The Warendorf state stud licensed stallion First Selection has changed riders for the second time in one year. Leonie Richter handed over the ride to Lia Welschof.
First Selection is a 14-year old Westfalian stallion by First Final x Fidermark x Dialekt. He is bred by Werner Lürweg.
Rosler, Borggreve, Stamkötter
The bay stallion was approved at the 2009 Westfalian Stallion Licensing and scored 127.32 points in his 70-day stallion performance test.
He was first competed as a 3-year old by Rebekka Rösler. A year later Peter Borggreve took over the ride and showed the stallion at the 2011 and 2012 Bundeschampionate. In 2015 he moved to small tour level. Martin Stamkötter began competing him in 2017 at Grand Prix level through 2019.
Leonie Richter
In February 2020 First Selection was allocated to Leonie Richter, a 2016 European Young Riders Championships team gold medal winner.
The dark bay stallion introduced Leonie to Under 25 level Grand Prix competition in Germany. They competed at U25 tests in Herbergen, Kronberg, Hof Bettenrode, Munster and Bielefeld, for instance.
Richter to Helgstrand, First Selection to Lia Welschof
In January 2021 First Selection moved to the barn of Lia Welschof.
"Because of some changes in my job I sadly don’t have enough time anymore to ride him this season," Richter told Eurodressage. "I will start working at Helgstrand Germany in April and I will move there. I really want to thank the Landgestüt Warendorf for this great opportunity for me to grow and learn from such a super stallion. I am very happy that he found such a good new rider and I wish Lia und First Selection the best of luck."
Last December Welschof purchased the 9-year old Swiss warmblood GB Dolcino (by Don Index x De Niro) as her future Grand Prix ride, but she will be taking her first Grand Prix steps on First Selection it seems.
The new combination is riding in the training and selection seminar this weekend for the 2021 Piaff Forderpreis show circuit.
Photo © Sportfotos Lafrentz
Related Links
Leonie Richter Gets Ride on First Selection
GB Dolcino, Under 25 Grand Prix Hopeful for Lia Welschof