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Wednesday November 7, 2007

Euro Update: Juan Matute, 2007 Spanish Dressage Champion

Juan Matute became the Spanish Grand Prix Dressage Champion at the 2007 Spanish Dressage Championships held in Oviedo, Spain, November 2 - 4, 2007. Aboard the chestnut Hanoverian gelding Wie Atlantico (by Wie Weltmeyer), Matute won the Grand Prix and Kur to Music and placed second in the Grand Prix Special. For his Kur to Music he earned a 70.25% and totalled 202,110 points overall. This is Matute's sixth national champion's title in his career.

Photo copyrighted: Madiol.nl

The silver medal went to Beatriz Ferrer Salat on her new Grand Prix horse Faberge, who is doing his first season at Grand Prix level. Aboard this 11-year old Hanoverian gelding by Falkland out of Akelei, Ferrer Salat totalled 201.863 points, placing second in the Grand Prix, winning the Special and ranking third in the Kur to Music. Ferrer Salat debuted her new freestyle "Baile de Máscaras" (Bal Masque), composed by Slings Music Cast, at the Spanish Championships.

The bronze medal went to Victor Alvarez on the Andalusian bred Cava Iles (by Talisman IV). Alvarez scored consistent marks of 65% in the Grand Prix and Special, placing him third and improved considerably in the kur to music, in which he finished second on 70.1%. Alvarez' mount Iles was gelded and few months ago and just recently made his come back to the show ring. (Read More)

Eurodressage Report of the 2007 Global Dressage Forum

“Dressage,” said guest of honour Monty Roberts in his opening speech of the 2007 edition of the Global Dressage Forum, “Dressage is the ultimate in horsemanship.” In theory, that is. In life, the world of that elusive sport is in constant discordance – riders, trainers and spectators disagree about training methods, and there are as many schools of thought about animal welfare as there are horse owners. Dialogue between the “dressage Ayatollahs,” as Forum host Joep Bartels sometimes calls them, is difficult. Yet he continues to try and inspire communication, and while the seventh edition of the Forum couldn't always provide conclusions, it did at least open the odd door to debate.

“Let's leave our egos outside so we don't get trapped in criticism of a personal nature,” said Roberts, who defined a forum as a round place where information “travels level and respect must travel both ways, too.” In that spirit, this year's GDF was a brave attempt.

Read the full report at Eurodressage.com

Kemmer and Werth Win at CDN Affalterbach

Heike Kemmer and her Hanoverian gelding Bonaparte (by Bon Bonaparte) are back in the show ring and won the Grand Prix for Special (75.500%) at the CDN Affalterbach in Germany. In the Grand Prix Special, Isabell Werth and her 2007 World Cup Final winning mount Warum Nicht FRH topped the leader board with 76.960 %. Werth also won the Grand Prix for Kur and the Kur to Music riding the Oldenburg gelding Apache OLD. Her scores: 69.958 % and 77.65%. American Karin Offield, who is training with Anky van Grunsven in The Netherlands this winter, placed 12th in the Grand Prix (62.458 %) and 9th in the Kur (66,300%). Their next show stop will be the CDI in Maatricht, The Netherlands. (View full scores)

More Euro News at Eurodressage.com

Related Links
Four Americans Set to Compete in This Weekend's CDI*** Oldenburg
American Dressage Riders in Europe