Norwegian FEI rider Isabel Bache has become the new rider and trainer of the Oldenburg licensing champion and top producer Furstenball. Bache's appointment comes after the end of a 5-year rider-horse partnership between Ines Westendarp and Furstenball.
The 8-year old Furstenball (by Furst Heinrich x Donnerhall x Classiker) is one of the most used breeding stallions in Germany. His career has been one from one highlight to the other.
As a foal he was acquired by Danish Lone Boegh Henriksen for a record knock down price at the Oldenburg Elite Foal auction. As a 2,5 year old he became Oldenburg Licensing Champion and a half share sold to Paul Schockemohle. Furstenball won the Stallion Performance Test, Main Premium and has produced Follow Me, Oldenburg Licensing Champion as well as numerous foal and the German Foal Champion. He has a dressage index of 170 and already has 30 licensed offspring! This year Furstenball sired the Oldenburg AND Hanoverian Elite Mare Champion.
Trained from the start by Ines Westendarp, the black stallion also had a star career as a young horse. He was a finallist at the World Young Horse Championships in Verden and won the Bundeschampionate as a 5-year old. Westendarp prepared the stallion up to Prix St Georges level but due to a heavy breeding career, Furstenball was not shown in 2014.
Isabel Bache, who is an assistant trainer at Paul Schockemohle's stalion station in Muhlen, has now taken over the ride and will prepare the stallion slowly for the 2015 Nurnberger Burgpokal qualifiers for German Developing Prix St Georges horses.
"Ines and her husband Johannes Westendarp operate a private sales barn and both their children are very successful in dressage and jumping," said Lone Boegh Henriksen. "Ines felt that it was no longer possible to spend four hours per day on doing the commute to train and ride Fürstenball in Muhlen. Aftr our open house day in Denmark in April she announced her difficult decision that she no longer could ride Fürstenball. We obviously respect and support her decision, but it also fills us with sadness as Ines and Furstenball were synonimous to each other. He has a big place in her heart and we are her deeply thankful for her successful and caring manegement of our beloved Fürstenball."
Related Links
Stallion at Stud: Furstenball
Fine Lady, Champion of the 2014 Hanoverian Elite Mare Show
Funf Sterne, Champion of the 2014 Oldenburg Elite Mare Show in Rastede
Furstenball in Golden Shape at 2011 Bundeschampionate