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Five famous black horses from myth to modern-day legend

bethany.stone@futurenet.com (Bethany Stone) — Sat, 18 May 2024 07:30:16 +0000

How many famous black horses do you know? Tall, dark and handsome – there’s something so irresistible about a black horse. From the Lloyds Friesians galloping across our screens to equine superstars such as Classic Moet and Black Caviar, black horses are blessed with presence and panache.

Such is our captivation with black horses that they have well and truly left their hoofprints in the pages of history. They’ve inspired stories, art and generations of equestrians. We’ve narrowed down the world’s famous black horses to five favourites – though it was a tough call!

1. Bucephalus (4th Century BCE)

We hear about Bucephalus from Plutarch, the Greek historian and philosopher. According to his Life of Alexander, Bucephalus was a wild black horse with a large white star. He was given to Alexander the Great’s father, King Philip II of Macedon. The horse’s name combines the Greek words “bous”, meaning ox, and “kephalos”, which means head.

Bucephalus seemed wild and vicious – no one in King Philip’s court could get anywhere near him. Alexander, only a boy, watched the horse kick and fight and noticed he was afraid of his own shadow. If you’ve ever hacked a spooky horse, you’ll appreciate this!

Alexander turned Bucephalus’ head towards the sun and, shadow obscured, the horse relaxed. Thanks to his observance and patience, the young prince bridled and mounted the unrideable Bucephalus.

Bucephalus became Alexander’s famous war horse. When the horse died in battle at Hydaspes in 326 BCE, Alexander named a nearby city Bucephala (sometimes acknowledged as modern day Jhulem in Pakistan).

The story of Bucephalus is recounted in the 1970s classic film The Black Stallion, and tells the story of a boy who tames a wild horse.

2. Black Beauty (published 1877)

2JK8MWW Black BeautyFilm: Black Beauty (USA/UK 1994)Characters: Black BeautyDirector: Caroline Thompson29 July 1994 **WARNING** This Photograph is for editorial use only and is the copyright of WARNER BROS. and/or the Photographer assigned by the Film or Production Company and can only be reproduced by publications in conjunction with the promotion of the above Film. A Mandatory Credit To WARNER BROS. is required. The Photographer should also be credited when known. No commercial use can be granted without written authority from the Film Company. (Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

As famous black horses go, we’re sure you’ll have heard of this horse! Black Beauty is the titular character of a beloved children’s novel by Anna Sewell. Anna, born to Quaker parents in 1820s Norfolk, was permanently disabled when she broke both ankles as a child. Her mobility severely limited and her health poor, she spent much of her life assisting with her mother Mary’s writing.

She relied on horse-drawn carriages to get out and about and it is said this helped her develop a huge affection and sympathy for horses. She began writing Black Beauty in the 1870s, of which she said “its special aim being to induce kindness, sympathy and an understanding treatment of horses”.

The novel follows Beauty from birth to his final home. Throughout his life, Beauty changes hands many times and suffers a number of trials and tribulations. Most strikingly, Beauty is made to wear a bearing rein while pulling a baker’s cart. This is a device that was used to hitch a driven horse’s head up as high head carriage was the fashion. In the novel, a woman shows the driver how much easier Beauty could manage with his head low. Following the publication of Black Beauty, the use of bearing reins was abolished.

Sadly, Sewell died shortly after its publication in April 1878, but not before she learned of its success. Today, Black Beauty is a 50 million-copy bestseller and is undoubtedly one of the best horse movies ever made.

These days, the novel’s cultural impact knows no bounds. There are a host of film and stage adaptations to enjoy and it’s even one of Queen Camilla’s favourites. However, perhaps most significant is that the novel serves as a manifesto for the kind treatment of horses. Bernard Unti, who wrote a chapter on Sewell in Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare, dubbed Black Beauty as “the most influential anti-cruelty novel of all time”.

3. Burmese (1962-1990)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Gifted to Queen Elizabeth II in 1969 by The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Burmese was a striking black mare born in Saskatchewan and trained in Ottawa. It is said the regiment had heard The Queen was looking for a new horse. Thus, Burmese was presented to Her Majesty at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 1969.

Burmese was a horse for business and leisure. Queen Elizabeth was often seen on board Burmese whatever the weather during stays at country houses, but most famously the mare was the Queen’s chosen mount for Trooping the Colour 18 years in a row until her retirement in 1987. Burmese was buried in the grounds of Windsor after her death in 1990.

During Trooping the Colour of 1981, Burmese was famously spooked by a teenager firing blanks at her royal rider from the crowd. Burmese was understandably unsettled but The Queen, riding side saddle, handled her horse expertly.

4. Sefton (1963–1993)

Sefton in 1984 with Shaun Measures (Image credit: Getty Images)

If you’re looking for famous black horses with hero status, then look no further. The part-bred Irish Draught was purchased by the Army as a four-year-old and was assigned to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. During his time at the barracks, he received the nickname “Sharkey”, which alluded to his penchant for biting.

Sefton gained a reputation for being difficult, and was sent out with the Blues and Royals on deployment in Germany with great success. In fact, he even competed in showjumping while posted out there.

However, Sefton became a beacon of resilience and bravery in July 1982 following the detonation of an IRA nailbomb in Hyde Park. Sefton and 15 other horses were participating in the changing of the guard when the incendiary went off. Tragically, two soldiers were killed at the scene and a further two died later of their wounds. Meanwhile, all the horses were wounded, with seven put down at the scene. However, Sefton was the most severely hurt.

Following eight hours of surgery – a record for a horse at the time – Sefton returned to his duties for a further two years after convalescing at the Veterinary Hospital of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps and the Defence Animal Centre, Melton Mowbray.

Sefton received countless cards and mints during his hospital stay. Plus, the public raised more £620,000 for the new Sefton Surgical Wing at the Royal Veterinary College.

Following his retirement to the Home of Rest for Horses in Speen, Buckinghamshire, Sefton’s lived until he was 30, when complications that arose from his injuries took their toll. He was one of the first horses inducted in the British Horse Society Equestrian Hall of Fame in 2005.

5. Totilas (2000-2020)

Totilas, pictured at the 2010 World Equestrian Games where he won three gold medals. (Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

This black stallion heralded a new era of dressage when he burst onto the grand prix scene with Dutch rider Edward Gal in 2009. Famously, “Toto” was the first horse to score more than 90% in a grand prix test. Later that year, at Olympia, the pair broke the freestyle record to score 92.3%. Following their success, Edward and Toto cleaned up a the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. However, this was to be their last championship as the stallion was sold to Germany shortly after.

Matthias Rath was given riding rights when his step mother, Ann Kathrin Lissenhoff, bought shares in Totilas. Rath and Toto won their first grand prix and special at München-Reim in 2011, but the horse retired in 2015 following a disappointing score of 79.571% in Aachen and concerns for his soundness.

Following a five-year retirement spent hacking and at stud, Totilas died as a result of a serious colic episode.

Who is your favourite famous black horse? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com including your name, nearest town and county for the chance to have your thoughts published in H&H magazine

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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Olympic combination to make long-awaited comeback after almost three years

Oscar Williams — Thu, 02 May 2024 18:11:22 +0000

Edward Gal and Total US (Totilas x Sir Donnerhall I) are set to make a return to competition after an absence of almost three years in the grand prix at the CDI3* in Exloo, the Netherlands.

As reported by Horses.nl, the FEI registration of both Edward and Total US were activated by the KNHS (Royal Dutch Equestrian Association) yesterday (1 May). However, the combination was not included on the master list provided by the competition organisers and it was unclear whether all the paperwork had gone through in time.

But following the trot-up, it was confirmed through the online scoring system that Edward and Total US will be 13th to go in the grand prix tomorrow (3 May).

It will be Edward’s first competition since competing at the Tokyo Olympics, where he and the then nine-year-old stallion finished sixth individually on 84.15%.

It was a poignant occasion for Edward, as he rode Total US to Totilas’ Kentucky World Equestrian Games (2010) music composed by Joost Peters. Kentucky was also the final time Edward rode the freestyle aboard Totilas in competition, as the horse was sold shortly after their triple gold medal-winning performance.

In the build-up to the 2022 Dutch Dressage Champions in Ermelo, Edward announced he would be taking a year out from competition and plans to return “with energy” in future.

“I’ve been riding in competitions for so many years and I’ve enjoyed it. But, after the Olympics, I felt like I wanted to take a break,” said Edward at the time.

“I love riding at home, training our stallions, and I’d like to continue doing that this year in peace.

“After that, I’ll be back in sport again with all my energy. Thank you all for your understanding and I’m looking forward to many wonderful moments to come.”

That one-year sabbatical has now stretched to almost three years, but anticipation had been building for a potential return after the KNHS included the combination on their long list for the Paris Olympic Games.

Also in action in the CDI3* at Exloo, will be British combinations Lottie Fry and the 15-year-old stallion Nespresso (Negro x Tenerife VDL) – who were second to Charlotte Dujardin and Alive And Kicking in Lier recently – and Anna Ross and the 12-year-old mare Habouche (Ampere x Ustinov) who have only recently made their own competition comeback after Anna’s knee surgery.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

‘A treasure until his last breath’: Olympic medal-winning horse dies aged 22

Oscar Williams — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 16:49:29 +0000

Glock Horse Performance Center (GHPC) has announced the death of Edward Gal’s London 2012 ride, Glock’s Undercover.

GHPC said goodbye to the 22-year-old, known as Fritsie, in a “gentle farewell on the evening of 26 September”.

“We loved you from the first moment and considered you a treasure until your last breath. Now you live on in our memory,” a spokesman for GHPC and Edward said.

More medals followed including team gold at the 2015 European Championships and individual silver and two bronze medals at the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, Lyon, and Gothenburg. They also claimed victories at GHPC Austria, in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Odense.

But despite his international success, Fritsie could be a sensitive and tense horse.

The controversial 2015 European Championships in Aachen proved to be a turning point for the combination. Last to go, Edward was eliminated from the special as Fritsie had blood in the mouth.

Edward later explained that Fritsie became tense when the last horse left the warm-up arena. The then 14-year-old gelding struggled to regain his composure in the intense competition environment.

“After Aachen 2015, we therefore took a break and it was not until April 2016 that Edward rode Fritsie again internationally,” the GHPC spokesman said.

“But there he felt again that Fritsie was stressed and so what would be the point of those potential successes if the horse with which one has such a close bond is no longer relaxed and happy at tournaments?”

Shortly afterwards, Glock’s Undercover was retired.

“We decided in May 2016 for your life to continue free of competition,” the spokesman said. “Instead, meadows with fragrant grass for you and a life without horseshoes. For a quiet farewell from the international arena, where you shone, and against a farewell in honour, which would indeed have been beautiful for people but continued pure stress for you.

“You loved your new life, which you led since May 2016 with us at the Glock Horse Performance Center Netherlands. In the sun, in the wind, in the freshly blooming or well-grown meadows, in the leaves of fall or in the fresh snow with a thick winter coat. Together with your friends: Tony (the pony), Nadine and Next One.

“Farewell, dear friend. You were a personality, a friend and companion. It was a privilege to have you in our lives and working with you was very special. In our memory you live on. Because you were a part of us and will remain so.”

Multiple gold medal-winning rider Edward Gal steps back from competition

Lucy Elder — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 09:42:15 +0000

Top dressage rider Edward Gal is taking a year out from competition and plans to return “with energy” in future.

The multiple gold medal-winning Dutchman’s last international start was at the Tokyo Olympics, with Glock’s Total US, owned by Glock Horse Performance Centre (GHPC).

“I’ve been riding in competitions for so many years and I’ve enjoyed it. But, after the Olympics, I felt like I wanted to take a break,” said Edward.

“I love riding at home in the GHPC, training our stallions, and I’d like to continue doing that this year in peace.

“After that, I’ll be back in sport again with all my energy. Thank you all for your understanding and I’m looking forward to many wonderful moments to come.”

The announcement means that Edward will not be seeking his 13th national title at the Dutch Dressage Championships in Ermelo next week (5 to 8 May).

Edward and the Totilas son finished sixth individually and helped the Dutch side to fifth place in the team competition in Tokyo.

The pair’s freestyle was a poignant moment at last summer’s Games, with Edward opting to ride the 10-year-old stallion to the same music with which he won the world title with the horse’s sire at Kentucky in 2010, where they also won world individual and team gold.

Edward’s career to date features a bevy of broken records, medals and senior championship appearances.

He scored world, Europeans and World Cup titles with the legendary Totilas and he has represented the Netherlands at 15 senior championships and 11 World Cup finals with eight horses, including three Olympic Games.

Olympic dressage rider cleared of cruelty in case brought by animal rights activists

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 16:42:27 +0000

Edward Gal has been acquitted of cruelty in a case brought by the German branch of PETA — and is now considering taking legal action against the animal rights activists.

The Dutch Olympic dressage rider was cleared in court in Aachen, Germany, of riding Glock’s Undercover in rollkur during the 2015 European Championships, during which the combination were on the gold medal-winning team. The Dutch equestrian federation said the charge was “dismissed as completely unfounded and the judge immediately acquitted Edward of all charges against him”.

The federation added: “It was the second time in a row that PETA had tried to sue Edward.

“In 2018, just before the World Equestrian Games in the US, PETA filed the exact same complaint. The case was then immediately dropped.

“This year, just before the Tokyo Olympics, PETA once again tried to put Edward in a bad light by filing another false accusation against him. Once again, the animal rights organisation backed down in court. All allegations against Edward have been completely disproved by witnesses and hard facts. Edward cannot be blamed at all and has been cleared of all blame.”

The federation added that Edward is “very happy” at the verdict, but that his reputation may have been damaged by the negative publicity caused by the case.

“He is now having lawyers investigate whether he will take legal action,” a spokesman said.

PETA’s Edmund Haferbeck said: “It is a milestone that an animal welfare case with a prominent [figure] after more than six years — and despite considerable resistance also within the judiciary — even comes to court.”

PETA added that its motto in part is that “animals are not there to entertain us”, and that it works against “speciesism”.

‘It felt extra special to do that here’: poignant moment as Totilas son pays homage to late sire in Olympic freestyle

Lucy Elder — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 13:22:40 +0000

Edward Gal and Total US’s Tokyo Olympic freestyle was a poignant moment in a number of ways.

The Dutch combination finished sixth individually, scoring 84.16% (84.157%) under the floodlights in the Equestrian Park at Baji Koen on Wednesday night (28 July).

This is a huge result in its own right, yet it is the story behind the freestyle performance that makes it even more special.

Total US is only nine, and is the son of the legendary Totilas, with whom Edward broke numerous records – but never rode him at an Olympics.

Tonight, Edward chose to ride Total US to Totilas’s Kentucky World Equestrian Games (WEG) music, where they won gold on 91.8%. Kentucky was also the final time Edward rode the freestyle aboard Totilas in competition, as the horse was sold shortly after their triple gold medal-winning performance at WEG.

“It’s the old test from Totilas that I rode in Kentucky – it felt extra special to do that here,” said Edward.

The freestyle showcased the horse’s power and composure through his piaffe/passage work, with the urgency of the music building to match his huge extension and trot half-passes. There were a few green moments – a little anticipation at the transition from extended canter ahead of the pirouette and again in the transition to passage – which served as a reminder of how much more is still to come from this horse.

“[I had a] really good feeling,” Edward added. “I must say that in all three tests, he did really his best. He gives me the feeling that he doesn’t want to make mistakes. Sometimes I had a mistake, but he always wants to go and he is so good in [his] reactions and gave me the feeling that he is really developing very quick.

“Now it feels [he is getting] better and better better every time. It just takes time and that’s what he has as he is still so young, so I think it will be very good in future.”

Speaking after their grand prix test on Saturday, Edward said he could feel “so much comparison with Totilas”.

“You get the same feeling, when you [use your] leg – that the same reaction, the same as he is in the stable,” he said, adding it’s really nice that those traits have been inherited.

“Totilas was a little bit more confident at his age. He’s a little bit shy, but I’ve done a couple of competitions with him now and I can feel that he is getting more confident also.”

Tokyo Olympics dressage day one highlights: huge personal bests and orange tailcoats

Polly Bryan — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 16:40:13 +0000

The first day of the Tokyo Olympics grand prix dressage was crammed full of exciting highlights. Here are the five things you need to know about today...

On day one of the Tokyo Olympics dressage, Britain’s 25-year-old Lottie Fry made her Olympic debut, 29 years after her late mother Laura Fry rode at the Barcelona Games. And what a debut it was – she and Everdale pulled out a corker of a test for more than 77%, which is a personal best for them in the grand prix.

Find out what Lottie had to say about her test, and what it felt like to ride down the centre line at her first Games

Carl Hester also rode a brilliant test for Britain, and was thrilled with how his ride, the hot, nervy Jazz son En Vogue – who is owned by Charlotte Dujardin – coped in the huge Tokyo stadium. He scored 75.12%, with just a couple of unfortunate mistakes bringing his mark down.

Hear from Carl about his test, the score he was aiming for – and the reason behind the blips

Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl showed everyone why she is one of the hot favourites for individual gold at these Olympics, absolutely knocking it out of the park with a grand prix more than 2% than her previous best in this test.

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Edward Gal from the Netherlands caught the eye in more than one way today. He was one of the day’s highest scorers aboard the Totilas son Total US, and also showed off the Dutch riders’ new championship attire – snazzy orange tailcoats (pictured above).

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The only USA rider in action on day one of the grand prix was Sabine Schut-Kery, and she made everyone sit up with a stunning grand prix on Sanceo that earned her a score 3% higher than her previous best. We were so impressed we named her H&H’s Tokyo rider of the day.

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It’s now 1.30am here in Tokyo, so it’s definitely time for bed, but we can’t wait to bring you more exciting action from the second day of grand prix dressage action tomorrow. The first in our new series of daily Tokyo podcasts will be available for you to enjoy shortly, but I’m signing off and leaving that in the capable hands of our team back in the UK. See you on the other side!

Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour posts highest score so far in Olympic dressage grand prix

Martha Terry — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 12:01:14 +0000

CATHRINE DUFOUR scored the highest mark of the Tokyo Olympic dressage grand prix competition so far to head group two. The Dane posted 81.056% riding the 11-year-old Bordeaux gelding Bohemian. Although it wasn’t quite a personal best, Cathrine called it “a clever round”.

“He felt super, the perfect amount of ‘lit-up’ today but also listening,” she said. “I wanted to have a smooth, clear round but I was also playing a bit with where to push and where to hold back, as it was important for me to give him a really great feeling in the ring.”

This is the 29-year-old rider’s second Olympic appearance. Although Bohemian is renowned to be spooky, the pair are ranked six in the world and tipped as potential medal-winners. Bohemian arrived at the arena with his chestnut coat lathered in sweat, but kept his temperament in check for a superb performance.

“Even though there’s no audience, you get fooled because there is a vibe in there and you can really feel that it’s ‘now’.”

Cathrine has left plenty in hand to be able to push Bohemian more at the sharp end of the competition.

“Of course today counts, but we have two more rides to go, so I’m saving just a little bit,” she said. “It’s about giving him and me confidence in the ring today. I can do more and he can do more, and he’s never afraid. He always attacks the job.

“In my eyes, he’s one of the best horses in the world.”

“Total US’s first really big test”

Edward Gal laid down a marker for the future with his nine-year-old Totilas son Total US, scored 78.649% to take second in this group. The Dutch rider was impressed by the young stallion’s maturity.

“It was the first really big test for him in an arena like this and I felt the tension in the warm-up, and I’m sure he felt it in me,” said Edward. “But he’s so young and so talented, and I can feel that he’s much more confident now than in the first [grand prix] competition he did [in the spring].

Total US is showing all the signs of being as brilliant as his sire.

“I feel so much comparison with Totilas,” Edward said. “It’s the same feeling when you put your leg on, and the same reaction.

“Totilas was more confident at this age; Total US is a little bit shy. But I can feel his confidence growing. Now, I can ride him a bit more. It will take a couple more years to get everything sorted but I think he’s really, really good.”

“He is a bit like a bomb”

Spain’s Beatriz Ferrer-Salat took third spot riding Elegance, her national champion, on a score of 72.096%. She was ruing a couple of mistakes in her second pirouette.

“Those mistakes were quite expensive,” she said. “But I’m very happy with the horse. I’m quite nervous these days and that was very nice.”

Beatriz described Elegance as “a very strong horse, very hot”.

“He has a lot of power – he’s a little bit like a bomb, so that’s not always easy to manage,” she said. “But today I’m very happy and proud.”

This was the second of six “heats” to qualify for Tuesday’s grand prix special for the team medals and Wednesday’s grand prix freestyle for individual medals. This group featured nine riders, after Austria’s Victoria Max-Theurer had to withdraw Abegglen NRW due to a tooth abscess.

Cathrine and Edward qualify automatically as the top two from the group, and the six next best scores from across the groups will also go through. Britain’s Lottie Fry topped group one with 77.096% on Everdale.

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‘He’s so young and so talented’: meet the exciting Totilas son who set Tokyo’s Olympic arena ablaze

Lucy Elder — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 11:22:18 +0000

Edward Gal and Total US have set their individual medal and Dutch team campaign off to a strong start to qualify for the individual final on the opening day of grand prix dressage at the Tokyo Olympics.

The pair were first to go in group B and set the bar at 78.65% (78.649%) with an expressive test under the floodlights at Tokyo’s Equestrian Park in Baji Koen (24 July).

The trailblazing pair held the lead until the final combination of Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and Bohemian swooped into the top spot on 81.1% (81.056%). Edward has secured his place in the individual final (freestyle) and has put the Dutch team in good position to qualify for the team final (grand prix special).

Total US, the nine-year-old stallion son of the late Totilas – with whom Edward set multiple world records – is in his first season of international grand prix.

“It felt really good. It was the first really big test for him in an arena like this,” said Edward.

“I felt the tension coming up a little bit warming up, because he was much more alone there and you can feel this is a competition – he’s very sensitive so he felt it too, I’m sure he also felt it from me.

“He’s so young and so talented and it will take a couple of more years to get everything sorted out, but I think then he’s really, really good.”

When asked about what the horse’s highlights are, he added: “It sounds stupid but he can do everything really well.”

He explained the horse has all the qualities and ability needed to score highly across the movements and is excited for when that all comes together, with the potential for a really high mark.

“You can feel so much comparison with Totilas. You get the same feeling, when you [use your] leg – that the same reaction, the same as he is in the stable,” he said, adding it’s really nice that those traits have been inherited.

“Totilas was a little bit more confident at his age. He’s a little bit shy, but I’ve done a couple of competitions with him now and I can feel that he is getting more confident also, so that’s good.”

He explained that he had to do Rotterdam to make sure the horse could cope with the atmosphere and the floodlights, which he did, and Total has been growing in confidence across his international starts.

“It was nice also to have Dream Boy [stablemate and ride of teammate Hans Peter Minderhoud] next to him in the plane so he was relaxed. He knows Dream Boy so that was really good that he has a big brother with him,” he said.

“There is [still a huge atmosphere in there], especially with the floodlights and it really looks great and when you come in it still feels like a really great competition.

“I must say that when you ride, you don’t notice but when you stop and nothing is happening, that’s really weird. I think for Total, it’s not so bad, because when you have a lot of people, you feel the energy of the people too and he is very sensitive. I think for him for now, it’s good, but I hope the next one will be with a lot of people.”

Who will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics grand prix freestyle? H&H’s dressage editor makes her predictions…

Polly Bryan — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 04:39:08 +0000

The Tokyo Olympics dressage competition gets underway today (24 July), with the grand prix, which runs over two days. At these Olympics, the grand prix serves two separate purposes: it acts as a team qualifier for the grand prix special on Tuesday (27 July), with the top eight teams going on to compete for the team medals, and it also determines who will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics grand prix freestyle, which determines the individual medals on Wednesday (28 July).

Only 18 combinations will progress through from the grand prix to the freestyle. The 60 starters (15 teams of three plus 15 individuals) will ride in six groups of 10, with riders distributed across these groups according to world ranking. The 18 that will progress to the freestyle comprise the top two pairs in each of the six groups, plus the six next best across all the groups.

As we have discussed in our Olympics previews, this Games is especially unpredictable for many reasons. But H&H dressage editor Polly Bryan has analysed the start list, and had a go at predicting which combinations will make up the 18 that will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics grand prix freestyle. Let’s see what she thinks…

Group One

Joao Victor Marcari Oliva (BRA) – Escorial

Nanna Skodberg Merrald (DEN) – Zack

Dong Seon Kim (KOR) – Belstaff

Kazuki Sado (JPN) – Ludwig Der Sonnenkoenig 2

Mary Hanna (AUS) – Calanta

Inna Logutenkova (UKR) – Fleraro

Yvonne Losos de Muniz (DOM) – Aquamarijn

Lottie Fry (GBR) – Everdale

Therese Nilshagen (SWE) – Dante Weltino

This is a strong group to kick off proceedings at the Tokyo Olympics dressage. The Swedish pair Therese Nilshagen and Dante Weltino are the best-ranked pair, in 18th, hence their position at the end of the group, but it is Britain’s Lottie Fry and Everdale, ranked 36th, whose grand prix scores have been consistently higher over the past couple of seasons. I would expect Lottie to lead this group and secure her spot in the freestyle. If Therese and Dante Weltino can find their best form, I would expect them to go through too, but it could be a close call between them and the Danish pair Nanna Skodberg Merrald, who have posted consistent mid-70s grand prix scores in the short time they’ve been together. Don’t rule out Yvonne Losos de Muniz, and Mary Hanna, either.

Britain’s Lottie Fry with Everdale (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Group Two

Edward Gal (NED) – Total US

Beatriz Ferrer-Salat (ESP) – Elegance

Dina Ellermann (EST) – Donna Anna

Francesco Zaza (ITA) – Wispering Romance

Maria Caetano (POR) – Fenix De Tineo

Chris von Martels (CAN) – Eclips

Inessa Merkulova (ROC) – Mister X

Antonia Ramel (SWE) – Brother De Jeu

Cathrine Dufour (DEN) – Bohemian

This is a fascinating group. In theory, Cathrine Dufour should walk it – she and Bohemian achieved plus-83% several times in 2020, and 80% on their last outing, and are ranked number six in the world. But Edward Gal’s Total US, while too new to this level to have made much headway up the world rankings as of yet, has scored in the high 70s in each of their three international grands prix so far. I think Cathrine and Edward will book tickets to the freestyle, but Spain’s Beatriz Ferrer-Salat, Sweden’s Antonia Ramel and Austria’s Victoria Max-Theurer are likely to be in strong contention for one of the six “lucky loser” places.

Group Three

Jose Antonio Garcia Mena (ESP) – Sorento 15

Carl Hester (GBR) – En Vogue

Larissa Pauluis (BEL) – Flambeau

Aleksandra Maksakova (ROC) – Bojengels

Alexandre Ayache (FRA) – Zo What

Rodrigo Torres (POR) – Fogoso

Sabine Schut-Kery (USA) – Sanceo

Henri Ruoste (FIN) – Kontestro DB

Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED) – Dream Boy

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) – TSF Dalera

This is going to be a hugely exciting group to finish things up on the first day of grand prix, and Britain’s Carl Hester will face hot competition. Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, ranked second in the world, is one of the favourites for individual gold and I would expect her to easily finish in the top two today, based on recent scores – her last three grands prix have all earned over 81%. If Carl and En Vogue can match their best international grand prix score – 77.5% in May – I think they will also go through. But the USA’s Sabine Schut-Kery, Finland’s Henri Ruoste and the Netherlands’ Hans-Peter Minderhoud all have the form to muscle their way into the top two. Whoever finishes third will likely end up as one of six extra qualifiers.

Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with TSF Dalera (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Group Four

Severo Jurado Lopez (ESP) – Fendi T

Christian Schumach (AUT) – TE Quiero SF

Caroline Chew (SGP) – Tribiani

Tatyana Kosterina (ROC) – Diavolessa

Heike Holstein (IRE) – Sambuca

Laurence Roos (BEL) – Fil Rouge

Lindsay Kellock (CAN) – Sebastien

Simone Pearce (AUS) – Destano

Carina Cassøe Kruth (DEN) – Heiline’s Danciera

Adrienne Lyle (USA) – Salvino

Based on their recent form, I expect this group to come down to a battle between the USA’s top ranked rider, Adrienne Lyle, and Denmark’s Carina Cassøe Kruth, both of whom have several very strong grand prix scores on their recent record. My money would go on Adrienne to edge it with Salvino – they are the only members of this group to have scored 80% at grand prix, and she achieved that as recently as April this year. Australia’s Simone Pearce and Destano could also be in the mix, but I think Ireland’s sole dressage representative Heike Holstein would have to better her best by a significant margin with the lovely home-bred mare Sambuca to move forward to the freestyle here.

Group Five

Marlies van Baalen (NED) – Go Legend

Shingo Hayashi (JPN) – Scolari 4

Martha Fernanda del Valle Quirarte (MEX) – Beduino Lam

Domien Michels (BEL) – Intermezzo Van Het Meerda

Kelly Layne (AUS) – Samhitas

Estelle Wettstein (SUI) – West Side Story OLD

Nicolas Ehlinger Wagner (LUX) – Quater Back Junior FRH

Morgan Barbançon (FRA) – Sir Donnerhall II OLD

Juliette Ramel (SWE) – Buriel KH

Dorothee Schneider (GER) – Showtime FRH

On paper, Germany’s Dorothee Schneider should walk this group with the lovely showtime FRH, with whom she could well win an individual medal. They haven’t competed very much since the 2019 Europeans, where they won two individual silver medals, but they produced an 81.52% grand prix on their last outing in June. Juliette Ramel and Buriel could well end up being Sweden’s leading combination after the withdrawal of Patrik Kittel, and I am confident that they will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics grand prix freestyle. But whether that is as one of the top two, or as a “lucky loser”, may well be up to France’s Morgan Barbançon, whose grand prix scores with Sir Donnerhall II are remarkably consistent, hovering very close to the 72% mark.

Group Six

Virginia Yarur (CHI) – Ronaldo

Yessin Rahmouni (MAR) – All At Once

Hiroyuki Kitahara (JPN) – Huracan

Maxime Collard (FRA) – Cupido PB

Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) – Gio

Florian Bacher (AUT) – Fidertraum

Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu (CAN) – All In

Joao Miguel Torrao (POR) – Equador

Steffen Peters (USA) – Suppenkasper

Isabell Werth (GER) – Bella Rose 2

And so to the final, and arguably most interesting group, of the six to close out the grand prix competition here at the Tokyo Olympics. I think that a couple of the six additional qualifying combinations will come from this group. World number one Isabell Werth will bring the action to a suitable climax, but all eyes will be on defending Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin. She may only be ranked 109th with Gio, but this is reflective of their lack of international outings, not of their ability, and I would fully expect Charlotte to give Isabell a run for her money. My feeling is, though, that the sprightly little Gio will improve as the competition goes on, so while Charlotte will certainly not be sitting quietly in this test, I think we’ll see a higher score from them in the special. The USA’s Steffen Peters and Portugal’s main man Joao Torrao will have to improve on their best scores so far to make the top two, but a high-70s mark is within reach for them both, so I expect to see them in the top 18 as well.

Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Gio (Image credit: creditUnknown)

So, who will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics grand prix freestyle?

After crunching the numbers for each of the six groups, here are the 18 combinations I would expect to make it through to the grand prix freestyle, and to compete for an individual Olympic medal:

Lottie Fry (GBR) – Everdale

Therese Nilshagen (SWE) – Dante Weltino

Nanna Skodberg Merrald (DEN) – Zack

Edward Gal (NED) – Total US

Antonia Ramel (SWE) – Brother De Jeu

Cathrine Dufour (DEN) – Bohemian

Carl Hester (GBR) – En Vogue

Henri Ruoste (FIN) – Kontestro DB

Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED) – Dream Boy

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) – TSF Dalera

Carina Cassøe Kruth (DEN) – Heiline’s Danciera

Adrienne Lyle (USA) – Salvino

Juliette Ramel (SWE) – Buriel KH

Dorothee Schneider (GER) – Showtime FRH

Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) – Gio

Joao Miguel Torrao (POR) – Equador

Steffen Peters (USA) – Suppenkasper

Isabell Werth (GER) – Bella Rose 2

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‘We’re full of grief and horror’: dressage medallist and top breeding stallion dies unexpectedly, aged 13

Polly Bryan — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 10:06:56 +0000

The European silver medal-winning stallion Glock’s Zonik has been put down, aged 13.

The Blue Hors Zack x Romanov son, who was the championship ride of the Netherlands’ Edward Gal in 2018 and 2019, suffered a catastrophic injury following surgery on 13 July.

“It is so unbelievable and so unreal. We are in deep shock, full of grief and horror,” said a statement from Glock Horse Performance Centre, owners of Zonik.

“Zonik became lame shortly before CHIO Rotterdam [in early July] and, following suspicion of a problem with a hoof, thorough examination led to diagnosis of an injury. We decided to have him operated upon and, to this end, transported him to Germany to what is indeed one of the most renowned equine veterinary clinics. The operation went well but, in the recovery box, Zonik injured himself so badly that we could only put him out of his misery. He had broken both of his hind legs.

“We have lost our wonderful stallion, this exceptional sire, our sporting partner. We are deeply saddened and shaken to the core by the loss of our great equine friend.”

Bred in Denmark by Linette Jaeger, Glock’s Zonik was Danish young horse champion as a four-year-old with Andreas Helgstrand, before being sold to Gaston Glock. He competed at the World Breeding Championships as a five-year-old under Hans Peter Minderhoud, before Edward Gal took over the ride.

The pair made a winning international grand prix debut in 2017 and, later that same year, Edward and Zonik won the grand prix at Olympia. In 2018 they finished eighth at the World Cup Final, and also swept the board at the prestigious Rotterdam Nations Cup leg.

They were selected for the Dutch team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, where they finished seventh individually in both the grand prix and the special, and led the Netherlands to a fifth place team finish, and Tokyo Olympic qualification.

In 2019, they won team silver on home soil at the European Championships, finishing fourth individually in the grand prix with 78.76% – just 0.1% ahead of his sire, Blue Hors Zack, in fifth with Daniel Bachmann Andersen. Edward and Zonik were also sixth in the grand prix freestyle, scoring 84.27%.

The pair’s final show before the coronavirus pandemic – and final appearance as a combination – was at the Amsterdam World Cup qualifier in January 2021, where they posted a personal best of over 85% for third.

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With Edward concentrating on his younger, upcoming horses in 2021, including his Tokyo Olympics ride Total US, Hans Peter took over the ride on Zonik, competing at Compiègne CDI3* and Le Mans CDI4* in May and June this year. At Le Mans, the Zonik’s competition, he won both the grand prix and the freestyle.

Glock’s Zonik has sired many hugely successful dressage horses, including the world young horse champion Zucchero, and has more than 20 licensed sons.

“He still had such a bright future ahead of him, but it was not to be,” added Glock Horse Performance Centre. “Rest in peace and shine like a star, because that is what you were; a star, truly a king. Now we have to carry on without you, and that is hard, very hard.”

Both Edward and Hans Peter are members of the Dutch Olympic team currently in Tokyo. Edward rides the Totilas son Total US and Hans Peter will partner Glock’s Dream Boy. Zonik’s sire, Blue Hors Zack, will also be in action in Tokyo, ridden by Nanna Skodberg Merrald for Denmark.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find out more about getting the magazine delivered to your door every week.

Elite Brits to make crucial bids for Olympic selection at Compiègne CDIO5* this weekend

Polly Bryan — Thu, 27 May 2021 15:24:41 +0000

British Olympic team contenders will be in action at the first five-star dressage show of the year in Europe, which kicks off tomorrow at Compiègne, France. It will serve as the final outing for some of Britain’s top combinations ahead of Olympic team selection next month.

As well as elite British riders, several Olympic team and medal contenders from other countries will be among those contesting the CDIO5* Nations Cup leg – the first of three in 2021 (the others are at Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in July and Aachen, Germany, in September) – and the CDI3* competition, which runs alongside.

The CDI3* grand prix will take place on Friday, 28 May, with the special and freestyle the following day, while the Nations Cup competition begins with the grand prix on Saturday and concludes with the special and freestyle on Sunday. Britain are the defending champions of the Compiègne Nations Cup leg, having won it in 2019 with Carl Hester, Richard Davison, Lottie Fry and Gareth Hughes. The show did not go ahead in 2020.

A live stream is available; meanwhile, we round up the best Brits and most exciting combinations to watch…

Britain’s Nations Cup team

Lottie Fry – Dark Legend (13yo gelding, Zucchero x Tango)

A member of the 2019 winning British team here, Lottie brings forward her 2018 under-25 European champion and 2019 British senior Europeans team horse, Dark Legend (pictured, above). This tall, elegant gelding is one of two horses with whom Lottie has already made a strong bid for a place on the Tokyo Olympic team, and a good performance here could help cement this. In 2019, Lottie was the rookie of the British team at this Nations Cup; now she returns as the rider who could lead this trio to victory in Compiègne.

Emile Faurie – Dono Di Maggio (14yo gelding, Dimaggio x Santander H)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

This British-bred gelding is in the form of his life, and Emile will certainly have his eye on a place on another championship team – the pair were members of the British quartet that brought home team bronze from the World Equestrian Games in 2018. They missed their chance to compete in Belgium at the end of April, but enjoyed a super show at Wellington with plus-75% in the special. Compiègne could see their scores climb higher.

Louise Bell – Into The Blue (15yo gelding, Ublesco x Calvaro Z)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

This lovable pair of former working hunter champions are always crowd favourites, but that’s not all they bring to the table. This will be their fourth time on a Nations Cup team, and having enjoyed a positive run at Wellington earlier this month to help blow away the lockdown cobwebs, finishing third in the freestyle, expect to see them put in a solid showing here.

Remaining British contingent in the CDI3*

Fiona Bigwood – Hawtins Delicato (13yo gelding, Diamond Hit x Regazzoni)

Olympic silver medallist Fiona made a successful international debut with Carl Hester’s former world medallist at Wellington in mid-May, and this will be the first time this new combination have ventured onto foreign soil to show the world what they can do. They make a good partnership and, while still getting to know each other, are capable of some very useful, and eye-catching, scores here.

Lottie Fry – Everdale (12yo stallion, Lord Leatherdale x Negro)

After 15 months away from competition, this striking stallion burst back on to the international scene this spring, and most recently scored a plus-77% grand prix special win in Exloo, the Netherlands. He is up against his more experienced stablemate Dark Legend in the fight for a place on the Olympic team, but arguably has more potential to access the very highest scores. Compiègne will be an important test for these British Olympic team contenders.

Laura Tomlinson – Rose Of Bavaria (11yo mare, Bordeaux x Florestan I)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Laura and “Betty’s” 2021 Olympic selection campaign was delayed in getting off the ground, after the mare suffered a reaction to an EHV vaccine earlier in the year. Happily, she is back to fitness and ready to throw her hat in the ring for an Olympic team place. They have had limited international outings so far, and haven’t crossed the Channel since last September, but you wouldn’t be surprised to see them finish among the leaders here.

Richard Davison – Bubblingh (15yo gelding, Lingh x Picandt)

Four-time Olympian Richard has exercised impressive patience in developing this talented, but quirky home-bred “Bubbles”. They had a quiet 2020, returning to the international arena for the first time since March last year at Wellington CDI3*, where they performed strongly in the grand prix, but withdrew from the special. It will be interesting to see the impression they can make here.

Best of the rest

Cathrine Dufour DEN – Bohemian (11yo gelding, Bordeaux x Samarant)

Her multi-medalled Atterupgaards Cassidy made have just landed a fifth Danish national title for Cathrine, but it is this young superstar who will likely spearhead the Danish team in Tokyo. This will be his first international outing of 2021, but as he has already exceeded 82% in the special, and 88% in the freestyle – twice – you can expect impressive things, and quite possibly a victory, from him in the five-star tour here.

Patrik Kittel SWE – Well Done De La Roche CMF (13yo mare, Furstentraum x Walt Disney)

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Adding to the strong Scandinavian representation here is Patrik on his European team bronze medallist, who is expected to be his Tokyo contender. This will be an especially important appearance for the pair, who were eliminated on their first outing since last July, at Mariakalnok in Hungary, after traces of blood were spotted in the mare’s mouth. They have a good track record at Compiègne, having finished second in the five-star special in 2019 behind Britain’s Gareth Hughes.

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(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Andreas Helgstrand DEN – Fiontini (11yo mare, Fassbinder x Romanov)

Until late last year, it had been more than four years since world and Olympic medallist Andreas had competed internationally at grand prix level, instead concentrating on his rapidly expanding sales and breeding business. However, since taking over the ride on this talented mare from former Helgstrand head rider Severo Jurado Lopez, he has enjoyed a string of good results that could put him in contention for a position on the Danish Olympic team this summer. Another strong showing here in the CDI3* would boost those chances.

Hans Peter Minderhoud NED – Glock’s Zonik (13yo stallion, Blue Hors Zack x Romanov)

This will be Hans Peter’s first competition aboard his partner Edward Gal’s European medallist Zonik, having announced earlier this week that he would be taking over the ride on this imposing stallion. With Edward concentrating on younger grand prix rides, Zonik hasn’t competed since January 2020, where he scored over 85% to finish third in the freestyle at Amsterdam. It will be fascinating to see what Hans Peter can bring out of him in the CDI3* in Compiègne.

All seven US horses originally entered at Compiegne – three in the CDIO5* and four in the young rider section – have been withdrawn due to “adverse results” among the the horses’ EHV-1 test results, conducted before their departure.

In a statement, US Equestrian said: “In accordance with the FEI Return to Competition protocols, all U.S. horses were tested for EHV-1 prior to departure from their layover base to the competition venue. A limited number of PCR tests returned with adverse results. Horses within the US contingent have not shown any symptoms or clinical signs of the virus, are not febrile, and are all vaccinated. Out of an abundance of precaution, the team has decided to withdraw. US Equestrian is working directly with the FEI to determine appropriate next steps and an acceptable timeline for a return to competition based on the outlined protocols.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

‘A wonder horse who changed dressage’: top riders’ tributes to Totilas

Polly Bryan — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 16:09:51 +0000

Tributes have poured in from across the equestrian community following the death of global dressage star Totilas, at the age of 20.

The Gribaldi son had enormous success under Edward Gal in 2009 and 2010, breaking world records and winning numerous gold medals.

Sharing podiums with Edward and “Toto” on several occasions was Britain’s Laura Tomlinson and Mistral Hojris (Alf), silver medallists at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in 2010 where Totilas scooped a trio of gold medals.

“I was number two to Edward and Totilas for quite a long time – Alf and I even held the WEG grand prix record for about five minutes in Kentucky, until Totilas entered the arena,” said Laura.

“Totilas was a wonder horse who changed the world of dressage. There was so much hype around him, and enormous interest in our sport from other disciplines and from outside the equestrian world too. It was a really fun, exciting time to be at the top of the sport.

“I had a really fun rivalry with Edward, who was a great sport, and the rest of the Dutch team – when they won team gold in 2010 my mum bought them all limoncello, and when we won gold a year later at the Europeans in Rotterdam, the Dutch team had already organised a round of limoncello for us in return,” Laura told H&H.

“The partnership and the silhouette of Edward and Toto became iconic, something those of us lucky enough to see them live will never forget.”

Carl Hester was also a member of the British dressage team who competed against Totilas throughout the horse’s time at the top of the sport.

“How privileged I feel to have seen him live,” Carl told H&H. “And how much we all owe him for his incredible presence and his ability to bring a new audience to the dressage world.”

Charlotte Dujardin, who took over the mantle at the very top of the sport with Valegro in the years following Totilas’ reign, said: “Totilas, you were a dominant horse of our time and will always be remembered. My thoughts and condolences to all that have been involved with this sweet horse and to those who, like myself, are very sad to hear of his passing.”

Many other British riders have shared their favourite memories of Totilas, including para dressage world champion Sophie Wells, who was a sheet collector at the European Championships in 2009, where Totilas became the first horse to ever break the 90% barrier.

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‘My love for you lasts for ever’: Edward Gal pays tribute to wonder horse Totilas

“You honored me with your trust. You were my friend. I will miss you until we meet again”

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Totilas dies aged 20: dressage world mourns loss of global superstar

“We will miss you so much and never forget you”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“I’m unbelievably grateful to have seen Totilas in the flesh many times, but to have collected his sheets at the Europeans in Windsor in 2009 when I was 19 years old is a clear highlight,” said Sophie. “RIP special boy, you changed dressage.”

The FEI has also paid tribute, posting: “Thank you for the records broken, memories made and the history your hoofbeats created. An out-and-out legend that inspired fans around the world, Totilas will for ever be remembered as one of the greats who changed the sport. Fly high, Toto.”

Don’t miss the current issue of Horse & Hound for a full feature charting the life and career of Totilas, on sale now.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

World records, medals and the capturer of hearts: remembering dressage superstar Totilas’ phenomenal career in pictures

Gemma Redrup — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 12:24:13 +0000

News of Totilas’ death yesterday rocked the equestrian worlds as it signalled the end of an incredible 20 years for one of the most remarkable horses dressage has ever seen.

When Totilas and Edward Gal burst onto the world stage, they began a new era in dressage. It was an era that would see them hold three world records, win six medals at European and world level, and capture the hearts of the dressage world.

When Paul Schöckemohle bought Totilas in 2010 to compete for Germany, there was outrage. So powerful was Totilas’ magic that dressage fans everywhere saw the horse almost as their own, and were devastated to see the partnership between ‘Toto’ and Edward split up.

Totilas never quite returned to his former brilliance and was plagued by injuries in recent years, under new rider Matthias Rath. He went on to retire to stud. Following yesterday’s devastating news, we look back at some of his career highlights.

European Championships: Windsor, 2009

Totilas sets a new world record score of 90.75% in the grand prix freestyle to take the gold medal, having been beaten into silver in the special just minutes after setting a new record there, too.

The sell-out, 8,000 strong crowd were ecstatic to watch Toto and Edward beat their own previous record by over 1%, with a test including music from Pirates of the Carribean arranged by Joost Peeters.

Totilas’ fan club were out in full force — with the orange of the Dutch supporters always standing out in a crowd.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Edward celebrates victory with silver medallist Adelinde Cornelissen

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A file picture made available on 18 August 2015 of dressage horse Totilas belonging to Dutchman Edward Gal biting a bouquet presented by businesswoman Marina Meggle, at the victory ceremony of the Grand Prix Special at the CHIO Aachen 2010 eque | (Image credit: DPA/PA Images)

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Olympia, 2009

Another day, another world record, as Edward and Totilas post 92.3% to smash their previous record, with a mistake-free test that was 10% clear of nearest rival Adelinde with Parzival.

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World Equestrian Games: Kentucky, 2010

Totilas and Edward scooped triple gold in front of 25,000 spectators at the huge Kentucky Horse Park, adding the freestyle medal to their special and team medals from earlier on the week.

Although the test was marred with some mistakes, they scored 85.70% with a total of 40 10s awarded across the seven judges. This would be their last test together, as Totilas was sold to Germany shortly after.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

At home with Matthias Rath, 2011

Paul Schockemöhle sold shares in Totilas to Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff, Matthias step-mother, securing the ride for the then 27-year-old Matthias. Their first competition together was at München-Reim, where they won both the grand prix and the special on scores of +76 and + 79%. Below, they are seen at home prior to their competition debut.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

European Championships: Rotterdam, 2011

In their only complete championship together, Toto and Matthias finished third in the grand prix (79.453%), fourth in the special (77.09%) and fifth in the freestyle with 81.696%.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

European Championships: Aachen, 2015

In Totilas’ last test, he scored a disappointing 75.971% in the team grand prix to lie sixth, with many spectators concerned for his soundness. He was then withdrawn from the special and freestyle tests, and it was announced shortly after that the then 15-year-old superstar would be retired from any further competition.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

‘My love for you lasts for ever’: Edward Gal pays tribute to wonder horse Totilas

Polly Bryan — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 08:05:18 +0000

Edward Gal has shared an emotional tribute to Totilas, his former record-breaking dressage partner, who has died, aged 20.

The Dutch rider competed the Gribaldi son internationally in 2009 and 2010 with huge success, becoming the first pair to break the 90% barrier, at the Windsor European Championships in 2009, and landing triple gold and another world record at the Kentucky World Equestrian Games in 2010.

“Goodbye my friend. Heaven has a new star today. But my heart is broken,” said Edward, who debuted the Totilas son Glock’s Toto Jr at grand prix this year, and may target him at the Tokyo Olympics.

“Rest in peace Totilas. You will always be remembered. Together with you I experienced happiness and even grief. Time passed by and wounds healed. But my love for you lasts for ever.

“You honoured me with your trust. You were my friend. I will miss you until we meet again.”

In October 2010, owners Kees and Tosca Visser of Moorlands Stables sold Totilas to Paul Schockemöhle, who retained breeding rights, while Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff bought the riding rights for her stepson Matthias Rath.

Totilas and Matthias made a winning start to their partnership in 2011, but had to withdraw from contention for the London Olympics 2012 when Matthias had glandular fever.

The horse’s final test was at the 2015 European Championships, where they were awarded 75.97% in the grand prix. The next day, Totilas was diagnosed with periostitis of the coronet band, and shortly afterwards, he was officially retired from sport.

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(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Totilas dies aged 20: dressage world mourns loss of global superstar

“We will miss you so much and never forget you”

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Legends of the sport: Totilas — ‘one of the most beautiful things I ever saw’ H&H Plus

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

“My condolences to Matthias and his family and to all who had the chance to work or live with this exeptional stallion,” added Edward. “And my thoughts to all of you who loved him.”

Matthias confirmed the great stallion’s death, posting: “We will miss you so much and never forget you.”

Don’t miss the current issue of Horse & Hound for a full feature charting the life and career of Totilas, on sale now.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Totilas dies aged 20: dressage world mourns loss of global superstar

Polly Bryan — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 17:40:10 +0000

The legendary dressage horse Totilas has died, at the age of 20. His rider, Germany’s Matthias Rath, confirmed the news, saying: “We will miss you so much and never forget you.”

It is understood that the Gribaldi x Glendale son died on Monday, 14 December, after a severe attack of colic.

With his former rider, the Netherlands’ Edward Gal, Totilas set the dressage world alight. The pair made their international grand prix debut in June 2009, scoring 79.14%, and two months later, “Toto” became the first horse to break the 90% barrier, as he scored a euphoric individual gold at the European Championships at Windsor.

“Windsor was his first Europeans and his first big championship,” Edward said. “We had the castle lit up behind the arena and it was really magical.”

Read H&H’s exclusive legends of the sport feature on Totilas’s career

Vanessa Ruiter, Edward’s groom, added: “Totilas looked for Edward the whole day, and Edward adored him. He really loved Edward. If he heard him, he’d prick his ears and look around for him. It was really special.”

The pair broke the world freestyle record at Olympia in 2009 with 92.3%, which was only bettered by Valegro four years later.

Totilas and Edward were crowned World Cup champions in March 2010, and later that same year they landed a trio of gold medals at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky – and another world record score, this time in the special. However, this was to be their final competition together.

Continues below…

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Legends of the sport: Totilas — ‘one of the most beautiful things I ever saw’ H&H Plus

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

What made Totilas one of the world’s greatest dressage horses?

At the recent Global Dressage Forum held at the Bartels Academy in Holland (26-27 October), seven horses were put forward

(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Totilas and Matthias made a winning competition debut in 2011, but had to withdraw from contention for the London Olympics when Matthias became ill with glandular fever.

Matthias Rath and Totilas at the 2015 Europeans. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The horse’s final test was at the 2015 European Championships, where they were awarded a controversial 75.97% in the grand prix. The next day, Totilas was diagnosed with periostitis of the coronet band, and shortly afterwards, he was officially retired from sport.

Totilas spent his five-year retirement hacking out at the Rath/Linsenhoff base Gestüt Schafhof, near Frankfurt, as well as fulfilling his duties as a much-demanded sire. His final public appearence was at the 2019 KWPN stallion licensing.

Don’t miss the current issue of Horse & Hound for a full feature charting the life and career of Totilas, on sale now.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Legends of the sport: Totilas — ‘one of the most beautiful things I ever saw’ H&H Plus

Alice Collins — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 09:00:26 +0000

The late black stallion and his phenomenal scores lit up the dressage world. Alice Collins tracks his path to fame and the story behind his high-profile sale

Few horses have owned the spotlight like the magnificent Totilas, who died on Monday, 14 December 2020 following a severe case of colic. Under Edward Gal, he set fire to the dressage scene with an almost 80% grand prix at their first international, when Totilas was just nine. They swept the board from summer 2009 to September 2010, winning everything there was to be won.

But unlike Britain’s sensation Valegro, Totilas didn’t seem to have all the hallmarks of greatness from the get-go. He didn’t dominate in young horse classes and was a busy, impatient young colt.

Totilas – named after a distant relative who survived a long trek at the end of World War II and helped found the Trakehner breed – was born in 2000 in the Netherlands. The Gribaldi son was a picture-book foal, jet black with four matching white socks.

His breeders Jan Schuil and Anna Schuil-Visser gave him his basic education before asking local rider Jiska de Roos-van den Akker to take over when he was four. Totilas didn’t make the instant impression you might think.

“I saw him ridden and thought, ‘That’s not for me.’ He wasn’t much to look at and didn’t move that well,” recalls Jiska. “I wasn’t that enthusiastic about riding him; he seemed anxious and wasn’t very friendly. I know now that he just wanted to work, but at the time I thought he was misbehaving. But my husband, who knows a good horse, said that maybe he’d surprise me.”

So Totilas travelled to Jiska’s place three times a week for her to ride him. It didn’t take long for her to be persuaded.

“He was so intelligent and it was so easy for him to understand everything as he was physically so naturally strong,” she says. “When I asked him to move bigger he did, and then a bit bigger again, and he always said, ‘OK’. I’d ridden big-moving horses before, but not one who could move that big at such a young age.”

Jiska took Totilas to the Pavo Cup (Dutch warmblood young horse championships), where they were unplaced. She still had faith in the horse though, and the following year they headed to Verden World Young Horse Championships in the five-year-old division. They finished fourth, the best placing for a KWPN horse. Interest in Totilas was piqued, and she remembers the day Edward first sat on him.

“Totilas had had a little holiday and he was very excited, so Edward was a bit scared,” laughs Jiska. “But I could see that they had a good connection.”

Luckily for Edward, one of Totilas’s most admirable traits under saddle was that no matter how excited he got, he wouldn’t buck or rear, just move bigger and bigger. He was safe, but with abundant power.

“The first time I sat on ‘Toto’, I already felt a really exceptional feeling, but you had so much energy you didn’t know if you could control it,” he recalls.

Kees and Tosca Visser bought Totilas for Edward from the breeders (same name but no relation) as “a bit of a diamond in the rough,” remembers Kees.

“Tosca saw him on a DVD. The quality wasn’t good and it was dark, but with those four white feet, you could see that he was a good mover. He was really a stallion back then, showing off and wanting all the attention.

“As a six-year-old he was quality, but an old fashioned type, and with a big belly. He wasn’t the dashing beauty that he became.”

At his new home, his impetuousness subsided and Edward’s relationship with the high-octane young stallion quickly blossomed. Vanessa Ruiter, groom to Edward and his partner Hans Peter Minderhoud for the past 17 years, remembers the early days.

“We’d heard stories about Verden that they’d had to move him a couple of times as he was too wild in the box,” she says. “He settled quickly once we found him a nice spot. He had the first stable next to the wash box and we’d clean tack there and talk to him. I quickly fell in love as he was magical already.”

Edward’s relationship with Totilas went well beyond just the riding.

“Totilas looked for Edward the whole day, and Edward adored him,” continues Vanessa. “He really loved Edward. If he heard him, he’d prick his ears and look around for him. It was really special.”

Kees was also in awe of his horse.

“Edward and Nicole [Werner, his trainer] did the right things for Totilas at the right times,” he credits. “They trained him at home for two years until he was eight, and then the magic started. It was one of the most beautiful things I ever saw.”

As soon as the pair hit the competition scene, they achieved instant superstar status, igniting justified worldwide hype. He was the first in the world to score 90% – in front of an adoring British crowd at Windsor, during the European Championships – and attracted enraptured fans like iron filings to a magnet.

Totilas wasn’t just another horse in Edward’s stables.

“I think we treated him a bit different,” he admits. “I gave him a bit more attention, and at shows I spent more time with him. We had a special thing going on. It wasn’t only because he was so good, but also such a special character.”

One of the best moments of Edward’s career was claiming individual European gold.

“Windsor was his first Europeans and his first big championship,” he says. “We had the castle lit up behind the arena and it was really magical.”

The Vissers also revelled in their horse’s glory, remembering seeing fans climbing trees just to get a look at him.

“We loved the standard he gave the dressage world,” explains Kees. “And even people not interested in dressage liked what they saw. At Windsor, [Olympic showjumpers] Nelson Pessoa and George Morris travelled there just to see Totilas. Nelson said that even if you didn’t like dressage, you would like it that day.”

Then, a bombshell. In 2010, just after Totilas and Edward’s triple gold at Kentucky World Equestrian Games (WEG), the news that Totilas had been sold to stallion mogul Paul Schockemöhle rocked the dressage world. The record-shattering four-year partnership was over and Totilas would be moving to Germany, the Netherlands’ arch dressage rivals.

The price tag was said to be between €9m and €15m – the exact figure remains a closely-guarded secret – and Schockemöhle kept the breeding rights, while Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff purchased the riding rights for her then 26-year-old stepson Matthias Rath.

The Vissers simply couldn’t turn down that sort of money.

“We’d had everything with that horse,” Kees explains. “He competed 55 times with our Moorlands flag and he won 53 times [beaten only by Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival]. We got three world records, three world championship gold medals, two European golds, and the World Cup final.”

Presented with that list, it’s hard to see what more the Vissers could have asked for. Having been reluctant to sell, what finally tipped the balance? After three years of glorious ownership and awash with keen interest, the Vissers eventually lit upon a figure. If anyone met or exceeded that “extreme price”, they’d sell. It would make the final decision easy.

“The price was so high that it would be impossible to keep him, especially knowing the risks of being an owner,” explains Kees, who had lost another good horse, Van The Man, that year. “It would have been economic negligence on our part not to have sold at that price.”

Paul had previously expressed an interest in Totilas, but it wasn’t until the WEG in Kentucky, where Totilas became the first horse ever to claim triple gold, that the final deal was cemented.

“I was fascinated by the horse,” says Paul. “He was a super fighter in the ring. He was the best horse in his time in dressage and he had special talent for the difficult things, like piaffe and passage. I never saw a horse so good; it was truly outstanding.”

A small sector of the horse world understood the Vissers’ decision to sell, but many fans were agog.

“You take away a bit of a fairy tale, and we understand that people sometimes react badly to that,” muses Kees.

Although his rational self accepted the decision, Edward was heartbroken.

“When Toto moved on, it was really difficult, but you could understand it,” he shrugs. “It was so much money, and it wasn’t for me to say that they had to keep him for me.”

Vanessa remembers the day Totilas left.

“I wanted to load him myself,” she says. “Edward was inside at home because he couldn’t cope with it. I put Totilas on the truck with his own halter. It was very sad and we cried all together, but he brought us so much. The time with Totilas was one of the most amazing things in my life and in Edward’s life. We lived the dream with him and were blessed to have him.”

Edward concurs: “That period was awful but you have to deal with it. It was like missing a friend. Now that I have his sons Glock’s Total US and Glock’s Toto Jnr it’s easier, but at the beginning when I saw him it was really hard.”

The next chapter of Totilas’s career did not pan out so majestically. Matthias opted not to compete him right away, instead appearing only at stallion shows until June 2011, where he debuted with a plus-76% win. They followed up with a triple win at Aachen CDIO5*, with three scores over 82%.

Just as the combination was really bonding, Matthias was struck down with glandular fever and the pair had to withdraw from selection for the London Olympics. It was a bitter pill, but Paul had not bought Totilas on ridden merits alone.

“At that time, he was the best dressage horse in the world and I was very interested in using him as a stallion,” says Paul, who breeds around 2,000 dressage and jumper foals a year. “For us in Germany he has a really different bloodline and is by Gribaldi, one of the best stallions from the Trakehner studbook. Besides that, I had the damsire Glendale about 30 years ago.”

Though there were undoubtedly good times for Matthias and Totilas, like their unbeaten streak of eight wins in the summer of 2014, the monumental pressure on them to replicate Edward’s gargantuan scores was ever-present.

And now Totilas was combining his ridden job with stud duties, he picked up niggling injuries that ruled him out of competition on numerous subsequent occasions, not least the 2014 WEG in Normandy.

His major championship comeback was scheduled for the 2015 Europeans, on home soil at their happy hunting ground of Aachen. But as Totilas performed the first extended trot in the grand prix, there were warning whistles from the enormous crowd. The stallion didn’t look quite right. However, Matthias pressed on and was awarded 75.97% and sixth place. The show ground was abuzz with speculation.

“He got a soundness issue and since that he never came back to the same quality as before, which is normal if you have a problem,” reasons Paul.

Totilas was retired from the remainder of the competition and, the following day, diagnosed with periostitis of the coronet band – a bone inflammation – on the left hind. Just days later, he was retired from sport.

“It was very unlucky,” adds Paul. “But I’m still lucky that I bought him because I have very good offspring from him. Since he stopped competing, he’s always been sound. Without that pressure, he’s relaxed and healthy. He has a really nice life now.”

That happy life is spent hacking out at the Rath/Linsenhoff base Gestüt Schafhof, near Frankfurt, while he goes to Paul’s for breeding. He may no longer live in the limelight, but he’s still in demand as a sire and globally revered as the game-changing sport legend that he is.

“He was great – he still is,” concludes Jiska. “But because of his greatness, he broke a lot of hearts. But all’s well that ends well, and he deserves that.”

In the genes

Totilas’s sire Gribaldi was by the eminently trainable Kostolany. Kostolany competed at grand prix, was awarded the stallion of the year title in 2009, and then lived a magnificent retirement at the heart of the Langels family at Gestüt Hämelschenburg, where he was bred. Gribaldi was another black grand prix stallion ridden by Edward Gal. Although known for being spicy in competition, he was Trakehner stallion of the year in 2008, led the WBFSH sire rankings in 2014 and sired a talented dressage dynasty.

Totilas’s dam Lominka is by Glendale, a son of Nimmerdor, who is best known as a sire of jumpers and widely credited for Totilas’s outstanding canter.

Totilas inherited the best that each side of his pedigree had to offer: the talent to excel at the highest level coupled with the trainability and willingness to execute the work with balance, power and enthusiasm.

“His foals may not be the most fancy looking,” says Paul Schockemöhle, “but Totilas really gives his biggest potential to them – like piaffe, passage and canter – and later they become really good horses.”

Timeline of a legend

May 2000

Born in the Netherlands to breeders Jan Schuil and Anna Schuil-Visser

May 2005

Finishes fourth at the Verden World Young Dressage Horse Championships under Jiska de Roos-van den Akker

April 2006

Kees and Tosca Visser of Moorlands Stables buy Totilas from his breeders

for Edward Gal to ride

June 2009

International grand prix debut with Edward Gal, scoring 79.14%

AugUST 2009

Becomes first horse in the world to break the 90% barrier, carrying Edward to individual Europeans gold

March 2010

The pair claim gold at the World Cup final

September 2010

Performs his final test with Edward, securing triple gold at the Kentucky WEG, with 91.8% in the freestyle

October 2010

Totilas is sold by the Vissers to Paul Schockemöhle (breeding rights) and Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff (riding rights)

February 2011

First public appearance with his new rider: Totilas appears at the Schockemöhle stallion show in Vechta. He is a handful; Matthias exits to regroup. A week later at another Schockemöhle stallion show, the display is more harmonious. Totilas’s stud fee is €8,000

June 2011

First test with Matthias Rath, scoring 76.78% at CDI Munich to win class. This month they become German champions

December 2011

Totilas picks up an injury in training

April 2012

The pair return to competition and win both tests at Hagen CDI

July 2012

Totilas and Matthias withdraw from Olympic contention. The horse is fit, but Matthias has glandular fever. They do not return to competition until 2014

March 2013

Totilas injures his leg while mounting the dummy mare for breeding

August 2015

Last test, scoring a controversial 75.97% at the Aachen Europeans. The following day he is diagnosed with periostitis of the coronet band. A few days later, he is officially retired from sport.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 10 December 2020

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H&H interview: Edward Gal — ‘riding to Totilas’ music again gave me goosebumps’ H&H Plus

Alice Collins — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 15:00:06 +0000

“He’s like a clone of his father; the same white feet, the same head, and even his expression. He’s so like Totilas it’s almost scary” — a look-alike Totilas son could contend next year’s Olympics with his sire’s former rider. Alice Collins asks Edward Gal about Glock’s Toto Jr and his other top horses

Not much of note happened in the competitive sphere in summer 2020. But one black horse with a striking similarity to his famous father made a quiet debut at grand prix level at a national show in the Netherlands in July. The Dutch darling, Olympic dressage rider Edward Gal, showed the enthusiastic (though minimal, thanks to Covid-19) spectators that he has a new star in his stables, nine-year-old Glock’s Toto Jr. The black stallion has an uncanny resemblance to his father, Edward’s former superstar Totilas.

Edward was so keen for a low-key outing for his latest superstar that they didn’t even feature on the start lists. But there was nothing low key about the 79.43% score, and the video of their test quickly circulated online.

To put that in context, Charlotte Dujardin and the rising nine-year-old Valegro made their grand prix debut in January 2011 at Addington and scored 74.62%.

Toto Jr’s FEI level debut – Edward had only ridden him at stallion shows and in young horse classes some time ago – was a much-needed bright spot in what has been a torrid year globally. Competition in the Netherlands has been all but cancelled since, but the Dutch championships were able to go ahead in a narrow window in which shows were permitted in September. It gave Edward the chance to prove Toto Jr’s sensational score was no fluke, and to dust off Totilas’s emotive old music score – the first time he has done so.

The victory was poignant as it came exactly a decade on from Edward’s final competition on Totilas, at the 2010 Kentucky World Equestrian Games, where they won individual gold on 91.8%. This time round, Toto Jr scored 80.68% in the special and, to Totilas’ floorplan, pulled off 86.15% and a standing ovation in the freestyle.

“Toto Jr was green, but in Ermelo at the championships the special was much more confirmed and then to ride to Totilas’ music again gave me goosebumps,” said Edward, who turned 50 in March. “In the test when I did the transition to walk I got a bit emotional and I had to tell myself, ‘Come on, there’s still half a test to go.’ The special was just the second test with Glock’s Toto Jr, but even then he was giving me an incredible feeling. It felt like he’d already done a lot of competitions.”

As is usually the case with a developing horse at any level, Edward says the horse is even more confirmed at home, and capable of yet higher scores. So how does he compare with his famous father?

“With Toto Jr, he can do really good piaffe/passage and the collected work,” says Edward, who has trained him since Glock bought the young stallion at auction for €100,000. “I think naturally he has a better hindleg by himself. Totilas was really exceptional so it would be tricky to say Toto Jr will be better, though it is certainly possible. With Totilas I had never felt such a thing before, but now I know how it can feel.”

The likeness to Totilas doesn’t end there.

“The first thing I thought when I saw Glock’s Toto Jr [who is out of a Desperados dam] was that he’s like a clone of his father; the same white feet, the same head, and even his expression is similar. He’s also really similar in character: the ‘stalliony’ behaviour in the field and the way he moves out there, with big strides – it’s so like Totilas it’s almost scary.”

Although the Netherlands has been in some sort of lockdown for most of 2020, Edward, his partner Hans Peter Minderhoud and trainer Nicole Werner count themselves very fortunate. They are based at Glock Horse Performance Center Netherlands (GHPC NL), a purpose-built state-of-the-art facility with 42 stables, an indoor and outdoor arena and ample paddocks. The GHPC NL team have called the place home for five years.

“When we had the first lockdown, we couldn’t teach at all and that was hard,” says Edward. “For weeks we just stayed on the premises with the home team and didn’t see anyone else. That was really weird.”

The Netherlands remains on partial lockdown: some restrictions have been eased since the spring, but life is by no means back to normal. Restaurants are still closed and shows cancelled indefinitely.

“At least we can now teach with social distancing,” he adds. “The training goes on. We can do indoors but only one on one – which is easy for us as that’s the norm – and a limit on the number of horses and riders working at the same time. GHPC is really a beautiful place: it’s just outside the town of Oosterbeek [near Arnhem], and also near to the forest, which is great for the horses. But it is not just beautiful, it’s also functional.”

One of the most delightful aspects of the high-spec horse paradise is that provision has been made for all Edward and Hans Peter’s retired horses, who live out their days on the premises. It’s another major positive to having the deep-pocketed sponsor Glock on board.

“All the old ones like Undercover, Nadine and Next One are here,” says Edward. “In the beginning when they retire it takes a bit of time for them to adjust to being out in the paddock all day with their group, but now that they’re fully adjusted, they scream in the mornings to go out with their friends. We are so happy to be able to give them a really nice retirement here.”

Clearly Edward has not been idle over this strange season and has cultivated not only Glock’s Toto Jr as a possible for the postponed Tokyo Olympics, but also has another Totilas son, Glock’s Total US, in the pipeline. He hopes the eight-year-old will come out at grand prix in the new year.

And behind them is yet another crop of emerging horsepower, with a lot of that talent being directly by Toto Jr, including the three five-year-olds Glock’s Taminiau, Glock’s King Karim and Glock’s Kardam’s Whisper. Whisper was selected for the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses, due to start next week, but the show has recently been cancelled due to Covid.

The pandemic has hit close to home for Edward and his team.

“An aunt and an uncle of mine are both infected,” he explains. “My aunt is in hospital now being put into an induced coma. Back in the spring we heard of people being ill. And suddenly it came close to us when our horse feed advisor Willy van Doornik passed away of coronavirus. That was a great shock for the whole team. And so now everyone knows someone who is in hospital, someone who has been sick – or worse.

“We use face masks in shops and public areas,” he adds. “In the beginning it was really weird to see people with masks everywhere. But we are used to it now. It’s important to wear them, because you protect not only yourself, but others too. You have to take the virus seriously and look out for each other, especially for older and vulnerable people.”

Everyone is grappling with this new normal. Not the least the organisers of the postponed Olympics. What was to be the highlight of the calendar this year is now not

a certainty even for next year.

Being in the horse world, Edward is well aware of the inevitable last-minute changes of plan with horse illness and injury, so his outlook is pragmatic. He’s in the fortunate position of being likely to have three horses to choose from for Tokyo, but he won’t be drawn on which is most likely to be selected.

“I have Glock’s Zonik and the two by Totilas,” says Edward. “We’ll just have to see which horse is in the best shape at the time. You can plan all you like, but you never know what will happen. We just have to wait for the moment.”

The cloud of Covid-19 hangs over all of us, and radical changes to Tokyo – if it happens – are likely, including tighter limits on the number of spectators allowed to attend.

And for the moment, Edward and Hans Peter must wait before going out competing again, and it looks like the schedule will be barren until next year.

“I’m OK, but Hans Peter is missing the shows now,” says Edward. “He wanted to do Lyon and Mechelen with Glock’s Dream Boy, but everything was cancelled. He was all right for two months, but now he’s really missing his shows.”

Edward also misses the small things that Covid has taken away.

“We stay in touch with our friends and family on WhatsApp groups, but we miss the other things, like going out for dinner. And normally you’d shake hands or hug people, and you can’t do it now,” he laments. “You have to get used to it, but when someone is sad or just needs a hug, you can’t. Luckily we can still hug the horses and our dogs.”

Ref: Horse & Hound; 3 December 2020

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‘Devastated and thankful’: Edward Gal’s first top horse dies aged 27

Polly Bryan — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 14:06:13 +0000

The horse who kickstarted Edward Gal’s international career, KWPN stallion Lingh has died, aged 27. By Flemmingh out of a Columbus mare, Lingh was Edward’s first national team horse, and the horse with whom he won his first championship medals.

“Lingh was a very special horse. I owe him so much. So many great memories I have of him. I’m thankful he came into my life,” said Edward. “We are so devastated and so thankful in the same moment.”

The pair made their championship debut at the 2003 European Championships at Hickstead, and went on to be selected for the Athens Olympics a year later, but were replaced at the last minute when Lingh sustained an injury before travelling.

They rose to further fame in 2005, beating Anky van Grunsven and Salinero to win the grand prix at the World Cup final in Las Vegas, though they were second to Anky in the freestyle, in a repeat of the result from the previous year’s final in Dusseldorf, Germany.

They helped claim team silver for the Netherlands at the 2005 European Championships, also finishing fourth overall individually. Edward and Lingh added to their championship medal tally a year later, as they won team silver at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany.

In 2006, Lingh was sold to American rider Karin Reid Offield, who competed him on the USA circuit for two years. His final show was at Loxahatchee, Florida, in February 2008.

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Following his retirement from competition, the KWPN stallion went on to have a successful breeding career at Gestut Birkhof in Germany; among his most successful offspring is top British rider Richard Davison’s international grand prix horse Bubblingh.

“Lingh, thank you for all the wonderful rides and the time spent around the world with you,” said owner Karin. “Owning a horse that is on the world’s stage is wonderful. Their lives become yours and all the friends that love Lingh become your friends.

“We allowed Lingh to go for the green, green fields without the constraint of a stable. He had a robust summer and always awakened Gestut Birkhof stable with his calling – every morning. The stable is quiet today.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

One for the future? Watch this stunning son of Totilas score +79% on his grand prix debut…

Polly Bryan — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 07:24:05 +0000

The great Totilas took the dressage world by storm around the last turn of the decade, producing world record scores and gasp-inducing performances under the Netherlands’ Edward Gal. Now his progeny are starting to follow in his footsteps at grand prix level, including Glock’s Toto Jr...

This nine-year-old Glock’s Toto Jr is certainly one of Totilas’ most interesting and high-profile offspring, being from his first crop of foals. He was licensed in 2013 at Verden, and sold for €100,000 to Glock, Edward Gal’s sponsors. He has since become a very popular breeding stallion, with amost 700 offspring to date, among them several licensed sons.

The Hanoverian stallion, who is out of the Desperados daughter Desperada, has now put himself firmly in the frame for a top level dressage career with a stunning grand prix debut performance under Edward Gal last week at the CDN Schijndel in the Netherlands.

The pair pulled off a mistake-free test, with clean tempi-changes and well-established piaffe-passage work. They received a huge score of 79.43%, putting them well ahead of Edward’s partner, Hans Peter Minderhoud, in second riding Glock’s Casper to 73.73%.

This is the first time Edward has competed the black stallion, who has concentrated on breeding duties up until now, and is yet to make his first international competitive appearance.

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(Image credit: Super Guus 2020)

Meet the striking grand prix stallion whose breed you’ve probably never heard of

One of the lesser known Baroque breeds, this 11-year-old stallion is thought to be the only Murgese horse to reach

(Image credit: Super Guus 2020)

Earlier this year, Edward hinted that he is aiming Toto Jr at the Tokyo Olympics, originally due to be held this summer, but now postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Edward’s current top ride is the 12-year-old Danish warmblood stallion Glock’s Zonik NOP, by Blue Hors Zack x Romanov, with whom he lead the Dutch team to silver at last year’s European Championships, also finishing individually eighth and sixth in the grand prix special and the freestyle respectively.

But this impressive debut from Zonik’s younger stablemate certainly makes him a realistic prospect for the Olympics in 2021.

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9 of the most memorable grand prix dressage freestyles of all time

Polly Bryan — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 15:24:27 +0000

We have rounded up some of the greatest, most memorable dressage freestyle performances of all time. Turn the volume up, and enjoy...

Andreas Helgstrand on Blue Hors Matiné (DEN) at WEG 2006

This pair shot to fame after winning individual silver in 2006 with this electrifying performance to a pop medley that scored 81.5%. The enormous Aachen crowd were unable to resist joining in for the final section, as this enchanting mare passaged up the centre line perfectly on the beat to their Lady Marmalade music.

Isabell Werth on Gigolo (GER) at Atlanta Olympics 1996

At the inauguration of dressage freestyle into the Olympic Games programme, it was this routine that won Isabell Werth her first – and, to date, only – Olympic individual gold medal, as she edged out arch rival Anky van Grunsven to take gold on 76.6% with the legendary Gigolo. It set the standard for grand prix kürs, with a soundtrack really designed to enhance the horse and tell a story, rather than just acting as background music.

Edward Gal on Totilas (NED) at Olympia 2009

Who could forget this world record-breaking freestyle by Edward Gal and the one-and-only Totilas? The legendary black stallion produced a performance unlike anything anybody in the dressage world had seen before and blew the judges away with 92.3%, finishing at the top of the leaderboard with a 10% margin.

Laura Bechtolsheimer on Mistral Højris (GBR) at London Olympics 2012

Possibly one of the most well choreographed and befitting freestyles of all time, this performance from Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer (now Tomlinson) and Mistral Højris earned them 84.339% and individual Olympic bronze. The catchy Lion King medley suits “Alf” down to the ground, and Laura’s emotion and pride in her horse at her final halt is a delight to see.

Anky van Grunsven on Salinero (NED) at WEG 2006

She’s long been known as the “Queen of the Kür”, and has a plethora of standout freestyle performances, including with her Olympic champion Bonfire. But this one of Salinero’s, entitled L’Espirit Chanson and created by Dutch composers Cees Slings and Victor Kerkhof, may well be the best of all. It also features Anky’s own vocals accompanying her canter half-pass sequence. This particular performance earned her 86.1% and the world championship title.

Carl Hester on Nip Tuck (GBR) at Olympia 2016

This intricate freestyle was set to music by Tom Hunt, and based on Mr Selfridge. A masterclass in how to use a floorplan to really show off a horse’s strengths, it suited the quirky “Barney” down the ground, with the eye-watering level of difficulty really highlighting the tall gelding’s straightness and talent for the collected work. He may not be as flamboyant a mover as many top horses, but with the first centre line alone featuring a full piaffe pirouette, passage and a double canter pirouette, this routine certainly has plenty of wow factor, scoring 84.669% for the win here.

Juan Manuel Muñoz Diaz on Fuego De Cardenas (ESP) at WEG 2010

A freestyle full to the brim with energy and Spanish flair, this thrilling performance earned the pair a resounding standing ovation in the giant Kentucky stadium, as well as fifth place with 81.45%. The Spanish flamenco-style music, composed by Michael Erdmann, was superbly suited to this PRE stallion, and the excited and very vocal American crowd went wild for Juan’s one-handed centre lines.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on TSF Dalera BB (GER) at Rotterdam Europeans 2019

This exquisite, more recent performance, which earned Jessica her first ever individual medal – bronze, with 89.107% – is sure to go down in history. The beautiful music from La La Land really suits the tall elegant mare, and her equally elegant rider, perfectly and the sheer harmony between the combination is a delight to witness.

Charlotte Dujardin on Valegro (GBR) at London Olympics 2012

And finally, arguably the greatest of them all! Charlotte and Valegro produced so many dazzling freestyles, setting new world records at Olympia in both 2013 and 2014 along the way, but it is their gloriously British performance from London 2012 that will always stick the most firmly in so many minds. Having already lead Britain to a historic team gold, they stunned the Greenwich Park crowds with their memorable routine featuring Land of Hope and Glory and the chimes of Big Ben to score 90.089% and become Olympic champions.

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‘Our charmer, our heartbreaker’: final tributes paid to champion stallion

Becky Murray — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 12:28:56 +0000

Tributes have been paid to the “extraordinary” dressage stallion Romanov, who has been put down aged 20.

The son of Rohdiamant X Grundstein II, who had been based at Glock Horse Performance Center in Austria for the past nine years, was put down on 20 February owing to health issues arising from pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, formerly known as Cushing’s disease).

A spokesman for Glock said: “When is the time right to say farewell to your horse? Our hearts say never, yet we know that one day it will be time. Today was such a day. The day we had to bid farewell to our utterly beloved Glock’s Romanov. Our charmer, our heartbreaker is no more. He reached the age of 20, nine of those spent with us. Years for which we give our heartfelt thanks.

“Our Romanov was being treated by specialists. Unfortunately he became ever worse, with the consequence that on the advice of the veterinarians in attendance, we let him go over the rainbow bridge in order to spare him extended suffering. So it is that we say adieu and reflect with heavy hearts.”

The stallion, bred by Harli Seifert, was sold to the Blue Hors Stud in 2000. He had a distinguished career, taking reserve champion at the Oldenburg stallion licensing in 2002, and in 2004 was named best dressage stallion at the Danish licensing event. He was the champion of five-year-old dressage horses in Denmark in 2005, and in 2008 named VTV dressage stallion of the year.

Romanov had grand prix success with Danish rider Sune Hansen including winning the Media Cup in Hamburg, Germany in 2010, and the grand prix at the CDI3* Copenhagen in 2011. The combination appeared on the Danish team at the 2011 European Championships – but in a surprising move by Blue Hors, Dutch rider Edward Gal was later given the ride – the first time a Dutch rider had taken on a stallion from the stud.

Under Edward, the stallion achieved “new captivating form” achieving top-three placings at grands prix throughout 2012, and in 2013 Glock teammate Hans-Peter Minderhoud took on the ride, enjoying many successes including team silver at the 2013 European Championships.

“In addition to his performances in top dressage, Romanov was one of the most sought-after dressage sires in Denmark and a popular stud in Europe,” said the spokesman.

“The elegant Oldenburg stallion offered extraordinary foal crops and a considerable number of descendants, which are being presented successfully internationally.”

His successful offspring include Honnerups Driver, the 2009 champion five-year-old at the World Breeding Championships. Romanov sired more than 10 licensed sons on the German equestrian federation breeding register, and more than 100 registered mares – 20 of which are federal premium mares. Other success stories include the 2019 Danish warmblood stallion of the year Skovens Rafael.

The spokesman said Hans-Peter was with Romanov to the “last minute”.

Article continued below…

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Farewell to Olympic stallion of ‘indescribable importance’

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘With pain in the heart’: farewell to world number one dressage sire

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

“It’s desperately sad and yet, at the same time, you know it’s right,” said Hans-Peter.

“Romanov was a really special stallion. Simply fantastic to ride and it was such a wonderful feeling to have the privilege of sitting in his saddle.

“He was a horse of such character, a real stallion and yet he really got to your heart. I stroked him till the last moment and told him we would see each other again.”

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Top contenders ruled out of Olympia dressage

Polly Bryan — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 12:49:39 +0000

The line-up for the World Cup dressage at Olympia (17-18 December) has taken a hit as top Dutch combination Edward Gal and Glock’s Zonik announced their withdrawal from the competition.

“Glock’s Zonik didn’t really eat today and in the evening he had fever. So we had to cancel the horseshow in London because we won’t risk the long travel,” said the Glock Horse Performance Centre on Friday night. “We’re very sad but the welfare of the horse comes first.”

Edward and the 10-year-old Blue Hors Zack stallion won last year’s grand prix at Olympia, and also finished seventh individually in both the grand prix and the special at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon in September.

Glock will still be represented at Olympia by Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Dream Boy, who will be in action at 9.27pm this evening (17 December).

The young Spanish rider Juan Matute Guimon, who was due to make his Olympia debut with Quantico, has also been forced to withdraw after the 12-year-old gelding suffered a bout of colic.

Home favourite Charlotte Dujardin will be the first rider to enter the Olympia arena this evening at 8pm. She will ride Carl Hester’s WEG bronze medallist, the 10-year-old Hawtins Delicato, as her top ride Mount St John Freestyle is currently recovering from a cough.

The remaining British riders will have to wait until the latter stages of the class to begin their Olympia campaigns, with Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubins Nite on at 9.36pm, Richard Davison and Bubblingh in action at 9.45pm and Lara Butler and Rubin Al Asad the final combination of the class at 9.54pm.

Continues below…

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Horse welfare behind major changes to Olympia grand prix

Richard Davison reveals details of the new, shorter grand prix test that will be piloted at Olympia

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro set new world grand prix record

The pair set a new world grand prix record in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup dressage leg at Olympia

Tonight’s class, which determines the order for tomorrow evening’s freestyle and World Cup qualifier, will trial a new grand prix test, which has been shortened by 45 seconds to five minutes. Riders will also be interviewed immediately after finishing their test, while still mounted.

Don’t miss our full coverage from the Olympia dressage, featuring expert analysis and views, online and in the 28 December issue.

Charlotte Dujardin heads to Olympia without Mount St John Freestyle

Polly Bryan — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 14:39:25 +0000

The entries for the CDI4* dressage at the London International Horse Show, Olympia (17-18 December) have been revealed, with Charlotte Dujardin topping the bill in her first competitive Olympia appearance since 2015. However, Charlotte won’t be riding her World Equestrian Games (WEG) individual bronze medallist Mount St John Freestyle, as previously planned, but will instead partner Carl Hester’s WEG team ride Hawtins Delicato.

The nine-year-old Fidermark mare Freestyle is currently regaining full fitness after a cough.

“Freestyle had a cough recently and had to have time off,” confirmed Carl. “She’s now back in work but Charlotte and I want to give her time to get back into full condition. We’re mindful that she’s a young horse competing at the highest level and want to give her enough time.”

With Charlotte piloting the 10-year-old Diamond Hit gelding Delicato — with whom she enjoyed much success at small tour and inter II level — Carl will not be riding at this year’s Olympia.

“I am gutted to not be competing at Olympia this year as it is one of my favourite events, however I will be there with Charlotte, who is in with a good chance on Hawtins Delicato,” he said.

Charlotte may start the competition as favourite to win, but she will have to be at the top of her game, with stiff competition coming from her fellow British riders: Richard Davison (Bubblingh), Lara Butler (Rubin Al Asad) and Hayley Watson-Greaves (Rubins Nite).

This year’s field also features some strong international contenders. Charlotte’s biggest rival is likely to be the Netherlands’ Edward Gal and the 10-year-old Blue Hors Zack stallion Glock’s Zonik NOP, who finished seventh individually at WEG on plus-77% scores.

Edward’s partner and Dutch teammate Hans Peter Minderhoud will also bring forward his WEG ride, the exciting 10-year-old Vivaldi stallion Glock’s Dream Boy NOP.

The sole German representative is an Olympia first-timer, Frederic Wandres, who has enjoyed a super first season with the 11-year-old Dimaggio gelding Duke Of Britain.

Also making his Olympia debut this year will be Spain’s Juan Matute Guimon, at 21 years old the youngest rider in the field. He will bring forward his WEG ride, the 12-year-old Fighting Fit son Quantico.

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France will send two riders: Marie Emilie Bretenoux with Quartz Of Jazz and Stephanie Brieussel on Amorak, while Portugal’s Maria Caetano (Coroado), Belgium’s David Engelen (Royal Rubinstein), Denmark’s Ulrik Moelgaard (Michigan) and Sweden’s Minna Telde (Isac) make up the remainder of the line-up.

This year’s Olympia will pilot changes to the grand prix on the first evening of competition (Monday 17 December), which decides the running order for the World Cup qualifier freestyle class the following night. A new, shorter grand prix routine will be used, as well as mounted interviews with riders directly after their test.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Charlotte Dujardin clinches brilliant dressage bronze for Britain at WEG

Polly Bryan — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 22:51:05 +0000

Britain have secured the bronze medal in the Helgstrand-sponsored dressage at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina. Germany maintained their lead to claim an emphatic gold while the USA took silver.

Britain were sitting in the silver medal spot with Charlotte Dujardin still to go following very good tests from Carl Hester on Hawtins Delicato, Spencer Wilton on Super Nova II and Emile Faurie on Dono Di Maggio. Under blazing hot sun, Charlotte rode Emma and Jill Blundell’s nine-year-old Mount St John Freestyle (below) to a score of 77.76% at the mare’s first championship.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Freestyle displayed some super work, with her extensions garnering especially high marks, although the test was not blip-free — they had a small mistake in the one-time changes, and the piaffe was sticky at times. But Charlotte was delighted: “What an amazing horse to come here and do that — I’m so proud of her. I didn’t know how she was going to be in there as she’s never been in that sort of environment and she’s very young and inexperienced,” said the Olympic gold medallist, competing at a senior championship for the first time since the retirement of Valegro.

“We had a few little mistakes but they’re all things that are easy to iron out. She felt great and loved the atmosphere — it doesn’t make her afraid at all. You definitely wouldn’t think she’s only nine.”

The fight for bronze could not have been closer, however; Sweden’s anchorman Patrik Kittel needed a huge personal best of 78.3% to deny Britain a medal, and he and the 10-year-old mare Well Done De La Roche CMF came excruciatingly close, their score of 78.19% more than 2% ahead of their previous personal best.

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Carl Hester propels Britain back into the WEG medal zone with one rider to go

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Piggy French holds bronze after day one of WEG eventing dressage: ‘He gave it his all’

Britain has two riders in the top 10 after the first day of eventing dressage at the World Equestrian Games,

Germany’s Isabell Werth had the ride of her life on the dainty Belissimo mare Bella Rose (below), who has had nearly four years off with an injury. They charged to the top of the leaderboard with a fantastic test, posting 84.83%, another huge personal best on the mare she describes as her “dream horse”.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“This was so special,” said a hugely emotional Isabell, who has partnered Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s mare since she was a three-year-old. “We have worked together for so long and had so many ups and downs. It’s so brilliant to come back with this performance.”

Last-to-go Laura Graves also brought her A-game for the home side, recording 81.54% with an almost flawless performance on her 16-year-old gelding Verdades, to secure the USA the silver medal.

The Netherlands finished in fifth place with Spain sixth and Denmark seventh. The top 30 riders will go forward to compete for the first set of individual medals in the grand prix special tomorrow.

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September

Carl Hester propels Britain back into the WEG medal zone with one rider to go

Polly Bryan — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 17:34:49 +0000

A stunning performance by Carl Hester has thrust Britain back into the silver medal position at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, with one rider from each nation yet to ride.

At his first championship with his own, Ann Cory and Anne Evans’ inexperienced 10-year-old Hawtins Delicato, Carl Hester rode a superb test to score 77.23%. It was the Diamond Hit son’s fourth international grand prix, and his first time competing out of the UK.

“I knew I’d have to have the ride of my life today and I did,” said a delighted Carl. “I had 77% in my mind as my target, not that I told anyone that, so I couldn’t be more pleased but I am surprised! Earlier in the week I didn’t think he’d cope but I rode him early this morning in the arena in walk and he felt relaxed so I thought I might have a good ride. He absolutely put his heart into that test.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Carl’s score has pushed Britain up the order into the silver medal position with just Charlotte Dujardin and Mount St John Freestyle yet to ride, at 3.51pm (8.51pm UK time). Germany have a firm grip on the lead, with Sonke Rothenberger and Cosmo (below) producing a dazzling test to earn a huge personal best score of 81.44%, and their final rider, Isabell Werth and Bella Rose will ride at 4.39pm (9.39pm UK time).

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

However, it could not be closer between the three chasing teams, with just one mark currently covering Britain, the USA and Sweden. The home side received a boost with 76.74% for Kasey Perry-Glass and Goerklintgaards Dublet, and still have their flag-bearer, Laura Graves on Verdades, due to ride at 5.15pm (10.15pm UK time). A mark of 76% for Therese Nilshagen and Dante Weltino has slotted Sweden into fourth at this stage, with Patrik Kittel and Well Done De La Roche CMF on at 4.48pm (9.48pm UK time).

The Netherlands lie fifth after a slightly disappointing score from Emmelie Scholtens and Apache (72.73%); however their anchorman, Edward Gal, is yet to go and will ride Glock’s Zonik NOP at 5.06pm (10.06pm UK time).

Horse & Hound has two journalists and a photographer in Tryon for WEG. Keep up to date with all the news on horseandhound.co.uk and in the magazine issues dated 20 and 27 September.

Charlotte Dujardin shoots back into world top 10 for the first time since Valegro

Polly Bryan — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 16:07:53 +0000

Charlotte Dujardin has re-entered the top 10 on the world dressage rankings for the first time since 2016 with Valegro.

Charlotte and her current top horse, Emma Blundell’s nine-year-old Fidermark mare Mount St John Freestyle, rocketed from 69^th up to 10^th position in the latest rankings update on 1 August.

Freestyle is in just her first year at grand prix but is currently unbeaten at the level, raking in points from her CDI wins in Joosland, The Netherlands, in April, Windsor in May, Bolesworth in June and her most recent outing to Hartpury in July. There, she posted 77.44% to top the grand prix, and 80.51% for victory in the mare’s second ever grand prix special.

Charlotte is no stranger to the top of the world rankings — she occupied the top spot from 2012 until 2015 with Valegro, until the Negro gelding was retired from competition in 2016.

Germany’s Isabell Werth remains at the top of the 2018 rankings with just six weeks to go until the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, USA (11-23 September). She holds the top spot with her triple gold medallist from the 2017 European Championships, Weihegold OLD, but has moved into the second spot with Emilio 107, with whom she won both the grand prix special and the freestyle at Aachen CHIO5* last month, and eighth with Don Johnson FRH.

It is, however, Bella Rose 2, ranked number 268, who is Isabell’s first choice of ride for WEG. The 14-year-old Belissimo mare returned to competition in July after nearly four years out, and is unbeaten so far on her comeback.

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Medal contenders announced for World Equestrian Games

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Who will make the British dressage team for WEG? H&H’s dressage editor predicts…

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The second-highest ranked Brit is Emile Faurie with Delatio; they have risen three places to 27^th after a successful Aachen. Lara Butler, who also performed well in Aachen, has risen to 33^rd with Rubin Al Asad, with Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubins Nite sitting just behind in 36th. Carl Hester and Hawtins Delicato occupy number 128 after just six international tests together.

Completing the top 10 are the USA’s Laura Graves and Verdades (third), Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy (fourth), Germany’s Dorothee Schneider with Sammy Davis Jr (fifth) and Helen Langehanenberg with Damsey FRH (sixth), Sweden’s Patrik Kittel and Deja (eighth) and Holland’s Edward Gal with Glock’s Zonik (ninth).

Don’t miss our full preview of the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, on sale Thursday 30 August

Medal contenders announced for World Equestrian Games

Polly Bryan — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 09:21:47 +0000

Several teams expected to fight it out for the medals have been announced for September’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, North Carolina. The battle will also be on to achieve one of the five qualification spots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The home side looks particularly strong, with current world number three combination Laura Graves and the 16-year-old gelding Verdades leading the charge after their grand prix victory in Aachen in July. Joining her are three combinations who all performed strongly in Aachen: Kasey Parry-Glass with the Diamond Hit 15-year-old Goerklintgaards Dublet, Adrienne Lyle with Salvino, by Sandro Hit, and Steffen Peters with the Rock Forever mare Rosamunde.

The Netherlands will also be sending a strong quartet to Tryon, hoping to win their first team medal since 2015. Edward Gal will spearhead the team on the impressive 10-year-old stallion Glock’s Zonik, by Blue Hors Zack. Edward will be joined by his partner Hans Peter Minderhoud, riding another exciting young stallion, Glock’s Dream Boy, by Vivaldi.

Also selected are Emmelie Scholtens and the UB40 stallion Apache, who had super results in Aachen, and Madeleine Witte-Vrees with her 2017 European Championships ride Cennin.

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British WEG team confirmed: riders aim for more golden glory

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German medal contender out of World Equestrian Games

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World Equestrian Games 2018 dressage riders, squads and teams

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Denmark and Sweden, who took European silver and bronze respectively in 2017, have also put forward strong sides that will be vying for the podium.

Patrik Kittel has booked his place at his third WEG, and 11^th senior championship, with two rides: his Rio Olympic partner Deja and the exciting 10-year-old mare Well Done De La Roche CMF. Championship veteran Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén has also been selected with her 2017 Europeans ride Paridon Magi as well as her double Olympic and 2014 WEG horse Don Auriello, who returned to competition at the Rotterdam CDI in June after nearly two years out.

Therese Nilshagen and the 11-year-old Danone stallion Dante Weltino — who are currently ranked 12^th in the world after taking individual European fourth and fifth in Gothenburg last year — will head to their first WEG. Juliette Ramel and her Rio partner Buriel KH complete the Swedish team.

The double individual European bronze medallists Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy will lead the Danish quartet, which also features Daniel Bachmann Andersen with Blue Hors Zack, who banked a personal best kür score of plus-82% in Aachen. Betina Jaeger (Belstaff) and Britain-based Anders Dahl (Selten HW) complete the team.

Gold medal favourites Germany are yet to announce their team, as are Great Britain. Stay up to date with all the WEG team announcements as they come in here.

Don’t miss our full preview of the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, on sale Thursday 30 August

Patrik Kittel beats Emile Faurie to claim euphoric Olympia grand prix freestyle victory

Polly Bryan — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 00:03:11 +0000

Sweden’s Patrik Kittel raised the bar in tonight’s Olympia grand prix freestyle, claiming victory on Delaunay OLD with 80.56%, putting them fractionally ahead of Britain’s Emile Faurie in second.

Patrik and the classy 11-year-old “Dude”, by Dr Doolittle, performed a faultless test with an exceptionally high degree of difficulty, helping them go one better than their second-place grand prix finish the previous night.

“He felt amazing and tried his heart out in there. He just wants to please and do his best,” said Patrik, for whom it was an emotional win having returned to the show after 13 years.

Britain’s Emile Faurie was astounded to finish an agonisingly close second behind Patrik in what was his first ever grand prix freestyle on the De Niro breeding stallion Delatio (below).

This horse is extremely exciting for the future, demonstrating great scope and power, coupled with an impressively relaxed attitude. Their fault-free test left them just 0.2% behind Patrik with 80.4%.

“I played it safe in the grand prix last night as I still don’t know him very well,” said Emile, who has only had the ride on Elena’s Knyaginicheva’s 13-year-old for three months. “He’s just such a trier – a really awesome horse who just wants to do it all. The quality speaks for itself and his concentration is incredible. I think there’s a few more percent in there.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Last night’s grand prix winner Edward Gal finished third with the talented nine-year-old Glock’s Zonik (Blue Hors Zack x Romanov) who just showed his inexperience with a couple of mistakes in the kur. The pair still posted 79.34% with some hugely expressive, powerful work.

“Today he was a little more tense than yesterday and wondering what was happening in there with the music so loud. But he tried his best and he’s only a nine-year-old so what can you expect,” said Edward.

Continued below…

(Image credit: By Peter Nixon)

Edward Gal claims Olympia grand prix victory with rising star

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Fellow Dutch rider Madeleine Witte-Vrees slotted into fourth with Cennin, just edging ahead of Britain’s Lara Butler, debuting a new freestyle with Rubin Al Asad. They posted 76.98% with a fantastic performance to a Dire Straits soundtrack to finish fifth.

Hayley Watson-Greaves took sixth for Britain, riding a beautiful test on the Rubin Royal son Rubins Nite to score 76.68%.

Richard Davison filled seventh with Bubblingh, while Gareth Hughes and Don Carissimo finished 13^th.

Don’t miss the full report in Horse & Hound magazine, out on 21 December 2017.

Edward Gal claims Olympia grand prix victory with rising star

Polly Bryan — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 23:54:14 +0000

Edward Gal stormed to grand prix victory for The Netherlands on the first night of dressage at the Olympia Horse Show CDIW.

Edward claimed an early lead with 76.68% riding the hugely expressive Blue Hors Zack stallion Glock’s Zonik, who at nine years old was competing in just his third international grand prix.

It went some way to make up for the nightmare journey he had to London in adverse weather conditions, eventually driving all the way after a number of cancelled flights.

“It was worth the trip! He’s a great horse for the future and I was really happy with him tonight,” said Edward. “I just felt him coming back a little, so I sometimes rode perhaps more forward than usual.”

Having also endured a mammoth drive to reach Olympia, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel made a late bid for the win, with an excellent performance aboard the 11-year-old Dr Doolittle gelding Delaunay OLD, his partner at this year’s European Championships. They slotted into a well-deserved second with 75.1%, just ahead of Dutch rider Madeleine Witte-Vrees, who posted 73.72% with Cennin at her first Olympia.

The best Brit of the night was Emile Faurie, who produced a classy test aboard Delatio, a horse he has only ridden in two grands prix to date. The 13-year-old De Niro stallion is a real head-turner and he scored 72.86% with a mistake-free performance from first draw.

“I was absolutely thrilled and I really enjoyed it. He just has so much ability and elasticity. I rode quite carefully tonight as I don’t know him well yet – it was a bit conservative,” said Emile, who will ride his first freestyle on this horse tomorrow. “I’ve only ridden it through once at home so it’ll be a proper freestyle!”

Denmark’s Anders Dahl finished fifth with Selten HW, just fractionally ahead of Britain’s Lara Butler riding the Bechtolsheimers’ Rubin Royal 15-year-old Rubin Al Asad, who posted 72.66% with a neat, rhythmic test, just marred by a small error in the two-time changes.

Continued below…

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Gareth Hughes slotted into seventh with Don Carissimo, with whom he travlled to Gothenburg this summer as part of the British team, before the Don Crusador gelding had to be withdrawn due to an injury sustained just before the start of the competition. They produced a fluent, attractive performance here for 72.64%.

Richard Davison finished eighth with a very hot Bubblingh, while Hayley Watson-Greaves was 13^th on Rubins Nite, after an unfortunate costly mistake in the one-time changes.

Don’t miss the full report in the 21 December issue of Horse&Hound magazine.

Five Brits in the mix for Olympia dressage title — but who’s missing?

Polly Bryan — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 18:45:25 +0000

Olympians Richard Davison and Emile Faurie will spearhead the British attack at this year’s Olympia CDIW4* (12-13 December).

However notable absentees from this year’s line-up are crowd-favourites Carl Hester, freestyle winner in 2015 and 2016 with Nip Tuck, and Charlotte Dujardin, who won with Valegro in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Richard will partner Bubblingh, the 11-year-old Lingh gelding with whom he won the grand prix freestyle at this year’s Hickstead CDI in July. There they posted 74.18%.

Emile will bring forward Elena Knyaginicheva’s 13-year-old breeding stallion Delatio (De Niro x Rubinstein) — a horse he has had the ride on for just four months. The striking black stallion dominated at Vale View’s high profile show in October, claiming the grand prix with over 74%.

He will be joined by Gareth Hughes riding his European Championship team-selected horse Don Carissimo, who sadly had to be withdrawn due to injury after arrival in Gothenburg this summer. This will be the Don Crusador 12-year-old’s first international competition since, but he had already made huge waves in what is his first season of grand prix, with a freestyle personal best of 76.67%.

Gareth Hughes riding DON CARISSIMO during the CDI 3* Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle during the Bolesworth International Horse Show near Chester in Cheshire in the UK on 14th May 2017 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

World Equestrian Games (WEG) hopefuls Hayley Watson-Greaves and Lara Butler make up the British contingent. Hayley will ride her own 13-year-old Rubin Royal son Rubins Nite, with whom she was crowned British Dressage national champion earlier this year. The pair have already achieved several top 10 placings on the World Cup circuit this autumn.

Lara returns to the Olympia arena with the Becktolsheimers’ 15-year-old Rubin Al Asad, also by Rubin Royal. The pair were named reserves for both the Rio Olympics and the 2017 European Championship team, and recently finished second at Oldenburg CDI4* with a grand prix personal best of plus 74%.

Ireland’s Judy Reynolds will return to the international arena with her popular Jazz gelding Vancouver K – another who was withdrawn from the Europeans due to injury — while British-based Dane Anders Dahl will pilot his consistent performer, the 13-year-old Selten HW.

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Among the international field, from which eight nations will be represented, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel will partner his Gothenburg ride Delaunay OLD, who has posted freestyle scores in the 80s this year. Holland’s Edward Gal will bring forward his talented nine-year-old stallion Glock’s Zonik.

The grand prix will take place on Tuesday 12 December at 7.30pm, with the freestyle on Wednesday 13 December at 7.20pm.

The full list of competitors is as follows:

Quartz of Jazz Marie Emilie Bretenoux (France)
Star Wars Bertrand Liegard (France)
Alcazar Katherine Bateson Chadler (US)
Bubblingh Richard Davison (Great Britain)
Don Carissimo Gareth Hughes (Great Britain)
Delatio Emile Faurie (Great Britain)
Rubins Nite Hayley Watson-Greaves (Great Britain)
Rubin Al Asad Lara Butler (Great Britain)
Vancouver K Judy Reynolds (Ireland)
Selten HW Anders Dahl (Denmark)
Glock’s Zonik Edward Gal (the Netherlands)
Thriller Katja Gevers (the Netherlands)
Michigan Ulrik Moelgaard (Denmark)
Cennin Madeleine Witte-Vrees (the Netherlands)
Delaunay Old Patrik Kittel (Sweden)
Roberto Des Frettes Charlotte Haid Bondergaard (Sweden)
Sir Donnerhall II Old Morgan Barbancon Mestre (Spain)

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Adelinde Cornelissen’s Parzival out of Rio: ‘His body was full of toxic fever’

Alice Collins — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 17:28:41 +0000

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.

Dutch medal prospect out of Rio contention

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 15:02:20 +0000

Edward Gal’s top grand prix horse Glock’s Undercover NOP has been withdrawn from this week’s Dutch National Championships (14-17 July) – and from contention for an Olympic place in Rio De Janeiro.

Edward said he felt competing the 15-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding by Ferro this weekend in Ermelo “was not going to work”, and the Dutch national federation told H&H today Undercover was no longer in the running for Rio selection.

“But he’s still in the race with Voice,” a spokesman said.

The withdrawal of Undercover, who is owned by, Austrian Gaston Glock, was announced by Glock Horse Performance Center.

“We are really sorry, but Edward won’t ride Undercover at the Dutch Championships in Ermelo this weekend,” a statement read.

Edward added: “I feel that it is not going to work. ‘Fritsie’ will get stressed again for sure. It’s a pity but our decision is for Fritsie’s sake.

“My ambitions to ride are not as important as the welfare of the horse. So Fritsie stays at home where he is happy!”

Edward and Undercover were eliminated during the 2015 European championships under the FEI’s blood rule. They made their competition comeback at the Nieuw en St Joosland grand prix in April, when they finished sixth with a score well below their best.

The 2010 World champion is still due to compete his second long-listed horse, the 14-year-old stallion Glock’s Voice, with whom he represented the Netherlands at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, at the Dutch championships.

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The other 12 riders announced on the Dutch long-list for Rio are Marlies van Baalen, Kirsten Beckers, Adelinde Cornelissen, Katja Gevers, Daniëlle Heijkoop, Marjan van der Jagt, Patrick van der Meer, Hans Peter Minderhoud, Emmelie Scholtens, Diederik van Silfhout, Tommie Visser and Madeleine Witte-Vrees.

This weekend’s championships had been pinpointed as the second of two mandatory selection trials, after Rotterdam CDIO (23-26 June).

Dutch team trainer Wim Ernes is due to announce the Olympic team on Sunday (17 July).

Dressage star Edward Gal injured in fall

Lucy Elder — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 15:08:33 +0000

Top Dutch dressage rider Edward Gal has withdrawn from the World Cup leg at ‘s-Hertogenbosh (Den Bosch) in the Netherlands this week following a fall at home.

The record-breaking rider was due to compete on Glock’s Voice in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier (11-12 March).

He was also entered with his European Championships ride, Glock’s Undercover NOP (pictured, top), in the CDI4*, which would have been the first competition for the horse in seven months.

The combination — ranked 16th in the World — were last seen in action at the FEI European Dressage Championships in Aachen last summer.

However, they were eliminated after blood was spotted in the horse’s mouth during the grand prix special on 15 August.

Glock Horse Performance Center revealed on social media yesterday (10 March) that Edward had pulled-out of the competition.

“Today ‘Schenkie’ (Glock’s Sir Schenkenberg) was spooked by a tractor while Eddie was walking him in the indoor arena,” it said.

“Unfortunately Edward fell off. He hurt his wrist and back. Therefore Eddie cannot compete in Den Bosch.”

Edward is not the only unlucky rider who has been forced to withdraw from the competition at Indoor Brabant.

Germany’s Isabell Werth withdrew her top horse Don Johnson FRH, with whom she is currently ranked World number three, after he injured himself in his stable.

“She will be visiting the show, but only as the trainer of her stable rider Beatrice Buchwald,” said a statement on the competition’s website.

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Fabienne Lütkemeier has also pulled out after injuring her hip after falling during training at home.

The German rider said nothing is broken and is hopeful her results so far will mean she qualifies for the World Cup Final in Gothenburg (25-27 March).

This week’s event still features a strong line-up, including Beatriz Ferrer-Salat, Hans Peter Minderhoud, Diederik van Silfhout and Patrick van der Meer.

Totilas retired from competition VIDEO

Alice Collins — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:08:02 +0000

Totilas, the famous black stallion ridden at grand prix by Edward Gal and, latterly, Germany’s Matthias Rath has been retired from sport.

He competed at the FEI European Dressage Championships in Aachen, Germany last week (13 August) and helped the host nation claim team bronze.

However, after the test — in which many observers claimed he was unlevel — he was found to have a bone edema and was withdrawn before the individual grand prix special.

Today (Tuesday 18 August), Paul Schockemöhle, in consultation with co-owners the Linsenhof/Rath family, released a statement confirming the 15-year-old Dutch warmblood was to be retired.

“After the past week and the now circulating speculations about Totilas’ future, we — as a family — would like to take a stand on this matter,” it read.

“How much the international dressage sport owes to this horse is almost impossible to put into words. Never before has a dressage horse moved and thrilled these masses — no matter if horse-enthusiast or not, young or old.

“The examination last weekend showed that Totilas has an edema in the bone. This is being treated in the best possible way by a superb team of veterinarians.

“As a result we collectively came to the decision, Totilas will not come back into competitive sport in the future.”

The statement continued that the horse would return home to recover, in “all the time” that the injury needs.

Providing it is possible, he is expected to continue to be available for breeding.

“We really hope for the understanding of all those people, that are moved by this horse as much as we are. Also we would like to take the opportunity to thank all the admirers and fans for their support during all this time,” the statement concluded.

With former rider Edward Gal of the Netherlands, the jet black Gribaldi x Glendale stallion broke records in all three grand prix tests. He was also the first horse to break the 90% barrier.

Since being sold to Germany in 2010, to be ridden by Matthias, the new pairing have been dogged with problems. This included missing out on the London Olympics when Matthias contracted glandular fever and the 2014 World Equestrian Games due to horse injury.

They did hit form for a time, beating Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro twice at Aachen in July of last year, but cold never reproduce that form on the world stage.

In the individual rankings in the grand prix at the European Championships, the pair finished sixth with 75.91% – with individual judges’ scores varying between 71.6% and 80.1%.

For a full report on all the action from the FEI European Dressage Championships, see our bumper H&H magazine edition, out Thursday (20 August).

Aachen Europeans dressage: Charlotte Dujardin claims gold while a top contender is eliminated VIDEO

Alice Collins — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 17:01:35 +0000

The drama continued to unfold at the FEI European Dressage Championships in Aachen, Germany, today (Saturday, 15 August).

Charlotte Dujardin successfully defended her grand prix special gold medal on Valegro, posting a new Europeans record of 87.577%. However there was heartbreak for Edward Gal, who was eliminated when blood was spotted in Glock’s Undercover NOP’s mouth during their performance.

Blood in Glock’s Undercover NOP’s mouth in the grand prix special at the European Championships 2015. Picture by Peter Nixon (Image credit: creditUnknown)

He was the second rider to crash out after Sweden’s Patrik Kittel’s mare Deja got her tongue over the bit and became upset, prompting him to retire.

Charlotte’s test, barring a tiny mistake at the end of the one-time changes, was crisp, clean and powerful; Valegro back to his best.

“It’s a great feeling that this tough crowd – the Germans – have come here and appreciated what Valegro and I have done,” said Charlotte, who picked up €18,000 for her victory.

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro claim gold in the grand prix special at the European Championships 2015. Picture by Peter Nixon (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Germany’s Kristina Bröring-Sprehe set the bar high (83.067%) with Desperados FRH, claiming silver. This is consolation for her nation as the Germans were disappointed to finish in bronze medal position in the team competition.

Her trending score never dipped below 80% throughout the well presented test on the 14-year-old black De Niro stallion.

Dutch rider Hans Peter Minderhoud clinched the bronze medal in the special with a wonderful ride on another stallion, Glock’s Johnson. He and the imposing Johnson x Flemmingh 13-year-old added their bronze to their team gold medal earlier in the week.

They scored 79.034%. Had it not been for a mistake in the changes, they would likely have crept over the 80% mark.

Carl Hester and the 11-year-old Nip Tuck pulled off one of the few mistake-free tests of the day to finish in fifth place with 77.003%.

“Forget Valegro, Nip Tuck’s had his moment today,” he beamed. “I’m smiling from ear to ear; it’s like having a whole pack of pastels in one go. That horse has the best work ethic and always tries for me.”

Fiona Bigwood made a few mistakes on Aterrupgaards Orthilia in their special test, claiming ninth place with 74.510%. They endured the worst of the weather, which hampered Fiona’s already compromised vision, but she was delighted with her Gribaldi mare’s attitude.

Britain’s Michael Eilberg was drawn first to go initially, but after Totilas withdrew from the competition yesterday, the Norwegian Trude Hestengen went in ahead of him.

Mistakes in the one-time changes pulled the pair’s score down just below 70%, for the second time at this competition.

“It’s a good score but I’m a bit annoyed about the mistakes as the horse’s physique and way of going were really good,” he said. “Sadly problems in the one-times aren’t a new phenomenon for this horse.”

Michael Eilberg and Marakov in the grand prix special at the European Championships 2015. Picture by Peter Nixon (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Michael, who finished in 19th place, won’t defend his British Dressage nationals champion title with Marko, but he has a number of other horse qualified for the show, including Woodlander Farouche’s dam, Woodlander Dornroschen, in the grand prix.

Charlotte, Carl and Fiona have all qualified for the individual freestyle, which takes place tomorrow (16 August) and is being shown live on the BBC.

For a full report on all the action, see Thursday’s Horse & Hound magazine – a special European Dressage Championships issue packed with news, photos, analysis and comment.

Aachen Europeans dressage: Netherlands win; silver for Team GBR VIDEO

Alice Collins — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 19:25:09 +0000

The team competition at the FEI European Dressage Championships in Aachen today (Thursday, 13 August) went right down to the wire. Ultimately, the last competitor in the ring, Germany’s Kristina Bröring-Sprehe could not do enough to pull her team up the medal table from bronze position.

The Netherlands won gold, with the British team of Charlotte Dujardin (video interview above), Carl Hester, Fiona Bigwood and Michael Eilberg claiming silver.

The pressure was on Charlotte to deliver a performance good enough to overtake the Dutch, but mistakes in the zig-zag and the one-time changes prevented that. She and Valegro still lead the individual rankings, having scored 83.029% to second-placed Edward Gal’s 82.229%. Two judges preferred Edward’s test to Charlotte’s.

Kristina and the black De Niro stallion Desperados FRH finished third individually with 79.986%.

Despite winning the class individually, Charlotte was disappointed.

“The mistakes were all my fault and I’m annoyed with myself,” said the world number one.

“The beginning felt really good, but it’s tough out there – and there aren’t many horses who haven’t made mistakes. Unfortunately mine cost us the gold, but as a team we’ve performed brilliantly.”

Charlotte DUJARDIN (GBR) riding Valegro during the Grand Prix Team Competition at the FEI European Championships in Aachen, Germany on 13 August 2015 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Edward Gal eeked every single possible mark from Glock’s Undercover (pictured below), recovering from a torrid outing in Rotterdam; their 76.6% being well below their usual scores in this test.

“He felt really really good from beginning to end,” beamed the popular Dutch rider.

“When he’s like that, I feel I can piaffe as long as I want and go in and out smoothly.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The top 30 individuals from the grand prix qualify for the grand prix special, which means all four Brits go through, as Michael Eilberg finished in 29th. The special takes place on Saturday, with tomorrow being a rest day.

The teams finishing in fourth, fifth and sixth — Spain, Sweden and France — secured their Olympic qualification today as there were three spots up for grabs and the podium teams had all qualified before this championships.

For a full report on all the action, including the controversy surrounding Totilas’ performance, see the full report in Horse & Hound magazine, out on Thursday 20 August.

Team medal results

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Netherlands

Edward Gal 82.229%

Hans Peter Minderhoud 77.586%

Diederik van Silfhout 75.814%

~~Patrick van der Meer 72.4%~~

Great Britain

Charlotte Dujardin 83.029%

Fiona Bigwood 75.8%

Carl Hester 75.4%

~~Michael Eilberg 69.943%~~

Germany

Kristina Bröring-Sprehe 79.743%

Matthias Alexander Rath 75.971%

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl 75.2%

~~Isabell Werth 74.9%~~

Who will be named the world’s greatest dressage horse?

Caroline Bankes — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 13:25:56 +0000

Fan of Valegro? Love Salinero? Or is Totilas your dressage star?

Dressage lovers are being urged to vote for the world’s greatest dressage horses by next Wednesday (1 July).

The final six selected will be celebrated at the Global Dressage Forum in Hooge Mierde in the Netherlands on 26-27 October.

The programme committee of the Forum and the dressage community have selected ten horses for the voting.

Only those who had won an individual gold medal at the Olympics, World Championships or have won the World Cup Final were eligible for selection.

The horses to vote for are:

· Rembrandt ridden by Nicole Uphoff

· Matador ridden by Kyra Kyrklund

· Valegro ridden by Charlotte Dujardin

· Corlandus ridden by Margit Otto-Crepin

· Totilas ridden by Edward Gal

· Salinero ridden by Andy van Grunsven

· Ahlerich ridden by Reiner Klimke

· Granat ridden by Christine Stuckelberger

· Gigolo ridden by Isabell Werth

· Bonfire ridden by Anky van Grunsven

Voters can nominate their top three “greatest dressage horses ever” by visiting: www.globaldressageforum.com

All those who vote will have the chance to win a ticket for the Global Dressage Forum 2015.

“We will honour and look back at the great achievements of six of these horses. We will invite the rider, owner, breeder and/or groom and learn all about their personal story and the real character of these elite stars,” said a spokesman for the forum.

The factors that made the selected horses so special and better than their opponents will be analysed.

The speakers confirmed so far for the 15th Global Dressage Forum include international rider and trainer Wolfram Wittig, former rider and national coach of the US jumping team George Morris, international trainer and long reins specialist Paul Fielder, German rider Uta Graf and feeding and hydration specialist vet Chloe Bristow.

Charlotte Dujardin sets new world record at Olympia [VIDEO]

Alice Collins — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 00:35:35 +0000

Charlotte Dujardin set a new world record this evening in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup qualifying leg at Olympia in London.

She and Valegro scored 87.46%, capping her previous record of 87.129%, set at the FEI World Cup Final in Lyon in April.

The pair scored 17 10s in their fault-free performance.

“He hadn’t been out since the World Equestrian Games [in August],” said Charlotte of the 12-year-old gelding by Negro. “So I kind of used this as a schooling round.”

The 29-year-old rider has had a whirlwind week, having come fourth in the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year contest on Sunday evening in Glasgow.

“There is nothing scarier than getting up on stage in front of 12,000 people and being interviewed,” she said. “So coming to Olympia was a complete breeze.”

When asked if she had been gunning to break the record this evening, she said: “Win or lose, if Blueberry [Valegro] has tried his hardest and I’ve done my best, the score is irrelevant; the record is a bonus.”

The two Netherlands combinations of Edward Gal (Glock’s Undercover) and Danielle Heijkoop (Siro) were second and third, replicating the placings exactly in the grand prix and freestyle at Olympia in 2013.

Edward, who followed Chralotte into the arena and scored 80.12%, said: “Undercover got hot with all the clapping for Charlotte. That was hard and I had to hold him back in the test. But this is a great show and it’s really nice to come here at Christmas time.”

Danielle echoed Edward’s sentiments: “I love London – I love the shopping and the people, oh and the dressage.”

Carl Hester was fourth on an incredibly sensitive Nip Tuck, scoring 74.68%.

The top 15 all qualify for the freestyle on Wednesday.

Nikki Crisp and Pasoa were 14th with 68.22%. Fellow Brits Hannah Biggs (63.46% on Weltzin) and Daniel Watson (63.44% on Fideramber) had to contend with tense horses in the electric atmosphere and filled 17th and 18th places.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

WEG dressage grand prix: Edward Gal talks to H&H [VIDEO]

Horse & Hound — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 09:23:38 +0000

H&H’s dressage editor Alice Collins catches up with Dutch team rider Edward Gal after his test on Glock’s Voice, which scored 72.414%. Edward had planned to ride Glock’s Undercover at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), but he was ruled out by a spinal problem picked up at the final vet check prior to the Games. Edward explains how the Dutch team has bounced back from losing two horses shortly before WEG and when he expects Glock’s Undercover to be back in action.

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro nail new freestyle to become World Cup champions

Pippa Roome — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 15:50:06 +0000

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro won the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final this afternoon in Lyon.

Not only was it Charlotte’s 1st World Cup final, she was also riding her new freestyle for the first time, to music from the animated film How to Train Your Dragon. But the British pair never faltered to score 92.179%. They finished nearly 5% of their nearest rivals.

“The music’s so great — I literally felt like we danced our way round,” said Charlotte. “I was so emotional at the end, he gives me so much and that’s all you can ask.”

Charlotte’s new routine had a higher degree of difficulty than her previous one, including a piaffe pirouette at the end with a change of direction. Although her score was 1.796% below her world record this time, that might change in the future.

Her mentor Carl Hester said: “I think that routine could become a new world record — it’s more difficult than the one with which she set the record and he didn’t make a mistake.”

Charlotte agreed: “The more confident I get with the music, hopefully it can only get better. I love that music and love riding to it.”

The order of the top 3 was unchanged from yesterday’s grand prix. Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW, winners of the title last year for Germany, settled for 2nd this time on 87.339%.

“I’m not disappointed — I love Damie and for me he’s the best,” she said. “It’s a pity we had a couple of mistakes, but they wouldn’t have changed the result.”

The Netherlands’ Edward Gal and Glock’s Undercover notched up 83.696% in 3rd, with the horse looking more relaxed than yesterday.

Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven was the other rider to break the 80% barrier, scoring 80.946% on Don Auriello to take 4th.

Full report of the FEI World Cup finals in H&H this week, out Thursday, 24 April.

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro break their own grand prix record at World Cup final

Pippa Roome — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 17:08:42 +0000

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro smashed through their own grand prix record score this afternoon at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final in Lyon.

The British Olympic and European champions scored 87.129%, 1.187% more than their previous record of 85.942%, which they set at the European Championships in Herning last summer.

“He’s just getting stronger and stronger,” said Charlotte. “Every year you think that’s his maximum, there is no more, but every year it seems to be there is a bit more and a bit more.

“Obviously I’ve got such a great partnership with him, he gives me so much confidence that I can ride for that ultimate that I need.”

Charlotte had one tiny break of rhythm in her second piaffe, but that was the only wobble in her rock solid test.

She said: “It’s quite a big arena and when I rode him on the first day he was very, very hot, and I was a bit concerned he might be on edge, but when he comes down that centreline he knows his job.”

Defending World Cup title holder Helen Langehanenberg of Germany took 2nd on 83.343%. She gave her chestnut stallion Damon Hill NRW a big hug as she finished her excellent test.

“He loves to go to shows and the more people there are the happier he is,” she said. “Today we did a fluent test with lots of expression, but harmony as well.”

Helen admitted her early final halt was deliberate: “He was a bit excited and really wanted to passage, and I felt more and more energy and didn’t know which direction that could go in, so I decided to stop now!”

The Netherlands’ Edward Gal collected 3rd place with Glock’s Undercover, scoring 79.957%. His test was slightly marred by tension, which showed particularly in a lack of immobility in the first halt and a shortening of the canter before the one-time changes.

“He was really excited in the warm-up and, although he was better in the test, I couldn’t ride it as I hoped to ride it,” he said. “Hopefully he’s better tomorrow.”

Today’s results do not actually count towards the result of this World Cup final, but are used to determine the starting order for tomorrow’s freestyle. The freestyle winner is crowned the World Cup champion.

Charlotte will be debuting a new freestyle in the class, having ridden the patriotic routine devised for London 2012 for the final time when winning the World Cup qualifier at Olympia in December.

“I love my new music and the floorplan is quite cool — there’s an interesting bit at the end so hopefully I can pull it off,” she said. “For the first time I did it at home and Carl [Hester, her mentor] didn’t scream at me, so hopefully I can do the same tomorrow. I’m very excited to be doing it.”

Charlotte and Valegro in pictures

Full report of the FEI World Cup finals in this week’s H&H, out Thursday, 24 April.

World Cup final website for starting orders, results and more

Olympia Horse Show World Cup dressage entries promise top sport

Alice Collins — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 12:15:15 +0000

The list of riders nominated to compete in the FEI World Cup dressage qualifier at Olympia Horse Show (16-22 December) has been released and includes 3 of the 4 bronze medal-winning British team riders from this year’s European Championships.

World No.1 Charlotte Dujardin is nominated on both Valegro (pictured) and Uthopia, though H&H columnist Carl Hester has confirmed that Valegro is the more likely starter. Carl will ride Gemma Green’s Florestan stallion Fine Time, with whom he is the current British Dressage national champion.

A total of 9 British riders have made the starting line-up.

Lara Griffith will make her Olympia debut with Laura Tomlinson’s former ride Andretti H. Roland Tong, riding for Ireland, will also make his debut on his Europeans ride Pompidou.

Laura is not competing, but will attend Olympia with Mistral Hojris for an official retirement ceremony.

Emile Faurie partners his new grand prix horse Topolino (by Tip Top), while Michael Eilberg has the choice of either his Europeans ride Half Moon Delphi or Marakov. Judy Harvey, Nikki Crisp and Anna Ross Davies complete the strong British contingent.

Fans of the popular Dutch couple Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud will be pleased to see that both are set to compete at the popular show, though it is still uncertain which of their massive string of top level horses they will ride. Dutch rising star and Olympia debutante Danielle Heijkoop comes fresh from dual victories at the CDI4* Oldenburg earlier this month on her Gribaldi son Kingsley Siro.

Germany’s sole representative, the multi-talented Ingrid Klimke, will ride the British-owned Dresden Mann. The former breeding stallion, now gelded, is only nine.

British-based Dane Anders Dahl partners his wife Fiona Bigwood’s Wie Weltmeyer gelding Wie Atlantico, while his compatriot Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein will ride the charismatic and high-scoring Donnerhall gelding, Digby.

The grand prix takes place at 3pm on Monday, 16 December with the freestyle to music the following evening. H&H will be offering free, live, interactive written commentary from the show.

Definite entries will be announced on 6 December.

The nominated entries are:

AUS BERESFORD, Hayley — Jaybee Alabaster

AUS OATLEY, Lyndal — Sandro Boy

BEL MISSIAEN, Simon — Vradin

DEN DAHL, Anders — Wie Atlantico de Ymas

DEN SAYN-WITTGENSTEIN, Nathalie zu — Digby

GBR CRISP, Nikki — Pasoa

GBR DU JARDIN, Charlotte — Uthopia or Valegro

GBR EILBERG, Michael — Half Moon Delphi or Marakov

GBR FAURIE, Emile — Topolino

GBR GRIFFITH, Lara — Andretti H

GBR HARVEY, Judith — Fitzcerraldo

GBR HESTER, Carl — Fine Time

GBR ROSS DAVIES, Anna — Pegasus MK

GBR WATSON, Daniel — Fideramber

GER KLIMKE, Ingrid — Dresden Mann

IRL DWYER, Kate — Reve Dor

IRL TONG, Roland — Pompidou

NED ESSEN, Aat van — Macrider Premier or Sebastian

NED GAL, Edward — Glock’s Undercover or Glock’s Voice or Interfloor Next One

NED GEVERS, Katja — Thriller

NED HEIJKOOP, Danielle — Kingsley Siro

NED HEUITINK, Joyce — Wup

NED MINDERHOUD, Hans Peter — Glock’s Romanov or Glock’s Tango or Glock’s Ziesto

SWE HAMILTON, Malin — Fleetwood

SWE TELDE, Minna — Santana

Dressage superstar Totilas to ‘focus on sport’

Flora Watkins — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 12:55:51 +0000

Dressage superstar Totilas will have reduced stud duties in 2013, following two disappointing years of competition since transferring to German ownership.

Paul Schockemöhle — who bought Totilas with Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff in 2010 — told the German magazine Spiegel that “everything went wrong that could have gone wrong” for the horse this year.

Totilas has not enjoyed the consistent competition record he had with the Netherlands’ Edward Gal since being ridden by Ms Linsenhoff’s stepson, Matthias Rath.

He failed to win an individual medal at the 2011 European Championships and could only manage second at the German national championships this year.

The horse appeared tense and unhappy at the Schockemöhle stallion parade in February. At the Hagen CDI in April, Matthias attracted attention from critics, who alleged that the horse had been warmed up using the controversial rollkur, also known as hyperflexion.

In June it was announced that Totilas would not go to the Olympics, because Matthias was ill with glandular fever.

Totilas commands a stud fee of £8,000 and one of his progeny, sold in Germany in October, equalled the foal auction price record of

£200,000.

But Mr Schockemöhle, who owns the breeding rights to the stallion, said competition would be the priority next year.

“Next year sport will be the focal point. We are optimistic,” he told Spiegel.

However, a spokesman for Totilas’ connections, Kai Meesters, said the quotes had been taken out of context.

“Everything is fine and the relationship between Paul and Matthias is fine,” he said.

In October, the German branch of animal rights extremists PETA filed charges against the owners and rider of Totilas, alleging that the horse was being abused by being kept in isolation and trained using rollkur.

Prosecutors have not announced whether the allegations violate German law.

Mr Meesters preferred not to comment on the allegations.

“These are things that do not merit comment,” he said. “They [PETA] wanted some PR — and they got it.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (29 November 2012)

Dressage team bloopers in Daily Mirror and Daily Express

Charlotte White — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 11:51:49 +0000

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.

Edward Gal takes over ride on Blue Hors Romanov

Alice Collins — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:21:33 +0000

Dutch dressage rider Edward Gal has bagged himself a new ride. He will take over the grand prix dressage stallion Blue Hors Romanov and the horse will move to Holland.

Despite Romanov’s successful long-term grand prix record – he won the Medien Cup qualifier in Hamburg in 2010, was second in the grand prix special in Verden and won the grand prix at CDI3* Copenhagen – the Danish Blue Hors Stud fired its chief rider Sune Hansen after a series of disappointing recent results. This included the European Championships earlier this year, where the pair posted the Danish team’s discard score of 67.66%.

Blue Hors hope that, under Edward, Romanov will make it to the Olympics, albeit flying the Dutch flag. It is the first time a Dutch rider has taken on a stallion from the stud.

“Our goal was always to have horses at the Olympics,” said Blue Hors manager, Esben Moller. “With this solution, we have the best opportunity to achieve [that] in London and continue to deliver strong results.”

Sune Hansen riding Blue Hors Romanov

The handsome bay stallion (Rohdiamant-Grundstein II) is already a popular breeding sire in Europe – despite his pricey stud fee of â‚¬1625 – with offspring including the 2010 mare of the year in Belgium. With his new high-profile rider, he is sure to remain in demand.

Romanov has five full brothers: Rubin Royal, Rumicello, Rubino Vincente, Rubin Action and Blue Hors Rockefeller.

US-based Dane Lars Petersen will ride another Blue Hors competition stallion, Gredstedgards Casmir (by Continue). He will move to Wellington, Florida to be united with his new rider, who used to work for the Stud in Denmark.

“We are delighted to have two of the best riders in the world for our two strongest grand prix horses,” added Moller.

This is Edward Gal’s second new ride in as many months. He was in Norway teaching a clinic and at the end was asked which of the horses he would most like to take home.

His pick was the three-year-old stallion, Tailormade Ralph Lauren. Much to Edward’s surprise, the horse’s owner Tejr Pedersen immediately told him he could have the ride on the striking chestnut and take him home to continue his education. Edward thanked him, then mounted the horse and rode him for the first time in front of the crowd.

Edward Gal riding Tailormade Ralph Lauren

New Totilas kur is ‘mirror image’ of Edward Gal’s

Alice Collins — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:34:32 +0000

Matthias Rath and Totilas won double gold and the national title at the German Dressage Championships (17-19 June). But the German rider’s celebrations may have been marred by controversy over the choice of floorplan for his new freestyle.

The 26-year-old commissioned a score by top dance DJ Paul van Dyk for what was billed a new kür. But the choreography for the routine was virtually a mirror image of previous rider Edward Gal’s.

Matthias’ publicist Kai Meesters said: “The music was only finished at the start of the week and there was no time to create a new floorplan for the national championships.

“But Matthias is creating a new freestyle in time for Aachen [8-17 July], when he will be competing against Edward.”

With marks awarded for choreography and originality, H&H wanted to know how judges can score a routine that is effectively second-hand.

FEI dressage director Trond Asmyr told us: “If a rider competes with a floorplan that another rider has used before it doesn’t influence the marks. Choreography and originality are judged by comparison with standard tests, regardless of the fact that there may be similarities with previous freestyles.

“The task of the judges is to evaluate the performance presented to them in the arena on a particular day, without taking into consideration any knowledge of previous results, music, floorplan, and so on.

“They must judge as if they were seeing the test for the first time.”

The issue has provoked a range of views and wide debate on the internet. But by Friday links to a number of videos showing Matthias’ kür side by side with Edward’s had been taken down from the web, ostensibily due to issues with the copyright.

Edward Gal did not want to be drawn into the discussion, but his partner Hans Peter Minderhoud said: “The kür is the same, just the other way around, but a lot of freestyles look the same — there’s not much you can do about it.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (30 June, 2011)

Edward Gal’s got the Midas touch

Horse & Hound — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:20:33 +0000

The latest addition to Edward Gal’s stable may be gold, but it’s not a smart new palomino.

The dressage supremo has been kitted out with golden boots courtesy of Petrie, Edward’s riding boot sponsors.

But the bling boots have split opinion.

Reactions on H&H’s Facebook page range from Amy McGrady’s, “Go ahead. If we are not having fun, why are we doing it?” to Susanne Madsen’s quip: “The Only Way is Essex called. They want their boots back.”

If Edward is willing to stray this far away from the strictures of dressage norms H&H wonders whether he might go the whole hog and don a golden tailcoat and glittery top hat.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (9 June, 2011)

Edward Gal names Totilas’ first British foal

Horse & Hound — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:57:03 +0000

Totilas’ first UK foal has been born — and the honour of naming him went to Edward Gal, the world-record breaking dressage star’s former rider.

In keeping with the superstar theme, the jet-black colt has been named Te Amo, one of Edward’s favourite songs by pop sensation Rihanna.

Foaled on 31 March, Te Amo is out of the Oldenburg mare Mrs Rouse (Rubinstein x Donnerhall) and was bred by Mitzi Stillebroer of Queens Orchard stud in Essex.

“He has an inquisitive, bold temperament and great movement with a very powerful canter for a foal of only a few days old,” said a delighted Mitzi.

“We’ve already had a lot of enquiries from the UK and abroad about him and are asking interested parties to outline their plans via email so we can decide on the best future of this very special colt.”

British winners at the FEI awards ceremony in Taipei

Amy Mathieson — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:21:51 +0000

Two British winners were among equestrian heroes honoured at the FEI Awards ceremony in Taipei last week.

The awards recognise outstanding dedication to horse sport and the winners were announced on 5 November.

The Ebony Horse Club, a riding club based in Brixton that helps disadvantaged children, received the Alltech development award.

And British groom Michelle Tipper, who worked as travelling groom from Nicky Barrett before turning freelance, was named best groom.

World Equestrian Games triple gold medallists Edward Gal and Totilas were named the winners of the Reem Acra best athlete award, US dressage rider Caroline Roffman received the HSBC rising star award and German paradressage rider Angelika Trabert won the against all odds award.

“The nominations we received for the 2010 FEI Awards once again demonstrated that the equestrian community counts many heroes,” said FEI secretary general Alex McLin.

“It is an honour for the FEI to acknowledge the achievements and dedication of five people, and a horse, whose work on the equestrian stage or behind the scenes has contributed to highlighting the greatness of our sport or making it accessible.”

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Olympic combination to make long-awaited comeback after almost three years

But following the trot-up, it was confirmed through the online scoring system that Edward and Total US will be 13th to go in the grand prix tomorrow (3 May).

It will be Edward’s first competition since competing at the Tokyo Olympics, where he and the then nine-year-old stallion finished sixth individually on 84.15%.

“I’ve been riding in competitions for so many years and I’ve enjoyed it. But, after the Olympics, I felt like I wanted to take a break,” said Edward at the time.

“I love riding at home, training our stallions, and I’d like to continue doing that this year in peace.

“After that, I’ll be back in sport again with all my energy. Thank you all for your understanding and I’m looking forward to many wonderful moments to come.”

That one-year sabbatical has now stretched to almost three years, but anticipation had been building for a potential return after the KNHS included the combination on their long list for the Paris Olympic Games.

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‘A treasure until his last breath’: Olympic medal-winning horse dies aged 22

“We loved you from the first moment and considered you a treasure until your last breath. Now you live on in our memory,” a spokesman for GHPC and Edward said.

Fritsie was the first horse bought for Edward by his long-time sponsor Gaston Glock, and the pair had a prolific career. Having made their debut in April 2012 at Saumur, the pair were part of the bronze medal-winning Dutch team at the London Olympics.

More medals followed including team gold at the 2015 European Championships and individual silver and two bronze medals at the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, Lyon, and Gothenburg. They also claimed victories at GHPC Austria, in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Odense.

But despite his international success, Fritsie could be a sensitive and tense horse.

Edward later explained that Fritsie became tense when the last horse left the warm-up arena. The then 14-year-old gelding struggled to regain his composure in the intense competition environment.

“After Aachen 2015, we therefore took a break and it was not until April 2016 that Edward rode Fritsie again internationally,” the GHPC spokesman said.

“But there he felt again that Fritsie was stressed and so what would be the point of those potential successes if the horse with which one has such a close bond is no longer relaxed and happy at tournaments?”

Shortly afterwards, Glock’s Undercover was retired.

“Farewell, dear friend. You were a personality, a friend and companion. It was a privilege to have you in our lives and working with you was very special. In our memory you live on. Because you were a part of us and will remain so.”

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Multiple gold medal-winning rider Edward Gal steps back from competition

“I’ve been riding in competitions for so many years and I’ve enjoyed it. But, after the Olympics, I felt like I wanted to take a break,” said Edward.

“I love riding at home in the GHPC, training our stallions, and I’d like to continue doing that this year in peace.

“After that, I’ll be back in sport again with all my energy. Thank you all for your understanding and I’m looking forward to many wonderful moments to come.”

The announcement means that Edward will not be seeking his 13th national title at the Dutch Dressage Championships in Ermelo next week (5 to 8 May).

Edward and the Totilas son finished sixth individually and helped the Dutch side to fifth place in the team competition in Tokyo.

Edward’s career to date features a bevy of broken records, medals and senior championship appearances.

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Olympic dressage rider cleared of cruelty in case brought by animal rights activists

The federation added: “It was the second time in a row that PETA had tried to sue Edward.

“In 2018, just before the World Equestrian Games in the US, PETA filed the exact same complaint. The case was then immediately dropped.

The federation added that Edward is “very happy” at the verdict, but that his reputation may have been damaged by the negative publicity caused by the case.

“He is now having lawyers investigate whether he will take legal action,” a spokesman said.

PETA’s Edmund Haferbeck said: “It is a milestone that an animal welfare case with a prominent [figure] after more than six years — and despite considerable resistance also within the judiciary — even comes to court.”

PETA added that its motto in part is that “animals are not there to entertain us”, and that it works against “speciesism”.

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‘It felt extra special to do that here’: poignant moment as Totilas son pays homage to late sire in Olympic freestyle

This is a huge result in its own right, yet it is the story behind the freestyle performance that makes it even more special.

“It’s the old test from Totilas that I rode in Kentucky – it felt extra special to do that here,” said Edward.

“Now it feels [he is getting] better and better better every time. It just takes time and that’s what he has as he is still so young, so I think it will be very good in future.”

“You get the same feeling, when you [use your] leg – that the same reaction, the same as he is in the stable,” he said, adding it’s really nice that those traits have been inherited.

“Totilas was a little bit more confident at his age. He’s a little bit shy, but I’ve done a couple of competitions with him now and I can feel that he is getting more confident also.”

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“Total US’s first really big test”

“He is a bit like a bomb”

Spain’s Beatriz Ferrer-Salat took third spot riding Elegance, her national champion, on a score of 72.096%. She was ruing a couple of mistakes in her second pirouette.

“Those mistakes were quite expensive,” she said. “But I’m very happy with the horse. I’m quite nervous these days and that was very nice.”

Beatriz described Elegance as “a very strong horse, very hot”.

“He has a lot of power – he’s a little bit like a bomb, so that’s not always easy to manage,” she said. “But today I’m very happy and proud.”

This was the second of six “heats” to qualify for Tuesday’s grand prix special for the team medals and Wednesday’s grand prix freestyle for individual medals. This group featured nine riders, after Austria’s Victoria Max-Theurer had to withdraw Abegglen NRW due to a tooth abscess.

Cathrine and Edward qualify automatically as the top two from the group, and the six next best scores from across the groups will also go through. Britain’s Lottie Fry topped group one with 77.096% on Everdale.

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“It felt really good. It was the first really big test for him in an arena like this,” said Edward.

“I felt the tension coming up a little bit warming up, because he was much more alone there and you can feel this is a competition – he’s very sensitive so he felt it too, I’m sure he also felt it from me.

“He’s so young and so talented and it will take a couple of more years to get everything sorted out, but I think then he’s really, really good.”

When asked about what the horse’s highlights are, he added: “It sounds stupid but he can do everything really well.”

He explained the horse has all the qualities and ability needed to score highly across the movements and is excited for when that all comes together, with the potential for a really high mark.

“You can feel so much comparison with Totilas. You get the same feeling, when you [use your] leg – that the same reaction, the same as he is in the stable,” he said, adding it’s really nice that those traits have been inherited.

“Totilas was a little bit more confident at his age. He’s a little bit shy, but I’ve done a couple of competitions with him now and I can feel that he is getting more confident also, so that’s good.”

He explained that he had to do Rotterdam to make sure the horse could cope with the atmosphere and the floodlights, which he did, and Total has been growing in confidence across his international starts.

“It was nice also to have Dream Boy [stablemate and ride of teammate Hans Peter Minderhoud] next to him in the plane so he was relaxed. He knows Dream Boy so that was really good that he has a big brother with him,” he said.

“There is [still a huge atmosphere in there], especially with the floodlights and it really looks great and when you come in it still feels like a really great competition.

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Who will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics grand prix freestyle? H&H’s dressage editor makes her predictions…

Group One

Group Two

Group Three

Group Four

Group Five

Group Six