Former European Pony Champion Massimiliano On Easier Schedule in Life

Dressage

Germany

The Baumgurtel family, the owners of former double European Pony Champion Massimiliano, has announced that the 16-year old pony will be taking it a bit more easy in the future.

The word "retirement" has not been used, but the change in plans echo an early pension.

Massimiliano is a 16-year old German Riding pony by Monsun N out of Miniwini (by Cap Cennedy N). He is bred by ZG Bahrenfuss and Kless in Holstein.

Cichos and Linsenhoff

Massimiliano first came into the spotlight under Hannah Cichos who competed him in 2012 and 2013.

They were fourth at the 2012 and 2013 German Pony Championships. Internationally they showed at the CDI's in Roosendaal, Hagen, and Compiegne. In 2013 they were reserve pair for the German team for the European Pony Championships.

Massimiliano then moved to Gestut Schafhof where he became the FEi pony of Liselott Marie Linsenhoff. They made their CDI debut in Vidauban in 2014 and showed that year in Stadl Paura and Saumur.

Double European Champion

In the winter of 2014-2015 the buckskin sold to the Baumgurtel family.

With Lucie-Anouk Baumgurtel he went on to write history in pony sport. They made their CDI debut in Odense and were selected on the German team. They won triple gold at the 2016 European Pony Championships in Vilhelmsborg. In 2017 they repeated that feat with triple gold at the European Pony Championships in Kaposvar.

Baumgurtel tried to make it a triple at the 2018 European Pony Championships in Bishop Burton, but Massimiliano could not find his groove in the arena and performed below par. They won team gold, but finished 45th in the individual test.

Although Massimiliano won double European gold, in the three years with Lucie-Anouk he never competed at the German Pony Championships.

Lana-Pinou

As Lucie's time on ponies finished, Massimiliano moved on to become a schoolmaster for younger sister Lana-Pinou.

The new duo made its CDI debut in Mariakalnok in May 2019 and showed in Hagen and Leudelange and qualified on the German team for the 2019 European Pony Championships in Strzegom, where Germany won team bronze and placed fifth in the Kur to Music Finals.

In 2020 they rode Mariakalnok and Sint-Truiden, the latter show being the pair's last international. Massimiliano was "only" selected reserve for the German team for the 2020 European Pony Championships in Budapest. Their last show was a national event in Fröndenberg in September 2à2à.

He was not shown at all in 2021.

Shifting Down a Gear

The 16-year old decorated pony is now having an easier life.

"We have simply noticed that shows stress Massimo and that he's becoming increasingly more scared in the arena," the Baumgurtels stateed. "He shies from anything on the ground and we have decided to give him what he needs, and that is rest, fun and of course groundwork with , which he enjoys so much."