Zgander Sold to the Rothenberger Family

Dressage

German Dressage News

The 6-year old bay Oldenburg bred stallion Zgander has been sold to the German Rothenberger family as rising FEI prospect for Sönke Rothenberger.

As a colt, Zgander was owned by Patricia Florin and Bjarke Laustsen of Gunnarlunda in Sweden. He was briefly ridden and presented by Bjarke Laustsen and Joachim Thomsen and did the Stallion Performance Test in Flyinge.

In 2013 Zgander began competing in Denmark under Emma Ahlberg in Denmark and finished seventh in the 2013 Danish Young Horse Championships in Odense. One year later Spanish Severo Jurado Lopez took over the ride and competed the horse at the 2014 Danish Young Horse Championships in Odense, where the pair finished fourth overall after winning the preliminary round.

Bred by Alfons Brüggehagen and last owned by Helgstrand Dressage, Zgander (by Zack x Florestan x Ferragamo) has now sold to Sven Rothenberger for Sönke to ride.

"He is enormously talented in walk, trot and canter and is gifted for everything," Sönke told Eurodressage. "He always wants to do his best and is a horse with a lot of natural go. That's why we keep him outside practically all day long when possible. I believe it's important for later on in the Grand Prix. They have to be willing to work and he's got that."

Sönke added that the horse is still quite green but with his talent should make a very promising FEI horse. "He's such a cool horse, but we still have a long road ahead of it. I'm looking forward to working with him. He wants to do his best every day."

The 20-year old Sönke is currently commuting between his home in Bad Homburg, Germany, and Nijmeghen University in The Netherlands, where is studying International Business Administration one year abroad. When he is in Holland he trains with Anky van Grunsven and Sjef Janssen in Erp, The Netherlands.