Today I drove to Verden to watch the warm ups for the 5 and 6 year olds at the world championships along with a developing PSG class for 7/8 year olds and a 4 year old mares & geldings class. Verden is about 1.5 hours from Olli's, but it's an easy drive, and Daniel stayed with Jonathan and Linda, so it was really quite relaxing!
I got there just as the main arena opened up for riders to school. There were many horses in there for the next hour, up to 12 at once, so it was a bit crazy. The atmosphere at Verden is a lot for the young horses, the arena is surrounded in both longsides by white tents with banquet style seating. On the short side by A there is a big two story announcers trailer, and on the short side by C, a hill for spectators with a jumbotron.
I got there just as the main arena opened up for riders to school. There were many horses in there for the next hour, up to 12 at once, so it was a bit crazy. The atmosphere at Verden is a lot for the young horses, the arena is surrounded in both longsides by white tents with banquet style seating. On the short side by A there is a big two story announcers trailer, and on the short side by C, a hill for spectators with a jumbotron.
 |  |
I watched many horses working this morning and was so impressed by Endel Ots. He has the only two horses here for the U.S., one 5 year old and one 6 year old. He is such a lovely rider and warmed the horses up so quietly and softly before getting some stunning work from them. Both his horses have really, really top quality trots. The walk is very correct with both, but slightly limited in the swing through the back and shoulders and the overtrack. The canter is very reliable and extremely correct, but maybe not as extravagant as some of the others. It will be really interesting to see how he does. He has a much more sympathetic style than many of the others 😳
 Endel being coached by Christine Traurig and Evi Strasser |  |
I got to see a developing PSG class for 7 & 8 year olds. An Danish rider, Carina Nevermann-Torup won with a 75.37. She was riding Sirikit, a lovely 8 year old Hotline/Don Schufro mare.
I saw quite a few Americans, including Lilo Fore, who is judging this year. The food and vendors at this show is intense! And there is a big jumper competition going on too, so you can wander over to the big stadium to see that as well.
Tomorrow I will ride early at the barn and then head into Münster to see a 3 year old sale horse for a friend back home and then explore Münster with Linda and Daniel and hopefully go to the zoo!!
I saw quite a few Americans, including Lilo Fore, who is judging this year. The food and vendors at this show is intense! And there is a big jumper competition going on too, so you can wander over to the big stadium to see that as well.
Tomorrow I will ride early at the barn and then head into Münster to see a 3 year old sale horse for a friend back home and then explore Münster with Linda and Daniel and hopefully go to the zoo!!
The jumping stadium
 Not a bad way to spend an afternoon... |  Mercedes horse van, anyone? |
RSS Feed
