Holland's most successful Grand Prix horse moved to Germany, Germany's most successful young dressage horse ever moves to Holland. Dutch World Dressage Champion Edward Gal has a new ride at his disposal: the triple Bundeschampion Lissaro van de Helle.
The bay Hanoverian licensed stallion, who is owned by Belgians Paul Mais and Edith de Reys of Stoeterij van de Helle, is now in Harskamp, The Netherlands, and will be trained and competed by Gal in the future.
"We don't really know Edward very well, but we wanted to find a good rider for our stallion so my husband picked up the phone and called him," Lissaro's owner Edith de Reys told Eurodressage. "Edward said he wanted to try him first so Lissaro was there for two to three weeks and then we got the message that he could stay."
Under Claudia Rüscher the 5-year old Lissaro van de Helle has built up an unprecedented list of achievements in three years time: triple consecutive German Young Horse Champion (scores: 9 for trot, 9.5 for canter and 10 for walk) and a silver medal at the 2010 World Young Horse Championships in Verden.
The cute bay also won the 30-day stallion performance test in Münster-Handorf after he was licensed for the Hanoverian society as a 2,5 year old. He competed in one show jumping class as a 4-year old and won it.
Lissaro van de Helle (by Lissabon x Matcho AA x Garibaldi II) has been standing at stud at Hof Rüscher-Konermann, but when daughter Claudia Rüscher fled the nest and started working for Heinrich Ramsbrock in Menslage, Lissaro was without a rider.
"It all became too difficult. We asked Claudia if she wanted to keep riding Lissaro and present him at the gala evening of the Hanoverian stallion licensing, but that was unfortunately no longer possible," said De Reys.
After that Lissaro was on the brink of being sold but then the owners changed their mind. They kept the stallion and put him in training with an internationally acclaimed Grand Prix rider.
"Lissaro will not be sold and is no longer for sale. He will be six, so now is time for him to start some serious training," said Edith. "The way of riding at the Bundeschampionate is very different: the horses are open and there's little collection. He's ready to pick up the flying changes and to be trained further."
Hof Rüscher-Konermann will continue to distribute Lissaro's semen as before.
Owner De Reys hopes that Edward Gal will aim for the 2011 World Young Horse Championships, but leaves that goal open. "It all depends on Edward's planning."
Text © Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed
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