Annabel Frenzen's Cristobal Passed Away

Dressage

Germany

German Grand Prix rider Annabel Frenzen announced the passing of her career starting Grand Prix horse Cristobal on 11 August 2026.

Cristobal K was a 1999 born Holsteiner by Coriander out of Accola (by Caribo GL x Livorno R). He was bred by Klaus Kudlinski.

Alexandra Klein

The dark bay gelding was first trained and competed by Alexandra Klein, who produced him up to small tour level.

Klein and Cristobal made their show debut in 2004 when the horse was 5 and went to the 2004 Bundeschampionate where they finished 19th.

In 2005 she showed him sparingly and there were no shows in 2006. In 2007 she moved the horse up to small tour level and put miles on him at local shows in south Germany.

Klein's last competition on Cristobal was in April 2008 in Wettlkam.

From Juniors to Under 25

The Holsteiner sold to Annabel's father Achim Frenzen as a junior rider's mount for his daughter.

"When he joined our stable in 2008, it was the greatest gift for me, but at the same time, with his playful and spirited nature, he was also a challenge at first," Annabel remembered. "He was always in for a surprise, but when he wasn’t spooking out of a corner, he was always back in front of me."

Annabel and Cristobal debuted at a local show in Duisburg in June 2008 at M-level and finished 6th at the German Junior Riders Championships in Hanover that year.

In 2009 they moved into the young riders division and headed to the Preis der Besten where they were 6th in the Kur, as well as made their international debut at the CDIO-YR Hagen. In 2010 they showed at the CDI Stadl Paura and Hagen and won silver at the German Young Riders Championships in Aachen.

In 2011 they got their feet wet at Grand Prix level at a several national shows as well as the Piaff Forderpreis U25 qualifiers, but internationally they continued to focus on Young Riders level and were selected on the German team for the 2011 European Young Riders Championships in Broholm, where they won team gold and finished with silver in the Kur. They won silver at the 2011 German Young Riders Championships and concluded that year with a second place in the Piaff Forderpreis finals in Stuttgart. They would go on to compete in four more, consecutive Piaff Forderpreis finals.

Consolidating at Grand Prix

As of 2012 they were committed to Grand Prix level competition, mixing U25 with senior division started.

"S-level dressage was sometimes just too boring for him. He wasn’t truly focused and fully engaged with me until we got to the Grand Prix exercises. From then on, we were an incredibly great team," said Annabel.

They were second and fourth in the CDIO Aachen Under 25 invitational. They returned to the Piaff Forderpreis finals for a fifth place. In 2013 they showed nationally, as well as at the CDIO Rotterdam, and contested their third consecutive Piaff Forderpreis Finals, finishing second again. In 2014 they placed fifth , in 2015 they were third.

The Holsteiner kept on going strongly and Frenzen rode the gelding in many more shows through October 2016. The energizer bunny with sturdy legs had many miles down his belt. The German equestrian federation recorded no less than 237 starts in national and international classes.

He showed at CDI's in Stadl Paura, Mannheim, Joosland, Hagen, Deauville, Roosendaal, Lier, Wiesbaden and Compiegne. The latter was his last international as part of the German team for the FEI Nations Cup. They were 31st in the Grand Prix with 65.600%. His last national show was in October 2016 in Nürnberg.

"A total of 35 victories, including 22 at the 3* level, international wins and placings, all the way up to 5* Nations Cups," Frenzen summarised. "So many great competitions, so many special experiences, so many connections and friendships, so much growth as a rider, and so much joy having you by my side."

Sad Passing

Cristobal had a long, happy retirement in the field at Frenzen's farmily yard. He passed two weeks ago.

"Our beloved Crissi passed away while grazing in the pasture with his herd," Frenzen explained. "We are incredibly saddened by this loss! Crissi was part of our family, and we owe him so much. I learned so much from him and with him, starting as a junior and all the way up to the Grand Prix level! For years, he was my faithful companion in the arena and my best friend."