After a sunny conclusion Red Viper (Romanov x Sir Sinclair) was pronounced world champion of the five-year-old horses at the Longines FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo. Piloted by Bart Veeze, the KWPN stallion put a brilliant score of 93.8% on the scoreboard. The hotly contested silver medal was secured by Glamdale WP Nrw (Glamourdale x Millennium) and Stephanie Ahlert. Severucci HT (Secret x Rubinrot) and Jeanna Högberg took bronze.
In a repeat of last year’s final, the crowd erupted in a thunderous round of applause when Red Viper and Bart went down the last central line. When the definitive scores were in and the speaker announced the championship title was won by the Dutch combination, Bart’s emotions ran high, making him tear up right in the saddle. “I feel a bit overwhelmed”, Bart admits after the prizegiving ceremony. “I feel like I aged ten years this last week because of all the impressions and the stress. Red Viper felt incredible today, and I thought we were riding a very good test. When the audience started cheering us on so early, my feelings were confirmed. I deliberately did not keep track of the scores of the other combinations. So it wasn’t until the official announcement that I knew we had won.”
Harmony
The jury was full of praise about the Pavo Cup 2024 winner. “We think Red Viper is such a talented horse and he performed such a harmonious test today. There is no doubt his future in dressage is very bright”, says commentating judge Patricia Wolters. The chestnut stallion, bred by C. Kerbert and owned by Reesink Horses, received an impressive score of 93.8%, including a 9.7 for his canter and 9.8 for perspective. “The stallion has such an expressive canter with ample balance and uphill tendency, but at the same time a great ability to collect.” His rider Bart Veeze had all the faith in his stallion, but felt some pressure after winning the qualification on Wednesday. “I think Red Viper is a very good horse and it was my goal to show everyone how amazing he is.”
Taking after his dam
The breeders of Red Viper, mister and miss Kerbert, say they have had a fantastic day. “It was super. It is a beautiful event to visit, and this makes it even more special. Zolena, the dam of Red Viper, has participated twice in the WC for young dressage horses with our daughter. This medal brings us to a full circle. You cannot predict such a result, it is an intricate confluence of many factors, from horse to management, education and rider. Today, it all came together, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.” Dam Zolena competed in the 2009 and 2010 WC for young dressage horses in Verden with Annemein Kerbert and qualified for the final at both five and six years of age.
Debut
The numbers two and three of the qualification switched places in the final standings. The Westphalian stallion Glamdale WP Nrw (Glamourdale x Millennium), bred by Zg Pleines and owned by Heike Pleines, and his rider Stephanie Ahlert improved their scores of last Wednesday up to 90.2%. Receiving three 9.0s and a 9.2 for perspective and trot, it was a striking debut for the German combination. “It is our first time in Ermelo, and it is all quite overwhelming”, says Stefanie. “Glamdale felt amazing on Wednesday and performed such a good test, but tonight he gave a little bit extra in front of the vibrant crowd.”
Four nines
For the Swedish Jeanna Högberg it was the second time to finish in the top three today. Earlier today she won the small final for the seven-year-old gorses, but the bronze medal with Severucci HT, thanks to a score of preciselt 90.00%, feels like a reward. “I don’t want to think about what the other riders are doing, just simply focus on Severucci and ride our best test. He felt great on Wednesday and was amazing today, too. The only thing working against us, was this one here”, the rider points laughingly to the Dutchman besides her. The SWB stallion, bred and owned by Absolut Dental Ab, is a son of the mare Riviera (Rubinrot x Larino). This mare also produced Fiorucci HT (by Florencio I), with whom Jeanna won silver at the 2016 WC for young dressage horses for 7-year-old horses. “It’s not often a mare produced two offspring that both won a medal.” Fiorucci is now active in the Grand Prix and with four 9s on his scoresheet, the future of younger brother Severucci seems very bright, too.”
Quinn G. dominates world championship 6YO
Quinn G. (Quaterhit x Fassbinder) extended her hegemony today at the Longines FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo. The DWB mare and her rider and owner Fiona Bigwood put a dazzling score of 95.0% on the scoreboard. It left her 3% clear of Alkaline (Secret x Zalmiak Firfod) and Merita Hagren. The bronze medal was claimed by Nice Touch W (Dettori x Florencio) and Charlotta Rogerson thanks to a score of 88.6%.
When Quinn and Fiona stepped foot on their last centerline, the audience erupted in applause, making the chestnut mare trot even more enthusiastically. “It looks like you were enjoying her just as much as we did”, said commentating judge Peter Storr. “What a wonderful attitude this mare has, it looked like she had so much fun, so happy and relaxed.” The jury gave a glowing review of the 2023 world champion of five-year-old horses bred by Stutteri G – Helene Geervliet and co-owned by Mette and Fiona Bigwood. “We have no remarks on her trot, so she receives a 10.” Quinn’s walk was also unparalleled in the eyes of the jury, making another 10 pop up on the screen. “This is clearly a happy athlete, well done to the both of you.”
Personality
Rider and owner Fiona Bigwood is over the moon with her double world champion. “I feel so lucky to have Quinn, she is so good my only task is to pilot her around the test. Her focus on me is incredible. I have never done anything like this and I have learned a lot the last few days, because this is quite different from Grand Prix.” Fiona purchased the mare in the autumn of 2023 and last spring she was campaigned at the shows by Carl Hester. “Her character is her best quality. She adores people and is so eager to please. Chestnut mare may have a reputation, but she is simply amazing and has the best personality.” The combination placed just outside the top three in the qualification, but now soared the rankings to the top position. “It is a completely different way of riding compared to a ‘regular’ dressage test, but we gave it our all and it all worked out.”
Powerful canter
The silver medal was awarded to another chestnut Danish combination, though this time it was a stallion. Alkaline, bred by Annette Blangsted and owned by Helgstrand Dressage, received a scoresheet full of 9s and even a 9.5 for canter and perspective. He significantly improved his result compared to Thursday when the pair received 86.4% and placed sixth. “We were enchanted by this horse’s energy, especially in the canter. It had a powerful thrust off the ground, a scopey jump and already showed super and big changes for a 6-year-old horse”, said chairman of the jury Knut Danzberg. His rider Merita Hagen also lauds the DWB-bred stallion. “He is so sweet, he is unbelievable. We performed a good test today and I felt very comfortable. He is a quick learner, and he is always there with me. I was not nervous and did not feel any pressure, since I felt like the underdog.”
First medal for Switzerland
Nice Touch W and Charlotta Rogerson are living proof that you can go far when you get back up after a fall. Right before the test, the Swiss rider fell of her KWPN mare, but it did not stop her from securing the very first WC-medal for her home country. ‘Nice Touch is a very special mare; she has a lot of quality and is very intelligent. She is also a happy horse that likes to joke around. She gave a cheerful buck during the warming-up and she is not very big so there is very little to hold on to”, quips the Swiss rider. “I put a lot of pressure on myself since I was so eager to show everyone how good she is. I just have to channel her energy and quality, and she will do anything for me.” The black mare, bred by H.A. van der Werff and owned by James Rogerson, had already proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the qualification in which she also placed third. “A beautiful, elegant mare with exceptional qualities that made us very happy”, enthused Peter Storr. “She was presented in a lovely manner and this performance makes us believe she has great potential.”
Life Time FRH emerges victorious in world championship for seven-year-old dressage horses
The Hanoverian bred Life Time FRH (Livaldon x Fürstenball OLD) and his rider Charlott-Marie Schürmann are the new world champions of the seven-year-old dressage horses at the Longines FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Ermelo. Vitalos FRH (Vitalis x De Niro) and Leonie Richter secured their third consecutive silver medal. Glock’s Massimo (Glock’s Toto Jr. x Bretton Woods) and Hans Peter Minderhoud grabbed bronze.
“I can imagine you had a great feeling in the saddle today, we also had a great feeling watching you two”, said commentating judge Ulrike Nivelle right after the test of the Hanoverian world champion. Five 9+ marks resulted in an overall score of 84.13%. The German combination received a 9.5 for walk, submission and perspective. “Life Time FRH is very focused on his rider, they had a soft contact and performed the test harmoniously. It is an appealing horse with a beautiful frame and a correct education.”
Showman
“He was amazing, it was an incredible feeling, and he tried his heart out. He is very consistent in the test, I can always rely on him”, beams Charlott-Marie with pride after her lap of honour. “He is a true showman in the arena, but overall very relaxed. He is unreal.” It was the third time in Ermelo and the first medal for the German combination. “He has developed so much strength and has grown more confident, he now wants to show off his capabilities.” His breeder Johan Hesselink also had faith in Lifetime: “I secretly expected he would win a medal after his victory in the qualification. We watched that one via the livestream. To be here today and see him win gold, is very special. We still have his dam, whom we bought as a foal at an auction, and also some offspring out of this lineage. So who knows what de future may bring.”
Perfect trot
The silver medalist of the six-year-old horses in 2023 and the five-year-old horses in 2022, Vitalis FRH, once again descended on Ermelo this year to claim top honours. Receiving a 10 for his trot and a 9.5 for the canter and perspective, the German duo provided some fierce competition for the world champion. “We adore his trot, ample bend in the hindleg, a nice rhythm, beautiful frame and so much fluidity and balance. When it all exudes harmony, you deserve a 10”, stated Ulrike Nivelle. “Vitalos can easily collect on his hind leg and was presented in a lovely frame. He is a very expressive and light-footed horse.” The final score was 83.22%. “He was so much better than Friday, I am super happy”, says Leone Richter. The Hanoverian stallion is berd by Josef Bramlage and owned by Hengsthaltung Helgstrand/Schockemöhle.
Good ears
The Dutch Glock’s Massimo and Hans Peter Minderhoud stormed up the ranking compared to their achievement last year when the combination placed fifteenth in the final for six-year-old horses. The duo showcased their growth through a 9.3 for perspective, 9.2 for walk and overall score of 80.99%. “Well done today, Massimo is a very elegant and light-footed horse, expressive and brimming with potential”, commenced Ulrike Nivelle her commentary. Hans Peter knows the full potential of the KWPN-bred stallion of Glock HPC NL B.V., bred by M. van Cortenberghe. “Massimo is an incredibly sweet and good horse, but quite sensitive to sounds. The prize giving ceremony on Friday was a bit much for him, so it was more difficult for me to get him relaxed in the arena today. Nevertheless, I was very pleased with our test because we made no mistakes. I am very happy with our bronze medal, as Massimo always does his best for me.”
Results HERE