When Quinn and Fiona stepped foot on their last centerline, the audience erupted in applause, making the chestnut mare trot even more enthusiastically. “It looks like you were enjoying her just as much as we did”, said commentating judge Peter Storr. “What a wonderful attitude this mare has, it looked like she had so much fun, so happy and relaxed.” The jury gave a glowing review of the 2023 world champion of five-year-old horses bred by Stutteri G – Helene Geervliet and co-owned by Mette and Fiona Bigwood. “We have no remarks on her trot, so she receives a 10.” Quinn’s walk was also unparalleled in the eyes of the jury, making another 10 pop up on the screen. “This is clearly a happy athlete, well done to the both of you.”

Personality

Rider and owner Fiona Bigwood is over the moon with her double world champion. “I feel so lucky to have Quinn, she is so good my only task is to pilot her around the test. Her focus on me is incredible. I have never done anything like this and I have learned a lot the last few days, because this is quite different from Grand Prix.” Fiona purchased the mare in the autumn of 2023 and last spring she was campaigned at the shows by Carl Hester. “Her character is her best quality. She adores people and is so eager to please. Chestnut mare may have a reputation, but she is simply amazing and has the best personality.” The combination placed just outside the top three in the qualification, but now soared the rankings to the top position. “It is a completely different way of riding compared to a ‘regular’ dressage test, but we gave it our all and it all worked out.”

Powerful canter

The silver medal was awarded to another chestnut Danish combination, though this time it was a stallion. Alkaline, bred by Annette Blangsted and owned by Helgstrand Dressage, received a scoresheet full of 9s and even a 9.5 for canter and perspective. He significantly improved his result compared to Thursday when the pair received 86.4% and placed sixth. “We were enchanted by this horse’s energy, especially in the canter. It had a powerful thrust off the ground, a scopey jump and already showed super and big changes for a 6-year-old horse”, said chairman of the jury Knut Danzberg. His rider Merita Hagen also lauds the DWB-bred stallion. “He is so sweet, he is unbelievable. We performed a good test today and I felt very comfortable. He is a quick learner, and he is always there with me. I was not nervous and did not feel any pressure, since I felt like the underdog.”

First medal for Switzerland

Nice Touch W and Charlotta Rogerson are living proof that you can go far when you get back up after a fall. Right before the test, the Swiss rider fell of her KWPN mare, but it did not stop her from securing the very first WC-medal for her home country. ‘Nice Touch is a very special mare; she has a lot of quality and is very intelligent. She is also a happy horse that likes to joke around. She gave a cheerful buck during the warming-up and she is not very big so there is very little to hold on to”, quips the Swiss rider. “I put a lot of pressure on myself since I was so eager to show everyone how good she is. I just have to channel her energy and quality, and she will do anything for me.” The black mare, bred by H.A. van der Werff and owned by James Rogerson, had already proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the qualification in which she also placed third. “A beautiful, elegant mare with exceptional qualities that made us very happy”, enthused Peter Storr. “She was presented in a lovely manner and this performance makes us believe she has great potential.”

Photo: Stefan Lafrentz