BELGIUM (by Claartje van Andel) After a long Verden radition, nearly 20,000 visitors from 27 different countries witnessed the first Dutch edition of the dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses, held at the national equestrian centre of the Netherlands in Ermelo. Rheinland-bred Victoria Secret (Vitalis x Fidermark, bred by Walther Schulte-Böcker) received a 10 for perspective. Almost thesame could be said for the new location, and the new class for seven year olds – which welcomed back its winner from the past two years, Sezuan – and the lively programme during the competition days.
The additional Freestyle to Music class for stallions of eight years and older was won by the nine-year-old Vivaldi stallion Vitalis (out of Tolivia ster prok, by D Day, bred by A.J.W.Th. de Crom), presented by Norwegian Isabel Freese. This result was even more festive as his daughter, the tall, dark-chestnut mare Victoria’s Secret had just been crowned as the new world xhampion in the five-yearold class. Freese said: “They look so much alike and I think Victoria’s Secret has the same good character as her sire!”
Vivaldi - Vitalis
Victoria’s Secret is a real superstar. Beatrice Buchwald convincingly steered the mare who was last year’s champion at the Bundeschampionat for mares and geldings to victory. Judge Francis Verbeek commented: “We really don’t know what else we would like to see, therefore a 10 for perspective!” For submission the mare received a 9.80. Buchwald presented Victoria’s Secret in a very friendly manner and the whole performance looked effortless. The elastic and controlled trot, in which Victoria’s Secret showed great transitions, was rewarded with a 9.50. The rhythmic, relaxed walk was marked with a 9.30, and the 8.90 for a powerful canter brought the average to 95% – enough for gold. “Victoria’s Secret is not only an intelligent horse, she is also a mare with a lot of go and she always wants to work. We could have easily ridden another round here”, Buchwald said happily. Besides the prize money, Beatrice Burchwald also received a magnificent Longines watch, the first time that this was awarded to a dressage rider.
Silver medal went to Oldenburger- bred Quel Filou OLD (Quarterback x Stedinger, bred by Aloys Hinxlage and owned by Dressage Grand Ducan). Sascha Schultz rode the bay to a fantastic score of 93.20%, with an amazing 10 for walk, two nines for trot and submission, and 9.10 for the canter, followed by 9.50 for perspective. Quel Filou had already been succesfull as a three year old in the German Bundeschampionte, winning the bronze medal. “It was a true surprise for me to end up with a medal today,” exclaimed a proud Sascha Schultz. “I am very honoured to stand next to Victoria’s Secret. I saw this combination and they are absolutely fantastic! On the first day I was a bit too quick in the test, so today I tried to lower the speed a little. This worked very well. Quel Filou also loves people and loves to show himself, so he felt right at home here”...
