Dorothee Schneider and Karlijn V. win CDI3* Grand Prix of Hamburg

As Dorothee Schneider’s Karlijn V. stood relaxed between the pylons during the prize-giving ceremony for the CDI3* Grand Prix in Hamburg and accepted the accolades for first place, the eleven-year-old Governor daughter apparently had the feeling that she was now exactly where she belonged. With 69.370 percent, she left 15 competitors behind her today, the first CDI Grand Prix victory for the pair, who have known each other for seven years and have really grown together in the meantime.

That was what made her happiest today, Dorothee Schneider said later, “that Karli was so focused and relatively confident, even though it was only her second time competing in a test like this”. A small but: “The piaffe could come a little more in front of my leg, I probably noticed that,” smiled the riding mistress.

Goal: Build up security

The passage reprises were definitely one of the highlights of the pair’s test – relaxed, in balance, with an energetic impression always away from the ground. The transitions into and out of the piaffe also went well. In the piaffe itself, Karlijn V. then lost a little of her diligence and therefore also the clear beat, although there were always kicks in between that showed how much talent the Totilas granddaughter has for this exercise in particular. Now it’s all about building up confidence in the test, says Dorothee Schneider.

Two weeks ago in Exloo, the two still had several mistakes. Since then, they have worked on communication in particular, says Schneider. “I think we’ve grown together a bit over the two weeks. I worked on our communication at home. In the piaffe, I tried to get her more in front of the leg. That is still maturing at the moment. I can tell. She can do that even better. But it’s still a lot at the moment, without a whip etc. She just needs to become more confident.”

Opinionated in a positive sense

Confident in the sense of more experienced. Because Karlijn is by no means lacking in self-confidence, says Dorothee Schneider. “She can be very opinionated…”, is how she describes Karlijn’s character. In the past, this has sometimes led to the mare deciding to go in a different direction than her rider had actually intended. But that now seems to be a thing of the past. Today, in the not-so-easy test situation in Hamburg, where the spectator stands are very close to the arena, she behaved in an exemplary manner.

“Now she’s really with me and it’s really, really fun to show her in such a great arena!” said Dorothee Schneider, delighted with the victory and the development of her mare.

Bridle of the curb bit

This is probably the first time that an international Grand Prix has been won with a snaffle bit. Since this year, there is freedom of choice up to CDI3* as to whether you want to ride with one or two bits. Dorothee Schneider presented Karlijn with a snaffle bit. This is primarily for practical reasons. “With my broken hand, it’s easier for me at the moment with one rein instead of two,” she recalls of her hand injury, which put her out of action a few weeks ago.

Second and third place

Helen Langehanenberg and the eleven-year-old DSP gelding Danny Cool were delighted with second place. The elastic rider is beginning to take on more and more weight and has great talent for piaffe and passage. However, the uprightness is still more absolute than relative. The pair received 68.326 percent.

Third place went to the 2025 Derby winners, Anna-Lena Kracht and Florinio, who came out of the arena today with 67.695 percent.

Multitasking is king

Dorothee Schneider wouldn’t be Dorothee Schneider if she only had one thing to concentrate on. So this weekend she is not only working as a rider, but also as a trainer. And not just in Hamburg, but also at a rural show 120 kilometers away.

The student who is looking after Schneider here in Hamburg is Anna-Louisa Fuchs, who presented her ten-year-old Don Juan de Hus grandson Duvetico – and did very well! A slip-up in the second pirouette cost the pair a massive amount of points. Nevertheless, they also had so many highlights that two of the five judges saw them in first place. In total, they scored 67.544 percent, putting them in fourth place in the final ranking.

Dorothee Schneider was almost as pleased about this as she was about her own success. “It was very, very good. This horse is very talented, but he also has juice! But Anna did a great job. Anna has soaked up so much positivity in the years we’ve been working together and has developed her own style. I’m really proud of her!”

Schneider will continue in the Grand Prix Special, which is scheduled for Saturday morning at 9 am.

Her name is Haase

The Schleswig-Holstein duo Franziska Haase and Alissimo had already made a positive impression at the Nuremberg Burg Cup qualifier in Hagen and placed well. But it was not enough to win at the Teutoburg Forest. They made up for it today on the Elbe. Haase won the Prix St. Georges on the eight-year-old Ibiza son with 71.814 percent. Second place went to the other riding champion in the Hamburg arena this weekend, Ingrid Klimke with Oneofakind (71.274), a Swedish stallion by Total Hope. Third place went to Maxi Kira von Platen in the saddle on the nine-year-old Oldenburg Zonik son Zurbaran de la Gesse (70.441).

You can find all the results from Hamburg here.