America's top Grand Prix riders have been shopping fervently in Europe to buy new Grand Prix horses to secure their future as part of the world's elite. Todd Flettrich's sponsor Margaret Duprey was the latest American maecenas to acquire a rising GP horse for a U.S. team rider.
Last year Steffen Peters' sponsor Akiko Yamazaki already bought Legolas at Hof Kasselmann to follow in Ravel's footsteps, half a year ago 2010 U.S. WEG team rider Katherine Bateson-Chandler got the ride on Jane Clarke's Alonzo and a month ago Arlene Page bought the Grand Prix horse Woodstock in France and Guenter Seidel got the ride on the confirmed GP horse Winci.
This year the U.S.A missed out, yet again, on a team Olympic medal at the 2012 Olympic Games after having been kicked off the podium at the 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong. The U.S.A were Olympic team bronze medallists in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
Dressage-News reported that Duprey bought the 2002 born Oldenburg gelding Revolverheld B (by Rubin Royal x Ataturk x Cavalier) in Germany as successor for Todd Flettrich's 2010 WEG team horse Otto, which was retired after the 2012 U.S. Grand Prix Championships in Gladstone in June 2012.
As a 5-year old Revolverheld B was first owned by breeder Uwe Brandes and initially jumped by Jens Baackmann. Astrid Bayer took over the ride on the dark bay gelding late 2007 and competed him regionally in the A and L-level young dressage horse classes. In 2009 Benjamin Werndl showed him at M-level and in 2010 he was shown by Julia Sarah Hamberger. The gelding returned to Benjamin Werndl who trained him to S-level. Revolverheld B is schooling the Grand Prix movements.
Related Links
American Grand Prix Horses Otto and Sagacious to Be Retired
Todd Flettrich Wins Olympic Grand Prix Special at 2012 Global Dressage Festival
USEF Names Short List for the 2010 World Equestrian Games