As an ex-patriot living in Germany, American Grand Prix rider Dennis Callin has been making his mark in Europe competing the bright chestnut D'Accord with great success. The pair captured top places amongst Europe's elite but was ignored from playing a role for U.S. Olympic team consideration. However his 2012 year of Grand Prix glory may be short-lived as Callin needs to sell his top horse to make a living.
Leaving the USA in 2006 American Grand Prix rider Dennis Callin started his equestrian career in the Western world, but made the move to dressage believing it to be a discipline with a greater future. "I started with reining, but the longevity of the horses was short at that time," the 57-year old Dennis told Eurodressage. "It was the 1980s and I needed a sport with horses that had more longevity, so I was immediately attracted to dressage."
Moving to Germany so that he could compete on a regular basis at a top level, Dennis was originally based in Raleigh, North Carolina. He lists the toughest thing about moving to Europe are the "logistics". "Despite those logistical burdens, in December of 2006 Germany offered me the opportunity to train with my first USA team coach Georg Theodorescu," said Dennis. "I also felt that Germany has the finger on the pulse of Horse sport."
However, in 2009 Callin and his British life partner of 20 years, David Taylor, moved to Great Britain to be closer to David's family. As soon as D'Accord hit Grand Prix level, competing him on the continent became tiresome for the horse. "We found that going back and forth on the ferry to Europe was putting a lot of stress on the horse," Dennis admitted. In September 2011 they decided to move back to Germany, where the couple discovered a new-found joy in life.
Savouring his training life in Germany "very much", Dennis puts his happiness down to the state of the art training facility Hof Beckenrode and his colleagues Jurgen and Christoph Koschel. "This year we have traveled a lot and my highlights were my thirrd plae at the Hamburg Derby, fifth at the CDI Compiegne in France, and sixth in Perl, Germany," said Dennis.
Dennis's dressage partner D'Accord is a 14-year old Oldenburg gelding (by De Niro x Landadel), amicably nicknamed Pinky, and he has helped Dennis get to where he is today. "He is the best horse of my career, truly an international horse, a character, and a friend, who wants to and can do everything I ask of him," he said.
Discovered at a jumping stable after the owner had unfortunately passed away, D'Accord came on Dennis' radar when a friend told about the horse. Now Dennis is very glad he took him on. "To train he is very serious and focused every day and he in great hands with the help of Jurgen and Christoph Koschel," Dennis explained.
Despite achieving outstanding results in Europe during the 2012 show season, Dennis did not catch the attention of the U.S. selectors for Olympic team consideration. With a final selection trial held in the U.S.A. Callin could not afford making the trip over with no funding for the U.S. elite riders from the United States Equestrian Federation. "I did not apply for Olympic consideration because the final selection was held in the U.S, and it would have taken approximately $25,000 in travel expenses for me to attend the qualifications," said Dennis frankly.
With no other horses currently in work, Dennis recently sold his 15-year old Swedish Grand Prix horse as well as a 4-year old Sandro hit offspring. "I will and am looking for new horses to train," Callin admitted.
Supported by David, Dennis finds it hard without a commercial supporter, and will thus have to make tough choices. "Unfortunately, without sponsorship competition is very costly so I am selling D'accord and will train a new horse to Grand Prix," Callin stated.
by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
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