The first two final decisions on Sunday morning at the show jumping arena were made: The new Bundeschampions of the jumping ponies are Robby Lee LOH in the five-year-old class and Speedy in the six-year-old class.
Five-year-old show jumping ponies: Victory for Robby Lee Loh 15 starters competed in the final of the five-year-old show jumping ponies, an elementary class show jumping pony competition, the CWD Prize. The Rhineland-bred gelding Robby Lee LOH by Rob Roy van het Klavertje out of a dam by Los Angeles (breeder: Dirk Lohmann) came out on top with a score of 8.5. After a second place in the final qualification, the dark bay showed a great round in the final under his owner and rider Antonia Ercken, which was rewarded with applause from the spectators and much praise from the judges: "A pony that is attentive over this course, that takes off energetically at the jump, jumps agilely out of the hind leg through the whole body, is quick in his reaction on the front leg and has good reflexes".
22-year-old Antonia Ercken took over Robby Lee LOH from breeder Dirk Lohmann at the beginning of the year: "It was a coincidence that we found him," she says. In daily handling, the smart gelding is very sociable and well-behaved, but at the show he becomes more robust: "That's what makes him special, at the show he is really 'on'," Antonia reports. "That's also exactly what a pony needs in the end to go several rounds at a European Championships, for example - and I'm sure he'll go that way."
Vice-champion was the Hanoverian mare Cookie with a score of 8.4 under her rider Alina Luchtmann, who was visibly happy about the successful ride after the last jump. The daughter of Cosmopolitan D out of a Seven Mountain Natan dam (breeder Melanie Habighorst, owner Yvonne Luchtmann) was able to improve considerably in the final and showed a very nice round: "A pony that is absolutely on the right track and stands securely at the rider's aids, that is beautifully balanced in the body, with quick reactions in the front leg and knows how to use his body," was the comment of the group of judges.
The gelding Del Toro K, also presented by his owner and rider Antonia Ercken, placed bronze. The Holsteiner gelding by Del Piero x Aljano (breeder: Malte Kuhnert) was judged by the jury to be a pony with a high basic quality, who jumps energetically and knows how to use his body. 8.3 was the final score for the very appealing round and for the pair, which had already placed well in the preliminary competition and the final qualification.
The BMEL Animal Welfare Prize in the five-year-old jumping ponies went to Rabea Tempel with Metallica SGN for calm and sensitive riding with a relaxed and very satisfied pony.
Six-year-old jumping ponies: Speedy takes the title
The final of the six-year-old jumping ponies, Prize of Böckmann Fahrzeugwerke GmbH, was decided among 15 starters in a special jumping pony class L with two rounds. The Holsteiner gelding, Speedy, lived up to his role as favourite in the final qualification and earned a lot of applause: He received the highest scores of 9.0 and 9.0 (total: 18.0) in both rounds and thus won in superior style. Under Madita Bruhn, the offspring of Del Piero x Calido I (breeder: Avora Pferde GmbH & Co. KG) showed two very nice, even performances. Accordingly, the judges' verdict was: "The pony was relaxed from start to finish, completed every jump through the body, was secure at the rider's aids and showed powerful footing". The pair was able to confirm this performance in the second round. His special rideability is what makes him stand out, as rider Madita Bruhn confirms. The 18-year-old has been riding Speedy for one and a half years, last year they were already fourth in the final of the five-year-old jumping ponies. "He's a real dream pony," she enthuses. "He's totally cuddly in the stable, but he also knows when it counts." Madita Bruhn was also awarded the BMEL Animal Welfare Prize for her exemplary preparation and follow-up of her pony, who radiated composure and contentment in every situation.Second place went to Makadamia by Machno Carwyn x Windsor N (breeder: Angelika Jahr, bred by Sabrina Krempien). Under Alexandra Langer, the Holsteiner stallion showed two very appealing rounds, each of which was graded with 8.7 (total score: 17.4). Peter Teeuwen certified that the pony has a good basic canter, is sure on the lines to the jump, knows how to use his body and has a powerful footing.
Ready to fly with his rider Britta Wittenbrink secured third place, which was a clear improvement on the pair's performance in the preliminary competition and the final qualification. The Holsteiner mare by Rex the Robber out of a Dexter Leam Pondi dam (breeder: Lina Söderholm, bred by Karl Brocks sen.) showed a very clean round in the first round, which was graded with 8.8: "The pony was always focused on the jump, always with the rider and knows how to use his body". Unfortunately, two turns in the cross canter in the second round reduced the score (8.5), so that the score of 17.3 meant the bronze medal.
