Finnish WEG Team rider Terhi Stegars married her long time partner, British John "Ronnie" O 'Sullivan, on 20 September 2014. John, who served thirteen years as an Officer in the British Army, now provides Leadership and Development training for Amazon's European managers.
They were married in a private castle, Hotel Temps d'Or, one of the most exclusive locations in Luxembourg during an intimate, sun soaked ceremony with family and close friends. Stegars lives and works in Luxembourg as head trainer at Tanya Kayser's dressage stable.
Danish Grand Prix rider Joachim Thomsen, who was last to be seen in the international show ring with Akeem Foldager before the horse sold to Andreas Helgstrand & Partners, has a new Grand Prix mount in his barn: the 11-year old Swedish warmblood gelding Dressed for Success (by Negro x Chapman). The black gelding is owned by the Swedish Elise Fredriksson.
British Young Rider team member Gaby Lucas has a new horse to campaign. The Lucas family acquired the 7-year old Westfalian gelding Salo (by Sandro Bedo x Montmartre). The black gelding is bred and owned by by Daniela Hilkhausen and was competed in Germany by Hans-Ferdi Milchers. Lucas also made her Prix St Georges debut on Zante (by Jazz x Flemming) at the beginning of September. Zante has been with Gaby since 2010. Gaby aims to compete both Salo and Zante at international Young Riders level in 2015.
Awaiting the birth of his first baby in October, Matthias Rath is keeping a busy schedule nonetheless. The German Grand Prix rider travelled to Bangkok, Thailand, for a training seminar with a client on a new horse at the Royal Bangkok Sport Club. "The Riding Club is walking distance from the hotel and I will be teaching there for three days, also other students," Rath explained.
FEI Dressage Director Trond Asmyr celebrated his 60th birthday on 30 August 2014. The Norwegian Asmyr is an international dressage judge and became FEI Dressage Director in May 2009 and lives in Lausanne, Switzerland. Congratulations.
Kirsten Brouwer has received the ride on the 4-year old KWPN licensed stallion Ferguson (by Floriscount x Lauries Crusador xx). The stallion, who is also Oldenburg approved, was previously ridden by Tommie Visser.
The internationally competed Grand Prix horse Polka Hit Nexen, who was shown at GP level by Andreas Helgstrand and then dropped back to small tour level, has made her return to the show ring since she has been sold to Sara Marburg in Germany, in January 2014. Under Yeliz Marburg, Polka scored 57.983% in the Prix St Georges and improved in the Intermediaire I to a 64.474% score at the regional show in Munich-Riem on 27 - 28 September 2014. "It was the first start for Yeliz and Polka, who mainly wanted to get ring experience," Sara Marburg explained. "While the mare and rider are well acquainted to each other in training, it is something different in the show ring. The sweet mouse got quite hot and lost her suppleness."