What's Happening: December 2010 - Part 2

Fri, 12/31/2010 - 08:23
What's Happening in the Dressage World?

The 69-year old Wilhem Weerda has been re-elected as president of the Oldenburg Breed Society. He has been heading this German breed society since 1995.

As of 2011 the Bundeschampionate (German Young Horse Championships) will be sponsored by the Deutsche Kredietbank (DKB). The event will also be named 2011 DKB Bundeschampionate. DKB has already been sponsoring many show jumping events in Germany, including the Riders' Tour and is now extending it to the BuCha.

Edward Gal's second Grand Prix horse Kapuccino (by Cocktail) has passed away. His current owner Goffe Nil van der Zijden decided to have the liver chestnut humanely put down. Under Van der Zijden, the 18-year old Kapuccino competed last in August 2010, when he had to be retired due to irregularities. The vet diagnosed the horse with very little hope for recovery and efforts for the sport injury to heal were to no avail.

Landgestut Redefin had to say goodbye to their 23-year old sire Lonely Boy. The Holsteiner stallion by Langraf I x Farnese was born in 1987 at Michel Magens' stable. Harm Thormählen and Dr. Ingo Nörenberg made sure that Lonely Boy moved to Redefin in 1990. He stood at stud at Station Janow and at the Lüth family. Lonely Boy has 92 offspring successful in sport and 49 registered brood mares.

Former German team veterinarian Dr. Peter Cronau wrote a letter to the editor of the Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung (biggest German newspaper) in reaction to an article and photo relating to the sale of Totilas to Germany. The letter was not published but German journalist Dieter Ludwig printed it on his website. Those interested in Cronau's opinion on Totilas can read it here

The 15-year old Oldenburg licensed stallion Jazz Time (by Jazz x Romadour Ii) has been sold to Denmark. Ridehesten.com reported that the dark bay stallion is now in training with Helle Hautopp of Stallion Station Festigaard, which also stands Don Kennedy, D'Accord and Hedens Le Mioche. Jazz Time produced the licensing champion Just Perfect and Bavarian Mare Champion Boney M. He was trained at Grand Prix level and was ridden by Lisa Wilcox and Falk Rosenbauer in the past.

Canadian dressage trainer Jacqui Oldham sadly lost her battle to cancer. She succumbed to Inflammatory Breast Cancer which metastasized to the brain in January of 2010. Her husband Bill wrote: "She was originally diagnosed with the breast cancer in February of 2009. We thought we had it beat when a full body scan in late 2009 showed no signs of it anywhere in her trunk – but in February of this year a small seizure led the medics to do a head-scan, with the result that the metastases were discovered. Fortunately the brain infestation led to no significant pain issues, even during the later stages of the disease. We did not have to administer pain drugs at any time over the past 4 or 5 months. She died peacefully in her sleep Saturday morning at 2:30, with Haley and I sitting beside her. As you all know, Jacqui was a remarkable woman with very high moral values. She was tough about everything that she felt to be important, and was not averse to telling anyone what she thought. To honour her commitment to her second love (horses), it is my intention to stay on the property and keep her two long-term horses (Cassat and Irish) in the situation to which they have become accustomed. It appears that Cassat will be bred to Totilas this spring, with the embryo being transferred to a surrogate mare which our breeding vet owns (this plan is his brilliant idea). The embryo transfer is being done so that Cassat can continue to train and compete with the Youngrider who Jacqui has been mentoring over the past couple of years. I figure this is one way that I can ensure that Jacqui’s spirit is kept alive and active for the next few years." Jacqui’s remains will be cremated, and the ashes spread in the paddock of her favourite horse, Cassat.