On the first day of competition at the 2019 CDI Ebreichsdorf in Austria on 12 April 2019, Austrian Victoria Max-Theurer made her international show debut on Fackeltanz OLD. The pair placed third in the Grand Prix for freestyle on a score of 72.217%.
The 14-year old black licensed Oldenburg stallion (by Florencio x Feinbrand x Thymian xx) was purchased by Sissy Max-Theurer as a foal for 36,000 euro at the 2005 Oldenburg Spring Elite Auction. Two years later he placed third in the premium ring at the 2007 Oldenburg Stallion Licensing.
He began his career under Dorothee Schneider. She competed him in a few young horse classes in Germany and tried for the Bundeschampionate, but did not go to Warendorf. However, Schneider and the 7-year old Fackeltanz finished 11th at the 2012 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals in Frankfurt. That year she also made her CDI debut on the black in Fritzens.
In 2013 Schneider rode the stallion at a few international events: Hagen, Munich, Fritzens, and Perl. In 2014 they only did one international in Munich. Dorothee trained the stallion up to Grand Prix level and finished fourth in the 2015 Louisdor Cup Finals.
Fackeltanz then disappeared from the scene for almost three years to make an international come back at the CDI Achleiten in June 2018 under Max-Theurer's assistant trainer and Victoria's boyfriend Stefan Lehfellner. The new duo went on to show in Fritzens and Cappeln. They won bronze at the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix Championships.
Victoria has now taken over the ride on the gorgeous black stallion.
"I'm very proud of Fackel. This was out third test together at this level," said Victoria. "Aside from an interested look at the flower he was very focused today and always with me. Especially in his canter tour he has highlights. I'm grateful to my mom that I can ride Fackeltanz and to my trainer Isabell Werth who very much helped me warm up for the test today. And of course to my boyfriend Stefan who has given the ride to me after such long work with Fackeltanz. Him and I were very happy today."
Photo © Michael Rzepa
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