15th National dressage title for Isabell Werth
The most successful dressage rider ever, Isabell Werth, claimed her 15th national title today with her second horse Emilio. They presented their brandnew Freestyle with Italian opera music which was rewarded with 96% for the artistry. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and her 12-year old TSF Dalera BB won silver and Helen Langehanenberg won with the 17-year old Hannoveran stallion Damsey FRH bronze. The German dressage championship in Balve is a major milestone for the German team selection for the Longines FEI European Championship in Rotterdam.
Raining German champion Sönke Rothenberger unfortunately had to withdraw from the competition because his horse Cosmo was appeared to have colic. Cosmo is doing better now.
Grand Prix
Raining European Champion Isabell Wert didn't have too much competition in the Grand Prix on Friday. With as score of 81,780% she won the Grand Prix with the 15-year old Bella Rose. Only Dorothee Schneider and Showtime FRH came near that score with 81,100%. Third place in the Grand Prix was for Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and the elegant 12-year old Trakehner mare Dalera BB with 78.880%.
Grand Prix Special
The second day of the German championship was full of excitement and emotions. Dorothee Schneider and Showtime FRH made an impressive rentree an won the Grand Prix special with 80.745%. It was three years ago that Showtime FRH won the German championships, after that moment he suffered quite a few injuries. And where everyone expected Isabell Werth and Bella Rose to win this contest, the experienced rider made a mistake in her test which caused two expensive penalty points and resulted in a fourth place. With her second horse Emilio Isabel won silver.