Ria Grande (by Ritual x Grande) has been nominated for the title 2013 Hanoverian Mare of the Year. Her breeder Kornelia Haak-Höring and owner Dorit Kothe were honoured during the Gala Evening of the 129th Elite Auction in Verden.
Ria Grande's two progeny, international Grand Prix mare Daianira van de Helle and Doug and Louise Leatherdale's licensed Grand Prix stallion Damsey FRH highlight the hereditary qualities of their dam in the dressage ring.
Ria Grande entered the Verden show ring in the Niedersachsenhalle with sparkling eyes and an impressive personality, accompanied by her latest foal, a full brother of the Dressage Royal-son Damsey FRH.
Ria Grande was born with her breeder Kornelia Haak-Höring in Drochtersen in 1991. She already had an impressive type, personality, conformation and amazing gaits as a foal. Ria Grande was purchased by her owners today, Dorit and Hermann Kothe, as a young foal. The qualities of the young mare also convinced Leon Melchior of the Zangersheide stud at the foal show on Alsenhof in Wacken, and so mare changed owner one more time. Ria Grande made some detours to return to Dorit and Hermann Kothe in 1997 where she then started her breeding career.
By pairing her to Dream of Glory and Dressage Royal, the breeders successfully accomplished to breed extraordinary dressage horses. Her daughter Daianira van de Helle matured into an internationally successful dressage horse. She competed in the Final of the 2005 World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses in Verden with the Belgian rider Vicky Smits-Vanderhasselt, and both also won a number of Grand Prix-tests. Daianira van de Helle no longer has been out in the show ring since the spring of 2012.
Damsey FRH by Dressage Royal, born in 2002, has so far been the most outstanding foal out of Ria Grande. The sports career of the Premium stallion also included being a finalist at the World Championships of young dressage horses, as well as victories in Grand Prix tests under Steffen Frahm. Damsey was honoured with the abbreviation of the Hanoverian Supporters Club FRH in August 2013. He also shows great promise when it comes to breeding.
Related Links
Photo Report: Smits-Vanderhasselt and Daianira van de Helle Supreme at 2011 CDN Munster
Triumph for Belgium, Vicky Smits and Daianira van de Helle Finishing Sixth
Youngstock For Sale: Filly by Damsey x Welt Hit II
Gagarin, Damsey and Blue Hors Leredo Get Champion's Sashes
Fallersleben and Damsey Make a Winning Move at Prussendorf Bundeschampionate qualifier