On Friday and Saturday, days three and four of the FEI Para Dressage World Championships took place in Aachen, with the Grand Prix B tests completed for all five grades.
Overall, there was a sizable increase in scores for most combinations in their second test, the top three placings changed in nearly every grade, and the incredibly high standard of both horse and riders from all across the world was clear to see. We were particularly proud to watch our riders from Australia hit the arena for their second ride. Go Aussie ladies, we hope you could hear us cheering you on from home!
Australian results:
Grade V – Lisa Martin & Vilaggio on 65.921% (17th)
Grade V – Mietta Innes-Irons & Sir Helmut on 71.131% (6th)
Grade IV – Dianne Barnes & Tjibbe B on 69.378% (10th)
The overall results were as follows:
Grade I Grand Prix B Test:
1st – Marie Vonderheyden & Fan Tastico H on 76.375% for the USA
2nd – Mari Durward-Akhurst & Athene Lindebjerg on 74.583% for Great Britain
3rd – Sara Morganti & Bond Girl 18 on 74.083% for Italy
Grade II Grand Prix B Test:
1st – Fiona Howard & Diamond Dunes on 79.300% for the USA
2nd – Heidimarie Dresing & Poesie 143 on 77.733% for Germany
3rd – Katrine Kristensen & Goerklintgaards Quater on 76.167% for Denmark
Grade III Grand Prix B Test:
1st – Rixt van der Horst & Eisma’s Royal Fonq on 78.467% for the Netherlands
2nd – Tobias Thorning Joergensen & Blue Horse Zackorado on 77.067% for Denmark
3rd – Francesca Salvade & Escari on 75.267% for Italy
Grade IV Grand Prix B Test:
1st – Kate Shoemaker & Vianne on 80.460% for the USA
2nd – Anna-Lena Niehues & Vive l’Amour on 76.405% for Germany
3rd – Vladimir Vinchon & Pegase Mayenne on 75.216% for France
Grade V Grand Prix B Test:
1st – Regine Mispelkamp & Highlander Delight’s on 75.737% for Germany
2nd – Britney de Jong & Caramba N.O.P on 74.605% for the Netherlands
3rd – Lena Malmstrom & Fabulous Fidelie on 73.974% for Sweden
Mietta Innes-Irons through to the Freestyle
Mietta Innes-Irons and Sir Helmut were the stars of the show on the second round of competition in Aachen, completing their Grand Prix B test on a massive score of 71.131% to finish in 6th place out of a huge class of 21 Grade V riders. These are the best riders from all over the world and Mietta truly proved herself as a competitor at her Championship debut.
Mietta’s test was so harmonious and effortless! Helmut was very active in the trot work, demonstrating clear impulsion and swing through the body. The extended trots were superb, and the contact was extremely steady throughout the entire ride. Mietta kept Helmut a little more up and open in the frame during this test, and there was an improvement in the walk pirouettes from the A test, in my opinion. The canter work was harmonious and accurate, and overall, the test was rewarded for its positivity, relaxation and accuracy. It was an extremely pleasing test to watch, and we are so proud of this combination. Congratulations Mietta and Helmut!
The score from Mietta’s B test has seen her qualify for the Freestyle on Sunday. Her average score across the A and B tests was 70.053%, which meant that she qualified in 8th position. Qualifying for the Freestyle at a World Championship is not an easy accomplishment and we are beyond thrilled for Mietta and Sir Helmut. They always produce such powerful performances in the test to music, and I can’t wait to watch them dance on the world stage, representing their country for the first time.
Aussie start time
Sunday, 23 August: Para Grand Prix Freestyle Individual Final – Grade V
- Mietta Innes-Irons and Sir Helmut: 11.04pm AEST (3.04pm local time)
Not Lisa Martin and Vilaggio’s day, but the future is bright
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the day for Lisa Martin and Vilaggio. The combination finished on a score of 65.921%, putting them into 17th place in the Grade V. There was a break into canter in the first extended trot, which was fairly expensive, and then halfway through the test, after the walk across the diagonal back into trot, Vilaggio spooked at something in the corner and became rather unsettled. This was very uncharacteristic for this horse and I’m not entirely sure what he was looking at, but this was extremely costly to their score.
To her absolute credit, Lisa showed her true expertise as a rider and was super quick to get him back and straight into the canter half pass. The medium canters were ridden far more conservatively after this reaction, and then finally there was an error of course on the final centre line where Lisa missed the halt and rein back prior to the final halt. This would have dropped another half a percent off their score.
Although it was not their best score to date, Lisa showed such professionalism leaving the arena with a slight shrug of the shoulders, as if to say, “This is dressage, sometimes stuff happens and you’ve just got to roll with the punches”. We are very proud to see this pair on the world stage again and can’t wait to see what they do for Australian para dressage in the future. Well done Lisa and Villi!
Sadly, this means the pair will not go through to the Freestyle. Their average from the A and B tests was 68.679%, leaving them sitting in 12th position. Only the top 8 riders commence to the Freestyle, so unfortunately that will be the last test for this combination at Aachen.
Another top ten finish Dianne Barnes and Tjibbe B
Dianne Barnes finished 10th overall on a score of 69.378% in a field of 18 Grade IV riders from across the world in the Grand Prix B test. Her score was just shy of her Grand Prix A test score, but still impressive, nonetheless. Dianne and Tjibbe B were the only combination from Australia to finish in the top 10 on both days of competition and this is something they should be absolutely over the moon about. This is such a huge accomplishment, and we are so proud of this fabulous duo.
Dianne’s trot work started with more energy and power than in the A test, really showing off this Fresian’s wonderful paces. Di is such a tactful test rider, and you can see when watching the trot work, Tjibbe sometimes has a tendency to get a little bit short in the neck; Di is very quick to get off the curb rein, keeping nearly all of the connection to her snaffle rein in an effort to correct this and keep the frame slightly more open in front. I would have liked to see him somewhat more open in the frame, and to have a little more energy at times, however this is just me being super picky.
Dianne rode with such grace and really put her best foot forward for Australia. Tjibbe looked extremely powerful in the canter and Di really went for it in the medium canter circles, showing clear transitions back. Their test was extremely consistent, and I’d imagine the team should be very pleased with the work that was produced. It should also be noted that Dianne Barnes is 68 years old, and this is her third time representing Australia. She is an absolute weapon and demonstrates what is possible with hard work, commitment, and a supportive network around you. Hats off to you Dianne!
Unfortunately, the combination’s combined score was a fraction too low and they shyly missed out on a ride in the Freestyle event. The pair’s average score from the A and B tests was 69.411%, which put them in 9th position overall, and only the top 8 combinations go through to the Freestyle. I know that Dianne would be so disappointed not to get to ride her Freestyle on the world stage, but I also know that she would be so proud of herself and Tjibbe B for putting together two wonderful rides at the World Championships.
Team USA claims the gold medal
Gold – Team USA
Silver – Team Germany
Bronze – Team Netherlands
The FEI Para Dressage World Championship Team Final competition concluded after two astonishing days of competition, with Team USA securing the team gold medal after strong performances across the Grand Prix B tests.
Kate Shoemaker riding Vianne, Marie Vonderheyden on Fan Tastico H, Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes, and Rebecca Hart and Floratina for the USA were unbeatable. The Paris 2024 Paralympic champions gained an unprecedented score of 236.135 in Aachen to take the gold medal.
It was down to the final riders in the Grade IV test to determine the silver medal. Germany came out on top ahead of the Netherlands, who took bronze.
The following nations have secured qualification for the LA Paralympics in 2028: USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Great Britain, Italy, France and Sweden.
No team score for Australia
A statement was released by Equestrian Australia on Tuesday this week, just days prior to competition, that Grade II rider Bridget Murphy would be withdrawing from the world championships due to health issues. Bridget is in our thoughts, and we wish her the speediest of recoveries. Bridget was the only rider from Grades I, II or III selected from Australia, which means that we don’t qualify for a team score. Although disappointing that we weren’t able to gain a team qualifying score for L.A, we will have more opportunities to do this from home in the coming years.
Kate Shoemaker breaks the World Record
The USA’s Kate Shoemaker rode an incredible test in the Grade IV to produce the highest score of the competition so far and break the world record (after earlier also breaking the Grade IV Grand Prix A record) with the highest score ever achieved from a combination in this test for this grade. With her 10-year-old mare, Vianne, Kate gained a huge score of 80.460%, a reflection of the seamless work demonstrated by the pair and truly showing just what the judges are looking for on the world stage. If you’re looking for a little bit of inspiration or motivation as a rider, make sure you watch this test!
The Para Grand Prix Freestyle Individual Finals at the FEI World Championships in Aachen will commence on Sunday, 23 August at 9.30am local time, beginning with the Grade II freestyle.
