Dresden Mann Retired from Competition Sport

Dressage

German Dressage News

Ingrid Klimke has retired her number one Grand Prix horse Dresden Mann from competition sport. The black Westfalian gelding is only 11 years old.

The black Dresden Mann is owned by the British duo Clodagh and Jason Wallace. The owner and rider cited "health issues" as the reason for his early retirement.

Dresden Mann is bred by Hubert Vornholdt. He is by Dresemann out of Floh (by Florestan I x Elmshorn).

He began his career as a young horse. He was licensed at the 2006 Westfalian Stallion Licensing in Munster and stood up for stud at the Warendorf State Stud. As a 4-year old he came into training with Ingrid Klimke. He finished sixth at the 2009 Bundeschampionate and World Young Horse Championships. He also finished sixth at the 2010 Bundeschampionate and World Championships.

In 2011 the black was gelded as his behaviour was too much dominated by his hormones. He finished third at the 2012 Nurnberger Burgpokal finals for developing Prix St Georges horses and in 2013 he made the transition to Grand Prix level. He won the Otto Lorke Preis at the end of 2013 for being the most successful rising Grand Prix horse in Germany.

Dresden Mann was absent from the international show ring in 2014 due to an injury, but returned in 2015 with starts at the CDI Hagen, CDI Wiesbaden and CDIO Hagen in July, which was his last international. He scored 72.580% in the Grand Prix and 77.975% in the freestyle. Klimke and Dresden Mann were B-team listed.

"This little charmer has given us much joy over the years," Klimke said when she announced the horse's retirement. "He was especially in his element when there was music in the ring. During his training we have learnt much from him and he presented us with a wide variety of challenges."