Fifteen finalists vied for the medals in the final for six-year-old horses. And what a fitting conclusion to a week full of thrills and spills it was. Hans Peter Minderhoud’s My Toto propelled to the gold. 

My Toto and Hans Peter Minderhoud secured their entry ticket in the small final. Hence, the son of Glock’s Toto Jr. was the first to enter the arena on Sunday. A ten-minute delay due to a power outage in Ermelo and a cloudburst made it even more challenging. My Toto seemed unfazed. What an incredible horse. His swung through the ring with bravura and easily took his weight on his hind leg.

Highlight

Ulrike Nivelle was the commentating judge this final: “His canter was a highlight, always high off the ground and uphill, a 9.5. The active and rhythmic trot and pure walk are granted an 8.5, and so is the submission. For sure a horse with a fantastic future ahead of him.” No combination was able to beat their score. The black gelding is registered to his breeders Aat and Lida Both as well as Miga Horses B.V. My Toto is bred out of the ster sport mare Erlanda (s.Voice). 

On repeat

Dinja van Liere missed out on a podium place once more. Last year, Mauro Turfhorst became fourth in the final for five-year-olds and this edition they repeated this feat. The crowd was on the edge of their seats when the KWPN stallion made his appearance in the arena. Dinja van Liere gave it her all and performed a flawless test. Mauro Turfhorst demonstrated clear yet fluent transitions and solid changes. The jury called him a charming, handsome boy with good paces, but were looking for more activity in the hind quarters this time.  Mauro Turfhorst is an offspring of the stallion Zonink and the ster mare Hidaylia (s.Negro). In the dam line we encounter the Big Tour horses Jeroen (s.Charmeur) and Cavalia (s.Sir Donnerhall I). Mauro Turfhorst is bred by Jan Greve in Haaksbergen and is registered to Reesink Horses BV and Stoeterij Turfhorst B.V.

Full brother of Vitalis

My Vitality showed a beautiful front leg technique and takes after his sire Vivaldi in more ways than one. He displayed ample flexion in the joints but could be more engaged in the hindquarter and times. At merely six years of age, his flying changes were of high quality. The jury lauded his canter; it was effortless, uphill and balanced. Just like Opoque, the winner of the four-year-old final, this chestnut is bred by the renowned Stal 104 BV. My Vitality is registered to Cathrine Rasmussen and was presented by Eric Guardia Martinez. The dam of this horsr is the elite preferent prestatie sport mare Tolivia (D-Day x Argus). My Vitalis is the full brother of the acclaimed Vitalis and the KWPN stallion One Two Three. The dam line features many Grand Prix dressage horses, including Elivia (s.Jazz), Dior S (s.Spielberg) and Casey-Olivia (s.Vivaldi). 

Soft contact

Amber Hage is one of the youngest riders this WC and to qualify for the final at your WC-debut is an impressive achievement. Mercurius ACM left a lasting impression this week. The appealing stallion stands out with his beautiful frame, submission and soft contact. The trot was expressive and elegant. The walk was pure but could show more overt rack. In the canter he could improve on his self-carriage and uphill tendency. Both the submission and perspective were awarded an 8.3 Mercurius ACM is a son of Dream Boy and the sport mare Fiësta (s.Gribaldi). Fiësta and Mercurius both compete at Z2 level dressage. The dam line of this stallion also produced the Big Tour horse Dafira (s.Jazz). Mercurius ACM was bred by Van der Horst-Meeus & Meegdes and is registered in the name of Amber Hage and Casper Meegdes. 

Another Glock’s Toto Jr

Hexagons Miamanda was the second Glock’s Toto Jr. offspring to enter the arena. She was presented by Hungary’s Benedek Pachl, the rider of Stal Hexagon. The elegant mare stands out for her light-footed movements. Her elegant trot shows ample freedom in the shoulder, though she could display more activity at times. The walk and canter were pure and sound. “An alluring horse, definitely a talent for the future.” Like the name suggests, Hexagons Miamanda is bred and owned by the eponymous stable in Schore. Her dam Ushimanda (keur pref prest sport s.Rubiquil) is a full sister of Hexagons Roumanda (Rubiquil x Matador II x Sultan x Doruto) that competed in the international Grands Prix. Ushimanda is also the dam of multiple Grand Prix dressage horses, including the KWPN-recognized Hexagons Double Dutch (s.Johnson), Fila Manda (s.Westpoint), Ego L (s.Negro) and his full brother Hexagons Innuendo. 

Accomplishment on its own

Hans Peter brought three horses to the event in Ermelo and qualified for the final with all three; an accomplishment on its own. Right after the break he entered ring aboard Glock’s Massimo. The dark chestnut is a chique and high-legged horse that boasts a fantastic front leg technique. Massimo performed a consistent test on all accounts; a pure and scopey walk, an elegant and light-footed trot and a powerful canter. The jury did note they would like to see a tad more activity in the hind-quarter. Glock’s Massimo is also sired by Glock’s Toto Jr. (the third this final) and his dam is the preliminary keur mare Her Pleasure (s.Bretton Woods). He is bred by Marjan van Cortenberghe, and until recently appeared at the shows under Gerdine Maree. Glock’s Massimo is registered in the name of Glock HPC NL B.V. 

 

Result

Photo My Toto: Dirk Caremans