Monday, 29 April 2013 GLOCK News: 27 Apr 2013

Gal third in World Cup decider!

The freestyles were undeniably of the highest level at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in Gothenburg (SWE). Second last to enter the ring, GLOCK rider Edward Gal and GLOCK’s Undercover absolutely charmed the audience with their freestyle to Secretum Revelatum, the music specially composed for them by Jost Peters. It is always a delight to watch such perfect equestrian skill and see how devoted Frits, as Edward affectionately calls GLOCK’s Undercover, is to him. The international judges showed their admiration by awarding top marks and even a few tens for the extremely accurate, flowing transitions to passage, wonderfully clean piaffe and light-footed flying changes every stride. “That was the next step forward,” commented a happy GLOCK rider Edward Gal on his 84.448% for third place in the final, “he is slowly getting used to international shows with lots of people, lots of noise, lots of flowers and the many photographers.”

Although the Ferro son has little competition experience, his progress to third in the World Cup final this Saturday is sensational. Black Tiger — as groom Vanessa likes to call him — trusts the GLOCK rider completely, waits for his minimal aids and wants to work for and with him. “That is actually the best thing. He wants to and I feel him listening and trusting me. It is his gift to me and I give him the same back. Above all, as agreed with Gaston and Kathrin Glock, I also give him time to develop. When you want to go forward, there is naturally also the tendency to become overeager. He was also tense during the World Cup freestyle and it is not easy then to try and present him calmly. What we still have to work on is the walk. This time he gave away points here. He still has to learn it — but he shows a wonderful walk at home, which means he can do it. Frits has learned such a lot within this past year. Just give him a little time,” said the GLOCK rider at the press conference in Gothenburg looking forward to their future together.