Before starting to list the latest gossip, rumours and reflections on the dressage world, Eurodressage wants to wish its readers and fans a wonderful New Year.
May 2005 be filled with unlimited horse pleasure, excellent health, much happiness and love.
Dressage diva Ulla Salzgeber has also realised the importance of public relations and marketing in the dressage world. She designed t-shirts for her fans and friends. We absolutely love the slogan that is printed on the back of each shirt: "Put some Fun between your Legs"
OK, back to horses now.
Gestut Vorwerk has announced the name of their new stallion. The Furst Heinrich x Singular Joter offspring, who became Oldenburg Reserve Licensing Champion in Vechta, Germany, in November 2004, has been named "First Feroz" which means "First Happy One." Vorwerk also told Eurodressage that they have renewed the lease of the stallion Dimaggio (Don Primero x World Cup I) for the 2005 breeding season. Rumour had it that Dimaggio was purchased by Vorwerk, but this is not true. They will be standing him, however, for one more breeding year. The rumour thatMon Dieu was sold (reported on Horse Gate) is incorrect. The stallion is still standing happily in his box in Cappeln, Germany. Lisa Wilcox, on the other hand, has left the building for Switzerland and has taken Vorwerk rider Laura Hassler with her.
The black KWPN stallion Special D (by Metall) has a new rider. Special D's owner and breeder Angela van Driel-van Daal has moved her 2003 Pavo Cup Winner to Diederik van Silfhout's stable in Lunteren, The Netherlands. Special D's previous rider was Susanne de Klein, who rode him at the 2004 World Young Horse Championships in Verden, Germany.
Wendy van der Helm's second Young Riders' horse Michigan has been sold to Catherine Malone of Iron Spring Farm in Coatesville, PA, U.S.A. The chestnut KWPN branded Michigan (by Farrington) was purchased by Van der Helm at Arjen Teeuwissen's in Belgium, and she became a Dutch A-team young rider with this horse. For the international shows, however, she bet most on her other horse Inspekteur (by Darwin) and campaigned him more in the end. Michigan was sold to Iron Spring Farm through Belinda Nairn-Wertman of INSPO. Michigan has been in the States for two weeks now and will travel to Florida with Catherine, where the horse will be competed in the 2005 Dressage in Florida show circuit.
For a while, there was a rumour that Per Sandgaard's Zancor was sold to Nadine Capellmann, but Capellmann refuted that. She stated that she has not purchased Zancor. Another top Grand Prix horse being for sale is Carl Hester's Escapado. Daily rumours are being mailed to Eurodressage staff that the horse has been sold, but at the CDI-W Mechelen, Hester confided to us that there is good interest in the horse, but so far he has not been sold. Edward Gal's Lingh, who has been for sale since spring 2004, has not yet been sold either. Gal planned to make a come back with Lingh at the CDI-W Maastricht but ended up not riding the Flemmingh offspring there.
Emma Hindle and her recently purchased Lancet (Wenzel x Shogun xx) made their first public appearance at the Hanoverian Nachkorung in Verden, Germany. It is said that the duo will ride their first show at the Rolinck Cup in Munster, Germany, mid January 2005.
Canadian FEI dressage judge Cara Whitham is one of only two judges in the world who were recently promoted to “O” level status by the FEI. Whitham now has the distinction of being the only equestrian official world-wide to hold FEI “O” judging license in two equestrian disciplines, Dressage and Eventing.
The Swiss magazine Kavallo reported that Philip Hess will be taking over the management of the Swiss Elite Nachwuchs Dressage Team from Dr. Cordula Niklaus. The 45-year old Hess studied law at the university of Basel and is a lawyer by profession, working for the Credit Suisse Group since 1987. Hess is a show jumping and dressage rider and owners multiple horses. Hess will be responsible for the organization and training of the Nachwuchs Team and will be assist in the selection of riders for the Elite Grand Prix team.
The Trakehner stallion Induc, one of three Trakehners who were ever able to win the Bundeschampionate, has moved to the United States. Bob Turner of Turning Point Warmbloods (now located in Oregon but soon moving to Tennessee) imported Induc to be standing him up for stud. Induc is by Marduc x Ibikus x Flugsand.
Another stallion going to the States is Donnerschwee. Judy Arnold of Stonecrop Farm acquired Donnerschwee (Donnerhall x Freiherr) from Gerd Sosath.