Laura Graves & Verdades Massive Record Breaking Freestyle | FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2018

At the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final 2018 in Paris, Laura Graves & her trusty Verdades lay down a truly beautiful freestyle. A massive score of 89.082% meant the pair was able to break their personal record. Although the US Dressage dream team was beaten by the Isabell Werth in the Final, their great freestyle is one to be remembered. Enjoy watching their stunning performance once again!
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[@feichannel]

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[@michaelschmid118]

L ist Naturkatastrophen hier du

[@dicksaucer3231]

For such a high scoring test, the commentators are really critical

[@juliagray207]

They were always FAR more critical of her than of her European peers. Charlotte or Isabelle could lay down the exact same test in the exact same way and they would be fawning.

[@pumpkinprincess3786]

@@juliagray207 i just think the way this horse moves threw them off, on the other hand, most of what they are saying is right

[@michelleponsell7138]

Yes it's obvious the commentators have their favorites. Let riders from the USA compete and they tear them apart. They don't always know what they're talking about. Isabel Werth, Dorothee Schneider, and a lot of the other European riders are great competitors, but they make mistakes too and sometimes they turn a blind eye to them. What a shame. Can't we have unbiased commentators?

[@tdtd6728]

because its fixed

[@JumboJimbo100]

I would say the commentators need to go to dressage school lol- and if they don't understand to keep their mouths shut!

[@kellytyrrell1253]

He listens! to his rider!!! He relates and wants to please his rider....it’s not about ‘control’And Versades conformation may not be ‘traditional’ but the relationship bn those two is brilliant!!!

[@malianiland7541]

Imagine being this talented, could never.

[@cocoa790i]

Same 😂

[@prairie2509]

The horse indeed has talent

[@user1.8.2.]

The rider's pretty good too.

[@prairie2509]

@@user1.8.2. but imagine being the horse tho xD

[@aurnaurrr]

The horse or the rider? 😂

[@kristinkester9392]

Laura and her horse are as one... just beauty in motion brought tears to my eyes. I've never seen anything so beautiful! I wish the commentators would give them the credit they so deserve... Outstanding performance!

[@DianeLee999]

It takes years of loving labor to bring a horse to this level of strength and elasticity. Just watch Verdades’ tail - a beautiful relaxed indicator of partnership, willing and happy. 💜

[@captaincruise_eq.8652]

I agree, but his mouth was jarred open a few times.

[@metametameta69]

@@captaincruise_eq.8652 and he forgave her :) they’re a great team.

[@vibeskouenborg6842]

@@metametameta69 Why do you think so?

[@thisirishcobcan]

I’m really pleased that the commentator pointed out that the piaffe was incorrect.

[@horsecrazy004]

God damn it, I thought this was recent until I scoured in the description. If it’s old content make it so in the title. I thought this test beat Charlotte.

[@astridsjunnebo9741]

Same

[@kamillalakefall7969]

Same lol

[@JonesStreetMusic]

2018 in the title kinda said it for me...

[@HollyJordan15]

Me too 🤣 phew

[@cliffknighton240]

Same

[@kellytyrrell1253]

Not ‘classical piaffe’ seriously?? He is so responsive....He’s waiting for his rider! He’s always engaged, and so beautiful at a collected trot.

[@KattyGyalKenta]

absolutely!!! I hate those two...criticizing all the time and I don't understand why...the horse is a machine in the best way!!!

[@tropicaoptica]

It isn't classical piaffe. Are you serious? Moves like a saddlebred. Engaged? I would say hollow. Activity and knee action are not dressage.

[@hannacosmos]

I think that they “wanted” it more on the hind so the horse stays more put, and of course they criticize! It’s dressage 😜

[@exceednexcel]

They should really sit in the piaffe. Look at the spanish riding school piaffe for reference. His last piaffe was gorgeous

[@tropicaoptica]

Hanna Cosmos what are you even talking about? The haunches lowering and the tailbone tucking under is the optimal power point, the horse cannot even think of going into levade (the epitome of collection) without mastering an optimal classical piaffe with HAUNCHES LOWERED AND BACK LIFTED FULLY. No we do not do levade in dressage tests anymore, but the reason is that it’s too difficult and unsafe because most people want to skip proper development and force horses into fake frames for flashy showy activity and have no clue about what real dressage is all about.

[@ridazaoui233]

Glorious demonstration.

[@giulia.9478]

Wow...beautiful❤️✨

[@marcelasantander7457]

A true JEWEL! Beautiful excellently trained horse, perfect perfomance, dedicated rider...WOW, thanks again.

[@Leolioness44]

Very STEEP HALF PASS, VERY IMPRESSIVE!

[@m.r5039]

Piaffe really wasen‘t great. He didn’t take the weight on his hindlegs und back at all, he just lifted his feet.

[@izzy1263]

Wow wow wow I can only leg yield, extended trot and extended canter so I have a long way to go

[@icegirl246]

Me too, we can do this though, we all start somewhere!

[@graceconnolly5765]

lol I cant even leg yield.

[@izzy1263]

@@graceconnolly5765 gotta start somewhere

[@icegirl246]

I can leg yield but tbh my extended canter breaks down to a trot as soon as I try to recollect 😂 so it's ok

[@livetwice7702]

I can’t quite put my finger on it because he is beautiful and very talented......it feels stuffy and lacking expression.......is this a happy athlete.....not quite sure

[@user1.8.2.]

Yeah I think another commenter got it when they said 'he's waiting for his rider'. Also, I believe the announcer said they had just competed the day before.

[@myhorsemcgraw8774]

Record breaking freestyle and the commenters wouldn’t say anything positive. Geez 😂

[@julianonascimento1225]

Que lindo!

[@natashawilliams7139]

Fantastic horse and rider beautiful ❤️

[@dionnemortimer8800]

Agree with the commentators... it's like collection isn't a thing anymore.

[@sergelachantee767]

NATIONALISATION TOTAL!!!

[@izzy1263]

Yay

[@jodiem286]

this girl is my idol

[@MARSIPAANIKAKKU-wj6oy]

SHE IS MY IDOL

[@sergelachantee767]

TOUT LE POUVOIR AUX CONSEILS!!!

[@user1.8.2.]

Did he say she competed & won the day before?! On the same horse? Dang.

[@jojjo8450]

At this level each horse and rider does 3 tests. First they do the Grand Prix, it's the exact same test for every rider. The top 18 (I think) riders qualify to the next test, the Grand Prix Special, which is similar to the Grand Prix but slightly harder. The scores from the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special is combined and the top riders qualify for the final round, the Grand Prix Freestyle (also known as Kür), where each rider does their own test to chosen music. The Freestyle is the "finale", where the individual winner is picked out. That's why they're talking about the day before :)

[@KristyBelich]

Half pass Qweeeen !!!!!!

[@claudiarolleri5551]

muy buen caballo si lo ve sano La Amazona de la mano muy dura rígida la cintura y la espalda lindo al caballo bueno

[@pumpkinprincess3786]

this test is so.... weird. The horse isn't in pain or uncomfortable but he does feel tense and hurried... i don't even know wtf that piaffe was tbh its like the horse is standing on hot coal instead of just levitating... the canter pirouettes are hurried too, and he does tense into them a couple times... looking at this horse id assume he has some strange bloodlines in there

[@Ds-bo2fn]

i don’t think it has anything to do with bloodline. moreso training style.

[@janets6474]

O9 Which is how classical riding works. It's a slow process by which horses strengthen in their work shifting more weight to the back end. It seems like she is almost there though. I think she did a good job.

[@susancoulthard4414]

Fabulous together ,old school proper riding ,the horse is relaxed ,has been trained with care and compassion. The woman commentator, is constantly criticising, what's ur problem. X?

[@hossjulia]

Competition dressage has really lowered the bar if this is a record breaking test. My god, no comparison to Dr. Klimke and Ulrich

[@jojjo8450]

Wasn't a world record-breaking test, just her own personal record

[@jessicabrown8158]

its her own record in 2018,

[@ridazaoui233]

Is Charlotte was there?

[@fafa0169]

No

[@ridazaoui233]

@@fafa0169 thank dear Fafa.

[@hunterG60k]

Something I'm seeing in this horse is that he's not happy in his contact, you can see him chomping quite intensely at points. I would imagine that would help with several of the points the commentators mentioned. Having a professional bit fitter look at her choices would make her unbeatable.

[@terike9738]

The woman commentator had nothing good to say, pure negativity. You can critique a performance while also commenting on the great things the horse did, which clearly was abundant. I would rather she shut up.

[@jessicalmcdaniel9878]

I don’t think I’ve ever heard such critical commentary!!! Like, this almost sounds like a personal beef! Geez. Beautiful test nonetheless

[@alejandroespejolanzas7883]

me llamo Alejandro Espejo Lanzas jinete doma clásica adaptada

[@jobond3317]

And nearly stopped

[@jobond3317]

But if you forget and just ride the test to the best for your communication with your horse that is what dressage is.

[@casperina2439]

I’m very inclined to agree with the commentators, there were a lot of mistakes in this test and it just looked ... off. I had the same feeling watching the video of Annabelle for “horse of the year”. It just looks very tense and rushed and not elegant and effortless , like it’s supposed to. Almost anyone with time and a decent horse can perform a test like this, but true talent and quality bonding/training can offer an amazing test. Does this mean Laura or Verdades aren’t good nor talented? No, they just made some mistakes and that’s normal. I can also understand that she would probably be incredibly nervous going first.

[@JumboJimbo100]

give me a break very few people can ride nearly as well as this

[@strandgirl1000]

Die Piaffen finde ich bei Isabell Werth besser! (zum Beispiel auf Emilio)

[@claudiarolleri5551]

Falta de soltura para amplitud de movimientos

[@captaincruise_eq.8652]

I feel like dressage always has the riders legs so far back

[@moosehead1183]

The horse looks like he's floating

[@MrSheerlane]

Hind end movement looks aweful

[@kellybanks3832]

I hate how she rides with her hands turned in.

[@graceconnolly5765]

maybe thats what works with her horse and how he responds? idk

[@bkdascenzo]

Guessing you ride at this level...

[@kellybanks3832]

​@@bkdascenzo Laura Graves is an Olympian, are you saying only Olympians can criticize her? No one is saying she isnt good. I am saying I dislike her bicycle hands

[@bkdascenzo]

Opppps, my bad !!

[@vandemanferretstasmania.ni9576]

I love how the female commentator says ‘I would love to see more of.....’ or ‘they need to be more......’ ok then sweetheart, you step out into the arena and do better then. No??? That’s why your the commentator and not the competitor.

[@vibeskouenborg6842]

Mouthstress, hyperflexion, on forhand, poll not highest, nose not in front of vertical...

[@mustangmomma9582]

Poor horse

[@NMWriterofWords]

I sure hope those commentators have been retrained they are horrible

[@yoannchiquet8464]

Mauvais détestable.. En bref.. pauvre cheval

[@brucegelman5582]

What annoying banter

[@madisona3907]

The female commentator was so annoying

[@pumpkinproblem]

As a barrel racer I just don't get the appeal of dressage at all, but looked neat i guess!

[@lukaoisunicorn3837]

Perfect torture and perfect abuse in very elegant edition. Sponsored by Masters of Sorrow. High level of sadism.