Hubertus Schmidt's number one Grand Prix horse Valentino G has been sold to Dr. Jorge de la Rocha from Brazil. The 10-year old Dutch warmblood gelding by Ferro x Damiro was owned by Joachim Arl and will be De la Rocha's Olympic hopeful.
Schmidt and Valentino G partnered for one show season and after only 5 CDI's in 2011 the combination moved all the way up the 28th position of the FEI Dressage Riders' Ranking. The pair beat Totilas in the Grand Prix at the 2011 CDI Wiesbaden and Schmidt won the Grand Prix at the 2011 Hamburg Dressage Derby, but decided not to do the Horse Change Finals due to the horse's young age.
"Valentino G is totally easy to ride and does the Grand Prix so easily," Arl told Eurodressage. "Dr De la Rocha wanted to return to the show ring and compete again and I'm sure he'll be able to accomplish his goals with Valentino G."
Last year Dr de la Rocha sustained an injury in a riding accident and returned his Grand Prix horse Donnelly (by Donnerruf) to Germany for the horse to continue its competition career there. Arl took over the managament of the sympathetic Westfalian gelding and allocated the ride to Finnish Grand Prix rider Emma Kanerva, who is aiming for the 2012 Olympic Games with the help of her trainer Hubertus Schmidt.
The brand new combination has been getting their feet wet at national shows in Zierow, Bielefeld and Munster in preparation of the 2012 CDI season. The duo will be competing at the Sunshine Tour CDI in Spain and Riviera Tour CDI in Vidauban, France, in February and March.
As Valentino G shipped to Brazil, De la Rocha's 14-year old Oldenburg Grand Prix horse Don't Forget (by De Niro x Andiamo) came to Germany in Arl's ownership to be sold. The uncomplicated, gorgeous chestnut is now campaigned by Swedish Patrik Kittel.
Kittel and Don't Forget had a fabulous show debut at the CDN Munster where they finished third twice in the Grand Prix (69.702%) and Grand Prix Special (71.198%).
"Don't Forget is totally uncomplicated and so well trained that Patrik was just able to get on and compete him. He decided to go for Munster straight away and was in the top three twice," Arl explained. "Don't Forget is such a wonderful Grand Prix horse."
Photos © Astrid Appels - Maria Burczyk
Related Links
Donnelly in Training with Emma Kanerva
Scores 2011 Hamburg Dressage Derby