German based British dressage team rider Fiona Bigwood has had success with two of her young stallions, who both won their performance tests in Germany.
The three-year-old Wizenzo, who is by Wolkentanz I out of a Sherlock Holmes-sired mare, won the 70-day test in Marbach with the exceptionally high score of 143.9 in the dressage and 134.2 overall. He scored four 10s and five nines, receiving nines for his paces and 10s for temperament and rideability.
Fiona’s other three-year-old stallion, Ricochet by Romancero x Wolkenstein II, won the 30-day test at Adelsheidsdorf with a total of 8.2 and received 8.75 for trot, canter and rideability. Both stallions stand at stud at Ferienhof Stucker in Weeze, Germany.
Fiona, who has represented Britain on numerous occasions, said: “It’s not easy to win these tests, so I am absolutely delighted to have both stallions achieving this. It shows that the British are coming along with the breeding aspect of dressage horses.”
More British owned stallions did well in Germany. Flax Lion Stud’s Samaii is believed to be the first British-bred coloured stallion to pass a 30-day performance test in Germany. Owner Cheryl Mitchell bred the three-year-old by Sambertino out of the elite Hanoverian mare Berolina (by Brentano II). Samaii completed his 30-day test at Neustadt recently, achieving an overall dressage score of 8.18, a 9 for character and temperament, 8 for canter and 8.5 for his walk.
Cheryl said: “Considering the Germans generally don’t like coloured horses, it has been quite an achievement and I am amazed that we’ve had an enormous amount of interest in him as a sire. He will continue his dressage career in Germany and go forward to the 70-day test next year.”
Kilbees Farm Stud's Beltoni and Donaugold swept the board in their 30-day performance tests. Sarah and Tony Pidgley’s Beltoni was the overall winner with marks of 9 for trot, 9.5 for canter, 8.8 for walk, 9.35 for character and a magic 10 for rideability. The Trakehner stallion Donaugold was a close second and demonstrated his versatility by gaining the highest score of the day for his jumping ability.
Photo copyrighted: Werner Ernst
Related Links
British Success at 2007 Westfalian Stallion Licensing for Riding Horses
Trakehner Stallion Lowelas Sold to Fiona Bigwood