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Friday August 10, 2007

No American Glory at the 2007 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses

David Blake and Lord Albert Finish Sixteenth in 5-year old Consolation Finals

Californian David Blake and his Hanoverian gelding Lord Albert finished 16th in the 5-year old consolation finals after a 24th place in the qualification round.

In the first round, Blake and Lord Albert stood out in the trot work by showing a fantastically cadenced trot, but with not enough power and suspension. The hind leg in the extended trot was a bit slow and missed push. The walk was limited with little freedom in the shoulder, but the canter was better and showed potential. Unfortunately, the contact with the bit was quite unsteady. They scired 7.9 for trot, 6.1 for walk, 7.2 for canter, 6.9 for submission and 7.3 for general impression. Their overall score was 7.08.

Fortunately, the combination improved in the consolation finals with more engaged trot work and a canter that bounced more off the ground. The judges recognized this improvement and pushed their overall score up to 7.16 and a sixteenth place.

Blake discovered Lord Albert in the stables of Shannon and Steffen Peters and purchased the horse in February 2007. Lord Albert is a Hanoverian gelding by Londonderry out of a Brentano II dam and is bred by Albert Schmidt from Ankum, Germany.

Text and Photos by Astrid Appels of Eurodressage

Related Links
Cayenne and Deveraux, 2007 World Young Dressage Horse Champions
Horsesdaily "On the Scene": 2007 USEF/Markel Young Horse Championships