The Dutch equestrian magazine De Hoefslag provided some additional information on why Ulla Salzgeber is selling her Grand Prix horses. Apparently, she has shifted her focus from horses to wellness. Ulla and her husband Sebastian recently opened the spa and wellness hotel Salzgeber in her home town of Bad Worishofen, where she offers several diets, and wellness and Kneipp treatments to her clients. She will continue training riders, and additionally her students can now stay in her hotel.
One month ago, the well known Dutch dressage trainer Piet Oothout passed away in his home town Soest, The Netherlands. The 83-year old Oothout was a well respected dressage trainer and taught Henk van Bergen, Jo Willems, Alex van Silfhout, Rien van der Schaft, Cor Loeffen, Tineke Bartels, Anky van Grunsven and Remy Bastings. He was the Dutch chef d'equipe at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. He also worked in Germany with trainers/riders such as Georg Theodorescu, Kurt Capellmann, Bubi Guenther and Willy Schultheiss. "He was not an easy man, but I never met anyone or seen anyone who could get such a great effect out of so little aids. Furthermore, he was a true gentleman and a legend in The Netherlands," dressage rider Remy Bastings told Eurodressage.
Two renowned dressage shows have been cancelled this year. The national dressage show in Breda, Breda Hippique, which would normally take place June 1-3, 2007, in Breda, The Netherlands, has been cancelled due to a lack of funding. In Ireland, the 2007 Necarne Castle Dressage Festival on May 5-6, 2007, has beencancelled. "Due to a booking error at Fermanagh College (Necarne) a Point to Point meeting had been booked for the same weekend as the Festival and despite the fact that the Dressage Festival has been held on the same May Day bank holiday weekend for the past 8 years we were told that the date would not be available to us. The committee have looked at other dates but have been unable to find a suitable alternative weekend," said Robert McCormick, the secretary of the Necarne Castle Dressage Festival.
Two persons are currently in the running to become the new chairman of British Dressage. International judge Jennie Loriston-Clarke and international dressage event organizer and rider Dane Rawlins. In Horse and Hound, Dane was quoted saying the following: "I'm sure there are better people out there who aren't standing, but I'm loud and mouthy and I want to move things forward. The current board has done many good things and the financial set-up is great, but something is missing — the sports aspect. BD should not be a business running a sport, but a sport that needs to be run in a businesslike way." Rawlins has already accomplished much for Dressage in Great Britain. He is the founder of Dressage at Hickstead and the co-developer of the British Young Riders' Dressage Scheme (BYRDS).
Three Dutch youth riders got promoted to the Dutch A-team. Chef d'Equipe Tineke Bartels added Michelle van Lanen (on Incredible) and Danielle van Mierlo (on Reggea) to the Dutch Junior Riders A-team. Marrigje van Baalen (on Inspekteur) got submitted to the Young Riders A-team.
In Sweden the stallion performance test for 3-year olds finished. The youngster that stood out the most as the most versatile horse was Ludwig's Champion (by Ludwig von Bayern). He was the best jumper and also showed very good basic gaits under saddle. Other highlights of the performance test were A Dandy Man (by Don Primero) and Sterling (by Stedinger). The dressage horse with the best trot wasTsarevitj (by Prince Thatch xx).
Check out a photo of George Williams with his new rising Grand Prix star Donnerbube III (Donnerhall x Pik Bube). The pair was featured on the cover of Sidelines Magazine.
The Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) has a new website. Have you seen it yet?