Tall Black Moving Miracle Claims World Title in Verden 6 Yr Old Championships

"Oh, what a mover", was the first thing Angelika Fromming, the spokesperson from the judging panel, said about the new World Champion of the six year old dressage horses. The KWPN stallion Westpoint (Jazz x Michelangelo), ridden by Emmelie Scholtens from The Netherlands, indeed was the best six year old at the FEI World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Verden. Hanoverian bred Florinero, ridden by Dorothee Schneider from Germany, took silver. Her compatriot Anna-Sophie Fiebelkorn and last year's silver medal horse Imperio now had to settle for bronze.

The judges Bernard Maurel (France), Maria Colliander (Finland), dr. Wojtek Markowski (Poland) and Angelika Fromming (Germany) were totally impressed with the tall, black moving miracle from Holland. "In trot Westpoint was very active, very powerful", commented Fromming. "But in his frame he became a little contracted. For that reason we had to lower the mark for trot to 8,8."

But the canter - uphill, with a strong jump off the ground and very clear in three beat - came very close to perfection: 9,5. "For submissiveness we had to take into account that Westpoint was a little straight in the lateral movements to the left." The mark for this trait, 8,4, lowered the final result to 9,0, which left plenty of space for victory.

For Emmelie Scholtens, this was an emotional moment. "I couldn't help but cry in the ring", said Scholtens who will leave Sjak and Christa Laarakkers' stables shortly. "This is one of the last times I rode Westpoint, because I will start my own business in the south of Holland at the 1st of September. Westpoint stays in the north, because he's a brood stallion. Last year in Verden he was too much distracted, being a stallion, by the conditions. We ended as 36th! I so much wanted to show everybody what a fantastic horse Westpoint really is. And now everything worked out well", said Scholtens who also won the qualifying test on Friday.

This was a very successful weekend for the Rothenberger family. Daughter Sanneke won three gold medals in Ermelo and simultaneously in Verden their stallion Florinero (Furst Heinrich x A Jungle Prince) took silver under the saddle of Dorothee Schneider. "We were very happy with this obedient horse", said Angelika Fromming. "The contact was very consistent and very smooth, the high degree of accuracy in riding was shown in the lateral movements. So the highest mark is for submissiveness: 9,0."

The total score for Florinero was 8,27. With this result the black stallion didn't quite follow in the footsteps of his father Furst Heinrich, who won the World Title as a five year old in 2003.

Once more Imperio impressed the crowds in Verden. The elastic Trakehner stallion, ridden by Anna-Sophie Fiebelkorn, returned to the FEI World Breeding Championship for Young Horses to add a bronze medal to last year's silver. "This is a light footed horse that charmed us in trot, but the walk was sometimes a bit uneven and he should collect a little bit more in canter", said Angelika Fromming.

Anna-Sophie Fiebelkorn was absolutely satisfied with the 8,42 for her stallion who was the Bundeschampion in Germany last year. "Imperio has had a very busy year. He covered a lot of mares and competing at these championships involves a lot of training. Today he was a bit tired, I can't complain about this result."

According to Klaus Miesner, the breeding manager of the German Federation, this was a great FEI World Breeding Championship. "We never had as much as 21 countries and 19 studbooks competing. We are on the right way."

WBFSH president Jan Pedersen also was a satisfied man. "Everybody is happy with the way this event is organised in Verden. Although principally we feel that the championships should be organised in various countries, the WBFSH is happy to continue having this event in Verden for the next three years."