(acm/mps) After winning two gold medals at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, dressage queen Isabell Werth (Germany) is now back where she had a firm stronghold for many years – at the top of her sport. The success in the KAMPMANN GERMAN MASTER on Sunday morning shows: the 37-year-old is also at the very top of the International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Horse Show. The four-time Olympic Champion dominated the Grand Prix Speciale in the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle from 1996 to 1999 riding the legendary Gigolo. On her World Championships horse Satchmo, the twelve-year-old Hanoverian stallion, she secured her fifth MASTER title in the state capital in front of 4,800 excited spectators. 78.480 per cent – 1,962 points – were awarded by the judges for the performance of the six-time World and eleven-time European Champion who finished an easy winner. Over 100 points behind in second place was Werth’s team mate in the gold medal winning team in Aachen Nadine Capellmann on her 10-year-old gelding Elvis (74.480 per cent). Third spot went to Ellen Schulten-Baumer (Germany) on Lesotho (73.040 per cent). Werth’s triumph was a milestone in the history of the STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS as she is the first rider to win the major class with two different horses.
“I’m very very happy with the way the show has gone,” said the jubilant winner in her positive summary. “It was very enjoyable, the whole show is very enjoyable. The facilities and conditions, the crowd, the general atmosphere – everything’s excellent,” said Werth, who was full of praise to her horse: “At the moment it’s as if all you have to do is just let him do his own thing. He’s in great form.” Gotthilf Riexinger was also excited: “We’ve seen a fantastic dressage competition, I’d simply like to thank the riders,” said the horse show director. Heinrich Kampmann, head of the KAMPMANN GERMAN MASTER and the Kampmann Cup title sponsors, for which the Stuttgart Grand Prix Special counts as a qualifying event, shared Riexinger’s estimation of the high standard of the dressage and confirmed “Our expectations have been fulfilled. Stuttgart will continue to be one of our qualifying venues.”
