American Grand Prix rider Catherine Haddad has the ride on a new Grand Prix horse, Patronus. The Danish warmblood gelding will move with her to the U.S.A. on 31 October when Haddad leaves her German base in Vechta since 1993 for good.
Patronus is originally named Heslegård's Paganini (by Heslegård's Platin x Heslegård's Louis) and was previously trained and owned by Danish Lykke Reichert. Coached by Jim Rasmussen, Reichert reached Grand Prix level with the 9-year old bay gelding and competed in her first GP test in the spring of 2012.
Haddad discovered Patronus on video and bought the horse. "I think he is one of the best horses I have had in my career," said Haddad. "I love his brilliance and his trainability, but I am not rushing to get into the show ring with him. I'll just keep training him in stealth mode for now!"
Patronus will be Haddad's third Danish warmblood Grand Prix horse with Maximus and Cadillac as her first two. The American was recently campaigning the Hanoverian bred Winyamaro (by Walt Disney I) but the chestnut has been injured and was not fit for the Olympic year. "W" will return to the show ring this winter.
"I hope that I can have at least two horses coming out at Grand Prix in Florida and one or two others in the small tour," she said.
Catherine, who got married to veterinarian Dr. Greg Staller in New York City on 7 January 2011, is moving to the U.S.A. to be closer to her husband. She will be based in Florida at Jorge Gabriels' Casa Lusitana near Wellington for the winter season, while her husband will commute back and forth between Florida and his surgical practice at Running S Equine in New Jersey.
"Ten horses, two dogs, a rider and a groom will be moving with me to Florida. You can't imagine the logistics that need taking care of before I leave," Haddad explained. "I'm selling equipment, cars, and furniture; looking for someone to take over the lease on my stable and slowly saying goodbye to all my friends and contacts. It hurts my heart to leave Germany after twenty years of living and riding here but this chapter in my life is ending. I am forever grateful to this country and it's fine horsemen for teaching me so much about the sport and business of dressage."
Haddad has not yet finalized her plans for after April. "I'm developing some really interesting horses and if they are ready, I might head back to Europe in the late spring for another season of showing," she said.
Related Links
Haddad Marries Dr. Greg Staller
Catherine Haddad Loses Cadillac
Catherine Haddad Signs with Schockemoehle Sports
Catherine Haddad's Maximus Retired
Haddad to Represent the U.S.A at the 2009 CDIO Aachen