“This was my best Freestyle ever partnering ‘Hannes’!”, Isabell Werth most happily commented after her winning performance at the sold out stadium of the VR Classics in Neumunster. Great enthusiasm evolved from the crowd during the FEI World Cup™ Qualifier in Neumünster, in fact not only for German participants, but for all riders. The grey Balagur partnered by Russian Alexandra Korelova already brought its rider trained by Georges Theodorescu to the Olympic Games in Athens. The chairman of the judges Mariette Withages said she had never seen him perform so well.
She rewarded him both in Grand Prix and today in the Freestyle with the ultimate mark of 10 for its piaffe! The horse is an example for its obedience, easiness and friendly expression.
The enthusiasm for the former police horse Balagur almost exploded just when the chestnut Warum Nicht alias Hannes came in mounted by home rider and World champion Isabell Werth. She said, “I had some trouble to get Hannes concentrated again as he almost immediately left the arena again because of the excitement. But as we have worked hard on further physical developments, when we started and continued the test Hannes gave a most wonderful feeling.
This no doubt has been my best Freestyle ever partnering Hannes and it has been rewarded with a record score for the two of us, which makes me too happy!”
Winner of Neumünster Isabell Werth partnering her chestnut Warum Nicht FRH already won the World Cup™ Qualifier in Maastricht and was the runner up at London-Olympia. She moved forward to second placement now in the standings.
Following eight World Cup™ Qualifiers, only two more qualifiers are left in Western Europe to qualify for the World Cup™ Final in Las Vegas in April. The next World Cup™ Qualifier will be Göteborg (SWE) following next week. The FEI World Cup™ Freestyle will be Friday February 23rd .
RESULTS
1. Warum Nicht FRH (Isabell Werth GER) 83,60
2. Don Schufro (Andreas Helgstrand DEN) 79,55
3. Balagur (Alexandra Korelova RUS) 77,50
4. Douglas Dorsey (Laura Bechtolsheimer GBR) 76,35
5. Wansuela Suerte (Hubertus Schmidt GER) 75,95
6. Max (Kyra Kyrklund FIN) 75,75
7. Guiness 888 (Louise Nathhorst SWE) 75,35
8. Donata S (Ellen Schulten Baumer GER) 74,05
9. Rigoletto Nathalie Princess Zu Sayn Wittgenstein (DEN) 73,60
10. Le Primeur (Marie-Line Wettstein SUI) 72,15