The blessed combination of Ann Kathrin Ehlen and the majestic Trakehner Peron has come to an end. American owner Dr. Carole Meyer-Webster has decided to sell the fourteen year old to Hermann Trösscher, a sport horse breeder in South Germany.
Peron's biggest success was established by the American Michelle Gibson.
This rider achieved the national title at the USET Festival of Champions in 1996. The same year the combination Gibson - Peron became the most powerful American pair at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. Besides the bronze team medal, Michelle Gibson settled the highest scores ever ridden by an American rider at an international event. In the Grand Prix she scored 75.20%, in the Speciale 74.28% and her Kur to Music got 73.35% (which she only had ridden two times). An excellent collection of scores which placed her fifth in the individual rankings. The dressage world was already warned for the performance of Michelle Gibson, who lives and trains in Germany.
But this beautiful success story ended soon. Owner Meyer-Webster decided that Peron wasn't successful enough in the U.S as a breeding stallion and moved him back to Germany. Rudolf Zeilinger was the assigned to improve his Grand Prix qualities and he trained Peron for one whole year. In the meanwhile the Ehlen family from Hamburg were interested in hiring Zeilinger as the trainer for their stable. Zeilinger accepted the job and moved his 18 horses to Hamburg. At the same time Ann Kathrin Ehlen came into a new stable mate and a trainer. For a year she got the opportunity to ride Zeilinger's Grand Prix horses and exercise the movements. Peron and Ann Kathrin soon formed an excellent combination and in corporation with Dr Carole Meyer-Webster, Zeilinger decided to grant Peron to Ann Kathrin. (as Zeilinger was too large for Peron). Last international show for Rudolf Zeilinger and Peron were the 1997 CHIO Aachen. From then, Ann Kathrin started an intensive training session with Peron and showed him, for two years, regularly at smaller international events.
Peron's last competition was the CDI Donaueschingen where Ann Kathrin established the honorable score of 70.93% in the Grand Prix Speciale, placing second behind Isabell Werth and Nobilis Anthony FRH. In August Dr Meyer-Webster made the deal with Herman Trösscher to transport Peron to Hofgut Albfuhren where the Trakehner stallion shall devote his further life to breeding. Peron has to pass on a wonderful line of Trakehner blood, as he is sired by the legendary Mahagoni.
Ann Kathrin has ridden Peron until the end of September. With the departure of Peron, Ann Kathrin still has a stable full of quality dressage horses and is also studying law school (university of Hamburg). Rudolf Zeilinger is currently successful at Grand Prix level with the Hanoverian gelding Livinjo (by Lysander) and his Hanoverian mare Winniza.
Image by Mary Phelps