The 5-year old Fürst Khevenhüller and the 6-year old Samira have won the 2007 Bundeschampionate Finals which took place at the German Equestrian Federation in Warendorf, Germany, August 29 - September 2, 2007.
It's been since the victory of Poetin at the 2003 Bundeschampionate that the audience and judges were so moved by the performances of some of the youngsters. Especially Samira took everyone's breath away. Under Bärbel Förster-Henrich, the black Rhinelander bred mare (by Sandro Hit x Rockwell) scored 9.70 in the 6-year old Dressage Horse finals. The elegant mare received a 10 for trot and submissiveness and 9.5 for canter, walk and general impression.
The reserve champion in the 6-year old division was the Hanoverian Pretender (by Prince Thatch xx x Weltmeyer). Under former young rider Stephanie Jansen, the gelding scored 9.0 overall and 9's for all gaits as well as submissiveness and general impression. Stephanie Jansen won team gold at the 2003 European Championships in Necarne Castle (IRL) aboard Dornik Double. In the Junior division, she was Rhinish champion in 2004 on a sponsored horse but at the same time bought Pretender, a Hannoverian by Prince Thatch x Weltmeyer. She already made in to the BuCha finals with him last year, but this year the now 19-year-old truly proved that if you have the talent to "make" your own horse, the world doesn't end if you don't make it as a Junior rider at once.
The champion in the 5-year old dressage horse class was the liver chestnut Rhinelander branded gelding Fürst Khevenhüller. Under Helen Langehanenberg, the Florestan x Rohdiamant offspring scored 9.00. The judges awarded the pair 8.5 for trot, 9.5 for canter and walk, 8.5 for submissiveness and 9.0 for general impression. The horse is owned by Sissy Max-Theurer who purchased Fürst Khevenhüller as a 3-year old old at the stallion licensing. She decided to use him for sport instead of breeding and had him gelded. Reserve champion in the 5-year old class was Ibikon's Rostropowitsch, a Westfalian by Rockwell x Coriograf). Under Dorothee Schneider he scored 8.9.
Photo copyrighted: Barbara Schnell
