Making an interesting international debut at the small CDI in Zuidlaren, The Netherlands, were Katrin Bettenworth and her chestnut Sachsenkönig.
By finishing second in the Grand Prix with 65.97% and fourth in the Grand Prix kur with 67.32% they proved they are up to the Grand Prix test and are ready for the big time.
Bettenworth's 9-year old Trakehner gelding Sachsenkönig is by Handryk out of an Altan II dam and has competed his first year Grand Prix this 2003 show season. "He has placed in front several times this year, but he can still improve so much more," Bettenworth said. "His balanced passage, his beautiful transitions and his canter pirouettes are now the most impressive."
Zuidlaren was not Bettenworth's first major break through; she already has an extensive list of achievements with some beautiful victories as icing on the cake. In 1996, Bettenworth won the Turnier der Sieger aboard Le Premier, a now 12-year old Oldenburg gelding by Lauriston x Figaro. Bettenworth's student Henri Ruoste, a Finnish rider, currently competes Le Premier. In 2001 Bettenworth placed fifth in the Landesturnier with a 13-year old chestnut gelding called Ippico. She also was the steady rider of Alexis D, an Archipel x Gardeulan II offspring, nowadays presented in the international arena by American Nancy Later.
Katrin Bettenworth worked for stallion station Immenklint in Schleswig-Holstein before starting her own business in July 2003 in Spenge, Germany. A newly built barn with indoor arena is at the source of her income and the place where she rides a large amount of talented dressage horses.
Katrin Bettenworth currently trains and competes Gianni Tu (9-year old Zweibrucken by Gino Ginelli x Almeo), Whitney K (11-year old Hanoverian by Weltmeyer x Miracollo xx), Charly (5-year old Holsteiner by Chagello x Calvadur), Why Not (Hanoverian by Wittinger x Nebelhorn), the Intermediaire II horse Cassis, and Dujardin a 7-year old Hanoverian by Davignon I x Werther with whom Bettenworth placed sixth overall at the 2002 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf.
Text by Astrid Appels
Images copyrighted: Dirk Caremans
Related Links
Scores 2003 CDI Zuidlaren
Scores 2002 Bundeschampionate