The Exquis World Dressage Masters have found a new sponsor to support the project. The renowned German finance and insurance company Nurnberger will partner with Dutch companies Exquis and Moorland Investments to promote and sponsor the World Dressage Masters series.Nurnberger is already the big sponsor of an annual small tour championship in Germany, called the Nurnberger Burgpokal, and will now broaden its participation in the dressage sport on a global level. Nurnberger signed a contract for three years. This year's WDM circuit includes four shows offering the highest purse in dressage. Each show gets 100,000 euro in prize money, divided for the Grand Prix (10,000 €), Special (30,000 €) and Kur (60,000 €). This weekend, the WDM is set to take stage in Cannes, France.
Danish FEI Pony Champion Nanna Skodborg Merrald has been given the ride onthe 8-year old Norwegian bred JJ Rocco (by Riccione x Donnerhall x Mago xx). Merrald's trainer Michael Sogaard got in touch with Rocco's owners Ole-Marius Johnson and Ole Jørgen Jørgentvedt to negotiate on the ride of the bay stallion. Skodborg Merrald is currently Denmark's best pony rider and can challenge the top German and Dutch combinations in Europe with her 11-year old pony Centrum (by Robin). JJ Rocco competed at the 2006 and 2007 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses and was last trained by Jonas Elvebakk. Merrald also has a second junior rider horse, Millibar (by Milan).
Joe Zada, one of Florida's foremost investers on the Palm Beach equestrian scene and sponsor of many international dressage events in Florida (Zada Enterprises, Xandarius LLC), is apparently ripping off locals. A West Palm Beach Paperreported that group of local investors, mostly firefighters, is getting nervous about getting their money back. A dozen of people showed up at the bank with checks they were hoping to cash. It appears most left empty handed. These people, placed in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars with a man named Joseph Zada, who initially gave them big returns. But a year and a half ago, they were told they would be getting their money back. Zada's legal representative Gerald Richman said, “This is not a Madoff situation. There is a substantial amount that will more than cover what these people are owed. Mr. Zada expected to receive certain funds and there’s been a delay. He has the full intention of repaying all these people with regard to the loans.”
Dutch dressage rider Bart Bax has married his longtime girlfriend Ilona Goris. Bax is known for having trained and competed Krawall up to Grand Prix level. Krawall is now a small tour horse for Jenny Schreven. Bax, who runs a dressage stable in Gendt, The Netherlands, is currently campaigning Olivi (by Jazz).
Bethany Peslar's Grand Prix horse More Magic has died of cancer at age 17. The Westfalian gelding by Maraschino xx x Rosenkavalier was sold to Peslar's Everglades Dressage, LLC in April. 2006. The horse had been owned by Dan Trierweiler, the former sponsor of Christine Traurig, who had bought the dark bay gelding from Johan Hinneman in 2003. More Magic was competed at small tour level by Coby van Baalen from 2000 till 2002 and was trained at Grand Prix level. Bethany Peslar and this horse were reserve champions in the 2006 USET Brentina Cup (Piaff Forderpreis).
Hong Kong team dressage rider Jacqueline Siu is engaged to be married this summer. She and her husband have planned on going to Bora Bora for their honeymoon and are taking diving courses. "Mark and I enrolled on a nitrox diving course," Siu wrote on Horse Hero. "Having already passed my Padi open water diver certificate a few years ago, this was another step in my underwater education! The morning was spent learning all the theory and getting to grips with all the calculations needed for dive planning. Then, the afternoon gave us an opportunity to go for a dive. I must say, I really hope, and have been assured that the visibility in Bora Bora is better than the 0.5 meters we got in the quarry pit"
Though the news hasn't been confirmed by the Dutch Equestrian Federation and Dutch Young Rider Chef d'equipe Tineke Bartels, the Dutch young riders team for the 2009 European Championships in Ermelo is apparently disclosed. The team will consist of Lotje Schoots on Torricelli, MarjoleinCho Chia Yuen on Cho's Pepper, Marrigjevan Baalen on Don Cardinale, and Diederikvan Silfhout (either Ruby or Davidoff). The reserve rider is not yet known.
The Cup of Belgium, an inofficial small tour championship annually hosted at varying locations, was held last weekend June 5 - 7, 2009. This year's winner was Sophie Baetens-Van Lent on Rubens. The silver medal went to Yoni de Souter and the bronze to Tom Heylen. For years the Cup of Belgium took place at De Mustang in Duffel but found a more glamourous location at Philip Vermeulen's Stal Oosterhof in Herenthout. Issues between Vermeulen and the Belgian Equestrian Federation (surprise surprise) led to Vermeulen saying no to the organisation of another show at his stable. The Cup of Belgium moved to Zilveren Spoor in Moorsele where there was hardly any crowd in attendance.
Swedish Grand Prix rider Patrik Kittel celebrated his 33rd birthday on June 10, 2009. Congratulations!
We're a big fan of Fiona Price's fantastic website Horse Hero. Fiona's latest fun and educational videos include Gemma Green working her young dressage stallion Zolansky, Jane Gregory riding her future star at Windsor, and Dr Bechtolsheimer long reining a youngster.
We've got some GREAT news to share. Mary Phelps and her husband JJ Hathaway of Dressagedaily.com/Horsesdaily.com/Phelpsphotos.com will be coming to Europe again for the first time in four years!!! Mary and JJ will join Eurodressage to cover the CHIO Aachen extensively.