Chronicle of the Horse Readers Favour FBW Kennedy and Guenter Seidel

Dressage

American Dressage News

Readers of the American equestrian magazine Chronicle of the Horse have named Guenter Seidel, U.S. Horseman of the Year 2004, and FBW Kennedy, U.S. Dressage Horse of the Year 2004.

Seidel earned his Horseman of the Year title based on his remarkable performances in 2004. The American dressage rider, who is German born but who lives in Cardiff, California, qualified two horses for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Short List and won team bronze at the 2004 Olympic Games. Added to that is Seidel's fantastic attitude towards dressage and competition which make him a desireable team rider who is respected by his fellow team mates.

The Chronicle wrote about Seidel: " For high-performance equestrians, getting to the Olympics is the fusion of years of dreaming, tons of talent, decades of hard work, and luck. Finding that right horse and preparing it for the rigors of international competition is an all-consuming job that takes a toll on the psyche. But what if you have two horses you’re preparing for the Olympics? That’s twice the effort, planning, expense and stress. Enough to make a rider crazy if he or she lets it. But if you’re Guenter Seidel, who qualified two horses for the 2004 U.S. Olympic dressage team’s short list, you’re not a stranger to that situation because you simply planned it that way."

The Chronicle of the Horse voted FBW Kennedy as Horse of the Year 2004. The Chronicle was full of praise for the chestnut Baden Wurttemberger gelding. "There aren’t many horses in the world who retired five-time Olympian to rush out and catch
to Europe. But when Robert Dover learned that might be for sale, that’s exactly what he did."

Dover's long time sponsor Jane Clark bought Kennedy in September 2003 and only one year later, Dover was the second best performing American in dressage at the 2004 Olympics, finishing sixth individually and winning team bronze.

Image copyrighted: Astrid Appels/Eurodressage