Kittel's newly composed freestyle is ridden to the tunes of Alphaville's old hits "Big in Japan" and "Forever Young".
A fitting music choice considering that the 13-year-old mare he sat on in the World Championship final is named Forever Young.
A youth in the context.
It was the first time we competed to the music. I've only ridden it once at home. It's very challenging, says Kittel.
After the ride in S:t Jakobhalle in Basel, the 48-year-old beamed with joy and flirted with the audience. He had reason to be happy.
After a mistake in the first halt, most things went according to plan.
She kicked herself a bit on one leg in the second piaffe and it probably cost some percentage. But the rest... super fine pirouettes, fine gallop, the audience clapped in time throughout the entire last round.
It's her first "championship" and she cleared it with bravado. I didn't have any high expectations of her.
Kittel received 80,115 from the judges.
I thought they would be a bit higher, but they have generally been low in the entire class.
The percentage was enough for fifth place.
The favorite, British Charlotte Fry, won the final on Glamourdale. German Isabell Werth took second place on Quantaz.
Norwegian Isabel Freese snatched third place on Total Hope.
