Finnish Grand Prix rider Henri Ruoste has established his independent business in Krefeld, Germany. The 29-year old aims to his develop a professional training and dealing yard. As a young rider Ruoste competed on the Finnish team and he is currently campaigning the Rhinelander gelding La Scala
(by Lancer II x Rembrandt) at Grand Prix level. Ruoste is a junior partner to Joachim Arl, who supported and coached Laura Stigler to Grand Prix level and her Golden Rider Badge for three years. The Arl-Ruoste duo works closely together with Hubertus Schmidt and Patrik Kittel. In October 2010 Henri was best man at Patrik's wedding to Lyndal Oatley in Australia.
Photo © Maria Burczyk
The 25-year old German rider Maik Kohlschmidt, who used to be an assistant rider at Andreas Helgstrand's barn in Germany, has switched employers. Kohlschmidt is moving to the Norwegian training facility JJ Horses and will start working there as head rider as of 1 February 2012.
Ridehesten.com reported that Danish Anette Ejlersgaard has sold her Grand Prix schoolmaster Mikado Engvang to Robert Soros in the U.S.A. The 16-year old Danish warmblood gelding (by Midt West Ibi Light x Pari Ace Dane) was trained to Grand Prix level by Joachim Thomsen and member of the Danish Grand Prix team at the 2007 European CHampionships. He sold to Ejlersgaard as a 13-year old in 2009. Mikado will move to Soros in Florida, where he is also riding Ejlersgaard previous horse Hoergaard Hustler (by Hertug). Anette will be focusing on the 9-year old Gørklintgårds Dublét (by Diamond Hit x Ferro) and 6-year old Don Primeur (by Don Primero).
Danish Anna Kasprzak made her official Grand Prix debut aboard the Finnish warmblood Donnperignon (by Donnerhall x Mozart II). The pair went to the national show in Hjallerup, Denmark, where they scored 75,390% in the Grand and 73,264% in the Special winning both classes. Kasprzak twice ranked ahead of her trainer Andreas Helgstrand, who competed Polka Hit Nexen at the show. In the Prix St Georges Kasprzak made her debut with Honnerups Driver (by Don Schufro x Romanov) and won the class with a whopping 78,07%. See a video of Donnperignon's test embedded in the top right corner of this page.
Former pony Bundeschampion Top Yellow (by Till The Champ x Kirby Cane Bugler) has passed away in a freak accident in Great Britain just before Chrismas. The 19-year old palomino stallion sustained a brain haemorrhage by knocking his head accidentally against the stable door. He died immediately. Top Yellow won the 1996 Bundeschampionate under Eva Möller-Nolden and 1997 Bundeschampionate under Bettina Hinnemann. He then sold to Belgium to begin his FEI pony career under 1997 European Pony Champion Delphine Meiresonne. In 2001 the gorgeous stallion sold to Romana Grubmuller in Austria where he remained for several years before moving to Great Britain into new ownership. Top Yellow's last owner and rider was Ellie Jolleys. "He and Ellie understood each other from the moment they met and life without him is almost unbearable," Ellie's mom Gill told Eurodressage. "He loved being ridden and enjoyed sharing his magic with us. Yellow died instantly and did not suffer. He is now at peace, resting in his field next to the bluebell wood."
Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff's sponsored international equestrian competition in Frankfurt will no longer be managed by Kaspar Funke of Escon Marketing. Funke has been directing the CDI/CSI Frankfurt since 1995. This Christmas indoor competition, which lost its World Cup status this year and will be a regular CDI as of 2012, will be managed in the future by Paul Schockemohle Marketing GmbH.
According to German equestrian magazine Pferdesport International, Totilas has returned to Muhlen, Germany, where he will be standing at stud during the 2012 breeding season. Next week, the German team selectors will be inspecting Matthias Rath and Totilas' current training level. The horse was withdrawn from the CDI-W Frankfurt and World Dressage Masters Palm Beach due to an injury. It has not yet been announced whether Totilas will be shown in the Schockemohle Stallion Show in Vechta begin February.
The 84-year old German international dressage judge Erich Heinrich passed away in his home in Dresden, Germany, after a short period of illness. According to Dieter Ludwig the retired Colonel was the sole Eastern German (DDR) dressage judge that judged internationally. Heinrich judged his first international championship in 1971 (European Champs in Wolfsburg) and he was also on the panel at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Erich's condition deteriorated two years ago after the passing of his wife Alice. In the winter of 2011 he also sustained an injury falling in his home and had difficulties moving around the house without assistance.
The International Olympic Commitee has just launched the Athletes' Hub, an innovate platform desinged to build the largest fan/Olympic athlete community on the web. To sign-up and for more details please go to the members area of the 2012 Olympic Athletes' Hub.