A world championship in dressage is a serious matter – but Francis seems to be vacationing in Denmark, as are many Germans.

His rider Ingrid Klimke says he enjoys his wellness program on the grounds in Herning in central Jutland.

The Hanoverian stallion is pampered around the clock by groom Carmen.

Evi Simeoni

sports editor.

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For once he is traveling alone with her, his rider and her family, and the stable mates have to wait at home until everyone returns.

“We go out a lot,” says Klimke.

“Francis loves to look around here.

Then he just stands there and enjoys the view – a bit like I stand by the sea and look at the waves.”

Already in the training camp in Schleswig-Holstein, which preceded the World Cup, she and Francis really calmed down.

Normally, Ingrid Klimke is always in a hurry, her days are clocked through.

Her tournament assignments are often a test of whether the art of omnipresence can be learned after all, because starting in one discipline is not enough for her.

Lots of medals

Sometimes, if a tournament allows it, she is even at the start in three disciplines, in dressage, in jumping and in eventing, then the magnificent Franziskus also moves in rank and file.

Her plan to qualify for the World Championships in two disciplines this year didn't make the season any easier either.

But now it's time for them in the middle of the World Cup stress: take a deep breath.

The result: personal best with Franziskus in the Grand Prix on Saturday with 75.683 percentage points.

In doing so, she provided the hoped-for stable foundation for the German quartet in the team competition, just as her role as the first starter required.

The debut was a success: Herning is her first appearance at a dressage championship.

The 54-year-old Klimke has all won her many international medals in eventing.

But this year, in the transition phase of the successful German team, she was also needed in the special arena to secure the expected medal win.

In accordance with the current level of performance, it was bronze.

Denmark won gold and the silver medal went to Great Britain.

It can only be right for Francis.

As an active breeding stallion he has fully developed his macho aspirations, he likes to bask in admiration and loves it when everything revolves around him.

A hectic start to a test gets on the nerves of the fourteen-year-old sire with the Pope's name, which was particularly evident when he was sighted five weeks ago at the CHIO in Aachen: Small incidents or sudden haste when riding into the lively stadium in the Soers impaired his performance .

This time, too, Ingrid Klimke thought while breaking in: "Everything is possible." Sometimes you don't know, "when you come in, whether he's somehow being rogue."

This time the two of them applauded the Swede who had been in the arena in front of them on her horse, and Francis jumped a little.

"I thought: Oh, please don't clap too loudly," says Klimke.

Absolute highlights

She has tried many ways of how best to deal with such situations.

She used to think she had to cover up her horse's flinch and gallop forward freshly.

Because of the versatility, she has an automatic forward drive anyway.

"But this time I stopped, waited a moment, and then I was like, 'Well, now he's taking a breath, and he was totally with me.'"

Strength lies in stillness, and Ingrid Klimke had the feeling that she had once again reached a new level as a dressage rider.

The expressive, flying canter changes from jump to jump, which the dark bay is suited to anyway, were among the highlights of her performance.

The absolute highlight, however, was the strong trot on the last diagonal, where he threw all his momentum into the scales and seemed to hover over the ground.

"I noticed in the corner that he knows what's coming.

Then the croup went down and off we went.” After everything had worked out as dreamed, she beamed happier and more content than ever.

The Danish sun also played along and came out from behind the clouds on this rainy day with maximum temperatures below twenty degrees - so that as a guest from Germany you sometimes had the feeling that the old summer weather that had been sorely missed there had moved to Denmark.

And the versatility plans?

Due to her assignment in Herning, it has become impossible for Ingrid Klimke to take part in the concluding German World Championship sighting in Haras du Pin in France next weekend.

She will probably be there at the Grand Prix Special in Herning this Monday, where the 30 best in the Grand Prix can compete for individual medals.

It will be tight for the freestyle of the top 15 on Wednesday because then only three riders per nation are allowed.

Next rocket stage

But such extreme tournament hopping would be out of the question, even for a multifunctional rider like her.

Her young eventing mare Siena is being kept fit by an employee at home in Münster, but the next assignment is only possible a week later in Arville in Belgium.

Ingrid Klimke has not yet given up hope that the next rocket stage in her career will ignite, the double World Championships this year.

And indeed, teams have often changed in the final sprint before an eventing championship – the World Championships will take place from September 14th to 18th in Pratoni del Vivaro near Rome.

"I'm ready," says Ingrid Klimke in Herning.

But Francis has not yet fully exhausted the main role.

"It's a good thing I don't have another horse with me," she said after Saturday's experience.

"Although - in between I've regretted it."