World Championship for Young Horses in Kisbér: All horses Fit to Compete
Yesterday, all participating drivers and their five-, six- and seven-year-old horses arrived in Kisbér-Ászár, Hungary. For the second consecutive year, the FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses is being held on the private grounds of top driver and host Vilmos Jámbor.
Several drivers have travelled to Hungary with two horses. All horses were accepted at the horse inspection, and the draw for the starting order took place this afternoon. The three phases at the FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses – dressage, cones and marathon – are structured differently from those at a ‘regular’ World Championship.
The tests are judged on the walk, trot and canter (for six- and seven-year-olds), the horse’s level of training, the way the cones gates incorporated into the test are driven, and the overall impression of the turnout.
At this World Championship, therefore, the emphasis is not so much on how accurately or quickly the different phases are completed, but rather on the way the horse is presented and its overall quality. Among other things, the judges want to see a horse that moves freely through its body, shows balance, bend and contact, and demonstrates willingness to work and obedience.
No more qualification rounds in Kisbér
Unlike in previous years, dressage and cones tests will now be driven on two days, Friday and Sunday. There is no longer a preliminary round in which combinations have to qualify for Saturday’s programme; this year, all competitors will complete the full programme.
There are three separate dressage tests for the five-, six- and seven-year-old horses, all of which have been revised for this year. After completing the dressage test, each turnout will proceed directly into the cones course. Dressage and cones will, however, be scored separately.
On Saturday, there will be a ‘combined marathon’, comparable to a mini-marathon: a cones course incorporating several marathon obstacles.
The opening ceremony will take place on the town square at 17:00 this afternoon, followed by a Nations Night for everyone attending the championship. The first combination will start at 09:00 tomorrow morning.
Shirley Geraets-Moors is the only Dutch competitor. She will enter the arena at 14:13 with seven-year-old Ogano (Henkie x Delviro HBC).
Click here for all results and tomorrow’s starting list
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Photo: Bert Lenssen
