The Austrian Ahorner family has been seriously investing in some top ponies via the Rothenberger family. After acquiring Ghost, one of Germany's most successful FEI ponies, as well as Now and Forever Feivel and the Junior riders horse Florinero for their daughter Nicola
, the Ahorners also purchased the 6-year old Mad Max (by The Braes my Mobility x Mutter von Sandro Hit), which Anna Lisa Theile rode for Sven Rothenberger at the 2011 Bundeschampionate.
Photo © Barbara Schnell
Blue Hors Stud's 5-year old Danish licensed stallion Touch Me (by Tuschinski x Kennedy) has been leased to Finnish Anne Niemi. Ridehesten reported that Touch Me sired 44 foals last year in Denmark and he completed his 35-day stallion performance test in February 2012.
Canadian blogger Karen Robinson hits the nail on the head with her latest scribblings on the FEI's unjustified animose position towards the IDRC. Robinson wrote: In all the legal wrangling that now dominates the ‘conversation’, one bit of factual material has been entirely ignored by the FEI. The two individuals that the IDRC dared remove from their membership were not even members until AFTER they were nominated by their NFs and learned that IDRC membership is mandatory for the FEI DC rider rep. I’m also still finding it hard to buy the idea that the NFs, as a majority, asked to have the IDRC kicked out. But that’s what the FEI said, and they certainly said it in no uncertain terms. One more thing: I’m still not able to believe every single horse person on this planet doesn’t love Kyra unconditionally, like my dog loves me. Not that Kyra would expect to get away with anything, not at all. That’s what makes Kyra so cool. She is straight, and real and honest. Not to mention one hell of a rider and trainer.
Australian Rossane Mason has acquired the 9-year old Dutch bred dressage pony Triple Tree's Prince Perfect. The chestnut licensed stallion was owned by the Danish Katrinelund stud.
Christa van Duin has resigned as press officer of the Dutch Equestrian Federation. She will leave the KNHS on 1 May 2012 after 11 years on the job. From November 1997 till May 2001 Van Duin worked as groom, stable manager and PR agent at Anky van Grunsven's stable.
The 6-year old Welsh pony Tiesto (by Bodo x Downland Folklore) has been sold to the Swiss Elena Krattiger, who will continue career of this pony at FEI level. Under Jody Tissen, Tiesto was the 4 and 5-year old Dutch Young Pony Champion in 2010 and 2011.
Former British team rider Anna Ross-Davies had to evacuate her yard Cholderton Park, when a devastating fire broke out in the main manor, Cholderton House, on the property. Horse and Hound reported that Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze at Cholderton House started at 7.22am this morning (Tuesday 6 March) in the sitting room and spread to the top two floors. The 17th-century manor house is privately owned. Neighbours and friends rallied round to lead the 25 horses on Anna’s yard to safety. Ross-Davies has been at Cholderton Park since January 2012.
Dutch celebrity pianist Wibi Soerjadi has agreed to compose the new freestyle for Imke Schellekens-Bartels' upcoming Grand Prix horse Toots (by Jazz). Soerjadi also composed Imke's highly successful freestyle The Spirit of Sunrise for her championship horse Sunrise.
British Dressage reported that Mike West passed away peacefully on Tuesday 6 March, after a five year fight against multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer. Mike was one of dressage’s leading commentators and also a long-time friend of British Dressage. He was involved in many of our top shows. Mike, and fellow commentator Cris Howard, worked together at a lot of the major shows and many people referred to Mike as ‘the voice of Hickstead’. In addition to Hickstead, Mike commentated at the National Dressage Championships for many years as well as Frys, Hartpury and Soley Farm CDIs. He also always enjoyed the BYRDS Under-25s Festival at Sheepgate, many Premier League Shows and the Wellington Freestyle to Music Championships.
KWPN breeder Wim van der Noll passed away at age 75 on Wednesday 7 March 2012. As breeder of Olympic Bo (by Rinaldo), Van der Noll was named KWPN Breeder of the Year in 1996. He remained active in his local KWPN breeding community till the end of his life.
DIXIT - Quotes of the Week
Ton Corbeau, the editor-in-chief of Dutch equestrian magazine De Hoefslag, tweeted the following belief: "Sjef Janssen can bring German Dressage from the times of Ivanhoe into the 21st century."
The 62-year old Dutch team trainer Sjef Janssen said on the Dutch tv-programme NOS Sportjournal about him training Matthias Rath that "when someone puts enough money on the table and I see a future in the combination, why not?
On his website Ludwig's Horse World, German journalist Dieter Ludwig quoted 63-year old German trainer Johann Hinnemann: "Not the helmet but the top hat is part of the official attire of a rider of the highest level of dressage. There is nothing against wearing a helmet while training but obedience is the top priority of the training of a dressage horse and then a helmet does not necessarily fit in a dressage test.