After Anky van Grunsven’s disappointing ride (see earlier story), Isabell Werth sealed the deal in the WEG dressage team championships.  She rode Satchmo to a score of 75.000 percent (the same score as van Grunsven’s) to enable Germany to drop Hubertus Schmidt’s score (69.208%) and end with 223.625 points. 

“We are such a good team together,” said Heike Kemmer.  “We can laugh together.  We could concentrate on riding safe today because of the good riding yesterday.  We didn’t have to take many risks.”  Kemmer’s ride on the first day of competition—scoring a 75.792 percent—jump-started the German ascent to the gold.

To overcome the German juggernaut, the final Dutch rider—Edward Gal on Group 4 Securicor Lingh—would’ve had to score more than 77 percent. “Yah, I thought that would be easy,” Gal joked.  “I was going for an 80 percent, but I didn’t get it!  But I was secure knowing that we had the silver medal.” Their score of 71.375 percent as the final rider of the team competition wasn’t enough to vault the Netherlands over the home team, but it was enough to secure second place, with 217.917 total points.

As if the excitement of the pitched battles for team medals wasn’t enough, van Grunsven and Salinero provided a few thrills on their own in the victory gallop.  Salinero—electrified by the ceremonies—bolted during the honor round and headed for the in-gate at full speed.  “Salinero got really scared in the prize-giving, and I did as well,” said van Grunsven.  “We had the fastest trip of the day!  Fortunately, there were police horses there to stop us.”

Debbie Does It Again
Debbie McDonald, no stranger to the pressure and expectations of anchoring the U.S. team, pulled off the team bronze again, scoring a 71.417 percent with Brentina to assure the American team third place (213.917).  Going into her ride, McDonald needed to score above a 66 percent to assure the medal.  Steffen Peters and Floriano had set the stage for bronze with their ride as the third U.S. rider this morning (see earlier story). Given her and Brentina’s track record, that seemed a given, but anything can happen with horses.

But Brentina and McDonald put in one of their trademark, steady, harmonious performances.  “I wouldn’t put it on the list of my best performances, but it was good enough to help the team get bronze, so I’m very happy,” McDonald said.

For sure, it was enough to hold off Denmark, who made a strong bid for the bronze when their last rider to go—Andreas Helgstrand on Blue Hors Matine—scored the highest of the competition, going into first individually with a 76.333 percent.  The buzz from the crowd started as he came down his last centerline.  The entire spectator audience of 32,000 people got to their feet and gave him a standing ovation for the test, cheering him as he passaged out of the arena.

McDonald might not have been overwhelmed with the brilliance of her ride, but she knew she’d gotten the job done for her team.  “I knew how important this was—I had a lot on my mind today!  I knew I had to put in a performance strong enough to make sure about the bronze, and overall, we did that pretty well,” she said.

McDonald and Brentina aren’t known for electric, exciting tests, but for consistent, relentless precision and harmony.  They scored consistent 6s, 7s and 8s in the first few movements, but then earned a 5 and four 6s for their second extended trot. “I was a little bit conservative because she was hot, and in my hand.  I think there’s more there, for sure.  I know this mare, and in the extended trot wasn’t where I was trying to get my points.  You have to be conservative in places and pick where to really go for it,” McDonald said.

Their three piaffe-passage tours earned them solid 7s and 8s. “It’s not that she has the most extravagant passage and piaffe, but I think her harmony and rhythm are what really stand out,” McDonald said. 

The only noticeable bobble in the test came in the two-tempi flying changes, where Brentina threw in a one-tempi, and the judges gave them 5s and 6s.  Their last halt polished off the test with four 8s and a 9, however. 

McDonald knew that Brentina wasn’t at her best during the Grand Prix, but attributed it to the mare’s light showing schedule.  “She was a little more in my hand and hotter than usual.  She’s only shown two times last year and to come into this environment—which can unglue a lot of horses—and hold it together was great.  I was thrilled with how well she handled it,” she said.

Now that the team bronze is around her neck, McDonald can go for broke in the Special on Friday, Aug. 25, and the freestyle on Saturday, Aug. 26.  “There’s a lot more in the tank!” she said.  Regardless, this, her third consecutive team medal (after gold in the ’99 Pan American Games, silver in the 2002 WEG, and bronze in the 2004 Olympics) with Brentina has meaning.  “Every medal is very special.  And every time you have an older horse and an older rider, you cherish the moments even more,” she said.  McDonald is 51, and Brentina is 15.

With their score, McDonald and Brentina go into ninth place in the individual standings, with teammate Steffen Peters and Floriano in sixth.  Guenter Seidel and Aragon will also qualify for the top 25 to compete in the Grand Prix Special, standing in 17th.  Leslie Morse and Tip Top are the only U.S. team members to not qualify for the Special, ending up in 46th place.

Going into the Special and the freestyle, the Grand Prix scores don’t apply for the individual medals—riders start on a clean slate.  And there will be two individual sets of medals—one for the Special and one for the freestyle.  The Dutch riders, denied gold in the team event, will be gunning for those two World Championship titles.


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