Moritz Treffinger Wins 2024 Piaff Forderpreis Selection Trial, Eleven Qualified for Show Circuit

Shows

2024 Piaff Forderpreis

Moritz Treffinger became the winner of the 2024 Piaff Forderpreis selection trial in Warendorf on 26 March 2024. A total of 11 combinations are now invited to compete on the circuit.

The Piaff Forderpeis is show circuit of four qualifiers (Mannheim, Balve, Bettenrode, Elmlohe) and a finals in Donaueschingen for German Under 25 riders.

In the past around 15 riders for the circuit were selected for a training seminar in Warendorf, where the team selectors made their choice. However since last year a competition is held during this seminar.

This year the 12 highest ranked combinations in the competition class were directly qualified for the finals, and this alongside the U25 squad listed riders who are automatically eligible. They are Luca Collin (Ferrero D), Semmieke Rothenberger (Farrington), Anna Schölermann (Bon Scolari) and Thomas Trischberger (Liverpool). The U25 squad listed Helen Erbe (Carlos) and Felicitas Hendricks (Drombusch) won in 2022 and 2023 and cannot compete those horses on the circuit..

Treffinger Wins

Twenty-six combinbations were invited to the selection trial and the Under 25 Grand Prix test was ridden as deciding class. Judges Katrina Wust, Peter Holler and Reinhard Richenhagen officiated. In the end 11 combinations qualified as one rider placed in the top 12 with two horses.

Young professional Moritz Treffinger rode Gestut Bonhomme's 14-year old Hanoverian Cadeau Noir (by Christ w De Niro) to a clear victory with 73.449%. Although there was a small hesitation in a piaffe, he rode a top canter tour and produced a fault-free test to top the leader board. Treffinger also finished second on Bonhomme's 15-year old Oldenburg stallion Fiderdance (by Fidertanz x Don Schufro). He scored 71.976%

Lia Welschof and the 12-year old Swiss warmblood GB Dolcino (by Don Index x De Niro) were third with 71.705%. This pair already finished third in last year's finals.

Bavaria based Alina Kaltstein impressed and climbed to a fourth place as newcomer in the pack aboard the Austrian warmblood United Europ (by Uphill x Almox Prints J). Kaltstein disappeared from the show scene for a while as she transitioned from Young Riders level to Under 25 but she is certainly back now. Her stallion impressed with brilliant rideability and their harmonious presentation.

Former European Pony and Junior Rider Champion Lucie-Anouk Baumgurtel and the 13-year old Hanoverian stallion Damien Hirst (by Diamond Hit x Walzertraum) completed the top five with 69.418%. She is the youngest in this year's field and rode a lovely piaffe-passage tour.

Cosima von Fircks is making her last year as an U25 rider count by placing sixth on the 18-year old Westfalian Easy Fellow (by Ehrenpreis x Ferragamo). They posted 69.186%.

View the complete scores (including some big score discrepancies) here.

Invited to the 2024 Piaff Forderpreis are

Moritz Treffinger - Cadeau Noir
Lia Welschof - GB Dolcino
Alina Kaltstein - United Europ
Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel - Damien Hirst
Cosima von Fircks - Easy Fellow
Paul Löcher - Soul Men
Sophie Dammeyer - Volare B
Sophia Ritzinger - Immerdale
Elisabeth von Wulffen - Triple A
Ninya Wingender - Qumulus AH
Franziska Haase - De Nino