Viva Gold also unbeatable at second appearance in Herning

Since the Oldenburg Weihegold grandson (by Vivaldi-For Romance) came to Isabell Werth’s stables just over a year ago to take the next steps towards the Grand Prix, he has been unbeaten. From his first S*** at the Louisdor Prize qualifier in Hamburg to his first Grand Prix at the Tournament of Champions, the Louisdor Prize Final in Frankfurt, to his first Grand Prix Special yesterday in Herning. He won the test with a dominant 79.042 percent ahead of his colleague from Frankfurt, Lord Europe under Leonie Richter. Herning was also the CDI and Special premiere for the two of them, in which they were delighted with 71.915 percent.

Viva Gold’s special debut in Herning

Werth and Viva Gold’s trot tour already looked very mature. Piaffe and passage are of exceptional quality and are becoming more and more secure, even if the stallion still tends to step backwards with his front legs in the piaffe. In the first strong trot there was clear scope, but little extension of the frame and swinging through the body. This was also lacking in the strong trot sequences on the long side, whereas the passages here were performed with exceptional cadenced grandeur, diligence and commitment. The first traversal to the left was a little halting towards the end, the second was flowing. Overall, Werth had the stallion stable in front of her driving aids and with a beautiful lateral pattern, even though the underline of the curb bit was often far more than the required 45°.

Points in Pi and Pa

The strong walk was relaxed and diligent with a willingness to stretch at hand, but always chewing openly. In collected walk, Viva Gold mucked out and was ready just in time for the first piaffe, which Werth added a little forward. A short tap with the inside rein hand, then a successful transition into the passage, which this time was not quite as steady as before. A beautiful transition into the piaffe, which was really in place this time, and then effortlessly into the passage again.

Gallop tour with small downsides

The transition into canter was smooth, willing and without hesitation. Viva Gold became a little tight in the canter traversals. The double changes were safe, but here, too, the stallion remained well behind the vertical and the space gained in the changes was correspondingly small. The same picture emerged in the singles, which were nevertheless jumped safely – although there were only 13 and not 15 as required. The strong canter initially went well, jumped energetically forwards and upwards with a clear scope, but Viva Gold changed back and forth once in the back. The stallion is just as talented at pirouettes as he is at piaffe and passage. Once he is more secure in his balance, he will receive top marks here. The nine single changes on the centerline were jumped safely, but with limited scope. After the last change, the stallion jumped forward and Werth had him back and in front of him just in time to initiate the second pirouette.

The conclusion

In the trot tour on the long side, Viva Gold seemed to have seized his ambition and wanted more than his rider, which was at the expense of his balance. On the final line, the beautiful chestnut was once again able to show the world all his talent in pi and pa – but with the back-footed front leg. Ulrike Nivelle scored a 10 for the last piaffe, while her colleagues gave her two 8.5s and two 8.0s.

Lord and Leonie

Leonie Richter’s Lord Europe presented an elegant side view and beautiful contact. Herning was the first ever Grand Prix Special not only for the Rhenish Lord Leatherdale offspring, but also for his rider – and it was very safe and harmonious. There was tension in the walk, which cost a few points. But other things went very well, such as the canter traverses. The canter jump itself was elastic and hard-working, but not completely secure in six phases, but laterally shifted. What Lord Europe can do really well are the series changes. He received an 8.0 from three judges for the ones. The centerline with the two pirouettes and the series changes in between was also a real highlight, the second pirouette perhaps a little too big. But here he managed to do what was missing in the trot and especially in the piaffe and passage: the stallion took on weight and came into his own. To score even more points, the trot tour would have to be improved, not only in the collection but also in the reinforcement

Other winners

Werth and Richter were the only German riders in the starting field – apart from the sixth-placed (65.596) Carolina Cordoba Wolf with the Finnish mare Isabella, who is at home in Coesfeld but rides internationally under the Mexican flag. In third place behind the two German riders was the Danish rider Camilla Lunderskov on the highly motivated Sir Donnerhall son Donnerhall’s Son II. Her personal best result on the international stage to date is exactly 70 percent.

Fourth place went to the two-time Swedish U25 European Championship pair Cecilia Bergåkra and My Friend with 68.340 percent.

You can find all the results here.