by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 20, 2024
The Dutch dressage team was victorious at that nation’s 5-star home show in Rotterdam, enjoying a margin of more than two percentage points over Denmark. Led by Dinja van Liere with the best score of the class on Hermes N.O.P. (77.8910), the Dutch earned a total of 222.392. They had supporting performances rom Edward Gal on Glock’s Total U.S. (73.196) and Emmelie Scholtens aboard Indian Rock (71.305). Edward’s horse is a son of his most famous mount, the sensational Totilas.
Dinja van Liere on Hermes N.O.P. (FEI Photo)
The Danes’ score was 220.349 to 219.435 for Germany. Isabell Werth enjoyed the top finish for the latter, earning 76.935 on Wendy de Fontaine, back from a small injury. The horse previously was ridden by Andreas Helgstrand of Denmark, who handed her over after he was barred from his country’s Olympic team following a scandal involving undercover TV coverage of training techniques at his stables.
The U.S. total of 194.848 included a disappointing mark of 59.044 from Ashley Holzer and Hansel, who had big resistance in the first piaffe, and fell out of the canter in their second pirouette. The horse’s tense state was reflected in his busy mouth.
They were a last-minute addition to the list of horse/rider combinations being considered for the U.S. Olympic team. That squad will be named next week after other contenders ride at Schafhofs dressage festival in Germany. Steffen Peters, who has led the standings from the start, is skipping that observation event and riding as an individual at Aachen next month.
At Rotterdam, Katherine Bateson Chandler on Dinja’s former ride, Haute Couture, had a score of 67.848 percent. The best of the U.S. contingent was Kevin Kohmann, who made his World Cup Finals debut in April but was not named as a contender for the Olympic team. His mark was 67.956 on Duenensee. The U.S. could not take advantage of a drop score because the team had only three members.
There apparently is a real homeside advantage at the venue. The Dutch have won four out of five of the last Nations Cups in Rotterdam, and lost only three times in the last 11 years.
Dutch chef d’equipe Patrick van der Meer commented about his team’s performance, “It’s always nice to win, but to win here in Rotterdam is very special. It was really nice. We also had some tests with some unexpected results. There were some mistakes, there was some tension, but at the end, especially Dinja—she lifted us all up. We won, and that’s super.”
click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 23, 2024
In a cavalry charge of a 15-horse jump-off for the Grand Prix of Rotterdam, Laura Kraut and Baloutinue posted the best U.S. effort with a clear round in 38.10 seconds. It was good enough for fourth behind the Dutch winner, Marc Houtzager on Sterrehof’s Dante, more than two seconds faster in 36.07 seconds.
McLain Ward, the only other American in the tie-breaker, was tenth with a knockdown on Callas in 37.45 seconds.
The other U.S. competitors did not make the cut to ride against the clock. Callie Schott had a rail with Garant to wind up twenty-ninth, while Jessica Springsteen–who rode with Laura and McLain on the Tokyo Olympic silver medal team–logged 8 faults on Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, which put her fortieth. Callie and Jessica were the only two American riders to go fault-free last week in the Longines League of Nations, where the U.S. finished last.
Rotterdam was a disappointing show for the U.S., with the dressage team also finishing last in its Nations Cup.
But for some encouraging news, be sure to read our feature story about American dressage victories in Germany. And get the story about both U.S. dressage and show jumping in Europe last week at this link. That story is also the second feature on our main page.
Click here for results of the Rotterdam Grand Prix of show jumping
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 18, 2024
Phelps, the bargain thoroughbred who has sailed around cross-country at the Maryland and Kentucky 5-stars, will compete at England’s Burghley 5-star in September.
His rider, Mia Farley, is looking for financial help in connection with the trip.
Mia Farley and Phelps at the 2024 Kentucky 5-star. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We will work hard this summer to fine tune our strengths and weaknesses and look forward to putting our best foot forward in September,” she stated.
“With Burghley in mind, we are excited to open Phelps’ life to more people. Phelps will have memberships available, which will help offset his expenses overseas, as well as provide you with a glimpse into 5-star event ownership!
“With all donations being tax deductible, Phelps’ memberships will include merch, weekly emails and updates, personal visits and more.”
Phelps was tied for thirteenth after dressage at Kentucky, then moved up to fifth with one of only two double-clears on cross-country. His weak point has been show jumping, however and after toppling a rail at the first fence in the Rolex stadium, he had three more knockdowns and 0.8 time penalties to finish thirteenth over all. But Mia is working on that phase with David O’Connor, the owner of the horse he bought for $1 (though he apparently never handed over that dollar).
Those who are interested in being part of the equine Cinderella story can contact the rider at Miafarley6@gmail.com for more information.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 17, 2024
The short collaboration of Marcus Orlob and Jane has been amazing. The Annandale, N.J., trainer on Monday was named to the Dutta Corp. U.S. dressage team for Aachen — arguably the world’s mot prestigious horse show– after a partnership of less than five months.
Also on the squad is Californian Anna Buffini with Fiontini, Floridian Anna Marek with her Pan American Games medal mount Fire Fly, and another Floridian, Endel Ots, with the most experienced horse of the group, Zen Elite’s Bohemian. In 2021, Bohemian was ridden to fourth place individually in the Olympics by Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour of Denmark.
Jane, who is only 10, was trained and ridden by her owner, Alice Tarjan of Oldwick, N.J. But since Jane was rather strong for slender Alice, she turned the KWPN mare over to Marcus, who is her trainer. They proceeded to make the top eight in the rankings for a spot on the Olympic team, and have been competing in Europe during the observation process. Earlier this month, Marcus scored a personal best in the Grand Prix at Hagen, Germany, with a mark of 71.936 percent.
Marcus Orlob and Jane. (Susan J. Stickle Photography)
Steffen Peters, who led the Olympic rankings all the way through with Suppenkasper, has been excused from the other observation events and will ride at Aachen as an individual. He seems to be a lock for the three-member team that will go to Paris for the Games in July.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 13, 2024
Could an Olympic dressage gold medal be in the works for Great Britain? Its superstars dominate a just-released list of that nation’s nominated entries for the Paris Games that headlines with Charlotte Dujardin (Alive and Kicking and Imhotep); her mentor, Carl Hester (Fame and En Vogue) and world champion Lottie Fry (Glamourdale and Everdale). So each of these top riders has a back-up horse.
Charlotte Dujardin with Alive and Kicking.
There are six other horse/rider combinations on the list, but if the big three make the team, Germany will have a battle for gold on its hands. Anything can happen, though. Remember that Lottie was eliminated with Everdale from the World Cup Finals in April under the blood rule.
The additional riders named to the British list of Olympic hopefuls are Lewis Carrier with Diego V, Andrew Gould (Indrigo), Gareth Hughes (Classic Goldstrike), Becky Moody and the very interesting Jagerbomb, Susan Pape (Harmony’s V-bomb) and Annabella Pidgley (Gio).
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 14, 2024
Ashley Holzer and Hansel are being considered for the U.S. Olympic dressage team after finishing fourth in the 3-star Grand Prix Special at Hagen, Germany, this month with a mark of 72 percent, behind second place Steffen Peters with Suppenkasper (72.660) and ahead of fifth-place Adrienne Lyle on Helix (71.979).
The Special will determine the team medals at the Paris Games this summer.
Although she was tenth, rather than in the top eight in the original rankings for the Games, and therefore not part of the official U.S. Equestrian Federation trip to Europe this spring, Ashley traveled abroad anyway with P.J. Rizvi’s horse. It paid off in her being added on Friday to the short list. The team will be announced on June 25. Hansel is a KWPN gelding (Blue Hors Don Olymbrio X Metall). His original name was In Design.
In the Hagen Grand Prix before the Special, Ashley, an Olympic veteran, was eighth with a score of 71.456 percent. Steffen, who has led the U.S. rankings all along, was third on 72.869 percent.
Ashley and Hansel were named to the U.S. team for the Rotterdam dressage Nations Cup next week, where she will compete alongside another short-listed rider, Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Haute Couture.
The others on the short list include Adrienne, who has Lars van de Hoenderheide in addition to Helix; Endel Otts with Zen Elite’s Bohemian; Marcus Orlob and Jane, the mare he began riding only this spring; Anna Buffini (Fiontini); and Anna Marek (Fire Fly).
