Wednesday September 13, 2006

Sir Donnerhall and Farewell III Win 2006 Bundeschampionate

The Oldenburg stallion Sir Donnerhall and the Westfalian stallion Farewell III became the Dressage Horse Champions at the 2006 Bundeschampionate, which are the German Young Horse Championships, hosted at the German Olympic Riding Committee (DOKR) equestrian center in Warendorf, Germany. The 5 and 6-year old dressage horse division followed a new concept this year, with new tests that require classical dressage training from the riders and with three rounds in total: two qualifiers and one big finals.

Dr. Ulf Möller won the 5-year old Dressage Horse division aboard Sir Donnerhall (Sandro Hit x Donnerhall), but it was a very disputed victory. In the two preliminary rounds, Möller placed second overall with 9.0 and afterwards dropped to a fourth place with 9.0. In the finals, however, Möller was able to push the score up to an overall of 9.04, scoring 8.8 for a trot that was too tight in the neck and barely engaged from behind, 9.5 for a superb ground-covering canter and 8.7 for a walk that was slightly tense.

The Bundeschampionate are a highly political competition where the money and name of the sponsors dictate the score board. Paul Schockemohle's stallion Sir Donnerhall is a superb dressage horse and an outstanding breeding stallion, but he shouldn't have been the winner of this show. The title should have gone to the second placed Oldenburg stallion Donavan (Diamond Hit x Consul), who was the most consistent over three tests. Sir Donnerhall has more lightness in his gaits, but Donavan's light and steady contact with the bit was exemplary. Under Carola Koppelmann, Donavan scored an overall of 8.96 with 8.70 for trot, 9.00 for canter and un undervalued 9.30 for a phenomenal walk.

The bronze medal went to Susan Pape's Oldenburg stallion San Remo (Sandro Hit x Donnerhall) who won both preliminary rounds, but who looked tired in the finals. The British born Susan Draper/Pape scored 8.84 in total and got 8.50 for trot, 9.50 for the best canter of the show and 9.20 for a good but lackluster walk.