Check out who has been chilling in the sun on Easter weekend. It's Laura Bechtolheimer's retired Olympic team gold and individual bronze medal winning Mistral Hojris. Laura captioned the photo with "Alf enjoying his bank holiday Monday!"
For those wondering what has been going on with the former World Young Horse Champion Donna Unique (by Don Schufro x Falkland), the black mare will be competed again this 2014 outdoor show season. After the partnership ended between Donna Unique's owner Arlette Jasper-Kohl and Patrik Kittel, the mare has not been shown. Dorothee Schneider took over the ride on her, but the Danish warmblood got injured in 2013. "Donna Unique is back in training. Dorothee Schneider prepares her for first starts in the Grand Prix class," Peterhof's press officer told Eurodressage.
Donna Unique did become mother again to a second foal. An embryotransfer foal by Sezuan out of Donn Unique was delivered by a surrogate mare on 15 April 2014. The colt is black and has a white stripe and socks. This colt has a 2013 born full sister, named Sezami.
Victoria Max-Theurer's small tour horse Moliere has been injured and will be standing at stud during his recovery period. The 12-year old Westfalian Moliere is by Munchhausen x Ferragamo x Florestan.
The Andeweg family has celebrated the birth of the full brother to Desperado, the KWPN Stallion Performance Test and Pavo Cup winner. A gorgeous, long legged bay colt (by Vivaldi x Havidoff) was born on 20 April 2014.
Australian Olympian Hayley Beresford is moving yards again, this time to a more permanent location than the temporary stable she was at in Soest, Germany. Hayley is relocating to Claudia Porsche's Eisener Hof near Stuttgart, Germany, and she's taking with her 18 horses, 4 Australian students and 3 dogs. Eisener Hof was originally owned by Christoph Möhl and worked as training base for Holger Schulze (who discovered Anky van Grunsven's Salinero). The property sold to Porsche in 2011.
Belgian Grand Prix rider Julie de Deken, who recently celebrated great success at the 2014 CDI Nieuw en St. Joosland where she finished second in the Grand Prix with Lucky Dance, have welcomed a new canine member to their family. Dachshund Mazzel will be joining dachshund Popov and pommeranian Prins in the pack.
We picked up great reviews from the riders about improved conditions at the 2014 CDI and CDIO Vidauban this year. The beautiful show, located in the South of France, continues to work on its venue year after year. For 2014 they made sure the lorry park was completely paved with asphalt. A highly appreciated extra at the show was that a crew stood ready to help each rider unpack his entire lorry in no time. Well done!
Susan Dutta's retired Grand Prix mare Manette DC (by Master x Fruhling) gave birth to a black filly by Everdale (by Lord Leatherdale x Negro) on 28 April 2014. The Danish warmblood mare Manette DC was Dutta's international Grand Prix horse from 2009 till 2011. The filly has been named Jyotika DC, which means shining light in Indian.
American Grand Prix rider Shawna Harding has acquired a new youngster in Denmark. She purchased the 4-year old black Danish warmblood gelding Skallebæks Regent (by De Noir x Romanov).