PRESS RELEASE
Scoring over 90%, Valerie B (Revolution x Blue Hors Zack) and Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen won the eHorses qualification for six-year-old horses at the Longines FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo. The Danish warmblood mare received 90,8% from the jury, creating a 1,5% gap towards the runner-up, Segatini 6 (Secret x Fidermark) and Dorothee Schneider. The third position was secured by Nice Touch W (Dettori x Florencio) and Charlotta Rogerson with 88,2%.
Anne-Mette is still overwhelmed when she comes out of the ring after the prize giving ceremony. “I cannot believe it, did this really happen? Every ride on this horse gives me an incredible feeling, but it’s no secret we had our work cut out this year with the flying changes. Valerie is such a big mover, but we gave her time, and she was on fire today.” Last year, the Danish rider and the by Karin and peer Guldbrandsen bred mare also won the qualification to then finish in an ex aequo fourth position in the final. What are the expectations this year? “Valerie is amazing, in my view she has no weaknesses. However, I am realistic, the six-year-old class is at an entirely different level. So, my goal is to have fun and do our best. I have ridden her since she was three years old, she has a heart of gold. Valerie always gives her everything and I really hope we do not finish fourth again on Sunday.”
Tension
According tot he jury, anything can happen on the road to the championship this Sunday. “We saw some very high quality today, we had many lovely horses with a lot of energy, but some horses had difficulties with the impressive atmosphere”, says chairman of the jury Knut Danzberg. “The small final will therefore include some very good horses, that due the tension today, could not achieve their optimal score. The championship is therefore wide open, everyone starts with a clean slate.” Despite the new chances in the final, Segatini 6 already showed to be a horse with a very cooperative character and a great deal of talent. The Hanoverian stallion bred by Maik Kanitzky and owned by Dr. Christine Feichtinger, received a 9.4 for submission and 9.2 for perspective. The number three, Nice Touch W, was awarded two 9s. The black KWPN mare of James Rogerson, bred by H.A. van der Werff, obtained a 9.0 for her canter and a 9.2 for perspective.