Danish based Norwegian Grand Prix rider Cathrine Rasmussen has a new freestyle for her top horse Fernandez (by Florestan). This new kur by Dutch freestyle composer Cees Slings, has been titled "Horseshoe Blues".
"It's a mix of mid 1920's Blues songs and arranged and recorded in this typical Roaring Twenties style," Slings told Eurodressage. "Exciting brass and woodwinds, cocktail brushdrums, washboards, vibraphone; you name it and it's in it." The choreography was designed by Rasmussen, together with trainer Hasse Hoffmann and Slings. Check out a teaser on the right.
Slings also added that there are two more of his popular Kur videos to be released on Vimeo soon. His saddle cam and Making Of Videos have so far generated over 200,000 views which is unique for a freestyle video. The newest clip coming out will be "Take Five, Six Legs," Cees' new freestyle for Tinne Vilhelmson's Divertimento, which has already been premiered in Florida. Rasmussen's kur is also the last freestyle Slings will make this year. "Until early next year I am occupied as director for a special dressage documentary for Swedish television," said the quirky Dutchmen. "Only in February/March 2014 I will be able to start composing for a few new assignments for the 2014 World Equestrian Games."
Caroline Bonde has acquired the Dutch bred, NRPS licensed stallion Eclectisch (by Zenon x Olivi) from Andreas Helgstrand. The Danish horse dealer spotted the young colt at the NRPS licenseding in 2012 and bought the colt. Bonde saw the stallion at Andreas' barn and acquired it. She made her first public appearance on him at a clinic during the 2013 Danish warmblood stallion licensing.
U.S. Olympic team reserve Heather Blitz has announced that she will be relocating to Medfield, Massachusetts in May 2013. Blitz will be the resident trainer at Donna Cameron's Cutler Farm Dressage in Medfield less than an hour from downtown Boston. Last year Blitz stayed in Wellington, Florida, year round but she has now opted for a new summer base away from the Florida heat and humidity.
Austrian veterinarian Hagen Zappe passed away totally unexpected on 18 March 2013. When the highly respected vet did not arrive on his job at the Ebreichdorfer Equine Clnic, they found his lifeless body at his home. The cause of death is not yet known.
The 86-year old German breeder Otto Gärtner became the recipient of the ST. GEORG honorary award at the 2013 Equitana horse fair in Essen. Gärtner was honored for breeding the most successful dressage sire in the world, Donnerhall (by Donnerwetter). Otto received the award from St. Georg's editor-in-chief Jan Tönjes, publisher Alexandra Jahr and HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark.
21 March is the birthday of quite a few horses, amongst them the Oldenburg gelding Bonfire (by Welt As x Praefectus xx) who celebrates his 30th birthday this year. It is also the birthday of the Oldenburg licensed stallion Don Schufro (by Donnerhall x Pik Bube I) who turns 20 and my own beloved mare Grace (by Grafenfels x Ludendorff x Gardehusar) who turned 21.
The 14-year old Dutch warmblood licensed stallion Special D (by Metall x Zandigo x Ufarno) has been sold to the United States as a dressage horse. The black stallion, who was originally named Storm, got licensed in 2003 and made his first claim to fame under Sarah van Fessem, winning the 2003 Pavo Cup Finals. Under Diederik van Silfhout the horse finished third in the consolation finals at the 2005 World Young Horse Championships. Van Silfhout trained and competed the horse up to small tour level, though he was hardly shown the last few years. Special D's most famous offspring are the Norway based KWPN stallion Andretti and the stallion Angusch, as well as Fieke Houwen's Be Special.