You can’t always count on a foregone conclusion in dressage, but victory in the Longines FEI World Cup Final for Lottie Fry and the appropriately named Glamourdale had all the earmarks of a sure thing.
And that’s the way it turned out on Saturday night in Basel, Switzerland, where the British combination topped a field of 17 to take the title. Lottie’s freestyle earned the first marks of 10 seen in the competition, and she was in full control of her stallion all the way through. He made his entrance to the notes of “God Save the King,” with precise steps of passage, and demonstrated spectacular moments with a flamboyant extended canter
His winning percentage of 88.195 was not a personal best, but still reflected great suppleness bordering on awesome. The ride got 10s across the board for the music and its interpretation.
Lottie Fry and Glamourdale. (MD Asadul Islam photo)
“This is very special. To win here today is absolutely amazing, and it felt like Glammie loved every second of it,” said Lottie.
“Yesterday (Friday), Glammie was definitely a little intimidated by the hall, but today he knew his job. He loves to have all eyes on him, and when the crowd joined in, he seemed to love it even more,” said Lottie.
“This is all a team effort, with everyone at home at Van Olst Horses and all our supporters. Everything came together tonight, this is such a special feeling,” she said,
Germany’s Isabell Werth, riding in her twenty-sixth Cup finals, missed taking the title for the sixth time, but made the most of her horse, DSP Quantaz to come in second on 84.365 percent. Third with a percentage of 81.850 went to Norway’s Isabel Freese with Total Hope OLD, a son of the great Totilas, who won the Cup finals, out of Isabell Werth’s World Cup winner, Weiheigold. Norway has never before been on the podium for a dressage championshps;.
Two of the three Americans competing improved their standing from Friday’s Grand Prix, but that was not the case for Adrienne Lyle, the most experienced and decorated rider of the trio. The Olympic medalist had to deal with a mount who was overly impressed by the atmosphere. That led to some expensive mistakes, including a break into the canter from the extended trot early in her performance.
” He’s a hot and feisty horse,” she said after her ride.
“Yesterday in the Grand Prix, I was really happy with the relaxation we were able to show. Today, he felt super in warmup He just got so excited going down that tunnel into that big stadium. the music and the people. You could feel the energy… and incredible environment. and that just pushed him over the edge.”
A mistake in the flying changes every two strides proved expensive, with four marks of 4 and one 5.
When Adrienne tried to soften her hands, “he lost balance a little, and I had to hold him a bit more. By the end of the test, I was able to at least soften a little and try to lengthen the neck and all those things we work every day on. He is a hot, sensitive horse. That’s part of what I love about him. It’s also part of what makes him challenging.”
She wound up sixteenth, a big drop from placing ninth in the Grand Prix.
Adrienne Lyle and Helix. (©ShannonBrinkmanPhotography/Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
Even so, she noted, “Any time you get to represent your country, it’s such a huge honor. And there’s such a big support team behind you. You’re riding for your owners, your federation and everyone who’s there who helped you get down centerline. I never take it for granted.”
Adrienne always shows her class, win or lose. She’s a terrific representative for her sport.
As she noted, “Such is life with horses and we will continue to learn from each experience, try to improve our riding and our relationship, and hopefully come out as better horse people on the other side of every situation that doesn’t go as planned.”
Her compatriot, Kevin Kohmann, got a big promotion, up to tenth with 75.535 percent, from fourteenth in the Grand Prix.
He heaped praise on his mount, Duenensee, a 16-year-old Hanoverian he rode in his first World Cup Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last year.
Kevin Kohmann and Duenensee. (©ShannonBrinkmanPhotography/Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
“I’m speechless,” said Kevin, who was obviously very emotional about his horse and his performance.
“The horse was once again amazing. He gave me everything in there. We had some awesome highlights. My horse walked (in)to the piaffe, he walked out of the piaffe, it seems to be a movement that really relaxes him. Three years ago, I never would have thought I could make something like this. Our relationship has grown so much. I’m so proud of this. I’ve never ridden in an atmosphere like this.
“The people are so close. I rode this one pirouette near the short side and I was looking in the eye from the people in front of me. My horse did not even flinch an ear.”
Genay Vaughn, in her first World Cup finals, was promoted from last place on Friday when her horse got his tongue over the bit, to fourteenth with a score of 73.765.
Genay Vaughn and Gino. (©ShannonBrinkmanPhotography/Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
“He had so much confidence compared to yesterday,” she said of Gino.
“It’s our first real indoor stadium event and also our first World Cup. So to see him start to feel more confident in there made me ecstatic,” the Californian noted.
“We both were confident. All of it was so fun. I was just so happy with him.”
Noting family and friends flew over to support her, she said, “It’s been amazing.”
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