It took Ulla Salzgeber only six weeks to take up the job at Gestut Peterhof, one of the most beautiful dressage stables in Germany, and calling it quits. This morning the rumours were still denied by Peterhof's press officer, but this evening they were confirmed. Salzgeber has left Peterhof.
Arlette Jasper-Kohl hired Ulla Salzgeber to ride Peterhof's top dressage horses after she and long-time rider Patrik Kittel parted ways after a three-year collaboration.
Amongst other horses Salzgeber received the ride on Grand Prix horse Silvano and rising star UNO Donna Unique, who is one of the most promising international dressage horses in the world and one of the highest scoring small tour horses at the moment. Ulla was supposed to compete Silvano at the national show in Nurnberg last weekend, but scratched right before the show started.
The Blonhofen based Salzgeber chose not to relocate her business but do the 460-kilometer commute to Perl-Borg to train the Peterhof horses. The former Olympic silver medallist told Zuchterforum that the distance prevented her from being able to train the stud horses on a regular basis.
"I had to decide," Salzgeber told Zuchterforum. "I chose for my students and my home, but I will continue to give the Kohl couple my advice."
"It's simply too much and I can't be the trainer I want to be in this way," Salzgeber added to Dressursport Deutschland. "I have to admit that with this lifestyle you don't really have a home anymore and that's something I require at any cost."
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
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