Herning, Denmark – March 9, 2020 – The Danish dressage riders were supreme at the Danish Warmblood Stallion Licensing in Herning where in the CDI5* Grand Prix Special Cathrine Dufour, Carina Cassøe Krüth and Daniel Bachmann Andersen proved that they can become a very strong card for their coach at the Olympics in Tokyo.
The Danish riders got cheered on with loud applause in the DWB Five Star Dressage, Grand Prix Special in Jyske Bank Boxen. The audience created a fantastic setting in the exciting test which had 10 contestants.
However, it turned out to be a pure Danish demonstration as two Danish riders achieved more than 80% that is so difficult to achieve in international dressage. Once again, the crowd pleaser 28-year old Cathrine Dufour danced her way to victory together with her mount Bohemian, a 10-year-old Westphalian gelding. Normally, the audience does not applaud until the horse and rider have come to their final halt, but the enthusiastic crowd could not hold it back, so they accompanied the Danish riders with their applause down the center line. Cathrine Dufour was victorious with 82.68%. Just one day prior, Dufour also claimed the top prize in the CDI5* Grand Prix with an 83.043%
The show in Herning has proved that Danish dressage is getting yet another crowd favourite, 35-year old Carina Cassøe Krüth. Together with her 9-year old Danish Warmblood mare Heiline’s Danciera, called Dance, she is literally dancing her way into the national team for the Tokyo Olympics. They produced fabulous performances in both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, earning scores of 76.413% and 80.106% respectively for the red ribbon in both tests.
These two strong women were followed by 29-year old Daniel Bachmann Andersen who showed with his mount Blue Hors Zepter that they are on their way back in top shape after a break caused by an injury. With the 12-year-old Oldenburg stallion, Andersen is back in business and scored 78.745% to take third place in the Grand Prix Special, improving upon his fifth place finish in the Grand Prix with a 73.913%.
It was a magical moment for the audience when the three team riders rode the lap of honour side by side accompanied by standing ovations in Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning.
“It looks incredibly promising for the upcoming show season,” Dufour said. “I do not think that Danish dressage has ever been so strong, and it makes me proud that not only are we young, but also our horses are young. It is such a young team, and still the riders have lots of experience.”
Dufour and Bohemian earned several 10’s in the Grand Prix Special as well as the Grand Prix Friday, and the Danish head judge Hans Christian Mathiesen felt proud to witness such a high level in Danish dressage.
“This is a fantastic team,” the judge said at the press meeting in Herning where the riders were praised by the judges for good horsemanship. “I am proud of the way you ride your horses in a beautiful frame and with a good contact. That is exactly how we wish to see dressage in future, so thank you.”