Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe the first Aussies down the centreline
Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe (Desperado x Jazz) were the first combination out for the Australian team. Ivanhoe appeared slightly overwhelmed in the environment, but Mary’s expertise kept him with her as she rode him through an almost fault-free test. Unfortunately, 17 one-tempi changes instead of 15 proved costly – being a double co-efficient mark – to have them finish on a score of 67.267%.
“[Ivanhoe] is such a soldier of a horse; he’s such a sweetheart. I am 71, so I need a horse that is kind to me, and he’s certainly that. I couldn’t be happier,” said Mary Hanna following her test.
“We had a big trip over, hit the heat wave… things didn’t go great in the beginning, but it’s been really great training with Patrik [Kittel]. He’s really helped me a lot. It’s hard going backwards and forwards from Australia, and to keep the standard up.
“We’ve been travelling every year, and we came over for a month last year. But going backwards and forwards is very tiring on the horses.
“It’s great to be here. It’s the most wonderful event. We’ve got a great team and it’s really lovely to be part of that.
“In Paris, I was the reserve and also had a misfortune at the previous World Championship where my horse got injured after the trot up. So, just to get through… all the things that you have to get through and to get through the test, and be with such a lovely team, that’s really nice.”
Personal best score for Simone Pearce and Will Marq
Simone Pearce and Will Marq (Rio Marq x Lanciano) produced an expressive mistake free test to score a personal best of 72.391%. The 10-year-old stallion was calm in the biggest stadium of their career so far and produced an accurate test with bold extended trots and canter as well as his scopey tempi changes. The passage was correct and Simone excellently piloted the piaffe, which is still growing in strength. The pair finished the first day of Aachen in fourth behind riders from Germany and Great Britain, which is an exciting and well-deserved feat!
“I’m so happy. I think it’s his sixth Grand Prix test ever,” said Simone following her test. “He’s had a little bit of a problem being a little shy in big arenas, so I went in there and I was like, ‘Please let it be that he’s brave’. And as soon as I went in, I was like, ‘Okay, he’s on, he’s with me’.”
“This time last year, he was living on an island in Spain; he was born on Majorca. So, it’s a new world for him.
“I had hoped that maybe we could do something like this, but I didn’t know how he would be here [in the atmosphere]. In the end, I had some mistakes that we don’t usually have…. so when I saw the scoreboard, it was amazing. He’s such a positive horse. I’m just super proud, and super proud that the judges could see that he’s happy and doing his job.
“To make the Special would be a dream, but whatever happens, happens,” added Simone, who will need a top 30 finish following day two to secure a start in the Grand Prix Special.
“I’m really lucky at the moment; I have four developing Grand Prix horses which I’m super excited about for LA. [Will Marq] is the oldest one. I’m just super grateful to Martin [Fuchs] for giving me the opportunity and I’m just super excited to see what [Will Marq’s] future will hold.”
The individual combination from across the sea, Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH from New Zealand, had an unfortunate finish to their World Championship with elimination in the vet check after their test due to blood, after the horse had slightly bitten his lip. Wendi shared on social media, “There are always things that can happen, but this is so upsetting for Junior.”
Germany on top
German combination Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD (Bordeaux x Riccione) currently sit at the top if the leaderboard following the conclusion of day one with 75.963%. The pair produced a fault free test, however some tension affected the piaffe marks.
In second is Great Britains’ Becky Moody and Jagerbomb (Dante Weltino OLD x Jazz). Unfortunately, Jagerbomb was a bit too electric in the atmosphere to start – with no immobility to halt and then a break in the first extended trot, Becky and Bomb started on 46%. The rest of the test was performed seamlessly, and they made their way back up to finish on 73.820% to sit currently in second. The score was not what the combination or Great Britain would have been hoping for, with the pair usually trending on 76% as an average, and the result puts the pressure on Carl Hester and Fame and Lottie Fry and Glamourdale to produce big scores to finish with a team gold.
In third currently is the German combination of Raphael Netz and Great Escape Camelot (Johnson TN x Turbo Magic) on a score of 73.338%. The pair produced a harmonious test with a mistake in the one-tempis bringing down their score.
Aussies in action on day two
Coming into day two, Australia is currently sitting in third as a team. Whilst it is unlikely we will stay there, it is exciting to note we are there now. Germany sits on top of the podium and will be looking to maintain that with Katharina Hemmer and Denoix PCH and Isabell Werth and Wendy de Fontaine to ride today. Great Britain is 2.1% behind in econd, which means Carl and Lottie will have to bring their A game to secure gold.
For Australia, we will be cheering on William Matthew and Faye 43 at 5.30pm (AEST) and Warwick McLean and Le Special at 10.50pm (AEST).
Watch the action live with ClipMyHorse.TV
One thing is for sure; the dressage lineup brings lots of action this year, making it a thrilling watch for all fans. The best way to watch the action live and on demand is with a CMH.TV Premium Yearly Membership. With the FEI World Championships in Aachen (11-23 August) just around the corner, ClipMyHorse.TV Australia is currently offering a 26% discount on Premium Yearly Memberships with the code AACHEN26.
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