Niklaas Feilzer On a Roll with String of Horses, Dreaming of CDI

Fri, 02/09/2018 - 07:47
2018 CDN Ankum
Niklaas Feilzer on Isabell Werth's Grand Prix horse Der Stern :: Photo © Andrea Wolters

Isabell Werth's assistant trainer Niklaas Feilzer is unknown on the international show scene, but in Germany he has steered several of Werth's young talents into the show to put mileage both on the horse and himself. Most recently he has taken on the ride on several sales horses through Werth's barn, including two World Young Horse Championship finalists, Quotenkönig and Cassiopaya.

At the 2018 CDN Ankum on 31 January - 4 February 2018, Feilzer made his national show debut with his two new horses.  With Quotenkönig he won the second group of the S-level class on a score of 70.635%. In the same class he finished 12th with Cassiopaya on 66.468%. The next day Feilzer won the S3-class on Quotenkonig with 72.540% and he placed 10th in the Prix St Georges on Cassiopaya with 67.588% Feilzer also steered Tobias Schult's licensed stallion Feedback (by Fidertanz x Sandro Hit) to a 7th place and 67.171% score in the Short Grand Prix.

Quotenkönig is a 9-year old Westfalian licensed stallion by Quaterback x Furst Piccolo, bred by Frank Dahlhoff and owned by Wolfgang Suttrup. Under Lisa Lindner (née Neukäter) the liver chestnut won silver at the 2012 Bundeschampionate and placed fourth at the 2014 Bundeschampionate and ninth at the 2014 World Young Horse Championships. As a 7-year old he was fifth in the consolation finals at the 2016 World Young Horse Championships. Niklaas got the ride on the liver chestnut just two months ago.

"I'm lucky to have the ride on Quotenkönig because Lisa Lindner just had a baby," Niklaas told Eurodressage. "He's now with us with the aim that one day he becomes a Grand Prix horse. I was really happy with the way he went in Ankum. I really did not know what to expect although I had of course seen him in competition, when he was ridden by Lisa. Quotenkönig loves working and presenting himself when he is at shows."

Cassiopaya is a 10-year old Rhinelander mare by Cassini Boy Junior x Lanciano x Landadel. He is bred by Matthias Büns and owned by LML Sport. First owned by Ferienhof Stucker and competed by Jana Freund, this dark bay Holsteiner bred mare competed at the 2014 World Young Horse Championships and finished 7th in the Finals. A year later she contested the pilot edition of the 7-and 8-year old division at the 2015 World Young Horse Championships in Verden and finished fourth. She moved into training with Niklaas four months ago.

"Cassiopaya is very talented and now just needs to build up a little more strength to improve her stability," said Niklaas. "She has wonderful movements and is very carlm. She is just a lovely person."

Niklaas on Don Jovi
On Saturday 3 February, Feilzer further rode Paulina Werle's 11-year old Hanoverian stallion Don Jovi (by Don Frederico x Weltmeyer) in the Intermediaire II and scored 68.377% to finish fifth. The class was won by Austrian Victoria Max-Theurer on her mom's Benaglio, a 10-year old Oldenburg gelding by Breitling W x Partout.  

Originally from Cuxhaven, Feilzer began working at Werth in Rheinberg in 2012 after a stint at Heiner Schiergen's yard in Krefeld. Although Niklaas has never competed internationally, he does share the dream with every other ambitious professional. At Werth's he got the ride on QC Flamboyant and competed him for almost three years. Isabell took over once to qualify him and then and rode the gelding straight to the 2017 Nurnberger Burgpokal title.

"Of course I would love to compete internationally," he said. "Maybe I will get the chance to do so in the next few years.I do own my own young horse. He is three years old and I will start working him properly at the end of this year."

Photos © Andrea Wolters

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