Nicole Werner, coach and eyes-on-the-ground for Dutch Grand Prix riders Hans Peter Minderhoud and Edward Gal and Swedish Juliette Ramel, has received her "Coach Topsport" diploma.
She is one of the very trainers in The Netherlands to have ever achieved the ORUN level 6 degree. ORUN is the foundation for the training of riders and coaches in The Netherlands.
The British Equestrian Federation awarded four members of the equestrian community with BEF Medals of Honour, in recognition of the outstanding services they have given to equestrian sport, during yesterday’s evening performance at The London International Horse Show, Olympia on 20 December 2015. Para-Dressage Chair of Selectors Juliet Seal, Para-Dressage World Class Equine Osteopath Karen Robertson, British Dressage’s Linda Whetstone and Head of Secretariat at the BEF Maggie Moreton, all received their awards from the BEF’s Chairman Keith Taylor. In addition to the award of the BEF Medals of Honour, a special presentation was also made to photographer Kit Houghton in recognition of his support and service to the BEF over the last thirty years.
The 15-year old Dutch FEI pony rider Annelotte Felix has acquired the 7-year old German riding pony Golden Challenge H (by Golden Moonlight x Challenger). Under Beatrice Buchwald the palomino became the reserve champion in the 4-year old riding pony stallion class at the 2012 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf. The new combination is training with Coby van Baalen. Golden Challenge H was a premium stallion at the 2010 Westfalian Pony Stallion Licensing. The pony is bred by Johann Hinnemann.
Dutch under 25 rider Robin Beekink has sold her top ride, 10-year old mare Bella Rosa (by Belissimo M x Hohenstein), as a schoolmaster for a new rider. The bay mare was owned by Jacques and Frank Haerkens.
Tessa Frank, stud director and head rider of Helmut von Fircks' Gestut Nymphenburg in Bad Zwischenhahn, Germany, celebrated her 30th birthday. Frank is one of the youngest stud directors in Germany and highly successful in the dressage arena. She won the Golden Rider Badge on the Nymphenburg stallions and became North German Professional Dressage Champion in 2015.
27-year old Dutch Grand Prix rider Lotje Schoots has received the ride on the 7-year old Oldenburg licensed stallion San Furst (by San Amour x Furst Heinrich x Donnerschwee). The dark bay stallion is bred by Paul Schockemohle and owned by the Singaporean Titan Wilaras.
Spanish Grand Prix rider Severo Jurado Lopez has a Rio Olympic contender in the horse Lorenzo (by Lord Loxley x Rubin Royal). The ownership of the horse has been transferred from the Danish Elkjaer-Holm family to Jurado Lopez in time before the Olympic ownership transfer deadline (15 January). Kirsten and Jorn Elkjaer-Holm have owned the 10-year old Lorenzo since he was a 3-year old.
Hampton Green Farm's foundation stallion Camaron IX passed away in Fruitport on 12 January 2015, due to a progressive illness. He was 21 years old. Camaron (by Islero VIII x Andarina V) was bred by Yeguada Cruces Morillo in Antequera, Spain, and was purchased by Kimberly van Kampen of Hampton Green Farm in 2000. Over the years he represented the farm and his breed with many riders in the U.S.A, including Isidro Maldonado, David de Wispelaere, Pati Pierucci, Ana Gilmore, and Kerrigan Gluch. He has 17 offspring. "His sons and daughters bear the kind and dignified manner of their sire. He remained strong and beautiful until his last days," said van Kampen.