Final day at the first of two international four-star dressage competitions in 2022 in Achleiten with the decisions in the Small and the Grand Tour.
In the most difficult dressage test in the world, the Grand Prix Special, there was no getting past the German Frederic Wandres and the 12-year-old Oldenburg Bluetooth OLD. The serial winner from Hof Kasselmann scored 74.809 percent and, after his triumph in the Grand Prix, was also allowed to cheer in the Special.
"That was our seventh victory this season," said a delighted Wandres, who was a guest in Achleiten for the third time. "Exactly one year ago we competed together for the first time in Mannheim. The development of Bluetooth is impressive. Today was only our second special. The day off after the Grand Prix did us good, we were able to use the forces well and bring them into the arena."
With the 5-year-old Fashion Prinz OLD (94.0 in the final task on Saturday!) the team is heading for the World Championships for Young Horses, which will take place in Ermelo (NED) in early September. Wandres: "We have the World Championships firmly in our sights, Fashion Prinz is an apparition, the whole package is right. But at such a championship, there are also many other beautiful horses."
The second place with a clean 70.34 percent round went to Germany's Laura Strobel with the 11-year-old stallion Valparaiso owned by Elisabeth Max-Theurer.
Austria's Olympic rider Renate Voglsang also made the podium with her Fürst Ferdinand zur Fasanenhöhe with a score of 69.191 percent. "It just feels good after everything we both had to go through in the last few months. He knows what to do in the arena and so do I," Voglsang, who had to undergo surgery in September 2021 after a herniated disc, was pleased about the comeback. In January 2022 her sports partner had to have his right eye removed after a detached retina.
From June 17 to 19, Renate Voglsang will be competing for the qualification for the World Championships in Herning (DEN, August 6-14, 2022) and the young dressage riders (YR, J) for the qualification for the European Championships in Hartpury (GBR, July 25-31).
N°4 FEI Grand Prix Spezial (CDI4*)
1. Frederic Wandres (GER), Bluetooth OLD 74.809
2. Laura Strobel (GER), Valparaiso 70.34
3. Renate Voglsang (AUT), Fürst Ferdinand zur Fasanenhöhe 69.191
4. Katharina Haas (AUT), Let it be 68.064
5. Anna Buffini (USA), FRH Davinia la Douce 67.404
6. Diana Porsche (AUT), Douglas 67.213
