After almost three months again an international tournament for Diavolessa and Tatiana. After the European Championships in Rotterdam in August, the CDI3* tournament in Randböl/Denmark was scheduled to start. A Grand Prix and a Grand Prix Freestyle were to be ridden on the very well maintained facility of the Blue Hors stallion station in the centre of Jutland.
After the price giving ceremony in the Grand Prix at midnight, which took place without horses, Dia tries to see if she looks good with the favour.
For almost three months, basic work had been on the agenda. It was a matter of improving the basic gaits once again, so many relaxing exercises, lots of gallop, trot, passage and piaffe. The Grand Prix lessons were more in the background. Dia knows the exercise and can do it. Here, the details are fine-tuned if the basics could be developed even more strongly.
Where Denmark was founded a thousand years ago, the Blue Hors Stud has created a modern and comfortable riding facility on the site of an old Danish farm. As a stallion station with such famous stallions as Don Schufro and Zack became famous across the borders of Denmark, it has also made a name for itself in national and international dressage sport in recent years. Most recently, the chief instructor Daniel Bachmann and Zack had achieved an outstanding fourth place for Denmark at the European Championships.
Three international competitions were held at Blue Hors. It started with a Grand Prix on Friday evening with 33 participants, so that the event lasted until 11:30 pm. On Saturday followed a Grand Prix Freestyle in the late afternoon and on Saturday evening the Grand Prix Special. Tatiana had opted for the Freestyle.
Tatiana started in Grand Prix as the 14th starter, a good position not right at the beginning, but also not so late. Preparations went well. The worming up already showed that the training work was worth it. Dia concentrated well on the rider and remained relaxed and attentive in all courses and exercises. The work worked well. In the test, that paid off. In the trotting tour many parts got better. The traversals were presented confidently and energetically. The strong trot came powerfully from the backhand with strong forehand actions. Simply beautiful. The passage also showed lively dancing. In the piaffe Dia did not cooperate so optimally, the old mistake, tried to fall on the forehand and get stuck. However, she also reacted to the equestrian aids, so that only the rhythm was slightly impaired. However, when she reined back, she must have irritated by the flower box in front of the judge's table. She visibly pushed her backhand into the arena. That was not what we wanted. In the gallop tour the pair started with good flying changes every 2nd stride and a good strong gallop, but slowly came too deep in front. The lessons were flawless. At the end again a great strong trot and a great passage on the final line, in the Piaffe Dia made it easier for herself and swung visibly with the backhand. Setting up and greetings. A very harmonious and impressive performance. This made Tatiana the first foreign couple to finish eighth after seven Danish pairs with just 69.239 percent.
The next Saturday's competition wasn't quite as elegant. Dia was impressed and didn't play as freely as the day before. Mistakes with the flying changes pressed the result. Outstanding again the strong walk with continuous eight-note. Very good also the piaffe with notes over seven. The music and its interpretation were also very much appreciated. In total, this resulted in 71.58 percent, which was the fourth place behind three strong Danish riders.
