Anna von Wendt Acquires Grand Prix Horse Sir Fashion, Denzel Schoolmaster for Pilvi Rientonen

Dressage

Finland

Finnish Grand Prix rider Anna von Wendt has acquired the 14-year old Rhinelander Grand Prix horse Sir Fashion as a successor for her number one, Denzel.

Her 18-year old Hanoverian gelding Denzel has been leased to Pilvi Rientonen as a schoolmaster for the season.

Sir Fashion

Sir Fashion is by Sir Donnerhall out of River Lady (by Rosenkavalier) and bred by Hermann Kretz.

He began his sport career under Dutch Miranda Rongen, who competed him on the young horse circuit in The Netherlands in 2010 and 2011.

In 2012 the horse moved to Juliette Piotrowski's yard near Dusseldorf and she represented Germany at the 2012 World Young Horse Championships in Verden, where they finished 7th in the consolation finals.

Two years later Sir Fashion resurfaced in The Netherlands under Grand Prix rider Patrick van der Meer. He made his international debut at small tour level at the 2014 CDI Odense. The pair only did three internationals in three years, their last was the 2016 CDI Nieuw en. St Joosland, where he was shown at Grand Prix level.

Sir Fashion disappeared from the international scene for four years, to resurface in Finland as Von Wendt's new horse.

Training with Hilberath

Piotrowski and Sir Fashion at the 2012 WCYH

Von Wendt, who in 2019 also competed two small tour horses, the 12-year old Hanoverian Donna Lottchen (by Don Henrico) and the 11-year old Hanoverian Schubert (by Sandro Hit x De Niro), has been training with Jonny Hilberath in Germany for years.

Her recent training stint took her back to Hilberath in November and December 2019, where she took the time to consolidate her partnership with Sir Fashion at Grand Prix level. Her Grand Prix horse Denzel stayed home in Finland, where Pilvi Rientonen kept him in training.

International Career with Denzel

Von Wendt made her international show debut on Denzel (by Don Frederico out of Windsbraut (by Wonderland)) in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2011 at small tour level.

After a gap of no internationals for three years, the pair returned to the CDI arena in Ypaja, Finland, at Grand Prix level. They have competed at top level through 2019, their last show being in October 2019. Their career highlights include representing Finland at the CDIO Odense Nations Cup in 2016.

Denzel has now been leased to Pilvi Rientonen until September 2020

Anna von Wendt on Denzel at the 2017 CDI Lier

"Pilvi is very familiar with Denzel, we have been friends for years, and she knows Denzel since he was 5," Anna told Eurodressage. "Pilvi is riding some of my horses when I am away. Denzel was not with me training in Germany in November and December last year, it was Pilvi who kept him fit, so they are familiar with each other. They are aiming for the Finnish Championships in September at Grand Prix level. I will compete Denzel now in a few national shows in June."

She continued, "I know that Pilvi’s dream, like every rider's, is to ride Grand Prix. As I have Sir Fashion to compete now, and there are no bigger shows scheduled, we agreed that she practices more with Denzel and aims for the Finnish Championships. Denzel is super fit and I am so happy that I can give this opportunity for Pilvi. Denzel is such a good horse and super schoolmaster."