FEI European Dressage Championships 2015 - Grand Prix Freestyle

Though the medal winners were no surprise given the performances the last few days, it was very close at the top of the class with a number of people pulling excellent rides out of their horses. Charlotte Dujardin was on fire today, except for major mistakes in both lines of one tempis, which put her just barely ahead of Kristina Bröring-Sprehe. Isabell Werth had an amazing ride on Don Johnson, getting every point possible out of him, but Beatriz Ferrer-Salat deservedly pulled ahead for bronze riding a fantastic clean test on the powerful Delgado.

Charlotte Dujardin & Valegro: 89.054%

• Right into the arena, Valegro's passage was on with plenty of push from behind. The trot half-pass left showed powerful, supple crossing and even the passage half-passes had lots of crossing without a loss of suspension or rhythm. The piaffes were on the spot, with Valegro sitting beautifully in the third and allowing his knees to come up. The extended walk was beautifully relaxed into the bridle, even if it is not huge. The extended canter down the centerline showed lots of relaxation through the back, even with all its power. Dujardin had an error again in both lines of one tempis where the horse jumped together behind. The twos, though, came off beautifully. The final piaffe pirouette started a little slow, but then showed one of Valegro's best piaffes. 

Kristina Bröring-Sprehe & Desperados: 88.804%

• Bröring-Sprehe began with a light-footed passage half-pass to trot half-pass. The trot half-pass left was a little slow in the rhythm. The first piaffe was nice, but the horse came above the bit in the transition out of it. The second piaffe was closed at the base and bouncy, but started a little irregular. The canter pirouette right was super: small, with a top quality uphill canter. Bröring-Sprehe showed three more double pirouettes, all of really high quality. The first extended canter could have shown slightly longer strides. The final passage was really light and rhythmical and the last two piaffes very well finessed. The ride is so soft and friendly looking, even though the contact is not totally steady, so when her top moving horse is with her, she really rakes in the marks. Though the score was maybe a little high, it was definitely good enough for silver.

Beatriz Ferrer-Salat & Delgado: 82.714%

• Delgado's passage has super suspension and drive from behind. The piaffe is also springy, though it lacks a little sit. In the trot half-passes, there is lots of ground-cover, but Delgado could step more under behind. Ferrer-Salat took full advantage of the high quality passage in effortless-looking passage half-passes. The extended walk was a bit tense in the body. The tempi changes were very uphill but needed to be straighter and jump not just up, but more forward. The first canter pirouette was tiny and balanced, but needed a bit more bend; the second got a bit big. At the end, Ferrer-Salat rode a full piaffe pirouette that had a metronome rhythm. The music was powerful, really well suited for the horse's gaits. 

Hans Peter Minderhoud & Johnson: 82.411%

• Minderhoud had a few little short steps behind in the early passage. Johnson lowers his croup well in piaffe, but should also bring his hind legs more under. The trot half-passes were expressive, but could have had a higher degree of difficulty. The later passage showed much better engagement and the extended trot was beautifully up and forward into the bridle. Johnson was quite tense in extended walk. Minderhoud's extended canter was bold and powerful and the canter pirouette after was really sitting with plenty of jump in the canter. The canter in the tempi changes jumped uphill beautifully, though they could cover a bit more ground. Minderhoud had to work hard to keep the last piaffe going, but the last passage was beautiful in front. 

Carl Hester & Nip Tuck: 79.571%

• Nip Tuck's frame was lovely right from the start. The trot half-passes had nice crossing, but could have had a touch more power. The piaffe has good rhythm, but bounced up a bit behind. The transitions from piaffe to passage tended to have a bit of a hitch of them. The canter pirouettes were small and very well controlled in their rotation, though they could jump more uphill. The canter pirouettes were beautifully correct and uphill. The final passage half-passes were lovely and had lots of suspension. Everything in the test was ridden with harmonious precision. 

Isabell Werth & Don Johnson: 82.446%

• Werth chose to ride to her Pomp and Circumstance freestyle, which though it isn't new, matches piaffe and passage so well.  She started a little cautiously in the first extended trot, not pushing for the maximum reach and power, though it still showed nice engagement. The passage tours wary one were very good, with Don Johnson really stepping under with full suspension and not showing his tendency towards a double-beat behind. The trot half-passes reach beautifully sideways in front. Though the piaffes are not really sitting, they have a very clear rhythm. The extended canters into the pirouettes were really bold and supple. The tiny, active canter pirouette right was the only time that Don Johnson got a bit braced in the contact. The one tempis were nice through the body, but could have covered a bit more ground. The rhythm on the final centerline was unchanging from piaffe pirouette to passage half pass. A top test for this combination. 

Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén & Don Auriello: 80.571%

• Vilhelmson Silfvén is such a sharp freestyle rider and her music really suits the horse. The piaffe and passage continued to be a weakness because they are quite slow behind, though the passage half-passes made for a really nice balanced picture from the front. The extended walk was excellent, moving forward from behind to stretch into the bridle. Vilhelmson Silfvén's line of pirouette, ones, pirouette was impeccable with uphill changes and tiny, balanced pirouettes, though they could have a bit more jump in behind. The twos had good lift in front. The final extended trot stepped under well and of course Don Auriello really reaches up and out in front. The frame as always was impeccably soft and uphill. This test definitely deserved its big score. 

Diederik van Silfhout & Arlando: 78.696%

• Arlando showed right from the start his amazing expression in passage and piaffe. The piaffe creeps forward a bit. The trot half-passes could have stepped sideways with more suppleness. The walk work was rather tense behind and showed almost no overtrack. The canter pirouette left was really sitting, but a little rushed and big. Arlando was more willing in the canter half-pass left than the one to the right. Van Silfhout had an unscripted change in the second, very tense, extended canter. In some of the passage towards the end of the test, the horse was getting a bit frantic picking up the left hind, despite the impressive loftiness of the movement. 

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl & Unee BB: 80.214%

• Von Bredow-Werndl started right out of the halt with an uphill canter pirouette and the second one was tiny—a real highlight of the test. She had a counting error in the two tempis and the ones were quite tense in the back, though they had nice shoulder freedom. The first piaffe, coming out of canter, had a good level of activity, but needed to come more under behind, especially in the last steps. The piano music von Bredow-Werndl chose to accompany the piaffe was really clever. The trot half-passes flow sideways nicely but lack a little bend. Unee stepped very well from behind in the trot extensions. The stallions struggles a little with the transitions from piaffe to passage, but von Bredow-Werndl finessed them well. Von Bredow-Werndl's program was a highly technical one with lost of transitions and movements that closely followed each other, all ridden precisely to well-chosen music. 

Gonçalo Carvalho & Batuta: 72.761%

• Batuta's piaffe and passage today looked really good. The mare seemed much more comfortable in the arena than earlier in the week and so she lifted her legs way off the ground without looking like she was on hot coals. The piaffe sometimes crept forward a little, but was soft and springy. The extended walk moved nicely through the body and was correct in the rhythm, but got a bit deep in the bridle. Carvalho rode the canter work a bit cautiously, but it maintained Batuta's relaxation and so was a good riding choice. The first pirouette needed to be more uphill and the second lost the canter rhythm a bit. Carvalho rode an impeccable transition from canter to piaffe and good final line of passage. 

Karen Tebar & Don Luis: 75.000%

• Tebar started a little slow in the trot half-passes which could have showed more fluid crossing. The passage and piaffe are a real highlight though. The passage shows really good engagement behind and the piaffe springs off the ground. Don Luis hesitated a bit before the first piaffe though. The horse tilts its head at times, but Tebar's contact is pleasantly soft throughout. The first canter pirouette started quite big and was not tat well placed on the centerline. The half-passses in trot and canter did not have a very high degree of difficulty, though this is understandable given the horse's lack of experience. Tebar oddly decided to show one tempis on the centerline, but the changes were clearly swinging through the body. A pleasant ride, but not totally clean today. 

Morgan Barbançon Mestre & Painted Black: 73.875%

• Barbançon Mestre started on a nice soft piaffe and passage with easy transitions between the two. The horse could have been a little lighter in front, but stays well in the rhythm. There was an error in the twos but Barbançon Mestre rode them again very well. The extended walk was relaxed while remaining motivated. The one tempis jumped lightly forward and off the ground. The final passage showed quite good engagement. Barbançon Mestre's music choice was quite poignant, especially since this is the last time we will see Painted Black in international competition. 

Patrick van der Meer & Uzzo: 74.321%

• Van der Meer entered the test with a nice forward feeling hand, producing a good extended trot with lots of shoulder freedom. Throughout, though, it would be nice to see more relaxation in the body. Uzzo gave some resistance to the bit in the first piaffe, ridden at C, resulting in a loss of rhythm. The first canter pirouette turned a bit haunches-first. The tempis were straight. Coming back from extended canter, Uzzo got a bit braced. The second set of pirouettes ridden on the long diagonal were very good: small and uphill and active. For the most part, the horse stayed more open in the neck than in the Grand Prix. Their final line of passage was airy without Uzzo getting too electric. The music for the test was pleasant, but didn't do much to underline the movements. 

FEI European Dressage Championships 2015 - Grand Prix Special

This has certainly been a dramatic European Championships. Two days ago, it was Totilas out after looking uneven behind in the trot extensions and today in the special Undercover, boiling over from tension from the moment he entered the stadium, bit his tongue and was eliminated for blood in the mouth. It was a shame, too, because Edward Gal was managing to settle the horse back into the work again and he would likely have qualified for the Freestyle tomorrow. There was also some controversy over the score of Diederik van Silfhout; the Dutch judge seemed to show a bit of nationalistic favoritism and so the FEI's 'six-percent rule' went into effect. Because of the judge's score differed by more than 6 percent from the next highest judge, that score was changed to the next highest judge's score.

Hans-Peter Minderhoud rode Johnson to a 79.034% and a bronze medal. I was a little surprised at the score as I didn't think the horse looked as soft as he had in the Grand Prix. At times the passage lost some engagement in one or both hind legs. Still, Johnson is presented nicely up in the bridle—except for getting a bit deep in the piaffe—and moves forward into the bit in a supple and powerful way. Also, the moments of unsteadiness might have been explained by the fact that Minderhoud was not feeling well. Minderhoud told horses.nl that because of how poorly he was feeling, it was hard to really feel the excitement of winning his first—and well-deserved—international medal. Undoubtedly the bad luck for his partner Gal would also have made it hard to celebrate.

Kristina Bröring-Sprehe definitely had a better ride, getting 83.067 and the silver medal. Most importantly, Desperados's lofty passage didn't get so big today that Bröring-Sprehe couldn't keep it balanced so there were only a very few irregular steps where Desperados got a bit slow in the right hind. The first pirouette kept an easy uphill canter rhythm, but the second got a little big. While there were a couple steps where Desperados slightly lost his rhythm and balance in the last piaffe, the passage on the final centerline was expressive and rhythmical.

Charlotte Dujardin produced a very polished ride today and got her highest score ever in the long version of the special: 87.577%. The extended trots were all spectacular—Valegro pushes with lots of power from behind forward into the contact, stepping way underneath himself and lifting in front. The trot half-passes were fluid as ever. There was a moment of hesitation into the first passage, but the passage itself was strong behind and very consistent in its rhythm. Dujardin had no trouble keeping the count in Valegro's big and supple tempi changes, though she was doing some serious focused preparation before both lines of ones. All the piaffes had lots of sit and were in place (they were creeping forward a bit in the Grand Prix). Valegro looked a bit tired on the final centerline, getting a hair heavy in front, but the passage was still lovely and soft. Dujardin definitely deserved her gold with this test.

Delgado and Beatriz Ferrer-Salat are a cool combination. The horse has got a very lofty passage and a lot of power from behind, though in the extended trots, he could step more underneath himself. Delgado doesn't appear to be the supplest horse through the body, but Ferrer-Salat did a lovely job maintain a soft contact and good frame.

I also took a peek at a couple of the early combinations. Jorinde Verwimp had another nice ride for a 70.588%. The horse stays really well up in the bridle, though maybe could be a bit softer on the underside of his neck. The trot tour was energetic and controlled except for a break to canter before the second half-pass. Tiamo's piaffe and passage are both pretty springy and regular, but the horse pushes a little forward off his hind legs rather than fully carrying. The twos jumped way off the ground, but Verwimp had a mistake in the one tempis. The very small pirouettes could have had a little clearer canter behind. The final extended trot just powered down the long side. 

I had not see the combination of Pierre Volla and Badinda Altena before and was quite impressed. Though the mare was a bit tense, she showed lots of talent and pulled a 70.532%. The mare showed extended trots with lots of expression in front and that stepped under well behind, but which lacked a little suspension. The passage is big, with the mare pushing off behind to make it possible for her to really lift up in front. The active piaffe moves quite forward. The transition to canter from passage was messy. The tempi changes were uphill but tight in the body. Volla did a nice job keeping the mare's huge passage down the final line rhythmical and uphill. 

FEI European Dressage Championships 2015 - Grand Prix

On the first day of the Grand Prix, a few of the championship regulars have had days short of their best, while some of the newcomers—like Jorinde Verwimp and Emilie Nyreröd—really shined. The second day, a few bobbles in the Dujardin's Grand Prix lost Great Britain the gold to consistent quality rides from the Netherlands, but her overall top class riding allowed her to eek out a win. Undercover was on his usual good form and pulled off second and Desperados landed in third, with Bröring-Sprehe not quite able to keep his big piaffe and passage completely regular.


Ludovic Henry & After You (FRA): 68.629%

• After You is a very impressive mover with lots of knee-action. Henry got a very high degree of crossing and swing in the trot half-passes, though they were slightly unbalanced. The flying changes were really uphill and dynamic. Overall, the movements are ridden with a high degree of expression, but there are persistent tiny errors in balance, regularity, or contact that prevent really high marks. 

Jorinde Verwimp & Tiamo (BEL): 71.086%

• After a nicely powered trot tour, Verwimp had some issues in the first piaffe-passage transitions, which were rather abrupt and unbalanced. At times the horse could reach a little better into the bridle to keep an even more uphill balance. The canter zig-zag showed clean changes of direction and a very good quality of the canter. The final extended trot was very nicely uphill and ground-covering. The final piaffe was clean, but a little quick, while the passage was strong and showed lots of elevation. 

Rikke Svane & Finckenstein (DEN): 67.743%

• Svane rode a very fluid, clean trot tour. Finckenstein has a bit of a tendency to get a bit out behind in his movement. The extended walk was nicely forward and relaxed in the body and would have been even better if Finckenstein were reaching a little more forward into the bridle. The second piaffe-passage tour was cleaner than the first. The tempi changes were a little flat and there were a couple errors in the ones. At times in the canter the stallion gets a bit tense behind the saddle and tends croup-high. This created a minor errors in the flying change between pirouettes and right before the transition to trot. 

Patrick van der Meer & Uzzo (NED): 72.400%

• Van der Meer had a bit of a rough warm up around the outside with a few strong half-halts for the hot Uzzo. The gelding has incredible shoulder freedom in the trot, making for lovely extended trots. However, throughout the test the horse was a bit behind the vertical, taking away especially from the otherwise impressive extensions. In the passage tour, Uzzo was not quite bringing his hind legs under enough to power the elevation he showed in front and lost the rhythm. The flying change at the end of the extended trot had an error. The canter zig-zag was balanced, but though a tiny bit hurried. The canter pirouettes were small, active, and uphill—a definite highlight of the test. The final passage was much more engaged, though still a bit irregular. Given the tensions, the test seemed a bit overscored. 

Michael George Eilberg & Marakov (GBR): 69.943%

• Marakov entered a bit impressed by the atmosphere in the big stadium and Eilberg's early trot work appeared a bit conservative. The horse was tense and braced in the rein back. Marakov has a very upright neck and should ideally reach more into the bridle at times. The passage and piaffe was very smoothly ridden, though in the piaffe, the horse should come more under himself behind. The transitions were effortless. The extended walk had limited overtrick. The two tempi changes were ground covering, but could have strided more uphill. Eilberg had a late change in zig-zag and then the one tempis were quite short, and one jumped together behind. In the first canter pirouette, Eilberg lost the canter rhythm at the end. The final passage was lovely and springy. 

Emilie Nyreröd & Miata (SWE): 71.829%

• While she had a nice compressed, square halt, Nyreröd's transition in showed a little trot step. In the trot half-passes, there should have been more bend and the horse's gait was a little passage-y. The passage had very good engagement behind, but every now and then does a double-beat behind. The canter was very active behind overall, though in the zig-zag, Miata could have shown more energy. The flying changes were big and uphill. The canter pirouettes were small and uphill but didn't show any bend and so were not totally balanced in their rotation. The transitions into and out of piaffe were superb. 

José Antonio Garcia Mena & Norte Lovera (ESP): 68.711%

• Norte Lovera is a lovely relaxed mover with an expressive front leg in the extended trot. Though the trot half-passes didn't have a high degree of suspension, Norte Lovera crossed with beautiful suppleness. The first piaffe got a bit deep in the bridle, though it showed amazing activity. The extended walk didn't have much overtrick, but stretched nicely into the bridle. A number of the transitions—in and out of the first halt, out of the rein back, and into the second passage—were weak. A number of the tempi changes got croup high, which was a shame, because the seemed to have the potential to really reach up and forward. The canter pirouettes were sitting, but hurried. The final centerline was absolutely top class. 

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl & Unee BB (GER): 75.186%

• This combination was in a totally different class than any of the rides preceding her. The half-pass right could have show a bit truer bend. The rein back was crooked. Von Bredow-Werndl rides the extended trots beautifully, with the horse powerfully striding up into the bridle. Unee was very uphill in the passage, but lacked a bit of engagement behind. The piaffes were rhythmical, if a bit small. Unee showed some tendency to dive in the two-tempis resulting in an error behind halfway through, despite Von Bredow-Werndl's best efforts. The one tempis were very good. The pirouettes were small and controlled but did not have the cleanest canter rhythm in every step. The final passage was much more powerful from behind than the earlier ones, making for a strong finish. 

Elena Sidneva & Romeo Star (RUS): 68.443%

• Overall, this pair had a very classy test. The trot tour showed consistently high quality gaits and correctness in the movements. The first passage was a bit arhythmical. The canter work was smooth except for a couple errors in the otherwise big, uphill one tempis. Though the final piaffe was a little sticky, the passage was big and expressive. 

Mikala Münter Gundersen & My Lady (DEN): 70.257%

• Münter Gundersen began with nice fluid trot work, doing a nice job producing a sense of power from My Lady. She had a problem with the mare collapsing in the bridle before the rein back. In the second piaffe, the mare lifted her legs way off the ground, though it would be improved with the mares weight being shifted more to her haunches. Münter Gundersen rode a lovely open extended canter and relaxed transition back to collected canter. The ground covering tempis could have been a bit lighter in front. The pirouettes were slightly off the centerline. The final extended trot was excellent. 

Diederik van Silfhout & Arlando (NED): 75.814%

• Arlando had the most impressive front leg, but in the extended trots it wasn't quite matched behind. The trot half-passes were nicely bent and crossing, but a little braced in the contact. The horse is looking more comfortable staying up in the frame. The first piaffe passage tour had lots of power, with the horse's knees almost at his nose, without losing the rhythm. The piaffe could be a little more on the hind legs. Before the two tempis, Arlando got tight behind the saddle and swapped behind for a stride and there was a similar error at the end of the extended canter. The canter pirouettes were tiny and showed super sit, but were rather tense. Though the transition to passage was a little unsteady, the rest of the final centerline was really powerful. 

Fiona Bigwood & Atterupgaards Orthilia (GBR): 75.800%

• This mare is really impressive. The first extended trot floated powerfully across the arena. The trot half-passes were excellent, though the mare was opening her mount a little from tension. In passage and piaffe, Orthilia lifted herself way off the ground. Though she leans just a little forward in them, the power comes from behind. The extended walk showed a little of the mare's tension, but the gait still had overtrack. In the two tempis, the mare was a little hesitant, but Bigwood rode them cleanly. The ones were straight and ground-covering, but could have been more relaxed in the body in each stride. The mare shows talent for sitting in the canter pirouettes, but got a bit deep in the bridle as well. The combination finished on another dynamic piaffe and passage, and Bigwood was thrilled. 

Minna Telde & Santana (SWE): 68.714%

• Telde started out with high power, but unfortunately it was a bit more than the stallion could sustain and so the extended trot showed some irregular strides. The passage got a little too open leading into the piaffe making for a difficult transition. The piaffes were rhythmical, but Santana does not pick his feet up that much in them. The canter in the two tempis was excellent. Santana gave a huge resistance in the bridle leading into the one tempis, but Telde recovered remarkably quickly. The final passage was big and regular, though slightly out behind. 

Jose Daniel Martin Dockx & Grandioso (ESP): 71.343%

• A huge shame: the stallion cantered in the first steps of the extended trot. The trot half passes needed better bend and the trot in them was a touch flat and hurried. The first piaffe was super but didn't show quite enough steps. The collected walk was clear and settled. Grandioso tried to piaffe early resulting in a bit of a stutter step in passage, but the piaffe was excellent again, with the stallion really lifting his legs. Martin Dockx had an error in the two tempis and then rode a rather conservative extended canter. The canter pirouettes were very small and well balanced in their rotation, though the canter could have been a bit more energetic. 

Isabell Werth & Don Johnson (GER): 74.786%

• Don Johnson looks as powerful as ever and Werth rode in on an immaculate centerline. As expected, the half passes powered sideways, though Don Johnson got a bit braced to the left. In extended trot, the horse steps really well under behind to match his impressive from leg. The passage was nicely elevated and rhythmical, if a bit short in front. The second passage was even better, though the piaffe didn't show enough weight on the hind legs. Isabell had an unfortunate error at the beginning of the otherwise powerful one-tempis. The canter pirouettes were small, but Don Johnson dropped his shoulder a bit. The final centerline showed top power and well-ridden transitions. 

Katarzyna Milczarek & Dzeko (POL): 64.600%

• Dzeko is a really lovely rangy mover and Milczarek started with a lovely extended trot that got just a hair deep in the bridle. The piaffe traveled forward too far—though it's understandable given the greenness of the horse at this level—while the passage was light and airy. In both the hind legs could come more under the body. The two tempis were big and smooth, but Milczarek lost the canter for a stride on the short side. The zig zag traveled well on either side of the centerline. The first canter pirouette was lovely with a high degree of sit, but in the second, the horse rotated too quickly and lost his balance at the end. I think this has the potential to be a very strong combination in the future. 

Judy Reynolds & Vancouver K (IRL): 69.486%

• Reynolds had quite a nice trot tour with diligent extensions and lofty half-passes. Vancouver's passage is very high quality with lots of elevation. The horse got too much sit in the first piaffe for a stride or two and lost the rhythm. The extended walk was nice and forward. The second piaffe was better, but again was so eager to sit that he lost his rhythm again. The tempi changes were nice and forward, but a little short in the neck, restricting the stride just slightly. Both pirouettes were very small, though the second was not quite as uphill as the first. The last passage was a real highlight and the final piaffe, though it took a tiny step back, was much more rhythmical. 

Daniel Bachman Andersen & Loxana (DEN): 68.857%

• Bachman Andersen rode nice forward trot work, but had some trouble maintaining consistent suspension in Loxana's trot. The transitions between piaffe and passage were very smooth and kept a clear rhythm throughout, but the movements needed still needed to show the mare rotating her hips down so her hind legs could come underneath herself more. The one tempis jumped really nicely up and through when they were correct, but there was an errors halfway through. The canter pirouettes were well controlled in their rotation. The last line of piaffe and passage was solid. 

Anna-Mengia Aerne & Raffaelo v Bene (SUI): 69.443%

• This horse is a little reminiscent of another grey, Ekwador, with his big odd and light contact, though he pushed more powerfully off the ground and sometimes tends towards getting overly deep. Raffaelo v Bene started on a really powerful extended trot, though he could have reached a bit more under himself behind. The half-passes had very good crossing. The horse cantered out of the second extended trot rather than picking up passage. In the passage itself, the horse really lifted his legs and pushed off the ground. The collected walk was short. The piaffe travelled forward slightly, but was sitting and springy. The two tempis showed good ground cover, the ones were forward but showed a little swinging behind. The first pirouette was small and sitting, but lost a bit of energy at the end as the horse stepped too big around; the second was better. The final piaffe was a little deep, but rhythmical and the final passage impressive.

Hans Peter Minderhoud & Johnson (NED): 77.586%

• Minderhoud place this horse in such a lovely position in the bridle, reaching so nicely into the bit throughout. The rhythm of the trot work was totally consistent. The passage was expressive, the piaffe rhythmical and on the spot. The extend walk could have been more relaxed in the body, but Johnson stretched forward nicely. Minderhoud missed the first count in the two tempis, since it looked like Johnson wasn't quite on his aids at the start. The zig-zag was very balanced even as it travelled well past the centerline on either side. The canter pirouettes were very well controlled and balanced. This combination is just a treat to watch.

Carl Hester & Nip Tuck (GBR): 75.400%

• Nip Tuck's basic trot could step more under behind, but the trot half-passes had lovely bend and suspension. The piaffe is more active behind than in front, but very rhythmical. The extended was could have been a bit more forward, but was relaxed through the body. The passage was lofty. The twos were straight and forward, but could have been more uphill. There was an error in the flying change after the extended canter as Nip tuck got a bit slow behind. The ones jumped really nicely off the ground. While the canter pirouettes kept a really clean canter rhythm, they could have been a hair smaller. 

Tinne Vilhemson-Silfvén & Don Auriello (SWE): 75.157%

• On his usually form, Don Auriello looked light-footed in his reaching extended trot. The trot half-passes could have had a slightly more obedient bend. The hind legs still trailed a bit behind. While the piaffe is small, it is rhythmical and Vilhemson-Silfvén gets Don Auriello up in the bridle and closed at the base. Don Auriello had lovely two tempis that were up in the shoulder, though they could have had a bit more air time. There was an error at the end of the one tempis. The last piaffe was the most active behind and the last passage showed a bit more engagement. 

Morgan Barbançon Mestre & Painted Black (ESP): 73.814%

• This combination was a little off their game today. Though the horse was presented beautifully throughout, there were a number of little mistakes that crept in. Barbançon Mestre rode a lovely extended trot, getting her horse to really push across the centerline with good engagement. the passage was very loftily, but Painted Black pulled down a little in front in the piaffe. The collected walk was very good in the strides, but a hair open in the bridle. The second piaffe was much more sitting, but a bit crooked. The light-footed twos had a couple of errors. The bold one tempis were excellent. The canter pirouettes were very active and uphill, the second even more balanced than the first. 

Mattias Alexander Rath & Totilas (GER): 75.971%

• Totilas showed lovely reach in front and good supple bend in the trot half-passes, though the hind quarters trailed just a hair in both. The extended trots appeared conservative. The first passage started well, but Totilas got a bit deep and backward feeling in piaffe, and a bit out behind for a couple strides in the subsequent passage. The extended walk was relaxed. The second piaffe was again a bit quiet, deep in the bridle, and backwards feeling. The two tempis started spectacularly with big reaching stride, but got a little tight in the bridle towards the end. The canter zig-zag was brave and totally balanced. A few of the one tempis were short behind. The first canter pirouette was tiny. The final extended trot stepped short from the left hind. The final passage showed that amazing elevation in the front legs and matched power from behind that is this horse's highlight. The final piaffe was more up in the bridle, but again stepped backward.

Gonçalo Carvalho & Batuta (POR): 70.557%

• Batuta really lifts her legs through all her movements, but the extended trot had nice reach in it without getting hurried. The half-passes flowed nicely. The first passage was a little over-electric making it hard for Batuta to stay totally regular. The second passage was more relaxed, but a little too open. The rhythm of the piaffe was good. Batuta exploded a bit into canter from passage. The canter zig-zag maintained a very good canter through the changes of direction. Both the one and two tempis were very good, though they could have shown a little more elevation in front. The canter pirouettes turned a little quickly. The final centerline showed a huge passage and solid, expressive piaffe. 

Victoria Max-Theurer & Blind Date (AUT): 75.186%

• Max-Theurer produced a really nice frame on this mare. There was a little hesitation in the trot half-pass left. The passage has lots of elevation, but engages a little more in the left hind. The piaffe loses the energy of the piaffe, though the mare stays correctly low in the croup. The collected walk was relaxed with plenty of overtrick. The two tempis were excellent: uphill and and jumping off the ground. The zig-zag looked easy and had lots of energy. The mare was snorting with tension a bit in the one tempis, though they were still quite high quality. At the end, the passage showed a really nice combination of elevation and forward travel and the piaffe was the best of the test. A high quality test.

Inessa Merkulova & Mister X (RUS): 73.800%

• In her horse's high powered start, Merkulova lost her stirrup for a few strides. The trot half-passes reached sideways really nicely, but lacked sufficient bend. The passage is very high quality and the first piaffe has lots of elevation, but the horse leans forward slightly and should instead take more weight behind. Each piaffe started very early despite the fact the horse hardly travels forward. The second piaffe was more uphill and very impressive. The extended canter took nice big supple strides across the arena. The one tempis were up in the shoulder, but a bit deep in the bridle and could have been straighter. The canter pirouettes were really sitting, but could have been better controlled. The final piaffe-passage line was really excellent. 

Anna Kasprzak & Donnperignon (DEN): 72.771%

• Kasprzak rode for really nice power from behind in the first extended trot. Donnperignon was a little resistant in the bend in the half-pass to the right, but the trot had nice suspension in the half-passes. The first piaffe was a small and a bit braced at the base of the neck. The extended walk marched forward well from behind and the horse really moved through his body. The passage tours were good, but Donnperignon wasn't really with Kasprzak in the piaffe today. The two tempis were big and rangy. Overall, Donnperignon stayed a little more open in the neck than usual, though should still open his frame a bit more at times. The one tempis were excellent. The canter pirouettes had super uphill balance, were controlled, and kept an active canter. The final passage was really good, but the piaffe was still small and irregular. 

Edward Gal & Undercover (NED): 82.229%

• Gal had a very clean entrance, but the trot was already needing to show a little more engagement. The trot half-passes shows lots of supple crossing and very good bend. The rein back was quite clear. Both extended trots were conservative, but this allowed a little better hind leg. The piaffe and passage looked like its usual active clockwork, though Gal didn't really ask the horse to sit in the piaffe. The extended walk was very relaxed, but Gal gave away the contact. Undercover got quite tight in the neck in the second passage tour, but opened up a little for the piaffe. Undercover pulled down and tight in the neck a bit in the two tempis after a bit of a tense preparation. The canter zig-zag really travelled sideways effortlessly. Undercover was again tense in the preparation for the ones with Gal really having to supple him, though they were clean. The first canter pirouette was a little more uphill than usual, but turned a bit around the middle. The second was better placed, but not as up in the shoulder. The final passage was nicely lofty without Undercover snatching his legs, but needed to be more open in the frame. 

Charlotte Dujardin & Valegro (GBR): 84.429%

• Dujardin might have had a touch of nerves for her ride because there were some uncharacteristic bobbles. Valegro's trot extensions were on top form with lots of power from behind and huge reach in front. The half-passes had lots of suspension and ideal bend. Valegro was a little resistant in the bridle for the rein back. There was a double beat in the first piaffe, which was otherwise springy and regular. The extended walk was quite relaxed, but could have a bit more overtrack. The second passage and piaffe was effortless regular and elevated, with smooth transitions. There was a little bobble in the transition from passage to canter. The canter zig-zag was absolutely precise in its movement sideways, but Dujardin had a counting error. Dujardin also had a mistake in the beginning of the ones. The canter pirouettes were super. The final passage could have been a little more up in front, but the passage and piaffe were absolutely supple and regular. 

Patrik Kittel & Deja (SWE): 74.571%

• This mare was looking more relaxed today in her extravagant movement. In the trot half-passes Deja really reaches sideways in front. The mare dragged her feet a bit in the rein back. Deja dropped really early into the piaffe and struggled a bit in the transition back up into passage. The extended walk had lots of overtrack and suppleness in the body, though needed more contact with the bridle. Deja sat and closed at the base so much in piaffe that she struggled to keep the rhythm and activity a little. The extended canter was really ground-covering without tension, though the mare was a bit low in the bridle. The ones were really excellent, jumping forward from behind. down the centerline the passage was really easily airy, but the piaffe is still in need of development. 

Beatriz Ferrer-Salat & Delgado (ESP): 77.186%

• Delgado has a very powerful extended trot from behind, but could reach more under his body behind. The trot quality in the half-passes was very good, but the one to the right had hardly any bend. Delgado had a high degree of suspension in passage, and an active piaffe that needed to come more under behind. The extended walk needed to be more ground-covering. The very good second piaffe had more sit. In the two, the change to the left was excellent, but the one to the right had a bit of a hitch, though throughout they were uphill and ground-covering. The ones jumped a lot from side to side and needed to cover more ground.  Delgado jumped together behind a bit in the canter pirouettes, bout was really sitting. Ferrer-Salat had an unfortunate break to canter in the last extended trot, but a high class final line. 

Kristina Bröring-Sprehe & Desperados (GER): 79.986%

• Bröring-Sprehe rode absolutely top class half-passes with really supple crossing. The rein back was a tiny bit tense and hurried. Desperados's huge passage was just a tiny bit irregular and the stallion got so much sit in piaffe that he lost the rhythm for a stride. Again, there was some irregularity in the enormous second passage. The twos started absolutely lovely and uphill but lost just a tiny bit of energy towards the end. The canter zig-zag was smooth, but not totally centered. The one tempis were beautifully uphill and the canter pirouettes really uphill and balanced. The final trot extension could have been a bit more under behind. Again there were a couple double beats in the final passage, but the piaffe was more consistent.