2012 and 2013 European Young Rider Champion Cathrine Dufour has invested in a talented young foal, HP Tootsie. Bred by Lone Boegh Henriksen, the black filly is by KWPN stallion Everdale out of Totima (by Totilas x Sandro Hit x Sultan)
, a mare Lone bought at the 2011 Vechta Autumn Elite Auction.
Beatriz Ferrer-Salat's groom Robbie Sanderson has switched employers and is now working for Sönke Rothenberger as groom of Cosmo. Rothenberger is currently based in The Netherlands, where he is studying, and training with Anky van Grunsven.
Sara Longworth's prestigious brood farm Waverley Stud in Great Britain has acquired two top notch broodmares and a filly in Germany: Lady Sunshine and Royal Romantic. The elite mare Lady Sunshine is by Sandro Hit x De Niro x Pik Bube is from the damline that produced licensed stallions Feinbrand and Blue Hors Zee Me Blue. Royal Romantic (by Rhodiamant x Donnerhall x Figaro) is in foal to Danciano. Out of 45 individuals in her mareline, 13 have licensed as dressage or showjumping stallions. Her maternal grandmother produced two licensed stallions and eight horses successful in sport at PSG or above. The new filly is Oldenburg branded and by Totilas x Donnerhall x Pik Bube.
California based 2014 American Young Rider champion Anna Buffini has acquired a new horse: the 12-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Wilton (by Jazz x Contango x Amor). The dark bay gelding is bred by the late renowned Huub van Helvoirt in The Netherlands and was competed in Germany at small tour level by Swedish Angelica Bystrom and Malin Nilsson.
American FEI rider Christoph Hickey has a new talented horse to ride, the Danish warmblood mare Zackonik (by Zack x Romanov). The black mare is bred by Mogens Pedersen and is a full sister to the licensed stallion Zonik (Edward Gal). Zackonik was a finalist in the 4-year old division at the 2014 Danish Young Horse Championships in Odense and was ridden by Emma Ahlberg.
Dutch-American Eliane Cordia-van Reesema became the winner of the 2015 "Bollywood Dancing with the Stars" Award at the India Night 2015 in Wellington, Florida. The evening of dance was a charity event featuring four riders -- Brandon Phillips, Eliane Cordia van Reesema, Ki-Juan Minors and Annabelle Garrett -- who had trained with a professional for four weeks and then had to deliver a dance-off Bollywood style. Cordia-Van Reesema was proclaimed the winner! The Salvation Tree Foundation is breaking ground on a new school, and funds raised from India Night 2015 will go to support the expansion project, necessary to continue to grow to serve and educate the students of New Delhi, India.
Canadian Grand Prix rider Leah Wilson had to say goodbye to her Young Riders horse Dostoevsky. Owned by Maria Simpson Dostoevsky (aka Ivan), the 21-year old dark bay was a Russian Warmblood by David out of Poloneve. "He meant the world to many of us as not only an amazing schoolmaster but a gentle and wise soul," said Wilson. "Ivan was my first FEI horse and I am grateful to Tom Dvorak for bringing us together. He spent his last few years at my farm teaching others and was fondly known as the "flying change machine"."
Dr. Katja Weisbrod and her husband, stallion owner Tobias Galmbacher, have welcomed a second child to their family. Katja gave birth to baby girl Leonie-Sophie Galmbacher on 6 March 2015.
Dutch silver medal winning team pony Cisky van de Beekerheide (by Composer van de Beekerheide x Zelder's Ashly) has been sold to British pony rider Otillie Bardsley. Ciske is an 11-year old Dutch bred Welsh pony gelding and was competed by Demy Kurstjens. "My once in a life time pony, Ciske has been sold to the most lovely person in the world," said Kurstjens. "I can't stop crying but I know he will be in great hands."
The 14-year old Dutch A-team FEI pony Keulse Hoeve's Zico (by Rietheim's Hilbert x Conquistador) sold to German Lee Ann Daviter after being advertised in the Eurodressage Equimarket.
Former Belgian Young Riders' team horse Sandiegobese (by Feliciano x Highline x Cocktail) has been sold to the U.K. The 16-year old Dutch warmblood is an experienced youth riders horse and under Tahnee Waelkens he competed in the finals at the 2009, 2010, and 2011 European Junior/Young Riders Championships. Sandiegobese has been sold to British 16-year old Brittany Dumbleton.
Amie O’Shaughnessy has been selected as the successful candidate for the new position of High Performance Director for the Canadian equestrian Federation (Equine Canada), effective March 30, 2015. O’Shaughnessy is "an ideal fit for the role, having accumulated 14 years of experience managing and directing EC programs within five disciplines, including her most recent post as Director of Para-Equestrian."