At the German selection trial for the 2012 World Young Horse Championships, the Norwegian Isabel Bache presented the Hanoverian chestnut gelding Bobcat, a Breitling W x Silvano N x Royal Angelo I. The horse is late born in November 2006
but has been qualified to compete in Verden in the 5-year old division amongst younger peers. When asked the German Equestrian Federation what their policy about age categories is, Teresa Dohms explained Eurodressage that In the rules of German horse breeding an age category is not determined by the 1 January - 31 December date, but in fact by the 1 November - 31 October deadline. Therefore Bobcat is considered a 5-year old in 2012 instead of a 6-year old.
Photo © LL-foto.de
Dutch kur composer Cees Slings has been regularly releasing amazing videos of his productions working with Swedish Grand Prix rider Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven. For the first time now, Slings has posted a full freestyle music video of Don Auriello's "Who's Anton" Kur based on The Who's Tommy. "This video shows the skills of a world-class top rider and a world-class top horse, using top quality, tailormade freestyle," Slings said. "This is what freestyle dressage is all about: dancing to the rhythm and the groove of the music, each transition accentuated and with a breathless flow following the tempo of the horse in all its gaits."
Patrik Kittel's small tour star and former young horse World Champion Donna Unique (by Don Schufro x Falkland) will become a mom next year. An embryo was successfully flushed from her and implanted in a surrogate mare. Donna Unique was bred to Sezuan (by Zack x Don Schufro x Lionell).
Because of a minor injury Chagall D&R (by Jazz x De Niro) will participate in the final Dutch selection trial for the World Championships Young Horses in Verden. At the previous selection day Chagall was not 100% fit. "After observation by the vet he seemed to have a minor injury and is immediately treated," said owner Carolyn de Roo. Therefore, Chagall will not be able to compete in the last Dutch trial on Tuesday 10 July. "We hope that he will be 100% fit for the PAVO cup and we wish all participants much success in the final selection," de Roo added.
The Oldenburg licensed dressage stallions Rubin Royal (by Rohdiamant x Grundstein II) and Royal Diamond (by Rubinstein x Inschallah) have been sold by the Swiss owned and German based yard Dressage Performance Center Lodbergen to associated stallion station, Training Centre Lee, in Switzerland. Both stallions will stand at stud at this new EU-station in Bernhardzeil as of 2013.
German dressage trainer Jurgen Koschel has joined the Oldenburg Foal Seletion committee. He will be flanked by breeding director Katrin Burgen and selection committee member Ulrich Henschke. "It's fun to do and very interesting as well," Koschel commented. "Maybe I'll get to see the next Olympic champion."
The past few months two internationally competed dressage horses passed away unexpectedly. A necropsy was carried out on both horses and the cause of death of one horse has been revealed. Jessica Süss' Grand Prix level trained Friesian Zorro died up a ruptured stomach ulcer. The final necropsy results of Jordi Domingo's Olympic mount Prestige are released today.