Sweden’s Mads Hendeliowitz, who rode to victory in Friday’s dressage Grand Prix, once again achieved the highest percentage score on Saturday and also won the freestyle to music on Autograf Q. The pair scored 74.425 percent. Ville Vaurio improved on his score from yesterday with Dante NL, placing second with a score of 72.235 percent.
The Finnish and Swedish riders performed free routines, each more spectacular than the last, set to beautiful music. Hendeliowitz performed his free routine last in the class. At that point, he saw Vaurio’s scores—who was leading the class at the time—and this put added pressure on him to take some risks on the course. It paid off, as he ultimately won by a margin of more than two percent.
Hendeliowitz says that Autograf Q felt even better today than yesterday. He was supple, carried himself well, and seemed content. The horse has clearly become more consistent than he was in previous years and is now better able to focus on his rider.
“I was very pleased with the horse, and the rest is up to the judges.”
Paula Nysten, who served as a C-level judge for the competition, particularly liked Autograf Q’s lightness and the way it carried itself. Regarding Vaurio’s performance, Nysten said that the horse was more in tune with the rider and more composed compared to yesterday. At times, however, the horse became a bit too fast and rushed. Nysten particularly liked Vaurio’s opening sequence and how the horse moved in time with the music.
Vaurio says that Dante NL seemed a little tired during the warm-up, but performed much better on the track.
Vaurio originally designed his freestyle routine for his previous horse, so it isn’t quite perfect for Dantelle. At some point, Vaurio plans to adapt the routine to suit Dantelle specifically.
Vaurio is particularly pleased with the size of the crowd in the stands of the International Arena at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Center and with how enthusiastically the crowd cheers him on.
“The best part was the energy I got from the audience and, of course, working with the horse.”
Anu Sironen was another Finnish rider to place in the competition. She finished fifth with the FWB gelding Ypäjän Fioretto, scoring 70.280 percent.
D02 International Dressage Freestyle. Started 9th, finished 5th.
1) Mads Hendeliowitz – Autograf Q, SWE 74.43%,
2) Ville Vaurio – Dante NL, FIN 72.24%
3) Sofia Möller – Flawless, SWE 71.47%
…5) Anu Sironen – Ypajan Fioretto, FIN 70.28%
6) Katja Kuokka – Fillyhill’s My Special, FIN 67.44%
…8) Peggy Högsten – Frisco, FIN 66.54%
Full results: LINK
