Bitcoin, Caty, Dante Quando are the 2018 4-Year Old Bundeschampions

The 2018 Bundeschampionate, which take place at the DOKR headquarters in Warendorf, Germany, from 30 August - 2 September 2018, celebrated their first "Finals" day on Saturday 1 September.

The 4-year old riding horses Bitcoin, Caty and Dante Quando received the champion's sash and gold medal after winning the finals round on Saturday afternoon. It was a massive success for the Oldenburg breed society as all three champions are Oldenburg registered.

Bitcoin and Caty, Two Champions in the Mare and Gelding Class

The 4-year old mares and geldings class was not without drama. Judge Carsten Munk became unwell half way through the class and had to stop co-judging with Egbers and Uthoff. The show organizers took quick measures and conjured up a new system to bring the finals to conclusion without too much interruption for the young horses. It was decided to split the class up into two groups - the first four horses were still judged by the trio and had Bitcoin as well. The second group was judged by Egbers and Uthoff and delivered Caty as winner. All eight finalists were test ridden by Phillip Hess, who shared his feelings about the training and gaits of the horses with the judges. 

Hof Kasselmann's rider Frederic Wandres steered Ulli Kasselmann's Bitcoin OLD (by Bordeaux x Rubinstein) to a clear victory in group one, by becoming the highest scoring horse in both groups with an 8.6 total. The sympathetic chestnut gelding scored 8 for walk, 8.5 for trot, 9 for canter, 9.5 for training and 8 for conformation. Bitcoin is part of the P.S.I. Auction collection and will be sold at auction on 9 December 2018. Ann-Christin Wienkamp and Barbara Schulze-Schleppinghoff's liver chestnut mare Brooker's Girl OLD (by Bordeaux x Don Romantic) were the runners-up with 7.6.

In group two, Hermann Gerdes rode Peter Wendeln's chestnut mare Caty (by Sir Donnerhall x Furst Heinrich) to the gold medal with an 8.5 total. Catyis from Wendeln's successful C'Est La Vie mare line and she is a full sister to Candy, Cindy and Sir Heinrich. All four of them are Bundeschampions, but Caty only got the title because one judge fell out. The other two rewarded Caty 7.5 for walk, 9.5 for trot, 8 for canter, 9 for training and 8.5 for conformation. Caty was supposed to be a broodmare this year, but didn't catch so she was focused on sport instead. David Taylor and Axel Windeler's Hanoverian mare Diamond Lady (b Dimaggio x Benetton Dream) were the runners-up in group 2 with 8.4.

The drama did not end with a judge retiring from duty mid-class. One of the finalists, Thomas Casper's Zum Gluck (by Zalando x Golden Game) would not let test rider Philip Hess mount him. First he reared and took off, then he was brought back into the arena by Casper and the gelding again frolicked about as Hess was trying to get on. The horse, which has a superb trot and canter, got a 4.0 score for his training and rideability. 

Dante Quando OLD Is the 4-year old Stallion Champion

Six stallions qualified for the finals on Saturday and were judged by Egbers, Sickinger and Uthoff. 

Eva Möller steered the Australian owned Dante Quando OLD (by Dante Weltino x Fidertanz) to the title with a whopping 8.9 overall score. Purchased by Ellanbrae Park's Carolyn Welsh for 13,500 euro at the 2014 Borculo foal auction in The Netherlands, the black Dante Quando OLD received 9 for walk and trot, 8.5 for canter, and 9 for training and conformation. 

Eva Möller also grabbed the silver medal aboard Andreas Helgstrand and Cathrine Rasmussen's Westfalian stallion Valverde (by Vitalis x Ampere). The pair scored 8.8 in total. The popular breeding stallion got 9 for walk, 8.5 for trot and 9 for canter. He also received 9 for training and 8.5 for conformation. 

Celle state stud's Mike Habermann steered the Hanoverian Labbadio (by Lissaro van de Helle x Dancier) to bronze with 8.7. The dark bay stallion gto 8.5 for walk, trot, canter, and 9 for training and conformation. 

Photos © LL-foto

Related Links
Scores: 2018 Bundeschampionate
Eurodressage coverage of the 2018 Bundeschampionate