Guenter Seidel Gets Ride on Leatherdale's Beltano

Dressage

U.S.A.

U.S. Olympic dressage team rider Guenter Seidel has received the ride on Louise Leatherdale's 9-year-old Hanoverian stallion Beltano (by Belissimo M x Hohenstein).

Beltano was recently imported to the United States from Jens Meyer's stallion station in Dorum, so that Guenter can develop him as an international Grand Prix prospect.

“We are quite pleased to welcome Guenter to our team of high performance riders,” said Louise Leatherdale. “One of our riders, Sue Blinks, was on the 2000 Olympic team and two World Equestrian Games teams with Guenter. Also, Damsey FRH’s rider, Helen Langehanenberg, coached Hengststation Jen Meyer’s young trainer aboard Beltano for several years, so this new partnership is a very natural fit with our program. We are a worldwide team and we cannot wait to see what Guenter and Beltano achieve together!”

A German-native, Seidel emigrated to the United States in 1985. He won team bronze at three consecutive Olympic Games: in 1996 with Graf George, in 2000 with Foltaire and in 2004 with Aragon. Seidel also scored team silver at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez and team bronze medal at the 2006 WEG in Aachen. He received prestigious USEF Whitney Stone Cup in 2002.

In 2010 Guenter fractured his pelvis falling off U2 (by Jazz), but the seasoned competitor returned to the show ring on the same horse a year later. In 2011 the 20-year old collaboration between Guenter and his long time sponsors, Dick and Jane Brown, ended and since then Guenter no longer had the horse power to run for a team spot.

In 2013 he obtained the ride on Coral Reef Wylea (by Weinberg x Saluut) but that did not lead to a 2014 WEG team berth. The San Diego based Seidel last represented the U.S.A. at a major championship at the 2016 World Cup Finals on Zero Gravity, but the horse was no team contender for the Rio Olympics.

As of the spring of 2017, Guenter has been showing his own and Egbert Kraak's 11-year old Dutch warmblood Crush on You (by Prestige x Kannan). With Beltano Seidel will have two irons in the fire.

“After riding Beltano for a few days in Germany last fall, I saw what a nice horse he was,” Seidel explained. “He has three quality gaits, has great bloodlines and has a very nice training foundation. He is the entire package! Now that he has settled into my program, I have been working on the basics and learning more about him with each ride.”

Seidel’s goal is to showcase Beltano in the small tour, while working on strengthening his training towards the Grand Prix.