Jerich Parzival, the long-term linchpin of Dutch championship dressage teams and London 2012 Olympic medallist with rider Adelinde Cornelissen, has died aged 26.

The pair won four European gold medals – including beating the world record Totilas had just set in the grand prix special at the 2009 Windsor Europeans – two World Cup finals and a host of other titles.

At London 2012, they collected individual silver behind Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, and were part of the bronze medal-winning team.

In a tribute on her social media, Adelinde said the pair had been “inseparable” for the past 21 years.

“I feel humble and privileged to have met you and learned to get to know you… not because of the championships you won, but because of the personality you were,” she said.

“It was quite a challenge convincing the big, shy, suspicious and scared chestnut you were, you could trust me and the world around you. But once we trusted each other, we became a team.”

The Jazz son, bred by Ria Beijer, was Adelinde’s first grand prix horse. She was an amateur and full-time school teacher until she turned professional when they were long-listed for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Parzival was retired from competition after his eventful trip to the Rio 2016 Olympics, where he contracted a fever. Adelinde initially hacked him a few days a week in his retirement, but “went flying through the woods one too many times” and she decided full retirement would be more restful.

In her tribute, Adelinde said that he taught her “love, trust, respect, friendship, loyalty, passion, to live life to the fullest, try to be the best you can be every day, enjoy the little things, never give up [and that] dreams can come true”.

“He made me the person I am today and I am for ever thankful for that,” she said.

“He was a real professor. He brought the grooms to the field every day, he would step on your toes if you tried to stop brushing or scratching him. He would try and scare new grooms trying to enter his stable, after a few years he was so confident with cameras he would stop and pose as soon as he spotted one.

“I have never met such a personality!”

She added that Parzival was her “best buddy”, “soulmate” and will be for ever in her heart.

“[He was] the one that will go through fire for me and I for him. I am devastated and heartbroken,” she said.

“Thanks Parzi for an amazing journey and wonderful memories, I will cherish them.”

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Dutch pair Adelinde Cornelissen and Governor-STR had their grand prix freestyle programme cut short at the European Dressage Championships when they were rung out owing to blood in the mouth.

The combination, who were third to go in the order, were eliminated under FEI blood rules partway through their test after the 10-year-old Totilas x Jazz stallion bit his tongue. The judge at C, Germany’s Henning Lehrmann, rang the bell in the middle of their left double pirouette, and wiped the horse’s mouth to show the blood.

The KWPN stallion, who had attracted attention throughout the week for his resemblance to his famous sire, had helped the Netherlands to finish fifth in the team competition, scoring 72.48% in the grand prix to finish 23rd on the individual leaderboard.

They went forward to the grand prix special where they posted 72.14% and finished 18th, but earned their place among the 15 freestyle contenders after the withdrawal of teammate Hans Peter Minderhoud, who was 16th, and because Germany’s Dorothee Schneider and Britain’s Gareth Hughes, who were 14th and 15th respectively, were unable to go through as only three riders from each nation can contest the freestyle.

Governor only stepped up to international grand prix level earlier this year, having been reserve champion six-year-old at the World Breeding Championships in 2017 under Adelinde. This was the pair’s first international freestyle, and they had been trending around the 73% mark at the point when the bell was rung.

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With patience and perseverance, this super- scared legend went from unrideable to a medal- winning machine who conquered the world, discovers Alice Collins

When it takes half an hour to get on a horse for the first time, most people aren’t keen to get back on it ever again. Luckily for Jerich Parzival, Adelinde Cornelissen is not most people. In 2002, Adelinde was at a loose end when Henk Koers asked her if she’d ride his five-year-old to show him to some prospective clients. Unbeknown to her, none of Parzival’s previous riders wanted anything more to do with him.

The leggy chestnut and the amateur Dutch rider learnt together and not only reached the international grand prix in 2007, but stayed there for almost a decade. He was Adelinde’s first grand prix horse and, as the linchpin of the Dutch team for years, took her career interstellar.

Initially, Parzival’s latent talents were well concealed.

“I tried to get on, but it took me half an hour to get my foot in the stirrup as he’d just take off,” recalls Adelinde. “He was super- sharp; not bossy, just scared. When I finally got on, I had to fasten my seat belt as he was flying from one corner to the next. As soon as he heard a noise or saw himself in the mirror, he’d spin and bolt.”

When the clients came, they were – unsurprisingly – not interested.

“I made sure I was on him already,” says Adelinde. “Then they arrived and opened the barn door and Parzival spooked, spun and ran off. It was a bad first impression. After 15 minutes, I asked if they wanted to try him and they said no.”

So Henk was stuck with this unsaleable horse. Adelinde agreed to train him on to make him easier to sell. She embarked on the long and bumpy road of gaining Parzival’s trust.

There was no indoor arena at Henk’s yard, so she boxed him up and took him to different venues. It was a lot of leg work, and sometimes Adelinde had to spend an hour or two just getting Parzival to trot around a new arena.

A big factor in his fear-fuelled existence was a lack of socialisation as a young horse, which left an indelible mark.

“Henk only had mares, so Parzival was on his own until he was three,” explains Adelinde. “That’s partly why he was so spooky. And if something was moved – like a bench – then it would take an hour the next day to get past it.”

Adelinde fell off Parzival only once: the first time she took him to another indoor arena.

“Just before me there was a kid on a pony,” she recounts. “Parzival was still a stallion then and he started rearing so high, with his front legs above his head. While I was still on top, he managed to twist my upper arm into three pieces. Then I came off because I had no balance left to hold on.”

Yet once Adelinde was (mostly) healed, Parzival was the first horse she got back on. She went right back to the business of shaping him into a reasonable citizen.

“By the time I got him on side and there were serious clients, I didn’t want him to go any more,” says Adelinde. “I’d put in all this work and was finally getting the feeling he was this really amazing, powerful workaholic. I had to ask my dad to finance me so I could buy half of Parzival.”

The first show Adelinde – who was still a full-time school teacher – took Parzival to, she retired. She jokes that she was “world champion at retiring with Parzival”. There are so manyn moments in this story where the logical path would have been to give up.

“Giving up is not in my dictionary,” grins Adelinde. “When I started competing, people told my parents – who are not horsey – that they were crazy to let me ride Parzival.”

Many questioned Adelinde’s unshakeable belief in the idiosyncratic Parzival, but trainer Johan Hamminga wasn’t one of them. Adelinde credits him with the horse’s good basic training. It was never the dressage movements that were the major challenge for Parzival, but the environment.

In 2008, when the pair were long-listed for the Beijing Olympics, Adelinde finally decided to become a professional rider.

“I needed to start training with the team coach Sjef Janssen and we lived at different ends of the country,” reasons Adelinde. “So I went for it. I could always go back to teaching if riding was a failure.”

They were not selected in 2008, but under Sjef ’s tutelage their scores climbed and, four years later, the pair claimed individual silver (behind Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro) at the London Olympics – and a host of other medals besides (see below). It’s quite the CV.

“It was after the Windsor Europeans in 2009 [where Parzival beat Totilas] that people started offering loads of money,” she says.

“Every time I said no, they added a zero. But I wasn’t tempted because what would I do with the money? Buy another horse? I thought I already had the best horse. He’s my buddy; I loved him and you don’t sell your friends.”

The pressure to sell was very real for Henk though, so Adelinde found a new sponsor, Austrian entrepreneur Herbert Jerich, who helped her secure the other half of Parzival.

British team rider Gareth Hughes always admired Parzival.

“We all remember Totilas, but Parzival also changed dressage,” he says. “He was a different type; very tall, leggy and elegant. He made the grand prix look so easy. The piaffe-passage was so good, but the canter work was outstanding.”

The quirky gelding’s fears abated in the safety of the arena boards, but he remained scared of prize- givings. That’s why, whenever possible, Adelinde excused herself before the clapping got going.

In June 2013 at age 16, Parzival was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. Remarkably, he returned to top form swiftly, claiming three medals at the Europeans in August. The heart rate monitor he wore while standing still in the prize-giving read 160 beats per minute (normal resting is 32 to 36 beats per minute), which confirmed how much they stressed him out.

The Rio Olympics were to be his swansong at age 19. He was in tip-top shape and Adelinde wanted to defend her London silver medal and deliver a big score for the three- man team, which had no drop score that year. Then, disaster.

“The day before the grand prix, we found Parzival at 6am with his face all swollen. We spent the whole day in the vet clinic with his temperature going way up, then down. He had intravenous fluids to flush out the toxins in his system.”

By 5pm, Parzival’s temperature had stabilised and he seemed well again.

“Then came the question about the competition,” recalls Adelinde. “There was pressure to try for the team. I kept asking myself what I should do and talked to the vets and the coach over and over. Finally, I had to make a decision.”

The crowd and the media had no idea of the drama unfolding backstage. Consequently, when Adelinde retired part-way through the test, there was consternation.

“During the first extended trot, he’d normally have so much power and energy,” recalls Adelinde sadly. “And he did it – because he’s a workaholic – but it didn’t feel right. It wasn’t fair on him, so I quit to protect him.”

It was gut-wrenching leaving the arena with no score, having travelled halfway around the world.

“I was sad because I couldn’t help the team,” says Adelinde. “I had a million feelings, but the biggest one was when Parzival was safely back in the stable and his temperature was fine.”

It wasn’t the end that Adelinde had envisaged. She toyed with the idea of another show, but what for? So in March of 2017, Parzival was given an “overwhelming” official send-off. Knowing how much he disliked prize-givings, Adelinde dismounted during the ceremony.

“I didn’t want to stress him out,” she says. “He deserved a positive experience and I wanted to thank everyone, so I invited all the people who’d helped us. I was never nervous competing, but I was unbelievably nervous for the ceremony.”

Parzival’s breeder Ria Beijer was also overcome by the achievement of the foal she’d welcomed two decades earlier.

“It was an absolute honour to be part of the ceremony,” she remembers. “I cried

together with Adelinde. We always cry together; in Caen and at the Olympics. I am proud of both Parzival and her. It wasn’t just the horse, but the combination that made each other big.”

After his retirement, Adelinde hacked him a few days a week, but eventually went “flying through the woods one too many times’’ and decided that full retirement would be more restful. Parzival now lives out his days at Adelinde’s place, towing the grooms to the field daily with his little harem of two mares.

“He’s the world to me and he’s made me into what I am today,” says Adelinde proudly. “I loved the whole journey from him being super-scared to loving his job. I know he misses it because now whenever I have the truck out and I take him to the field, I really have to hold on to stop him running into the truck.”

Gareth – who is well versed in training a Jazz offspring to grand prix, having done so with Classic Sandman, says: “Their story proves that this quirky horse who had all the ability just needed the right rider to bring out the best in him. Jazz offspring are talented yet quirky, but they can become brilliant when they find the one. Adelinde only got him because he was unrideable, but she persevered and they ended up taking on the world.”

Parzival’s breeding

Parzival’s breeder Ria Beijer had bred a full sister, Orleans, in 1996 and liked the filly so much that she used Jazz again on her mare Fedora (by Ulft x Roemer). Parzival arrived in 1997.

“We had to sell him because we’re a small breeding farm with just mares, and we don’t keep colts,” explains Ria. “When he was a foal we thought, ‘What long legs!’ He was tall with good conformation, but he wasn’t extraordinary.”

The pairing has proved hugely fruitful, and there are six full siblings. One of them, the 11-year-old breeding stallion Fleau De Baian (pictured, below), is now ridden at grand prix by Adelinde. Orleans, the oldest, is the dam of the grand prix horse TC Athene as well as the licensed stallion Governor, whom Adelinde rides.

In 2000, Ria got the shock of her life when Fidora produced healthy twin Jazz fillies – extremely rare in horses. Both the fillies, Toulouse and Tuzla, became valuable broodmares, producing licensed stallions and grand prix horses.

The 2008-born D’Avance De Baian (the youngest filly, retained by Ria) produced the licensed stallion Jerveaux. It’s a mare-line dripping in performance.

“It’s every breeder’s dream to make an international grand prix horse and a breeding stallion,” says Ria. “My father started all this with just one mare many generations ago, so you can’t imagine how great it is that all this could happen. We really respect Adelinde’s patience with Parzival; he’s a lifetime horse not just for her, but also for us.”

Also published in H&H 4 March 2021

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Jerich Parzival and Adelinde Cornelissen will be seen in public together for the last time next month.

The 20-year-old gelding by Jazz and his Dutch rider will be seen in an official farewell ceremony at the 50th Indoor Brabant, show, the Netherlands, (9-12 March) during the interval of the World Cup freestyle class.

A spokesman for the event said fans would be able to “enjoy all the highlights one more time, together with all who were involved with this very successful pair”.

“I wanted to give Parzival a farewell in the Netherlands and I have happy memories at Indoor Brabant,” said Adelinde. “We celebrated many successes here together, including winning the World Cup Final.”

The combination have been together since 2002, when the then five-year-old Parzival arrived at Adelinde’s yard.

Their first major success came five years later, when they were crowned Dutch indoor big tour champions, taking the outdoor Dutch championships the following year.

At their first European Championships, at Windsor in 2009, they were on the gold medal-winning team but also took individual gold in the grand prix special, with a world record score of 84.042%, and silver in the freestyle.

Continues below…

Related articles:

• Top dressage horse Parzival to retire next year
• Adelinde Cornelissen’s Parzival out of Rio: ‘His body was full of toxic fever’
• Controversy over Adelinde Cornelissen’s WEG elimiation

Over the ensuing years, Adelinde and ‘Parzi’ were on the gold medal-winning Dutch team at the 2010 world championships and the bronze medal-winning team at the 2011 European Championships. They won the grand prix special and the freestyle. They also won the 2011 and 2012 World Cup finals and, at London 2012, individual silver and team bronze.

Adelinde withdrew the then 18-year-old from the 2015 Dutch dressage championships as he had not shown “sufficient fitness” to compete. He was back on the Dutch team for the Rio Olympics but Adelinde retired during the grand prix as he was running a fever, having been bitten on the face.

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Dutch dressage rider Adelinde Cornelissen has responded to rumours circulating online that Parzival was suffering from a hairline fracture when she rode him in the grand prix as part of her nation’s Olympic team on Wednesday (10 August).

She began the test but the horse appeared lacklustre and Adelinde retired during the walk section. It transpired that Parzival had been bitten by some sort of bug or insect early the previous day and his face had swollen up alarmingly, causing his body to flood with toxins.

“He had a toxic fever and we had him on fluids to flush it out of his system,” said Adelinde.

Shortly afterwards, speculation online suggested that the horse may have in fact been suffering from a hairline fracture of the jaw.

Adelinde has responded to these claims.

“Just to get it off my chest,” she wrote, “no hairline fracture of any kind! I guess some people didn’t think the story was interesting enough. Anyway, I am just happy Parzi is happy and healthy again.”

She included a photograph of Parzival having a roll in one of the outdoor arenas at the venue in Rio de Janeiro.

Continued below…

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During investigations into the initial diagnosis of an insect bite, Parzival underwent an X-ray of his jaw area.

Adelinde, 37, was hoping to replicate hers and Parzival’s London 2012 Olympics form — where they picked up the individual silver medal behind Charlotte Dujardin (Valegro) and ahead of Laura Tomlinson, who took bronze with Mistral Hojris.

Parzival had looked fit and fresh at Rotterdam CDI in July, and Adelinde was hoping that the Rio Olympics would be the 19-year-old gelding’s retirement championships.

Full 20-page report on the dressage from Rio in H&H this week, out Thursday 18 August, including full analysis of how the medals were won and comment from Richard Davison and Peter Storr.

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The first Dutch team member in the dressage at the Rio Olympics today, Adelinde Cornelissen, retired after just a handful of movements. Adelinde was riding her 19-year-old Jazz gelding Parzival, who won individual silver and team bronze at London 2012.

He had been running a fever after being bitten by something on the face, she said.

“Yesterday I came to the stables and his cheek was completely swollen and it appeared he was bitten by a spider or a mosquito or something,” said Adelinde. “His body was full of toxic fever [with a fever of] over 40.

“We manged to get his temperature down, and yesterday he was on liquids for nine hours.”

Things had looked up for the horse later on.

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“In the evening it was all good, his temperature was back down; this morning also,” she said.

The Dutch team did not bring a travelling reserve with them, as all the riders who were possibles elected not to travel their horses.

“I discussed it with the team vet and we decided we’d give it [the grand prix] a try for the team result,” she added. “But he felt totally empty and I didn’t want to put him through that. He didn’t deserve that, did he?

The Dutch team is now down to three, with all scores from Edward Gal, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Diederik van Silfhout to count for their result. As the grand prix acts as the first individual qualifying round, Adelinde and Parzival cannot start in the grand prix special and their Rio journey is over.

Britain’s first team member into the arena, Spencer Wilton, scored 72.686% riding Super Nova II. Britain’s second rider, Fiona Bigwood, takes to the arena at 3.06pm local time (7.06pm in Britain) with Orthilia.

Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin will ride tomorrow. Click here for full times and information. 

Full 20-page report on the dressage from Rio in H&H next week, out Thursday 18 August, including full analysis of how the medals were won and comment from Richard Davison and Gareth Hughes. 

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Why can a showjumper be disqualified, and splashed all over the national news, for accidentally catching his horse with a spur when an endurance horse can bear open wounds for 20km before anything is done?

That question is still being asked weeks after the controversial disqualification of Bertram Allen (pictured, top) from the Olympia grand prix.

Peter Charles is the latest to weigh in (comment, 21 January) while the almost prohibitive time-frame for spotting rule breaches or protesting against field-of-play decisions — 30 minutes after the confirmation of results — was criticised by Mhairi Alexander (news, 7 January), the lawyer who tried to help Bertram.

Inconsistencies in interpretation, clear differences in the way disciplines approach welfare rules, and the limited extent of rider involvement in creating the rulebook have all been aired.

One further complication is that FEI General Regulations (GRs) and FEI Veterinary Regulations will always prevail over a contradictory sport-specific rule.

This was highlighted two years ago in the successful H&H-backed protest over the CEI Sakhir, Bahrain endurance horse-beating incident, where the FEI Tribunal applied the GRs as well as FEI endurance rules to decide the rider should be disqualified, not just handed a yellow card.

The set of rules varying most widely sport to sport is that regarding whips, in both scope and presentation. Six disciplines file whips under “saddlery and tack”. Yet FEI driving lists them under the “cruelty” heading, and eventing under “abuse”.

The rules’ ineffectiveness was highlighted in 2010 when US showjumper Michael Morrissey hit his horse 13 times after a refusal during World Equestrian Games (WEG) selection trials.

Four FEI judges were later reprimanded for not acting on the day. It was only after YouTube footage went viral that the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) suspended Michael for three months.

However, joined-up thinking can have practical difficulties, despite likely public perceptions that beating a horse is wrong under any circumstances.

An FEI spokesman said: “In driving, a whip is used to ask for forward movement of the horses, along with the voice. In reining, no whips are used, and in vaulting the whip is used to ensure steadiness of the horse rather than fast, forward movement.”

Eventing under pressure?

There are concerns that eventing is obliged to “borrow” too many rules from FEI dressage and showjumping.

Mark Todd criticised the invidiousness of literal interpretations when William Fox-Pitt and Freddie Mac were eliminated from the 2013 CIC3* at Blenheim for using hind boots prohibited in jumping’s young horse classes — rules are aimed at horses under seven.

Blenheim’s “young” competition is for eight- and nine-year olds.

FEI eventing rules are due for a major review this year, though not a total rewrite. But for now the jumping boot rule remains.

The only changes in eventing equipment for 2016 are alterations to ear covers and clarification over a style of bitting.

The FEI rejects assertions that there is insufficient consultation with riders. Stakeholders can suggest changes “at any time”.

But equally, few riders wish to get deeply involved. In 2014, just 26, drawn from 10 of the FEI’s 132 member nations, applied for eight seats on sport technical committees.

Turnout was also poor, with only 58 of the 632 eligible riders voting for the dressage candidates, where the Italian rider Anna Campanella beat Laura Tomlinson.

H&H asked the FEI for examples of any athlete-initiated rule-changes. It provided just one — increasing the FEI World Cup vaulting time by 20 seconds, to 1 min 20s.

But with controversial, welfare-related rules, forcing change is less easy.

Blood rules still differ widely between each sport, though the FEI has recently aligned reining closer to dressage, vaulting to showjumping, and driving to eventing.

Dressage at Hickstead supremo Dane Rawlins has been involved, along with the international dressage trainers’ and riders’ clubs, in trying to ease zero tolerance for blood — another controversy headlined in 2010, when Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival (pictured, below), then the world number ones, were disqualified at WEG.

“We make progress, but slowly,” he said.

FEI dressage clarified its blood rule after Kentucky, though rejected the suggestion of top trainer Sjeff Janssen that horses could restart later if the blood cleared promptly, as in FEI reining.

Dane said: “You have to be able to distinguish between the small accidents we all know can happen with horses, and deliberately hauling on its mouth.

“If the blood is spotted in the arena, it should still be disqualification. But if it is not seen until the horse has finished its test, provided it clears quickly the horse should be allowed to remain in the class and for the rest of the show. This could work for other disciplines.

“Current blood rules deal with matters historically, doing nothing to protect welfare going forward. There isn’t even a vet check, so what’s to stop the horse turning up at another show next day with no further investigation!”

Rule-making at a glance

Who decides FEI rules?

National federations, the FEI Bureau, the FEI discipline directors at FEI headquarters in Lausanne and each sport’s voluntary technical committees, after a consultation process. The FEI Sports Forum, launched in 2012, provides a platform for public debate. New rules must secure a two-thirds majority vote at the FEI general assembly, to apply from 1 January the following year.

How do riders get their say?

Via clubs such as the Eventing Riders Association, International Dressage Riders’ Club and the International Jumping Riders’ Club. Through similar associations, trainers and officials have input. Anyone can make suggestions “at any time.” Sport technical committees now have athletes’ representatives, including British team eventer Daisy Berkeley.

Do the disciplines liaise about rules of common interest?

Yes, though department heads at Lausanne are the principal point of contact.

Has any disciplines’ rules been entirely rewritten from scratch?

No. The core rules have been revised, with all alterations viewable online.

Can members of the public make suggestions?

Yes, though they should approach this via their national federation.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Top Dutch dressage rider Adelinde Cornelissen has said she is to retire her star horse Parzival next year.

The rider withdrew her the 18-year-old gelding from the 2015 Dutch dressage championships earlier this month (17-19 July) as the horse had not shown “sufficient fitness” to compete.

As that event was the final selection competition for this summer’s FEI European Dressage Championships, the pair were therefore not named on the team list published by the Dutch equestrian federation last week.

It is the first time in six years that Adelinde has not represented her country. She had previously expressed her aim for Rio with Parzival.

However, team trainer Wim Ernes told Dutch magazine De Hoefslag last week that there would no longer be an opening on the team long term for the pair, due to their falling scores but credited and thanked the horse for the team’s success in the past.

Adelinde then told the magazine she was surprised by these comments, but that retirement for the horse in 2016 looked imminent.

The combination has been extremely strong across the years. In 2011 and 2012 the pair won the World Cup. They were then pipped to Olympic gold in London by Charlotte and Valegro.

Adelinde and Parzival currently sit in fourth place on the FEI world dressage rankings, behind Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, Adelinde’s countryman Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover and Germany’s Kristina Broring-Sprehe.

The pair have only been seen out once this season, an event in Rotterdam in June where they withdrew. Their last win was the in the grand prix at Mechelen in December.

However, the horse has had a troublesome couple of seasons. The warmblood was off for several months with a cardiac arrhythmia — a heart-rate problem — and had an operation to correct it in June 2013.

He was then rested from competition with the aim of being selected for the World Equestrian Games in September, where they were part of the bronze medal-winning team.

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Top Dutch duo Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival will not be competing at the FEI European Dressage Championships next month.

The rider withdrew her top horse from the 2015 Dutch dressage championships earlier this month (17-19 July). And the pair were not named on the list published by the Dutch equestrian federation earlier this week.

It is the first time in six years that Adelinde has not represented her country.

The 2011 and 2012 World Cup winner has not shown sufficient fitness this season to take part in the Europeans.

The Dutch championships, where the 18-year-old was withdrawn, was the final Dutch team selection trial for the Europeans. Adelinde said Parzival was “not fit to compete”.

Adelinde and Parzival currently sit in fourth place on the FEI world dressage rankings, behind Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, Adelinde’s countryman Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover and Germany’s Kristina Broring-Sprehe.

The pair have only been seen out once this season, an event in Rotterdam in June where they withdrew. Their last win was the in the grand prix at Mechelen in December.

The Dutch combination, who were pipped to Olympic gold in London by Charlotte and Valegro, have had a difficult couple of seasons. The warmblood was off for much of last year with a cardiac arrhythmia — a heart-rate problem — and had an operation to correct it in June 2013.

He was then rested from competition with the aim of being selected for the World Equestrian Games in September, where they were part of the bronze medal-winning team.

Danielle Heijkoop and Siro are also missing from the line up. The horse came back from injury at the Dutch championships, but was also withdrawn as he was not up to fitness. Siro previously suffered a fractured splint bone in March.

Edward Gal and Undercover, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Johnson, Diederik van Silfhout and Arlando and Patrick van der Meer and Uzzo make up the squad. A reserve rider has not been named.

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Today Charlotte Dujardin became the first ever dressage rider to concurrently hold double Olympic, European and World titles. She put in a sensational performance on Carl Hester and Roly Luard’s Valegro at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy and was rewarded with 92.161%.

Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg replicated her silver medal from the special with Damon Hill, scoring 88.286%.

The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen was “happy happy happy” to fight back into the medals after being fourth in the special. She and Parzival claimed bronze with 85.714% and relegated Kristina Sprehe to fourth.

Charlotte’s entry to the stadium was greeted by the roar of 20,000 spectators. Her test was set to music from the film How to Train your Dragon and it suits Valegro down to the ground.

He never missed a beat, pulling off difficult moves, including medium trot into piaffe pirouettes.

“After London I didn’t think things could get any better, then there were two golds at the Europeans last year,” said the 29-year-old. “Any medal is an achievement so to come away with team silver and two golds; I couldn’t have asked any more.

“I just go out there and have fun and not think about the pressure, because if you do it takes over. But riding a horse like Valegro gives you so much confidence.”

Charlotte is the triple world record holder at grand prix and this test was 1.8% off the freestyle record she set at Olympia in 2013.

Britain’s Michael Eilberg rode a sizzling test on Half Moon Delphi for just under 80%. They finished in eighth – a huge leap up from their 25th place in the grand prix which saw them scrape into the special.

Carl Hester and Nip Tuck finished 12th with a freestyle personal best of over 76%; a fantastic result for this massive horse, who is a relative newcomer to grand prix.

Dressage at WEG is now over but the eventing competition is in full swing, with tomorrow being cross-country day.

The showjumping starts on Tuesday, 2 September.

Grand prix freestyle results

GOLD Charlotte Dujardin on Valegro GBR 92.161%

SILVER Helen Langehanenberg on Damon Hill FRH GER 88.286%

BRONZE Adelinde Cornelissen on Jerich Parzival NOP NED 85.714%

4. Kristina Sprehe on Desperados FRH GER 83.125%

5. Laura Graves on Verdades USA 82.036%

6. Victoria Max Theurer on Augustin OLD AUT 81.036%

7. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén on Don Auriello SWE 80.375%

8. Michael Eilberg on Half Moon Delphi GBR 79.696%

9. Anna Kasprzak on Donnperignon DEN 78.929%

10. Steffen Peters on Legolas 92 USA 77.321%

—

12. Carl Hester on Nip Tuck GBR 76.589%

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Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro have gone from strength to strength since taking gold in London, breaking the world record for freestyle and grand prix as well as becoming European champions last year and taking the World Cup title in Lyon. However, with Totilas, Damon Hill and Jerich Parzival winning on the continent, Charlotte cannot afford to become complacent.

The top combinations meet at Aachen this weekend where it should become clearer how hard Charlotte will have to fight to take her first world title.

Totilas back to his best?

The 2010 triple world gold medallist Totilas made a winning return to competition this spring after a two-year absence due to injuries and rider illness. In their third show last month (27 June) the stallion and Matthias Alexander Rath earned a personal best score of 85.18% in the grand prix at Perl CDI. This was the stallion’s highest ever grand prix mark under any rider.

“It all went very, very well,” Matthias said. “Now we are preparing for Aachen and then we’ll know where we stand.”

Totilas shot to stardom under his former Dutch rider Edward Gal and was the previous world record holder for all three international grand prix classes before he was sold to Paul Schockemöhle at the end of 2010. There was widespread criticism of the ride being removed from Edward, but Totilas’ recent comeback has started to silence critics.

British Olympic rider Richard Davison believes that the decision to train with Anky van Grunsven’s husband Sjef Janssen after 2012 appears to have helped the partnership.

“Perhaps one reason it took them time to click with Totilas is that they didn’t find out enough about how the horse was previously trained and ridden,” Richard said. “Moving to train with Sjef is logical as Edward Gal worked in that system and achieved world record scores with him. Judging by how Totilas is now moving and performing, it seems to be paying off.”

Always the bridesmaid?

The current world number two combination Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill are also still snapping at Charlotte’s heels. The stallion was excused from the first selection trials for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) at the German Championships in Balve (15-18 May) due to breeding duties.

Helen and Damon Hill, who won last year’s World Cup, finished 4.84% behind Charlotte at this year’s final. However, there were several small errors that knocked down their mark.

“It will be interesting to see Damon Hill in Aachen as he starts to get strong again as the summer goes on,” said Olympic team gold medallist Carl Hester.

“At the World Cup in April he looked tired, but last summer at the Europeans he was only 1% behind Valegro. He was on fire.”

After missing out on a medal at the London Olympics by 0.03%, Helen will be determined not to be the bridesmaid again.

The rest of the pack

The combination closest to spoiling Charlotte’s golden party in London — Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival — have also been on winning form after a nine-month break.

The 17-year-old gelding suffered from an irregular heartbeat last June but scored 77.86% to win the grand prix at Arnhem CDI (7 June), and then went on to post the biggest score of the day — 81.48% — at the Nations Cup in Rotterdam two weeks later (19 June).

“I’m very happy,” Adelinde said afterwards. “For the past few months I’ve been trying to change our technique, and it takes time. But I feel it’s coming together at last and we are on our way.”

Carl watched Parzival’s test in Arnhem but believes the horse’s age might limit his potential.

“Certain things did look better,” Carl said. “But with a horse of that age it is hard to get maximum performance across three tests.”

Five-times Olympic gold medallist Isabell Werth has also had a successful spring and has the choice of two rides in Aachen — Bella Rose and Don Johnson.

The 10-year-old Bella Rose is a rising star and scored more than 80% in both the grand prix and the special in Perl.

But despite more horses having crept over the 80% barrier this year Charlotte and Valegro still remain at the top of the pile.

“There is a pack in which there are some very, very strong horses but I don’t think they can close the gap,” said Richard. “I’m putting my money on Valegro.

“However, he is only a horse and as we all know in any sporting environment, anything can happen.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (17 July, 2014)

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The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival have re-taken the number one slot in the FE world dressage rankings — demoting Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro.

Adelinde and Parzival who the last qualifying leg of the Reem Acra FEI world cup, meaning they now lead the rankings by 97 points. Her 16-year-old Olympic partner Jerich Parzival missed the Dutch show CHIO Rotterdam in June, after being diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia — a problem with his heartrate.

Helen Langehanenberg of German and Damon Hill are in second place with 2,802 points. The pair won the 2013 Reem Acra FEI world cup in April with a personal best of 88.286%.

Charlotte and Valegro — who beat Adelinde to individual gold at the London Olympics — are in third place on 2,536.

Their double gold at Greenwich made them the first British combination to head the world rankings.

Another British combination — Michael Eilberg and Half Moon Delphi — are the biggest mover in the world top 40.

They have shot up from 159^th to 31^st place, largely on the strength of their grand prix special victory at Hartpury Festival of Dressage last month, where they posted a personal best of 74.583%.

Michael and Delphi make their senior European Championships debut in Denmark later this month. They join Britain’s Olympic gold medal trio of Charlotte Dujardin (Valegro), Carl Hester (Uthopia) and Laura Tomlinson (Mistral Hojris) — at what is likely to be the chestnut gelding’s swansong.

Don’t miss the next issue of H&H, out on 15 August, for an exclusive interview with Michael Eilberg.

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Dutch dressage rider Adelinde Cornelissen must be hoping that the old adage about accidents happening in threes is true, after a horrible run of luck with her horses this month.

Having lost the ride on the small tour mare Tiara, who returned to stud as a broodmare, her rising star and potential 2016 ride, Galahad, 13, died of colic.

This was compounded by her 16-year-old Olympic partner Jerich Parzival (pictured top) being diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia — a problem with the heart-rate — which ruled him out of next week’s Dutch show CHIO Rotterdam.

The Dutch chef d’equipe Wim Ernes explained Parzival’s absence in a press conference.

“Parzival has conditional complaints: he could not sustain the work and was not as active as usual,” he said. “Team vet Jan Greve examined him last Saturday [and Parzival] has cardiac arrhythmia. He has been successfully treated and the recovery will take several weeks. Then he can be in training again.”

Adelinde announced Galahad’s demise on her Facebook page on 2 June. The chestnut 13-year-old, by Jazz, was widely touted as Parzival’s successor, and was no stranger to the big occasion, having stood in for Parzival at many prize-givings.

• Adelinde — reigning European dressage champion — will be the keynote speaker at this year’s British Dressage Convention (23-24 November) at Hartpury College.

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The picture desks of two national red-tops should be hanging their heads in shame this morning after headlines trumpeting Team GBR’s dressage gold appeared over pictures of the Dutch team.

The Mirror printed a giant picture of Edward Gal, Anky Van Grunsven and Adelinde Cornelissen under the banner “Only Golden Horses”.

And the Daily Express also printed a picture of the grinning Dutch trio on its front page, under the headline “Happy and Glorious”.

However the only gold in the pictures is the Dutch team’s collars.

The pictures should, of course, have shown the gold medal-winning Brits – Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer and Charlotte Dujardin.

“You’d think they could tell the difference between red and orange,” said a disgusted Winnie Murphy of British Dressage, who branded the coverage “sloppy” and “offensive”.

“We dress our riders in beautiful red, white and blue uniforms – isn’t that enough of a clue for them?”

The Express has apologised to the British Equestrian Federation and reprinted its front page, with the correct picture.

And Express editor Hugh Whittow asked British Dressage to pass on his apologies to the riders.

He said the mix-up took place after a picture agency mis-captioned the pictures it sent out.

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Defending champions Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival clinched the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage title for the second year in a row when topping the freestyle on home turf in ‘s-Hertogenbosch earlier today.

But Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg really pressurised the dominant Dutch duo with a spectacular performance that left her just one point behind in second, while Italy’s Valentina Truppa was a huge hit with the packed stadium of spectators when finishing third with Ermo del Castegno.

Helen’s stunning 12-year-old stallion, Damon Hill, was on the button all the way showing lovely piaffe, passage and pirouette to rack up high scores for a mark of 85.214.

Judge at C Fouarge said: “Helen is a very elegant rider and can easily beat Adelinde at the moment if everything goes ok.” However ground jury president, The Netherlands’ Ghislain Fouarge, suggested the German rider needed to increase the difficult of her freestyle to challenge the World Cup champion. “It should be higher,” he said. “Adelinde’s degree of difficulty is higher.”

Adelinde admitted that, having seen the German rider’s performance, she realised she had to raise her game. “I knew I had to really sharpen him (Jerich Parzival) up,” she said. And this “sharpened up” version of her extraordinary chestnut gelding went on to score 86.250.

Isabell Werth made good use of her David Bowie musical score to steer El Santo NRW through some powerful passage, extended trot and canter before finishing with a dramatic one-handed ride down the centre-line. But once again the piaffe let this partnership down, pinning their score at 79.964.

Britain’s only representative, Richard Davison and Hiscox Artemis, finished fifth on 78.571.

Poland’s Katarzyna Milczarek was eliminated from the competition after the judges spotted blood on Edwador’s flank. “It’s always sad to eliminate somebody, but no-one wants to see blood on the horse,” said Ghislain Fouarge.

Grand prix freestyle result

1, Jerich Parzival (Adelinde Cornelissen) NED 86.250;

2, Damon Hill NRW (Helen Langehanenberg) GER 85.214;

3, Eremo del Castegno (Valentina Truppa) ITA 81.232;

4, El Santo NRW (Isabell Werth) GER 79.964;

5, Hiscox Artemis (Richard Davison) GBR 78.571;

6, Glock’s Tango (Hans Peter Minderhoud) NED 76.125.

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The defending World Cup champions, Adelinde Cornelissen and her mighty chestnut gelding Jerich Parzival, swept to victory in the grand prix at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands on Friday.

Adelinde had experienced a nerve-wracking night after Parzival was not accepted during the first horse inspection on Thursday, but he passed when re-inspected shortly before the grand prix and went on to produce a winning score of 78.024.

“Parzival maybe doesn’t have the rhythm of competition yet this year,” said Adelinde, who predicted that “tomorrow he’s going to be even better!”.

Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill finished second with Italy’s Valentina Truppa and Eremo Del Castegno in third.

The Netherlands’ Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Tango were fourth ahead of Richard Davison and Hiscox Artemis — the only British pair to contest the finals.

Tragic loss of top coach

The class was overshadowed by the tragic news that Germany’s team coach, Holger Schmezer, had passed away suddenly the previous evening in his ‘s-Hertogenbosch hotel room. Riders and spectators showed their respect by standing for a minute’s silence during the presentation ceremony.

At the post-competition press conference, Helen Langehanenberg explained that the she and her fellow-German competitors, Isabell Werth and Nadine Capellmann, sat together well into the night discussing whether they should withdraw from the final under the circumstances.

“It was really hard for everyone — completely unexpected,” said Helen. “In the end it was our opinion that Holger would want us to ride — that was his aim, why he came here, so we had to do it for him.”

Grand prix result

1, Jerich Parzival (Adelinde Cornelissen) NED 78.024;

2, Damon Hill (Helen Langehanenberg) GER 76.125;

3, Eremo de Castegno (Valentina Truppa) ITA 75.106;

4, Glock’s Tango (Hans Peter Minderhoud) NED 73.404;

5, Hiscox Artemis (Richard Davison) GBR 73.374;

6, Toy Story (Patrik Kittel) SWE 72.751.

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Dutch dressage rider Adelinde Cornelissen received the FEI’s Reem Acra Best Athlete Award at the FEI Gala Evening earlier tonight (14 November).

Adelinde was one of five winners in the FEI awards held to draw an end to the 2011 FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janiero.

Adelinde told H&H that she was “delighted and very surprised” to have been chosen and was enjoying the party, which included a Brazilian samba band.

French-woman Soraya Ourrais won the development award for her work to revive equestrian sport in Cambodia following the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror.

Miss Ourrais, who has now left Cambodia, said she was looking forward to a new challenge, perhaps in South America.

Thai eventer Nina Lamsam Ligon was this year’s “rising star”, winning the talent-spotting award for younger riders.

Nina, who is based in the US and was the Thai team’s youngest and only female rider at the 2007 Asian Games, is concentrating on Olympic qualification and said she took up the three-phase sport as she was a timid rider.

The best groom award went to Alice Gaillard of France, who has been grooming for 50 years for eventers Marie-Christine Duroy, Bruni Bouvier and Jean Teulere and young riders like Astier Nicolas, whom she accompanied to Badminton this year.

And the Against All Odds award was won by Australian Meg Wade, an endurance rider who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall in 2009.

She has started to ride again, with help from the Riding for the Disabled Association, and trains a number of endurance horses who are completed by other riders.

Meg was unable to attend the award ceremony as her flight from Sydney had been cancelled.

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Carl Hester and Sasha Stewart’s Uthopia have won individual silver at the European dressage championships, scoring 81.682%. They were closely followed by World silver medallists Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris in bronze.

Following their exemplary performance in the grand prix, resulting in team gold, the pressure was on for Hester. The judges are in love with his horse’s extended trot – awarding 10s yet again. However, a big mistake in the one-times brought this movement’s average score down to 3.4. Without this, it could well have been gold for Hester.

“You’re always disappointed when you make a mistake like that, but I said yesterday I wanted a medal one way or another and I’m thrilled to have got one,” said Carl. “For such a young grand prix horse, at this stage in his career, I couldn’t have asked for more.”

In the event, it was The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen who topped the podium, despite going wrong in her test. Adelinde rode the two-time changes when she should have started the canter half-pass right.

“I was kicking myself afterwards for that,” she said. “But I’m so glad he still won because he deserved to and I didn’t want it to be my mistake that cost us the gold.”

Mistral Hojris much improved

Laura Bechtolsheimer had a difficult time in Thursday’s grand prix, with Mistral Hojris becoming very strong. Today, she looked more in control from the start, with “Alf” standing still in his first halt.

There were still moments that can be improved in tomorrow’s kur. They too came unstuck in the one-time changes, but finished on 79.256%.

“For the first half of the test he felt as good as he ever has, then after the walk he lost impulsion and because of that we had mistakes,” she explained. “I’m still over the moon to be on the podium and up here with another British rider.”

Asked if she would feel more confident for tomorrow’s kur having got Alf under control today she said: “I never feel totally confident going into a kur with Alf, but he was listening to me more today so we’ll see what we can do.”

Last to go, Germany’s Matthias Rath and Totilas, had a few communication errors, including before the flying change out of the half-pass right. Consequently the horse who took gold in Kentucky last year finished fourth.

Brits don’t hold back

Where they were faultless in the grand prix, Britain’s team debutants Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro had too many errors in the special to allow them onto the podium, but still finished in an incredible sixth place.

Britain’s Emile Faurie was determined to go for it in the special. Since this score does not count for the team effort he had no need to play it safe. Elmegardens Marquis showed huge power and expression in his piaffe and passage, but the horse’s excitement got the better of him in the halts and extended walk. Despite this and an error in the changes they finished on a respectable 68.577%.

Results

GOLD: Jerich Parzival (A Cornelissen, NED) 82.113.

SILVER: Uthopia (C Hester, GBR) 81.682.

BRONZE: Mistral Hojris (L Bechtolsheimer) 79.256.

Don’t miss H&H this Thursday for full report, pictures and results

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Proposed new dressage rules, which may have enabled Adelinde Cornelissen to claim a medal at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) last year, have been commended by leading figures.

The rules detailing what to do if blood is seen on a horse during a dressage test at international level were decided at the FEI Dressage Committee meeting in Paris on 7-8 June.

FEI five-star international judge Andrew Gardner said the proposals are “totally positive”.

“The new guidelines would mean that the responsibility is shared between the judges and the vets,” he said.

“If a vet deems it acceptable for a horse to continue, it’s good not just for the combination but also for dressage’s public perception, as people would know the horse had the green light from the vet.”

Discrepancies on this issue between dressage and other FEI disciplines were highlighted by Horse & Hound and continental magazine Horse International earlier this year (news, 24 February).

Despite not having a rule specifically mentioning blood, dressage riders were being disqualified without investigation into the nature of the injury.

In other disciplines, officials were able to allow horses with “minor cases” to continue.

Based on this interpretation of the dressage rules, Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival were immediately eliminated at WEG when blood was spotted in the horse’s mouth, scuppering her hopes of an individual medal (news, 7 October 2010).

The new rule, which will be debated at the FEI General Assembly in November, states a test should be stopped if blood appears anywhere on the horse.

But horses competing in the Olympics, World Equestrian Games and World Cup Finals would then be examined by an FEI vet and allowed to resume the test if the bleeding has stopped.

At lower level events, or where there is no FEI vet present to examine the horse, any bleeding would result in immediate elimination.

If passed at the general assembly, the new rules will be implemented on 1 January 2012.

Read this news story in full in the current issue of Horse & Hound (30 June 2011)

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Dutch dressage rider Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich’s Parzival’s elimination from the World Equestrian Games (WEG) last year may not have been within FEI rules.

At the time, the media widely reported technical delegate Dr Wotjek Markowski’s view that FEI, horsesport’s international governing body, rules about blood or foam in the mouth gave the judges “no choice” but to eliminate — and riders no right of appeal.

However, astonishingly, an investigation by continental magazine Horse International found no such rule in either the FEI’s dressage, general or veterinary regulations.

As a consequence, the FEI is creating a new rule covering blood in a horse’s mouth.

But this is of little comfort to dressage riders who have been eliminated in the past.

Parzival, favourite for the two individual silver medals behind Moorlands Totilas, was stopped by ground jury president Stephen Clarke early in his grand prix team test in Kentucky because he had blood around his mouth.

Parzival was later found to have nicked his tongue. But there is no FEI rule specifically covering a bleeding mouth, leaving the door open for legal action by the Dutch federation.

Dutch team manager Sjef Janssen, who is a former member of the FEI dressage committee, said he would have challenged Parzival’s elimination if he had realised a blood-specific rule was not in place.

A spokesman for the Dutch federation said: “At the time of the incident the Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation was not aware that this specific rule was not in place.

“We will contact the FEI and talk to them about what our next step will be.”

An FEI spokesman said they had not heard from the Dutch yet.

FEI director of dressage Trond Asmyr contends the issue is covered by rules concerning the welfare of the horse in FEI General Regulations (GRs) 141 and 142 and Article 430.7.6 of the dressage rules.

Ms Cornelissen was unavailable for comment.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (24 February, 2011)

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Adelinde Cornelissen put bad luck at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky behind her to take her second Reem Acra World Cup qualifier this season at London Olympia with 83.65%.

“I’m really happy,” she said. “I was determined before the World Games to show the world how good Jerich Parzival is and I’m just as determined now.”

The pair were unable to ride their freestyle in Kentucky as the horse bit his lip in the grand prix and Adelinde was eliminated for blood in the horse’s mouth. They had no such problems here and Adelinde described her horse as “just totally relaxed in the arena tonight”, which gave her the edge over the rest of the field. The majority found the atmosphere too much to cope with.

The pressure was off Adelinde after Britain’s main hope, Laura Bechtolsheimer, had a difficult time with her Kentucky silver medallist Mistral Hojris.

Laura said: “It was difficult in there for me tonight on Alf. He did some fantastic work, but had too many mistakes as well. He finds big atmosphere’s like Olympia really hard to handle.”

The pair still scored 80.05%, despite mistakes in the changes and piaffe, and this followed a win in yesterday’s warm-up grand prix qualifier.

The Netherland’s Edward Gal was third riding Sisther De Jeu (77.05%), who is by Gribaldi, the same sire as Edward’s World Games gold medallist Totilas, who has since been sold to Germany.

“It’s nice to be back on another good horse,” he said. “And there’s more to come from this mare.”

Amy Stovold was best of the Brits after Laura in fifth place riding Macbrian, who is by Jan Brink’s Briar. This was the pair’s World Cup qualifier and Olympia debut and they scored an impressive 74.05%.

For full report and pictures, don’t miss H&H magazine out next Thursday

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Things are seriously hotting up in the dressage at WEG following the elimination of top Dutch rider Adelinde Cornelissen. British judge Stephen Clarke had to send the pair out after blood was seen in the horse’s mouth. He probably bit his tongue, or lip, but the rules are there to protect the horses and the sport’s image, so out she went.

Our British dressage riders are doing such an amazing job (am I sounding yank enough yet?) and it’s more relaxing and enjoyable to watch them than it was four years ago. I spent so much time when I started as dressage editor at H&H asking then selector David Trott why we weren’t doing better as we battled for sixth. Now we’re expected to get medals and (the royal) we actually deliver.

In other news, my new found obsession with all things America, Western and reining continues… Last night I trotted down to the John Deere media event (they sponsor and provide all the ground maintenance equipment for the games), not being one to miss out on a networking opportunity/free beer. They were after a volunteer to ride one of the national association’s American quarter horses in a demo. With my colleague Pippa Roome heckling at me not to fall off as she didn’t fancy covering the rest of the games solo, down I merrily went.

I got off to an unpromising start… Us dressage riders (I use this title Very loosely) use mounting blocks, and getting on in rather snug jeans from the ground was an embarrassing moment waiting to happen. Yes, predictably, the small rip in an unnoticeable area become a somewhat larger one as I ungainly got my leg over. No matter, nobody is going to notice that till I get off, I thought, and up here I have plenty more opportunity to make a muppet of myself.

Casey, the lovely instructor cowboy, asked me which hand I usually held my reins in. “Well, both,” I said. “Which, do you prefer,” he asked. Then it dawned on me nobody had told him I’d never ridden in western tack before… No matter, this incredible horse covered for me completely and kept up the bluff throughout. We span (look up reining spins on youtube, very very cool), backed-up and even managed sliding stops! Like this….

Breezer was so damn responsive. Take your reins left and he whipped round, sit and say whoa and you get the slide, put your heels down and you hit reverse, at speed! He might as well have had a gear stick.

I want one. I don’t think my lovely Irish thoroughbred is going to fancy this job…my trainer Gary Holt has been known to risk life and limb standing in the middle of the arena with us cantering straight at him just to encourage Skips to halt. Sometimes we manage walk and don’t hit him too hard…

But I can’t possibly afford me a quarter horse. Can I just stay here and shack up with a cowboy, please?

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Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival, gold medal prospects at the World Games, have been eliminated after blood was seen in the horse’s mouth.

Judge at c and head of the ground jury Britain’s Stephen Clarke had to ask Adelinde to leave the arena after her halt and rein back on seeing the red in the foam around the horse’s mouth.

Speaking to Stephen Clarke at the national championships last month he said that he was honoured to have the responsibility of judging from C, but was dreading something like this happening and having to send a rider out.

Adelinde shrugged her shoulders and patted her horse, dropped her reins and walked out.

Up until that point she was well in the lead, scoring nines for their halt, extended trot and both half passes.

The Dutch still lead the team competition but being down to three riders Edward Gal cannot afford to have a big problem this afternoon on Totilas.

This puts Adelinde out of the individual competition too, and throws open the possibility for our top rider Laura Bechtolsheimer to stand even higher on that podium.

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Hurrah, we have another plus-70% scorer for our World Equestrian Games team (72.42%, to be precise). European medallist Liebling II went brilliantly for Carl Hester to win today’s CDI5* grand prix special. Potential team-mate Maria Eilberg completely made up for her best forgotten Aachen result on Two Sox for third with just a smidgen under 70%. In the freestyle, Adelinde Cornelissen predictably languished in a league of her own with Jerich Parzival on 85.65%, but Laura Bechtolsheimer and second string Andretti H flew the Union Flag for third with an impressive 78.25%. Much more of that in next week’s Horse & Hound.

Having spent three whole days watching (fabulous) dressage, a word about the pinnacle, the grand prix freestyle to music. Laura rode to a fun, young, upbeat reggae compilation that took her audience away from the sand of an overcast West Sussex arena and slapped them in Jamaica at sunset with a rum-based cocktail in hand. This is key. Sure, dressage has to be correct, but if it wants to continue to draw a crowd it’s going to have to accept that people want more in the way of entertainment. Unless all the bums on seats are aficionados, the smoothness of your transitions and regularity of your extensions isn’t going to have them hooked.

German rider Anja Plonzke understands the importance of an audience; she has a video-based website. She also knows how to entertain. Anybody who can incorporate Black Legend’s “Trouble with Me” and “Ghetto Superstar” into their freestyle gets my vote. Never mind the quality of Le Mont D’Or’s passage, the horse piaffed straight into a canter pirouette then shot off down the centerline to a halt accompanied by the sound of tires screeching on tarmac. Now who said the Germans don’t have a sense of humour? I’m not sure what the choral Phil Collins thrown in after Lady Gaga was all about but, each to their own, it’s subjective stuff. This showed imagination and was tricky to pull-off but, whatever the outcome (fourth), it was highly liable to get them talked about. Savvy.

All you dressage divas who want to ride for your own satisfaction and would rather audiences be exterminated than distract your horse from his flying-changes, a word to the wise…when interest dwindles, sponsors drift, and dressage is removed from the Olympic disciplines, you’ll find no sympathetic ears to bend about the travesty. There has to be a way of preserving the purity of the sport while bringing it to the masses. Totilas The Wonderhorse can’t single-hoofedly draw the crowds, which was proved by his absence from Hickstead. One horse can’t be at every show to guarantee ticket sales.

For full report and pictures from Dressage at Hickstead, don’t miss Horse & Hound 5 August issue.

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The Dutch made it a one two three on home soil in ‘s-Hertogenbosch at the World Cup final on Saturday.

Even without last year’s winner Anky van Grunsven — who failed to qualify — the Netherlands pinched the top three placings courtesy of Edward Gal (Moorlands Totilas), Adelinde Cornelissen (Parzival) and Imke Schellekens-Bartels (Hunter Douglas Sunrise).

Moorlands Totilas’s supremacy was in doubt after Thursday’s warm-up grand prix where he finished second to Adelinde on Parzival. But today the pair didn’t even get close, as Edward lead by more than seven per cent with a score of 89.9%.

Edward’s ride, the impressive black Gribaldi stallion, wasn’t as relaxed as we saw him at Hickstead and Windsor last year, but Edward contained the 10-year-old’s nerves enough to show off his tremendous expression and not rack up any expensive mistakes. Last to go, and with the home-crowd behind him, rather than bow under the pressure, the pair rose to the occasion.

Edward said: “I was a little nervous how he would be today as he was tense on Thursday, but by half way through the test he seemed to find his confidence again. And by the end I was very happy.”

Adelinde was perhaps at a disadvantage running 11th in the order — by comparison Totilas was up last — and she needed to do something special to retain the lead for that long. She almost lost the lead earlier than expected, to eventual third-placed Imke Schellekens-Bartels, who received a standing ovation for her mistake-free test on the experienced mare Hunter Douglas Sunrise.

“I thought this week that this would be our best show,” said Imke. “It was the best freestyle she’s ever done.”

Germany’s Isabell Werth, back in action following her ban and baby break, looked strong on Warum Nicht, who finished just shy of 80%.

Fifth, but still impressive, were Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Scandic Watermill, whose mark caused some controversy as the crowd felt he deserved more.

Don’t miss Horse & Hound 1 April issue for a full report, results and photographs from Den Bosch

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Edward Gal and wonderhorse Totilas — favourites for the World Cup final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, this Saturday — lacked sparkle in last night’s qualifier and were beaten my compatriots Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival on home soil.

Adelinde scored 78.85% on her European special individual gold medallist to beat Edward by more than 2%.

The slate will be wiped clean before Saturday, when the final grand prix kür that decides this year’s World Cup champion kicks off at 2pm local time.

The Dutch dominated the line-up in this warm-up competition, with Imke Schellekens-Bartels and Hunter Douglas Sunrise claiming third place ahead of Germany’s Isabell Werth.

Moorlands Totilas lacked the breathtaking expression that has had him repeatedly breaking world records over the past nine months. The stallion was also explosive in his canter work and did not seem to settle during the test.

Cornelissen was last to go and Parzival, who has struggled with his nerves before, kept it together and appeared to grow in confidence throughout the test.

Judge Wim Ernes said: “Parzival was a little tense, but Adelinde had him on the bit to avoid mistakes and she managed very well. It was a great result.”

Suddenly, Saturday’s final is a two horse race.

Don’t miss Horse & Hound 1 April issue for full report, photographs and result

Results

1, Jerich Parzival (Adelinde Cornelissen) (NED) 78.85

2, Moorlands Totilas (Edward Gal) (NED) 76.80

3, Hunter Douglas Sunrise (Imke Schellekens Bartels) (NED) 74.89

4, Warum Nicht FRH (Isabell Werth) (GER) 73.31

5, Watermill Scandic HBC (Patrik Kittel) (SWE) 72.08

6, Digby (Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein) (DEN) 71.19

7, Triviant-Unicef (Matthias Alexander Rath) (GER) 70.51

8, Favorit (Tinne Vilelmson-Silfven) (SWE) 69.23

9, Le Bo (Carola Koppelmann) (GER) 68.63

10, Apollo Van Het Vijverhof (Jeroen Devroe) (BEL) 68.25

11, Victory Salute (Brett Parbery) (AUS) 67.02

12, Randon (Michal Rapcewicz) (POL) 66.72

13, Ekwador (Katarzyna Milczarek) (POL) 64.93

14, Cointreau (Peter Gmoser) (AUT) 63.91

15, Samba (Luiza Almeida) (BRA) 60.63

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BRITAIN is sitting in bronze medal position going into the final day of the team competition at Windsor’s European dressage championships tomorrow (26 August).

The Netherlands is way out in front after a cracking performance from Adelinde Cornelissen on Parzival (80.64%), and Britain is 1.927% behind Germany.

Carl Hester pulled off a personal best riding Donald Mactaggart’s Liebling II (72.09%) and was in the lead until a mistake for the last one-time changes meant he scored fours and fives for that movement.

“I feel like I’ve played my part now and hopefully taken a bit of pressure off Laura [Bechtolsheimer] and Emma [Hindle] tomorrow,” said Carl. “We actually have a silver medal in our grasp — though I don’t care what colour it is, I just want a medal after all these years!

“I’m not worried what happens individually in the special or if I even get into the kür, I came here to do a good job for the team and Liebling’s done that. He’s not hugely elastic like the Dutch horses, he has to work really hard to do what he did today.”

Listen to interview with Carl Hester

Maria Eilberg, first to go for Britain, pulled off 67.92%, riding Two Sox. It was Maria’s senior team championship debut and she rode her socks off. A disappointing walk and extended trot was all that marred an otherwise smart and consistent test.

Listen to interview with Maria Eilberg

The Netherland’s Adelinde Cornelissen was also making her major championship debut, having been reserve at Hong Kong last August along with Maria.

“I knew he was in good shape coming here but you never know what they will do in the arena,” said Adelinde. “He was so focussed in every movement, really relaxed in the arena, and when he’s like that he finds the exercises really easy.”

Britain’s great individual medal hope Laura Bechtolsheimer rides Mistral Hojris at 11:27 tomorrow and Emma Hindle, best of the Brits at the 2008 Olympics on Lancet, is on at 14:45. You can follow all the action at H&H Live, our interactive text coverage featuring expert commentary from Anna Ross Davies and Charlie Hutton.

The individual gold medal favourite, Moorlands Totilas, competes under Edward Gal of the Netherlands at 15:03. The horse was sent to the holding box after the first horse inspection when presented to president of the veterinary committee Paul Farringdon, the foreign veterinary delegate Dr Friedrih Wilhelm Hanbucken and the FEI foreign technical delegate Mariette Withages. He was then represented and passed.

Twelve teams are fighting for the three medals tomorrow, with 54 horses having been presented at the first horse inspection.

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DUTCH dressage sensation Adelinde Cornelissen had to withdraw her superstar Parzival from the World Cup final in Las Vegas (17-19 April) due to tendon injury.

The pair were joint favourites for the title, having won three qualifiers in the build-up to the event — including London Olympia (watch their winning dressage test) — beating world number one Anky Van Grunsven.

Adelinde and Pazival made it out to Las Vegas from home in Beilen, The Netherlands, only for the 12-year-old gelding to go lame during a warm-up. The show’s attending vet, Sjef Desmedt, diagnosed a tendon injury in the horse’s near foreleg.

The story echoes what happened to Denmark’s Andreas Helgstrand’s ride, Blue Hors Matine, two years ago. The mare, who won silver at the World Equestrian Games the previous summer, fell from the lorry ramp on arrival in Las Vegas, damaging a leg and putting herself out of the competition.

The grand prix, from which riders qualify for Saturday’s kür, takes place tomorrow afternoon in the following running order:

• Jan Ebeling (USA)
• Leslie Morse (USA)
• Marco Bernal (COL)
• Heath Ryan Regardez Moi (AUS)
• Minna Telde (SWE)
• Jan Brink (SWE)
• Ashley Holzer (CAN)
• Jeannette Haazen (NED)
• Michael Rapcewicz (POL)
• Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED)
• Isabell Werth (GER)
• Steffen Peters (USA)
• Anky van Grunsven (NED)
• Monica Theodorescu (GER)

Stay in touch with all the news from Las Vegas on Horseandhound.co.uk

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Read the latest news and show reports featuring Adelinde Cornelissen

Adelinde Cornelissen was born on 8 July 1979 and started riding as a child at the local riding school “Manege Smit” in Pesse, the Netherlands.

She first hit the big time with her home-bred pony Ayesha, a Welsh pony by Valentino. Together they won both the indoor and outdoor national pony dressage championships in 1995, a feat Adelinde repeated in 1997 on Mr Pride.

After school she studied English at College. Her parents are both teachers and she eventually followed the same route, following a gap year where she worked at a yard in Canada – the perfect way to combine riding with perfecting her English.

She worked at the AOC Terra College in Meppel until March 2008, when she gave up teaching to concentrate on competing. Adelinde was selected as the Dutch reserve rider for the 2008 Olympics with Parzival, but did not compete. Adelinde has ridden the Dutch-bred Jazz gelding since he was a five-year-old.

The pair represented the Netherlands at the Windsor Europeans in 2009, winning team gold, individual gold in the grand prix special and individual silver in the freestyle behind Edward Gal and Totilas.

They were selected for the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, but were eliminated from the competition when the judges spotted blood in the horse’s mouth during the test. The Netherlands still won team gold with their other three riders.

Adelinde and Parzival won team and individual gold medals at the 2011 European Championships in Rotterdam.

The partnership won back to back FEI World Cup finals in 2011/2012 and were ranked no.1 in the world going into the London 2012 Olympics.

Adelinde and Parzival made their Olympic debut at London 2012 Games, winning team bronze and individual silver behind Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin.

Adelinde Cornelissen videos

Adelinde Cornelissen pictures

Adelinde Cornelissen’s official website

ADELINDE CORNELISSEN cemented her position as the new Dutch dressage superstar, winning the Olympia World Cup qualifier with 80.75%.

Parvizal, her 11-year-old chestnut gelding, was more relaxed than his rider is used to and produced a flowing, mistake-free test to rock and roll tunes.

“Right from the warm-up he was calm,” she said. “When he’s like that I can just go in and ride my test as he doesn’t get distracted.”

Watch Adelinde’s winning test

Adelinde was a full-time English teacher until giving up her job in March to concentrate on her megastar horse. She now trains with Sjeff Janssen, husband and coach to world number one Anky van Grunsven.

Listen to Adelinde Cornelissen interview

Fellow countryman Hans Peter Minderhoud took second place riding his Olympic team silver medallist Exquis Nadine. A crowd favourite with his Carpenters medley, the chestnut mare’s rhythmic passage never faultered. Only a little tension marred their performance.

“She is not a horse who likes competing in indoor arenas like this,” admitted Hans. “I was pleased with her, but there where moments when she was a little nervous.”

Sussex-based Kyra Kyrklund finished third on Max to a new freestyle, featuring dance music from the film American Beauty.

Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer just about kept the lid on Mistral Hojris’s enthusiasm for a personal best of 75.3%. This expressive gelding mesmerised the audience with his gorgeous piaffe/passage tour, and only had big mistakes in the walk and final halt.

Listen to Laura Bechtolsheimer interview

Richard Davison performed against the odds to take sixth place on nine-year-old Artemis with 73.25% on the horse’s grand prix freestyle debut. Fellow Brit Carl Hester was seventh on Liebling with a humourous Tom Jones kür, and Jodie Lister finished 11th on Nicky on their world cup qualifier debut.

www.olympiahorseshow.co.uk

Stay in touch with all the action from Olympia throughout the show on Horseandhound.co.uk and don’t miss H&H’s full report, pictures, analysis and detail from the world cup qualifier in the 25 December issue (on sale 23 December)

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