In response to our article Barbancon and Anky van Grunsven part ways Eurodressage received an email from Van Grunsven headquarters disclosing their version of the facts. Anky wishes to make the following statement: "Because of personal reasons decided Anky van Grunsven last week to discontinue the cooperation between her as trainer and her pupils Morgan and Alexandra Barbancon. Anky really regrets that she had to make that decision because the last couple of years the atmosphere has been of high quality."
One of the most renowned pony breeding stallions, Dornik B, has returned to the show ring. Esther Stassen, daughter of Dornik's owner Ludwig Stassen, showed the chestnut stallion at the local show in Kempen on 3-5 May 2013 and finished third in the L- dressage test with 6.5 points. Dornik B won the Bundeschampionate four times in a row and then became a German FEI team pony with Marion Engelen, Stefanie Jansen, Anna von Negri, Louisa Luttgen and Katharina Weychert. He last showed at a high profile FEI pony show in May 2009. Dornik B is 22 years old.
Gestut Wiesenhof's renowned breeding stallion Grosso Z (by Goliath Z x Furioso II) celebrated his 30th birthday on 9 May 2013. The dark bay stallion sired Grand Prix horses such as Ellen Schulten-Baumer's Grosso's Gentle and Gina Royal, Peter Storr's Gambrinus, and Heiner Schiergen's Goethe.
The Dutch small tour mare W Esther de Jeu (by Rousseau x Jazz x Ulft) has been sold to Australians Carolyn Welsh and David Shavin of Ellanbrae Park Equestrian Centre near Melbourne. They plan to compete her on the Australian show circuit and breed via ET with her. The bay mare was trained to S level by Ellen Bontje and lightly competed in Holland by Jessica Buying.
For British Grand Prix rider Hannah Biggs competing at the 2013 CDI Hamburg was a special occasion for several reasons. Not only is the Hamburg show a tradition-filled event where the stands are packed with people, but for Biggs Hamburg was the reunion place between her horse Weltzin (by Weltbogen out of Wertvoll FRH (by Werther x Vollkorn xx) and its breeders Ingrid and Eberhard von Lewinski. When the Lewinski family found out that Hannah was to ride her Hanoverian licensed stallion Weltzin at the show, they showed up at the venue with an extra large group of fans and supporters. "They're so proud of his achievements and love following his results," Biggs told Eurodressage aboat the Lewinski family, which showed up with their friend Anette von Laffert. "They're small scale breeders and Weltzin is their most successful foal. They've even brought Union Jack flags to wave in our honour."
Indonesian FEI rider Larasati Gading has acquired her third Diamond Hit offspring in her band of five S-level horses which she has in training in Germany. Gading recently acquired Susanne Rüben's 12-year old Grand Prix horse Diamond Boy and hopes to compete him at the 2014 Asian Games and maybe even the World Equestrian Games. Gading also owns the Diamond Hits's Desperado 172 and Douceur. Diamond Boy (by Diamond Hit x Salerno x Maximus) was initially competed by Maresa Cordugas but in 2009 Sausanne Rüben took over.
Victoria Michalke sold her 11-year old Oldenburg gelding Don Dayly (by Depardieu x Don Primero x Vollkorn xx) to former German pony team rider Joline Thüning. The black Don Dayly was trained and competed up to Intermediaire I level and was shown by Michalke and Laura Münch. Thüning competed at FEI pony level in 2010 and 2011 with Top Anthony and Der Feine Lord. In 2012 she made the transition to junior riders' level.
2012 European Junior Riders' Champion Dana van Lierop apparently has other passions than horses. The fun loving Dutch rider attended the Bloody Night Con(vention), which focuses on the American hit series The Vampire Diaries. Fans can meet the actors upclose and personal and take photos with them. Van Lierop was beaming on the photo with lead actor and hunk Ian Somerhalder, aka Damon Salvatore. Go Team Damon!
Ukrainian Grand Prix rider Inna Logutenkova has acquired the 12-year old Dutch warmblood Universalis (by Ferro x Acord II x Ramiro Z). The horse was originally discovered as a youngster and trained to Grand Prix level by Spanish Jose "Pepe" Raga Perales. The rider qualified Universalis for the 2006 World Young Horse Championships but only took Untouchable with him to Verden. Raga finished 5th at the 2011 Spanish Grand Prix Championships scoring round 63% in the Grand Prix and Special and 68% in the Kur