The bane of the Grand Prix riders in today's class was a passage that was uneven behind: there were lots of horses with one lazy hind-leg!
Olivia LaGoy-Weltz & Rifallino (ARG) 63.149%
- No one closed the arena behind Rifallino: is that allowed? LaGoy-Weltz kept Rifallino in a nice frame and contact, but the piaffe and passage are not secure yet. The half-passes need to be more parallel and show more crossing behind. The reinback was a little stuck and could be more diagonal. The extended walk was stretching and marching. Rifallino's second piaffe was better in place, but the passage was too trot-like. The transition to collected canter was very clear. LaGoy Weltz had a mistake in the one-tempi changes, which were twisting slightly. Both pirouettes were big but decently uphill, with the second better than the first. Of the tests I watched today, this was the one where the judges most often agreed in their scoring.
Susan Dutta & Currency DC (USA II): 65.915%
- The trot work was the best part of Dutta's test. The extended trots have very good over-track, though they would improved by a little more suspension. Currency DC crosses well in the half-passes, which would be even better if they reached more sideways. The passage has more than sufficient elevation. The extended walk could use more over-track. Dutta's first piaffe was small, but the second was bigger, though both need a clearer rhythm. The two-tempi changes were springy, but a little tight in the body. The canter half-passes could use to travel more sideways. Dutta had a few mistakes in the one-tempi changes: a missed change and a that were late behind. The pirouettes would be improved by more sit and a better canter rhythm. Currency DC is an expressive horse, but seems quite susceptible to tension in the body.
Mikala Munter Gundersen & My Lady (EUR): 65.227%
- My Lady seemed maybe a bit tired today, as the test contained a number of little mistakes. There was some resistance to the bit in and leading up to the first halt. The extended trots were big, with the horse lengthening nicely in the frame. In the half-passes, the trot becomes a bit flat. The first passage tour was elevated, but My Lady stepped under more in the right hind. The piaffe could be more in place even with the good rhythm. The transition from collected walk to passage was unclear. The passage leading up to the canter was the best: not only springy, but also even behind. My Lady almost broke out of canter at the beginning of the zig-zag half-passes. The one-tempi changes cover ground, but could be more uphill. Owing to resistance or rider error, Munter Gundersen had to circle before her canter pirouettes. But the off-course detour gave her a second to prepare for good pirouettes: they might have been smaller, but My Lady carried weight well behind.
Evi Strasser & Action Tyme (CAN I): 64.021%
- In the half-passes, Action Tyme's haunches trail rather badly, but Strasser does a good job keeping the cadence and quality of the trot. The reinback was sluggish. The passage is slightly uneven, with Action Tyme stepping under more in the left hind. The piaffe is in place at the expense of some activity. The extended walk showed good stretch in the neck and back. In the zig-zag, the horse traveled well sideways. The tempos need more jump and uphill tendency, and Strasser had a mistake in the ones. The canter pirouettes were small, but would be improved by more jump in the canter. The final passage had a better, more even rhythm.
Ilse Schwarz & Cadenza (AUS): 61.872%
- In the first half-pass, Cadenza saw something spooky, leading to a loss of bend and impulsion. The halt before the reinback was abrupt. The piaffe was nicely in place, but almost had a backwards tendency. The passage needed more elevation. The second piaffe was better, with a little more lift in the limbs, and no backwards inclination. The two-tempis were ground-covering. The flying change at the end of the extended canter was early behind. The left pirouette was quite small, but drifted out at the end; the one to the right was also small, but turned a little bit around the middle of the horse. The horse became crooked a few times on the final centerline, but the piaffe was again nicely in place and up in front.
Shelly Francis & Doktor (USA I): 70.213%
- Francis started her test with a super entry. The halt was prompt and square, but not abrupt. The half-passes showed good cadence and reach forward and sideways. Francis got lost after the reinback and had to circle around! The first piaffe transition almost fell into walk. The piaffe itself, however, was quite good, with Doktor closing at the base and lowering his croup. There was a small resistance in the bit during the second piaffe. One of the two-tempis was almost late behind; the one-tempis were straight with good jump. The pirouettes were of very high quality: tiny, maintaining a good canter, and in correct bend. The final passage had good elevation. Francis does a beautiful job with Doktor, but gets a little stiff in her arms.
Susan Jaccoma & Wadmur (ARG): 62.191%
- Wadmur was really crossing in his half-passes. The piaffe was very small and was uneven behind. The transition from collected walk to piaffe was unclear. The zig-zag travelled well sideways, except for a small spook in the middle. The ones were smooth. Wadamur needed more bend in the pirouettes. Though the piaffe on the final centerline was crooked, Jaccoma produced the most elevation in the passage in the last series.
Cesar Parra & Van the Man (USA II): 69.043%
- The first extended trot took a little time to develop a nice reach in front. In the half-passes, the trot became slightly uneven. Van the Man has a big passage, but it would be better if he carried more of his weight behind in it. Parra started the first piaffe too early. Nevertheless, the quality of the piaffe was good, with activity and a lowered croup. The extended walk needed more energy and over-track. The twos had good elevation and ground-cover. Van the Man developed quite a bit of tension in the zig-zag. The one-tempi changes were up nicely in front, but needed to step under more. The uphill, small pirouettes just barely lost their canter rhythm at the end. On the final centerline, Van the Man stopped before the final piaffe, which was otherwise very good.
David Marcus & Don Kontes (CAN I): 65.872%
- Don Kontes began his test by breaking into the canter at the end of the first centerline. The half-passes start with good reach and crossing, but suffer a slight loss of impulsion by the end. In the extended trot, Marcus needs to allow the horse to open his frame a little more. The piaffe is in place and active, but would be better with more sit. Don Kontes was sometimes uneven behind in passage, though less so after the second piaffe. Don Kontes stepped under well in the twos, but got tense and made a mistake in the ones. The horse lost the quality of his canter behind in the canter pirouettes, less so to the left than to the right. The last passage was the most even and had good expression.
Heather Blitz & Paragon (USA I): 71.021%
- Blitz is in her black coat and helmet today, instead of her matching brown. In the first extended trot, Paragon had over-track, instead of merely flamboyance in front. The first passage was uneven behind. The first piaffe crept forward, becoming above the bit and dropping the contact, though Paragon was really sitting behind. The collected walk had good over-track. Blitz's second piaffe was resistant and not really in rhythm. The tempi-changes were superb, jumping off the ground and stepping under; the twos were better in ground-cover. Paragon's extended canter was huge, uphill, and soft on the ground. At the end of the canter zig-zag, the horse changes early. The pirouettes were small, but needed better jump in the canter. The last extended trot was reaching high in front, but Paragon did not step as well underneath himself. The last piaffe had the best rhythm and contact with the bit.
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