German former European pony champion Sönke Rothenberger seems to be turning back to dressage and might be venturing out in the dressage competition ring more regularly with a horse he holds close to his heart, Cosmo.
The 19-year old student of International Business Administration (B.Sc.) at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management made the switch to show jumping in 2010 after a very successful pony career aboard Deinhard B. Even though Sönke had a junior rider's horse lined up in Wolke Sieben, the young adult looked for a bigger thrill in the obstacle course. Between 2010 and 2013 he jumped with Kid Gentleman, Vandaan T, Liza Minelli and Aperol.
However, in 2013 Sönke made a come back to the dressage ring aboard the then 6-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Cosmo (by Van Gogh x Fruhling), which the Rothenberger family acquired from breeder S. Serrarens in The Netherlands in 2012. Sönke and Cosmo did a few M-level tests that year and have now kicked off 2014 in style with a first S-level victory.
This week, Rothenberger and Cosmo won a Prix St Georges at a regional show in The Netherlands. "He was very awake in the warm-up, as usual," Rothenberger explained. "In the test there were a few small mistakes but he was very obedient and we were able to win it with 67%."
Rothenberger had to borrow tails for this Dutch show, but the success made him taste for more. A tailor-made jacket is now on its way so one can expect to see Sönke more often in the dressage arena.
Photo © Rothenberger
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