Jack Sparrow, Bon Bravour and Apache topped the leader board at the second leg of the 2011-2012 KWPN Stallion Competition held at Stable de Goubergh in Roosendaal on Wednesday 14 December 2011. The same trio of stallions, which won the first qualifier in Hengelo, impressed the judges with their natural athleticism and dressage ability.
Stable de Goubergh is all pumped for action in December, hosting a series of indoor competitions including an international show jumping event next weekend. The plain indoor arena was prettified with Christmas decorations and lights giving the competition a festive feeling.
Apache Leads the Way
The show started at 12.00h at noon with the Z-level division in which six stallions born either in 2004 or 2005 competed in different Z-level test patterns. The judges for the Roosendaal KWPN competition were Mariette Sanders, Jeroen Hulsman and Gert van den Hoorn.
Emmelie Scholtens and the dark bay KWPN bred stallion Apache (by UB40 x Krack C x Inspekteur) put the biggest scores on the board. The muscled and athletic stallion has an impressive trot with much cadence and bounce and a super active hind leg. In general his trot movement has much suspension up in the air, which is telling for his piaffe and passage potential, but he could stretch the frame more in the lengthenings. The stallion showed fantastic tempi changes and good ability to sit in the pirouette. His walk was an issue today, though. The extended was fairly ok, but the very distracted horse, which kept on whinnying throughout his test, showed hardly any collected walk. The judges scored Apache 7.5 for walk, 9.5 for trot, 8.5 for canter, 9 for self carriage and suppleness, and 9 for general impression, which totalled 87 points. (see video)
Throughout the day it was unclear whether the fourth score each horse got was just for "self-carriage and suppleness" as defined on the KWPN website or also for submission as is the case at the German Young Horse Championships (Bundeschampionate) and World Young Horse Championships (Verden). Apache was certainly not the only young stallion distracted by the electric environment in Roosendaal but it was remarkable that submission and rideability hardly weighed in on the scores at this show. In other countries the mark for submission (throughness, relaxation, softness in the mouth) counts heavily for the overall result and throughness is emphasized by the judges in their commentary after the test. At this KWPN stallion competition it appeared to be of lesser importance as the quality and potential of the horse were more put in the balance and assessed.
Hans Peter Minderhoud and the bright bay KWPN stallion Zizi Top (by Tango x Ferro) became the runner up in the Z-division with 83 points. The stallion has super suspension and spring in trot and showed ground covering and uphill flying changes. The bay is quite narrow in front and crosses at the base in walk and collected trot. Like his sire Tango could have some more shoulder freedom, but his silhouette is elegant nonetheless. Zizi Top was a bit fixed in the back at the beginning of the collected walk, which compromised the clarity of the rhythm, but he improved along the way. He received a 7.5 for walk and 8.5s for trot, submission and general impression.
Theo Hanzon and the gorgeous dark bay Amazing Star (by Flemmingh x Ferro) landed a third place with 79 points. The horse is very convincing in trot in his ground cover and cadence but he titled his head in the lateral movements and voltes. The canter is of good quality with an active, reaching hind leg, but Amazing Star struggled to keep the balance in the counter canter. His extended walk had much overtrack though the collected walk was barely shown. They got 8.5 for walk, 8 for trot, 7.5 for canter, submission and general impression to total 79 points.
Bon Bravour Had Highlight Ride of the Day
The M-level division was dominated by Belgian rider Tom Franckx-Goen on Bon Bravour. This pair certainly delivered the nicest presentation of the day in which harmony, lightness and ease dominated. The dark bay Dutch bred stallion by Painted Black x Chronos was on the job, listened to his rider and was light in the bridle (sometimes even a bit too light). In trot Bon Bravour has an astonishing front leg usage with huge lift and freedom in the shoulder and though he has much suspension he can get slightly stuck in his scope and lose activity from behind. The slower he gets, the deeper the head drops behind the vertical. The traversal movements were smooth. In canter the stallion has good balance and ability to collect but in the extensions he could have swung more over the back to become more uphill. He scored 8.5 for walk, trot and general impression and 8s for canter and submission, which led to 83 points.
Diederik van Silfhout and the bay stallion Briljant (by Uphill x Darlington) were the runners-up. The stallion is quite old fashioned in type -- chunky/chubby, short front leg, big fat neck, flat croupe -- but he sparkled with great rideability and he became more impressive as the test came to a close. He's quite stiff in the front leg in trot and tilted his head on the circles but his walk is very good for the horse's conformation and the canter was lovely. The horse had great self-carriage and balance in canter and lengthened the frame properly in the extensions. He got 8 for walk, 7.5 for trot, 8.5 for canter and 8s for submission and general impression, which totalled 80 points.
Crowd Magnet Jack Sparrow
The dressage competition in Roosendaal finished with the L-level category for horses born in 2007. It had highest number of entries (9) and included crowd magnet Jack Sparrow, the horse which has been proclaimed by some The New Totilas. This is the third Totilas "doppelgänger" in Holland after Bretton Woods.
The German bred black stallion (by Johnson x Wolkentanz II x Don Primero) certainly is an eye-catcher: tall, black, beautiful, modern type and huge gaits. Unfortunately Edward Gal presented the 4-year old horse in an FEI frame: very up in the bridle, quite tight in the neck and Jack Sparrow's trot was so collected it almost looked like passage. The stallion hardly showed proper lengthening and on each short side Gal focused on collecting the horse more and more. It was a pity not to have seen the horse in a more open, relaxed - young horse- frame because Jack Sparrow certainly can move. The potential in gis gaits was obvious at all times. It was great to see that as soon as Edward gave the horse the long reins in trot, Jack Sparrow nicely stretched the neck forward and downwards without losing his balance and cadence for a moment. The trot only posed a problem in the leg yield to the right in which the horse trailed the hind legs. The canter was fantastic. The hindleg had exemplary activity, always moving towards the point of gravity. The horse has major scope and ground cover in the gait. The walk was tense and the rein back mediocre.
Jack Sparrow's young age did show in the difficult transitions to and from canter and his rambunctious reaction to the leg aid at one point. He was frisky and fresh in the ring and maybe that explained the high grade of collection so the rider could gain more control over his black powerhouse. The judges were in awe of this horse, which has Grand Prix written all over his body. They gave 7.5 for walk, 9 for trot, submission and general impression and 9.5 for canter. They won the class with 87.5 points.
Spanish Severo Jurado Lopez became the runner-up aboard Gert Jan van Olst's dark bay dressage star Chippendale (by Lord Leatherdale x Negro). The dark bay has a breath-taking trot with much power from behind, stunning self-carriage and grace. The horse showed little bending in the corners and circles though. The stallion is limited in walk. Though he has overtrack, the shoulder freedom is restricted and the clarity could be better. The canter is excellent with a quick and active hindleg. The horse seemed to get hot and the rider struggled with the transitions as well as with some collection as the dark bay got a bit sour looking. Chippendale was definitely one of the most talented dressage horses of the day but needs more work on relaxation and bend in the body. He got 7 for walk, 9.5 for trot, 8.5 for canter and general impression. He totalled 83 points.
After a rocky start in Hengelo, where the Dutch bred and Westfalian licensed premium stallion Vitalis (by Vivaldi x D-Day) got stuck with 75.5 half points (5th place) and a disappointed rider, Hans Peter Minderhoud redeemed himself in Roosendaal with a lovely ride. The elegant chestnut stallion, which is quite heavy in front with a big neck and a refined body and hindquarters, produced a very solid round. Eugene Reesink's stallion moved with verve and, like his sire, excels with his graceful front leg usage. While the reach in his shoulder is the eye-catching trait of this horse, the hind legs don't fail to impress either. Vitalas always worked well from behind and never trailed. The trot extensions are wonderful even though he gets wide behind. In the extended walk there was good ground cover and a clear 4-beat rhythm. The rein back was hesitant. In canter Vitalis moved with an uphill tendency but could slightly have had more understep. He earned 8.5 for walk and general impression and 8s for trot, canter, and submission, which brought the grand total to 81.5 points.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - No Reproduction allowed
Results 2011 KWPN Stallion Competition - Second Leg Roosendaal
L-level
- 1. Edward Gal - Jack Sparrow (by Johnson x Wolkentanz II) - 87.5 points
- 2. Severo Jurado Lopez - Chippendale (by Lord Leatherdale x Negro) - 83 points
- 3. Hans Peter Minderhoud - Vitalis (by Vivaldi x D-Day) - 81.5 points
- 4. Philip van Ommen - Chagall (by Jazz x De Niro) - 80.5 points
- 5. Jonna Schelstraete - Chicago (by Vivaldi x Montecristo) - 79 points
- 5. Mirelle van Kemenade - Cachet L (by Jazz x Ferro) - 79 points
- 7. Stephanie Peters - Cennin (by Vivaldi x Donnerhall) - 76.5 points
- 8. Vai Bruntink - Charming Mood (by Winningmood x Contango) - 72 points
- 9. Theo Hanzon - Cadans (by Sir Donnerhall I x Pion) - 70.5 points
M-level
- 1. Tom Franckx Goen - Bon Bravour (by Painted Black x Chronos) - 83 points
- 2. Diederik van Silfhout - Briljant (by Uphill x Darlington) - 80 points
- 3. Kirsten Beckers - Bristol (by Jazz x Goodtimes - 77 points
- 4. Stefanie Dors - Bojengel (by Uptown x Gribaldi) - 73.5 points
Z-level
- 1. Emmelie Scholtens - Apache (by UB40 x Krack C) - 87 points
- 2. Hans Peter Minderhoud - Zizi Top (by Tango x Ferro) - 83.0 points
- 3. Theo Hanzon - Amazing Star (by Flemmingh x Ferro) - 79 points
- 4. Jana Freund - Demirel (by Dimaggio x Hill Hawk xx) - 76 points
- 5. Kim van de Velden - Adamo M (by Sandreo x Pion) - 75.5 points
- 6. John Tijssen - Armani (by United x Jazz) - 72.0 points
Related Link
Jack Sparrow, Bon Bravour and Apache Win First Leg of 2011-2012 KWPN Stallion Competition in Hengelo