Beatrice Burchler-Keller's smashing small tour horse Unee has a new rider. In order to have her horse closer to her home, Swiss O-judge Burchler decided to move Unee from Jasmine Sanche-burger's stables in Germany to Birgit Wientzek-Pläge's barn in her home country Switzerland.
The Dutch warmblood bred Unee (by Gribaldi x Dageraad) was trained and competed by German based Swiss rider Sanche-Burger for two and a half years. The combination finished third in the 2010 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals and he was the highest qualified horse for the regional "Stars of Tomorrow" Final for upcoming Grand Prix Horses with a score of 73.75%
Birgit Wientzek-Plage made her mark on the international scene with Sappalot and is currently campaigning the 7-year old Rhinelander stallion For Compliment (by Fidermark x Compliment) at M-level, the 9-year old Rhinelander gelding Aragon ST (by Abanos x Bolero) at small tour level and the 13-year old Hanoverian gelding Ragazzo G (by Rohdiamant x Werther) at Grand Prix level.
"I was very sorry to take Unee away from Jasmine, but her barn is so far away from here, and I was really sad that I never had the opportunity to visit him and watch his daily training," Burchler-Keller told Eurodressage. "I think he is very happy at his new home and it is 25 minutes from where I live ! Birgit and and Christian already adore him. He is indeed a wonderful horse with a great character, very sensitive and always trying to give its best!"
Wientzek-Plage is very pleased to have a new FEI star in her barn. "Unee seems to be quite happy with us and we are very pleased to have him at our place," Birgit told Eurodressage. "We now take the winter time to get to know each other and find a close relationship. When time shows us that we are ready, we will think about competition plans."
Photo © Silke Rottermann
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