It is only a matter of time until all the stars of international equestrian sports will roam around on the premises of the Kasselmann-family in Hagen on 24 - 27 April 2014. Four days of lively bustle of riders, their trainers and families, sponsors and fans – and all of them do not only enjoy ambitious sport, they also love the show, the exhibition and the unique family atmosphere in Hagen.
Almost exactly two years ago, the dressage tests in Hagen were the turning point in the career of Kristina Sprehe and her black stallion Desperados. The graceful rider catapulted to the top worldwide very quickly. Since that time, she won the team silver medal at the Olympics in London 2012 and the team gold medal at the 2013 European Championships in Herning. This year, she will again compete with the same strong nerves she is known for.
And it is justified to say that there will be numerous dressage stars: Isabell Werth, Ulla Salzgeber, Anabel Balkenhol, Hubertus Schmidt, Nadine Capellmann, Christoph Koschel, Fabienne Lütkemeier, Dorothee Schneider, Brigitte Wittig and Charlott-Maria Schürmann are only some of the names of the German riders who will face the challenge to compete against strong international competitors.
Laura Tomlinson who successfully represented the British colours at important championships with her Mistral Hoijris, will participate with his successor Unique in the Almased dressage stadium. Patrik Kittel from Sweden and his wife Lyndal Oatley (AUS) have announced to come, just as Victoria Max-Theurer (AUT), Andreas Helgstrand (DEN), Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein (DEN) and the two sisters Morgan and Alexandra Barbançon-Mestre from Spain.
2014 CDI Hagen Starts in 20 Days
Accompanied by beautiful weather and Brazilian sounds, organizer Ullrich Kasselmann informed about the upcoming event “Horses & Dreams meets Brazil”. It was a pleasure for him to welcome the silver (team Olympia / London 2012) and gold medalist (team European Championships/Herning 2013) Kristina Sprehe, the outstanding Swedish show jumping rider from the Beerbaum-stable Henrik von Eckermann, Germany’s national dressage coach Monica Theodorescu and Heinrich-Hermann Engemann from the team of coaches of the German national show jumping team as well as Bernd Beeking, representing the new main sponsor of the DKB-Riders Tour.
Meanwhile, Horses & Dreams counts among the most important events in the international tournament schedule. Kristina Sprehe: “And nevertheless, you still feel like being invited into the private home of the Kasselmann-family.” Horses & Dreams has been a highlight for her every year, and this already since childhood, Sprehe enthusiastically said. She had already won the team gold medal at the 2002 European Championships for ponies in Hagen. “The conditions couldn’t be better, and all the additional details are hard to top. Desperados is fit again, so we will be ready for the challenge.”
Even national coach Monica Theodorescu looks wistfully back to her own starts in the saddle. “I’m always a bit sad that I am not able to compete here myself any more, but of course I also enjoy Hagen from the sideline.” Horses & Dreams is the start into the new outdoor season, with everybody eagerly looking forward to spending time outside, the National Coach says.
Bernd Beeking, new main sponsor of the DKB-Riders Tour with his company „SOLEM“, also reported about many pleasant memories: Following an international Young Riders’ Festival at Borgberg, Beeking’s daughter was nominated for the national team. This is not the only reason why the friendly businessman is that closely connected with equestrian sports. “We often see how hard it is for equestrian sports to find the appropriate approval that is so very important for this sport,” Beeking explained. “As the long-lasting co-operation with the Schockemöhle-stables as main sponsor of the German Classics has been that positive for our company until today, it was a pleasure to expand the co-operation.”
Dr. Ulf Möller, responsible for the tests in the Almased dressage stadium, was happy to announce an exciting novelty, the “Nürnberger Burg-Pokal”. “We would have been happy to host the “Nürnberger Burg-Pokal” already earlier. As the Championships for professional riders changed the venue, new temporal opportunities were possible in the dressage schedule.”
Francois Kasselmann, responsible for the show jumping competitions, expects show jumping riders from so far 17 different countries, competing for Euro 222,400 in prize money in the Kasselmann show jumping stadium. Besides, it is the first time that the best seven- to eight-year-old jumper will be nominated this year. “The prize will be a car, donated by the Johannpeter-family from Brazil,” Francois Kasselmann said. A number of title holders will meet in the show jumping stadium. Equestrian legend and last year’s winner John Whitaker (GBR) will compete against the overall champion of the 2013 DKB-Rider Tour, Carsten-Otto Nagel as well as against other strong competitors such as Ludger Beerbaum and Lars Nieberg.
„In addition to the Brazilian show presentations of the Tangará Brasil Dance Group, social projects belong to Horses & Dreams like boots belong to the rider,” Ulli Kasselmann explains. The legendary “Red Horse” will be put up for auction on Saturday, April 26, within the initiative “Riding against Hunger” for the benefit of the German Agro Action. Secretary of Defense Ursula von der Leyen is the patron of the project “Riding against Hunger”, and she will of course personally support the project in Hagen. Howard Carpendale is another well-known guest, accompanying the social project at Horses & Dreams and beyond. The pop singer, born in South Africa, was immediately enthralled of the idea to do good, and he will be guest at Horses & Dreams on Saturday afternoon.
Tickets
Tickets are available for booking at € 13.50 € with www.horses-and-dreams.de or with ADticket online at www.adticket.de, with the ticket hotline: Tel. ++49 (0)180 - 60 50 400 (€ 0.20 / incl. VAT charge for calls fixed network, max. € 0.60 € /charge for calls mobile phone network) and with all ADticket-booking offices. Free entry for children aged younger than 12, adolescents (12 – 18 years) pay reduced admission fees.
For all results, additional information and impressions, please click on www.horses-and-dreams.de.
Photo © Barbara Schnell
Text by Anna Baden
Related Link
Hagen is Ready for the Dance: 2014 Horses & Dreams, the Brazilian Way