The quote of the week was delivered at the press conference for the Frankfurt Indoor show. Show organizers Paul Schockemohle and Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff were surprised about Mechelen's World Dressage Masters' status.
Initially it was announced that Frankfurt would become a WDM leg but "the FEI didn't want a WDM station in Frankfurt because there shouldn't be a second show circuit in the winter competing against the World Cup series. That Mechelen, which is two weeks later, did get FEI approval or whether Mechelen does it without the FEI's consent I don't know. I find it remarkable."
FEI Dressage Director Trond Asmyr told Eurodressage, “It is correct that the FEI works to protect the interest of the FEI World Cup™ series, and also to ensure that there is no clash of dates with other main events. It was based on this that we could not approve a CDI5* in Frankfurt on the proposed dates, as this would have been a direct clash with the CDI-W in London. For Mechelen, there is no clash with other events. The dates are between Christmas and New Year, when the FEI World Cup™ has a short break. This is why we could approve the CDI5* in Mechelen.”
The renowned New Forest Pony breeding stallion Molenaars Golden King passed away at age 27 following a colic attack. The bay Queenswood Solomon x Noordererf Chap was owned by Stable Molenaar which was run by the late Ad Molenaar and now by Jeanet Molenaar-Verkooijen. Her daughter, Dutch junior rider Stefanie Verkooijen, learnt to ride on this talented pony stallion, who took several riders to FEI pony level. Molenaar's Golden King's most famous offspring is the licensed stallion and FEI dressage pony Brummerhoeve's Boss.
The Westfalian licensed stallion Den Haag (by Diamond Hit x Florestan x Werther) has been sold to Austrian Dr. Manfred Hödl. Bred by Dieter Kellermann, the dark bay stallion is out of a full sister to Fidermark. The colt will be trained by Beatrice Buchwald and the pair made its debut at the Althengst Parade in Vechta on Saturday 24 November.
The 2009 World Young Horse Champion Westpoint (by Jazz x Michelangelo) made a successful come back to the show ring after being two years off due to an injury. Under Kirsten Beckers the 9-year old black licensed KWPN stallion competed at a national show in Deurne on 25 November 2012 and scored 69.87% to finish third in the Prix St Georges. Westpoint's last public appearance was at the KWPN Stallion Licensing two years ago. Beckers is aiming to compete the stallion at Grand Prix level soon. "He has talent for the big tour. He's taking on the piaffe and passage especially well," Beckers told the KWPN office.
The Quando Quando x Donnerhall crowd favourite of the 2012 Hanoverian Stallion Licensing has received a new name from its owner, stallion station Klosterhof Medingen. Initially named Quattoleur at the Hanoverian elite foal auction, the liver chestnut has now been officially named Quantensprung (Quantum Leap).
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Pending final FEI approval, the 2013 North American Junior & Young Rider Championships will once again be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. The annual competition will be held July 17-21, 2013. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has received preliminary approval for these dates and location and is awaiting final allocation from the FEI Bureau.
Noa Moermans' Belgian FEI dressage pony Dempsey Smokey has been sold to The Netherlands. The Dutch Welsh bred pony (by Beukenhof's Jordy x Kooihuster Teake) has been acquired for the 11-year old Annick van Kemenade, daughter of Dutch FEI rider Mirelle van Kemenade-Witlox who herself was a Dutch pony team rider in the late 1980s.
Stoeterij van de Helle's 5-year old Baden Wurttemberger bred stallion Sambuca van de Helle (by Sir Oldenburg x Caprilli x Saloniki) has been sold to Sjef Janssen and Joyce Heuitink. The latter will be riding the black young stallion. Sambuca was trained by former Belgian young rider Brech d'Hoore who has now received a new ride, the 3-year old mare Sicilia van de Helle (by San Amour x Rosenkavalier), in exchange for Sambuca.