Trussell Leads A Canadian Sweep At Dressage At Devon Prix St. Georges CDI

Print Share

Sept. 29—Devon, Pa.

Just a week ago Canadian rider Belinda Trussell was leading the victory gallop at the Saugerties CDI-W (N.Y.) on Barbara Holden Sinclair’s Carlucci, and she got to do it again this afternoon at Dressage At Devon.

Trussell topped the Prix St. Georges CDI on a score of 72.98%. The next five placings were also filled with Canadian riders, including Tom Dvorak and David Ziegler, who each rode two horses, and Lori Bell, also coming off a win at Saugerties.

“He’s had a bit of success in the CDIs this season, but I didn’t expect him to win,” said Trussell. “I just wanted to go and do my best with him and enjoy it, and just be grateful for the outcome. He really was great. He’s been a wonderful horse to work with. He’s a very kind horse. He can be a little nervous in big atmospheres. This is the biggest atmosphere he’s ever been to. He just clocked it. I didn’t know if he’d be afraid of the crane [across the street] or [the other ring], but he was wonderful.”

Trussell’s been riding the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Contendro I—Christin, Compliment) for 2 ½ years.

Sinclair bought him from Germany but soon realized he was a bit big and strong for her small frame.

“I fell in love with him, and then he grew and I didn’t, so I needed some help. His movements were bigger than what I can handle, so that’s where Belinda came in,” she said. “He’s really sweet. He’s huge, but he’s a teddy bear.”

Trussell said Carlucci was a spunky young horse, but has been coming into maturity as he’s progressed up the levels. He’s been learning the pieces of the Grand Prix, but probably won’t try it out in competition until next year.

“He knows how to do each movement separately. He just learned 15 one [tempis] about four weeks before we came here, and I’m praying that I can turn the button off at the Prix St. Georges!” she said with a laugh. “We’d like to bump him up to the medium tour when he’s ready, but he’s not quite ready to put it all together. But come Florida, do some national shows when he’s confident with that.”

Trussell credited much of Carlucci’s success to Sinclair. “He would not have success without her. I know it. The amount that she puts into him, and her committement—” she said.

“I could say the same thing about her! It does take a team,” Sinclair added.

For full results click here.

Additional photo gallery 

Canada’s Belinda Trussell & Tattoo Win Saugerties CDI-W Grand Prix Special

SAUGERTIES, New York, Sept. 24, 2017–Canada’s Belinda Trussell and Tattoo won the CDI-W Grand Prix Special Sunday, the fifth victory in eight starts since beginning Big Tour five months ago.

The 14-year-old Westfalen gelding that Belinda competed at small tour before moving to Grand Prix scored 69.706 per cent for the win.

Ashley Holzer of New York on Havanna placed second on 68.412 per cent and Lindsay Kellock of Canada on KGS Horgaards Hustler third on 65.804 per cent.

Results:

CDI-W Grand Prix Special

 

 Judges–E: Maribel Alonso H: Jayne Ayers C: Francis Verbeek M: Bo Jena B: Lois Yukins

 

 

1.		Tattoo 15	CAN	Belinda Trussell		E 69.608% (1)	H 66.078% (2)	C 71.667% (1)	M 71.863% (1)	B 69.314% (1)	Total 69.706

2.		Havanna 145	USA	Ashley Holzer		68.431% (2)	67.647% (1)	68.824% (2)	68.824% (2)	68.333% (2)	68.412

3.		KGS Horgaards Hustler	CAN	Lindsay Kellock		66.078% (3)	65.000% (3)	64.804% (3)	68.039% (3)	65.098% (3)	65.804

4.		Whitman		Sahar Daniel Hirosh	ISR	60.647% (4)	64.510% (4)	62.412% (4)	64.569% (4)	63.882% (4)	63.204

Winning Weekend for Canadian 
Dressage Athletes at CDI 3* Cedar Valley

Belinda Trussell & Tattoo Post Personal Best at Cedar Valley CDI3* Grand Prix Special for 4th Straight Victory

1 day ago admin Comments Off on 

CEDAR VALLEY, Ontario, June 17, 2017–Belinda Trussell and Tattoo posted a personal best score to win the Kawartha Lakes CDI3* Grand Prix Saturday for their fourth straight victory.

Belinda and the 14-year-old Westfalen gelding (Tuareg x Ramiro’s Son) scored 70.765 per cent in the third Special in six Grand Prix starts. The previous best for the double Olympic rider and Tattoo, that won the Grand Prix Friday to kick off the duo’s third Big Tour event, was 69.843 per cent at Ottawa last month.

Eiren Crawford and Warello placed second on 63.471 per cent in the first Big Tour event for the Canadian rider and the horse.

Results:

CDI3* Grand Prix Special

E: Milanese –

H: Lopes –

C: Minor –

M: Clarke –

B: Whitham –

		Rider	Nat.	Horse				E	Rk.	H	Rk.	C	Rk.	M	Rk.	B	Rk.	T	Pl.
		Trussell, Belinda	CAN	Tattoo 15				71.471	1	69.020	1	67.941	1	71.471	1	73.922	1	70.765	1
		Crawford, Eiren	CAN	Warello				66.373	2	63.725	2	60.098	2	64.314	2	62.843	2	63.471	2

Equestrian Canada Dressage Athlete of the Year:  Belinda Trussell

equestrian.ca  April 15, 2017

Adrienne Lyle and Belinda Trussell Clinch The Horse of Course High Score Awards During Final Weeks of Wellington Dressage

Horsesdaily.com  April 14, 2017

Wellington, FL – Olympians Adrienne Lyle and Belinda Trussell finished the final weeks of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival in style by winning The Horse of CourseHigh Score Award. Returning sponsor, The Horse of Course, was thrilled to wrap up the 2017 season by rewarding each of the highest scoring riders for the last two weeks, Lyle and Trussell, with an embroidered Horse of Course cooler and a beautiful tri-colored ribbon for their winning performances down the centerline.
Marty and Beth Haist owners of premier Oklahoma-based tack shop, the Horse of Course, presented week 10’s The Horse of Course High Score Award to international dressage competitor Adrienne Lyle of Ketchum, Idaho, for her winning ride on Hanoverian Riccidoff (Riccione x Don Sarina) owned by title sponsor Betsy Juliano of Havensafe Farm.

Lyle pulled out all the stops when she entered at A aboard Riccidoff, posting a sizzling score of 77.237 percent in the FEI Intermediate I. In only her first season showing Riccidoff, Lyle demonstrated the continuity in performance that is so essential to long-term success. The highly accomplished rider, who is sponsored by Juliano and who represented the USA in the 2012 London Olympic Games, said, “This is my first year competing Riccidoff, and this is only his second show doing the Intermediate I. He was quite a good boy! Riccidoff is a really fun horse. He’s got a lot of power. He’s very little, but he moves big and can be a powerhouse when he gets going. He’s green with me in the show ring, so getting to watch his training and progress is fun.”

Canadian Olympian Belinda Trussell topped off a successful show season aboard the bay 11-year-old Hanoverian Carlucci (Contendro 1 x Christin), owned by Barbara Holden-Sinclair. The worthy pair was awarded The Horse of Course High Score Award for achieving the high score of Week 11 – 76.053 percent in the FEI Prix St. Georges.

Belinda Trussell (left) and Barbara Holden-Sinclair (right)  accept The Horse of Course High Score Award from Beth Haist (middle).

Trussell, from Ontario, has trained numerous horses and riders to FEI level and represented Canada at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics, World Cup, World Equestrian Games, and Pan American Games. She commented on her partnership with Carlucci, saying, “I had him a long time ago as a five-year-old, but ended up going to Europe. Carlucci went off to one of our friends, and then we reconnected about a year ago. He is a kind horse with a huge heart. He does not have the word ‘no’ in his vocabulary; he doesn’t know that word, he only tries his best. He’s a very powerful-looking horse. I say he’s a mouse in a lion’s body! My job is to bring out his confidence, and by bringing out his confidence he has become a superstar. He’s just been amazing and a pleasure to ride. And I have to say that his owner is extraordinary, with every detail she thinks about and gives to him. There is no way I could have gotten that score without her.”

Holden-Sinclair, overjoyed with Carlucci’s progress, said, “I love this horse. As a matter of fact, this horse is a love story that started five years ago when Belinda was involved with his purchase. While he did take a detour while she was in Europe, she kept up on what was happening with his life. I remember that so clearly and was so grateful for it. For me, it’s been magical watching Belinda mold him into what he has become. It has been a journey of patience, perseverance, and tenacity. Every single part of the journey there has been loads of laughter. It’s been happy; magical. For the future, it’s one day at a time and just enjoying the journey.”

Trussell and Holden-Sinclair plan to next compete Carlucci in Tryon, North Carolina, and then compete in two more CDIs in Ontario, Canada later this summer. “We absolutely will be back to Wellington, Florida, next year, for sure,” said Holden-Sinclair.

The Horse of Course, known for having the best and latest in equestrian fashion, presents The Horse of Course High Score Award to top dressage riders at shows across the United States. The premier tack shop, based in Claremore, Oklahoma, offers top brands such as KEP Italia, Ronner, IAGO, Style Stock, Micklem, Dobert, LotusRomeo, EGO7, euro-star, Passier, Neue Schule, König, Grand Prix, and Pikeur, plus innovative new products, customized saddle fitting, and customized bit fitting. For more information on the company’s selection of quality tack, apparel, and other merchandise, visit the official Facebook, Instagram, and www.thehorseofcourse.com, or call 888-494-6773.

 

Honouring Anton: A New Chapter for Iconic Canadian Dressage Horse

Equestrian.ca  February 6, 2017

About Anton

Photo Credit – Cealy Tetley

A 17-year-old Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding, Anton (Antaeus x Shirley) is owned by Belinda’s mother, Robyn Eames and husband, Mark Trussell of Stouffville, ON.

Together Belinda and Anton have had a profound effect on the sport of dressage in Canada and the Canadian Dressage Team, attending four major games and breaking many national records along the way.

In 2016 alone, they had a record-breaking season that began at the prestigious Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) winter series in Wellington, FL. Not only did the pair pick up numerous wins at the CDI level, they set a new national record for the highest score achieved in the Grand Prix Special (75.529%).

Their incredible success continued throughout the season, and they picked up yet another national record in May for their score of 73.780% in the CDI Grand Prix at the Ottawa Dressage Festival in Ontario.

Rio Records

Photo Credit – Cealy Tetley

Belinda and Anton’s landmark season led to their selection to represent Canada at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Together, they once again set new records, this time for the highest scores achieved by a Canadian at the Olympics in both the Grand Prix (72.214%) and the Grand Prix Special (75.529%).

These accomplishments added to Belinda and Anton’s domination of Canadian records at major games, having also earned record-breaking scores at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in France and the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto – where they helped the Canadian Dressage Team take the silver medal and set a new record for the highest team average score Canada has earned at a major games to date.

Photo Credit – Courtesy of Belinda Trussell

“It’s been a wonderful journey with Anton,” said Mark Trussell who, along with Robyn Eames, was named the 2016 Dressage Owner of the Year. “We remember Anton’s early competitions as a six-year-old in Devon, where we learned he loved the ring, but had some big fears of the applause. We were so proud of how he developed and grew up, going to WEG 2010.”

The Comeback Kid

Photo Credit – Cealy Tetley

Anton’s incredible accomplishments were made all the more sweet for his team due to the fact that in 2013, he suffered an injury that vets believed could sideline him for life.

“He had a 2.5 year absence from the sport and the vets didn’t think he could come back,” explained Belinda. “My vet, Dr. Usha Knabe, was the one who brought him back for me and he was better than ever. The best thing I ever did was bring this horse back.”

Mark added, “His major injury devastated us all, and it was with amazement that two years later he was totally healed and stronger than ever. We can easily say he is the greatest horse we’ve ever known.”

Photo Credit – Cealy Tetley

Next Chapter

So what’s next for Anton? Keep reading to hear about Anton’s next chapter straight from the sources – Belinda Trussell and Abbey Simbrow.

Belinda Trussell

Photo Credit – Cealy Tetley

EC: How did you come to the decision to retire Anton from international competition?

Belinda: I don’t like using the word, ‘retire.’ There is something so final about that word. I think it is probably my own emotions coming through! It was just a feeling I had, and it started at the beginning of 2016. He had a stellar year in 2016 - the best of our career together. I felt Anton gave me everything he was born with and was capable of that year. I felt in my heart he had reached his maximum potential. At the Olympics he also did his absolute best. Knowing how much he gave me and knowing he has reached his potential brought me to the decision for his next chapter. I believe horses know when they are doing well and they are proud of themselves. It was important to me to stop competing so he ends our time together with that pride. Anton is a champion and deserves to always feel like a champion.

EC: Throughout the years you competed with Anton, what were some of the highlights that stick out in your mind?

Belinda: There are so many. I still clearly remember competing with him at Paxton Farms in Fourth Level. I was so scared to ask for the medium canter, I thought I might end up in the next State! I also smile when I think of the Masters in Wellington when we rode at the jumper venue. The judge commented, ‘Not in control,’ during our extended canter. I remember these moments with him so fondly because that energy is what made Anton a top Grand Prix horse. And he is still like that today! Although I generally have control now in the extended canter. I think my biggest highlight was the Pan American Games in Toronto. Competing in front of the home crowd was exhilarating. Anton never let me down in the ring, even when he was scared of the applause, he did his job. Another highlight was winning my first Grand Prix at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival last year. It blew me away to win the class, when the steward came to me with the blue ribbon, I told him, ‘That can’t be for me?’ It was a very special moment.

EC: What made you decide to lease Anton?

Belinda: I knew I could never sell Anton. I am so lucky that my Mom owns him and she is so supportive and treats Anton as part of the family. I think it was the right place at the right time when Abbey asked me about leasing him. Abbey really helped me with the idea, concepts, and gave me the support to come to that decision. Abbey is so respectful of my feelings toward Anton. I knew Anton needed a new role and she helped me feel confident he would be happy and in a great place. Abbey and I decided to do a test month before committing to a lease. Watching Anton with Abbey and seeing how happy he was with her showed me it was the right decision.

EC: How did you meet Abbey?

Belinda: Abbey came to me almost two years ago with a very difficult horse. She had just bought a young horse and he was very reactive. She asked if I would work with the two of them and see if they were the right match together. After about six weeks, I told her he was not the horse for her, and I recommended she sell him. Once he was sold, Abbey asked me to help her find a young horse. She bought a beautiful Westphalian mare last spring, Rosa Red, that she brought to me and my assistant, Lynsey Rowan for training.

EC: What made Abbey an ideal new partner for Anton?

Belinda: Abbey’s respect and gratitude for Anton. She is grateful each day she rides him, she constantly apologizes to him if she makes a mistake. I told her she does not need to apologize all the time – Anton is fine! I love to see how much Anton gives her and how much Abbey gives Anton back in return. He really likes her, I can see it in his eyes.

EC: How do you feel their partnership has been progressing to date?

Belinda: They are doing really well together! It is not easy by any means, and they look good! The reason the Grand Prix is the Olympic level is because it is damn hard! And Anton expects perfection.

EC: How do you feel about their future together?

Belinda: It means a great deal to me to be part of this next chapter for Anton and Abbey. I have the chance to help a rider achieve her dreams and learn on a wonderful horse. To watch Abbey become a Grand Prix rider, and for Anton to show her the way, is very special to me.

Abbey Simbrow

Photo Credit – Courtesy of Abbey Simbrow

EC: Can you tell us about your background as an equestrian?

Abbey: I started riding at six years old at a day camp called Green Acres. From there I was hooked! I was an incredibly shy and introverted little girl so my parents felt that individualized sport would help me with my confidence. I felt an immediate connection with the horses and I was hooked! I started competing at school barns at the age of six - mostly hunter and jumper in-barn competitions. I had a very bad fall in my late teens and promised my parents I would no longer jump, which initially brought me to dressage. From there I worked up the levels with various horses I owned or leased – starting at training level, second level, third level, then Prix St. Georges.

EC: What drew you to Anton?

Abbey: There were a number of things that drew me to Anton. Firstly, his presence is bigger than life! He is extremely confident, regal, of course beautiful, and intensely powerful. He is extremely playful and extraordinarily talented. But overriding all of that is his kindness – his eagerness to please and his amazing work ethic. He LOVES his job and has energy for days. Alternatively, you can then take him in the forest on a long rein and enjoy a peaceful hack. He is truly one of a kind.

EC: When did you begin riding Anton?

Abbey: I began riding him in mid-September 2016. Belinda and I started talking about a lease, so I had a few lessons, and then I was able to get to know him a bit on my own while she was in Europe with a client. The fact she entrusted me with her Anton was quite the privilege. We all agreed Anton and I were a match and the lease officially started Oct. 1, 2016.

EC: How has the relationship progressed to date?

Abbey: My relationship with Anton has progressed with mutual respect, love, expectation, hard work and appreciation. It has only been a few months, but even in this infancy stage, I already feel a huge connection to him. For such a new partnership, I feel we are right on track. I am reminded by others at the farm that Rome was not built in a day! The support from everyone at Oakcrest Farms has been so warm and encouraging.

EC: What is it like to ride such an experienced horse that has represented Canada at four major games and set new Canadian records?

Abbey: To be honest, at the beginning it was completely overwhelming and intimidating! The first time I sat on him, I asked Belinda to give me 10 minutes before we started our lesson so I could get over the fact that I was actually on him. It is an incredible honour and opportunity for me. He is so impeccably trained with precision and love. Learning all of his buttons and gears has been amazing and at times quite challenging. But with the incredible teaching from Belinda and Anton’s insistence for perfection, my learning and outcome is improving each ride. To have two masters, Belinda and Anton, teaching me, pushing me, encouraging me… I could not be any luckier!

EC: What are your future plans and goals with Anton?

Abbey: My goals are to continue on the path to refining my skills as a dressage rider. I have a fabulous young horse who will only gain in training from what I obtain from riding Anton, along with my clients and their horses. With the guidance and training from Belinda, my goal competitively is to create a partnership strong and exact enough to experience the big ring with the master! Belinda and her family have offered me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I will make the best use of every minute. It is not an everyday occurrence that you can make someone’s dreams come true, but Belinda has. Along with the people closest to me for helping me make it all come together. Pinch me!

Canada’s Belinda Trussell Moving Forward to Grand Prix Special at Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Equestrian Canada, News Release, August 11, 2016

Rio de Janeiro, BRA – Belinda Trussell from Stouffville, ON qualified to move forward into the Grand Prix Special following the completion of the initial grand prix competition on Aug. 11 at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, BRA.

The Grand Prix saw a total of 60 competitors over two days on Aug. 10 and 11. Trussell, 44, was the first rider into the stadium on the second day. She was partnered with Anton (Antaeus x Shirley), a 16-year-old Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding owned by Robyn Eames and Mark Trussell. Together, they scored 72.214%, putting them into 28th place and securing their spot in the Grand Prix Special, where the top six teams and top eight individuals, not already qualified through a team, will compete on Aug. 12. During the Grand Prix Special team medals will be decided, and the top 18 individuals will go on to the Grand Prix Freestyle on Aug. 15 to compete for individual honours.

Megan Lane, 25, had her turn in the stadium on Aug. 10, scoring 71.286% in her Olympic debut with the Canadian-bred Caravella (Contango x Riverman), a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare she co-owns with her mother, Cathy Lane and sister, Kelsey Lane. This put her final position at 32^nd, unfortunately just outside of the cut-off for the Grand Prix Special.

Currently, the reigning Olympic champions, Charlotte Dujardin from Great Britain and Valegro have the lead with a score of 85.071%. Kristina Broring-Sprehe rode Desperados FRH to a score of 82.257% for second place, and teammate, Isabell Werth is in third (81.029%) with Weihegold Old. In the provisional team standings, Germany has maintained their lead with 81.424. Great Britain is the current runner up (79.252), and the United States rounds out the top three with a score of 76.971.

Trussell, now a two-time Olympian, having represented the Canadian Dressage Team at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, was thrilled about the opportunity to move forward in the competition for Canada.

“For both of us to come in here as two individuals, not a team, and get two really reputable scores is great for our country moving forward,” commented Trussell. “I’m proud of Megan. She came in here and got a great score. I’m really excited about that for Canada.”

She also spoke of her pride in Anton after his first day of competition at the Games. “Anton was very good; he was very concentrated and relaxed. He did everything that I asked him to do. The piaffe was just plain fun to ride, and I was really happy with the changes. Everything just felt like it flowed nicely. There were a few little things I could spark up a bit for another few percentages, but to get a 72, which is just one percent lower than our personal best, at the Olympics – I’m really happy.”

The Grand Prix Special will get underway at 10 a.m. BRT on Aug. 12. Trussell and Anton will be the third horse/rider combination into the stadium.

For more information on equestrian events at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, including the full schedule of equestrian competition and live results, please visit www.rio2016.com/en/equestrian. Further information on the Canadian Equestrian Team can be found at www.equestrian.ca.

PHOTO – Belinda Trussell from Stouffville, ON earned a mark of 72.214% aboard Anton in the dressage Grand Prix on Aug. 11, qualifying to move forward to the Grand Prix Special at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

PHOTO – After a great start in the dressage competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Aug. 11, Belinda Trussell from Stouffville, ON gives Anton a well-deserved pat.

ALL PHOTO CREDITS - © Cealy Tetley - www.tetleyphoto.com

Canadian Equestrian Team Nominated for Rio 2016

Both eventing and jumping will field teams of four athletes, while two individuals will represent Canada in dressage. The Canadian Eventing Team earned their Olympic berth after finishing sixth at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France. The Canadian Jumping Team received a team berth after winning the gold medal on home soil at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games last July. Although the Canadian Dressage Team did not earn a team berth, spots for two individuals were secured through qualification criteria set by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).

The Canadian Equestrian Team’s final preparations for Rio over the next few weeks will include training camps in Florida and Germany. In addition, jumping athletes will compete at the prestigious CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival, which began July 11 and will continue through to July 17 in Aachen, Germany.

At the Games, equestrian sport will kick off with eventing, August 6-9. Dressage will follow on August 10, 11, 12 and 15. Jumping closes out the equestrian portion of the Games on August 14, 16, 17 and 19.

Historically, Canada has achieved impressive results at the Olympic Games, earning a total of six equestrian medals. Most recently, Eric Lamaze claimed the individual gold medal in jumping at Beijing 2008. His teammates, Mac Cone, Jill Henselwood and “Captain Canada” Ian Millar also helped secure the silver medal for the Canadian Jumping Team. Millar also set a record at London 2012 by becoming the first athlete in any sport, from any nation, to compete in 10 Olympic Games.

A total of 200 horse and rider combinations from 43 countries will compete at Rio 2016. Overall, Canada expects to field a team of approximately 315 athletes.

All the news is available at Equestrian Canada's new website.

Belinda Trussell Earns Record-Breaking Scores at Adequan Global Dressage Festival

Rewinding four years, the outlook for Anton had been quite different. Belinda and Anton had represented Canada at the Alltech World Equestrian Games in the fall of 2010 in Kentucky; it was their first major games together. Then in 2011 they headed to Europe to work with Christilot Boylen in Germany, who Belinda had been training with since the 1990s. They did two shows in the spring and early summer of 2011, Hagen in Germany and Fritzens in Austria, then suddenly Belinda could feel something wasn’t quite right. Since nothing showed on the radiographs, she was afraid they were searching for a needle in a haystack.

Difficult Diagnosis

As the veterinarians puzzled over Anton’s vague symptoms in Europe in 2011, Belinda knew her partner was hurting. “I knew he wasn’t right, but I didn’t know what was wrong. My first indication was the rhythm in the canter changed. Going to the right he felt heavier in his stride, but did not show any irregularity in the trot. It wasn’t an easy detection as far as lameness and it was hard for my coaches to see. I had one of the vets in Europe at the time look at him and he thought it was a bone bruise. He just said, ‘He’ll be fine, you just have to give him time. You feel that he’s a bit sore because it’s a bruise and it hurts, but he’ll be fine.’ But it just got worse and worse,” shares Belinda.

They moved back to Canada and finally determined with a CAT scan that Anton had a bone lesion. He had surgery and according to Belinda he also “had every single thing known to man done to him to try to help him.” This was all done through the fall at 2011 and still nothing seemed to help. The U.S. veterinarian Belinda was working with at the time thought that with time there was a fifty-fifty chance he might still come back and qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. So she packed up Anton and went to Florida, partly to keep her options open and partly because the veterinarian was based in Florida. By the time the winter was over it was obvious nothing was working to resolve Anton’s problems.

They trekked back to Canada for the summer of 2012. “Our team vet at the time said, ‘I would put him in a field and see what happens.’ But, he didn’t really give me any positive thoughts about Anton recovering. And I think after that period of time they were also feeling very discouraged, because nothing was working or helping him. So I put him in a field in May of 2012. When I found out Anton might have to be retired, it was a feeling of complete devastation. I felt like I lost my best friend,” recalls Belinda.

Enter Two Key Players

Belinda still wanted Anton to feel important, so she continued with his massage therapy even after he was turned out. Paul Wood, Anton’s massage therapist, talks about his role in Anton’s story. “I worked with Anton as his massage therapist for quite some time before his injury and in that time had developed a relationship with him. Anton is a very expressive and emotional horse and has always seemed to know he is special,” he says.

PHOTO: Courtesy of Oakcrest Farm

Paul focused on stress relief, maintaining overall muscle tone and pain relief. He included kinesio-taping for physical support of Anton’s injured area. During his sessions with Anton, he noticed something. “During his recovery period, though healing physically, he became depressed; the light was just going out of his eyes, except when he could see Belinda! He just seemed to light up for that moment. I knew then it was his connection to Belinda that he needed most to heal. He needed her and I was pretty sure she needed him. I just went to Belinda and said, ‘Get on him, it’s you he needs. He will improve for you.’”

On Paul’s advice, Belinda moved Anton back into the barn in the late summer/early fall of 2012 so he could feel like he was part of the action. She started riding him at the walk to make him feel needed. “I don’t know if I would have gotten on him again if Paul hadn’t said that, because it was just so heartbreaking. I thought ‘how much do you keep trying and when do you just accept that it isn’t going to work?’ All these questions go through your head. So that’s what I did, I got on and walked him. I walked him for months and months and months. He wanted to do more, but he resigned himself to walking,” says Belinda.

By the early part of 2013 Belinda slowly increased his work, starting to trot again from time to time. She says he actually got better and better but she was still scared to even hope that he would return to top-level competition. Her thought at that point was that maybe he could partner with a rider to teach them the lower levels.

In early winter of 2013 Dr. Usha Knabe, a licensed veterinarian of 25 years who five years ago had also studied Eastern medicine alternative therapies, started coming to Belinda’s barn. Belinda credits Usha for Anton’s return to FEI level. “She’s the one who really turned him around and made him a top international horse again. She did it all through acupuncture and chiropractic work—nothing else. He’s not had injections or anything else since 2011. What she said is that it was a front-end lameness, but his sacroiliac was weak, so he had to compensate and then you get wear and tear on the front.”

“I saw that he was really locked up behind and was really tight. His whole body was not happy,” Usha recounts as she worked on his body. “I wanted to see how he would react. I picked up his leg to see what he would do and he was very suspicious.”

Usha lists two key words in her philosophy in working with horses and people: trust and confidence. “You have to have the rider’s trust, the owner’s trust and work on the horse’s trust. The horse has to have confidence in your ability and that you are not going to hurt him. You can work on a horse all you want but if they don’t have trust and confidence in you, they won’t show you where they are sore. Same goes with the rider—if the rider doesn’t have trust and confidence in you they won’t go down that path with you of trying to fix the problem,” she continues.

PHOTO:  Courtesy of Dr. Usha Knabe

Usha, who serves as the team physiotherapist for the Canadian dressage and eventing teams, talks about her goals in treating the team horses. “It goes beyond trying to treat a problem. It is all about preventing the problem from happening in the first place by making sure that the horse is comfortable and supple and that there is no restriction or pain through their entire body in order to create that maximum performance. I want that horse to be 100 percent there for his riding partner. I want everything to be working in harmony. The big thing is to make them feel like they can do anything. So, everything that I do focuses on the whole animal.”

PHOTO: Shelley Higgins/MacMillan Photography

Back to the Show Ring!

Over the summer of 2013 Belinda took Anton to some national shows in Canada. Next they went to Florida to compete for the winter season in 2014 with some hope of qualifying for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in France. In late January 2014 they finally set foot in the FEI ring again, taking a seventh at Grand Prix and a fifth in the Special in the CDI-W in Wellington. Their scores continued to improve throughout the 2014 winter season in Florida and they qualified to represent Canada at the Alltech World Games in Normandy, where they earned a 71.614 percent in the Grand Prix and 72.409 in the Special. With their second World Games under their belt, their focus turned to the 2015 Pan American Games to be held at Caledon Equestrian Park north of Toronto.

After their super Pan Am performance, they took a second at the prestigious Dressage at Devon show in the Grand Prix and third in the Freestyle. Cycling back home last November, they won the Royal Winter Fair Dressage Invitational with a 77 percent, their highest score so far, riding a very technical test that included a one-handed piaffe.

PHOTO:  Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

Belinda reflects on the bond of trust they’ve gained over their journey and their successes thus far. “Anton has given me personal best scores over and over. So far our highlight was the Pan Am Games. Achieving a Canadian record in the Grand Prix Special was incredible. Anton is very afraid of applause, and he was terrified going around the outside of the ring, but he put his trust in me. It is an amazing feeling to have that kind of trust from him.”

Healthy and Happy

Belinda and her Oakcrest Farm staff, Lynsey Rowan, Carl Callahan and Erin Haug, have developed a routine tailored to Anton to keep him happy and healthy. The regimen includes regular visits from Usha to keep up with acupuncture and chiropractic support. Usha is also with them at every CDI show.

Regular turn out is also high on the list. “I’m a big believer in turn out,” says Belinda. “When I can, especially when we are home, he’s turned out a minimum of five hours a day, sometimes eight hours a day. Motion is lotion. He’s also a horse that gets bored very easily, so it’s good for him mentally too. If he doesn’t get ridden enough, he gets really fresh.”

According to Belinda, Anton has a certain schedule and prefers that everyone sticks to the plan. “Anton thinks, ‘Lynsey grooms me, Belinda rides me and Carl and Erin feed me.’ He gets ridden and has his lunch and then when he finishes his lunch he bangs on his stall to tell Erin that he is ready to go outside. Anton is a very confident horse, not arrogant but confident. He is very comfortable in his skin and he believes he is the king of the barn. His people are extremely important to him,” she explains. “Lynsey is his groom and he loves her. My farm manager, Carl makes his own version of ‘stud muffins’; those are Anton’s favorite treats!”

They also ask Anton to do carrot stretches every day and Belinda says that he actually does them on his own if you show him a carrot. Anton is given daily Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals supplements, including MinerEQ, a mineral supplement, and several of their gastric support supplements including probiotics which Belinda thinks are quite useful in keeping him healthy.

Because he’s so focused on Belinda and bangs on his stall when he sees her, the staff had to move Anton in a stall at the back of the barn. Since Belinda spends much of her time at the barn, his stall relocation helps prevent him from constantly knocking the wall, which might cause him injury.

Though Belinda is the one who rides him most of the time, Lynsey does occasionally fill in exercising Anton when Belinda is away. Anton is not without a sense of humor in showing his opinion when Lynsey gets ready to ride, however. “She’s a wonderful rider, but he’s just funny about it. He thinks she should not be riding him, but should be on the ground next to him. When she leads him up to the mounting block, he’ll go, but if she stands on the mounting block, he turns around and looks at her. He’ll walk off and shake his head, not bad, but just goofy,” Belinda says with a laugh.

Finding Young Anton

Belinda had not been looking to buy a horse when Anton came into her life. In 2006 when her daughter Sophie was just a month old and her son Matthew was 15 months, Belinda and her mother were looking to lease a horse so that Belinda could try to qualify for the Pan American Games the next year. They traveled to her coach Christilot’s and her partner Udo Lange’s farm in Germany to look at a horse there.

That horse didn’t work out, but Belinda’s mom Robyn asked if there were any other horses that they could try in the barn. Anton was there and was for sale because his owner was getting a divorce and could not afford to keep more than one horse. Anton was six at the time. Belinda recalls that he was a nice-looking young horse, but she didn’t think that he looked that special. “But when I sat on him, I loved him. I didn’t want to get off! He was so hot to ride. He was electric beyond belief. I didn’t even know if I could ride him outside. So my mom bought him. It was a kind of ‘meant to be thing,’ because it wasn’t planned.”

Anton, a bay German-bred gelding foaled in 2000, is by Antaeus, out of Shirley by Melit. He was bred by Mirko Glotz in Saxony, Germany. Belinda stays in touch with both his breeder and his former owner and says both are very proud of Anton’s success.

“When I first competed in Wiesbaden with Anton in 2010, Herr Glotz made the six-hour drive to the show to see him. He said, ‘It’s his first international show in Germany. I have to see him.’ He brought me baby pictures; they meant a lot to me to see him out in the field. I could tell it was him in the picture from his signature stance—I call it the Anton pose— and the wild mane. As a baby his mane was everywhere, sticking up like a Thelwell pony’s and it still does that today,” she says with a smile.

What’s Next?

As 2015 ends, the Rio Olympics are on Belinda’s wish list for 2016. They are in Florida this winter to continue training and to try to make one of the spots Canada has open. Though Canada did not qualify an entire team, they have at least one individual spot available and perhaps two. “After Rio he will be 16. I will let him decide if he wants to continue to compete with me at this level or if he would like to teach someone else at that point in his life,” says Belinda.

“Anton is my biggest success in dressage. I feel from him that he wants me to step up my game and perform our best. He loves to compete. Anton has taught me so much about myself and he challenges me to become better. I love Anton with all my heart and I am grateful for every day I have with him and every ride he gives me.”

PHOTO: Courtesy of Oakcrest Farm

Grand Prix for Special Finger Licking Good at 2011 CDI Hagen

excerpt:

Trussell Back in Europe

Belinda Trussell on Anton

The last rider to score above 70% was from a different continent: North America. Australian born Canadian Belinda Trussell is back in Europe for the third year in a row to train with her longtime coach and mentor Christilot Boylen-Hansen until June. Aboard her 11-year old Saxonian Anton (by Anteus x Melit xx) Trussell did what she is good at: riding a clean test with a horse that is always soft in the bridle. The piaffe and passage were elegant, but could have more expression and power. The trot extensions were strong and the pirouettes decent. If one looks at Trussell's individual score sheet, one notices that she scores 7's on almost every single movement. With 70.085 % she completed the top 11.

More images and comments in the IMAGE GALLERY below

Make sure you follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Text and Photos © Astrid Appels

Back to the 2011 CDI Hagen index

Full article:

Tue, 05/10/2011 - 14:18

Laura Bechtolsheimer wins big at the 2011 CDI Hagen

Photo © Astrid Appels

2011 CDI Hagen

All was done and prepared for Totilas at the 2011 CDI Hagen -- massive tribunes which stayed half empty as well as the adoption of the theme "Horses and Dreams meets Germany" to glorify the coming of the gold medal winning black stallion to Germany -- but his absence was hardly missed. The Grand Prix for Special on Friday afternoon 6 May 2011 featured 25 riders of which 11 scored above 70%. The quality of riding was so incredibly high that the class was simply finger licking good. It gave spectactors an incredible boost of inspiration of what is to come the rest of the season. Based on what was seen at Hagen, it is very easy to make the bold statement that Great Britain will win team gold at this year's European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam!

Laura Bechtolsheimer and her 16-year old fresh and fit looking Danish warmblood gelding Mistral Hojris (by Michellino x Ibsen) performed at their first outdoor show of the season and first competition since the World Cup Qualifier in London in December 2010. The triple WEG silver medallist is one of three combinations in the world currently able to score round 80% in the Grand Prix. Were Laura B and Alf ready to repeat that feat at Germany's season-opener? Sure!

Laura B on Mistral Hojris

The bright chestnut is a power horse which reflects in his massive trot extensions, scopey half passes and superbly rhythmical piaffes and passages. He can get a bit strong in the bridle at  times and at the beginning of the test Laura half halted quite visibly but the contact became quieter further along the ride. In the extended walk he had two to three hooves overstep but was slightly distracted by the surroundings. The rhythm in the second piaffe and passage was crystal clear for which they deservedly scored 10s. The canter work was bold and big: very good zig zag, ground covering tempi changes. In the ones the aids should have been more subtle though. Two tiny and well jumped trademark pirouettes finished off the wonderful canter tour. The judges were unanimous in allocating the first place to this British pair with a score of 81.489%

“For his first show of the year it couldn’t have gone better.” Laura told British Dressage, “We are both just getting back into it and as the season goes on I’ll put more and more power into it.” Scoring tens for piaffe and transitions to passage Laura explained, “Alf’s tests will always be good for top marks and it’s nice to be in a position where I can ask for more from him when I need it.”

Balkenhol and Dablino Go Up a Notch

Who is Germany's highest scoring rider at the moment? Isabell Werth with her string of seven Grand Prix horses or young stars such as Anabel Balkenhol, or other absentees Christoph Koschel and Matthias Alexander Rath?

Anabel Balkenhol on Dablino

In Hagen Anabel Balkenhol brought herself to the fore as a force to be reckoned with and she presented her hypersensitive, spooky Hanoverian Dablino (by De Niro) in an admirable way.

Since Kentucky the level of this pair went up a notch. The rhythm and energy in the trot work was great. Flowing half passes, wonderful extensions. The first piaffe was too forward, the second piaffe-passage was lovely. Dablino's piaffe could have been a bit bigger in general but it was regular in rhythm. Even the walk, Dablino's weak point, had improved. With one to two hooves overstep and a clearer rhythm, the chestnut got 7s and 8s for the gait. The tempi changes were super in ground cover, the pirouettes were small, the zig zag well regulated. They scored a massive 76.723% to finish second.

"I was very happy with the grand prix," Balkenhol told Eurodressage. "Dablino was more relaxed during the whole show. Much better in the walk, piaffe is getting better and the canter work was great. I had a lot of fun in the Grand Prix. It felt that I could relax and I even had to laugh at the end because it was so much fun!!!"

Britain is Chasing for Gold

The British dominance in Hagen was completed by a top three finish from Carl Hester on Sasha Stewart's Dutch warmblood stallion Uthopia (by Metall x Inspekteur).

Carl Hester on Uthopia

The ponyesque black stallion has a phenomenal extended trot with incredible bounce and ground cover. The first piaffe was sweet but 5 meters before the centerline. The extended walk could have been more ground covering and active. The second piaffe-passage was lovely, especially because of the buoyant suspension, but Uthopia should engage the hindlegs more under the body in passage and could even sit more in piaffe to put those 9s on the scoreboard. The canter work needs extra work to get everything solidified, but the potential is certainly there. The extended canter was impressive but the tempi changes lacked straightness in the body as the hindquarters swung too much from left to right. Carl had a mistake in the one tempi's which made him lose valuable points. The pirouettes were small but there could have a bit more lift in the forehand. At all times Carl had a soft contact with the bit but the black could stay more steadily at the vertical. The pair posted a score of 75.426% and were the shooting stars of the day.

There were several new experiences for me at this show!" Carl told British Dressage, "Uthopia is an exciting prospect for both breeding and as a team horse. I have had him from four years old and he has always been an Olympic prospect for me, ours is a long partnership that is paying off."

Hester and his student Charlotte Dujardin have already become the show stoppers of the 2011 season with their horses Uthopia and Valegro. Both have proven to be able to score round 75% in the Grand Prix and, if all goes well, both could make the European team gold connection with anchor Laura Bechtolsheimer at the 2011 Europeans. The 10-year old Uthopia is a super talented, elastic horse but still a bit green in the test, the 11-year old Valegro (by Negro) already looks more settled and probably is the more "complete" Grand Prix horse of the two at the moment. It's a pity Dujardin did not show him in Hagen, but chose to ride in Saumur last week (where they won the Grand Prix Special and were second in the Grand Prix).

Charlotte Dujardin on Fernandez

Charlotte Dujardin and the 11-year old Westfalian Fernandez (by Florestan x Weinberg) scored 71.085% in Hagen and finished seventh in the Grand Prix. Her horse had some good energy going in trot. The half passes were big, the two tempi's straight and covering the entire diagonal, the pirouettes small. The horse has a regular rhythm in passage and piaffe, but the rider hollowd her back and leans a bit too much forward in the saddle in piaffe. In collected walk Fernandez should have kept his back a bit more supple to keep a better rhythm. Nevertheless, the test was very solid and of good quality.

Charlotte's mentor Carl Hester commented, "they are an elegant combination and both still in their first year of international grand prix. Charlotte's rise is amazing and she hasn't scored below 70% at this level - there's still alot more to come from them."

Scandinavians Good for Great Style

Swedish Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven made her European Grand Prix CDI debut with Don Auriello. The combination gained some show experience in Florida this winter, but Hagen was the first CDI for this pair on European soil. The long legged Hanoverian gelding (by Don Davidoff x White Star) is a familiar face as he competed in the Bundeschampionate, World Young Horse Championships and Medien Cup with former rider and owner Birgit Wellhausen-Henschke.

Tinne Vilhelmson on Don Auriello

Under Vilhelmson the 9-year old gelding developed into a promising horse which showed off a brilliant extended walk and good one tempi changes. The young star still needs to gain more power and strength in the hindquarters as the passage missed collection and the two tempi's lacked straightness. The horse was constantly light in the bridle and had the poll as highest point. They scored 73.128% to finish fourth.

Danish Sune Hansen has set his sights on riding the Oldenburg licensed stallion Blue Hors Romanov (by Rubin Royal x Grundstein II) at the Europeans. The 11-year old dark bay stallion has been schooling the upper level movements for a few years but now he finally turned into a solid Grand Prix horse. He was sweet and soft in the contact but regularly came a bit deep. The passage is lovely and superb in rhythm. The extended walk was decent but in the collected walk Romanov became too quick and lost the clarity in rhythm. The pirouettes were good but there was a slight hiccup in the flying change at X. The two tempi's should have been straighter and the one's more ground covering. Hansen and Romanov are a lovely pair with room for much growth. They ranked sixth with 71.128%.

Germans Climbing the Ladder

Monica Theodorescu on Whisper

Monica Theodorescu and Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff's Baden Wurttemberger bred Whisper (by Welt Hit I x Weltstar) made their long awaited come back after a period of injury and personal loss of her mother. Monica was certainly going for it as she asked for much engagement and activity from her horse. The trot work was dynamic and forward. In the first passage he twitched to the spur aid and the piaffes were small. The extended walk was good, in the collected he paced. The zig zag was the highlight of the test, but the horse changed lead in one of the pirouettes. All the movements were certainly there in the test, but the ride lacked some refinement and routine. They got 71.915% to rank fifth.

Young rider gone senior Fabienne Lutkemeier made a flawless transition to Grand Prix level aboard her small tour World Record holder D'Agostino (by De Niro x Shogun xx). The horse has an extravagant front leg in trot AND tracks up well from behind. The piaffe lacked some roundness because it appears as if the chestnut gelding is braking with his front legs in the movement. In passage he's regular and rhythmical though the hocks could flex a bit more, especially the right one. The apex of their test were the super straight two tempi changes for which judge Eric Lette at B gave them a well earned 9. The combination totalled 70.915 to place 8th.

Nadine Capellmann on Girasol

Nadine Capellmann and the new star in her life, Girasol (by Gribaldi x Landioso), take it one step at the time, despite the fact that much is expected from them. The Aachen based rider played it quite safe in the Grand Prix which made their lack of routine obvious. The extended trot and extended canter were conservative, the trot half passes huge. The first piaffe hesitant but the passage had good elevation. The transitions to and from piaffe and passage are not without hitches but both movements are brimming with potential. The two tempi's were fantastic. The rider had slight difficulty with the onset of the right pirouette. They got 70.660% from the judges to place 9th.

Hubertus Schmidt saddled several new horses in Hagen, including Jochem Arl's 9-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Valentino G (by Ferro x Damiro) which was previously trained and competed by Laura Stigler. The trot extensions and half passes were very nice and the passage was regular, but the dark bay gelding struggles in piaffe. He had a hard time finding the rhythm or got crooked in the body, hollowing the back. The tempi changes were wonderful but in the zig zag to the right the hindquarters always preceded the forehand. They posted a score of 70.447% to place 10th.

Trussell Back in Europe

Belinda Trussell on Anton

The last rider to score above 70% was from a different continent: North America. Australian born Canadian Belinda Trussell is back in Europe for the third year in a row to train with her longtime coach and mentor Christilot Boylen-Hansen until June. Aboard her 11-year old Saxonian Anton (by Anteus x Melit xx) Trussell did what she is good at: riding a clean test with a horse that is always soft in the bridle. The piaffe and passage were elegant, but could have more expression and power. The trot extensions were strong and the pirouettes decent. If one looks at Trussell's individual score sheet, one notices that she scores 7's on almost every single movement. With 70.085 % she completed the top 11.

More images and comments in the IMAGE GALLERY below

Make sure you follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Text and Photos © Astrid Appels

Back to the 2011 CDI Hagen index

http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2011/05/10/grand-prix-special-finger-licking-good-2011-cdi-hagen