Diederik van Silfhout's number one Grand Prix horse Four Seasons has been sold to Dutch young rider Mercedes Verweij.
Four Seasons is a 14-year old Westfalian gelding by Furst Piccolo out of Mon Amour (by Mon Cheri). He is bred by Gestut Modexer Hof and was originally owned by Monica Ackermann before Van Silfhout invested into in partnership with the horse's new German owner, horse dealer Silve Dietrich-Osten.
The liver chestnut was first competed by Claudia Breker as a youngster in 2008 and 2009. The horse then disappeared from the show scene to return at national Prix St Georges level in Germany in 2014 under Oliver Oelrich. He took the horse to Grand Prix level. In 2016 Ann-Christin Wienkamp showed him once in an Inter II class in a regional show in Dorsten.
Four Seasons then moved to The Netherlands in the autumn of 2016 as Diederik van Silfhout took on the ride. The pair made its international show debut in May 2017 at the CDIO Compiegne and in 2017 was selected on the Dutch team for the European Championships in Gothenburg. The pair finished 15th in the Kur to Music. In 2018 the duo produced consistent 70% scores and was second reserve for the Dutch WEG team.
Horses.nl reported that Four Seasons has now been sold as a schoolmaster to the 20-year old Dutch young rider Mercedes Verweij.
The new duo will continue to train with Diederik van Silfhout in the process of getting to know one another. The combination aims to compete at Under 25 level next year.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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