Austrian A-team rider Renate Voglsang has taken over the ride on Dr. Stefanie Palm's Grand Prix horse Royal Happiness OLD and the new duo made a winning national show debut at the 2017 CDN Ebreichsdorf held at equestrian centre Magna Racino in Ebreichsdorf, Austria, on 20 - 22 January 2017. The brand new pair aced the Intermediaire II and Grand Prix.
Royal Happiness is a 13-year old Oldenburg gelding by Royal Diamond x Consul x Mahon. He was acquired by Stefanie Palm at the Oldenburg Summer Mixed Sales in Vechta for 78,000 euro. Palm took the grey up the levels herself and made her CDI debut at small tour level at the 2012 CDI Stadl Paura. The pair competed at international small tour level from 2012 till 2014. They made the transition to international Grand Prix level in April 2015 at the CDI Stadl Paura.
Based at the jumping yard Reitsportzentrum Hard in Hard, Palm and Royal Happiness have been consistently competing at GP level the past two years with CDI starts at Caselle di Sommacampagna, Lipica, Achleiten, Fritzens, Lamprechtshausen, Salzburg, and Stadl Paura. They finished fifth at the 2016 Austrian Championships in Fritzens.
Dr. Palm, who works as a judge at the regional court in Feldkirch, Austria, has now given the ride on her talented gelding to Voglsang. Palm is pregnant and has therefore given Voglsang the opportunity to qualify her horse for the Austrian team for the 2017 European Championships in Gothenburg.
"Me and my boyfriend are expecting our first child in June so I decided to give Renate the chance to compete Happy for this season," Palm told Eurodressage. "Renate's yard is not far from my house, so that I can visit Happy regularily and help Renate from the ground. He is in such a good shape and it would be a pity not to compete him at the moment. I have to admit that it is very exciting to watch my own horse in a competition. It's a new situation for me!"
The 45-year old Voglsang is a long time Austrian team rider. She represented her country at the 2003 and 2005 European Championships on Davidoff and with Fabriano she was a member of the team at the 2011 and 2013 European Championships, the 2012 Olympic Games and 2014 World Equestrian Games.
Aboard Royal Happiness OLD, Voglsang made a winning show debut. They scored 71.272% in the Intermediaire II ahead of German Jessica von Bredow on Dante's Peak FRH (70.658%). They went on to win Saturday's Grand Prix class with 70.367%, edging out Ulrike Prunthaller on Duccio (by Dimaggio) who was second with 70.167%.
Photos © Florian Stürzenbaum
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