The European Championships are this summer in Hagen (Germany) from July 28 till July 31. The EC will bring the best Grand Prix riders from Europe together, for a four day event with a team competition and an individual Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle final.
Declaration of the FEI Dressage Committee, July 31 2005
With reference to the speculations about malpractices in Dressage sport that have recently appeared in the German press, the FEI states the following:
The FEI firmly distances itself from any extreme practices that are against its Rules and Regulations and that are in any way against the welfare of the horse. FEI’s position is made explicit in the recently updated Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse, according to the first article of which “At all stages during the preparation and training of competition horses, welfare must take precedence over all other demands”.
The FEI veterinarians and stewards continuously supervise the stables, training areas and grounds at all FEI events. The FEI Dressage Committee constantly is making every effort to foster the concept of the horse as a happy athlete.
Mariette Withages Chairman FEI Dressage Committee
Queen of dressage honoured again
Twelve national titles, seven worldcup wins, two Olympic individual gold medals, one gold Worldchampionship-medal and now the second European individual gold medal was awarded to Anky van Grunsven, the undisputed queen of the dressage world from the Netherlands. Anky van Grunsven commented afterwards: "Altough the weather today was not too pleasant, I really felt great in my last leap of honour with the enthusiastic cheering Dutch supporters, and all the Germans clapping and shouting as well, being happy because of the performances and Keltec Salinero being a German horse! So at the end I feel really everybody was happy except for a minor two and that is a very good feeling..."
Below the belt
The minor two Anky van Grunsven shortly mentioned were the two German journalists who wrote without any respect and far below the belt and suggesting cruelties in the trainingsmethods of the Dutch and especially Anky van Grunsven. Mariette Withages finally said about the theme: "This for me shows a very bad taste and a very bad and respectless timing. This can damage our sport. The only positive what probably has grown about this, is the way I felt really everyone, riders, organisers and all other press people united. More understanding has grown and people have come closer. We all end to be 'happy athletes' I would say!"
Showers provide extra musical power in Freestyle
The circumstances today at Hof Kasselmann's place in the Teutoburgerwald near Hagen, Germany, were extreme difficult with heavy showers and wind. The first to receive a shower was 14 year old stallion Bjorsells Briar and Jan Brink. While riding a brand new freestyle with Spanish and Greek influences the 14 year old stallion passaged to its best and scored 81,00% to be awarded with the second place in the freestyle. Finish trainer Kyra Kyrklund was very happy that her succesfull pupil Jan proved again to be able to build up his championship so well. On Max she herself scored 75% and a tenth place in the Freestyle. "The horse was doing his 7th Grand Prix only here in Hagen so I am proud as a schoolgirl on my 'little one' Max and on my 'tall one' Jan!", Kyra commented. German Hubertus Schmidt rode his mare Wansuela Suerte carefully on purpose, as he commented: "I respect Jan for his strong freestyle performances. I thought not taking risks myself would be the best I could do".
Van Grunsven secures leading position
In the European Championship's Grand Prix Special, no one came near Anky van Grunsven and Keltec Salinero. With a score of 76,16% the Olympic champion is only a halfpass away from another gold medal. Anky's transitions in to piaffe and passage were brilliant and she demonstrated a wonderful balance, power and lightness. As expected, Hubertus Schmidt and his the easy going and relaxed Wansuela Suerte were runners-up again with a score of 75,72%. However, the major surprise in the GPS was British rider Carl Hester and Escapado coming third. "He is such an airy, fairy horse!," said Carl. "I am in fifth position now. Incredible. It´s such a pity that until now, I have never been in the right team at the right time. I feel an individual medal is probably too much to be asked for... But I will take all risks tomorrow´.
Bonaparte out of competition
Today the European Championship came to a premature end for German champion, Heike Kemmer and her horse Bonaparte, who were in 6th place in the individual ranking after Grand Prix. On Friday, the 12-year old Hannovarian sustained an open wound on his right front fetlock, perhaps in the passage at the last centerline or else, immediately after. On Saturday morning at the veterinary control, Bonaparte was found to be lame. Heike Kemmer said: "It is very sad, but the wellbeing of my horse is all important."
Sweden honoured with the team bronze
After the Grand Prix Special a special price giving ceremony was organised for the Spanish and Swedish teams who tied for third place in the Nations Cup. In an extraordinary gesture of sportsmanship taking fairness, the Spanish Equestrian Federation, their Dressage team, trainer Jean Bemelmans and team chief Bobby Bobadilla requested to award a bronze medal to Sweden which the FEI did. Judge Mariette Withages explained that as president of the FEI Dressage Committee, she must stick to the rules. "But this rule had not yet come into effect and we must find answers to problemssolution. After phonecalls of me and of Eva Salomons and I phoned every Dressage Committee member and they all agreed to award the bronce medal to Sweden as well." At the ceremony, the Swedish and Spanish team members were hugging and congratulating each other in front of the madly waving and cheering crowds. The city of Osnabruck rewarded the Spanish team with a special Fair Play prize. Sweden gets bronze as well
Sweden, tying for third place in the European Championship Dressage Nations Cup, but losing out to Spain because of an FEI rule has also been awarded a bronze medal following a protest from the competitors who did not accept that in case of a tie. The score of the third competitor will be crucial...
Narrow Escape: Germany Gold
Germany was on the brink of defeat for the first time in 33 years. The Germans could thank Heike Kemmer and Hubertus Schmidt. Schmidt and his harmonious mare Wansuela Suerte reached the second highest score of 74,625%, while German champion Heike Kemmer and Bonaparte needing 72,209% to secure the gold for Germany came to 72,833%, lifting Germany to 0,6% above the Netherlands. Anky van Grunsven looks set for the individual gold with a score of 77,42, nearly 3 percent above the German number two. "I have never seen such a tight competition in my life", judge Mariette Withages commented. "Neither my colleagues dared to forecast the winner. Even the fight for third place was very tight." According to Edward Gal, it was a happy end for the Dutch as well. "We have not had any team medal over the last two years. Personally I never got a medal, so, I'm very happy with this beautiful silver one."
FEI rules decide bronze
Spain or Sweden, tied the fight for bronze each one 213,125% after three tests. However, FEI rules specify that the result of the third competitor is decisive than, it meant that the 69,500% scored by of Spanish rider Ignacio Ramblas secured the bronze medal for his country.
Youngest riders and horses
Austria has the youngest team at this European Championship Dressage. Victoria Max-Theurer is only 19 years old. Her team mate Caroline Kottas is 23, and Nina Stadlinger 25. Three horses at the EC are only 9 years old: the Dutch Hexagon's Ollright (Rubiquil x El Corona, KWPN), Polish Lecantos (Levantos x Night and Day, OLDBG) and Verona (Bazalt x Vandal, HANN) for Belarus.
Provincial German Court favours Van Grunsven
Anky van Grunsven and her husband Sjef Janssen fought two battles today, one in the dressage ring and one in a German court against the German magazine St Georg.. In its latest edition, the magazine published a special feature on the Dutch and Anky's unfair training system. At the end of the winner's press conference, Anky van Grunsven said that a German court had found in her favour her and she would now concentrate on the sport. The magazine's editor, Gabriela Mohrmann-Pochhammer, refused to comment but agreed to concentrate on the sport as well. The Dutch in the lead with merest of a margin
After the first hot and exciting day of the European Championships in Hagen as expected the Dutch have taken the lead in the Nations championships, but with the merest of a margin of 0,250% only. Geldnet Lingh of Edward Gal has suffered from fever recently and showed not at his best, being tired at the end. The new surprise of German Ann Kathrinn Linsenhoff, 10 year old Sterntaler-Unicef, received a wonderful score in Grand Prix of 74,250% with two times the mark of a 10 for extended trot rewarded from Mariette Withages. Sweden takes the bronze medal-position at the moment, closely followed by Great-Britain. The next standings are for Denmark, Spain and France.
Vetcheck
The horses Problesk (BLR, ridden by Iryna Lis), Wilson (SWE, ridden by Christian von Krusenstierna) and Artax Condor (RUS, ridden by Elena Sidneva) unfortunately didn't pass the second vetcheck either and will not compete at the European Championships.
Field
Competitors from 18 countries, 15 of them having send a complete team, are participating in the European Dressage Championship in Hagen at Hof Kasselmann. The perpetual duel between the German and the Dutch equipe started at day 1 of the teamcompetition with an exciting and hard fight for the gold medal. The new all-weather-footing in the stadium with the help of a low-and flood-system could resist all weather conditions.
The first North American judge
Cara Whitham is the first North American to ever judge at the European Dressage Championships, taking place in Germany one week before her own competition in Toronto, the CDI Toronto Dressage Classic.
Compliments of Withages
The nightmare of Mariette Withages about all the organisational problems around the European Championships has turned into a dream. Withages complimented the organisers and the Kasselmann-family especially. "I arrived here into a dream and I still am dreaming, I guess. I knew gentleman like Kasselmann and Schockemöhle can do a lot. But I didn't know that they can do in two weeks the work that most organisers do in two years...", the chairman of the FEI dressage committee said smilingly.
Chairman of the FEI Dressage committee Mariette Withages discusses some details with Olympic veteran Georges Theorescu. Georges Theorescu is the trainer of Russian competitor Alexandra Korelova mounting the grey Orlov-bred Balagur (sired by Rasskat).
Photos direct from Hagen by Dirk Caremans www.hippofoto.be Facts and News direct from Hagen by Claartje van Andel
EC Hagen 2005 more photo's by Dirk Caremans
Hubertus Schmidt, Anky van Grunsven and Jan Brink showing their medals
Björsells Briar in extended trot
Sterntaler-Unicef in extended trot (rewarded with a 10!)
and Keltec Salinero. With a score of 76,16% the Olympic champion is only a halfpass away from another gold medal.
However, the major surprise in the GPS was British rider Carl Hester and Escapado coming third. "He is such an airy, fairy horse!," said Carl. "I am in fifth position now. Incredible. It´s such a pity that until now, I have never been in the right team at the right time. I feel an individual medal is probably too much to be asked for... But I will take all risks tomorrow´.
Sweden gets bronze as well
10 for extended trot rewarded from Mariette Withages. Sweden takes the bronze medal-position at the moment, closely followed by Great-Britain. The next standings are for Denmark, Spain and France. 
