Things are ramping up at the FEI World Championships Herning 2022 venue just a few hours to the west of Copenhagen, Denmark. A cooler summer day of mixed weather with sun and a bit of rain kept everyone guessing on the first day of competition and even included a rainbow for good luck to all the teams!
The Canadian team is now mostly settled onto the site with the jumping horses arriving tomorrow, August 7. Dressage and Para Dressage athletes were in training and preparation mode today with the Vaulters in individual compulsory competition throughout the afternoon.
Saturday, August 6 was the first day of vaulting competition and began with the Mustang Corp. Individual Female and Male compulsory tests taking place in the Jyske Bank Boxen indoor arena. The warmup areas gave the athletes and lungers time to prepare and get ready for the competition in the ring.
Vaulting is judged on a scale of 1 to 10 and on three parameters including the assessment of the horse at 25%, the technical part of the program at 50%, and the assessment of the artistic expression in the program at 25%. Vaulting is judged by four judges – with two judges focusing on the technical pieces of the routine.
The compulsory program consists of a specified number of exercises carried out in a particular order. Music of the athlete’s choice plays over the loudspeakers. The lunger is responsible for controlling the horse throughout the routine and ensures the best presentation.
“It was a good start for the Canadians today,” said James Hood, Chef de Mission for Team Canada and Director of High Performance for Equestrian Canada. “All three of our athletes met and exceeded their goals for this first phase of the competition and have set themselves up for the next two days. We’re really proud of their showing.”
Shaina Hammond was the first Canadian athlete to perform on the 11-year-old Zangersheide gelding William II Z (Wilson x Celano) owned and lunged by German Maik Hausmann with support from groom Sophie Kuhn and trainer Pauline Reidl. Scoring 7.138 overall placed her in 26th position after all 35 athletes had competed.
Shaina Hammond and William II Z
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
“I am just so excited to be here. That was 10 years in the making,” said Hammond after completing the test in her first World Championship. “It was so cool to be out there and feel the energy. The venue is perfect! When I used to watch videos and imagine myself at the world championships, this is the experience that I envisioned. It is a really cool arena set up.”
One of her coaches, Cambry Kaylor was emotional ringside. “It is the first championships for Shaina that she has dreamed about for a long time,” said Kaylor. “With lots of obstacles to over come and setbacks, she’s made it. It’s been a long time coming.”
Teammate Talmage Conrad, Coach Cambry Kaylor, Owner and Lunger Maik Hausmann, Shaina Hammond and Coach Gabe Aniello wait for scores in the Kiss and Cry area ringside.
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Hammond made it clear that her emotions were all positive from the day. “I am not nervous, just excited. I’m crying happy tears.”
18-year-old Averill Saunders competing in her third championships competed about half an hour after her team mate on 14-year-old Westfalian gelding Rockemotion (Rockwell x Di Versace) owned by Hans-Peter and Marlies Krukenburg and Kai and Nina Vorberg and groomed and lunged by Vorberg. The teen showed her maturity in the sport and that her nerves did not play a major role in the day. With an overall score of 8.003, she ended the day in ninth position.
Saunders holds the flag position for four strides on Rockemotion
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
“I think it was pretty good overall,” said Saunders. “There is always room for improvement but overall, I am just really happy with it. This is a unique experience for me, as this is a new arena for me. The last time I had already been in the arena and this time it was nice to be back in a new environment.”
The male individual compulsory rounds came later in the day when 20-year-old Talmage Conrad hit the ring on William II Z once again with owner and lunger Maik Hausmann. With a final score of 7.727 in a field of strong competition, he ended day one of three in 13th position out of 18.
Conrad performs a handstand on the back of William II Z
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
“For my first championships, I have no choice but to be happy with that!” said Conrad when he came out of the ring. “It was a bit stressful in the arena, but now that I have one under my belt, I look forward to the next one.”
Coming Up!
Individual Dressage competitors Naïma Moreira-Laliberté and Ryan Torkkeli who were both out in the morning training rides on Saturday will both be in Day Two action tomorrow.
“We’re looking forward to our Dressage athletes hitting the Grand Prix ring tomorrow.” Said Hood.