Danish born Luxembourg Grand Prix team rider Fie Skarsoe and her life partner of nine years, Luxembourg show jumping rider Ken Gruber, got married in a small private civil ceremony in Luxembourg on Fie's birthday 18 December.
Gruber spontaneously proposed to Fie three weeks ago. The happy couple has more to celebrate: Fie is pregnant with her first child, a baby boy which will be named Oskar. She is already due in eight weeks which is why the wedding ceremony was kept small. "It was just our closest family," Fie told Eurodressage. "My maid of honour was my long-time student Kristina Moller. We will have a big summer party when we have time between all the planned competitions. First my husband and I are looking forward to our biggest gift in life, our little boy."
The Hanoverian licensed stallion Hochadel (by Hohenstein x Donnerhall x Lanthan) has been sold to Scotland. The Celle State stud owned sire has produced over a 1000 offspring. His most successful get includes the 2010 Bundeschampionate bronze medalist Horatio.
The 8-year old Baden Wurttemberger bred stallion Sambuca van de Helle (by Sir Oldenburg x Caprilli x Saloniki) has been sold to Florida, U.S.A. The small tour level trained stallion was last competed by Jonna Schelstraete. In December 2012 Sambuca's original owner, Stoeterij van de Helle, sold him as 5-year old to Sjef Janssen and Joyce Heuitink. As a youngster Sambuca was trained by former Belgian young rider Brech d'Hoore.
Meike Kroot's FEI Dressage pony stallion Diamond Hit (by Wengelo's Ricardo x Valentino) has been sold to the Danish Bach family. The bay Welsh pony stallion is licensed for breeding, but will focus on dressage under his new Danish rider.
Former American Olympian Courtney King-Dye is pregnant with her second child, a daughter who is due in February 2016. King-Dye competed at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong but a bad fall from a horse ended her competitive equestrian career. King-Dye and her husband Jason have a 2-year old daughter, River, who was born in February 2014. Courtney King-Dye was the recipient of the 2012 FEI Against All Odds award.
After having worked at Hof Kasselmann for no less than 36 years, German Grand Prix rider Miriam Henschke has decided to go independent at the beginning of 2016. She will be managing a dressage and training centre in Steinhagen, Germany.
Robert Conredel, liaison for breeders and clients at the Oldenburg breeding society, has been hired as managing director of Gestut Bonhomme in Werder, Germany as of 1 December 2015. Conredel is a familiar face at Gestut Bonhomme as he used to ride the stallions there before taking up a job in the investment banking world and working for the Oldenburg society.
Danish born American Grand Prix rider Charlotte Jorst has acquired the 10-year old Oldenburg gelding Stanford (by Sir Donnerhall x Roadster). The dark bay gelding was competed as a youngster by Minna Telde and also briefly shown in Germany at small tour level by Norwegian Isabel Bache before moving to Patrik Kittel's yard to be sold. Kittel's Swedish assistant trainer Malin Nilsson showed the horse several times at Grand Prix level. As a 3-year old Stanford was the price highlight of the 2008 Winter Mixed Sales in Vechta, Germany, selling for 75,000 euro to horse dealer Johan Ifverson in Sweden.
The Redefin state stud owned Hanoverian stallion Piment (by Pinkus x Gardestern x Wiesenbaum xx) has passed away at age 26. The stallion served as a schoolmaster in the Redefin riding school for many years, but was never a popular breeding stallion. Only 60 offspring are registered as sport horses, mainly for show jumping.