At the annual stallion show in Aachen on Saturday January 19, 2008, the Danish team rider Anders Dahl has been awarded the German "Goldenes Reitabzeichen."
This gold medal, which is seen pinned on the shadbellies of the best dressage riders who have competed in Germany, is awarded to those riders who have achieved 10 victories at S-level. Riding the 6-year old Hanoverian stallion Dramatic (by Don Frederico x Weltmeyer), Dahl received the medal at the stallion show.
Photo copyrighted: Ridehesten
Lone Jorgensen's chestnut mare Donna Asana has been named Baden Wurttemberger Horse of the Year 2007. This 7,5-year old (!) Grand Prix horse by Don Schufro was chosen among six other nominees for the title. It is the fourth time that the Danish Lone Jorgensen, who is based in South Germany, has won this title with her horses. The first time, Wempe Juwel won it (later sold to Leida Strijk), then she also won the title with Kennedy and Ludewig G.
The latter horse, Ludewig G (by Landfriese I x Ibikys) has finally been sold. The horse has been for sale since after the 2006 World Equestrian Games and has finally found a new owner in Raballo Costa, a Brazilian rider who trains with the Dutch Leida Strijk. De Hoefslag reported this news of the sale of the dark bay gelding.
More Danish news. The full sister of Polka Hit Nexen, the lovely Sandro Hit mare which finished fourth at the 2007 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, has been sold for a top amount of money in a private deal between breeders in Denmark. The five months old filly by Sandro Hit x Temple Wind xx sold for a price normally only achieved at auction.
Sad news from The Netherlands. 21-year old young rider Nathalie van den Broek passed away unexpectedly on Monday January 21, 2008. The successful rider from Heeze, The Netherlands, was preparing her Dutch warmblood Nifango (by Contango) for Grand Prix level competition. No cause of death has been published by De Hoefslag, Horses of the Dutch, nor the Dutch newspaper Eindhovens Dagblad.
Kampmann Cup Calls it Quits. Heinrich Kampmann has decided to end the Kampmann Cup after the 2008 Finals in Bremen, Germany, in February 2008. Kampmann, a multinational producing cooling and heating systems, will continue to sponsor the equestrian sport but will focus on competitions that are being broadcast on television to optimize their company's visibility.
Schweppes has used footage of Jan Brink competing for a German tv-commercial... Though Brink is not used throughout the clip. Check out the Schweppes Bull. Strange video clip, strange message the company is trying to put across.
Holland Olympic Club will the equestrian replacement for the Holland Heineken House at the 2008 Olympic Games. The Holland Heineken House is the official spot where Dutch athletes group together for media interviews, information and Olympic parties but because the equestrian discipline is held in Hong Kong, Dutch equestrian athletes will have no access to the Holland Heineken House. In Hong Kong, an equivalent will be set up which is called Holland Olympic Club.
Horses of the Dutch reported that German team rider Hubertus Schmidt has done some horse shopping in The Netherlands. Very recently two horses have been bouhgt for Schmidt: the 18.1 hh standing Grand Prix horse Pavarotti (by Ferro) from Jannette Bouwman and the small tour horse 8-yearr old Tristan (by Havidoff), owned by Nel and Jan Rensen.
Laurens van Lieren will not be competing Hexagon's Ollright at the CDI-W Amsterdam this weekend. The chestnut gelding by Rubiquil tripped during training on Monday and was uneven. Even though the vet could not find an issue, Van Lieren has decided to withdraw from Amsterdam in agreement with chef d'Equipe Mariette Sanders and team trainer Sjef Janssen. Van Lieren is showing at small tour level with the mare Laterna (by Corrado). Rien van der Schaft and Madorijke are filling up the freed big tour spot of Ollright.