Italian FEI pony rider Vittoria Zaniboni has received the great opportunity to ride and compete Anna Paprocka-Campanella's 7-year old Santorini Hit at international junior riders' level.
The grey Hanoverian gelding Santorini Hit (by Sandro Hit x Furioso II) finished fourth at the 2008 Bundeschampionate and has successfully won many M-level classes in Germany. The gelding is Prix St Georges ready, but Campanella, his owner of five years, wants to give the horse more time to develop and mature.
"Vittoria rides him twice a week and will try to present him in junior classes with the goal to compete at the 2009 European Junior Riders Championships," Campanella said. "He's ready for the small tour but I believe that some work and competition with easier work will be good for his mind. He's only 7-years old and can do the junior classes very well. Last year he scored 9s for trot, canter, and walk, so we have high hopes for him."
Vittoria Zaniboni is a student of Italian Grand Prix champion Pierluigi Sangiorgi, but the young girl will be coached by Campanella on Santorini Hit until the European Championships.
Campanella recently gave the ride on her own Grand Prix horse Prego (by Zazou x Ulft) to her trainer Hubertus Schmidt, who after four days of riding him already won the Kur to Music at the CDI Braunschweig with 74.55%. Anna is currently training a new Grand Prix horse in Italy, the 15-year old Dutch warmblood Maradonna (by Houston x Doruto).
"He's a really big mover with lots of talent for the extensions and passage, but he's really hot. I like that challenge. I hope to qualify Maradonna for the 2009 European Dressage Championships in Windsor, UK," said Campanella.
The friendly Italian dressage rider has been training for many years with Hubertus Schmidt and is occasionally assisted by Dr. Volker Moritz. "Hubertus is my head trainer and Dr. Moritz sometimes helps me to maintain Hubertus' work in the right direction when I'm at home," she said. "Hubertus is a really great coach. He explains me how to ride at home. He can get on my horses and win with them as well. Proof enough of how much we are tuned into each other and how good the horses are."
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