The International Trakehner Bundesturnier is a happening of a special kind. Trakehner horses from all over Europe come together for 4 days and compete in dressage and show jumping up to S levels, and in eventing and driving in classes for young horses.
The idea behind this show originated over 20 years ago and the event was initiated in Westfalia in Vornholz, but later moved to Cologne, then followed by Bonn-Rodderberg and finally found a permanent home in Hanover.
The International Trakehner Championships are staged in Hanover’s beautiful Equestrian Stadium. Events for Young Breeders, an initiative “kids on horses” and an elite foal auction complete a weekend of sport and show. The Bundesturnier is also the Trakehner Verband’s only selection event for the 3 and 4-year old classes for the Bundeschampionate.
Holland Honoured Trakehner Branch
As another treat, one of the Trakehner Verband’s sister organisations is proclaimed “Partner Nation” each year, and in 2010, it was a Dutch delegation that stepped up. Flower, tasty snacks, and a tent full with memorabilia reflecting many highly successful years of Trakehner horses in The Netherlands invited guests for a meeting. The Trakehner Contact Nederland (TCN) was the organization that bought Partout for Anky van Grunsven in Neumünster many years ago and it turned out to be the foundation for one of the most successful branches of the Trakehner Verband worldwide.
In 2010 TCN president Antoon van Osch, who is a successful breeder himself, presented a beautiful statue of the Trakehner stallion Doruto to Anna and Jan Schuil, the breeders of Totilas for their continued promotion of the Trakehner breed in The Netherlands. Anna and Jan Schuil have been guests in Hanover for many years and breed all their mares, KWPN as well as Trakehner, to Trakehner stallions only. As we all know, the results are quite convincing ...
The Trakehner breed is somewhat unique in Germany, as it is one of the smallest stud books, and yet it is the studbook with the highest percentage of S-successful approved stallions of all breeds in Germany. Hence, the Bundesturnier is a great spot to go and see a number of approved stallions in action – a must see for many breeders.
All Inclusive
The field of 3-year old stallions aiming for Bundeschampionat tickets was dominated by Gestüt Tasdorf’s exceptional liver chestnut All Inclusive (by Gribaldi – Buddenbrock) under Hannes Lück. The 2009 Reserve Licensing Champion from Neumünster is a very athletic horse with three high quality gaits and impressive rhythm and balance in all gaits. He was nominated by the Trakehner Verband to represent the breed in Warendorf later this summer. Also selected was 2009 Licensing Champion Kentucky (by Donaufels x Lehndorffs) under Johan Svensson from Gestüt Wiesenhof. The stallion has an outstanding trot, but had a very busy breeding season, which was evident in his overall appearance. Johan Svensson, who also presented the Dressage Champion Edelmut, is a true joy to watch with his youngsters and presented the elegant bay in a best possible way. The third stallion with a ticket to the Bundeschampionat is Oettingen (by Easy Game x Caprimond), which to the surprise of many was not approved in 2009, but impressed in Hanover with excellent movement and self carriage under Ralf Kornprobst.
The field of 3-year old mares and geldings will be represented in Warendorf by Bugatti (by Tambour x Partout) with Sabine Oberdieck and Keanu (by Lücke x Buddenbrock) with Dirk Seewald. Keanu displayed outstanding qualities in his trot and canter work, but lost important points in his rather average walk, while Bugatti had solid trot and canter work, and scored a solid 9.0 for her exceptional walk.
Redecker Impresses
Interestingly, the group of 4-year old stallions was rather weak this year and only a few approved stallions were presented. The 4-year old Champion was last year’s 3-year old Champion Redecker (by Kasparow x Couleur-Fürst), a horse with very high quality movement and an overall athleticism that would also mark him for a jumper career. Presented by Markus Waterhues for Gestüt Hohenschmark, he won the finals and is the only 4-year old stallion with a ticket to Warendorf.
A very impressive display of one particular stallion’s genetic potential the viewers got in the field of 4-year old riding horses. Klosterhof Medingen’s 2004 Licensing Champion Le Rouge presented his sons Herzritter (by Le Rouge x Tivano) under Thomas Wagner and Goleo (by Le Rouge x Sixus) under Vera Nass, who are both nominated for the Bundeschampionat.
Additionally, Hennessy (by Le Rouge x Wolfsprinz) placed 3rd in the finals and the 2008 Licensing Champion stallion Iskander (by Le Rouge x Hohenstein) also qualified for the finals. Le Rouge is more than just a promising young sire though. With rider Vera Nass he won the S* class in Hanover with a solid lead of 69.333%. Approved stallions also got second and third place. Finnish National Champion Terhi Stegars rode Lord Luciano (by Enrico Caruso x Unkenruf), which was bred in the United States and performance tested and approved in Germany, to a final score of 68% and Canadian Olympian Leonie Bramall presented her long-time partner Showtime (by Polarpunkt x Tenor) earned a final score of 67,167%.
Two other approved stallions dominated several dressage classes. In the youngster tour at M* and ** level, the most impressive bay Kancun (by Tuareg x Seeadler) with Camilla Qvistgaard represented his new home Denmark and won both classes. The stallion is a ¾ brother to Monica Theodorescu’s former World Cup partner Renaissance Fleur TSF and has the layout and quality of a world class mount. Kasimir (by Ivernel x Charly Chaplin) and Young Rider Anna-Lena Kracht, who were only brought together a few months ago and who already had an amazing season so far, won both the Prix St. George and Inter I. The S** - Inter II Freestyle was won by a guest from Luxemburg. Diane Erpelding presented the 7-year old Woltair (by King Arthur x Polarpunkt), who also placed in the other S* and ** classes.
The dominating young dressage horse of the show and new Trakehner Champion is Edelmut, a very elegant black mare by Hofrat x Trocadero. She was ridden by Johan Svensson for Gestüt Wiesenhof and won both Young Dressage Horse classes at M level.
And a very special pair came from Norway. Anne Cecilie Ore and her 10-year old gelding Hockey’s son (by Hockey) placed 5th in a L class, which in itself may not be so exiting. Yet, Anne Cecilie is blind and steered her horse through the test with precision and lightness in her contact and aids. She plans to qualify for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, and we wish her the best of luck!
By Dr. Maren Engelhardt for Eurodressage.com
Photos © Jutta Bauernschmitt
Related Links
Kentucky, Champion of the 2009 Trakehner Stallion Licensing
Iskander, Champion of the 2008 Trakehner Stallion Licensing
Le Rouge, 2004 Trakehner Licensing Champion