Dressage un Ltd., Unlimited Dressage,

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April 20 - 24, 2005

World Cup Las Vegas
April 20 -24, 2005

Viva Las Vegas!
World Cup Freestyle Final
April 21-24, 2005
by Libby Anderson

April 20 dawned fair and bright in Catharpin, Virginia when I set out for the World Cup Freestyle adventure in Las Vegas, Nevada. Approaching Las Vegas we saw high sierra, plains, and lofty mountains surrounding Las Vegas topped with light snow and awe inspiring rocky cliffs and crags.

First surprise on arriving at the hotel around 10 am on the 20 April, I was told that check in was at 4 pm! OK. This is obviously a different world to the regular tourist and judging destinations. As this was Las Vegas I had no problem filling in the time walking wide eyed around the strip and then enjoying the "warm up" sessions in the Thomas Mack coliseum some two miles away from the hotel.

The first item on the agenda once we arrived at the Thomas Mack Center was to check in with Kyra Beth and her team at Dressage un Ltd set up in booth number 16. Judging from the crowd of people surrounding the booth they were getting a lot of attention. Dressage un Ltd was selling books, videos, photos and decals but sadly could not get the "rights" to video the World Cup 2005. We will not be able to see those great videos with movement and judge's marks break down, to simplify and clarify the dressage performance.

I was assisting the Dressage un Ltd team by autographing two of the books that I had written: "A New Horse For Marny" and "Dancing with your Horse" co-authored with Leigh Ann Hazel Groux. Kyra Beth had many great books for sale including two by UK World Cup rider Carl Hester, who was also available for autographs.

The "warm up" session for the finalists of the 2005 World Cup finalists and the special Grand Prix competitors in USEF invitation Grand Prix dressage competition, was perhaps the most stimulating and exciting event of the World Championships. However, as events proceeded over the next few days, one amazing spectacle followed the other. Our senses were dazzled and stimulated each day to a new level. Superlative followed superlative as we were exposed to music, dancing and wonderful classical competition.

The "warm up" allowed the spectators to watch and evaluate all the competitors who were competing over the next three days in the international competition. One outstanding observation was the beautiful and relaxed warm up for most of the competitors. Lovely relaxation and stretching was shown by many of the international competitors. It was like a breath of fresh air to see these talented dressage horses relax and stretch down on a long rein in-between collecting for piaffe and passage. Some of the highly rated horses showed tension and this problem was addressed by their riders with special exercises to try to calm the horses down and induce relaxation and focus. Anky and Salinero showed much tension and apprehension in the warm up. Anky's soft touch and calming influence relaxed the "hot" Salinero but still the warm up exposed some of the problems that Anky was facing to secure her seventh consecutive World Cup Final Championship at Las Vegas. The USA rider Robert Dover and the talented FBW Kennedy also showed tension problems in the warm up. Robert used all his skills to relax the temperamental Kennedy and by the end of the warm up, Kennedy was more happy and relaxed.

The next day we had the Grand Prix for the World Cup finalists competing for the "order of go" for the Freestyle Final on Saturday night. The opening ceremony was truly Las Vegas style with fireworks, LOUD music and vocals from Las Vegas stars. Maybe a little too much for us "normal" folks, but for sure, in keeping with the wild and wonderful magical world of Las Vegas. Many dressage enthusiasts had access to headphones issued by the International Dressage Judges Club for an FEI seminar and movement by movement assessment by FEI "O" Judge Volker Moritz.

Edward Gal riding the lovely stallion Lingh showed us an accurate, energetic and expressive Grand Prix. Edward and Lingh train with Anky and for the first time turned the tables on his trainer. Clearly Lingh was more relaxed and accurate than Salinero and earned a 78.625% from the five judges. The crowd went wild and Edward and Lingh instantly had a devoted "fan" club within the USA dressage community. Salinero and Anky had a Grand Prix test showing both the technical highs and the tension deficits for a second placing score from the five judges of 78.00%.

USA dressage champion Debbie Mc Donald and the delightful mare Brentina rode an accurate and relaxed test at Grand Prix. The crowd went wild as Debbie is a national favorite and Brentina is a USA hero. The judges had no problem awarding the combination a score of 75.958% for third place.

The second rider for the USA was Robert Dover and FBW Kennedy, this combination showed tension problems in the "warm up" for the Grand Prix on Wednesday 20 April, 2005. With his usual composure Robert saved the day and rode a fault free test on Kennedy to the delight of the crowds for a score of 75.625%. The crowd went wild and showed their support of Robert Dover and Kennedy with much applause.

The Danish rider Andreas Helgstrand riding the talented stallion Blue Horse Cavan (previously ridden by Lars Peterson, now riding in the USA) scored a consistant 73.00%. Leslie Morse from the USA and the talented stallion Kingston performed an impressive test with a score of 72.794%. This combination has shown great improvement over the past several months and the crowd showed their appreciation.

The 22 April was the Invitational US Grand Prix competition, where 5 riders and horses were invited riders and horses compete. Also on Friday the bottom 6 of the 18 finalists for the World Cup rode their musical freestyles for consolation placing in the World Cup Freestyle. The Invitational Grand Prix was won by Steffen Peters and the Westfalen gelding Floriano showing some exciting half pass and extensions in the Grand Prix. The judges rewarded this well ridden performance with a 74.29%. Second place went again to California with Carol Plough and the KWPN gelding Komo showing very correct basics and some pleasing piaffe and passage transitions. Of interest Robert Dover's groom of many years, Katherine Bateson. rode the Oldenburg gelding Rainer (Robert Dover's mount in the Sydney Olympics) to fourth place with a score of 63.12%. After the final presentation for the World Cup on Saturday evening Kennedy would be handed over to his groom Katherine for the final time. From this time on Katherine and Kennedy would be a combination for international competition. Robert has given up his ride on Kennedy and presented this talented horse to Katherine to show the world how a young and dedicated groom and rider can beat the odds and ride on the international scene. Good luck to both of them.

The next event was the kür presentation of the bottom 6 of the 18 finalists for the World Cup.
It may seem like a consolation ride but in fact it was a unique opportunity to show their horses talents in the musical kür. The winner was German Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff riding the talented Renoir-UNICEF. All proceeds from Renoir's wins in dressage are donated to the wonderful international cause benefiting children world wide - UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Fund). Renoir had some sticky moments in the Grand Prix but in the musical freestyle showed more relaxation, better piaffe and passage and ground covering half passes. His walk is "to die for" and had to mark at least a 9 or 10. Renoir won the consolation freestyle with a final well deserved mark of 76.150%. Leslie Reid of Canada and her gelding Mark had a disappointing piaffe and passage tour in the Grand Prix on Thursday but in the kür showed that this team has loads of potential. Great music and terrific piaffe and passage combined with brilliant extensions and flying changes. Wow! This is a great combination for Canada for the future. Of interest was the Swiss rider Marie-Line Wettstein riding a Hanovarian gelding by Laurie's Crusader named Le Primeur 2, who showed great potential for the future with lively music and good half passes and extensions. The judges agreed with a 72.05% for the freestyle. The crowd was appreciative and approved of the result with acclaim.

Saturday dawned with blue skies and warm temperatures. The pressure was building up for the 2005 World Cup Freestyle on Saturday evening. Over 10,000 enthusiastic dressage devotees filled the huge coliseum to capacity to witness the 2005 World Cup Freestyle finals. The opening ceremony was as usual spectacular, LOUD, vocal and explosive, that would be enough to frighten the average horse out of his mind! However, this ceremony set the stage for the top 12 riders to perform their wonderful musical freestyles. The crowd of around 10,000 was so silent, you could hear a pin drop, as the first rider entered the arena for the final section of the World Cup, the musical freestyle.
The first six horses quickly showed better and better performances much improved on their Grand Prix performance.

A break while the ring was dragged and the center line marked again. A time for the audience to relax, stretch and snack before the final 6 horses. The excitement and expectation of the final 6 rides created an atmosphere which was electric and compelling and I am sure that the horses and riders appreciated this focus and concentration of the excited audience.

Kingston and Leslie Morse were the first to enter the arena after the break. Lovely music and clear beat helped to highlight the beautiful gaits of this talented stallion. Magnificent extensions and canter pirouettes were the highlights. The judges were delighted and gave a mark of 78.475%. Judge Uwe Mechlem from Germany stated that the rides "just got better and better". The next combination was Blue Hors Cavan and Andreas Helgstrand from Denmark. Again we were delighted with wonderful music and unique choreography which also pleased the judges with a mark of 78.50%. Could this get better?

The third rider was the ever popular Robert Dover riding FBW Kennedy. The audience settled down again after the fervor and clapping for Cavan and focused on Robert and Kennedy. As always Robert has a great sense of theatre and his music and choreography reflected this talent. Wonderful pirouettes and tempi changes together with a sense of harmony and delight for the freestyle gained Robert much applause and the judges also enjoyed the performance and awarded Robert a final mark of 80.10% The crowd exploded with the mark of 80 +%. Three more horses to go and Robert's mark was over 80%.

Now the stage was set for the last three riders to execute their freestyles. USA rider Debbie McDonald and Brentina, the chestnut mare who has won the hearts of the Americans and many of the international scene. Such humility, happiness, relaxation, confidence and JOY was expressed in every movement that Brentina executed. Ridden to perfection by Debbie McDonald, the harmony of this combination is unequaled in international competition. Her freedom, obedience and harmony was awarded the great mark of 83.450% by the international judges. How can this mark ever be beaten? We really felt that this was a freestyle that was impossible to beat.

However, we had Edward Gal and Anky van Grunsven to follow. Two more wonderful horses and riders, to thrill and excite both the audience and the judges. Let the best horse win! Edward and Lingh danced and played their way through the freestyle. The more the crowd urged then on, the more Lingh appreciated their acclaim and showed expression and ease of movement. We were treated to a wonderful combination where horse and rider appeared to work as one and as the choreography progressed Lingh continued to excel and put more and more of his personality into the performance. The judges gave Edward and Lingh a mark of 85.225%.The crowd exploded in applause!

Anky and Salinero entered the arena for the freestyle to the music "L'Esprit Chanson". This fabulous music and choreography made history for Anky and Salinero. The familiar patterns and routine helped relax the temperamental Salinero and Anky could ask for the maximum effort for each move of this wonderful kür. We were drawn into fantasy and emotion as Anky and Salinero danced their way through the entire kür. As the audience, we felt that we never wished for the freestyle to end. We all wanted to delight and enjoy each movement forever. The audience clapped and cheered as the judges awarded Anky and Salinero an amazing mark of 86.725%. This moment was magic and for the last competitor in this 2005

No one moved, the audience was unusually silent and reflective, the entire magic of the final World Cup riders and horses flashed across everyone's minds as the top six finalists presented themselves for the awards and presentation for the World Cup 2005 Award ceremony.

As they say in Las Vegas "what happen in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas". Anky won her seventh World Cup Final. Edward Gal showed that he is hard on Anky's heels and that she will have to always look to her student when she next rides her musical kür. As always Debbie McDonald and Brentina won the hearts of the audience and they will all be there to applaud Debbie and Brentina in 2006.
Viva Las Vegas!

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