Dutch FEI rider Dominique Filion was involved in a lorry accident. While transporting one of her horses on the Dutch motorway Filion had to make an emergency break when a truck in front of her slammed on the breaks.
Filion crashed into the truck, breaking her front window of her own lorry. The tack box which was secured inside the lorry with the horse had opened and all the material was spread around in between the horse's leg. Filion told Horses.nl that her horse was shaking like a leaf but did not sustain any injuries and was easily reloaded onto a new lorry later on to complete the trip home.
The same website also posted that Dutch Grand Prix rider Petra Logger-Beers is out for three months after a fall off her horse. She fractured her ankle and had to be operated on.
Ridehesten posted that the highly respected Danish trainer Finn Greve (who coached Andreas Helgstrand and Lisbet Seierskilde) has started giving lessons at the Middelfart equestrian centre. Greve has become a steady trainer now in Middelfart.
The Danish website also reported that Antonia Ax:son Johnson's Lovsta Stuteri, which has Tinne Vilhelmson as head trainer, acquired half ownership in Sven Rothenberger's Dutch warmblood stallion Van Vivaldi, which became the reserve licensing champion at the 2012 Westfalian Licensing. The black Van Vivaldi is originally named Filox and is by Vivaldi x Olivi x Biotop. The Swedish warmblood society accepted the stallion for Swedish breeding if he completes the stallion performance test.
Belgian FEI Pony dressage riders Lavinia and Antonia Arl are probably one of the youngest international pony riders on the scene to have snatched their first professional sponsor. Equestrian clothing manufacturer Leon, run by Belgian Gino Moreels, has offered to dress the girls in his clothes. The Arl sisters also got a brand new lorry by generous sponsor (and dad) Equestricon to ship their ponies to CDI competition all over Europe. Lavinia Arl has been Belgium's number one pony rider in 2012 and is slowly preparing herself for the move to horses. Once a month Lavinia trains with Finnish Grand Prix rider Henri Ruoste on the chestnut Grand Prix horse Don't Forget, which will be her future Young Riders horse.
St. Georg posted that German eventing rider Julia Mestern got the ride on a dressage horse: Gestut Birkhof's Hot Spirit (by Hotline x Sandro Hit x Argentinus). Some of Mestern's clients purchased the 6-year old stallion who was the reserve champion of the 2010 South German Stallion Licensing.
2011 Bundeschampion Benicio (by Belissimo M x ) will not be standing at stud in 2013. The striking chestnut with high stockings became a popular breeding stallion in 2012 after winning the 6-year old division at the Bundeschampionate, but the horse was not competed that year. His South African owner and rider Anna Sophie Fiebelkorn decided to focus on sport in 2013 and no longer stand the stallion.
Die Callas, the 12-year old Oldenburg mare by De Niro x Carprilli which Andreas Helgstrand competed at the 2012 CDI-W Odense, has gone missing in action. Owned by Mr. Maat and Mrs. A. Swanborn of stud farm Geere-Stein, Die Callas was internationally competed at Intermediaire I level and ready to go Grand Prix. Due to the break down of 13 years of co-operation between the owners, a legal battle ensued from to this new situation and Die Callas has been removed from Helgstrand's stable and brought to a secret location. Mrs. Swanborn got permission from the Dutch court to seize 21 horses. When the bailiff and police executed the seize they found 7 horses missing, amongst them the mare die Callas. Mrs. Swanborn has started a search for this valuable horse. Mr Maat was not available for comment. (Photo © Ridehesten)
British FEI rider Gemma Green and her husband Nathan Appleton welcomed a son Oscar Charles Appleton to their family. Gemma gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Sunday 20 January 2013.
International Belgian dressage judge Jean Otten passed away on 18 January 2013. His funeral will be taking place in Uccle Calvoet, Belgium on 23 January.
The Chronicle of the Horse posted today that the renowned American equestrian facility Lamplight Equestrian Center, located in Wayne, ILL, has been sold to Nina Koloseike Moore, an amateur hunter/jumper rider from Batavia. Lamplight is annually the location for the American Young Horse and Developing Horse Championships. The new owner will continue to host such high profile shows at her center. Lamplight was previously owned by Stephen Cooper, Dale Mavrogenes, Thomas Moxley and Jenny and Shee Yee Lee.