The competition of Göteborg at a glance
More than 11.000 enthusiastic visitors (11.227) witnessed their Swedish hero Jan Brink ride his famous Swedish stallion Briar to the win, in their very last show on home ground. His score was 77,200%. 
The renowned Globe in Göteborg hosts no less than three World Cup™ competitions this year; dressage, show jumping and the Final Four in Hand included. Fifteen competitors from six nations competed including Sweden, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and the United States of America. The judges were Linda Zang (chair, USA), Gustav Svalling (Swe), Annette Fransén Iacobéus (Swe), Kjell Myhre (Nor) and Dieter Schüle (Ger).

Emotions
Already from his hotel room Jan Brink started focusing on this challenge to give the very best of himself and his 18 year old stallion Briar for their very last ride on home ground. “I felt emotional in a positive way. Doing the last test ever in your own country, is quite something”, said Jan Brink. From the moment the pair entered the arena in the Globe the audience went wild. Everybody knew this pair had made history for Sweden and they honored him with standing ovations, clapping, yelling and cheering. “Yes, I really wanted to show my home country what this Swedish horse had brought them. And I was so inspired that I really did manage to make Briar go the extra mile! Briar still isn’t feeling old and he could go on doing this for a longer time, but I have decided that this was to be his last show. It’s wonderful that we managed to preserve the best for the end now”, Jan continued.

Premiere
For Jan Brink and Briar the Göteborg Horseshow was their farewell. For Swedish colleague Minna Telde the Gotebörg Horse show however formed the premiere. She rode a brand new Freestyle with new music on the U2 theme. Linda Zang was very impressed by the Swedish pair, taking an extra risk by performing a new Freestyle. “I only got my music last Monday and was thrilled with Don Charly’s response to the music. He responded better than I expected in doing the two tempi and one tempi changes right to the music”, Minna Telde explained. After Christmas Minna Telde bought the former owner of Don Charly out and now the horse belongs to her completely. “Which is a very good feeling”, Telde concludes. Because of her good results she has almost qualified for the Final. “If I want to be certain, I shall add the last show in ‘s-Hertogenbosch to my schedule”, Telde said,

Emotional Last Home Performance, Brink and Briar in Göteborg 

Written by By Claartje van Andel dressagedirect (excerpt)