The main indoor arena looked a picture as Dressage & Jumping with the Stars opened on Thursday, and Roger Fitzhardinge was ringside for round one of the four- and seven-year-old young horse classes.
Four-Year-Old Dressage Horse – Round 1
The four-year-old class is always super interesting to watch. There are many perspectives to look for, and I guess it depends whether you’re a judge, a rider, a coach, or a potential buyer.
Two horses are in the arena together for round one. The test consists of a three-loop serpentine where the judges are looking for the flexibility and the equality of suppleness left and right, balance, and a length of stride that demonstrates the horse’s ability to push from behind – not hurry and run.
A rising trot circle shows the stretch – and again, judges are looking for a horse whose trot on the long rein stays in the same rhythm as when it’s on the bit.
In the walk, there is a medium walk and long rein walk. The most important thing with these two walks is that the rhythm stays totally clear, with no precarious steps that look like they may become lateral – especially in a four-year-old class. Also, the acceptance of the bridle from long rein to medium walk is very important and is something very clear to see. It’s not only about the over-track, it’s about the topline and also a feeling that the horse walks through the body; in other words, he uses his hind end, body and shoulders to move his legs… not the impression that his legs are moving his body.
There is a canter transition, and here the judges are looking for a balanced canter that is easy and steady, and in a clear three-beat rhythm. There are lengthened strides in the canter in this class, and again judges are looking for balance, submission, and continuity of the tempo in the canter lengthening. At the end of the test there is a halt on the centreline, side-on to the judges, to show relaxation and that the horse is steady to the contact.
At the end of each pair of horses, the judges speak a little about what they saw and give their marks. It’s always interesting to hear what they were looking for. The judges for this this class were Patricia Wolters of The Netherlands, Susan Hoevenaars of Australia, and Maria Schwennesen of Australia.
Glenyering Zenzonic wins Round 1
The winner was the black Hanoverian gelding, Glenyering Zenzonic (Zenon x Rosario), ridden by Megan Joyce and bred and owned by Sandra Norster. This is a very tall and leggy horse. When he picked up the trot, it certainly made everybody stop and look with huge ground covering strides. A very, very impressive four-year-old.
The judges said they loved the presentation of the big black horse, and for higher marks the frame needed to be just a little more open for a four-year-old. Great marks for an overall percentage of 88.8, with highlights being a 9.5 for trot, 9 for canter, and 9.5 for perspective. A very impressive horse; with a little more confidence and push in the walk, they’ll all be up around the 90s!
Remi Victoria’s Secret (Remi Vigneron x Lauries As), ridden and owned by Daisy Fielding, placed second. This mare was bred by Remi Stud and the sire, Remi Vigneron, is a chestnut stallion doing extremely well at Small Tour and has had a few starts at Medium Tour. Remi Victoria’s Secret certainly bloomed in the first round with a total of 85.3 – so a very big score. The judges really enjoyed the airtime in the canter. They commented on the submission and the presentation of the horse, and said she was well ridden.
Glenhill Quatessence (Quaterhit x Don Schufro) ridden by Riley Alexander for owner Karma Wilson, was third. This gelding was bred by Glenhill Sporthorses. Riley rode the chestnut exceedingly well and showed it in a very good way. Perhaps the trot could have shown more lift and cadence, but it is only a four-year-old, and with very clear paces.
The judges awarded 84.2, with highlights being 8.9 for the canter and an 8.8 for perspective. The Dutch judge’s comments were absolutely delightful in every way. The panel picks out the positives with every horse and bring them to the fore. Of course, the judges offer minor comments about why a horse doesn’t get more marks in certain areas, and with this horse it was because he was a little tight in the neck – but they were still very positive about everything. It’s so nice to hear this positivity and all the horses looked very good!
Seven-Year-Old Dressage Horse – Round 1
The seven-year-old class is judged differently to the four, five and six-year-old classes, as there are two sets of judges. They have two judges on the side of E, who judge like a young horse class on paces etc. And then there’s a mark for the actual test that’s judged by a C judge. For this test, the judges at E were the USA’s Michael Osinski and Australia’s Maria Schwennesen, and the judge at C was Australia’s Jobina Kennedy. The scores are combined from the judges to get an overall score.
In the seven-year-old class, they start to look at collection. They look at self-carriage, balance, and basically a horse should be capable of producing sequence changes, pirouettes, and all the lateral work. Th test is almost at a Prix St Georges level.
Senzation wins Round 1
This class was won by Senzation (Sezuan x Lauries Crusador), ridden by Harvey Besley of Queensland for owner Nicole Magoffin. This is a very big, powerful looking type with good rhythm in the trot. Harvey is no stranger to the young horse arena, having ridden many, many horses here. The collected walk could show a little better rhythm. The canter started off a little tight and lacked elasticity and a definite rhythm to the left. The right canter, however, was better. Harvey did a great job of keeping him in a very nice frame, but occasionally due to a few contact issues, the tempo was a little interrupted. This horse scored 73.411% to win – congratulations must go to Harvey for being able to show exactly what the judges wanted to see!
Axel DC (AC/DC x Florestano) finished second for Deon Stokes and owner Hannah Shippen. A very impressive bay gelding, just perhaps a little bit tense in the environment and not quite showing the freedom and forwardness and elasticity that we have seen in the past. The test overall looked a little cautious, but a good percentage especially as they were the first into the arena. A score of 72.325%.
In third was the beautiful chestnut gelding, Nottingham GP (Daily Diamond x Ampere), ridden by Olivia Gillespie. What an amazing mover that shows wonderful fluency, balance, and expression – as well as plenty of sensitivity from this bloodline. Unfortunately, the collection and purity were lacking in the medium walk, but into the extended walk and there was no problem seen here. Quite a wonderful half pass trot, showing a great desire with elasticity, reach and balance. There was no change in rhythm from the half pass circle into the shoulder in, and it looked very lovely in the contact. A great medium canter showed a very good uphill tendency, with light shoulders and wonderful reach. The horse showed a good development of the canter before the pirouette, but then became too exuberant and changed behind and was running a little – and so a loss of marks there. A very correct line of changes, but showing a little degree of tension… but this is a seven-year-old class, wait until it’s at Grand Prix. This is positive.
The harmony between this horse and rider is delightful to say the least. A wonderful extended canter to finish, dead straight with a great change. The more they got into the test the better they went, with the crowd really appreciating this beautiful chestnut gelding. Nottingham GP is one to watch. What a horse. What talent, what harmony and what POTENTIAL. A score of 72.236%, and that was with several mistakes in the atmosphere.
Tomorrow is another day, and all eyes I think may well be on Nottingham, who showed all the attributes of a wonderfully light-to-the-ground and expressive horse!
Young Dressage Ponies
Four-Year-Old Dressage Pony – Round 1
This class saw a win to the stallion Nevermore (Neverland x Timberland) for rider Serena Ireland and owner Kylee Chandler, with an outstanding score of 87.6. Second went to Kristin Lyons and her own Uno Vivace (FS Numero Uno x Roseglen Cracker Night) bred by Diamond Performance Ponies; this gelding scored 76.2. In third was Penmain Double Dutch (Triple Trees Prince Perfect x Aester El Nino), with the mare ridden by Louisa Smith to a score of 73.6 for owner Rossanne Mason. Bred by Penmain Stud, this mare is related to Penmain Promise – who of course partnered with Bridget Murphy at the Paris Paralympics.
Five-Year-Old Dressage Pony – Round 1
Toni Webb’s Freemans Lodge Global (Numerus Clausus x Dreidmensional) claimed first place with a total score of 88.6. The gelding was bred by Freemans Lodge and owned by Toni. Alison Gill rode Glenhill Divine Classic (Numerus Clausus x Classic Dancer I) to secure second place with a score of 82. This mare was bred by Glenhill Sporthorses and is owned by Freemans Lodge. She was the 2024 Young Dressage Pony Champion of Champions.
Freemans Lodge Pippilotte (Numerus Clausus), also bred by Freemans Lodge, finished in third with a total score of 74.4 for rider Emily James and owner Vicki Chidgey.
Six-Year-Old Dressage Pony – Round 1
Glenhill Mr Hollywood (Movie Star x Aester El Niño) for rider Alison Gill topped the competition with a total score of 77.8. The stallion is owned by Christan Trainor of Glenhill Sporthorses. Georgina Ray’s Miss Holly Golightly BHI (FS Mr Right x Fidertanz) secured second place with rider Steph Hann on a score of 73.8.
Prix St Georges Cup & Aachen Challenge (Round 1)
Tia Rose McKenzie and her own Franzisco RW (Franziskus x Ferrero Rocher) claimed first place in the PSG Cup with a total score of 69.853%. Alexis Hellyer’s stallion Fidibus (Floriscount x Rubin Royal) took second place with a score of 68.824%. John Thompson and Aston Mi (Antobello x Aquino II) earned third place with a total score of 67.059%, Justine Greer and Bloomfield Sekuona (Sezuen x Jazz) finished fourth with a score of 70.147%, and Jessica Dertell rounded out the top five with Kilimanjaro on 68.971%.
The Aachen Challenge for young riders saw Jessica and Kilimanjaro win on 72.5%, pipping Tia Rose McKenzie and her own Franzisco RW on this occasion, with the PSG winners scoring 70.833%. In third was Felicity Sutherland and Estee (Tuschinski x Gribaldi) on 69.844%.
Competition continues Friday and Saturday at DJWTS.
