The KWPN licensed breeding stallion Facet, who gained international recognition as Ellen Bontje's Prix St Georges horse, has been sold to the United States.
Facet has been in the United States since March, 2003 and is currently owned by Gay Walker from California. Under trainer Jennifer Hoffmann, the chestnut Facet won the Intermediaire I sweepstakes with a score of 69.50% at Dressage at DG Bar Ranch in May.
Gay Walker purchased the 16-year old Facet (Vanitas x Tolbert) from German young rider Gerda Lehmann. "Facet is the best thing that ever happened to me. I feel like I've won the lottery," Walker said. Facet will be up for stud in the U.S.A. for the 2004 Breeding season.
The 16.1 hands high Facet claimed his very first fame in the show ring under Dutch pony chef d'equipe Mieke de Kok/Van Gent. In 1998 he became internationally renowned as he was shown at Prix St Georges level by Dutch Olympic team rider Ellen Bontje. Facet immediately drew the attention of German Grand Prix rider Manfred Queck, who at the time trained with Bontje in Germany. Queck purchased Facet to compete him in the big tour at various European CDI competitions for one year, before selling him to German young rider Gerda Lehmann, who made Queck an offer he couldn't refuse.
In 1999, Lehmann and Facet were a solid combination at Prix St Georges level, but as the now 23-year old Lehmann increased her horse collection with Heslegards Louis (by Lauries Crusador xx) and Giovanni, she moved on and gave the ride of Facet back to Queck. In 2000 Queck and Facet became Baden Wurttemberger Reserve Champions at Grand Prix level and continued to compete together in CDI's till 2002.
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