 starters however produced work of the highest calibre. “We all love to work as a judge and to see spectators close to the riders,” said Ground Jury President Gary Rockwell afterwards. “But in Neumünster the atmosphere is extraordinary – you can feel the electricity and the enthusiasm for each competitor – it’s a lot of pressure!” he pointed out.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=13281

Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2010/2011 – Round 6, Mechelen

The Netherlands' Edward Gal and Sisther de Jeu won the sixth leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Mechelen, Belgium today. Photo: Dirk Caremans/FEI.

GAL REIGNS SUPREME WHILE MINDERHOUD TAKES MAXIMUM POINTS AND SALZGEBER FORGES AHEAD ON LEADERBOARD by Claartje van Andel

Mechelen (BEL), 28 December 2010 – The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and his mare Sisther de Jeu simply did what they set out to do at the sixth leg of the 2010/2011 Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Mechelen, Belgium today when following their victory in the Grand Prix with the same result in the Freestyle. As Gal is the title defender and does not receive points in his starts, his partner, Hans Peter Minderhoud, claimed maximum points when runner-up with the mare Exquis Nadine.  And Ulla Salzgeber, winner at both Kaposvar in Hungary and at Frankfurt in her native Germany this season, finished third with her chestnut mare Wakana to forge a strong lead at the top of the series leaderboard.

Gal was relieved and happy with the win. He took the rather inexperienced mare Sisther de Jeu to Olympia in London and now to Mechelen. “She is very sensitive and is not used to a lot of noise and to the crowds, but she is learning to behave better, and to relax – this definitely will be her future,” the 40 year old rider said with confidence. His Freestyle music is just like the famous Freestyle of his former ride, the stallion Totilas which has now been sold to Germany.  The score was created by Dutch musician Joost Peters, who is married to Dutch dressage rider and trainer Mischa Koot, and the music cast a mysterious spell over the movements of Sisther de Jeu who began to really show what she can do during the test.

Continue reading Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2010/2011 – Round 6, Mechelen

Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2010/2011

Germany’s Ulla Salzgeber and Herzruf's Erbe won the fifth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in Frankfurt, Germany today. Photo: Stefan Lafrentz/FEI.

SALZGEBER REIGNS SUPREME AS GERMANY DOMINATES by Claartje van Andel

Frankfurt (GER), 19 December 2010 – Germany’s Ulla Salzgeber and her reliable chestnut Herzruf’s Erbe won the fifth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series in the festive surroundings of the Frankfurter Festhalle in Frankfurt today. The victory was the more remarkable as Salzgeber had not been able to practice her Freestyle in a full size arena of 20 by 60 meters before the competition. The German dressage star is in the middle of moving her training facility closer to her yard in order to have more fields surrounding her stable and training centre, so she was delighted with today’s result.  German riders filled the top three places and five of the top six slots on their home turf today, Denmark’s Princess Nathalie Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein preventing them from achieving a total white-wash when slotting into fourth.

“All the German team colleagues of the WEG were competing here, so I am too proud of this win!” said Salzgeber after a very well-concentrated test in which the trot-work was a particular highlight. Her “Boney M” musical score has been used before with her former dressage super-star, the great Rusty with whom Salzgeber was crowned champion at both the FEI World Cup Dressage finals in Aarhus and ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2001 and 2002.  The German rider feels it is also very fitting to Herzruf’s Erbe.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12761