After winning in Kronenberg and Ermelo, Merlot VDL has just added another victory in the Anemone Horse Trucks Stallion Competition Dressage class Z/ZZ-L in Groningen to his list of achievements. With a total score of 84.8 points, he is currently leading in the standings. The next stop is the KWPN Stallion Show, where the final of the stallion competition in the Z/ZZ-L class will take place.

Femke de Laat once again presented the stallion skillfully and with great harmony, earning the combination an 8.5. The judging today is in the hands of Marian Dorresteijn and Monique Peutz, the latter providing commentary on Merlot VDL (Bordeaux out of Hyacinth-Vrouwe ster PROK D-OC by Florencio, bred by the Klinkhamer family from Sleen). In addition to the 8.5 for harmony, the Bordeaux son received an 8 for the walk, 8.8 for the trot, 8.4 for the canter, and an overall impression score of 8.7, resulting in a total score of 84.8 points.

"Potential for the future"
"We looked at a very nice and fine picture; the horse was very obedient, beautiful, and quiet in the contact," Monique Peutz commented. "He has real potential for the future, presents a very nice uphill picture, can collect well, his movement technique is good, and he has a lot of expression and charisma." Although the combination encountered some small mistakes today, slightly affecting the harmony score, the stallion still managed to impress in all aspects. "The walk is pure and active, the trot is very light-footed with good body usage, in the canter, he jumps beautifully uphill. In addition, he is very responsive to the aids and quiet in the contact throughout the entire test."

Striking Franklin's Love
The other stallion in the third competition was the German-approved Franklin son, Franklin’s Love (out of Sanrubina by Sandro Hit, owned by Van Bocxkgrave Horses BV and CRPS Handel BV). This striking stallion was presented by Alvaro Rodriguez Siscar and achieved a total score of 81.4 points.

Results Anemone Horse Truck Stallion Competition Dressage

Photo: Wilma Frentz
JM for KWPN