As usual, the German Equestrian Federation announced its winter German Pony A-teams for show jumping, dressage and evening. Members of the A-team will be sent to the winter indoor competitions in Europe
, such as the CDI Beek and CDI Wanroij. German Pony dressage team chef d'equipe Cornelia Endres selected the following combinations for her team:
Lydia Camp with her 2003 Bundeschampion Dulcia, Patricia Höhn with her 2003 German Pony Champion Konrad, Felicitas Kirschner with the delightful chestnut Going East, Katharina Winkelhues with her 2003 European Pony Champion Dressman and her Bundeschampion Don Josh, and surprising new comer in the team is fifth member Ann-Kristin Dornbracht with Arastou "S"
The 14-year old Dornbracht from Iserlohn, Germany, made her big national break through at the 200 German Pony Championships in which she finished fifth individually and immediately claimed a position in the A-team. Dornbracht also became 2003 Westfalian Regional Champion at FEI Pony Level. She's riding the black Hanoverian mare Arastou "S", a pony with much FEI show experience.
Arastou "S", who is bred by U. Stöter, is a State Premium Mare by Diplomat out of Astoria by Luxor, and became Bundeschampionate champion in 1995 under Andrea Tietze. The pony was then purchased by the Belgian FEI pony rider Hannelore Volders who went on to compete at three European Pony Championships with the lovely mare as member of the Belgian Pony Team. After being advertised in the Equimarket of on Eurodressage's affiliated website Junior-riders.com, Arastou "S" was sold back to Germany. I took Arastou three year to rise again to stardom in the FEI Pony circuit. Much is expected of this pony for the 2004 show season.
Images by Paul van Oers