The weekend of September 14-16, 2007, Dutch Kur composer Cees Slings attended the CAVA Cup competition in Girona, Spain, in support of his client Victor Alvarez who is the founder, sponsor and host of a new exciting horse show circuit in Spain. The Cava Cup is a circuit of competitions in the sunny Barcelona area and strives to be an autumn leg of the famous Sunhine Tour. The CAVA competition, which includes the Copa Victor Alvarez, is hosted at Alvarez' beautiful equestrian facility which has outstanding footing in all arenas, a perfect sound system for the kur and a huge stabling area for the competition horses. The Cava Cup also features classes part of the Copa Ferrer-Salat, sponsored by Beatriz Ferrer-Salat in support of the development of dressage in Spain. Tons of good iniatives in Spain and it's time for European riders to focus their attention on this new circuit. More info at: www.cavahorse.com
The New Forest Pony stallion Kantjes Ronaldo has been gelded. The 20-year old stallion by Watershof Pretendent x Merrie Moscan suffered from an inflammation and "to geld him was the only option," owner Eric van de Rakt told De Hoefslag. Ronaldo was one of the most popular New Forest Pony breeding stallion in The Netherlands. He was represented as sire in all three disciplines at the European Pony Championships. His son Mirror, for instance, won team gold in show jumping at the 2005 Euro Championships.
Lin van der Slikke, former member of the board of directors of the Dutch equestrian magazine De Hoefslag, passed away at age 88 in his castle in Montadet, France. The retired Van der Slikke was an eventing rider and won the Coupe Ackermans at the military in Belgium aboard Etcetera. He received dressage lessons from Ad Klebe en Géza von Hazlinsky. He was an international judge at the CCI's of Badminton, Lexington and Boekelo and at the CDI 's Hertogenbosch. Together with Mrs Key Alta, he was the first importer in The Netherlands of New Forest Ponies from England.
British Grand Prix dressage rider Wayne Channon was spotted buying a foal at the SELL Foal Auction in Deurne, The Netherlands, two weeks ago. He purchased the bay colt Chester (by Sandreo x Ferro) for 17,500 euro.
Horses of the Dutch reported that the 4-year old Pavo Cup participant Wiebert B (by Rousseau x Montecristo x Balzflug) has been sold to the American Harmony Sporthorses. Wiebert B was almost KWPN licensed but failed the stallion performance test. Ridden by Jennifer Sekreve, he did show in the Pavo Cup Semi Finals and scored 75 points. Harmony Sporthorses decided to geld Wiebert B straight away and aims to qualify him for the 2008 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden. Harmony Sporthorses is also the full owner of sire Rousseau and KWPN licensing champion Wamberto (by Rousseau).
The rollkur debate hasn't died yet. The Swedish magazine Tidningen Ridsport has posted photos of the Dutch FEI Dressage Pony Power and Paint on the lunge line with draw reins setting his head in the rollkur/LDR position. The pictures were apparently taken at the 2007 European Pony Championships in Freudenberg, Germany, and show Power's rider, the 15-year old Angela Krooswijk, lunging her pony in the rollkur under the supervision of her trainer. On their website, Tidningen Ridsport has started a debate on these photos.
The Fourth International Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot takes place from November 2-4, 2007 at The Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fl. To register call 1-877-894-8411 or visit www.laminitisconference.com .
We hear that our dear friend and equestrian journalist Thomas Bach Jensen is doing a huge tour through the United States for his new employer, the Danish equestrian magazine Ridehesten. Thomas will be at the CDI Dressage at Devon as well as doing some private farm visits on the east coast for the American Danish Warmblood Magazine.