Mill Spring, N.C. – Sept. 18, 2018 – In addition to the opening day of competition in the Grade IV at the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), the Grade II and Grade V horse-and-riders took to the arena Sept 18.
In the Grade II, Denmark’s Stinna Tange Kaastrup claimed the gold medal aboard Helle Kristiansen’s Horsebo Smarties, a 17-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding. The talented pair have had quite a successful career together, earning a bronze medal at the Rio Paralympics. At the WEG this afternoon, Kaastrup topped the leaderboard with a 72.735 percent.
Austria’s Pepo Puch earned the silver medal with a score of 72.676 percent on Lou and Michele Puch’s 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding Sailor’s Blue. Riding away with the bronze medal in the Grade II was Nicole den Dulk of The Netherlands on Wallace N.O.P, a
In the Grade V, Great Britain’s Sophie Wells wowed the judges to receive an impressive 75.429 percent aboard Charlotte Hogg’s 11-year-old KWPN gelding C Fatal Attraction. Earning the silver medal was The Netherland’s Frank Hosmar on Alphaville N.O.P., a 13-year-old KWPN gelding he co-owns with A. Hosmar-Keekstra. Rounding out the podium representing Germany with the bronze medal was Regine Mispelkamp on her 13-year-old Rheinlander gelding with a 71.452 percent.
Stinna Tange Kaastrup (DEN) – Individual Para-Dressage Grade II gold medalist
On Horsebo Smarties:
“I am really really proud of Smarties. I am really upset with myself [about riding off course], I was really affected by the heat today. We trained in t-shirts in all the training sessions and then I had to put the coat on today and it put me under a lot of pressure because it was so warm for me. I lost focus a little because of it and I am annoyed about that but it’s a learning process and we know that now for Saturday; I need to be cooler before I go in there. He’s feeling amazing, he is really enjoying it and as soon as we got into the arena his ears were like hey I’m here, is everyone watching me. I am super proud of him, I enjoyed every moment in there, he’s a darling.”
On winning gold:
“I was upset because of my mistake because the horse was feeling amazing and doing such a wonderful job but still it was enough and it didn’t matter in the end. I was so nervous looking at the scores as it was so close all the way though and wondered if we were going to make it. It was 0.1% difference so well done Pepo, really well done but I am happy.”
Looking ahead to the freestyle test:
“You can expect a pretty amazing freestyle; I’m looking forward to showing you that. It’s a freestyle that is really comfortable for me and the horse and Smarties loves doing it so I am very excited about that.”
Pepo Puch (AUT) – Individual Para-Dressage Grade II silver medalist
On his test on Sailor’s Blue:
“I don’t know the marks at the moment, but I think it was really a challenge, we have the top riders. We are not a big group but the group was really high on quality so it was amazing and this young horses did a good job in these championship surroundings which aren’t normal. I am really pleased with this young horse. We are not a team so we have now a little bit of rest and then I think I can go forward to the freestyle and hope I have a chance there.”
Sophie Wells (GBR) – Individual Para-Dressage Grade V gold medalist
On her test on Fatal Attraction:
“I’m really pleased, obviously I had a little bit of a blip at the beginning where he was just a bit nervous but compared to last year at the Europeans where the first day was the individual and he was a bit nervous there, he was so much better here and came back to me, built his confidence back up and really good first day so we’ll hopefully be able to build on that later in the week. It’s amazing being here in Tryon and being part of the overall team GB is amazing, seeing our dressage and eventers do so well was just inspiring and motivational and you just hope that you can have a bit of it.”
Frank Hosmar (NED) – Individual Para-Dressage Grave V silver medalist
On his test on Alphaville N.O.P.:
“I am delighted, it felt good. The only thing was that I missed a little bit of connection between leg and mouth but I think he did good, he didn’t have any mistakes. The horse felt good, the last few days he has had too much energy so it’s a little bit hard to ride but today from the warm-up he was relaxed and going well. It’s nice to be here, championships are similar with similar arenas and courses and judges but it’s nice to be here, of course, you work all year for it and after Tryon, I go straight to the Europeans and then only Japan.”
Results: Individual Para-Dressage Grade II
1. Stinna Tange Kaastrup / DEN / Horsebo Smarties / 72.735
2. Pepo Puch / AUT / Sailor’s Blue / 72.676
3. Nicole den Dulk / NED / Wallace N.O.P. / 70.735
4. Cloe Mislin / FRA / Don Caruso / 66.735
5. Maurillio Vaccaro / ITA / Bonaire van de Mottelhoeve / 66.000
6. Marcos Fernandes Alves / BRA / Vladimir / 64.382
Results: Individual Para-Dressage Grade V
1. Sophie Wells / GBR / C Fatal Attraction / 75.429
2. Frank Hosmar / NED / Alphaville N.O.P / 73.167
3. Regine Mispelkamp / GER / Look At Me Now / 71.452
4. Ciska Vermeulen / BEL / Rohmeo / 69.167
5. Tomoko Nakamua / JPN / Djazz F / 68.738
6. Estelle Guillet / FRA / Magic Des Meuyrattes / 64.738
