Aachen, Germany – July 22, 2018 – On the final day of dressage competition at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen, dressage riders headed down centerline one last time for the CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle.
Germany’s top rider Isabell Werth claimed the win on Emilio 107, a 12-year-old Westphalian gelding, with an impressive score of 87.625 percent. After having several bobbles in her Grand Prix test on Thursday with Emilio, Werth came out on top again in both the Grand Prix Special and the Grand Prix Freestyle with very consistent tests. It was the 14th time Werth has won the prestigious class and Emilio 107 marks the fourth horse she has won the class on.
Two Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage riders were right behind Werth in podium positions. After placing third individually in the Grand Prix Special, Kasey Perry-Glass and her 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Goerklintgaards Dublet, impressed the judges in their Lord of the Rings themed Freestyle to finish in second place with an 85.205 percent. Fellow teammate, Laura Graves, who won the Grand Prix on Thursday, earned the bronze medal position on Verdades, her 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, with an 85.085 percent.
Denmark’s Catherine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy, a 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding, completed their Freestyle in fourth place, earning a score of 84.835 percent. German rider Helen Langehanenberg and Damsey FRH, a 16-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Louise Leatherdale and Susanne Meyer, finished fifth with a score of 82.576 percent.
Shelly Francis and Patricia Stempel’s 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding Danilo won the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle Saturday night with a 79.305 percent. Ingrid Klimke and Franziskus, a 10-year-old Hanoverian stallion, finished second behind Francis scoring 78.39 percent, while Olivia LaGoy-Weltz placed third with a 77.435 percent on Lonoir, a 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding she owns with Mary Anne McPhail.
The CHIO Aachen is the final observation event before the combinations for the U.S. Dressage Team is selected for the World Equestrian Games.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Isabell Werth – Grand Prix Freestyle winner
On her Aachen experience:
“I’m really happy with him, very proud of him as we improved day by day. Today was amazing. The stadium was crowded. I knew I had to give everything to have a chance and Emilio was top. The centerline was such a special feeling when the crowd started to clap. It was an amazing day. We had such an exciting week for all of us — we had our ups and downs. You couldn’t expect what was going to happen today or tomorrow or would have a good day or bad day. It was an exciting dressage week. I’m very happy and satisfied. Everyone knows that I really love Aachen — it’s the best show in the world.”
On Emilio’s 9.6 degree of difficult freestyle:
“I think it happens that there can be a degree of difficulty of 10. There was at least one 10 today. For us, it is a super system because we can see where we stand and see how we can improve.”
Kasey Perry-Glass – second place
On her journey with Dublet at the past three Aachen shows:
“It goes to show that you really have to believe in your horse. I believe in Dublet — we’ve had a long journey. 2016 was our first year in the Grand Prix together and we both came up really fast. In 2017 it was a learning curve. We went through training differences, focusing on different aspects and then I gave him a break. I need a break and it paid off. He came back stronger and he keeps getting better and better. Now we are at a good spot and I am really happy to be up here with these two ladies and it’s an honor.”
On a personal best score:
“He came out a little tired this morning but he felt the adrenaline and rush of everything. After my salute, I knew it was a really good test. It went just like my Grand Prix and the Special — I felt he was very with me and really wanted to show he is up there with the top horses. Now we have to keep doing it.”
Laura Graves – third place
On her experience in Aachen:
“Like Isabell said we kept everyone a little excited — a bit like the jumping where you never know who may take a rail. Sometimes that can be the difference. It can be a little predictable in our sport. Our horses just had a good laugh this week I think. That’s the biggest challenge in our sport that other sports don’t have. We a working with a living being. It was a challenging day for me yesterday, which cost us in the order of the draw today.
On Verdades performance in Aachen:
“It [his Grand Prix Special Performce] was a real surprise for me. He is always a hot horse, but he always feels safe with me in the arena. We take our time at every show making sure to utilize every training opportunity to school in the stadium. I’ve never in my life with him had this happen.
In the Special, he gets energy from the extended trot and it tends to be a good test for him. I think he was also very surprised. We always go in the same way with the other rider on the long side and the camera was moving really fast. I don’t know if it jerked quickly but he saw it. He took off a little in the trot and then the camera goes faster. So it got him twice there in the first one. Then the second one he was even edgier than he can be and took off in the canter in the second extension too. It was very uncharacteristic mistakes for him — things that he usually gets 8.5 on — the extended trots and the passage. That was really disappointing. I could have really delivered something for my team and maybe a personal best in the Special. But he was just scared.
Today though, he was a real star. He came back in today and I gave him a good look at the camera again. He tried to focus. It was a fun day to finish on.”
On her freestyle:
“I’m so grateful to Terri Gallo because before every competition I call her and always change something. It is really fun. I’m a bit of a nerd with this degree of difficulty program. Before every competition, we have to submit a floor plan and I am always moving things around. Certainly, there will be more changes before Tryon!”
Results: CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle
Rider / Country / Horse / Score
1. Isabell Werth / GER / Emilio 107 / 87.625
2. Kasey Perry-Glass / USA / Goerklintgaards Dublet / 85.205
3. Laura Graves / USA / Verdades / 85.085
4. Cathrine Dufour / DEN / Atterupgaards Cassidy / 84.835
5. Helen Langehanenberg / GER / Damsey FRH / 82.576
6. Daniel Bachman Anderson / DEN / Blue Hors Zack / 82.195
7. Dorothee Schneider / GER / Sammy Davis Jr. / 81.295
8. Severo Jurado Lopez / ESP / Deep Impact 3 / 81.125
9. Therese Nilshagen / SWE / Dante Weltino OLD / 79.69
10. Adrienne Lyle / USA / Salvino / 78.92
11. Emmelie Scholtens / NED / Apache / 78.625
12. Emile Faurie / GBR / Delatio / 76.555