Halfstep
Well-Known Member
Didn't have a horse there, but went along to watch and for the Gala evening. Very interesting day. I saw some really beautiful and well-produced young horses (and some not so good riding, but we'll pass over that!). The winner of the International 6 yr old was Jane Gregory's Soul Sister - a truly stunning, quality mare with three excellent paces and real rideability. for me, this mare was the highlight. Gareth Hughes' Duvie won the national 6 yr old and is a world-class horse.
I enjoyed the young horse PSG immensely, and it was a huge shame that, well on his way to winning the championship with ease, Gareth Hughes had to retire Sandman, who I think must have got his tongue over the bits just before his first pirouette in the freestyle. In the end, Gemma Green took the championship with Showtime, who, despite being rather sluggish in the qualifier, was much better in the freestyle.
Watching Christoph Hess and the stallions from the Westfalian state stud was inspirational. It was fascinating to see the stallions at the various stages of their training. Herr Hess was careful with each one (from the 3 yr old to the 11 yr old) to make sure that they were stretching into the contact at all times, asking each rider to do uberstreichen often. The three year old was just walked, trotted, an cantered on a long rein - no pressure, and looked like a very happy youngster. Most impressive to me was Markus Gribbe riding a 11 yr old stallion he had never sat on before. It was a virtuoso display of almost perfect riding, very sympathetic and technically immaculate.
The director of the stud at Warendorf said that they have almost 100 performance-tested, hand-picked stallions there. The managers and trainers at the stud engage with the owners of a mare and carefully pick which one would most complement the mare and improve on her weaknesses. The stallions are in training and have competition experience, and she stressed the importance of character and trainability in the stallions. It was very interesting, and a good illustration of how far Britain still has to go to even begin to compete with Germany in the breeding of sports horses. But an event like this helps to pave the way.
(sorry about the essay!
)
I enjoyed the young horse PSG immensely, and it was a huge shame that, well on his way to winning the championship with ease, Gareth Hughes had to retire Sandman, who I think must have got his tongue over the bits just before his first pirouette in the freestyle. In the end, Gemma Green took the championship with Showtime, who, despite being rather sluggish in the qualifier, was much better in the freestyle.
Watching Christoph Hess and the stallions from the Westfalian state stud was inspirational. It was fascinating to see the stallions at the various stages of their training. Herr Hess was careful with each one (from the 3 yr old to the 11 yr old) to make sure that they were stretching into the contact at all times, asking each rider to do uberstreichen often. The three year old was just walked, trotted, an cantered on a long rein - no pressure, and looked like a very happy youngster. Most impressive to me was Markus Gribbe riding a 11 yr old stallion he had never sat on before. It was a virtuoso display of almost perfect riding, very sympathetic and technically immaculate.
The director of the stud at Warendorf said that they have almost 100 performance-tested, hand-picked stallions there. The managers and trainers at the stud engage with the owners of a mare and carefully pick which one would most complement the mare and improve on her weaknesses. The stallions are in training and have competition experience, and she stressed the importance of character and trainability in the stallions. It was very interesting, and a good illustration of how far Britain still has to go to even begin to compete with Germany in the breeding of sports horses. But an event like this helps to pave the way.
(sorry about the essay!
