Emmelie Scholtens' small tour horse Dorado has been sold to Denmark. The 8-year old chestnut stallion (by Krack x Rousseau) will continue his career under Under 25 rider Anna Zibrandtsen.
Dorado is bred by Cees Kikkert and was owned by Kikkert in partnership with horse dealer Ad Valk. The licensed stallion never bred much and only 50 foals are registered with the KWPN up till 2015.
Dutch A-team rider Emmelie Scholtens started the stallion as a 3-year old and competed him up to small tour level.
The pair was highly successful in the young horse classes. As a 5-year old he was third in the 2013 Pavo Cup Finals but then won bronze at the 2013 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden. They were the runners-up in the 2013-2014 KWPN Stallion Competition Finals in Den Bosch. At the 2014 World Young Horse Championships they finished sixth in the finals.
Their last major achievement together was winning the bronze medal at the 2016 Dutch Dressage Championships in Ermelo in July.
"My mate Dorado has been sold," Scholtens wrote on Facebook. "It's a great pity for our sportive career but such a sweet and talented horse also stands out with other people. I had a great time with him and already miss him. I've been riding him since he was three."
Zibrandtsen, who has been training with Swedish Jan Brink her entire youth rider's career, is excited about her future with Dorado.
"I hope we are a great match and hope we will have a future at Grand Prix level," Zibrandtsen told Eurodressage. "He has a super mind, a lot of power and talent for collecting. And I really believe he is a real friend."
Zibrandtsen has no immediate show schedule for the horse. "I will give us a lot of time to connect," she stated.
Photos © Digishots - Astrid Appels
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