The Oatley family's 17-year old Oldenburg bred Feramo K (by Fidermark x Damenstolz) has been retired from sport. The chestnut was Lyndal Oatley's first serious competition horse which she bought in Europe in 2008.
She not only ended up with the horse, but also found her husband at the same yard. Lyndal married Patrik Kittel two years later in October 2010.
Unfortunately Feramo K broke his pedal bone in the stall. The injury was career ending and the main priority was to get the horse fit enough to endure the trip to Australia so he could be retired. It took months to get Feramo to this stage but eventually it happened and he arrived safely in Australia in early 2010. The horse, however, made a miraculous recovery and was gradually put back in work by Judy Dierks. Dierks and Feramo K competed at their first international at the 2014 CDI Sydney at Grand Prix level and scored two solid 65% marks. Feramo K moved in training with Brett Parbery more than half a year ago but now has been retired from sport.
Slovenian FEI steward and IDOC member Egon Srebotnjak has passed away on 18 May 2015 after a short but courageous battle against cancer. Born in 1949, Srebotnjak was a respected FEI steward for dressage, driving and show jumping. He also officiated at eventing trials. The multi-lingual Srebotnjak was very optimistic about his recovery and had scheduled to officiate at the 2015 Balkan Driving Championships in Serbia at the end of June. He was 65 years old.
Dutch team rider Danielle Heijkoop has acquired a share in the ownership of the 4-year old licensed Dutch warmblood stallion Gin Tonic (by Breezer x Special D x Flemmingh) from breeder and owner Jan Greve. The bay stallion was previously named Golden Boy and completed his Stallion Performance Test in the spring of 2014 with a score of 79 points, receiving straight 8s for his basic gaits and rideability.
Ruth Klimke, mother to Olympic medal winning Ingrid Klimke and widow to the legendary Dr. Reiner Klimke, celebrated her 75th birthday on 21 May 2015. Ruth was an accomplished Grand Prix rider herself and now works behind the wings supporting her daughter in her eventing and dressage career. She is honorary chair of the Personal Members Group (PM) of the German equestrian federation. Ruth shares her birthday with Danish 5* judge Hans Christian Matthiesen (44) and German team rider Helen Langehanenberg (33).
Norwegian junior rider Pernille Haistad has lost her horse Radon, a 13-year old dark bay Oldenburg gelding by Rubin Royal x Adlerflugel. The Haistad family acquired Radon from Norwegian Grand Prix rider Ellen Brigitte Farbrot in 2013. The pair competed twice internationally in 2014 at the CDI's in Vestfold and Odense. In December 2014 Radon was involved in a freak accident at home. He was operated on and given the necessary rest but he never recovered to good health. The horse was euthanized after consultation with the veterinary team.
Dutch FEI rider Joyce Heuitink is relocating to the stables of Resim Dressage in Harskamp, The Netherlands, where Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud were based. The Dutch duo recently moved into the brand new Glock stables built for them in Oosterbeek. Surprisingly the stalls in the Glock's new stable are a copy cat version of Fiona Bigwood's custom-made Bourne Hill Stables in Great Britain, for which Fiona's husband Anders Dahl was responsible of the design.
On Thursday 28 May 2015 two burglars broke into Anky van Grunsven's house in clear daylight round noon and messed up the house. Windows were broken and jewelry was reported stolen from the first floor. Two men were spotted leaving the property in an black Audi. The next day police apprehended the thieves by pulling over a car on the A27 motorway. One of the passengers was carrying watches, which the police first thought to be fake, but they later turned out to be Anky's. The thieves had also stolen a passport, a driver's licence and a credit card. An investigation is still ongoing.