FEI Para Dressage World Championship: Gold for the USA
The Para Dressage team medals were decided in the Allianz-Prize today. In this event, the riders not only collected crucial points for their teams, it was also the second qualifier for the individual Freestyle Final.
Vianne was completely unshaken by the cheers in the stadium and even took a moment to give her front leg a satisfying scratch. The ten-year-old grey mare seemed to know she had achieved something special and remained totally unruffled. In the saddle, Kate Shoemaker, who had just completed her final salute. She affectionately wrapped her arms around her equine partner’s neck, showered her with praise and beamed with delight. The judges awarded the pair a score of 80.460 percent for a performance that impressed with its harmony, responsiveness and expression. Above all, it sealed what had been on the cards in Aachen after the results of the previous day: Gold for the USA in the Para Dressage Team Competition. Alongside Fiona Howard with Diamond Dunes (79.300 percent, Grade II), Marie Vonderheyden with Fan Tastico H (76.375 percent, Grade I) and Rebecca Hart with Floratina (73.533 percent, Grade III), the US team achieved a total of 236.135 percentage points – an unparalleled result in the world to date. “It is just amazing,” said a delighted Kate Shoemaker. “Going into the arena last for the team usually brings a certain amount of pressure. But my teammates had performed so brilliantly beforehand that I was able to ride with a sense of freedom and just see what was possible.”
The German team were delighted at securing second place behind their fellow competitors from the USA. “The other nations had set the bar high, so we had to deliver our best performance too,” said Regine Mispelkamp, who contributed a score of 75.737 percent in Grade V to the team total, riding her reliable partner Highlander Delight’s. With equally strong rounds by Heidemarie Dresing with Poesie (77.733 percent, Grade II), Anna-Lena Niehues with Vive l’Amour (76.405 percent), and Helen Brandt with Vulkan Vegas IB (73.297 percent, both Grade IV), the German team attained a total score of 229.875 percent. Bronze went to the Dutch team – comprising Rixt van der Horst with Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P. (78.467 percent, Grade III), Annemarieke Nobel with Doo Schufro (73.708 percent, Grade I), Tessa Baaijens-Van De Vrie with Happy Grace (74.567 percent, Grade III) and Britney de Jong with Caramba N.O.P. (74.605 percent, Grade V). Their total score was 227.639 percent.