During the weekend of 19 - 22 July 2012 Trakehner enthusiasts from all over the world gathered at the wonderful equestrium stadium in Hanover, Germany, to celebrate the International Trakehner Bundesturnier 2012. The Bundesturnier is well known for its remarkable atmosphere and so it was no suprise that more than 8,000 spectators, including guest from all over Europe and the US, visited the show with competitions in eventing, show jumping, dressage and driving.
The Trakehner Championships additionally feature classes for 3 and 4 year old riding horses which are aiming for their Bundeschampionate tickets. Especially the 4 year-old classes became one of the highlights of the show. Licensed stallions Herbstkönig and Millenium started a true battle as they dominating the group of 4 year-old stallion class. Millenium, which is owned by the Sprehe familly in partnership with the Moritzburg state stud, won the qualification round with outstanding notes including a 10.0 for his really breathtaking canter and another 10.0 for harmony. Kay Pawlowska and Millenium earned a total of 9.33 for a fantastic ride. Herbstkönig was the runner up on second place under Theresa Wahler. During the finals on Sunday both stallions switched positions when Theresa showed a wonderfully sporty and at the same time elegant ride on Herbstkönig. Owned by Klosterhof Medingen and the Marbach state stud the bay stallion was rewarded with a total of 9.12 and Herbstkönig renewed his title from last year as he was the 3 year-old champion in 2011!
In the qualifier for the 4 year-old mares and geldings a big number of 30 horses tried to reach the finals. La Diva (by Goldschmidt) and Christine Nolden were the winners with a verry good result of 8.33, standing in front of Tasdorf stud’s Schneezauber, ridden by Iwanski Bartosz and last year's champion of the 3 year old mares and geldings, Donauflamme under Madlen Mager. The final group was completed by Mein Traum, a son of the hero champion stallion Caprimond, ridden by Andrea Malissa. The final competition mixed up everything anew when the judges placed Donauflamme first and La Diva last, yet with the difference of only 0,34 points between the first and the 4. The ranking at the top was very close. Donauflamme is a beautiful, high-quality chestnut mare, who also returned to Hanover to defend her title, but this year the mare unfortunately lacked a happy athlete's expression and didn't show ideal rideability, so the notes for harmony were a big surprise to the spectators. Watching the mare's swollen udder and remembering the comments from last year's finals when the announcer said Donauflamme was in foal, the question automatically arose whether it was necessary to compete such a young mare with foal on the ground at these strenuous two-day championships.
In the 3-year old classes for stallions Klosterhof-based licensed stallion High Hopes (by Krokant) became champion under Christina Stricker. The rider was very enthusiastic and on cloud nine when she heard about High Hopes' victory. Second became the non-approved black Zauberlord (by Terhi Stegars S-level- competing Lord Luciano). The enchanting eyecatcher was ridden by Julia Coldewey.
Finally in the 3-year-old class for mares and geldings it was Brancusi who got the title. The son of Kaiserdom was bred by the Mittermayer familly and ridden by Monica Mittermayer. Second in the ranking was Unica, a wonderful mare by FEI stallion Solero TSF, bred and owned by Margit Eisner and presented by Sebastian Langehanenberg.
The much sought-after Tickets for the Warendorf Bundeschampionate later in September this year were distributed at the end of the show. All four new champions were selected as well as 3-year-old premium stallion Dürrenmatt from the Hohenschmark stud, four year-old gelding Schneezauber from Tasdorf, the amazing Millenium and the 4 year-old mare La Diva who looks so similar to her grand sire Biotop, Dr Reiner Klimke's last Grand Prix horse. The reserve nominations went to 3 year-old Unica under Sebastian Langehanenberg and Schwarzgold, a premium stallion of the same age ridden by Anna Sophie Fiebelkorn.
A lot of classes for S and medium dressage horses up to St. Georg, Inter I & Inter freestyle completed the show program which featured a good number of talented Trakehner dressage youngsters. Especially interesting to watch were the classes for young dressage horses reaching the advanced level like the S2, but then ridden in a snaffle!
The title of new Trakehner dressage champion 2012 always goes to the best 6 year-old dressage horse in M level classe and this year the title went to Düsterberg, an approved stallion owned by the Huttner Family's Wiesenhof stud and ridden by Tanya Sauerwald.
Big winner in the top dressage classes was Luxemburg-based danish Rikke Svane on her fantastic black licensed stallion Finckenstein (by Latimer x Kennedy). The elegant pair won all classes they competed in, which is an amazing success! Young rider Paula de Boer and approved Le Rouge were second in the Intermediaire I, while two sons of Hibiskus were placed in the Inter I freestyle. Tanya Sauerwald and Banderas were second, while the young, highly committed Bavarian Nicole Railias was third on Pommery.
The 2012 Trakehner Championships included a noticeable group of Takehner youngsters in the dressage classes with sired successfully competing up to FEI level, including for instance Finckenstein (by Latimer, former competition partner of Theresa Wahler), Priegnitz (by Horat), successfully ridden by Kilian Hüttner, Düsterberg (by Andrea Wicki-Mäder's Distelzar) and especially the crop of offspring by Solero TSF, with 3 young dressage horses winning and placinf at S level and one 3 year-old reserve champion at the riding horse class!
Text and Photos © by Stephan Bischoff
Related Links
Herbstkonig and Hamilton Stand Out at 2011 International Trakehner Championships
Le Rouge and Offspring Excel at 2010 International Trakehner Championship