British dressage was on robust type within the 76th version of the Rotterdam CDIO5* Nations Cup, as Lottie Fry and Glamourdale continued their preparations for this summer time’s European Championships, scoring 75.11% to high the person scores.
It was their first outing since profitable April’s Dressage World Cup, and regardless of errors down the centre line within the pirouettes and the final prolonged trot, Lottie was happy with the efficiency.
“It was a tremendous check and such a tremendous feeling,” she stated. “We have been actually working as one within the enviornment, and every thing I requested, he gave – he was simply unimaginable.
“Sadly, there was fairly a giant misunderstanding, which we didn’t get again from very simply, so two very costly marks there, however other than that, I used to be so completely happy popping out due to the sensation he gave, and he was so completely happy to be doing it.
“He was actually excited, and also you don’t want greater than that.”
As the ultimate mixture to go for Britain, their rating pushed the crew’s complete to 215.152 – simply shy of the Netherlands’ profitable rating of 215.587 and sufficient to safe second place within the three-team Nations Cup.
What Rotterdam advised us about British Dressage forward of the Europeans
As Lottie and Glamourdale are all however locked in for the European Championships in Crozet, alongside Carl Hester (Fame) and Becky Moody (Jagerbomb), the British selectors used the Nations Cup as a proving floor for the fourth and last crew spot.
Three riders have been within the combine: Tom Goode, who scored 68.61% on Richard Jackson’s spectacular 10-year-old gelding Furstenrausch PS, Sadie Smith, who made her senior crew debut with a composed 69.09% on Swanmore Dantina, and Laura Tomlinson, who impressed with a clean, assured spherical on her nine-year-old homebred Full Moon II, scoring 70.96%.
Elsewhere within the choice image, Andrew Gould and Indigro nonetheless lead the pack after scoring 72.2% within the grand prix at Wellington CDI (4–8 June). However the race isn’t over but – selectors will probably be watching carefully as extra combos are set to be examined at Aachen CHIO in two weeks.
What the ends in Rotterdam underline is the energy in depth of British dressage.
The competitors served as a second official remark trial for the Dutch, whose crew – Marlies van Baalen (Habibi DVB), Hans Peter Minderhoud (Taminiau), Marieke van der Putten (Kuvasz) and Thamar Zweistra (Luxuriouzz) – is more likely to be the ultimate line-up for the European Championships in Crozet.
{That a} British facet lacking two of its largest names, and fielding three comparatively inexperienced horses at this stage, completed lower than half a mark behind the hosts speaks volumes – not only for this summer time’s prospects, however for the long run.
It wasn’t way back that British groups would have dreamed of closing the hole on the Dutch. Now, it’s the Netherlands that appears like outsiders for a medal in Crozet. The true menace to Britain’s hopes comes from acquainted rivals: Germany and Denmark – the 2 groups that completed forward of them on the Paris Olympics.
However each have vulnerabilities. Germany’s linchpin Dalera has retired, Denmark has misplaced Daniel Bachmann Andersen’s Vayron to Germany’s Ingrid Klimke, and Nanna Skodborg Merrald’s worldwide future stays unsure.
It units the stage for a decent contest, with each nations now reliant on their headline acts – Isabell Werth and Wendy for Germany, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle for Denmark – to ship in the event that they’re to match Britain’s more and more dependable core trio.
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H&H dressage and sport horse editor
Oscar graduated from York St John College with a grasp’s diploma in Literature in 2021 and joined Horse & Hound in October 2023. Oscar labored for high dressage rider Emile Faurie for 4 years after ending an equine administration course in school. Below Emile’s tutelage, Oscar competed on the 2015 Nationwide Dressage Championships and travelled with Emile’s horses to CDIs at Aachen, Vidauban, Saumur and Achlieiten. Oscar continues to compete in dressage, alongside his day job.
