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. 

FEI European Dressage Championships 2013 - Grand Prix Freestyle

Charlotte Dujardin & Valegro: 91.250%

• Valegro was, as always, a little slow out of the halt in his freestyle, but once his wonderful passage and piaffe begin, it was easily forgotten. The rhythm and elasticity of the half-passes was lovely, both in trot and canter. The extended trots had such articulated strides that reached powerfully across the arena. The extended walk was relaxed and striding. Valegro's canter pirouettes were uphill and small, with every step measured and balanced; the tempi changes, near perfect. The only mistake was a little lurch out of the last pirouette; every other step in the test was exactly correct. The final piaffe pirouette was impeccable: closed at the base, springing evenly from behind off the ground. Dujardin kept Valegro consistently in a beautiful round frame through his body. With such a deliberate and correct test, Valegro was untouchable.

Helen Langehanenberg & Damon Hill: 87.286%

• Damon Hill entered on his super high-stepping and engaged passage, then powering down the centerline on extended trot. The trot half-passes had huge stretch sideways. The piaffes crept forward or lost a bit of rhythmicality, and a few pulled down slightly. The extended walk was enormous and supple. Langehanenberg transitioned effortlessly from collected walk to extended canter. The first canter pirouette was sitting but very big. The tempi changes jumped boldly up and forward, but in both lines of ones there was a stride where the horse jumped together or late behind. The final extended trot polished off her test with Damon Hill's easy power. With a couple rhythm errors in the trot tours, mistakes in the ones, and a little unsteadiness, she couldn't quite catch Dujardin, even with Damon Hill's jaw-dropping talent. 

Adelinde Cornelissn & Parzival: 86.393%

• Parzival moves in the arena with so much life, and Cornelissen did a lovely job achieving control without tightness. The extended trots and half-passes were not ridden with full power. The piaffes were absolutely beautiful: totally even, bouncing off the ground. The trot half-passes had good crossing, but could have had a little more sideways energy. The extended canter showed good lift in the shoulder and lots of power. The pirouettes were tiny and absoluetly balanced sitting collection. Parzival's final piaffe pirouette was super; he was stepping under himself with such spring. And, of course, Cornelissen's timing was impeccable.

Edward Gal & Undercover: 84.911%

• Gal let Undercover move much more forward today to excellent effect. The passage sprang better forward, and the piaffes were amazingly light off the ground. The trot half-passes were soft and swinging. In extended trot, Undercover should still lengthen his frame more and step under better behind, but covered ground well. The canter half-passes reached sideways so softly in lovely bend. The tempis traveled across the across the arena well in each stride, as well as springing off the ground. The canter pirouettes were active and small, with the first showing decent sit. The transition from canter to passage was very difficult. The final passage to a non-halt was elevated and lovely. 

Kristina Sprehe & Desperados: 81.875%

• The electronic energy of Sprehe's music was great for Desperados's lively movement. The piaffes crept forward, but were bouncy and light in front. The supple and energetic half-passes were ridden with a perfectly smooth change of direction. The strides of the extended trots were huge. Sperhe rode quite big canter pirouettes with lots of sit. The one tempis showed a clear, jumping canter, but were a touch stuck. The final passage showed such natural suppleness and spring. The test was not super controlled, but beautifully dynamic.

Carl Hester & Uthopia: 81.661%

• The extended trots showed such effortless suspension. The passage half-passes sprang sideways—the best of his excellent passage—changing direction to swinging trot half-passes. The piaffe was still quite insecure, with slightly lurching transitions into the elevated passage. The walk was tight behind. Uthopia was lightfooted and uphill in his ground-covering tempi changes. The contact to the bridle in canter was a bit hesitant. The tiny pirouettes (except for one to the right) showed a lovely clean canter. The music changes a great deal in its emotion and volume, highlighting each movement to its full potential. 

Anna Kasprzak & Donnperignon: 80.161%

• Kasprzak started her test on Donnperiginon's super canter pirouettes on the centerline, both small, engaged, and uphill. The piaffes had a little more lift than usual, though the horse struggled with a clear rhythm. The music really carried Donnperignon's driven extended trot. The walk tour was a little tense in the strides. Kasprzak's choreography includes the very difficult canter pirouette to canter half-passes with counter change of hand to canter pirouette. She missed a change in her two tempis on a circle. The one tempis jumped up across the diagonal with much power. 

Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén & Don Auriello: 80.071%

• Vilhelmson-Silfvén entered on Don Auriello's floating extended trot. The trot work, unfortunately, looked particularly slow behind today, though there were some very good moments behind in the passage half-passes. The half-passes in trot were even, well-bent, and showed nice crossing. Don Auriello steps under very nicely in his tempi changes, but could jump forward a bit more. Vilhelmson-Silfvén rode a one-handed pirouette in each direction on the centerline. Her test had a very high degree of difficulty with movements stacked one after the other and still well-executed.  

Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein & Digby: 79.554%

• Nathalie entered on half-passes that seemed particularly inelastic, with Digby stumbling at the end of the second. Her second pair of half-passes had much better swing. The springy piaffes had a near perfect frame through the body. The extended walk—placed between canter half-passes—had good activity and stretched nicely into the bridle. The one tempi changes got a little short in the strides towards the end. The pirouettes were super small, with Digby showing lots of sit without getting close behind. The lines of the test were ridden such precision, clearly showing her intent and hitting the musical transitions every time. Zu Sayn Witegenstein jumped up and down with delight when she received her excellent score. What a wonderful test for the charming Digby to retire on.

Fabienne Lütkemeier & D'Agostino: 77.411%

• Lütkemeier chose very dramatic classical music for her test. The first passage was right on the beat of the music, but had a couple double-steps behind. The extended trots were very good.  Lütkemeier seemed a bit behind her music at the end of the trot and showed a particularly disorganized piaffe pirouette. The walk was lovely, with big strides. The canter pirouettes turned a bit around the middle of the horse. The tempi changes were dead straight and jumped up and forward with a lovely canter. In extended canter, D'Agostino dropped his croup to push across the diagonal with enormous energy.

Minna Telde & Santana: 76.589%

• Telde entered on a huge passage that was a little speedy for her music. In the super suspended trot half-passes, however, she was right on it. The passage often became a bit high behind. The extended canter was an explosion, not hurried or tense, but leaping across the arena. The tempi changes were uphill with lots of jump. In piaffe, the horse crept forward quite a bit and the the head was often unsteady, but Telde chose a piaffe half-pirouette on her final line that improved the movement. The Queen choreography was excellent.

Victoria Max-Theurer & Augustin: 75.518%

• Augustin propelled himself very nicely forward in extended trot. The first piaffe was a little sluggish.  The walk tour was relaxed, with Augustin showing off his beautiful overstride. At the end, Theurer picked up her reins with hardly any contact in the curb. The tempi changes got quite short in the stride, even though they jumped forward. The horse really sat in the slightly big canter pirouettes. Augustin got upset by the crowds clapping at the end of the test, creating multiple double beats in the final passage, which before had shown lovely spring.

Danielle Heijkoop & Siro: 75.304%

• The first extended trot was a little hectic and irregular. The piaffes were excellent with Siro showing good rhythm and shoulder freedom. Heijkoop did not show much half-pass in trot, going only from centerline to rail. The first pirouette was quite big. Heijkoop missed a change in her canter half-pass changes of hand. The one tempi changes were planty airborne, but Siro pulled down slightly in the bridle. The passage had more elevation in the left front diagonal pair, but was consistently big and powerful.

Claudia Fassaert & Donnerfee: 74.786%

• Fassaert rode to sparkly versions of Disney tunes; though not my favourite sound, the tone was appropriate for this light-moving mare. The piaffes were held for a long time, but were quite small. The two tempi changes hit the music exactly. Donnerfee sprang up and forward in her huge extended canter. There was a mistake in the one tempis. The canter pirouettes were rather big. Fassaert's test ended on an extended trot that powered down the centerline. 

Michael Eilberg & Half Moon Delphi: 74.232%

• Their test began on Delphi's lovely expressive piaffe and passage. The piaffe had excellent sit and elevation. The half-passes flowed very nicely sideways, but could have shown a little more lateral reach. Again, the contact was unsteady in extended walk, and the music in the pace was too quick for the beats. Eilberg executed nice two-time changes on a circle, but with two mistakes. The double pirouettes were both uphill with a very clean canter beat, though the one to the right was a slight bit bigger. Unfortunately Eilberg made a mistake in the second line of ones. In canter, the mare frequently became a bit behind the vertical. The final line of passage and piaffe got the crowd clapping to the music, but the mare held on, and Eilberg even finished in one-handed passage.

FEI European Dressage Championships 2013 - Grand Prix Special

Clearly the riders spent too much time sipping champagne to celebrate their medals last night, since each of the top three (and Kittel) went off course. Luckily it didn't affect the quality of their riding. Dujardin and Langehanenberg pushed their horses to the max while still showing a high degree of harmony. There was more in Parzival's tank, but Cornelissen did a very good job asking the most she could without creating too much tension.

Charlotte Dujardin & Valegro: 85.669%

• In half-pass, Valegro was in good position and crossing to the max. The passage was absoluetely controlled and regular, though in a few moments it came a touch deep in the bridle. The extended walk had more relaxation in the body today. The piaffe was totally in place but a little slow in the rhythm. The transition to the canter was early, but clean. Dujardin went off course at the canter half-passes! The first half-pass in canter had lovely carriage sideways. The changes jumped beautifully up through the body. The pirouettes were small and sat very well. The final piaffe was super: elevated and in place. 

Helen Langehanenberg & Damon Hill: 84.330%

• This Grand Prix Special ride was even more impressive than the Grand Prix, with Helen asking everything she could from her willing stallion. In extended trot, Damon Hill both propelled himself forward and tracked well underneath himself. The passage had huge elevation in the limbs, though the left hind was sometimes a tiny bit slow. The first half pass in trot had lovely swing sideways. The extended walk earned a ten. The first piaffe was a little low in front and travelled forward considerably. The poll came down slightly in the very forward two tempis. The ones were huge and the pirouettes secure. And then in extended trot, Langehanenberg went off course! But she pulled back for a super finish. 

Adelinde Cornelissen & Parzival: 81.548%

• Parzival looked supple in the body in his trot work, but Cornelissen did not ride the extended trot all out, the way that Langehanenberg and Dujardin did. The first half-pass flowed well sideways, but the haunches lagged in the second. The passage lifted very high off the ground. The collected walk was relaxed without anticipation, leading to a clear transition to a very active piaffe in which Parzival stepped nicely under behind. And then, unbelieveably, Cornelissen went off course in the same way Charlotte did! The first pirouette was a little big and close behind, the second super. Parzival's mouth still remained open often, but Cornelissen's contact was only strong in a few moments when a super-half-halt was needed. 

Edward Gal & Undercover: 79.479%

• Though Undercover moves with springs in his hooves, Gal's interest in controlling every step limited the horse's ability to cover ground. The first trot half-pass opened a little in the stride and frame and had super crossing; the second was very slow in the rhythm. The passage hardly moved forward at all and the transitions into passage were almost a piaffe. The extended walk showed good activity and stretch in the neck. The piaffe was amazingly springy. The transition to canter was very tight in the neck. The twos had lots of lift, but were short, and the ones were even shorter. The second pirouette was not only flat but lost some of its energy. The final passage covered better ground. 

Kristina Sprehe & Desperados: 79.286%

• This ride was unquestionably the best Sprehe has had with this horse, with every movement secure and powerful. The trot work had lovely rhythm and elasticity; the passage was occasionally unsteady but not irregular. Sprehe did a lovely job on the piaffe, keeping the horse in an open enough frame that it kept an even activity. And of course it has incredible natural sit. The tempi changes could have jumped forward more, but were nicely uphill. The steps in the left pirouette were a bit stuck behind, the right one was bigger but with superb sit. The final centerline was the picture of uphill riding. 

Carl Hester & Uthopia: 78.512%

• Hester pulled in several tens today in his consistently excellent ride. The positioning of the half-passes was beautiful, though the trot rhythm got slightly quick in them. The collected trot and passage were consistently balanced. The extended trots were ridden to full power. The first piaffe began well and then got a bit stuck; the second crept forward, but was not so anxious. The two tempis were a little short; the ones very powerful and light. The canter pirouettes were a little insecure in their balance, but Uthopia sat nicely. 

Anna Kasprzak & Donnperignon: 76.682%

• Donnperignon does not have the suspension of other horses in the extended trot, but showed super ground cover. He lost all activity for a moment in the first piaffe. The second was nicely closed in the base, but also quite tight in the neck. Kasprzak's tempi changes jumped forward very well, and the ones were also well up in the frame. The small and uphill canter pirouettes lost a hair of energy towards the end of their rotation. The piaffes were slightly less quiet than usual. 

Tinne Vilhelmson- Silfvén & Don Auriello: 76.220%

• Vilhelmson- Silfvén did a nice job getting a quicker hind leg in the collected trot but could not quite carry it into the passage, where the horse lowers his croup, but still leaves his hind legs slightly out behind. The piaffe and transitions were beautiful, though in the second, the horse stepped back ever so slightly. The two tempis came a little low in front and there was a mistake in the beginning of the ones. In the one tempis, the horse swings its body a little instead of jumping fully into the bridle. The canter pirouettes were tiny. The final centerline had super lift in front. 

Fabienne Lütkemeier & D'Agostino: 75.818%

• D'Agostino showed super self carriage throughout the ride. The extended trot pushed off from behind allowing the horse to lift in front. Lütkemeier began her nice half-passes very early. The extended walk had massive overtrack. In piaffe, D'Agostino spang up nicely, but pushed his front legs forward. The tempi changes were straight with lots of jump. The haunches swung around in the left canter pirouette and the right one was a bit big. 

Victoria Max Theurer & Augustin: 75.179%

• Augustin looked slighly uneven behind in the trot work, a little heavier at times on the right, but moved fluidly and powerfully through the tour. The passage had super suspension with a lowered croup. Augustin leaned slightly forward in piaffe, but was nicely active and Theurer rode the piaffe-passage transitions cleanly. Augustin became rather short and hurried in the one tempis. The canter pirouettes were a little big, but the horse carried his weight nicely behind. 

Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein & Digby: 73.765%

• Zu Sayn Wittgenstein's accurate trot tour suffered from a couple minor mistakes. The was a small hesitation in the transition to the first piaffe and a half stride jump to canter instead of extended trot. The passage had very nice engagement behind and Digby carried himself well behind. The piaffes had good activity and freedom in the front leg. There was a mistake in the uphill one tempis. The changes on the centerline were dead straight and the small pirouettes were beautifully collected. 

Danielle Heijkoop & Siro: 73.140%

• Heijkoop demonstrates controlled riding without losing power. The trot half-passes were solid but could have shown more lateral push and crossing. Siro tripped in the third extended trot. The passage has excellent elevation, though the last of the tour was irregular. Siro was too deep in the neck in extended walk. The piaffe was ridden to a metronome with lots of spring and the transitions were easy. In the canter movements, the nose was consistently behind the vertical. The pirouette line was precisely ridden.

Hans Peter Minderhoud & Romanov: 73.340%

• Minderhoud rode fluid extended trots, but they were a little short in the neck and strides behind. Romanov showed good lateral reach in the half-passes. The transition to extended walk was clear and the extended walk forward and open in the frame. The rhythm and lift in the piaffe was good, but they had a hint of backwards momentum in a couple moments. The canter got a little flat behind in the half-passes. The flying change at the end of extended canter was short behind. The first pirouette was a touch big, the second better. The final piaffe was superb. 

Michael Eilberg & Half Moon Delphi: 72.857%

• Eilberg's Special test was not quite as controlled as his Grand Prix. The first extended trot was quite conservative, but nicely even in front and behind and up in the bridle. At the beginning of the half pass left, the haunches were lagging significantly. Deplhi really crosses in the half-passes, but gets a bit slow. The passage is huge. The rhythm of the walk was excellent, but Delphi was quite unsteady in the bridle. In piaffe, the mare really lifts her limbs, but stays a little heavy on her front legs. The transition from passage to canter was not clean. The tempi changes jumped and stepped under nicely, but Delphi got a little low in front, leading to some missed changes in the ones. The pirouettes were small and had a good beat. 

Minna Telde & Santana: 72.634%

• The Grand Prix Special showed off Santana's highlights in his forward powered trot work, asking everything out of the horse without losing control. Every movement had suspension and swing. The extended walk was forward and relaxed. The piaffes had activity, but were tense and a bit heavy in front. The canter half-passes had good crossing. Santana jumped together behind before the one tempis and there was an error in them. The canter pirouettes were a little hurried. 

Claudia Fassaert & Donnerfee: 72.262%

• Fassaert has improved her partnership noticeably since last year, with Donnerfee looking much more secure in the exercises. The half-passes were lightfooted and easy, but a little tight in the back. In her springy passage, Donnerfee has to jump a bit from side to side behind to maintain her balance. The piaffes are small, but in rhythm. The canter half-passes jumped sideways softly. The extended canter could have shown more risk. The final passage was a little too forward. 

Patrik Kittel & Toy Story: 72.158%

• Toy Story looked a bit unhappy in the mouth today—it was consistently open. The passage was bouncy but leaned forward a little. In extended trot, Toy Story stretched his strides beautifully. The piaffes stepped easily into a rhythm, but needed to be lighter in front. Kittel went off course riding his extended canter instead of the two tempis (this was good in one way, since the misplaced extension was rather low in the neck towards the end the first time, and the horse was more up in front the second). The canter in the pirouettes was secure, but Toy Story lurched out of them a bit. 

Marcela Krinke Susmelj & Molberg: 72.039%

• Molberg stays under himself behind in the extended trot, but his croup stays rather high rather than carrying the power. Krinke Susmelj's half-passes had lovely crossing, even with Molberg's rather short front legs. The transition from collected walk to piaffe traveled forward too much, but every piaffe had a high degree of spring. The flying change between the half-passes was close behind. The ground-covering extended canter could have had a more elastic back.

Gonçalo Carvalho & Rubi: %

• Carvalho rode a test that showed a horse well tuned to his aids, though it was not the most dynamic performance. The passage was a little lacking in suspension. The second half-pass showed better crossing than the first. The extended walk had nice overstep, but could have had more stretch at the nose. The piaffes were rhythmical, balanced, and closed at the base, springing cleanly from one diagonal pair to the other. The first canter pirouette was in excellent collection. Rubi was quitting into the final piaffe and halt.

Isabell Werth and Don Johnson: 71.890%

• The first extended trot tracked up well behind and stayed nicely up in the shoulder. The bend in the half-passes was difficult, but the crossing excellent. The second passage was a little lackluster, but the others good. The beat and stretch of the extended walk was very good. There was a major resistance into the first piaffe, but he settled nicely after. The second piaffe was quite dropped in the back. The two tempis jumped through beautifully. There was a mistake in the one tempis. The pirouettes were super collected, but not bent. The last extended trot was huge. 

Valentina Truppa and Eremo del Castegno: 71.830%

• As he was the day before, Eremo was pulling down quite a bit in the extended trot. The half-passes were well parallel with the maximum crossing the horse could offer. In the later passage tours, the left hind looked a little weak in a few steps. The piaffes took weight on the hind leg nicely. The transition up to canter was poor. The two tempis had a mistake and jumped down and from side to side and the ones were short. The extended canter was excellent. The canter pirouettes lacked a little jump, but were nicely sitting and controlled. The final centerline was very good. 

Jose Manuel Martin Dockx & Grandioso: 71.310%

• Martin Dockx rides Grandioso with a pleasantly soft back. The extended trots had lots of freedom in the shoulder, but they were not totally light in front and the haunches could have come under more. The passage needed slightly more spring from behind. The piaffe had good elevation and Martin Dockx rode very good transitions. Grandioso does not have the most ground-covering tempis, but they have good jump and stay up in front. There was an error in the one tempis between the pirouettes. 

Andreas Helgstrand & Akeem Foldager: 71.101%

• Akeem Foldager did not seem to be able to turn on his full power today. The transitions in and out of the first halt were behind the leg. In the elevated trot and passage, the horse's engagement was often uneven and the work was a tiny bit conservative. The half-passes had nice swing, but needed a little more drive. Before the first piaffe, Akeem Foldager swung his haunches a meter towards C. The piaffe was active and in a perfect frame. Helgstrand worked hard to maintain uphill tempi changes, but the horse pulled down in both diagonals, leading to mistakes. The centerline of ones was cleverly ridden, but the horse broke out of canter before the second pirouette.

Jose Antonio Garcia Mena & Norte: 70.179%

• Garcia Mena had a few weak elements, but the trot work was among the best. Norte had super shoulder freedom in the extended trots, though the horse could carry a little more of the weight behind. The half-passes showed excellent sideways reach. The passage had super elevation, maybe a touch too forward at times. The transition from extended to collect walk was disorganized. The rhythm of the piaffe was excellent and the horse and showed good activity, but was rather heavy in front. The two tempis were uphill and ground-covering, but the horse was a bit short behind and unsteady in the contact. The one tempis were not good and had a mistake. The canter pirouettes were rather tense, but small and balanced.

Lone Bang Larsen & Fitou L: 69.985%

• Bang Larsen rode a very nice test, with a hit of heaviness keeping the score below 70. The trot half-passes were powerful, but Fitou's haunches were lagging slightly. In extended trot, the horse bobbed his head a bit. Bang Larsen's transition from walk to piaffe was very early and the first piaffe travelled forward significantly. In the second, she managed to bring the horse more in place and he was sitting nicely. In the canter half-passes, Fitou became a little heavier in front. His shoulders jumped slightly from side to side in the one tempis. The canter pirouettes showed quite good sit.

Cathrine Rasmussen & Fernandez: 69.256%

• Rasmussen rode her test with tact and subtlety. In the trot half-passes, Rasmussen needed to add some pressure on the accelerator, putting a little more swing into the horse's good crossing. Fernandez was not the most supple in the walk—or in much of the work—but there was good stretch and overtrack. The transition out of piaffe was laboured and the piaffe itself diligent but quiet. The flying changes were staight and easy, but not big.

Renate Voglsang & Fabriano: 69.241%

• Fabriano often became a little heavy in front in the transitions of the trot tour. In extended trot, he lifted in front, lengthening his strides with power and relaxation. The extended walk had relaxed overstep. Voglsang could not get much spring from Fabriano in piaffe. The horse jumped close behind in a couple of the two tempis, but the ones were clean. The final halt was very wide behind.

Henri Ruoste & Jojo AZ: 67.991%

• Ruoste rode very smooth transitions throughout the test. In collected trot, the horse showed slightly more articulation in the right front than the left. The extended trots needed more lengthening of the stride and frame: unfortunately they were not the horse's highlight and there are four of them in the test. Ruoste's transition to piaffe was excellent: the horse stepped, on the marker, into an active, sitting and in-place piaffe. The transition to canter was clean but dull. The two tempis needed to show a little more shoulder freedom and there was a mistake in them. The pirouettes were quite small, but not uphill enough and slightly insecure in the balance. The final line was excellent.

Jessica Michel & Riwera de Hus: 67.589%

• Michel rode the half-passes in correct bend with clear, swinging crossing. The extended trot showed nice reach in front, but should have come under more behind. Michel practised a nice piaffe outside the ring, but in the test, they were shuffling and quick. The canter half-passes were powerful and uphill. The tempis, on the other hand, came a little croup high. The canter pirouettes were small with super sit and well-regulated. In her expressive passage, Riwera leaves her left hind behind slightly.

Marc Boblet & Noble Dream: 66.905%

• This impressive mare could not quite settle into her work at this point in her training, though the test had many nice elements. Boblet created good crossing in the half-passes, but the horse tilted rather than bending in the half-pass right. Noble Dream sometimes got too deep in extended walk. The transitions in and out of the first piaffe were weak while the piaffe had good sit and spring. The transitions were better for the second, but the piaffe itself less active. The mare dropped in the poll during the canter half-passes. In tempi changes, Noble Dream should have jumped more uphill. In the one tempis on the centerline, the mare swung her haunches right in the left change. The first pirouette was tiny, the second a little bigger. The last piaffe was good, but unfortunately the mare jumped out of it.

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.