After Three-Year Break, Neumayer's Sir Simon Returns at 2023 CDI Stadl Paura

Dressage

Austria

Austrian Grand Prix rider Astrid Neumayer has made her come back with her 2019 European Championship ride Sir Simon at the 2023 CDI Stadl Paura on 6 - 9 April 2023. The horse has been absent from the show ring for three years due to an injury.

Sir Simon is a 15-year old Westfalian by Samarant out of Florentine (by Florestan x Damenstolz x Rigoletto). He is bred by Ulrich Erfling.

Ulla Salzgeber

The chestnut gelding was first competed as a 3-year old in 2011 by Ken Juel Andreassen.

He sold as a youngster to Ulla Salzgeber and Frank Freund first showed him in 2013 before Ulla took over two weeks later. They swapped the ride that first year but as of 2014 Ulla steadily campaigned him.

He made his S-level debut in 2015 and their international debut followed in February in Neumunster. They competed at CDI's in Munich, Fritzens and Budapast. In 2016 they moved to Grand Prix level and rode at CDI's in Caselle di Sommacampagne, Mariakalnok, Lipica, Munich and Geneva.

In 2017 Ulla rode two internationals in Wiener Neustadt and Mannheim after which she announced her own retirement from an active competition career.

Astrid Neumayer

Salzgeber sold Sir Simon to her student at the time, Astrid Neumayer, as her 2018 World Equestrian Games and 2020 Tokyo Olympic hopeful.

Neumayer and Sir Simon premiered at the CDI Ornago in March 2019 and rode herself onto the Austrian team for the European Championships in Rotterdam, where they were 42nd in the Grand Prix (68.727%). They finished the year with indoor starts in Stuttgart and Frankfurt and began 2020 with the CDI Lier, but then he disappeared.

Injury and Come Back

Sir Simon sustained an injury and it took him three years to reach peak fitness level again.

They returned to the arena at the 2023 CDI Stadl Paura, where they were fourth in the Grand Prix (68.152%) and third in the Special (67.851%).

In an interview with the Austrian website Eqwo.net Neumayer said, "Thursday was Simon's first start after a long three year break from competition. It was so much fun. This horse always gives his all and is motivated. In the Grand Prix he did a super test, he just lacks some power and stamina. It could be a lot of fun if he stays healthy, I'm sure of that. Simon was pleased to be part of it all again."

Neumayer previously trained with Hartmut Lammers and is now working with Dorothee Schneider and Matthias Bouten.