Canadian Pan American Games individual bronze medalist Chris von Martels has leased Tinne Vilhelmson's second Grand Prix horse Divertimento as 2016 Rio Olympic hopeful.
Divertimento is a 14-year old Westfalian gelding by Di Versaci x Ferragamo, owned by Vilhelmson's long-time sponsor Antonia Ax:son Johnson.
Tinne and "Tim" began competing at international Grand Prix level in September 2011. The hyper sensitive and spooky Divertimento has been predominantly shown in Florida, with only a few extra starts in Europe (Norrkoping, Linge, Rotterdam Vidauban, Munich, Odense) between 2012 and 2015.
The talented bright bay gelding has now been leased to Von Martels as Olympic hopeful. "Of course, the Olympics are a dream, but we will take it one show at a time and see what happens," von Martels told Dressage-News.
Trained by Ashley Holzer and Sjef Janssen, von Martels will also be showing the 13-year old Danish warmblood Belissimo (by Bernstein x Solos Carex) this 2016 show season, while he prepares his own Pan Am medal winning horse Zilverstar for Grand Prix level this year. Belissimo is owned by Deborah Mullaney and was previously shown by Swedish Karin Persson.
Source: Dressage-News - Photo © Astrid Appels
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