Cosmo and Sönke Rothenberger - photo credit: Lily Forado
Aachen is Aachen
The huge atmosphere did also affect some of the combinations in today’s CDI4 Grand Prix, but in general a very good class with lots of top performances.
At the top once again Cosmo with Sönke Rothenberger, even though Sönke wisely chose the “safe” way entering the completion arena for just the 2nd time since WEG last year, it still paid off.
Overall picture for Cosmo and Sönke is just a power pleasure to watch, with only a few moments of a bit strong contact, bit tense extended walk, piaffe tours could be a bit sharper at the spot, but from there trending between 8´s and 9´s all the way making the result 81.370%
Cosmo / Sönke Rothenberger GER - smooth diagonal lovely balance, good half passes, good halt bit resistance for rein back, wauw supple diagonal, super nice passage, bit forward 1st piaffe, need more let go extended walk, good collected walk, super into passage, tiny forward 2nd piaffe, good transition to canter, nice 2 times, bit conservative extended canter, nice zigzag, good 1 time bit strong contact, nice control for both pirouettes, into riders hand for diagonal, super nice final centerline.
Isabell Werth and Emilio showed a strong test today, small lack of activity for the piaffe tours, but Werth does not give any points away.
Emilio / Isabell Werth GER - super halt direct forward, expressive diagonal, lack bit more go/flow for half passes, small lack of rhythm for diagonal, good passage, piaffe lacking bit more energy, super nice transitions, bit shorter left hind for extended walk, good transition to passage, nice 2nd piaffe, good 2 times, nice extension, good zigzag, 1 times could cover more diagonal, nice 1st pirouette, 2nd becomes bit bigger, good final centerline.
🇩🇰 Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy showed at sharp performance, but today the piaffe tours were lacking bit more power and clarity of the rhytmn.
Atterupgaards Cassidy / Cathrine Dufour DEN - good halt, power diagonal, good balance for both half passes, super halt with nice rein back, power diagonal, good passage, lack bit more activity and forward search bit out of rhythm, superb walk tour, 2nd piaffe lack tiny activity again, tense transition to canter, super 2 times, power extended canter, super 1 times, nice control pirouettes, 2nd with better activity, super transition, power diagonal, nice final centerline.
New British/Dutch combination at the Aachen scene
It was debut at Deutsche Bank Stadium in Aachen today for 23 year old British Charlotte Fry, first winning the Prix Sct. Georg with KWPN stallion Glamourdale with almost 78%, and then showing a super nice Grand Prix performance together with the just 10 year old KWPN stallion Everdale. It was a more than hot Everdale when entering the stadium, but Lottie manage to make him confident and attentive before entering the centerline - what a cool overview from a debutant in Aachen today. Everdale and Fry look like an attractive card for the future for the British team. They finished today in 9th position with 71,913%.
Both stallions are owned by Van Olst Horses in the Netherlands where Charlotte has been part of the team for the last 5 years.
Of course it was a proud trainer on the ground today, former Danish Olympic team bronze medalist Anne van Olst, making it possible for her student not just to ride in Aachen, but also being well prepared and successful with two top stallions.
Everdale / Charlotte Fry GBR - expressive start, good half passes lack bit more bend, good halt with rein back, good swing passage, becomes high in the neck for the piaffe, active piaffe with super transition out, good walk tour, better relaxation for 2nd piaffe tour, super transition from walk to passage, big 2 times covering all diagonal, good extended canter, superb zigzag, super 1 times, bit big pirouettes, good diagonal, super nice final centerline.
Watch the entire results here.