American FEI rider Kasey Perry, who has been competed Gorklintgaards Dublet and Trostruplunds Scarlet in the U.S.A., got engaged to her boyfriend Dana Glass on Valentine's weekend. The Spokane, Washington based Perry trains with Christophe Theallet and gets extra help from Anne Gribbons during her winters in Florida. Glass is a farrier by profession and lives in Sprague, Washington.
German WEG Team gold medalist and GP Special bronze medal winner Kristina Sprehe (28) has got engaged to her long-time boyfriend Christian Bröring. On Christmas eve 24 December 2014, Bröring dropped down on one knee in front of Sprehe's Christmas tree at home and popped the question. The happy couple has not yet set a definite date but is thinking about the end of August 2015. Bröring is a high school teacher in mathematics and physical education. For the 2012 Olympics in London he fulfilled a bet to cycle the 606 kilometers from Dinklage, Germany, to the British capital to see his girlfriend compete there.
Swedish Under 25 Marina Mattsson has received the ride on Patrik Hannell's 9-year old JJ Rayban (by Rascalino x Londonderry). The chestnut stallion won the 2010 Swedish Stallion Performance Test. He was the Swedish young horse champion as a 5- and 6-year old. JJ Rayban is Grand Prix level trained by Jan Brink.
Morgan Barbançon Mestre's junior rider's horse Dankeschön has been sold to 19-year old Julia Hengel in the U.S.A. The Barbançon family acquired the now 13-year old Westfalian gelding Dankeschön (by Douceur x Ehrentusch) from the Bechtolsheimer family, who had discovered the dark bay as a youngster at the PSI Auction where they bought him as a 4-year old for 450,000 euro. Morgan and "Dan" were extremely successful at junior level, especially in 2010. They were seventh in the Kur to Music at the 2010 European Junior Riders Championships in Kronberg. Morgan then moved on to GP level and Painted Black and only briefly showed Dankeschon at young riders' level in 2012 and begin 1013. Young rider Julia Hengel is originally from Minnesota and studies at Notre Dame University.
Cherie, the 2001 World Young Horse Champion under Karin Rehbein, has passed away in November 2014. The Hanoverian mare by Don Primero x Lanthan was bred by Angela and Klaus Hoeber and originally owned by Gisela Carstens. Under Karin Rehbein the mare rose to greatness. She was trained and competed up to small tour level. She won the small tour classes at the 2002 and 2004 CDIO Aachen. Legal disputes between the breeder, owner and rider interrupted her career. The mare sold to German sponsor Madeleine Winter-Schulze in 2004 and she rode her at home as her own dressage horse for fun. Cherie was 19 years old.
Dutch Grand Prix judge Ad Vroom passed away on 29 January after a short period of illness. Vroom was a respected trainer and national dressage judge in The Netherlands. He was also an amateur breeder. Vroom leaves behind his wife Joyce van Ameijden.
Anne Cahill has retired as the chairperson of Dressage Ireland and the vacant position has been filled by Joan Keogh in the interim. The new chairperson will be elected at the first Dressage Ireland board meeting which is set to take place in mid to late March. Anne retired in order to concentrate on family. Cahill, secretary of South Munster Dressage Committee, replaced Jackie Walsh after giving 20 years of sterling service to the region.
Dutch rider Femke Beljon has received the ride on the 18-year old Dutch warmblood Grand Prix horse Popeye (by Havel) to help her with her transition to Grand Prix level. The chestnut Popeye was previously competed by Diederik van Silfhout and he will now serve as a schoolmaster.
The American owned Oldenburg licensed stallion Tantris has passed away at age 22. Bred by Harli Seifert, Tantris was by Traumdeuter out of Rubina Aktuella (by Aktuell x Volturno). He completed his 100Day Stallion Performance testing in Medingen as a 3-year old and shortly afterwards sold to Jeanne McDonald in the US. The stallion competed up to national Grand Prix level (with a Grand Prix median score of 58%) and sired 57 Oldenburg registered foals in America.