Wednesday was the 4- and 5-year-old preliminary qualification at the Danish Championship for Young Horses. And what a start!
All 5-year-olds made it through to the final
All our incredible 5-year-olds were feeling good and had great rides, finishing among the top 12 horses. That means 6 out of the 12 horses qualified for Friday's 5-year-old final are Helgstrand horses.
The score and judges' comments were:
Chantal & Merita Hagrén
91.143 – finishing 2nd
Comments: “Great performance, very good trot – very balanced, good rhythm and easy for you to ride. The walk is good, reaching and over the back. Not the biggest canter, but still uphill, regular and super good quality. Rideability: Good job, the horse stays in good frame the whole time. Prospect: Very good for the future. Harmony: Good to see such good riding”
Score: 9.4 – 9.0 – 8.8 – 9.2 – 9.0 – 9.2
Global Amour & Alexander Yde Helgstrand
89.142 – finishing 3rd
Comments: "Great test. The trot is exceptionally rhythmic and supple. Maintains frame and shows great thrust from the hind legs in extensions, circles, and turns. Adjustable trot. …
Walks really well. Nice contact and reaches forward to the bit. Especially in the second half. Good and rhythmic canter. But becomes a bit eager … Right lead canter is relaxed, spacious, and uphill. Prospect: A really good and exciting horse. Harmony: Good job, presented to the best advantage.”
Score: 9.5 – 9.5 – 8.5 – 8.5 – 9.0 – 8.7
Belle Amour CN & Merita Hagrén
87.715 – finishing 5th
Comments: ”Very good rhythm and balance – pushing very well in the medium trot. Very nice job. When he relaxes, opens up in the frame, and seeks the contact, the walk is very good … The canter is powerful and rhythmic – adjustable back and forward. A lot of regularity and balance … Prospect: For sure a super horse”
Score: 9.3 – 8.6 – 8.8 – 8.5 – 9.0 – 8.6
Release Taonga & Mette Sejbjerg
86.286 – finishing 6th
Comments: ”Exceptionally rhythmic and supple trot. Maintains the rhythm on circles and in turns. Shows the extensions really well. Very nice uphill tendency and adjustable trot. Rhythmic walk ... Has a nice, rhythmic canter – uphill, adjustable, comes back nicely in collection, balances well ... Fundamentally a very adjustable canter. Prospect: Super lovely and exciting horse. Harmony: Very positive and nice test.”
Score: 9.5 – 7.2 – 9.3 – 8.0 – 8.8 – 8.8
Furthermore, Goomong Recioto & Camilla Lærke Stubberup finished with 84.000%, and Roitaine O & Rianna Percy with 83.429%, so they are also ready for the 5-year-old final.
Furious wins the 4-year-old qualification
The day ended on an absolute high when Furious and Alexander Helgstrand won the 4-year-old qualification with 92.714%. Ten Helgstrand horses qualified for the final on Friday – with as many as six horses placed in the top 9!
The score and judges' comments were:
Furious & Alexander Yde Helgstrand
92.714 – finishing 1st
Comments: “Impressive horse – especially in the gaits. In the trot, very elastic hind legs – really stepping under. Good lengthening of the strides, shows more shoulder freedom when stepping under. Especially nice in the frame and rhythm. Canter is really active, good uphill tendency, good airtime... Rideability: Nice, good contact, a little ahead for its age. Prospect: Three good gaits, already nice self-carriage and balance."
Score: 9.5 - 8.5 - 9.7 - 9.0 - 9.2 - 9.5
Strandagergårds McCloud & Mette Sejbjerg
90.143 – finishing 3rd
Comments: “Elegant horse – trot has very nice cadence, going forward without pushing hard, ... Very nice, very floating. Very nice active canter, good jump with an uphill tendency. Good airtime on both reins. Rideability: We love how you have presented the horse in a nice, relaxed way and in a nice open frame. Prospect: We love the horse.”
Score: 9.2 – 8.2 – 9.5 – 9.0 – 8.8 – 9.2
Fair Game & Mette Sejbjerg
88.871 - Finishing 3rd
Comments: “Trot is very active with a good, swinging back. Good lengthening going forward. Walk is clear and supple. Canter is very nice uphill, active going forward – very good canter. Rideability: Very nice, good contact, nice stretch. Prospect: A horse with three good gaits, a lot of elasticity, and good hind legs.”
Score: 8.8 – 8.4 – 9.0 – 9.0 – 9.2 – 8.8
La Vida & Rianna Percy
86.286 – Finishing 5th
Comments: "A very light-footed trot – every step showing clear rhythm and cadence. Good lengthening. An active walk. Active canter – at moments with more airtime and off the ground. Nice contact and easily going forward. Rideability: Nicely open in the frame. Good and forward in the gaits. Very harmonious presentation. Prospect: Nice gaits, good movement, good active hind legs stepping under. Harmony: Nice way of presenting. Good contact and open frame."
Score: 8.7 – 8.0 – 8.4 – 8.8 – 8.5 – 9.0
Rice To Gold RAK & Rianna Percy
85.429 – Finishing 6th
Comments: "Trot is active with nice balance, good swing, a lot of cadence. ... All in all a lot of quality. Canter is active and gets well off the ground. Prospect: A horse with a lot of quality – especially in the canter."
Score: 9.0 – 8.2 – 8.6 – 8.4 – 8.8 – 8.4
Firefly Klint & Rianna Percy
84.571 – Finishing 9th
Comments: "Trot with a good rhythm, nice cadence, and good forward desire. Walk is active and with good overtrack. Canter is active with a nice uphill tendency, very engaged, good airtime, adjustable back and forth. Rideability: Very rideable and easy-going. Prospect: Good horse, good quality."
Score: 8.5 – 8.2 – 8.5 – 8.5 – 8.5 – 8.5
Also heading to Friday’s finals are Beckett & Aitor Bravo with 82.143, Sezou & Álvaro Oliveira with 82.000, Savian & Camilla Stubberup with 81.286, and Zake & Merita Hagrén with 79.857.
Meanwhile, Seastar Texel & Joan Ramoneda scored 78.571 and are ready for the B-Final.
