New horses for international riders. Nadine Capellmann bought a new youngster at the Westfalian Elite Auction in Munster-Handorf in October. Capellmann purchased the 3-year old chestnut mare Diamond Girl, by Diamond Hit x Liberty M x Larinero. She paid 45,000 euro for this Farbenfroh look-alike.
Jacques Albeck, a German business man who rides for France, purchased the Grand Prix horse Rossini from Hubertus Schmidt. The dark bay Westfalian gelding by Rohdiamant x Donnersburg, was successful under Schmidt at highest level of dressage, especially at the CDN Verden where they won the kur to music. Albeck also recently purchased the liver chestnut licensed stallion Dormello and has set his hopes on riding at the 2008 Olympic Games.
The sale of Rossini is part of several big changes that are taking place in Hubertus Schmidt's stable in Paderborn, Germany. Printed in Westfalenblatt on November 1, 2006, was the information that Schmidt and Wansuele Suerte are no longer a combination. "In Aachen it became obvious that the time of glory for Wansuele Suerte is over. Therefore, owner Martina Teichert hasdecided to sell her 13-year old mare," Westfalenblatt printed. Also for sale is Schmidt's own bred Grand Prix horse Forrest Gump NRW (by Florestan). The sale of all these Grand Prix horses is part of a big plan to get money together to purchase Dr. Cesar Parra's Furst Fabio (by Fidermark x Worldchamp) . Schmidt said it is the best horse he has ever ridden in his life and wants to have him. "I want to continue to be competitive in the show ring and need to act now," Schmidt told Westfalenblatt. Dr. Cesar Parra has no real intention to sell the horse because he wants to keep the ride himself, but the offers he so far has received are astronomical and mind-boggling. If Schmidt wants to purchase the horse, he will need to find an additional sponsor to finance the acquisition, as Furst Fabio will not change owner for less than one million euro. The Westfalenblatt added that Schmidt has until the end of the year to find the cash.
Kelly Layne's Amoucheur (by Archipel), the Australian horse that didn't feel very happy in the ring at the World Equestrian Games and got eliminated, is currently beingschooled and competed by Ulla Salzgeber's stable rider Frank Freund. At the German national show in Affalterbach (27-29th October 2006), the combination scored 63,70 and 65.07%.
German photographer Kiki Beelitz sent us this funny photo of her colleague Maximilian Schreiner trying out an new position - angle at the 2006 Hanoverian Stallion Licensing. To see the result of this photo, you'll have to get in touch with Schreiner himself.
German Olympian Martin Schaudt will spend the winter in Wellington, Florida, USA. A recent visit to the Andalusian breeding farm Hampton Green Farm in Fruitport, Michigan, gave Schaudt the opportunity to finalize his plans to come to Florida later this year for the Winter Equestrian Festival season. Beginning in November, he will be spending several weeks a month at Hampton Green’s Wellington location in order to train Pati Pierucci and Hampton Green’s two Grand Prix Spanish stallions, Idilio and Cosaco, to prepare for the upcoming Sunshine Tour in March 2007. While in Michigan, Schaudt selected one of the farm’s young horses, a five-year-old bay Spanish (PRE) stallion named Cuatrero, to train and show himself this winter in Wellington and to take back to Germany in the spring for training and competing. In addition, Schaudt has purchased for himself two 2006 PRE foals from Hampton Green Farm, from sires Idilio and Grandioso.
Last week, it was announced that the legendary dressage pony Manitu N was retiredto stud. His last rider and owner, Samantha Harrison, will make a move to junior riders level aboard Becky Moody's Grand Prix horse Kwadraat, which the Harrison family is leasing. Mum Tracey Harrison commented the following on Manitu's retirement. “We wanted to retire him while he was on a high. He will stay with us for the rest of his life and will probably go to stud next year, although we haven’t decided where yet. He loves jumping, so Samantha might take him to play locally in the meantime.”
Two well known Grand Prix horses of North America have passed away. Ashley Holzer's Dutch warmblood stallion Imperioso (by Cocktail) died unexpectedly as well as Tami Crawford's Hanoverian Dakota (by Donnerhall). Dakota suffered from botulism.
Floridian Robert Dover took a royal vacation in October. With a group of friends he visited the royal palace in Versailles, France.
Irish international rider and ten-time Irish dressage champion Heike Holstein (33) gave birth to a baby son on Tuesday 19th September 2006. The baby boy weighed in at eight and a half pounds and will be called Jake after Heike's late father.