PIAFFE IN ENGLISH magazine translation for the international reader 2010/1 magazine page 4 Totilas Or: Mr. Gal’s Big Appearance By Karin Schweiger took risks during his performance. Even though he could not prevent mistakes within Gold, silver, bronze – in 2009, the Dutch riders the flying changes at every stride, the entire decided the European championship dressage audience was enchanted by jet-black Totilas freestyle titles among themselves. Edward Gal and his prodigious movements. made history by achieving an all-time high of 90.70 points and opening the door to new His victory was a given and at no point in spheres of grading. The audience – and not danger. Totilas had earned it. 90.70 points! No just the Dutch spectators – was beyond itself one had believed this sound barrier could ever watching the battle between the three top be breached – it has been done, however. Gal contestants from the Netherlands. This was won gold which represents his first ever major the first time the stadium had ever been sold title. Dressage fans may decide for themselves out; tension could not have been built up in a if Erik Lette, president of the judges present, is more dramatic way: First, current winners of right by saying the following: “This was the the Classic Tour Adelinde Cornelissen and best competition we have ever seen. So many Parzival had to set the pace. Their great horses – and from various nations at performance included highstepping passages, that. It will prove beneficial for the future of a wonderfully impulsive extended trot and our sport.” All of the above is based on the rhythmic double pirouettes. The music eye-witness report of Thomas Borgmann who Cornelissen chose was not overpowering as is an experienced journalist and a known can be seen and heard in many freestyle dressage expert living in Stuttgart, Germany. performances. The horse seemed convincingly He attended the respective European loose and content despite the difficulty of the championship in Windsor. exercises that night. The judges rewarded Cornelissen a score of 87.35 points. After All equestrian journalists agreed that in the Cornelissen, Edward Gal presented his garden of Windsor Castle a new era of spectacular stallion Totilas, who flung up his dressage history had begun after the Dutch front legs to reach out far forward in tune team had won gold and Edward Gal had with the extended trot he was showing. In broken the world record by receiving 84.08 addition to this, impulsive passages and points. However, during the Grand Prix expressive piaffes gave an indication as to Special, Gal was not doing quite as well which place the couple were going to win at despite 83.04 points which were enough to the end of the night. Without overdoing it, Gal win him the European championship. Piaffe in English - magazine translation for the international reader - © by WuWei Verlag, Germany. - www.Wu-Wei-Verlag.com Page 1 Not only Thomas Borgmann, but other waiting game, included lots of walk phases attentive dressage specialists as well rightfully and was basically riding with the “handbrake found his performance to be inferior. Gal pulled”. You could see that his performance admitted: “Totilas had already been nervous here was a trial run; since his victories were and tensed up in the warm-up ring. When we not in danger anyway. During freestyle on started our performance, he lost balance for Saturday night, Gal and Totilas were put to the just a second because he was overeager. Little test when the 7,000 spectators started irregularities added up. This stallion usually applauding. Gal later said: ‘Totilas had never shows a spectacular trot and breathtakingly experienced anything like this before, which is high piaffes and passages – this time, why I was a little worried and got slightly however, there was no sign of looseness or confused. But Totilas coped very well. It was ease. Instead, there were phases dominated fun to receive so much support especially here by tense steps, in which Gal was really in Stuttgart. I am aware of the criticism about struggling – you had to be afraid my riding style – particularly he could be catapulted out of from Germany. It is a pity as his saddle any minute.” (Source: IMPRINT everyone in Stuttgart was able Thomas Borgmann) Gabriele to see how I work with my Pochhammer, editor in chief of Piaffe in English is published by horse. If I may, I would love to Wu Wei Verlag e.K. one of Germany’s leading horse Isabella Sonntag come back here in 2010.’ No magazines, St. Georg, expressed Seestr. 54 doubt, Gal took things easier in her worries and predicted that D-86938 Schondorf am Ammersee Stuttgart. You can see that the GERMANY the record scores given in two of them lack experience in Windsor might signify the end of Telefon +49/8192/934192 some exercises. Extended trot is classical dressage. The letters to Telefax +49/8192/934257 indeed their weakness as the [email protected] the editor subsequently stallion tends to get overeager published in St. Georg and other ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No reprint or and free himself from Gal’s horse magazines showed mixed distribution without prior permission. control. Other than that, the impressions among the readers Chief Editor stallion shows a relaxed walk, who sometimes went a little Jürgen Kemmler excellent canter pirouettes and overboard in expressing their jkemmler @ web.de a perfect halt at the end. Tel. +49/8807/206839 emotions. The topic kept riders Afterwards, he walks out of the and horse people at the edge of Advertisement Manager arena at a long rein. Totilas still their seats for weeks – even Karin Wiesner sweats a lot during his Karin.Wiesner @ wu-wei-verlag.com though the noise of the media Tel. +49/8192/934192 performance, but he tries to do oftentimes overpowers the his best. Gal knows that riding Subscriptions Manager truth. After Windsor, Edward Christina Wunderlich this horse has turned him into a Gal’s and “Toto’s” next info @ wu-wei-verlag.com student again who has a lot to performance was at a show at Tel. +49/8192/934192 learn.” In Stuttgart, the two of the Schleyerhalle in Stuttgart, them showed a marvelous Germany, in November. Thomas Borgmann performance. Edward Gal has become aware was sitting in the audience once again of Totilas’ prodigious quality with regard to watching. Here is how he describes the movement: “Totilas has everything a rider jetblack Royal Dutch Warmblood stallion’s could wish for.” What Is the Genetic performance: “In comparison to Windsor, I Explanation of the Totilas-Phenomenon? could see a great difference in Stuttgart. In London, Gal did not quite know where his Every person interested in horses must have position among other top riders was and how asked themselves the question: What is the his first championship was going to be. This is secret behind this admirably natural talent? why he overdid it and got the stallion What did the dressage prodigy’s breeder do overexcited during warm-up. At the differently? Maybe it is his Gelderland (long- Schleyerhalle, he had started in a Grand Prix in standing Dutch Warmblood breed) ancestors? front of 2,000 spectators on Friday morning. Karin Schweiger, who has extensive During warm-up, Gal was already playing a knowledge about various breeds, has a close Piaffe in English - magazine translation for the international reader - © by WuWei Verlag, Germany. - www.Wu-Wei-Verlag.com Page 2 look at Totilas’ descent. What are the the world and number one among dressage ingredients for the “golden recipe” Anna and stallions. Gribaldi’s offspring does not have to Jan Schuil seem to have discovered? Many fear comparison either: a number of people suspect it is the genes of the Dutch recognized stallions in Germany, the Groningen breed, which contributed the Netherlands, Denmark and France as well as ability to fling up their forelegs. It may also be numerous mares prove his hereditary an old line of Oldenburg mares famous for influence. In the Netherlands alone, 156 of producing many successful sports horses. about 400 KWPN (Royal Warmblood Studbook Could Jan Schuil’s uncompromising of the Netherlands) mares he sired were linebreeding with a focus on proven awarded the title “Ster”, which equals the performance be the reason? According to German national award for brood mares. 36 of Schuil, he does not care much about a horse’s Gribaldi’s daughters are considered “elite”, breeding value or similar achievements. Does which requires that the mares pass the strict the secret lie within the customary method of x-ray tests of the KWPN breeding association. every once in a while crossing dressage horses 15 mares have already been awarded this with show jumpers to improve strength and title, which in Dutch breeding is a rare hindquarter impulsion? Maybe it is the occurrence. In Germany, six Trakehner sons Trakehner breed that united the will to carry his legacy, two of them of great achieve and easy handling in perfect importance: Distelzar currently lives in combination because here an extraordinary Switzerland and is an award-winning stallion, amount of genes from horses that were who won a 30-day stallion performance test. especially easy to ride has accumulated. First of all, we need to talk about Totilas’ sire He is recognized by four German and the Gribaldi, whose admirable achievements in Danish breeding association. Distelzar was sports the son has already surpassed. A sold at the Medinger auction for 600,000 striking appearance already as a young horse, Euros after having won lots of championships Gribaldi started his unprecedented career by for young horses.