Dressage, homebase victory in Jyske Bank Box to Daniel and Blue Hors Zack

In front of a thrilled home audience in the arena Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, Danish rider Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack had the ride of their life, when they won a well-deserved victory at the FEI Dressage World Cup Freestyle presented by ECCO. Daniel and Zack were the last equipage in the exciting World Cup freestyle, and when they rode the last center line, the crowd could no longer hold their enthusiasm back and the couple was applaused along the center line towards the judges. The judges were also impressed by the great ride and rewarded the Danish equipage with impressive 83,575 %. The 2nd place in today’s freestyle went to German Helen Langehanenberg and the horse Damsey Frh, while the always popular and successful Swedish Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén became number 3 with Don Auriello.Daniel and Zack sovereign in HerningDaniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack became “only“ number 3 in Saturday’s Grand Prix, and afterwards Daniel promised that he would aim for a flawless ride on Sunday. That promise fulfilled the rider completely. With a floating and almost flawless freestyle, he picked up the career’s highest score from the judges. There were so many highlights in the program, where the music was just perfect for the exercises that Daniel himself was one big smile towards the end. So were the many Danish fans, and the popular pair got standing applause. Blue Hors Zack loves the spotlight, as he and Daniel Bachmann Andersen have just returned from the World Championships in Tryon, where they achieved a 10th place among the world’s very best riders.Zack is blind on one eye after an accident. However, that does not matter to the 14-year-old stallion. With Daniel in the saddle he gets a dressage to look so easy.“It’s the best ride I’ve ever had with Zack, and the 83,575 % is a personal record. It was huge to be clapped down the center line, and that’s something I’ll never forget. Jyske Banken Boxen is a very special arena to ride in, there is incredibly good sound, which means that the horses do not get scared, and the audience is just amazing,“ said a very happy Daniel afterwards.2nd place for German Helen LanghanenbergThe top rider Helen Langehanenberg won the FEI Dressage World Cup Grand Prix on Saturday with her lovely stallion Damsey Frh, so it was a top fit competitor Daniel was up against. The German equipage performed a beautiful freestyle with a very high degree of difficulty, where everything was successful. The referees honored the ride with 81.555 %, giving them the 2nd place, and Helen said afterwards:“I was very pleased with my ride today. Occasionally, he got a little hot because he knows his freestyle so well. But he is 16 years old and I love that he is still so fresh. He is not bored with dressage or driving around Europe for competitions. Herning is very special to me, because this is where I’ve had the ride of my life (the Europeans 2013). It has been a good and very well organized indoor event.“3rd place was as mentioned Swedish, as Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén achieved 80,900 % for her ride. Tinne and the beautiful Don Auriello danced through a freestyle of incredibly high difficulty with many great highlights. The music was fresh and with a Beach Boys medley, which obviously was something the audience liked.“I’m very fond of my ride and I love riding for my music. It’s like telling a story. There was a great atmosphere in the arena and the competition is of top quality,“ Tinne said.
Source: Press Release Med venlig hilsen  / Rikke Højgaard for Dansk Ride ForbundPhoto credit: Ridehesten.com/Kristine Ulsoe Olsen