Danish Rider Tops the Podium in Gothenburg

Tears flowed as the Danish rider rode her lap of honour in front of the Gothenburg Horse Show crowd. Ahead of her comeback, she had hoped for a top-four finish. The result exceeded all expectations.

“I had fun, and I think Danciera did too. She was really with me in the task today,” said Cassoe Krüth.

Carina’s daughter is three months old, and the competitions in Gothenburg are her first since becoming a mother.

“Thanks to a lot of great support, this is possible. When I enter the arena, I am completely focused on the competition.”

Many had expected Sweden’s Patrik Kittel to lead the lap of honour, but he was far from disappointed with his second-place finish.

“I ride and the judges judge. It was a lot of fun to ride. Touchdown felt very good, but he wasn’t quite sure whether it was dressage or hockey and got a bit too quick in the turns during the warm-up. He became very hot. He was nice and expressive, but very fresh, and we missed a few small things.”

In recent years, Kittel has competed in Doha instead of at Scandinavium. This year, however, the Gothenburg crowd won him over.

“When I stepped outside the hotel and it was minus fifteen degrees, I thought I might have chosen the warmth again. But when I entered the arena and met this fantastic audience, I realised that Scandinavium is still Scandinavium.”

The riders will compete in the Grand Prix Freestyle tomorrow.

“I’m a real ‘Swiftie’, so my freestyle is set to music by Taylor Swift,” Cassoe Krüth revealed.

Patrik Kittel will ride the same freestyle as in his most recent World Cup appearance in Amsterdam.

“I will ride according to plan. That’s what you always do, whether it’s a championship, a World Cup event, or a competition at home,” said Kittel.