John Risley's 15-year old Holsteiner gelding Liebling II (by Lorentin x Konigspark xx) has been sold to Dutch FEI rider Jonna Schelstraete as a schoolmaster.
The dark bay Liebling II hit the international spotlight in 2007 when his rider Anna Ross Davies and him made it onto the British Team competing at the 2007 European Dressage Championships, where they became the best performing British pair finishing 10th in the Kur to Music.
In 2008 Liebling's owner Donald McTaggert moved the gelding to Carl Hester's barn to be sold. Hester and Liebling II won team silver at the 2009 European Championships and became British Grand Prix Champion with him.
In March 2010 the horse sold to Canadian John Risley for Cheryl Meisner to compete, but she was unable to qualify him on the Canadian 2010 WEG team. The horse moved straight back to Britain, where Carl was able to get on him back on the British team. They won team silver at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.
In November 2011 Dominican Republic's Yvonne Losos de Muniz leased the horse from John Risley for her attempt to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games. Her try failed, partly because of unfair and uneligible competition standards set by the FEI for her Brazilian rivals. Losos de Muniz lost the CAS lawsuit and Liebling II returned back to Hester's in Great Britain to be sold.
Dutch equestrian magazine Horses.nl reported that Schelstraete has now acquired the Holsteiner as a schoolmaster. The Dutch rider tried out the horse in September. "He's an ideal schoolmaster for me. I'm very happy to get the opportunity to compete such an experienced horse," Schelstraete told Horses.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
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Statement by Yvonne Losos de Muniz on CAS Ruling
Carl Hester and Liebling II Grab 2009 British Grand Prix Champions' Title