Successful tournament comeback: Lots of work and lots of success for Alexandra Maier

Created: 08/17/2022, 09:40 am

By: Paul Hopp

Everything was perfect: Alexandra Maier (RTG Neuhof-Epfach) delivered a fine performance with "Majestix W" in the advanced level amateur dressage test, which was rewarded with 69.127 percent and victory.

The test was also a qualification for the "Amateur Championship Germany FAB".

© Paul Hopp

After a long Corona break, dressage at a high level could be admired again in Epfach: Alexandra Maier managed to cope with a double burden.

Epfach – With "Majestix W" Alexandra Maier was only a few steps out of the arena, so an analysis was required.

"It went very well, didn't it?" she was asked by an apparently acquaintance.

As an experienced tournament rider, Maier can quickly assess a performance - she doesn't even need words for it.

With a nod and a facial expression, she signaled satisfaction, coupled with the hope of a high score.

The assessment was spot on.

With 69.127 percent, Maier and "Majestix W" achieved by far the best result of all 18 pairs in the penultimate competition, the advanced level amateur dressage test.

The two had a whopping 27 point lead over the next-placed couple, Tamara Scheid (TSG Hofgut Allerer) with "Connery".

The dressage garden festival at the local "Equestrian Center Maier" in Neuhof-Epfach could not have ended much better for the local hero.

Alexandra Maier gets three loops in advanced level tests

It was also a reward for all the work that the 30-year-old had done in advance so that the tournament could take place again in 2020 and 2021 after a long Corona break and cancellations.

“Alexandra managed everything.

She was really stressed," praised mother Manuela Maier, who was unable to help out as usual due to illness. The Maiers also found hard-working helpers in some hirers.

Setting up such a three-day tournament and then going through with it is a complex matter.

Especially if it's one of this quality.

Five of the nine tests took place in the advanced class.

Manuela Maier has had her eye on a Grand Prix test for a long time, but the circumstances just weren't right this year.

The level was also so remarkable.

In individual tests, the number of starters was lower than in the times before the pandemic.

"That doesn't just affect us, but somehow all tournament organizers," says Manuela Maier.

The way everything went in the end, “we are very satisfied”.

On the first day the weather was a limiting factor.

"It was too hot there," said Manuela Maier.

In the end, nine couples came to the Prix St. Georges – 22 had entered.

In the two days that followed, it was significantly cooler with cloudy skies, which had a positive effect on the number of starters.

Rider Corinna Rauch (LRFV Burggen) with Eminenza in the advanced level test at the 2022 dressage tournament in Epfach.

© Paul Hopp

One rider who took full advantage of the offer in Epfach was Corinna Rauch from Burggen.

The 21-year-old student completed a total of six starts with three horses.

"It could have gone a bit better, but I'm quite satisfied," said Rauch.

Several times she just barely missed a place.

The opening test, the Prix St. Georges, was particularly close: there she and the mare "Eminenza" were only 1.5 points short.

But then there was a loop.

The next day Rauch took seventh place in the Prix St. Georges Freestyle in the saddle of "Eminenza".

This type of exam “is always a lot of fun,” says Rauch.

Corinna Rauch with three horses at the start

With "Eminenza" the lady of the castle experienced a major fall in the snow in winter: Luckily the horse was uninjured in the accident, while Rauch sustained serious injuries to his shoulder and leg.

The rider still feels the after-effects, "the foot is not yet so resilient".

Of course, that doesn't stop her from riding.

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Rauch was also in action with two younger horses in Epfach.

With the seven-year-old "Fairytale Dream" she ended up eighth in the "Reserve" for a placement in medium-level dressage.

The same applied to the ride with the four-year-old "Granada du Jane" in the novice level dressage horse test. There it was tenth place (score 6.9) among 17 pairs.

The young horse competed for the first time in a test in which he had to act all by himself in the square.

But "she was very nice", said Rauch about the mare.

In dressage, there are tests in which several couples go into the arena together (riding sections) – this serves as training in a number of ways.

Christina Boos wins Inter-I competition

Naturally, the horses that compete in the Inter-I test, the highest competition of the tournament, have significantly more experience.

There the multiple Bavarian champion Christina Boos (PSV Gut Piesing) secured victory in the saddle of "Sonntagsglück".

With 72.544 percent she won quite clearly ahead of Frank Freund (TRSC Königsbrunn) and "Django" (70.570).

The day before, Boos and "Sonntagsglück" had won the silver ribbon in the St. Georg Special.

Hostess Alexandra Maier also had a full yield of top places to show for themselves.

Despite her many commitments, she made it to the square on all three days.

In addition to the victory on Sunday, she and "Majestix W" placed second in the Prix St. Georges (68.816) and in the Freestyle (3.573).