Sunday November 23, 2003

New World Record for Ulla Salzgeber at CDI Stuttgart

Losing the 2003 World Cup Title, 20,000 € of purse money, a Volvo car and paying a 3,500 € penalty fee due to the FEI Judicial Committee's decision in the Rusty Doping Case has not dampened Ulla Salzgeber's spirit in the show ring. Competing this weekend at the CDI Stuttgart, Germany, Salzgeber entered two horses in four tests and won them all (receiving a 16,200 € purse)!

Riding the 15-year old top star Rusty (Rebuss x Aktsent), Salzgeber won the Grand Prix for Special with 77.75% and doubled her victory in the Grand Prix Special with a new world record of 80.48%, beating her own record with eight points. Placing second twice in those classes was Salzgeber's friend Heike Kemmer on the Hanoverian gelding Bonaparte (by Bon Bonaparte). Kemmer, who has never had such a quality horse before in her life, is a rising star in Germany and firmly claiming a spot in the German A-team.

Winning the Grand Prix for Freestyle and the Freestyle was Ulla Salzgeber on the Russian gelding Wall Street. The dark bay gelding is immaculately trained by Salzgeber, which naturally reflected upon his scores: 73.95% in the Grand Prix and 80.025% in the Kur to Music. European silver medallist Jan Brink landed on the second place in the Grand Prix with his 72.95% earning ride on the Swedish stallion Bjorsells Briar. Isabell Werth and the shining star Anthony FRH (by Argument/T) placed second in the Freestyle with 78,425%

Lisa Wilcox entered the Oldenburg stallion Relevant in the Grand Prix for Special, but only made it to a 10th place with 66.95 %, much below her level. Despite being qualified for the Special with this ranking, Wilcox chose not to ride the test and gave her place to South African Natalie Hobday on Edelmann. The South African duo finished ninth in the Special.

Another Oldenburg stallion, Royal Diamond (by Rubinstein), competed under Lisa Wilcox. In the Grand Prix for Freestyle, they produced a score of 67.83 % and finished tenth. In the kur, the pair ranked eighth with 70,125 %. The 9-year old Royal Diamond is still very new at this level. Wilcox calls him "professor" because of his intelligence.

by Astrid Appels of Eurodressage.com
Images copyrighted: Baumann - used with permission of Stuttgart German Masters

Related Links
Scores 2003 CDI Stuttgart at Eurodressage.com
FEI Judicial Committee Decided On Rusty Doping Case
Ulla Salzgeber and Rusty Retain Their European Crown