DWB Top of Europe 2013 - Dansk Varmblod

12 Dansk Varmblod19-year-old Nanna S.Merrald won the U25 classat CHIO Aachen aboard hersteady partner Millibar. Thepair is former European freestylechampions.Double individual gold medal winnerin 2012 as well as in 2013 at the EuropeanChampionships for junior riders,Cathrine Dufour and AtterupgaardsCassidy, currently hold theworld record for PSG Freestyle.Although good looks and three high quality gaitsare important attributes for a dressage horsethe essential feature is rideability.Both Millibar and Atterupgaards Cassidy are energeticand hot horses, but their willingness to work andperform have made them stand out on the Europeandressage scene for young riders.19-year-old Nanna Skodborg Merrald has been asuccessful dressage rider since her pony days and sheis a six times Danish champion. During her years as ajunior rider she has been very successful with the DanishWarmblood gelding Millibar by Milan/Liberty Dane(B: Fritz Jensen) which her family purchased for her as ayoung horse when Nanna was still a pony rider. With thehelp of her trainer she has developed the very rideableMillibar into a confirmed Grand Prix horse, and she isalready competing at U25 level despite her young age.With Millibar Nanna has earned several individualmedals and championship titles at national, Nordic andEuropean level from 2009. In 2010 they came 7th at theEuropean championships for juniors where they wereon the Danish bronze team. In 2011 the junior teamwon silver at the Europeans and Nanna and Millibarbecame European champions in freestyle. As a youngrider the pair placed 5th individually at the Europeansand earned Danish team silver.Most recently Nanna and Millibar wowed the crowdat the CHIO Aachen when they won both U25 classesindividually in a strong international field, and also wonthe team competition with her fellow rider. Nanna andMillibar scored 78.475% for their breathtaking freestyle.Atterupgaards Cassidy by Caprimond/Donnerhall (B:Atterupgaard) is another highly successful young riderhorse. His talent was early discovered and as a younghorse he competed at the WBFSH world championshipsin Verden. As a 7-year-old he was purchased bythe parents of junior rider Cathrine Dufour who has hadtremendous success with Cassidy during her years as ajunior and young rider winning Danish, Nordic and Europeanchampionships. At the Europeans they have anamazing track record claiming individual silver in 2010and 2011, and double gold in 2012 and 2013.Their greatest achievements are four individual goldmedals at the European Championships. In 2012 inBern the pair conquered the stage and won gold inthe individual test as well as in the freestyle test. Thepair nailed it again in 2013 at Compiegne and repeatedthis outstanding performance winning both individualtitles scoring 83.600% for their freestyle which is thecurrent world recod. The 10-year-old gelding is readyfor Grand Prix and will move up to U25 classes withCathrine next year.Young Riders ShiningRideability is the most valuable assetfor a dressage horseon Danish Warmbloods