Swiss Grand Prix rider Birgit Wientzek-Plage seems to be have found her stride on the young Grand Prix horse Robinvale, climbing consistently on the score board this winter with a recent Grand Prix Special victory at the 2018 CDI Le Mans to boot.
Robinvale is an 11-year old British Hanoverian gelding, bred by British Tony and Sarah Pidgley at Kilbees farm. He is by Rubinero out of Wedgewood (by Wittinger x Wenzel x Shogun xx).
Robinvale is just one of numerous examples of how Hof Kasselmann not only sells talented young dressage horses through its annual PSI auction, but how the yard also nurtures young talent, trains it at home and then sells them as Grand Prix stars that become frontrow players in the international Grand Prix sport. Robinvale joins the likes of for instance Legolas (Steffen Peters), Delatio and Lollipop (Emile Faurie) amongst many others.
The bay sold to the Swiss based Grecian Theodora Livanos in February 2017 with the goal to be consolidated at Grand Prix level by her trainer Birgit Wientzek-Plage and then become a ride for Theodora. Wientzek-Plage made her CDI debut on Robinvale at medium tour level in August 2017 at the CDI Le Crozet and then took him to GP level at the CDI's in Le Mans and Frankfurt.
The pair kicked off 2018 with a bang at the 2018 CDI Indoor Le Mans on 15 - 17 February 2018, placing fifth in the Grand Prix with 68.609% and winning the Grand Prix Special with 70.085%. Fellow country mate and Swiss A-squad member Antonella Joannou and Dandy de la Roche joined the pair to post solid scores in Le Mans. Joannou got 70.043% in the Grand Prix and 67.553% in the Special.
Currently still a member of the Senior Perspective B-team, Wientzek-Plage might soon promote to the elite squad and be eligible for Swiss team selection for the 2018 World Equestrian Games if good scores and fitness continue to be proven.
Photo © LL-foto
Related Links
Swiss Dressage Squads for 2018 Named
Wyss and Pfister Join Swiss Equestrian Federation's Technical Dressage Staff
Robinvale Sold to Theodora Livanos