She Did It Again – Woodlander Farouche World Breeding Dressage Championship for the Second Time

Pictures Marjon Hoen dressagedirect

Woodlander Farouche and Michael Georg Eilberg again won the World Championships in Verden

It couldn't be better – this was the unanimous opinion of judges and spectators at the World Breeding Dressage Championships for six-year-old horses. Woodlander Farouche, British Hanoverian mare by Fürst Heinrich – Dimaggio, posted two times the top score of 10, and one year after her triumph, she again won the World Championships in Verden. One failed flying change, some more activity of the mouth – these were the only points to be criticized as commentator Dr. Dietrich Plewa said. "Just to mention them, but besides, this ride was almost impossible to top." The judges rewarded walk and general impression with a mark of 10, 9.9 for the canter, 9.8 for the trot and the "worst" score of 9.7 for submissiveness. The chestnut mare, again presented by Michael George Eilberg in Verden, finished the Championships with a final score of 9,88 – a score no other horse has ever achieved in Verden before.
This ride was almost impossible to top

Woodlander Farouche and Michael Georg Eilberg again won the World Championships in Verden

The 25-year-young rider dismounted breathlessly, whipped the sweat from his brow and stated: "She is simply wonderful." And nobody will deny this, but it is hard to believe that Woodlander Farouche was quite unimpressive as foal.

Breeder and owner Lynne Crowden: "She was definitively not very attractive and had a pink nose like a little pig – she was called Ginger Pig.. But I have to thank Dr. Ludwig Christmann of the Hannoveraner Verband, he declared her "Champion Foal", and when she was the first time under saddle, everybody could see what a fantastic horse she is."

Michael George Eilberg – who was also second reserve for the British dressage team – will now travel with his parents to the Olympic Games in London and afterwards compete with Farouche's dam Dornröschen in an Intermediare II-test.

The silver medal became Borencio ridden by Emmelie Scholtens

Second and winner of the silver medal became Borencio, KWPN-gelding by Florencio I – Lord Sinclair I with a final score of 9.1 and ridden by Emmelie Scholtens (Netherlands). She counts among the most successful riders of the past years. Borencio exhibited three amazing basic gaits (walk 9, trot 9.5, canter 9.2), and he was bred by A.P.M. Pittens. Emmelie Scholtens is already looking forward to the next year: "I have already some other good horses for the next World Championships..."

The Oldenburg stallion Sir Donnerhall II ridden by Thomas Sigtenbjerggaard

Bronze went to a German horse under Danish flag, to the Oldenburg stallion Sir Donnerhall II by Sandro Hit – Donnerhall, earning a final score of 8.78. Thomas Sigtenbjerggaard was very happy about this success.

The rider is training the stallion with the Danish Championship rider Andreas Helgstrand. Breeder of the stallion is Maik Kanitzky, owner Henrik Nyreröd. The brown Sir Donnerhall II earned his highest scores for the trot.

The International Dressage and Show Jumping Festival and the World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses in Verden attracted almost 9,000 visitors, approx.. 48,000 came on all five days – despite the Olympics in London. "I think this is incredible," said the technical director of the Championships, Freddie Leymann from Belgium, "there were already crowds of people at the WC-arena on Thursday."