At the 29th HKM Bundeschampionats, numerous final competitions were on the programme in bright sunshine on Sunday - among others the finals of the 5-year-old and 6-year-old dressage ponies. The five-year-olds were won by the stallion Melli's Glückskeks with Carolina Miesner, the six-year-old ponies were won by the stallion Neverland WE with Sophie Luisa Duen.
A total of 15 pairs competed in the elementary class dressage pony competition for five-year-old ponies. All of them had already qualified for this final two days earlier. Among them were Antonia Busch-Kuffner and stallion DSP Herzzauber D and Virginia Spönle with stallion FS Next Diamond, who took second and third place in the finals, behind the winner Melli's Glückskeks. Twelve pairs took part in the final for six-year-olds. The victory went to Neverland WE with Sophia Luise Duen. Virginia Spönle also made it onto the podium here: She managed a great second place with the pony FS Clarimo, closely followed by Leonie Honnefelder with the pony mare Glücksengelchen in third place. All pairs had to qualify for this final as well. The qualifications also took place on Friday afternoon.
The later winner Melli's Glückskeks by Golden West - Golden Dancer and his rider Carolina Miesner entered the dressage arena as the tenth pair in the final competition for five-year-old dressage ponies. Breeder of this stallion, who turned out to be a real lucky charm, is Melanie Schierholz, owner is Melanie Petermeier. This test was judged by Kerstin Holthaus, Ulrike Nivelle and Katja Westendarp, who were all impressed by this stallion. In general, they found the pony's great attitude and motivation to be very special, according to Dr. Dietrich Plewa, who commented on the rides for the audience afterwards. The judges gave an outstanding score to the stallion's trot - for this basic gait, which was described as "very swinging and incredibly elastic", they awarded a score of 9.5. The pair received a 9.0 for the canter and the overall impression. For the walk and the permeability, the judges awarded an 8.5 each, which in the end meant an overall score of 8.9 and victory for the pair. In the qualification test, the pair reached 2nd place and were thus able to improve again in the final and finish the test as Bundeschampion.
DSP Herzzauber D by Herzkönig - Casino Royale (breeder and owner: Danica Duen) and his rider Antonia Busch-Kuffner were the last pair in the arena for this test. With a successful performance, the two were able to reach second place in the end and thus became Vice-Champions in the five-year-old ponies. With an overall score of 8.7, the pair was only just behind the winning stallion and his rider Carolina Miesner. The judges awarded three scores of 9.0 for the walk, the canter and the overall impression of this stallion. In general, Plewa spoke of an "impressive pony". In the walk, it was especially emphasised that the palomino stallion was calm on the one hand, but on the other hand energetic and showed the desired diligence. The canter was praised for its very positive lateral appearance as well as for its very secure balance. The judges gave the paces a score of 8.5 and the walk 8.0. All in all, the pony has a very good perspective and is on the best way. Still in first place in the qualification, the pair swapped places with Melli's Glückskeks.
FS Next Diamond by FS Numero Uno - FS Don't Worry (breeder: Ferienhof Stücker, owner: Josef Wilbers) and rider Virginia Spönle took third place in the final. This pair also showed a successful ride and was rewarded with an overall score of 8.3 and third place in the final. Both also achieved this rank in the qualification on Friday. The judges awarded the best score for the stallion's trot with a 9.0. The convincing, dynamic, energetic, elastic footing as well as the basic swing and balance, which was given at every moment of the test, were particularly praised. The pair received an 8.5 for the overall impression and the canter. In the canter, the "clear increase of the space gained in the reinforcement" as well as the very well-balanced outside canter were particularly pleasing. The judges awarded a score of 8.0 for the permeability and 7.5 for the walk.
Six-year-old dressage ponies: Victory for Neverland WE and Sophie Luisa Duen
Neverland WE by FS Numero Uno - Champus K (breeder: Reinhard Kramer, owner: Danica Duen) and his rider Sophie Luisa Duen showed the best performance in the six-year-old pony class. This final was judged by the judges Henning Lehrmann, Pascal Strohbücker and Klaus Storbeck. The stallion and his rider were rewarded with an overall score of 8.4, which meant victory in this final. The judges awarded the best mark for the walk with a 9.0, which was described as the "clear highlight" of the ride. The judges particularly emphasised the very clear over-footing, the tactfulness and the extension. Two scores of 8.5 were awarded for the trot and the overall impression. The pony impressed with a very good lateral view. The pair received a score of 8.0 for both the canter and the permeability. The stallion and his rider Sophie Luisa Duen were already successful last year and achieved a third place in the five-year-old dressage pony class - this year they were able to improve again, after they had already won the 2022 qualification with an overall score of 8.3. FS Clarimo by FS Coconut Dream - FS Don't Worry (breeder: Hubert Fockenberg, owner: Josef and Christiane Wilbers) took second place with his rider Virginia Spönle. With an overall score of 8.3, they finished just behind the winning pair of this competition. The stallion was particularly convincing with his permeability, for which the judges awarded a 9.0. They both received an 8.5 for trot and overall impression. The trot was particularly convincing due to his incredibly flowing and light-footed movements and the informal and natural manner, which was nevertheless also expressive. The judges awarded an 8.0 for the canter and a 7.5 for the walk.The bronze medal went to Glücksengelchen by Hesselteich's Golden Dream - FS Don't Worry (breeder: Agnes Beckhoff, owner: Hartmann family). The Palomino mare received an overall score of 8.1 for her performance and 8.5 for her walk and her permeability. In the walk, the mare was especially praised for her sure rhythm, her secure stretching and her diligence. The judges awarded a score of 8.0 for the trot and the overall impression, and a 7.5 for the canter. The pair also took third place in the qualification test with an overall score of 7.8. So the first three places from the qualification did not change in the final - but all three pairs received better overall scores.
This year, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) again rewarded particularly fair riding as well as good handling of the ponies and awarded the Animal Welfare Prize for this. Here, the behaviour of the horse, the handling of the pony on the preparation arena. This prize went to the winner Carolina Miesner in the final of the five-year old dressage ponies: "The pony was prepared in a convincingly calm and structured manner and lesson-oriented". The follow-up was also positively highlighted. In the final of the six-year-old dressage ponies, Clara Paschertz, rider of the pony Genesis BL, received this prize for thoughtful and supportive riding as well as overall good preparation and follow-up work.
