Laura Bechtolsheimer is in for some fun after the 2008 Olympic Games. She has put action to her words and has participated in a cross country event at open pre-novice level. Laura piloted Silence, a 18 year old eventer owned by Dan Jocelyn (and recently retired from 4* eventing) to completion at Tweseldown Horse Trials. Looking relieved after the cross country (not to mention a little red and out of breath) and wearing an unfamiliar body protector and crash cap, Laura declared 'she was hooked'.
The KWPN licensed stallion Belisar passed away at age 25. The chestnut stallion by Saros xx x Normand was found dead in his stable in Haarsteeg, The Netherlands. The evening before, the stallion suffered from a bout of colic and was treated by the veterinarian but he could not save the horse. Belisar was owned by Walter van den Brand and Martien Awater. The former purchased the stallion two years ago from Janny Morssink after breeder and owner Frank Morssink died tragically in an accident. Belisar produced the licensed sons Houston and Kroonjuweel.
The 1998 born Oldenburg licensed stallion Luberon (by Landor S x Sion) has beensold to Chris von Gartzen from Canada. Luberon was a premium stallion and he finished third at his Stallion Performance Test in Warendorf winning the dressage index with 133,53 points and receiving 5th place in the jumping index with 115,69 points. He stood at stud at Landgestut Schwaiganger for several years and will be imported to Canada at the end of October. Next year he will be standing at stud at Northwinds Farm in Ontario and also be used as a dressage performance horse in competition.
Dressage at Hickstead’s Dane Rawlins is thrilled that Hickstead will be part of the 2009 Exquis World Dressage Masters, which is a bold new four-nation, three-year transatlantic dressage series with prize money of €100,000 per show. Rawlins said: “We are chuffed and fortunate to be involved. It is a great opportunity to move our sport on a quantum leap. We will be running it in addition to our usual calendar and will be able to give British up-and-coming riders a chance to compete at five-star level. Maybe, with hosting the Europeans as well next year, it will give us the ‘Andy Murray factor’, the self-belief and perception that we too can do it, the way Anky has taken dressage to a new level in Holland.”
The Danish warmblood societyhas proclaimed three licensedstallions, Elite stallions. It concerns the show jumping stallions Crelido (by Calido x Raimondo) and Coronado (by Corrado I x Rebel Z) and the gorgeous dressage stallion De Noir. The latter is a black 8-year old Hanoverian stallion by De Niro x Matcho AA.
Photo courtesy: Ridehesten
The State Premium Mare Lunahas been proclaimed Hanoverian mare of the year 2008. The German Hanoverian society bestowed this title upon the now 19-year old Luna as she produced the Olympic Champion Salinero (by Salieri) as well as his full brother Seven Up, who competed at the 2004 Olympic Games under Korean show jumper Jung Hyoun Joo. Luna (by Lungau x Pik Bube II) is bred by Jürgen Siltmann and owned by the breeder's syndicate Bünger. Horst Bünger purchased Luna's dam Pikora in 1988 in foal with the liver chestnut Luna. The filly qualified for the Louis Wiegels Elite Hanoverian mare show where she became reserve champion and obtained her State Premium title.
Klaus Balkenhol bought two foals this season. He acquired the younger full brother to the small tour horse Dablino (by De Niro). The colt is getting company from a Rhinelander bred colt by Florenciano x Walt Disney. The duo is awaiting a career in dressage at Balkenhol's home in Rosendahl, Germany.
Our American partner Mary Phelps is having the time of her life with her new boy toyMaster's Bonnie Buddy. The pair won the Novice Championship at the Nashoba Carriage Classic. Congratulations!! Mary wrote that, "with "Buddy" my American Shetland pony I purchased from Johnny Robb, a summer of hard work and training culminated in a successful weekend and lots of blue ribbons. But the best part was the chance to be on the other side of the camera, and experience the fun and camaraderie with some of the driving folks of the mid south."