FEI WBFSH: British representatives in fine form under stormy Ermelo skies

The British contingent flying the flag at the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships produced some bright performances to defy the downpours that dominated an inspiring week in Ermelo, the Netherlands (3 – 6 August 2023).  

In the five year old category, Emma Blundell’s mare MSJ Viva Dannebrog (pictured below) proved a fine example of what the judges are looking for, with two superb tests presented by rider Amy Woodhead. In the FEI Qualifier for five year olds, presented by Anemone Horse Trucks, the Vitalis-sired mare out of Diva Dannebrog (by Don Schufro) finished just one placing away from progressing to the final, scoring 8.18 for thirteenth position. The highlights for ‘Vivienne’s’ opening performance in the crucible of Dutch dressage came for her light-footed, rhythmical trot, which earned an 8.5, powerful canter for 8.3 and overall perspective which achieved a promising mark of 8.4. Similar form would follow on day two for the well-matched combination, earning fourth place in the FEI Small Final for five year old horses. Amy artfully presents a picture of total harmony, which was praised by judge Susanne Baarup in addition to her promising comments on Mount St John’s rising star: “This is the way we want to see young horses presented, with always a very nice contact, off the hand and letting her go forward. There were some small things today but overall the picture stays really nice. The trot is really active and expressive, the walk is active and clear and the canter is nice, with good activity and uphill tendency. We think you have a beautiful, elegant horse with three good gaits and a very good future ahead.”  

For the British riders representing overseas nations in the five year old category, Lottie Fry progressed through to the Longines FEI Final with Van Olst Horse’s KWPN licensed stallion Nalegro (Painted Black x Negro), with the explosive young talent looking set for a bright future as he gains experience through the levels. Former FEI Pony European Champion Phoebe Peters (24) also presented another Van Olst talent in the NRPS licensed Everest (Especial x Negro); whose father Especial achieved top three placings in the CDI3* Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special competitions also taking place in Ermelo. Whilst Joseph Robert Hunt showed Druida de Centurion, an eye-catching PRE prospect who improved greatly throughout the week for his exposure in the Ermelo atmosphere.  

The Longines FEI five year old title belonged to the exceptional Danish mare Quinn G. (Quaterhit x Fassbinder), pictured, owned by Helgstrand Dressage and bred by Helene Geervliet of Stutteri G. To the delight of her rider Betina Jaeger, the winning score was a fantastic 94.800%, which included a perfect perspective mark of 10.

In the six year old competition, Beth Bainbridge debuted Elite Dressage’s My Pride, an attractive son of Toto Jr bred by Stal Timmers. The combination notched up some promising marks across their two FEI Dressage World Breeding Championships performances, with the stallion’s walk a clear highlight. Anna Ross of Elite Dressage perfectly captured the inspiring mood of the week, reflecting on both sport and breeding on social media: “What a show.. wet, wild and windy and just wonderful! So proud of the horses who held their own against the best in the world. An experience made all the more exciting by knowing we have used so many of the Champion stallions in our breeding program already.”

A fascinating Longines FEI six year old final went right down to the wire, with Hans Peter Minderhoud taking his Small Final winner My Toto (Toto Jr x Voice) to the top step of the final podium. The black gelding, bred by Aat Both, achieved 88.600% to claim the title ahead of Helgstrand Germany’s star combination of Leonie Richter and Vitalos FRH (Vitalis x De Niro).  

Team Tomlinson took on the seven year old contest, as Laura Tomlinson and Sarah Rogers each presented an exciting home-bred in Full Moon II and Forest Hill. From Friday’s opening round Sarah collected a ticket for the final on board Forest Hill (pictured above), by former FEI World Breeding Championships medallist Fursten-Look and out of a United mare; the handsome British-bred gelding achieved 12th place with 76.804%, rewarded by judges Juan Carlos Campos Escribano (ESP), Henning Lehrmann (GER) and Peter Storr (GBR). The combination showed another strong performance in the final, where their exemplary submission stood out earning 8.3; the judges comments echoed the points as they added, “He’s a lovely, very workmanlike horse – he seems to really enjoy his job together with you [Sarah]. The trot is nice and always in steady rhythm and the canter has a secure three beat too with ability to sit and collect. The submission was the highlight of your horse, the entry was exemplary and really straight, he’s obedient and well-behaved and shows great lateral work too. This is a well-educated horse, with a little more activity he’s a very nice horse for the future.”

Laura Tomlinson’s Full Moon II looks a solid prospect for the 2012 Olympic team gold and individual bronze medallist, and whilst the points in the first round held back the placings, the Fuerstenball gelding showed every bit of his class in Saturday’s small final – missing out on qualification by just one position. The submission for this test too was a highlight, replicating Sarah and Forest Hill’s strength, with the collective earning a 9.0 from Hans Voser (SUI), Henning Lehrmann (GER) and Sharon Rhode (RSA); whilst the trot tour shown in the Prix St Georges level test also was a joy to watch, earning 8.2.  

Denmark’s Anna Kasprzak achieved a double of wins with the Hannoverian gelding Danciero confirming his stand-out qualification performance with victory in the Longines FEI seven year old final. The combination achieved two perfect 10s for submission and perspective, contributing to a runaway win on 86.929%.  

British Dressage congratulations the team of riders who represented Great Britain in Ermelo, as well as the breeders, owners and support teams behind each horse.  

Image © FEI/Leanjo de Koster – DigiShots – Photos of the British riders to follow.

Results: top three and British placings 

FEI Qualifier for 5YO – presented by Anemone Horse Trucks 
1. Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen and Valerie B (Revolution x Blue Hors Zack), 9.48 (DEN) 
2. Carl Hedin and Skyline to B (Blue Hors St Schufro x Ampere), 8.96 (SWE) 
3. Betina Jaeger and Quinn G. (Quaterhit x Fassbinder), 8.82 (DEN) 
12. Lottie Fry and Nalegro (Painted Black x Negro), 8.26 (NED/GBR) 
13. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Dannebrog (Vitalis x Don Schufro), 8.18 (GBR) 
15. Phoebe Peters and Everest (Especial x Negro), 8.02 (NED/GBR) 
35. Joseph Robert Hunt and Druida de Centurion (Fer Bago x Oceano Cen), 7.38 (ESP/GBR)

FEI Small Final for 5YO  
1. Stephanie Wolf and San to Alati (Secret x Belissimo), 84.600% (GER) 
2. Mette Sejbjerg Jensen and About You II (AC-DC 4 x Estobar NRW), 84.400% (GER) 
3. Maxi Kira von Platen and Happy Days di Fonteabeti (Valverde NRW x Wup), 83.800% (GER) 
4. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Dannebrog (Vitalis x Don Schufro), 83.600% (GBR) 
15. Phoebe Peters and Everest (Especial x Negro), 78.200% (NED/GBR) 
18. Joseph Robert Hunt and Druida de Centurion (Fer Bago x Oceano Cen), 77.000% (ESP/GBR)

Longines FEI Final for 5YO  
1. Betina Jaeger and Quinn G. (Quaterhit x Fassbinder), 94.800% (DEN) 
2. Simone Pearce and No Limit (Geniaal x Florestan I), 88.600% (AUS) 
3. Thomas Schulze and Beck’s (Benicio x Desperados), 88.200% (GER) 
15. Charlotte Fry and Nalegro (Painted Black x Negro), 79.600% (NED/GBR)

FEI Qualifier for 6YO – presented by Provincie Gelderland 
1. Jeanna Hogberg and Be Allex (Ampere x Dalwhinnie), 89.600% (SWE) 
2. Victoria E. Vallentin and Lynbjergs St. Paris (Blue Hors St. Schufro x Blue Hors Rockefeller), 89.400% (DEN) 
3. Dinja van Liere and Mauro Turfhorst (Zonik NOP x Negro), 88.200% (NED) 
42. Beth Bainbridge and My Pride (Glock’s Toto Jr x Johnson TN), 70.800% (GBR)

FEI Small Final for 6YO - presented by eHorses 
1. Hans Peter Minderhoud and My Toto (Glocks Toto Jr x Voice), 87.600% (NED) 
2. Lena Waldmann and Chere Celine OLD (Governor STR x San Amour I), 83.200% (GER) 
3. Anders Uve Sjebeck Hoeck and Hesselhoej Double Up (Hesselhoej Donkey Boy x Sir Lancelot M), 82.200% (DEN) 
27. Beth Bainbridge and My Pride (Glock’s Toto Jr x Johnson TN), 73.400% (GBR)  

Longines FEI Final for 6YO  
1. Hans Peter Minderhoud and My Toto (Glocks Toto Jr x Voice), 88.600% (NED) 
2. Leonie Richter and Vitalos FRH (Vitalis x De Niro), 88.400% (GER) 
3. Beatrice Hoffroggee and Zuperman OLD (Galleria’s Vincent Maranello x Destano), 87.200% (GER)

FEI Qualifier for 7YO  
1. Anna Kasprzak and Danciero (Dancier x Fuechtels Floriscount), 83.325% (GER) 
2. Leonie Richter and Global Player OLD (Grand Galaxy Win T x Blue Hors Don Schufro), 83.184% (GER) 
3. Nicole Wego-Engelmeyer and Diaton (Dimaggio x Benetton Dream FRH), 83.057% (GER) 
12. Sarah Rogers and Forest Hill (Fursten-Look x United), 76.804% (GBR) 
32. Laura Tomlinson and Full Moon II (Fuerstenball OLD x IPS Gribaldi), 69.487% (GBR)

FEI Small Final for 7YO  
1. Kristine Moller and DSP Big Bang (Bon Coeur x Quadroneur), 76.548% (LUX) 
2. Santiago Damil and L’Amore Per Sempre OLD (Livaldon x Alabaster), 76.034% (GER) 
3. Tommie Visser and Quinten Begijnhoeve (Heros Begijnhoeve x Ferro), 74.604% (BEL) 
4. Laura Tomlinson and Full Moon II (Fuerstenball OLD x IPS Gribaldi), 74.443% (GBR)

Longines FEI Final for 7YO  
1. Anna Kasprzak and Danciero (Dancier x Fuechtels Floriscount), 86.829% (GER) 
2. Leonie Richter and Global Player OLD (Grand Galaxy Win T x Blue Hors Don Schufro), 83.129% (GER) 
3. Lightning Star and Kirsten Brouwer (Ferguson x De Niro), 81.779% (NED) 
14. Sarah Rogers and Forest Hill (Fursten-Look x United), 73.222% (GBR) 

FULL RESULTS