World Cup dressage stage in Gothenburg

In 2024 and 2025, Maria von Essen and Invoice came second in the World Cup freestyle in Gothenburg. The Swede knew that she and her 14-year-old son of Jazz, Invoice, had achieved a great moment today after the final salute. She burst into tears, praised her gelding profusely and waved gratefully to the enthusiastically clapping audience. The rider’s own assessment was confirmed by the judges – 82.645 percent appeared on the scoreboard, a new personal record.

The pair performed a freestyle beautifully adapted to the music from the musical “Les Miserables” with highlights in the active and tactful piaffe-passage work as well as, for example, the playfully easy transition from double to single changes. From a classical point of view, Invoice should have taken on more weight, despite her eagerness in piaffe and passage. In the exercises with the highest collection, he went under the center of gravity, but did not really sink into the haunches-in. Also in the extensions, the hocks tended to work backwards and upwards instead of pushing under the body, and the black horse remained somewhat tight in the neck. Perhaps it was because his rider didn’t really get to drive and let go. She said later: “My horse was simply magical today. He was really with me – although I noticed that he was getting a bit nervous in view of the huge crowd.” It is all the more remarkable that he was still so cooperative.

Kittel second again

While Maria von Essen had been third yesterday and was able to work her way to the top today, her compatriot Patrik Kittel was able to repeat his second place with Touchdown, today with 81.920 percent ahead of the Danish winning pair of the Grand Prix, Carina Cassøe Krüth and Heiline’s Danciera, who came out of the arena today with 81.240 percent after faults.

The judges were generous with the points awarded to World Cup debutant Sara Aagaard Hyrm in the saddle of her long-standing successful partner Atterupgaards Cooper. Despite piaffe with some backward tendencies and tension at the beginning of the task as well as little ease in the contact, they came fourth with 75.050 percent. The judges were also not entirely in agreement with each other on the Charmeur son out of the only world-class mare Atterupgaards Orthilia – Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel at B gave 67.750 percent in the technical execution, Clive Halsall at M was at 71.250 percent.

World Cup final?

At least Patrik Kittel would already have qualification for the World Cup Final in Texas in the bag. But like so many riders in the Western European League, the winner of the 2024 final is not ready to say with certainty that he will be traveling to Fort Worth in April. Carina Cassøe Krüth, who scored points in Herning and Poland before her maternity leave and is now eighth in the World Cup rankings, is different. She said she would “definitely” go to the final if she had enough points.

Nice to look at

There were several couples competing in Gothenburg today who were a pleasure to watch and who had great moments, even if not everything always worked out and mistakes crept in.

For example, Denmark’s Anna Zibrandtsen in the saddle of the motivated and committed Oldenburg Quaterback son Quel Filou. The two have been a team since 2022 and have worked with Cathrine Dufour, among others. You can see that. Like Dufour, Zibrandtsen succeeded at times today in celebrating the gelding’s fantastic pirouettes, for example, by emphasizing calmness and making them look even more sublime. They also had great moments in the piaffe-passage work, but also costly mistakes that depressed the marks.

The performance of Cecilie Dybro Jensen and her Zack son Zagori was also very pleasing. The eleven-year-old Hanoverian still lacks a little power, according to the impression, but the lightness of the pair was pleasing. She finished sixth with 73.825 percent.

For example, the Swede Carl Hedin on the Vitalis son Van der Veen, who sits very elegantly on horseback and has a fine action, at least in the trot (less so in canter), also exuded lightness. Unfortunately, however, there was tension in the task, which led to mistakes. In the end, 71.540 percent meant seventh place.

You can find all the results here.

Police operation

Between Sara Aagaard Hyrm and Anna Zibrandtsen’s rides, the hall suddenly went dark. A break? Wasn’t actually planned here. As the organizers reported, two activists had forced their way inside the hall. They were arrested by the police.