THE DUTCH DRESSAGE DREAM COMES TRUE DESPITE HEARTBREAK FOR ADELINDE by Louise Parkes

Lexington, 28 September – Dutch courage was tested to the limit at The Horse Park in Kentucky today but, despite everything that was thrown at them, The Netherlands came through to take Dressage team gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  It was an historic victory as they at last broke the stranglehold of the long-dominant Germans who, this time around, had to settle for bronze while the British rose magnificently to the occasion and claimed silver with considerable style.

In the midst of today’s celebrations however there was also heartbreak in the Dutch camp, as Adelinde Cornelissen was eliminated early in her test when the judges noticed blood in the saliva of her gelding Jerich Parzival.  Strong favourites for an individual medal later in the week and key players in the Dutch side, the Dutch partnership were just moving forward after completing the rein-back when Ground Jury President Stephen Clarke (GBR) intervened to tell the rider that she could not continue.  Cornelissen said afterwards that she thought she must have been doing the wrong test, but she put a brave face on it at a mid-day press conference. Asked how she was feeling after this shocking disappointment she said, “I have felt better I must say!  On one hand it’s such a shame that you can’t finish your test and he was in really great shape…. but on the other hand I’m happy he’s (Parzival) OK and there’s nothing seriously wrong with him.”  In fact the big chestnut gelding had bitten his tongue during his warm-up, and veterinary examination showed only a very slight injury.  “There was just a tiny spot on the tip of his tongue,” Cornelissen explained, “and it had already stopped bleeding on the way back to the stable, but it ended my test.”

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