For the first time, Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro have gone head-to-head with the world’s top combinations in dressage out in Aachen – and they failed to come out on top.
Uncharacteristic errors
The European and World Cup Champions haven’t lost since January 2012, but a few uncharacteristic errors in the Grand Prix in baking hot conditions saw them awarded 76.900 – much lower than their previous record-breaking scores.
There were mistakes in the flying changes and Charlotte also lost the canter at one point. As a result they finished way down the leaderboard in sixth place.
Will be back
“It was bound to happen one day,” Carl tweeted. “Valegro and Charlotte got beaten but they will be back.”
It was Matthias Rath and Totilas who posted the winning score of 82.300. Matthias was clearly delighted to be back on top form with the 14-year-old stallion, punching the air with both hands at the end of his test.
After the test, Rath reflected that the horse’s piaffe and passage were not the best he can produce, and there was a mistake in the tempis, but overall he was very pleased.
“Here in Aachen, in front of our home crowd, there is so much pressure – from the very beginning every time I come out with Totilas there is pressure, that hasn’t changed, but Aachen is more pressure than anywhere else because it is the biggest show of all,” said Matthias.
Who’s who
The top of the scoreboard read like a who’s who in dressge, with Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill in second place on 81.22, and Adelinde Cornelissen and Jerich Parzival third with 80.980.
Next up was Isabell Werth and Bella Rose 2 (79.580), while Tinne Vilhelmson Silfven and Don Auriello were fifth (76.920).
Just behind them was Charlotte and Valegro – who found themselves in the unusual position of trailing the leaders.
Nations Cup
Today’s competition formed the fifth leg of the FEI dressage Nations Cup series, which went to the strong German side.
The Netherlands and Spain took second and third respectively, while Great Britain’s team ofNikki Crisp (Pasoa), Daniel Watson (Fideramber), Michael Eilberg (Half Moon Delphi) and Charlotte Dujardin (Valegro) finished fourth.
The series finale is held at the end of this month at Hickstead. In the current standings, the Dutch team maintains the lead with Sweden in second, Denmark in third and Germany in fourth place.