The clear favourite in the national Under 25 competition held at the CDI Hagen mid April, Sanneke Rothenberger took out both the warm-up test and the Grand Prix with 74.158% and 73.209% with fellow German youngsters Victoria Michalke and Nadine Husenbeth also raking in some standout results.
Recentl returned from a school exchange stint in Canada, Sanneke saddled her Grand Prix schoolmaster Favourit (by Fidermark x Worldchamp) for the Hagen U25 show.
"Hagen was the first outdoor competition for us both," started Sanneke, "so it was very exciting. Also, due to the fact that the competition was held during my exchange semester. Mum and I said that we just wanted to do our best and see how far we could get."
Sanneke felt her horse Favourit gave her a great feeling even in the first test but she could feel that the horse was a bit nervous and was not sure how he would react in the outdoor test environment. "Outdoor competitions are still somewhat different than indoor competitions and because his previous rider told me he could be a little bit “funny” at the first outdoor competition," said Sanneke. "However, he gave me a lot of confidence during the test. My main Hagen highlight, however, was actually the training before the second test where everything went as it should and he was just so much fun to ride. "
A horse that loves to cuddle, Favourit has won over all the hearts in the stable and his stable mates Corpeggio and Deveraux, who stand next to him at home, love him and always greet him when he comes back from training, walking, or from the paddock. "When ridden he is always happy to work but never gives you the feeling that you must be scared and that is why my sister rode him once in order to get the feeling of how it could be when riding a big horse. The only thing he doesn’t like is being on the lorry on his own, that is why we took a younger horse with us to Hagen. All in all, he is a very uncomplicated horse to work with and always gives a very reassuring feeling to everyone. That makes him so special."
Approaching Swedish Grand Prix rider Tinne Vilhelmson two years ago, Sanneke's father, Olympian Sven Rothenberger, asked her about the horse more as a joke rather than a serious offer and wondered about the possibility of Sanneke riding Favourit. "Then the day came that she gave us the opportunity to try him. While trying him out, I recognized again that my dad has a great intuition for finding the perfect horses for us."
According to Sanneke, as soon as a horse moves into their stables, they are all the same to her, regardless of their background, so it made no difference for her to take on such a famous schoolmaster, she was just determined to get it right on him. "He is a very motivated horse and you always have to find the right balance and make sure that he waits for your aids. All horses are very different and this is why you have to adjust to every horse. However, I like to have different horses in order to develop my riding skills, as my dad always says: you have to be able to “play the piano from the very left to the very right”.
Trained at home by her well-known dressage parents Sven and Gonnelien, Sanneke mostly works with her mom, but during the weekends, when everyone is at home, her dad acts as a “Judge”. "He checks on the accuracy of my riding. Since my parents were both very successful in dressage and I traveled with them to the horseshows, I always wanted to do something similar. Still I have noticed that I have taken them by surprise when I stated that I wanted to ride Grand Prix. I think they did not believe that it would be possible to combine my studies at university and horseback-riding. So we will see how I can manage both at a high level."
Recently starting her studies overseas, Sanneke has now finished her exchange semester in Canada, and she found it to be a very different and interesting experience with the very kind and welcoming people in that country. "I am studying General Management at the EBS- Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht, near Wiesbaden, as I am thinking about working in the Real Estate industry. During the summer I will be doing another internship for three months, as I did last year, and then in September my fifth semester will start near Wiesbaden again.”
Hoping to get into a routine at the Grand Prix level, Sanneke believes that so many unforeseen things can happen in the future and so plans can- and often will- change constantly. "Therefore, I just want to keep my horses fit and continue to enjoy my riding."
Fellow German under 25er's, Victoria and Nadine both agree that the Hagen competition offers a great mix of top sport, exhibition and show and were glad to produce good results on home soil. "The beginning in Hagen was not too good for me," Victoria confessed, "but I was very happy with my second place on the Saturday!"
Second in the short Grand Prix with a 69.349%, Michalke took the arena on her 11 year-old gelding Dance On, whom she says is a very special horse for her.
"Particularly because I bought him when he was 3 and so we learned and improved a lot together. I think with him I have a great horse for the big tour but we both need more routine. In Hagen he was very spooky and not concentrating in the first test but the second test was much better, still some mistakes, but much better. I hope we can show over the year that we have the potential to ride constantly faultless and good tests at good shows."
Third in both the warm-up test and the Grand Prix, Nadine Husenbeth made her first start at Horses and Dreams and was very excited to have her talented horse Florida, a 13-year old mare by Fidermark x Grosso Z, in amongst such great competition.
"I took her from my father last year after she competed with him at Grand Prix level. Florida knows that she is my star," said Husenbeth. "She likes to be the centre of attention and I always say she would do everything for sugar. She is, however, a real diva and a little bit aggressive with the other horses, especially when I give them more attention than her. She is a real girl but in competition she is usually relaxed and she really fights for me."
Being trained by her parents Klaus and Britta Husenbeth is something Nadine is really happy about because she feels they make a good family team.
"Some people have asked if it is difficult to train with my parents but it is the best for me," Nadine stated. "We have a great relationship and my sister always stands behind me! This is great!"
Victoria on the other hand trains with Stefan Münch at a stable near Munich and is also lucky to have the support of Jürgen Koschel. "My plan for 2013 is to establish myself and my horses in the upper class and to be successful with both the young and older horses in my stable," said Victoria.
by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
Photos © Astrid Appels - No Reproduction Allowed
Eurodressage photographer Astrid Appels took photos of all combinations competing at the CDI Hagen. Contact us if you are interested in prints of your photos!
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Eurodressage Coverage of the 2013 CDI Hagen