stangs
Well-Known Member
What were people's thoughts of the GP today?
Compared to last year, I felt that frames were more on the vertical than behind, though maybe that’s been biased by the selection of riders.
Anikó Komjáthy-Losonczy and Dior S were a highlight. It was refreshing watching a horse who doesn’t have the flamboyant movement or the overly expressive changes, which no doubt cost them marks, and the whole test felt very light and harmonious and easy, with the poll always high and the horse almost always on or above the vertical and a still tail and mouth. Definitely a pair I’m going to be keeping an eye on.
Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Toto Jr were an interesting one as the horse just doesn’t come across as happy at all, tail rarely stops swishing and the mouth is very unsettled. And yet he was also coming above the vertical in the piaffe and trot half-pass, which I don’t recall him doing when I watched them in the Olympics, so maybe there has been a push to ride him “kinder”?
Though I do think Glamourdale’s frame is getting more open - he seemed on the vertical for a large part of the test - it’s really hard to keep an open mind about his tests when the whites of his eyes looked red even from where I was sitting and his mouth continues to be unsettled, his tail less so.
Diana Porsche and Dahoud 3 were alright to watch. Again, horse spends a lot of time on the vertical, not behind, and it was nice to see her give him a pat mid-test after the one tempis. They also did a piaffe before the judge rang the bell which had a very nice head carriage just above the vertical, and a very light feel to it, though unfortunately, in the actual test, the horse seemed to struggle with maintaining energy behind and consequently kept falling into an almost 3-beat piaffe with the hinds coming down together.
Becky Moody and Jaegerbomb made it look easy and quiet and peaceful and their win was well-deserved. Wish I could be watching their freestyle tomorrow!
Compared to last year, I felt that frames were more on the vertical than behind, though maybe that’s been biased by the selection of riders.
Anikó Komjáthy-Losonczy and Dior S were a highlight. It was refreshing watching a horse who doesn’t have the flamboyant movement or the overly expressive changes, which no doubt cost them marks, and the whole test felt very light and harmonious and easy, with the poll always high and the horse almost always on or above the vertical and a still tail and mouth. Definitely a pair I’m going to be keeping an eye on.
Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Toto Jr were an interesting one as the horse just doesn’t come across as happy at all, tail rarely stops swishing and the mouth is very unsettled. And yet he was also coming above the vertical in the piaffe and trot half-pass, which I don’t recall him doing when I watched them in the Olympics, so maybe there has been a push to ride him “kinder”?
Though I do think Glamourdale’s frame is getting more open - he seemed on the vertical for a large part of the test - it’s really hard to keep an open mind about his tests when the whites of his eyes looked red even from where I was sitting and his mouth continues to be unsettled, his tail less so.
Diana Porsche and Dahoud 3 were alright to watch. Again, horse spends a lot of time on the vertical, not behind, and it was nice to see her give him a pat mid-test after the one tempis. They also did a piaffe before the judge rang the bell which had a very nice head carriage just above the vertical, and a very light feel to it, though unfortunately, in the actual test, the horse seemed to struggle with maintaining energy behind and consequently kept falling into an almost 3-beat piaffe with the hinds coming down together.
Becky Moody and Jaegerbomb made it look easy and quiet and peaceful and their win was well-deserved. Wish I could be watching their freestyle tomorrow!
