Bernadette Brune has acquired the black Oldenburg brood mare Help for Africa (by Bretton Woods x Furst Heinrich x Caprimond) at the 2015 Oldenburg Spring Elite Auction. She paid 28,000 euro for the mare. The money will go directly to the charity organisation "Partnerschaft für Afrika e.V." which supports projects in Africa such as the treatment and therapy of handicapped children, programs to assist street children and money loan programs for women. "A good deed and a beautiful bride for my Spirit of the Age," said a delighted Bernadette Brune. "I bought the Bretton Woods mare and 28,000 euro will go to children in Africa!"
De Havikerwaard has sold its 12-year old Dutch warmblood stallion Wonderboy (by Welt Hit II x Donnerschlag x Gepard) to the Dutch rider Dennis Ausma. Under Bart Veeze, Wonderboy was competed at small tour level. Wonderboy is licensed with the Oldenburg verband.
Marc Boblet returned to the show ring with his 2008 Olympic Games ride Whitni Star at the 2015 CDN Jardy on 11 April 2014. The duo scored 59.320% to finish 33rd in a field of 35. The class was won by Arnaud Serre on Robinson de la Font with 73.380%, followed by Liegard, Gosselin and Bretenoux. Belgian WEG team rider Laurence Vanommeslaghe made her show come back on Avec Plaisir and scored 67.400 to finish fifth. Complete scores here.
Renowned KWPN breeder and stallion owner Gerrit Willem van Norel has been appointed "Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau". After 45 years of exceptional horse breeding at his yard Pretendenthoeve, van Norel received this great distinction and the Officer's Cross from mayor Inez Pijnenburg in a special ceremony on 12 April 2015. KWPN director Johan Knaap was present at the ceremony. Photo © www.edivorm.nl
The Hanoverian licensed stallion Randel Z has passed away at age 31 at his French home Haras des Aucels. The Ramiro Z x Alme Z was bred at Zangersheide and proved himself as an excellent show jumping producer. His most successful dressage offspring, however, was the super talented Grand Prix horse Nector van het Carelshof. He also sired Super Boogy, who competed for Belgium at the 2000 World Young Horse Championships in Arnheim.
German born American FEI rider Silva Martin is pregnant with her first child. Née Stigler, Silva is married to Australian eventing rider Boyd Martin and the pair is based in the U.S.A. It will be their first child together. The baby is due in September.
Reiter Revue reported that Helen Langehanenberg has received the ride on the 4-year old licensed stallion Fashion Maker (by Furstenball x De Niro). The stallion has so far been trained and competed by Rebecca Holtwiesche, but Langehanenberg will continue to further education of the dark bay stallion.
Danish Under 25 rider Carina Nevermann Torup has sold her top horse, the 14-year old Danish warmblood Blue Boy (by Don Schufro x Chromico) to Swedish junior rider Catherine Kleberg as a schoolmaster. The duo were fourth overall at the 2014 Danish U25 Championships in Broholm.
Dutch junior rider Fenna Roefs has acquired the 9-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Brown Boy (by Sandreo x Jazz). Under Bart Veeze the bay gelding was the reserve champion at Z2 level at the 2014 Dutch Championships.
The soap opera concerning Dutch Grand Prix horse Vingino has begun a new (and maybe final) chapter after one year of legal disputes, bickering, fighting, shots being fired and punches being thrown. Only a few days after Valentijn van Weering proudly announced that he had bought Vingino as his Grand Prix schoolmaster, a new truth surfaced: he had decided to give the ride back to Vingino's original rider Tommie Visser. Surprize?! You decide!