Deliza, New Olympic Hopeful for Austrian Stefan Lehfellner

Wed, 02/10/2021 - 09:03
Austria
Bianca Kasselmann and Deliza at the 2020 CDN Ankum :: Photo © Rüchel

The Max-Theurer family has acquired the 11-year old mare Deliza at Hof Kasselmann and given the ride to Stefan Lehfellner, the life partner of Victoria Max-Theurer. 

Deliza is a Baden Wurttemberger mare by De Chirico out of Cest La Vie (by Chambertin x Alcatraz x Calypso). She is bred by Nikolaus Borst.

Show Career

Deliza has only been lightly competed in her career.

She first started showing as a 3-year old under Anna Lena Borst in a riding horse test in Babenhausen in September 2013. In 2014 she competed the mare in a few A-level classes.

Two years later, in 2016, Deliza was presented a few times by Katrin Burger at M-level for new owner Lothar Merkt of Dressage Pro Sportpferde.  In 2017 Mirja Block competed the mare and took her up to small tour level.

In 2018 Sabrina Schrödter took place in the saddle for one show after which she disappeared from the scene.

Scouted by Isabell

Deliza sold to Hof Kasselmann, where Bianca Kasselmann took on the training and ride on the bay mare. She competed her at three national shows in Ankum in the Intermediaire II and Short Grand Prix in January and February 2020. 

Victoria Max-Theurer's trainer Isabell Werth scouted Deliza at Hof Kasselmann and recommended her to the Austrian family. 

The mare was tested and approved and according to Max-Theurer moved to Austria only weeks ago. Her ownership with the FEI was already changed on 29 July 2020.

Lehfellner, who seems to be actively pursuing an Austrian Olympic team spot, is already Olympic squad listed with Max-Theurer's Oldenburg bred Fackeltanz. 

Show Debut

Lehfellner and Deliza at the 2021 CDN Ebreichsdorf
Only a few weeks together, Lehfellner and Deliza made their show debut at the CDN Ebreichsdorf on 29 - 31 January. 

The pair won the Intermediaire II with a score of 71.579% in a field of 12 combinations. 

"We are incredibly impressed with her great character in the daily work," said Victoria Max-Theurer about "Elli". "She is always fully committed and she showed that at her first competition in Ebreichsdorf. Stefan and Elli don't know each other for long and Elli does not have that much show experience at this level, so we are happy that her debut worked so well."

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