German Anna Sandmann leads after the first day of the World Championship for Four-in-Hand Driving in Szilvásvárad, Hungary, with her excellently driven dressage test, which earned a score of 40.99. All five judges placed her in first place. The best Dutch competitor of the day was Koos de Ronde, who finished in fourth place with a score of 51.91.

The second place was taken by Christoph Sandmann, who had to concede nearly six points to his daughter. Both Anna and her father, as well as Koos and the third-place driver, Hungarian Jószef Dobrovitz, are all using KWPN horses in their presentations. Anna’s team includes Fredie U (by Unieko out of Patijn, bred by J.J. Ubels from Paterswolde), Harley (by Heres GSM – Cizandro out of Saffraan, bred by E. Agterhuis from Hattem), Iwan van de Marthahoeve (by Cizandro out of Vaandrager HBC, bred by Natasja Garritsen-Berkelaar from De Cocksdorp on Texel), and Max van het Rodeland (by Cizandro out of Tempelier, bred by H.P. van Staveren from Doornspijk). Observant readers will notice that three of Anna's horses are by Cizandro.

KWPN all around
Christoph Sandmann also achieved his success today with four KWPN horses: Donvito van de Mulligenvree (by Torino out of Manno, bred by R. van Boven from Oldebroek), Fantast (by Vaandrager HBC out of Patijn, bred by J. Knol from Genemuiden), Jordan (by Jonkheer – Cizandro out of Manno, bred by Harrie Tonnaer from Ysselsteyn), and Las Vegas (by Eebert out of Plain’s Liberator, bred by P. de Groot from Leerdam). Even the third-place driver of today, Jószef Dobrovitz, competed with Dancer W (by Wodka HBC out of Harald, bred by G.G. van Wee from Hooglanderveen) and Idaho H (by Cizandro out of Manno, bred by Berend Huisman from Staphorst).

Well-driven dressage test
Koos de Ronde from Zwartewaal, after a well-driven and steady dressage test, placed fourth. There was significant variation in the scores across the entire class, and the judges were clearly not always in agreement. For Koos, the evaluation ranged from sixth to second place. This fourth place is an excellent starting position for the marathon. The horses Koos competed with today are Celtic (by Ulandro out of Waterman, bred by J.C. Scherff from Sleeuwijk), Maestro (by Image HBC out of Atleet, bred by H. Minkema from De Wilgen), Moonlight W (by Heliotroop VDM out of Eebert, bred by Joop van Wessel from Zwartebroek), and Cupido (by Carpe Diem – Unieko out of Fabricius, bred by Dion Jilesen from Cuijk). Tomorrow, IJsbrand and Bram Chardon, as well as Edwin van der Graaff, will perform their dressage tests for the Netherlands.

You can follow the performance of these horses via the media guide. Follow the World Four-in-Hand Driving Championship in Szilvásvárad on KWPN.org.

GJ for KWPN
Photo FEI: Anna Sandmann