The sudden death of the top stallion Furst Heinrich captivated the dressage and breeding world, especially because of the refusal of Gestut Sprehe to produce an official statement on the passing of the stallion. The thread on Furst Heinrich on the Horse Gate discussion board was exploding with "speculation" and rumours. Rumours included the horse having had an aneurysm; others stated he had navicular. Another story is that he had a tooth pulled and flushed in a clinic, after which he developed a severe fever and died. Sprehe has not issued a statement and there is no mention of the passing of his top stallion on his website at the moment or how Sprehe is handling the situation (necropsy??). Where's Sherlock Holmes when you need him!
Maria Schwennesen has been appointed member of the Australian National Dressage Selection Panel following the resignation of Mary Seefried. Mary Seefried's resignation was part of the conditions for her appointment to the Dressage Ground Jury at the 2006 Aachen World Equestrian Games. Maria Schwennesen hails from Queensland and has been an A-level Dressage Judge and a member of the Queensland Dressage Committee since 1997. Maria has also gathered experience over a number of years “sitting in” with International judges at events such as the Aachen CHIO. Following her participation at the recent International Dressage Judges’ Clinic held in conjunction with the Australian Dressage Championships and her passing of the Judges’ exam, we expect Maria to be promoted soon to the FEI Judges’ List as a Candidate International Dressage Judge
Ulla Salzgeber's 11-year old Oldenburg gelding Loretto died unexpectedly on October 14, 2005. The chestnut gelding, who was trained to Grand Prix level by Ulla's student Frank Freund, suffered an aorta aneurysm and died instantly. The horse was in full training and was being prepared for participation in the Piaff Forderpreis under Freund.
The Bold and the Beautiful soap in Germany continues. Nadine Capellmann and Martin Schaudt have officially announced their break up in an article about the Oldenburg stallion Rion (by Rubinstein). Rion is owned by Capellmann, but was being shown and trained by Schaudt. Due to their split, Rion is now back with Nadine in Wurselen, Germany.
The 6-year old Deutsches Reitpony mare No Angel (Nobelboy x Niklas) has been sold to Belgium. No Angel finished third at the 2004 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf under Charlott Maria Schurmann. No Angel will now be ridden by the Belgian Miss Schuurmans.
Another top FEI Dressage pony sold to Belgium. The 9-year old Dutch bredSchermeer's Hof Aladin (by Cupkeshof Winobert) sold to Saidja Brison. Aladin was being competed by Dutch pony team member Mara de Vries, who showed the chestnut at international pony competitions such as the CDIO-P Saumur.
Not always were eyes focused on the Dixon Oval ring at the 2005 Dressage at Devon CDI in Devon, Pennsylvania, USA. A flashing intro was made by a new young stallion in the United States. Bent Jensen, former Olympic Danish team rider, has purchased the 4-year old Danish warmblood stallion Cassidy (by Blue Hors Cavan) and presented the stallion for licensing with the ISR/ONA society in Devon. Of course this flashy mover was immediaitely accepted for lifetime by ISR/ONA and Bent could not surpress a huge smile on his face, when he was riding his youngster in between the FEI horses and claiming the spotlight amongst all of them.