The Austrian gun millionaire Gaston Glock has acquired the 11-year old Dutch warmblood Voice and secured the ride on the licensed stallion for Edward Gal.
The news of the acquisition came as no suprise as last week breeder and owner Isabel van Gisbergen-Sponsolee published a column in the Dutch equestrian newspaper De Paardenkrant revealing her intentions to sell the stallion. "Several times we did not succeed at selling horses at the top of their value and maybe with Voice it has to be like that," van Gisbergen wrote on 30 May 2013.
The highly acclaimed breeder Van Gisbergen-Sponselee bred Voice (by De Niro) out of her mare Rohbria (by Rohdiamant x Doruto). The gorgeous black stallion was trained from novice to FEI level by Imke Schellekens-Bartels. The horse placed eighth and seventh successively in the Pavo Cup and finished 10th at the 2007 World Young Horse Championships in Verden as a 5-year old.
In the summer of 2010 Van Gisbergen removed the stallion from Bartels Academy and relocated him with Edward Gal. Due to this decision a tough legal battle ensued and the Bartels family won in court.
Edward Gal and Voice made their international debut at small tour level at the CDI Zwolle in January 2011 and the pair also competed at the 2011 CDIO Aachen but then the horse then disappeared from the scene. Voice was severely injured and had to be operated on. The recovery took almost two years, but in May 2013 they made their come back at the CDI Roosendaal and won the Grand Prix and Kur to Music. One week later the duo also prevailed at the 2013 CDI Arnhem.
Glock announced the acquisition of the stallion two days after the 2013 CDI Arnhem.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Voice
Grand Prix Debut Day at 2013 CDI Roosendaal
Court Rules in Favour of Bartels' Family in Voice Lawsuit
Edward Gal and Voice Victorious in 2011 CDI Zwolle Prix St Georges