Disc 1 – Grand Prix Special

After the team competition there was a definite feeling in Aachen that Holland’s Anky van Grunsven and Salinero were beatable in the Special.

She set the target with the 77.8% but she had been marked down for failing to halt at the start and finish of her test and the home crowd knew that the consummate professional Isabell Werth had a real chance of victory.

In an imperious performance that was faultless the crowd watched the scores mount up in Isabell’s favor on the electronic scoreboard and erupted at the final halt – they knew she had done it for Germany!

Disc 2 – Kur

Fifteen riders contested the eagerly anticipated finale to the dressage competition – the Kur, in a packed Aachen stadium with an estimated crowd of 60,000. If medals were won on applause then Andreas Helgstrand and Blue Hors Matine would have won by a wide margin. A daring freestyle was brilliantly executed and Andreas punched the air at the end of the celebration.

However, the queen of the Kur, Anky van Grunsven, was once again in a class of her own as Salinero answered every call. Hard though Isabell Werth then tried, Satchmo wasn’t quite at his best but she still managed a much deserved bronze meal.

This was equestrian sport of the highest class. All leading tests are shown in full on both discs.

Grand Prix Special

Results

GOLD        Isabell Werth          GER  Satchmo

SILVER     Anky van Grunsven   NED  Keltic Salinero

BRONZE    Andreas Helgstrand   DEN  Blue Hors Matine

Kur

Results

GOLD       Anky van Grunsven   NED  Keltic Salinero

SILVER     Andreas Helgstrand   DEN  Blue Hors Matine

BRONZE    Isabell Werth           GER  Satchmo