Royal Festival of the Horse - Dressage
Monday, July 19, 2010
The sun shone on the opening day of the Royal Festival of the Horse, both literally and metaphorically.
Pro-Am Challenge
Highlights of 'Dressage Day' included the ProAm Challenge, which was won by Mandy Day and Carl Hester on Uptown Boy with a score of 67.79%, closely followed by Lara Dyson and Rebecca Hughes on Cyden Perplex with 67.54%. Laura Bechtolscheimer and Sharon Boyd achieved 4th place on Valentino Toftebjerg, behind Danielle Steed and Becky Moody on Wulstan Pipsqueak.
Freestyle to Music
The Freestyle to Music class was hotly contested but won by Gareth Hughes on Duvie with Becky Moody securing second place on Wallenstein. Third place went to Gill Davison on Hiscox Aliano.
According to Gareth’s website: “It was great experience for Duvie, the Arena had a real Championship feel to it with lots of atmosphere. Each arena you ride in can actually ride smaller or bigger. I practised the Freestyle at home a couple of times and always seemed to be a little behind my music, but on the day, I was so far ahead I had to improvise.”
It all worked out well though, with Duvie winning the class with just over 75%.
Edward Gal Masterclass
Later in the day, Edward Gal, who won the 2009 World Cup Final at s’Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, on his exceptional horse Moorlands Totilas, thrilled the crowds in the main stadium with his masterclass on Interfloor Next One, one of the early progeny of Jazz.
The masterclass majored on the importance of tempo control: “What I’m looking for is a big reaction from a small leg. Get him to recognise what you want. You need 100% control over the tempo. I can feel what he wants to do but I make him wait. As long as I have control of the tempo, it’s good. When I’m not paying attention, he wants to run away.”
Again and again, Edward stressed the requirement for patience and walking: “I walk in between movements to get him relaxed again. I get him to walk so slowly, he has to think about which leg to pick up. Use the walk to control the tempo and the neck."
Interfloor and Edward had the hushed crowd in the palm of their hands/hooves, as they demonstrated the preparations for the pirouette in ever decreasing circles. However, there was a polite titter from the stands when Interfloor stared at the crowd: ‘He’s allowed to look’, commented the World Number One dressage rider.
The pair then executed a demonstration of the piaffe which proved a highlight for the appreciative crowd.
A question and answer session with the audience at the end of the class prompted some interesting responses. When asked whether it is possible to successfully mix competing with breeding, Edward replied: ‘We started breeding at the end of December and he covers 3 times a week. He knows when to breed and when to ride. But we’re putting sport first and then, when he’s on his pension, in 6 or 7 years, it will be more. Since he started breeding, he rears in the stable when he sees a mare – and sometimes even a gelding! He never used to!”
When questioned about plans for the future with Totilas, Edward said: “I hope 2010 is as good as 2009! I didn’t know he was going to be this good when I got him. He’s only 10 years old and he settled down easily. I can’t describe what it’s like to ride him. I like it so much. He’s a fantastic young stallion. I won’t have such a horse again. I enjoy every day I ride him.”
Advice for would-be dressage world champions when buying a horse was summed up by Edward as follows: “I always look for the feeling, to see if we click. Some horses want to cooperate, have the right attitude. The horse has to fit you. Look for a nice temperament - easy to handle and attentive to people.”
Relaxing after the masterclass, Edward said he was satisfied with how it went. “He was a bit stressed at the start but it was a nice big arena so he wasn’t too close to the crowd. We both relaxed when we got into it. The crowd were enthusiastic, knowledgeable and appreciative. I love the fact that there are so many other equestrian events going on here at the Festival at the same time.”
Edward will be competing at Aachen and then will probably do one small competition in Holland between Aachen and the World Equestrian Games. “Going to the WEG will be Totilas’ first time on a plane. I hope it goes well there, but for me, feeling I’ve had a good ride is more important than the medals,” he concluded.
Filed Under
Dressage
