Donkers' Zaffier Sold to German Junior Laura Riegel

Wed, 10/03/2018 - 16:16
Germany
Esmee Donkers and Zaffier at the 2016 European Junior Riders Championships :: Photo © Astrid Appels

2018 European Young Rider Champion Esmee Donkers has sold her junior rider's horse Zaffier to the 15-year old German pony rider Laura Riegel. 

With the 2018 summer show season coming to a close, sales are peaking again with pony, junior and young riders across Europe investing in new horse stock for the 2019 competition year. 

Zaffier is a 14-year old Dutch warmblood mare by Painted Black out of Rocco Tosha (by Pion). 

Donkers and Zaffier made their international show debut at junior level in May 2014 at the CDI Kapellen. They consistently competed at internationals through 2016 with a team silver medal at the 2016 European Junior Riders Championships in Oliva Nova, Spain, as career peak. They were 4th in the individual and 7th in the Kur to Music finals there. 

In 2017 Donkers moved the mare up to Young Riders level and showed her only twice: in Nieuw en St. Joosland and Roosendaal. In 2018 the mare did only one CDI in February at the Le Mans Indoor CDI, where they won the individual test.

Donkers, who won the 2018 European Young Riders Championships on the Sir Donnerhall mare Chaina, has now sold her junior horse Zaffier to Germany. 

"Five years ago she came as a green horse in our stable. Friends and breeders Wim and Riannette Timmers brought us together," Donkers explained. "We had a great connection and it was nice to see her develop and how much happier she became the more supple she got. Because of her great character we achieved more than originally expected."

Zaffier's new owner is Laura Franziska Riegel, who has been competing at international pony level since 2017 with Equestricons Lord Champion, Cinderella M and Valentino.

Photo © Astrid Appels

Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Zaffier
Scores: 2016 European Children Junior Young Riders Championships
Dutch Teams Selected for 2016 European Junior/Young Riders Championships
Dutch Teams Selected for 2015 European Junior/Young Riders Championships
Esmee Donkers and Zaffier Score Hattrick at 2015 CDI-J Odense
Verweij and Rothenberger Shine in Junior Division at 2015 CDIO Vidauban