11th place in the Special and we made it to the finale!

To have won a medal in these world championships is pure joy! Proudly they are presented at the team stables and the beautiful floral bouquets the four team riders were given also found their places. But today the cards are reshuffled so all efforts are targeted on the Grand Prix Special, in which the first individual medals will be awarded.

“Here, this time, we will have two debutants starting,” Vanessa and Anna are joking, whilst sprucing up GLOCK’s Voice and GLOCK’s Johnson to the max. Edward starts as early as shortly after eleven and at 10:30 starts with the warming up. “Voici” is in a good mood and as always shows his ambitious character. Only the first 30 of the 100 Grand Prix participants have the right to start and amongst them are the two GLOCK stallions. Edward quickly takes a sip of water and then through the tunnel to the loud stadium.

11:10 am. Edward is received with thunderous applause when entering with “Voici”. The kick-off into the test is great and aiming toward 77 per cent. But again today Edward feels the tension in the black stallion, who doesn’t have that much tournament experience. Again piaffes turn out moderate, but transversals beautifully smooth and lead changes on two are good too. A shame, in the lead-changes on one a mistake costing points. However, the canter pirouettes make good for the draw-off. With a beautiful strong trot and a great passage, Eddie and “Voici” come to the end. One last piaffe another passage and then halt. 70.392%. “GLOCK’s Voice is ambitious. In the first piaffe for instance he wanted to start early. If I then tell him “no, not yet” he gets annoyed and then I lose him.”, explained Edward later to journalists. “His lack of experience is noticeable. It starts at the stables, where he gets super excited if someone walks past with another horse. Doing that he loses a lot of energy. In the past days, however, he has realised that this serves no purpose and it’s simply part of everyday life. But you cannot really practice for this, like you cannot with respect to this impressive environment. This they can only learn in tournaments.”

Free-style is not on for Edward, thus he can fully support Hans Peter. Little by little a daily rhythm is formed at the stables as well.
GLOCK’s Johnson presents himself impressively in the warm-up. “Everything is looking great”, we seem to be able to read from GLOCK coach Nicole Werner’s facial expression. GLOCK groom Anna wipes the chest of the stallion one more time with a clean cloth.

2:15 pm. Off they go. The two are received with ear-piercing cheering in the stadium and have a good strong start! An expansive trot and good walk after the successful transversals. A slight error in the first piaffe, canter transversals work great and lead changes on one and two were simply fantastic. Hans Peter really speeds up in the string canter, pirouettes are en point and, after the last strong trot, the GLOCK duo reaches the finishing line. Passage, piaffe, passage, halt. 75.630%, the audience rejoicing! The test was tremendously successful and “Johnny” has made it through his first Grand Prix Special spectacularly well. In the interviews, journalists seem incapable of believing that this was a first. “No, it was not only because of the championships” says Hans Peter, “it was indeed his first Special!” He beams proudly as he talks about his connection with this mighty 12-year-old KWPN stallion, who has so many beautiful offspring and with whom he has worked for nine years now. “GLOCK’s Johnson was breeding this first half year and now we focus on the sports. I am particularly happy that we have now reached the finale in these championships.!”

Everybody is happy at the stables. Almost everybody. Vanessa has some quarrel with the result and with her “Voici”, who according to her should have listened more to Eddie. But then she smiles again and whispers a “you are great!” Into the ears of the black stallion, who blows his warm breath into her face.

Tomorrow they will all have a chance to relax. “Voici” and “Johnny” will have some relaxing walks and an easy practice. But as soon as Friday (29th of August) in the musical free-style it’s about a best possible rank in these championships and here Hans Peter and GLOCK’s Johnson will also take part.

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GLOCK's Voice and Edward Gal upon entering their Grand Prix Special. © Arnd Bronkhorst

A part of the team accompanied Eddie and "Voici" to the stadium, the others were already waiting there. © Arnd Bronkhorst

GLOCK coach Nicole Werner and GLOCK rider Hans Peter Minderhoud followed Edward’s performance with utmost attention. © Arnd Bronkhorst

Eddie and "Voici" in action. © Arnd Bronkhorst

Edward being interviewed by Iberia TV. © Ruth Buechlmann / GHPC

"How did it go?" everybody asked. © Ruth Buechlmann / GHPC

Nicole giving last instructions for the warm-up for Hans Peter and GLOCK's Johnson. © Ruth Buechlmann / GHPC

Edward and Anna observing Hans Peter’s and "Johnny’s" warm-up practice. © Ruth Buechlmann / GHPC

GLOCK's Johnson TN today delivered a fantastic performance in his first Grand Prix Special under GLOCK rider Hans Peter Minderhoud. © Arnd Bronkhorst

Hans Peter being interviewed by Iberia TV. © Ruth Buechlmann / GHPC

Hans Peter before numerous journalists. © Ruth Buechlmann / GHPC

"You were great! Now we’re in the finale!" - Hans Peter with "Johnny" and Anna. © Ruth Buechlmann / GHPC