Monday December 9, 2002

Surprising Rankings at CDI-W Maastricht (NED)

Come Back for Gestion Silvano N

Come Back kids Ellen Bontje and Gestion Silvano N finished second in the Grand Prix. With a 69.60%, an a-typical score for the pair whose World Cup qualifier entry is already a-typical, Bontje has ridden her very first test since the fiasco at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, where Silvano N did not pass the vet check. In Maastricht, the combination seemed fit and, despite a few small mistakes in the canter, the two-some has not performed worryingly below their level. Van Grunsven saddled a very tense Salinero and was unable to soothe him in his Grand Prix test. The 68.40% score and seventh place came as result.

More odd rides and rankings came from Dutch Marlies van Baalen and Idocus. Although being a top three scorer at the World Cup Qualifier in Berlin, now the 67.24 and 10th place at Maastricht kept the young but talented combination from floathing. Also, German Heike Kemmer and Albano had to deal with reality. The former German A-team combination has unable to reconnect with the top since 2001 and with 66.40% and a 12th place they still have much work ahead of them.

The difficult to ride Cocktail offspring, Broere Jazz, was not his usual self in Maastricht. Despite the fact that the liver chestnut licensed stallion often gets nervous and tense, he just became unhandable at Maastricht. Tineke Bartels, who is a sensitive and accomplished rider, could not get Jazz to do his moves. Three times he refused to piaffe and at the end he wouldn't even do an extended trot. "I really do not know what is going on with him. I'm used to him being nervous, but I never had to deal with this kind of refusal before. It really puzzles me," Bartels explained.