Frederic Wandres and Quizmaster On the Rise at the 2020 CDI Achleiten

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2020 CDI Achleiten

German duo Frederic Wandres and his small tour ride Quizmaster were on the rise at the third and final international dressage competition hosted at Sissy Max-Theurer's Castle Achleiten in Rohr, Austria this summer.

The three CDI Achleiten's were very small, invitation-only events that catered to the needs of the team of event organizer Sissy Max-Theurer. Beautifully set and well organized, the event brought top riders such as Dorothee Schneider and Isabell Werth to the venue.

The third CDI hosted on 14 - 16 August 2020 featured two small tour classes with just 5 riders in total.

German duo Frederic Wandres and the 8-year old Hanoverian Quizmaster (by Quasar de Charry x Velten Third) felt the heat of German pair Dorothee Schneider on her World Young Horse Championship bronze medal winner Villeneuve (by Vitalis x Dancier). In the Prix St Georges Villeneuve won with 75.029% and Quizmaster was second with 74.294%. However in the Intermediaire I, Wandres and Quizmaster shook off all competition and grabbed the trophy with 75.206%, while Schneider followed in the distance with 72.882%.

"Achleiten was very nice. It was the second time in small tour for him," Wandres told Eurodresage, who rode the horse for a second time at the same venue. "After the first time in Achleiten I knew exactly where we lost the important points and what I had to train at home to become better next time."

He continued: "before we drove to Achleiten last weekend my boss Ulli Kasselmann asked me which horses I take, and I said the I would like to take most is Quizzi because I felt already at home that we had a great development and that I would really like to feel if and how we can bring it into the arena."

Wandres was very pleased with how the horse went, even though there was a big bobble in the halt at entry.

"In the St Georges we were second because I had the first entry totally broken. He was not focused the first seconds but from that point on he could show everything what we trained at home. The intermediaire I is still a very difficult test for young horses, but it was his best test so far. He was very focused without any big mistakes and there was place for improvement. His character is like a big big teddy bear and he is so untypically for a Quarterback."

Bundeschampionate Gold and Bronze

Schulz and Quizmaster at the 2017 World
Young Horse Championships

Quizmaster was a former premium Hanoverian licensed stallion, but instead of breeding he has been focused on sport.

Initially trained and competed by Swedish Jessica Lynn Thomas (née Andersson), Quizmaster became the 2015 Bundeschampion as a 3-year old.

At the 2015 Hanoverian Autumn Elite Auction he sold to the Luxembourg company Grand Ducal Dressage, which is fronted French banker Patrice Mourruau, for 180,000 euro. The ride was allocated to German born Luxembourg rider Sascha Schulz and they won bronze at the 2016 Bundeschampionate.

The pair made its international debut in the 5-year old young horse classes in 2017, competing him at the CDI's in Stadl Paura and Pompadour, before heaving to the World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo, where they were 13th in the Final.

Move to Hof Kasselmann

Bought as an investment project for Grand Ducal, Quizmaster was one of many horses that the company resold in 2019 as it downsized again. Quizmaster moved to Hof Kasselmann in Hagen.

The horse was allocated to Frederic Wandres in December 2019.

Wandres and Quizmaster made their international show debut at the second CDI Achleiten at the end of July and placed third and second in the Prix St Georges and Intermediaire I with solid scores of 71.588% and 72.559%. Two weeks later they upped the ante at the same location.

When asked what Quizmaster would tell Freddy if he were to talk, Wandres believes he would say: "Please look for a sponsor. I want to stay with you. Give me time , I will do my best."

This year, Wandres aims to qualify Quizmaster for the 2020 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals, but his mind is set on the long-term.

"I want to try one or two more St Georges test at the level of the Nurnberger Burgpokal," Frederic explained. "If it works out it is fine and I'm happy; if not there will be the Louisdor for Developing Grand Prix horses next year."