Like whiskey and cheese, friendships and fine leather, some things just get better with age.
Bluetooth OLD and Fredric Wandres are one such pairing.
Since making their international debut in 2021, the German dressage duo have statistically improved year over year—and by multiple percentage points. In 2021, the pair averaged 71.776% in the Grand Prix. In 2022, that stat rose to 74.248%. This year, it’s 76.136%—highlighted by a personal best of 77.888% achieved at Aachen, no less.
Their win record has risen accordingly, too. The pair collected three victories in 2021 and nine in 2022. As of this week in Lyon, France, their final competition of the year, they’re closing the season with 11 wins in 17 FEI appearances. ELEVEN.
The second leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2022/2023 Western European League saw Wandres and the 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding pip Denmark’s Nana Skodborg Merrald by almost a full three percentage-point margin in Thursday’s Grand Prix.
On Friday, it was rinse and repeat, albeit at a closer margin. Wandres and Bluetooth were awarded a 83.415% by the judges to Skodborg Merrald’s 82.995%.
“I always had Lyon in my schedule and was looking forward to coming here. Yesterday in the Grand Prix he was already very good, and I feel we improved a few things in our Freestyle so he was even better today. I could not be more happy with two wins this weekend. I am delighted with my horse—today and the whole season,” said Wandres, noting that in the fine art of dressage there is always room for improvement.
“I wanted to show a little more the piaffe after my test yesterday. I watched the video and could really see, I know the horse could do better and I tried today. It is very important for me to show consistency through my test and I am really happy.”
He has every reason to be. Bluetooth’s record this year speaks for itself.
The pair started the season with a clean sweep at the Adequan Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL where they collected six victories. They won the Grand Prix and Freestyle at Hagen (GER) in April and were on the winning Nations Cup team at Aachen, Germany in July. At the European Championship in Riesenbeck, they were top ten in all three rounds.
This weekend’s double at Lyon is the icing on the cake on a strong season and, for those heading to Wellington this winter, a welcome sigh of relief.
“We decided that this was the last show for him this year. He will come with us to Florida (USA) at the end of December and will enjoy some time off and do one show over there to get him ready for the outdoor spring shows. I don’t want to ask him too much…. the goal for us next year is Paris (2024 Olympic Games).”