Para-dressage riders showed great freestyles

The seven best riders from each grade competed in today’s para-dressage freestyle finals at the Ecco FEI European Championships

First to battle were the riders in grade II, where yesterday’s winner of the individual final repeated her victory. With a score of 77,65% Natasha Baker and Cabral by Bujak took gold, without the horse showing its full potential, Natasha Baker said after her ride:

– I really did not expect it at all. He is just got better each day but he is still not got as good as I know he can be which is a little bit frustrating for me. He is just an amazing horse and I know that there is so much in there but I have not been able to show it off but hopefully I will get the opportunity next year in WEG (World Equestrian Games) to do that

German Angelika Dr. Trabert and Ariva Vanti by Alabaster took silver, while her fellow team member Britta Näpel scored took bronze with Aquilina 3 by Aquilino.

GRADE Ib

The scores went high in grade 1b, where Austrian Pepo Puch and Fine Feeling S by Fabriano took gold with 79,20%. The elegant combination performed to music by Strauss, whom Pepo Puch holds close to his heart:

– It means something to me emotionally. Strauss is from Vienna, so it is music from my home. And my mare really likes it and walks well with the rhythm.

British Ricky Balshaw and his Danish horse Lit Enggaards Solitaire by Blue Hors Soprano took silver, and Danish Stinna Tange and Steffi Graf by Graf Oldenburg took bronze.

GRADE Ia

In grade Ia Sophie Christiansen and Janeiro 6 by Jacquare hit a strike by scoring 78,10% and taking goold. This was their third gold medal at the Ecco FEI European Championships. The gold medal was what Sophie Christiansen went for, she said after her ride:

– I would have liked to have broken 80. My trainer said it was the best test I rode. I thought I was a bit tired but I have got to rely on my trainer. I’m really pleased.

The silver medal went to another British rider, Anne Dunham and the horse Lit Lucas Normark by Rivaldi who scored 77,35%. Italian Sara Morganti and Royal Delight by Royaldik took bronze.

GRADE III

In grade III the young Dutch rider Sanne Voets improved from the previous days and took the first place from Hannelore Brenner. Sanne Voets and Vedet by Florestan I scored 76,50%, which made Sanne cry out of happiness. Her ride was a peak for her, she told:

– I could feel that I would make it today. I went early to bed last night, slept very well and did not wake up before the alarm ringed. Then I braided his mane and from that moment on I felt like today is the day and it is going to be everything or nothing – and it became everything!

German Hannelore Brenner and Women of the World e. Walt Disney came second, followed by French José Letartre and Warina by Weltruhm.

GRADE IV

The highest score of the day came in grade IV, where Sophie Wells and Valerius by Flemmingh took gold with 80,25%. He horse is still quite inexperienced, she told:

– It is only his second championship so it is quite a big thing for him and it is a big atmosphere but he listened to me all through the test and produced some of his best work. I was able to take some risks and he was in the right place to do that and it paid of.

Dutch Frank Hosmar and Alphaville by Sandreo took silver, and Danish Line Thorning Jørgensen took bronze with Di Caprio by De Niro.