German dressage rider Nadine Buberl dominated the 5-year old division at the 2013 U.S. Young Dressage Horse Championships held at Lamplight Equestrian Centre in Wayne, ILL, on 23 - 25 August. Aboard Cesar Parra's and Martin Sosnoff's Oldenburg bred Fashion Designer OLD she took the gold in addition to winning bronze on Michael Davis' Oldenburg bred Fiderhit.
The 30-year old Buberl is from Bad Liebenstein, Germany, and earned her Bereiter certificate in 2005. After working for renowned German trainers such as Inge Schmezer and Peter Teeuwen, Buberl moved to the United States in 2009 and has been based at Cesar Parra's Performance Farm in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.
"I came to the United States to follow my passion for horses and riding dressage after completing my German Master test. I thank God every day that my love for horses was stronger than my fear of coming to a new home and not knowing what I would find," admitted the adventurous Buberl.
The German blond proved her skills and steered Fashion Designer OLD (by Faustinus x De Niro) to her first U.S. national title. By scoring a whopping 9.060 in the Finals Test, Buberl and the dark bay gelding finished on an overall total of 9.012. Fashion Designer OLD, which is co-owned by Parra and Martin Sosnoff, wowed the judges with his high quality basic gaits, earning a 10 for trot, 9 for walk and 8.5 for canter in the Finals.
Fashion Designer OLD is bred in Germany by Heike Kind. Under Veronika Steinhof he won the 2012 Oldenburg Regional Dressage Championship for 4-year old mares and geldings. He qualified to compete at the Bundeschampionate where he finished second in the first round and eight in the finals.
Aboard Michael Davis’ Oldenburg registered Fiderhit OLD (by Fidertanz x Sandro Hit) Buberl also collected bronze on a championship score of 8.620. The mare received 9.5 for trot, 9.0 for walk and 8.2 for canter.
The State Premium candidate Fiderhit OLD was bred in Germany by Josef Gramann and completed an outstanding Mare Performance Test in Vechta in 2011. There she scored 9’s for her trot and canter and 9.5 for rideability, which qualified her for the prestigious 2011 Oldenburg Elite Mare Show at Rastede.
“I am very grateful to have the ride on two such amazing young horses," said a beaming Buberl. "Thank you to the owners of Fashion Designer OLD and Fiderhit OLD, and especially to Dr. Cesar Parra. He has so much experience in the coaching and the perfect timing as to when to put things together for the show.”
Bidding Germany farewell four years ago, Buberl has not regretted the decision to leave her family and friends behind. "You see what I found was the best experience of my life so far," she confessed. "I was welcomed and made to feel at home, but more importantly I found a team to belong to. What I have learned is that in horses and life there is no greater gift than having the help, support, and love of a team and family. That is the most important thing I have learned."
Cesar could not have been more proud of his horses and rider. “The results here are great, and I know that better things are yet to come for both of these horses. It is exciting! Both Oldenburg superstars showed their fantastic quality and we had the true highlight when Fashion Designer received a 10 from the judges for his trot," Parra told Eurodressage. "Wow what a feeling! It was really poetry in motion."
Both Fashion Designer and Fiderhit were discovered by Parra in Germany. Both horses already had an illustrous career in Germany, which earned them the prestigious OLD designation from the German Oldenburg Breed Society (GOV).
Photos © Mary Phelps - Check out more photos on Dressagedaily.com
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