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If one were to name the most rising Belgian combination of 1999, there would only be one option: Geert van der Borght and Rosantica. Bred and owned by Roger Janssens from equestrian facility "De Verbrande Brug" in Eppegem, Belgium, Rosantica is by the Holsteiner Camus out of the TB mare Le Madeleine xx by Saint Philippe xx.
Roger Janssens entered his proud breeding product in various Belgian Warmblood Breed shows. At age three, the mare won the BWP Young Horse Championships and was selected to represent the BWP Team at the European Breed Championships in Brussels in 1998.
Her ridden career has been as successful as the one in the breed shows. Under steady rider Geert van der Borght the mare gathered valuable show experience in 1998 on regional level, but it wasn't until 1999 that their great break-through came in national competitions. Van der Borght and Rosantica were strong contestants in the Belgian Young Dressage Horse Show Circuit. With only a small point difference they had to hand over the victory to Stefan van Ingelgem's Rockefeller in the Finals. However justice prevailed only two weeks later and the extremely talented Rosantica won the Belgian Dressage Championships in the five year old division. Furthermore, one week later, the chestnut was proclaimed the BWP 5 year old Mare Champion.
Of course no horse is perfect. Although Rosantica possesses a very forward walk, a nicely suspended trot and a great canter, she might show more back usage. Her steaming TB temper sometimes gives her the opportunity to avoid using her back muscles. Still, with her shoulder freedom as excelling factor, one may strongly believe that this mare has class and potential for upper level dressage. With Van der Borght as rider, Belgian Dressage has been once more enriched with such a combination.