2020 German Championships Without Star Horses Bella Rose, Showtime and Cosmo

Wed, 09/09/2020 - 17:06
Germany
Isabell Werth and Bella Rose at the 2019 German Dressage Championships :: Photo © Barbara Schnell

The 2020 German Dressage Championships in Balve already lost of a bit of its flair due to the corona measures, but now three of Germany's team horses - Bella Rose, Showtime and Cosmo - will not be competing at this mandatory observation trial.

The German National Championships for 2020 were moved from 7 - 10 May to mid September due to the corona pandemic. Originally a mandatory German Olympic team selection trial, Balve remains to be mandatory and has now been reduced to an obligatory squad observation event, where team trainers Monica Theodorescu and Jonny Hilberath will assess the squad riders. 

German Team Horses Not at Top Level

Despite all efforts from show host Rosalie von Landsberg-Velen to make Balve into a shining event, the polish will be a bit less with neither Isabell Werth's Bella Rose, Dorothee Schneider's Showtime nor Sönke Rothenberger's Cosmo there. All three horses sustained minor injuries and are behind on their training schedule. Also Schneider's second Grand Prix horse, Sammy Davis Jr, will not appear. 

"At the moment these three riders don't have their top horses at the level, which is necessary to have to acheive top results at the German Championshops. Due to small health issues at the beginning of the summer, they are behind on their training level, which we are used to seeing at previous Championships," team trainer Monica Theodorescu explained in a press release. 

Werth will be bring Emilio and Weihegold to Balve, while Schneider has opted for her third Grand Prix horse Faustus. Sönke Rothenberger will replace Cosmo with Santiano R. 

Only 10 Entered

Only 10 riders will be competing in the 2020 German Dressage Championships this year, an all-time low. However, the names are all ringing, featuring Germany's creme de la creme.

Von Bredow and Dalera BB at the 2019 Nationals
Entered to ride in Balve are: Carina Bachmann (Tarantino), Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (Dalera BB / Zaire E), Senta Kirchoff (L'Arbuste), Ingrid Klimke (Franziskus), Helen Langehanenberg (Damsey), Hubertus Schmidt (Escolar), Dorothee Schneider (Faustus), Frederic Wandres (Duke of Britain), Benjamin Werndl (Daily Mirror / Famoso), Isabell Werth (Emilio and Weihegold)

Photos © Barbara Schnell

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