FEI European Dressage Championships 2013 - Grand Prix

In the team competition the Germans came through with a well-deserved win, with every rider delivering an impressive performance. But Dujardin and Langhanenberg stole the day. Dujardin's powerful and precise riding earned her a new Grand Prix world record score, but Langehanenberg also showed a personal best, suggesting a tight competition for the next two days of competition.

Charlotte Dujardin & Valegro: 85.942%

• Valegro was in top form today. He had amazing power and strength behind, and maintained a consistently round and uphill frame. The half-passes were not only correct in their bend and angle, but showed incredible swing and power. The piaffe and passage were in rhythm with plenty of lift, with the croup lowering significantly in piaffe. The walk tour was clean in its rhythm, but not quite relaxed through the body. The transition from passage to canter was late and awkward. The tempi changes were springy, supple, and ground-covering. Dujardin rode the canter zigzags with very good sideways travel and smooth changes of bend. The first canter pirouette was uphill but a touch slow, the second very well balanced. 

Helen Langehanenberg & Damon Hill: 84.377%

• Langehanenberg rode a beautiful test. Perhaps a few moments were the stallion lost a touch of uphill balance separated this ride from Dujardin's. Damon Hill's trot work had power and effortless self carriage, swinging into the half-passes. In piaffe, Damon Hill still leaned forward, became low in the neck, and had to creep forward to keep his balance. The extended walk was enormous with super stretch to the contact. The one tempi changes jumped well in the air, but Damon Hill could have jumped more up and forward in front. The pirouettes were small and sitting, with the hind legs jumping a little close together. The final passage was huge and the final piaffe the lightest in front.

Edward Gal & Undercover: 81.763%

• Gal rode a precise and powerful test, though his sensitive gelding still needed to show a more open frame. Undercover's powerful extended trot was showing decent reach behind. In the trot half-passes, the horse needed to travel sideways with slightly more energy, but was completely balanced. Undercover's electric passage could score even higher if it travelled slightly more forward. The piaffe-passage transitions were executed with no hesitations in the rhythm or contact. The piaffe was rhythmical, light off the ground, and light in front. The tempi changes showed lots of air-time, but insufficient ground-cover. The pirouettes were tiny and balanced, but should be slightly more uphill. The final passage showed the best forward impulsion. 

Adelinde Cornelissen & Parzival: 80.866%

• Despite his time off, Parzival looked to be on as good a form as ever, though perhaps the break from training took away from some of the control Cornelissen had over her horse's bouncy hind end. He showed supple and big-striding extended trots. The active piaffes were slighly croup high. In passage, Parzival had lots of elevation, but could have come under slightly more behind. In extended walk, Parzival was a bit deep in the neck, rather than really stretching into the bridle, but relaxed and marching. The transition from passage to canter was textbook. The extended canter was big, but a little short in the neck. the canter pirouettes jumped together slightly behind, though the second was better. The last extended trot was comparatively cautious. Cornelissen was not holding Parzival back strongly in the contact, but his mouth did open significantly at times, particularly in the trot work.

Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein & Digby: 76.003%

• As usual, du Sayn Wittgenstein showed what it means for dressage to be about training. The trot half-passes did not swing with a high degree of elasticity, but Digby showed lots of crossing and good bend. In the nicely engaged piaffe and passage, Digby's mouth was often open, though the frame was good. The one tempis were bubbly and ground-covering. The canter pirouettes were small with clear footfalls. Digby tracked up well in his not-huge extended trots.

Anna Kasprzak & Donnperignon: %

• Kasprzak's test was ridden with lots of energy and fluidity. The horse's minor weaknesses are his somewhat limited shoulder freedom and sometimes too-short neck. Kasprzak produced lovely flowing trot half-passes that lacked bend in the body. The passage was excellent, but piaffe small, with more up and down activity behind than real sitting. The one tempi changes were absolutely straight and ground covering, though Donnperignon came slightly deep in his neck. Both pirouettes were superbly uphill, with an active and balanced canter. In the last piaffe, Donnperignon lowered his croup more but still remained slightly heavy in front. 

Carl Hester & Uthopia: 75.334%

• Hester's trot work floated from movement to movement. In extended trot, the horse powers across the arena seeming hardly to touch the ground. The passage and piaffe were nicely closed in the frame, though the piaffe needed a little more energy. Uthopia's walk showed a nice stretch in the neck, but some tightness in the body. In the second piaffe, the horse stood a bit on his hind legs. There was a small error in the middle of the two tempi changes. The one tempi changes jumped forward with Uthopia staying soft in the back. The final passage was showed lovely air time, but there was a stutter again in the final piaffe. 

Isabell Werth & Don Johnson: 75.213%

• Though Don Johnson was not completely with Werth in the beginning of the test, she brought him better on her aids towards the end, and he was relatively soft throughout. The trot half-passes were in perfect bend and balance. Don Johnson looked relatively relaxed in his extended trots. The first piaffe was very irregular. The extended walk showed good relaxation and swing in the back and plenty of overstep. The second piaffe was much more rhythmical but crept forward significantly. The extended canter was enormous and elastic with a smooth transition back to the collected work. Don Johnson was quite quiet in his mouth and soft in the underside of his neck during the test. The final piaffe was completely in place with lots of elevation, though slightly braced in the neck. 

Kristina Sprehe & Desperados: 75.061%

• While Desperados is an incredible mover, Sprehe struggled with producing a totally clean test. She picked up easy points for a wonderful reinback with articulated diagonal steps. The first piaffe was above the bit and arhythmical, with Desperados dropping his croup without actually lightening his front end. The extended walk showed super relaxation and a clean rhythm, but the collected walk was a bit short. The passage had plenty of bounce and was decently regular and steady in the contact. At the end of a huge extended canter, Desperados added some unscripted flying changes. The canter pirouette left was small and uphill, but turned a little too quickly; the one to the left was more balanced, but bigger. 

Tinne Vilhelmsen Silfven & Don Auriello: 75.046%

• This pair's test was very harmonious, as always, but there were a few uncharacteristic moments of unsteadiness. While Don Auriello showed lots of reach in his extended trots, the collected trot and passage were slighly quiet and slow behind. The horse dragged his feet in the reinback. The piaffes were not big, but showed very good sit and a clean rhythm. The transition from passage to canter was a bit disorganized. The one tempis were ground-covering, but a little slow. The canter pirouettes were tiny, uphill, and totally balanced. Throughout the test, the frame was lovely: completely steady and very soft in the contact. 

Victoria Max Theurer & Augustin: 74,772%

• Max Theurer's trot work was fluid and easy, with truly invisible aids from the rider. In the piaffe, however, she had to work quite hard, without a big result. The extended canter needed a little more impulsion. The one tempi changes sprang across the diagonal, but could have shown more shoulder freedom. The canter pirouettes were small if not super uphill. The final piaffe showed a little more activity as well as a lowered croup. The frame was lovely and the contact soft throughout the test.  

Valentina Truppa & Eremo del Castegno: 73.815%

• In his half-passes, Eremo flowed nicely, but struggled a little with the sideways reach. The horse pulled down some in the extended trots. The piaffe had a very good frame through the body, but was a bit quiet. The extended walk was diligent and relaxed. The extended canter was conservative. The canter zigzag was uphill and controlled, but had a mistake. The one tempis showed nice lift in the shoulder, but needed more propulsion from behind. 

Patrik Kittel & Toy Story: 73.283%

• Toy Story has very elastic gaits, but struggles some with coming under behind. In extended trot, the horse shows lots of power. The passage was a touch heavy in front, but absolutely regular. The piaffe was diligent, but Toy Story should lower his croup more. The two tempi changes were fluid and expressive. The ones had enough jump, but could have been more uphill. The canter pirouettes were rather flat. 

Fabienne Lutkemeier & D'Agostino: 73.237%

• Lutkemeier produced a super test, with every movement ridden to its potential. After an unfortunate stutter in the early rhythm, D'Agostino showed an uphill and big-strided extended trot. The half-passes were balanced with lots of crossing. In the piaffe, passage, and transitions, the horse was perfectly smooth and rhythmical, though not the most dynamic. Also, the horse moved rather out behind in piaffe. The extended walk was relaxed. D'Agostino was not always great in collected canter where he loses the clear three beat rhythm, but every movement was good. The extended canter was enormous and uphill but the gait became stilted coming back to collected canter. 

Andreas Helgstrand & Akeem Foldager: 72.720%

• Though the horse is incredible in the movements, the pair does not quite have the overall polish that some of the less expressive pairs have, especially in canter. The trot half-passes were slightly slow, though correct. The extended trots were not perfectly regular and the horse needed to demonstrate more over-track. Helgstrand took his legs off Akeem Foldager completely during the tense extended walk. The piaffe, passage and transitions had incredible buoyancy. The horse picked up the wrong lead out of passage. The two tempis were bouncy but short-strided. The canter pirouettes were ridden with wonderful collection. 

Michael Eilberg & Half Moon Delphi: 72.264%

• Eilberg rode a very impressive and friendly test. Delphi showed a lovely rhythm in trot with fluid even engagement in front and behind. The trot half passes flowed smoothly and deliberately sideways. The passage was huge, sometimes almost so big that the horse had tiny troubles with her balance. The mare was unsteady in the contact for the extended walk. The second piaffe showed lots of lift in each step despite little mistakes in the rhythm. Delphi was crossing a good deal in the canter half passes but became slightly labored in her gait. A few times in canter, the horse's head came slightly behind the vertical. 

Jose Daniel Martin Dockx & Grandioso: 72.204%

• Grandioso has excellent extended trots with power from behind and lots of shoulder freedom. The reinback steps were small. The piaffe had good elevation, though the horse could lower his croup more. In passage, the horse drops his back slighly and should come under more behind. The two tempis were diligent, but not totally straight. Martin Dockx had a mistake in the zigzag when the horse lost its balance. The active canter pirouettes were small, but leaned slightly into the rotation, creating minor unbalance.

Hans Peter Minderhoud & Romanov: 71.353%

• Minderhoud rode with supreme accuracy and smooth transitions, though the horse sometimes lacked quite enough engagement behind. The trot half-passes were correct in bend and had lots of crossing, but were slightly hurried in their rhythm. Romanov should have stepped under more in extended trot. The piaffe was elevated in rhythm and absolutely in place. The horse swung his haunches some in the two tempi changes. The flying change at the end of the extended canter was early behind. The zigzag showed very controlled half-passes. The canter pirouettes were tiny but rather flat. Minderhoud is not a heavy-handed rider, but Romanov's tongue showed slightly on the right side at times. 

Marcela Krinke Susmelj & Molberg: 71.125%

• Though Molberg had a tendency to become a little short in the neck and a little flat in the back, he showed nice engagement behind. His trot work, piaffe and passage showed good suspension. Krinke Susmelj really pushed Molberg laterally during the canter zigzag, without compromising the balance. The pirouettes were rather flat and stuck behind.

Claudia Fassaert & Donnerfee: 70.884%

• This combination pulled off one of their top performance for this test. Fassaert lost the balance of the trot in the preparation for the half-passes, but they turned out well. Donnerfee had a powerful extended trot that should have shown a little more reach in front. Donnerfee broke out of passage into canter before the extended walk. The second piaffe had much better rhythm and activity than the first, though both should have taken more weight in the hind quarters. The half-passes in the canter zigzag were good, but the changes of direction difficult. Fassaert's one tempis were light and springy. The canter pirouettes were small and turned at a good speed. 

Minna Telde & Santana: 70.517%

• Telde's test was lively, smooth and controlled. The trot had lots of power and an unflagging rhythm. The trot half-passes had lots of lift without becoming passage-y. The passage and piaffe were active but the transitions were not totally clean. The two tempis were beautifully expressive, traveling effortlessly across the arena. The canter pirouette left lost balance and the horse changed behind in it. The final passage was impressive.

Danielle Heijkoop & Siro: 70.228%

• Heijkoop made the interesting choice to do her ride around the arena outside of the judges booths instead of just outside the arena. The trot half passes were just a bit flat. The piaffes were expressive and rhythmical, with clean transitions in and out of passage. Sometimes the passage got slightly irregular with more elevation from the right hind and left front. The two tempi changes were quiet but ground covering. Overall, Siro is very balanced in his work and moves consistently uphill, but needs to use his powerful hind leg to step into a more open frame. 

Marc Boblet & Noble Dream: 70.015%

• Boblet's test showed how much he has improved the consistency of this mare's performance. Noble Dream had lovely reach and propulsion. The piaffes were developing, showing activity that could not quite be maintained, particularly in the transitions. The mare at times came a few hairs behind the vertical. The half-passes in the zigzag were excellent. The one tempi changes had spring, but were a little low in the neck. The canter work still showed a bit of tension in the collection. The frame on the final centerline was excellent, though Noble Dream became a bit extravagant coming out of piaffe. 

Gonçalo Carvalho & Rubi: 69.422%

• Carvalho rode in a lovely position and produced an obedient and supple test. The half-passes were uphill with good crossing. The first piaffe had impressive sit, but took some time to develop, the second was excellent. The tempi changes were correct, but a little lackluster. The canter pirouettes rotated a bit around the middle of the horse. 

Cathrine Rasmussen & Fernandez: 69.271%

• Rasmussen rides a very accurate test on Fernandez, allowing her to score well even though her horse is not the most expressive. The piaffe-passage tours had smooth transitions and a consistent rhythm, though they were not the springiest. Fernandez showed some tension in collected walk, wagging his head and tossing his tail. The canter zigzag could have been more supple in the changes of direction. The canter pirouettes were small, with a minor hiccough in the rhythm at the end of the pirouette right. 

Jose Antonia Garcia Mena & Norte Lovera: 69.195%

• The horse showed excellent reach both behind and in front in the extended trots, though the first one took a moment to develop. The crossing in the trot half-passes was super. The piaffe and passage had lots of spring though there were a few double steps behind. There were a couple of counting mistakes in the two tempis. Garcia Mena had some trouble controlling the haunches in his canter zigzag. The canter pirouettes were big even though they had decent sit. The horse's passage on the final centerline was amazing. 

Lone Bang Larsen & Fitou L: 68.875%

• Larsen's ride was very correct overall, though it sometimes needed more control or better balance. The extended trots showed excellent lengthening of both stride and frame. Her dynamic trot half passes had plenty of reach and bend. The first piaffe was had good activity behind and lift in front. Fitou became a little heavy in front for the canter zigzag. The two tempi changes were ground covering but needed more jump; Larsen had trouble getting Fitou into the ones, missing a number of changes. 

Jessica Michel & Riwera de Hus: 68.875%

• Michel rode a clean and expressive test, with a few minor issues and a weak piaffe holding the score below 70. The trot half-passes were supple with lots of crossing and lateral reach. In her elevated passage, Riwera was slighly open behind. The piaffe work was small and tense. Coming back from extended canter, Riwera took a couple of strides that were close and high behind. The pirouettes had lots of sit, but the right one was slighly unbalanced.

Andrea John & Esperanto: 68.389%

• John rode movements that had decent expression and made no mistakes. At times, Esperanto tilted in the contact instead of correctly accepting bend or suppleness. The extended walk showed nice stretch and over track. Though the canter beat was good in the movements—the flying changes, the half passes and the pirouettes—it sometimes lost its clear rhythm on the short sides or when the horse was unsteady in the contact. 

Henri Ruoste & Jojo AZ: 68.860%

• The trot half-passes showed nice lightness in front, though the collected trot after the reinback became slightly downhill. The extended walk was lovely and relaxed. The piaffe and passage were very good with clean transitions between them. Jojo's extended canter was just slightly flat. The canter zigzag showed fluid changes of bend. In the pirouettes, the horse needed to show more elevation in front. Ruoste unfortunately lost points with a very late transition from canter to collected trot, but finished on a super final line. 

Renate Voglsang & Fabriano: 68.860%

• Voglsang rode a nice test that just lacked that little extra sparkle. Fabriano became rather heavy in his trot half-passes. The passage-piaffe tours showed smooth transitions and a steady rhythm, though the piaffe was a little heavy in front. Fabriano jumped too much from side-to-side in the two tempi changes. In the one tempi changes, the horse needed to jump more forward into the contact. The extended trot was soft in the back with lovely large strides.

Mikaela Lindh & Mas Guapo: %

• The clear highlight for this pair was the piaffe and passage. Mas Guapo became rather hurried in extended trot. The half-passes were good, but the change of direction showed some resistance. The piaffe was a hair off rhythm, but was nicely uphill. The collected walk was tight. The transition to canter jumped together behind. The one tempis were foward and straight, but should have had a little more uphill jump. The canter pirouettes were a nice size and maintained a good canter. 

Veronique Henschen & Fontalero: 67.720%

• The trot half-passes did not have a high degree of suspension, but Fontalero was soft in the bend and crossing nicely. The passage was springy, but quite irregular. Henschen had to ride the piaffes very forward to get enough activty, and the horse pulled down in the contact during the transitions. Fontalero changed early behind at the end of the extended canter. The canter zigzag was balanced. In the canter pirouettes, the horse was not carrying quite enough weight behind. 

Maria Caetano & Xiripiti: 68.313%

• Caetano's trot half-passes had lovely impulsion. Xiripiti's piaffe became a little slow in the rhythm. The extended walk needed to show longer more relaxed strides. Caetano rode a forward extended canter that came a little too low in the frame. The tempi changes leapt across the diagonal, but the canter rhythm was not quite clean enough for them to score really high. The final line of passage and piaffe showed Caetano riding with lovely soft hands and executing clean transitions.

Lillan Jebsen & Pro Set: 67.842%

• Jebsen rode a smooth and mistake free test. The extended trot showed nice lengthening of the strides, but was very quick in the rhythm. Pro Set often had his mouth open and seemed a little unsupple in the contact. The extended walk had super stretch and overtrack. The second piaffe was quite tense. The canter work did not show much jump, but was consistently balanced and correct. 

Katarzyna Milczarek & Ekwador: 66.626%

• Ekwador is a lovely mover, but seemed to be a little short on energy today, coming often behind the leg. Ekwador lost his balance in the first trot half-pass, losing the swing and suspension. Both half-passes lacked sufficient bend. The piaffe was tiny, despite lots of work from Milczarek. The extended walk has nice overtrack, but needed more stretch. The passage was good. The canter zigzag did not show enough sideways travel. The canter pirouettes were very uphill and turned at a nice rhythm. 

Julie de Deken / Lucky Dance: 67.629%

• This test showed a well-planned balance between expression and control, to get the most out of the score at this point in the horse's training. De Deken rode a superb rein back with big, relaxed diagonal steps. Lucky Dance never quite managed to establish a clear rhythm in piaffe. The two tempis were straight, uphill, ground-covering, and had lots of jump. The extended canter was big, with the horse showing lots of expression in his gait, but it could have been more uphill. 

Karen Tebar & Florentino: 66.246%

• The passage and piaffe had nice rhythm and activity but to score higher, needed to carry more weight on the hind legs. The piaffe was active, but more behind than in front. Florentino became very deep in his nicely striding extended walk. The transition from passage to canter was very early. The canter work was correct and had nice energy but sometimes became slightly low in the neck. In extended canter, Florentino showed good uphill strides.  

Claire Gosselin & Karamel de Lauture: 66.748%

• Gosselin's test had nice supple trot work with sufficient and consistent suspension. The piaffes were small and arrhythmical, a major weakness, but the only one in the test. The extended canter was nicely uphill and came back very smoothly. Both pirouettes had good elevation in front and kept a good canter. 

Caroline Häcki Rindlisbacher & Rigoletto Royal: 66.657%

• Though Rindlisbacher did not show top carrying power in her collected work, she rode a mistake-free test. The pair began on a light-footed and reaching extended trot, though the transition back to collected trot was rather abrupt. The piaffe and passage were impeccably rhythmical but quite small. The changes of direction in the cancer zigzag were a little unbalanced. The canter pirouettes were small but the gait became a bit slow. 

Stella Hagelstam & Soraya II: 65.653%

• Soraya was quite irregular behind in the first of her extended trots, and both needed more uphill carriage. The passage was a highlight for this combination with top level suspension, though it occasionally loses its rhythm. The piaffes showed more activity behind than in front. There was an issue with the contact to the bit in the canter zigzag. The flying change between canter pirouettes was small and anxious, but the canter in the pirouettes was good. 

Roland Tong & Pompidou: 66.611%

• Tong rode a conservative test in a very nice frame and contact. The trot half-pass right had more balance and suspension than the one to the left. The passage had a good but uneven lift; the piaffe was nicely in place. The walk was a touch too relaxed. The flying changes in the zigzag and in the tempis had lots of jump. The first canter pirouette was small but needed a little more energy, and Pompidou lost his balance in the second, switching leads.

Karin Kosak & Lucy's Day: 65.836%

• This talented combination had a number of expensive mistakes in this test. Kosak rode nice changes of bend in her trot half-passes. The first piaffe was very labored and wide behind. The passage was light-footed with plenty of spring. The transition from passage to canter was late and resistant. Lucy's Day show nice balance in the collection for the canter pirouettes. There was a major resistance in the final piaffe, though the passage was good. 

Inna Logutenkova & Stallone: 65.684%

• Logutenkova demonstrated improved steadiness in her ride. Stallone had good overtrack in his extended trots, but moved a little croup high. The horse became quite short in the neck in the piaffe and passage, and a little earthbound in piaffe. The passage had nice suspension. The extended canter was slightly hurried. The canter pirouettes were small, but a bit stuck behind, and Stallone fell into trot coming out of the second one. The final halt was sharp and square.

Filipe Canelas & Der Clou: 65.091%

• Canelas's steady and correct test lacked the uphill riding needed for it to score even higher, but the overall picture was harmonious. The piaffes had plenty of lift, but travelled forward quite a bit. The canter zigzag lost some energy. The tempi changes were ground-covering. 

Melanie Hofmann & Cazzago: 65.471%

• Cazzago was obedient in the movements, but slightly lacking in power. The test improved towards the end. Cazzago's extended trots were little more than mediums. The passage and piaffe were decently active with smooth transitions. The horse's long neck sometimes got too round with the nose dropping behind the vertical. After a missed first change, the one tempis were straight and rhythmical. The pirouettes were small with decent sit. The last piaffe was very good, with an effortless rhythm and activity. 

Elena Sidneva & Romeo Star: 65.532%

• Sidneva produced a largely attractive picture in her test, but Romeo Star was not quite on her aids the whole time. In piaffe, the stallion traveled forward a good deal without much spring. The passage was good. Romeo Star was active and relaxed in extended walk. The canter in the zigzag became quite laboured. Sidneva hardly executed her one tempis, a hugely expensive mistake. The canter became a bit stuck behind in the pirouettes.

Philippe Jorissen & Le Beau: 65.076%

• Jorissen's dynamic and light footed trot work was often rather unsteady in the bit and tight in the neck. The transitions in and out of piaffe lacked power, but the passage was springy and uphill. The extended canter did not show enough reach and ended with a stumbling change. The tempis had even and easy jump. Jorissen maintained the canter rhythm well in both, but did not really establish sufficient collection. 

Isabelle Constantini & Rimbeau: 64.757%

• Rimbeau is a spry and expressive horse, but is quite tight in the neck. Constantini's first extended trot took too long to develop. The trot half-pass right had so little bend it was almost a leg yield. The extended walk was nicely marching with plenty of stretch. Rimbeau made Constantini work very hard for his solid piaffe and passage. The uphill two tempis showed lots of jump and shoulder freedom. The second canter pirouette became quite unbalanced. 

Emma Kanerva & Spirit: 65.091%

• Kanerva's lively test unfortunately had a few errors and did not show the most supple contact. Spirit's ground-covering extended trots needed to show slightly more reach behind. The first piaffe started with lots of spring, but Spirit lost his balance and could not find his rhythm again. The walk work was not relaxed. The second piaffe had lots of spring, though the horse pulled down in the frame during the transitions in and out. Kanerva had a few counting errors in her two tempis. The extended canter needed to show a slightly clearer three-beat rhythm. During the canter pirouettes, Spirit showed his tongue in front. 

Malin Hamilton & Fleetwood: 64.742%

• Hamilton put in quite a solid test, but a few mistakes and her horse's restricted reach in the front limited their score. The pair showed lots of sideways reach in the trot half-passes, though they sometimes were a little irregular. Fleetwood offered quite a bit of resistance in the first piaffe and in the transition to from walk to passage. The canter pirouettes were tiny and well collected. The final passage showed the best expression and lift in front and the centerline piaffe was nicely regular. 

Luis Principe & Washington: 64.271%

• Washington's tongue was showing on the right side before Principe entered the arena, but I did not see any issues during the test. Washington was active behind in trot, but needed to track under better. The first piaffe and passage had decent activity and smooth transitions except for one double step behind. The two tempis were very small. The one tempis were small again but very smooth, until the last which Principe could not get. The horse cantered in the last extended trot. The final passage and piaffe were the best, with the most activity and smoothest transitions. 

Svetalana Kiseliova & Parish: 63.830%

• Kiseliova unfortunately started off with an unbalanced extended trot and short-strided, tense half-passes. The piaffes were in place, though the horse could lift its limbs more. The horse's consistent passage got tight in the neck and lost some forward impulsion. The canter work was quite good with nice tempis that swung through the body and a balanced zigzag. This talented horse unfortunately lost some marks for tightness in the test.

Zaneta Skowronska & With You: 63.480%

• With You is not blessed with lots of natural talent, but Skowronska rode him very nicely, producing a smooth test. With You's uphill half-passes needed to show more crossing. The first piaffe was rather stuck, the second better. In passage, With You was bouncy but not entirely steady in her rhythm. The two tempis became rather hurried and two were close behind. The pirouettes were small and uphill.

Federica Scolari & Beldonwelt: 62.964%

• Scolari rode with an excellent soft and steady contact, but often could have pushed Beldonwelt forward for more dynamic gaits. In the trot half-passes, Beldonwelt's gait became quite shuffling and arrhythmical. The transition from passage to extended walk was excellent with the horse stepping cleanly from expression to relaxation. However the transition back to passage ended up with a few steps of canter. The two tempis were big and uphill; the ones had numerous mistakes. 

Gaston Chelius & Flamenco R: 62.325%

• Though all the work in the test was steady and smooth, it tended to be heavy in front and did not track up enough from behind. The passage was very elastic and elevated, among the best of the day. The two tempis had nice spring taking the pair across the arena. The horse broke into trot before the one tempis, which were not straight. The last passage was enormous, and the piaffe good. 

Ellen Birgitte Farbrot & Akon Askelund: 61.383%

• Farbrot rode the trot work with plenty of forward engagement. The first piaffe was very quiet, and for the second, the horse gave a significant resistance. In the one tempis, Akon Askelund  was straight and his strides bouncy, though he could have covered more ground. The horse was sometimes resistant to the contact opening his mouth and dropping the bit. 

Gareth Hughes & Nadonna: 60.866%

• Sadly, tension created some problems early in the test and Hughes could not quite recover in later movements. In collected trot, Nadonna got a bit to passage-y and needed to track under more from behind. There was a lot of anxiety showing in the shuffling steps of the reinback. In the first passage the mare was electric, the piaffe was expressive and regular, and the transitions between were effortless. The extended walk showed no over-track and the horse jigged in the collected walk. That tension unfortunately carried into the subsequent passage and piaffe marring the horses highlight. There was some loss of balance in the canter zigzag.  

Dane Rawlins & Sydney: 61.839%

• Rawlins did not ride for huge scores, but with this ride he didn't give away a single point. The trot work was obedient, but needed more suspension. The pair's reinback was excellent. In canter, the zigzag was balanced, but the one tempi changes were a bit short in the stride. The passage was not always regular, but the transitions in and out of piaffe were smooth.  Rawlins's seat was a little weak, not always moving with the horse. 

Tatiana Dorofeeva & Khorovod: 62.234%

• Dorofeeva rides for a lot of expression, but as a result some movements became slightly unbalance or hectic. In passage and piaffe (and much of the canter work), Khorovod needed to carry more of his weight behind. The second canter pirouette was very nicely uphill and quite small, though just a tad unsteady in the contact. 

Ester Soldi & Harmonia: 61.900%

• Soldi's work was positively forward, but needed to show more self carriage. The second half-pass showed better engagement than the first. The piaffes were rhythmical and in place. The ones were straight and effortless at the beginning, but then jumped together behind. The horse wagged its head a good deal in the final passage.