January 2003 starts of with some sad news. German interational judge Goetz Weber-Stephan unexpectedly passed away last week of December 2002. The FEI judge, who was teaching in the arena of his home stable, suffered a heart attack and died instantly.
The German Horse Gate website reported that Cherie and Miss Holstein, recently taken away from Karen Rehbein, are currently being put in training with Angela Hoeber. Owner of the horses, Gisela Carstens, has a long working relationship with Mrs Hoeber and has put the two mares in training with her.
Australian Peter John Weston lost his ride on the chestnut gelding Don Bolero to Australian Kristy Oatley-Nist. The owners of the horse, the Kapell couple, decided to sell the horse. Peter John Weston competed this Hannoverian gelding Don Bolero (Donnerhall x Bolero) in the 2002 Nurnberg Burgpokal qualifiers and was selected for the Finals. As the sale of the horse took place before the finals in Frankfurt, the Australian did not ride them. Don Bolero became known on the international scene under Michael Klimke, who had a handful riding this massive gelding. Peter John Weston, who trains in a facility near Luedinghausen, Germany, was more sensitive to the horse and performed excellently with him. Oatley-Nist, who has not been on the scene since mid 2002 due to an injury of her horse Rosemount Wallstreet, is desperately seeking for a new Grand Prix horse and hopes to have found a good one in Don Bolero.
Although Ingrid Klimke recently lost her ride on Nector van het Carelshof, the Hanoverian Promotion Society FRH, known for promoting the Hanoverian breed through horses Anthony FRH and Paradise Moon FRH, has offered Klimke Comic B FRH, a dapple grey Hanoverian by Holsteiner stallion Come On, previously shown by Oliver Oelrich.
KWPN stallion Kennedy (Ferro x Saluut) is currently in training with Hans Peter Minderhoud. Kennedy has had many riders over the year. Birgit van der Eyken was the one who brought Kennedy the most fame when he was a young stallion. He was then ridden by Leida Strijk, Edward Gal and now Hans Peter Minderhoud is going to prepare him for Prix St Georges level competition.
An opportunity of a life time has presented itself for an American Young Rider. Lisa Wilcox, Ernst Hoyos and Gestuet Vorwerk have invited a young rider 16-21 from the US to spend six weeks to three months in training at the Gestuet Vorwerk in Cappeln, Germany. The horse must be schooling PSG and the rider must have a correct position. Gestuet Vorwerk will provide horse stall/feed and meals for the rider. The Dutta Corporation is offering a discounted flight for the horse. Training must commence by July 1. Send an unedited 10-minute performance video to: Lisa Wilcox Training, 25 Lake Avenue, Bedford, NY 10506. For additional info and an application form, contact Lendon Gray, (914) 234-4158 (eves) or at graydresge@aol.com . Visit www.lisa-wilcox.com . Applications and videos must be received by January 15, 2003.
More American opportunities available, but this time also open to European applicants. Paramount Farm in California is looking for a classical dressage rider/trainer. Paramount Farm is looking for a qualified rider who is interested in training & showing absolute top quality Hanoverians. Paramount Farm breeds hanoverian dressage horses by our Class "I" ELITE Stallions out of champion mares. This is an excellent career opportunity for the qualified rider/trainer. House avail. salary & comm.. Premier training facility– covered arena-1/2 mile track. 30 horses. Los Alamos, Ca. (Santa Inez Valley/ Santa Barbara area) 805-344-4123 please call 7 to 9 PM Thanks