Fazzino, the bronze medal winning horse in the 6-year old division at the 2004 World Young Horse Championships in Verden, has been sold to Brigitte and Patrick de Deken from Kontich, Belgium.
The Belgian couple acquired the 7-year old Fazzino from Jörg and Michaela Habenicht-Otte through mediation of Eurodressage's Astrid Appels. Daughter Julie De Deken will be training Fazzino under the supervision of Grand Prix trainer Tineke Bartels.
"Julie just fell in love with the horse. It was love at first sight," Brigitte told Eurodressage. "He's a fantastic horse, gorgeous, clear in his head and has wonderful gaits. Julie will be riding him at Young Riders level this year."
Fazzino is a chestnut Westfalian branded gelding by Florestan out of a Rivellino xx dam. He was discovered as foal by Jorg and Michaela Habenicht, who reared him at their home farm in Selm, Germany. Michaela green broke Fazzino, but professional rider Arnd Erben took over, when Fazzino was ready for serious competitions.
In the summer of 2004, Fazzino won the bronze medal in the six year old division at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, Germany. The chestnut stood out with his divine appearance, long legs and light footed gaits. In the first round in Verden, Fazzino scored 8.2 for his walk and 9.0 for his trot and canter. With an overall score of 9.0 he placed second. In the final round he scored an overall 8.68 which put him in bronze medal position at the most important young horse show in the world. He also qualified for the 2004 Bundeschampionate, the German Young Horse Championships in Warendorf, Germany.
Owners Jorg and Michaela are saddened by the departure of Fazzino, but are ecstatic that their horse is going to Bartels' Horse Academy, the world renowned training barn of Tineke and Joep Bartels and their daughter Imke Schellekens-Bartels. "We shed a few tears, but are very happy he's going to the De Dekens. Julie de Deken is a rider with so much skill and talent," Jorg Habenicht told Eurodressage. "The try-out went super. Julie rode pirouettes that could be ridden on a platter, so small and without loss of impulsion. Fazzino showed an extended trot like in Verden. His canter was ground covering with good flying changes and fine traversal movements."
The De Deken family are also extremely happy about their purchase and complimented on the perfect handling of the sale of this horse. "It was so sweet. We received an instructions' manuel from Michaela about Fazzino's behaviour and Arnd [Erben] wrote us a letter about his experiences on Fazzino," Brigitte de Deken said. "We were really moved by that."
The sale of Fazzino to Julie de Deken is very exciting news for Belgian dressage as it is the first time that such a top level, confirmed medal winning horse has been acquired by a dressage rider in Belgium.
Fazzino photos copyrighted: Astrid Appels
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