The Bavarian bred stallion DSP Gründleinshofs Gipfelstürmer became a repeat offender in the final of the four-year-old riding pony stallions. The strong moving Palomino successfully defended his last year's title. The Rhineland and Schleswig-Holstein won the silver and bronze medals.
That's really the top: If you come from Bavaria, you should at least have experience in climbing high mountains and thus also high goals. Last year's National Champion DSP Gründleinshofs Gipfelstürmer by Golden West-Gründleinshofs San Royal, bred by Cordula Kaus, had no problem with that at all. As the leader of the qualification, the stallion, who was again presented by Danica Duen, also convinced the judges' commission (Tim Koch, Peter Olsson and Jürgen Uthoff) in the final: "This is a wonderful type, almost a small riding horse, with excellent uphill tendency. His type quality flows into the movement," was the judge's verdict for the winning stallion, who was rated 9.5 for conformation.
He was the only pony to receive a ten for trot: "He showed us how dynamic a pony with a super cooperation of fore and hindquarters can develop a lot of elasticity and energy." His final score of 9.0 included three 8.5s each for canter, walk and riding quality. The outside rider, Pferdewirtschaftsmeisterin Vanessa Siedentopf, visibly enjoyed the trotting rewards and attested the judges a good riding feeling in the saddle of the new Bundeschampion, who is owned by Anneke Behr.
The grey stallion Daydreamer by Double Diamond AK-Volano Beau bred by Seloa Liebrecht (owned by Carolyne Liebrecht), bred in the Rhineland, was able to improve slightly in the Final. 8.8 was his final score, he had scored 8.7 in the qualification and was thus always close on the heels of the winner. "Daydreamer is constructed uphill and makes a lot of use of his body. He brings a very secure swinging trot that closes in from behind and also develops a lot of basic swing in the reinforcement." The trot was worth a 9.0 to the judges, as was the conformation of the silver medal winner. However, the charming stallion received his highest score for the riding quality (9.5): "Daydreamer felt just as comfortable under the outside rider as he did under his rider Hanna Richter. He confidently fulfilled all the tasks with very good basic contact and reacted optimally to everything that was asked of him here."
The third medallist, Steendiek's Daddys Sunny Boy by FS Daddy Cool-The Braes My Mobility, was a lot better and scored 8.3 in the Final and 8.6 in the Final. The Schleswig-Holstein bred dun stallion with a dash of Welsh blood in his pedigree (breeder and owner: Peter Böge), who was presented by Mareike Peckholz, scored especially well with his canter (9.5): "That was very safe and closed jumping, sublime and hardworking." For the trot and conformation, there was a 9.0 each. "A wonderfully formatted pony with a lot of riding quality from the body." A total of 22 four-year-old riding pony stallions competed this year.
Four-year-old riding ponies (mares and geldings): Kastanienhof Moonwalker in front
Weser-Ems ahead of the Rhineland and Rhineland-Palatinate-Saar: This was the order in which the medals were awarded in the four-year-old riding ponies (mares and geldings) for the participating pony breeding areas. The final decision was exciting because the favourites were very close in the qualification and now the assessment of the external rider, Vanessa Siedentopf, played an important role in the judges' decision. However, the previously leading pony gelding Kastanienhof Moonwalker by Kastanienhof Manhattan-Cockney Cracker WE (breeder: Gestüt Kastanienhof), presented by owner Ann-Cathrin Rieg, successfully maintained his overall score of 8.6. "It is an uphill pony - the way he presented himself to us. We saw in the trot an energetic basic swing with a lot of possibilities as well as a supple canter, which gives a very good riding feeling. The pony reacts very securely to the driving aids, goes forward relaxed and fresh. The contact is always easy. He moves well uphill according to his disposition score and brings along nice riding horse points," was the judges' verdict. In terms of scores, the gelding, who was bred in Weser-Ems, received two 9's for trot and rideability, two 8.5's for canter and conformation and an 8.0 for walk.The new Vice Bundeschampion is the Dornik B-daughter Dans le Coeur B, who was bred out of a Voyager-mother in the Rhineland by Viktoria Charlotte Braun, who also owns the dark chestnut mare. She got the highest score of the day in this final for disposition with 9.5, as the test rider also felt very comfortable on the "handy pony". "The mare makes a very satisfied and at the same time engaged impression with a very good riding feeling and in a positive sense sensitive reaction to the rider's aids." Dans le Coeur B, presented by Lisa Erlemeyer in the arena, collected the second best score (9.0) for her energetic trot work with "very good impulsion and always stepping forward to the hand with confidence." The final score of 8.5 was a small improvement on the qualification score of 8.4.
The Palomino mare Daily Sunshine by Dressed in Gold-FS Don't Worry, bred by Heiko Scharf and representing the Rhineland-Palatinate-Saar breeding area, was close behind in bronze with a score of 8.3. For all three gaits and the disposition, the mare was awarded 8.5 in the final for her "modern presentation, which develops her quality of movement from the body". She impressed with a "dynamically swinging trot, a closed, clear and well spaced canter as well as a walk pulling through the body". The test rider assessed the pony mare, owned by Clifford Wahl, as very willing to perform and positive.
