“I’m just incredibly proud of Mausi,” said a delighted Helen Langehanenberg, speaking of her Annabelle by Conteur-Linaro (Günther Fielmann, Schierensee). The European Championships in Hagen are the first major competition for the bay mare from line 776, and the pair secured the gold medal as part of the German team right at the start of the event.

With plenty of impressive moments and a few costly mistakes, the rider was highly satisfied with their performance in the Grand Prix (73.960 per cent): “She felt almost perfect even before the warm-up: wide awake, full of enthusiasm and yet always waiting for my aids,” enthuses Langehanenberg. “There were so many truly fantastic highlights – when I think of the powerful extensions, the supple half-passes, and especially the first piaffe-passage sequence. The canter was brilliant too. She jumped with great drive and a fine contact.” Unfortunately, a costly mistake occurred in the single changes, which, as is well known, costs a lot of points. “That was bitter, really bitter.” Nevertheless, the trainer was pleased with the round and, above all, with the mare’s form and prospects: “For me, that was our best round ever today.” The pair will now compete in the Grand Prix Special in Hagen, for which the top 30 pairs from the Grand Prix have qualified. 

Click here for the results from Hagen.

Photo: Stefan Lafrentz