The Danish bronze medal winning Olympic dressage team was honouredat the 2008 Danish Warmblood Elite Mare Show in Vilhelmsborg, Denmark on September 6, 2008. Princess Nathalie Zu Saeyn-Wittgenstein, Andreas Helgstrand and Anne van Olst. About a 1000 enthusiastic breeders had gathered for the mare show and the coinciding celebration of the Danish Olympic team. The title sponsor Dansk Hesteforsikring (Danish Horse Insurance) provided the flags and champagne for the party.
Only a few days after the announcement that Andreas Helgstrand is to leave Blue Hors Stud, he told in an interview with Heste Nettet that he'll be showing Blue Hors Matine (by Silvermoon) again at the World Cup Qualifier in Odense, Denmark, in October. It will be the first show of the mare in almost two years. It was not stated whether Helgstrand will ride a demo on her or be in the actual competition.
Ulla Salzgeber's upcoming Grand Prix horse Herzruf's Erbe (by Herzruf von Königpark) sustained an injury at the CDIO Mondorf Les Bain in Luxembourg and is getting a break to recorver. "In Mondorf he pulled a tendon and got a cold," Salzgeber told De Hoefslag. "He's almost fully recoved, but I don't want to take a risk. Team coach Holger Schmezer agreed. I expect a lot of this horse and hope to ride at international level again wit him. He's still young so we have plenty of time."
Dr. Cesar Parra and his sponsors Dr. Jackson Morgan and his wife Carolyne acquired the 5-year old Westfalian mare Florence (by Florestan x Northern Sound xx). The mare was previously shown in the Bundeschampionate circuit and Finals by Arnd Erben. "She promises to be future superstar," Cesar Parra said. "We willing be making our public debut at Maplewood Warmbloods' international symposium as a demo rider riding with Klaus Balkenhol. Should be fun if you can come and watch!"
De Hoefslag also published the news that Dutch Pony Team rider Anne Meulendijks purchased the small tour horse TomTom Go (by Cabochon) from her trainer and Dutch pony chef d'equipe Christa Laarakkers. The gelding is bred by the stallion owner Van Norel, who works in close alliance with Laarakkers. Meulendijks will ride TomTom Go at junior riders' level.
Former German team rider Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff has resigned as chairman of the German Foundation for Sport Support. She was elected president nine months ago and chaired a board of six including five men. A disagreement between Linsenhoff and her predecessor Hans Wilhelm Gäb remained unresolved which made Linsenhoff decide to step down. Linsenhoff argued that a lack of team spirit and bad communication were the main reasons for resignation.
The 2011 European Dressage Championships will most likely be held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Two cities, Rotterdam and Luxembourg, made their bid to be host of the Championships but Luxembourg was late in their submission of their intent. The final decision on the location will be made in November 2008 at the FEI General Assembly in Buenos Aires.