What's Happening: January 2018 - Part III

Sat, 01/27/2018 - 08:16
Bits 'n Pieces
Annemarie Brouwer and Electron at the 2015 KWPN Stallion Show :: Photo © Dirk Caremans

The KWPN licensed stallion Electron (by Ampere x Fidermark x Inspekteur) has a new rider. Owned by Adri Zekveld, the dark bay has been ridden by Kristen and Annemarie Brouwer and by Emmelie Scholtens. He has now moved stable again and is being trained by Fieke Houwen.

Helen Webber passed away on the weekend of 13-14 January 2018 aged 88. Helen was a retired British list one judge, Judges’ committee member, BD selector and BHS examiner and was very active in the Southern region promoting the sport she loved. BD Interim Director responsible for Judges Peter Storr said; “Helen was a very nice, practical and down to earth person who always had time to explain and offer advice. She’ll be greatly missed.”

Danish mainstream news website Dr.dk reported that Helgstrand Dressage has been fined 62,400 euro (380,000 DKK) for illegally employing American dressage rider Jhesika Wells in 2015. The fine was the highest for illegal foreign labour between 2014 and 2016 .

Horses.nl reported that a DNA check has shown that Willeke Bos' 3-year old colt Keepintouch MBE is not sired by Ferguson (by Floriscount) but by Five Star (by Amazing Star). Bos bought the dark bay colt as a foal for 15,500 euro at the Starsale Auction. He has been accepted for the 2018 KWPN Stallion Licensing in February. DNA research has now revealed that Platinum Stables delivered the wrong semen straw when Keepintouch's dam was put in foal. Bos is considering legal steps as she claims she would never have bought the foal had she known he was by Five Star. "For breeding, it's a different story," she says about not liking her horse's new pedigree.

Jens Trabjerg, show director of the Aalborg Equitour and founder of the former show organizers' company JBK, underwent surgery to his neck at the Vejle hospital. He will have to take it easy for a while for his recovery.

After the huge response and success of the crowd funding programme that gave Therese Nilshagen a foal for the future, the Swedish Warmblood and Riders Trust (SWART) is launching a new campaign for 2018. No less than 27 riders have been nominated as candidates for a free foal in 2018. "The candidate receiving the horse will be decided from the people's votes, they vote by texting every candidate's unique number," SWART founder Malin Myrman told Eurodressage.

 Jacinte Giscard d'Estaing has passed away age 57 on 16 January 2018. Daughter to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981, Jacinte was a veterinarian and created the concept of "Poneyland". She brought horse sport to the Paris-Bercy exhibition centre and was managing director of the French Pony Championships in Lamotte-Beuvron. 

Horses.nl reported that Dutch Grand Prix rider Wilma Wernsen had to say goodbye to her retired number one GP horse Oklarette (by Ferro x Candyboy), who suddenly passed away on 23 January 2018. The 22-year old black mare was in foal to Flavio. Since her retirement from competition sport she produced a filly by Glamourdale in 2016 and a filly by Daily Diamond in 2017. Wernsen is currently competing at small tour on Estupendo (by Ziesto) and Apretado (by Scandic).

German trainer Georg Otto Heyser has passed away at age 80. Father to three daughters including Swiss Grand Prix rider Nicola Heyser Burger, Georg Heyser was also known as "Butzer". Heyser won the German Dressage Derby and was coach to eventing riders Hinrich Romeike and Peter Thomsen that competed at the 2008 Olympic Games. Heyser produced his best results in the saddle aboard Amigo in the 1980s.  In 2009 he received the title of "Riding Master".