Irish Team Rider Sorrell Klatzko Welcomes New Grand Prix Horse in the Barn

Dressage

Ireland

Irish team rider Sorrell Klatzko has welcomed a second Grand Prix horse in her barn, Rock My Heart EA. The 11-year old British Hanoverian arrived in Ireland this week.

Rock My Heart EA is by Royal Classic out of State Premium and Elite mare Walentyna (Weltruhm x Donnerhall x Magnum). He is bred and owned by Elisabeth Ahn-Ballies.

From Show Jumping to Dressage

The bay was first competed in show jumping classes as a 4-year old by Stephan Dubsky before Birgit Sessinghaus switched him to dressage in 2017. She competed him up to L-level in 2018.

In December 2018 Annika Quint presented him and then a break from showing followed. The horse was sent into training with Ingrid Klimke. In 2020 he returned to the arena with Valerie Kampe, in 2021 Klimke showed him once, but Annika Lorenzen did most of the competing at shows in Germany that year. By the end of 2021 Janne Sommer presented him in Bettenrode. However as of then Kampe was the steady rider and she took him into the small tour in 2022.

In 2023 it was Ingeborg Galow's turn and she rode the horse in his first S***-Grand Prix level tests in Beverstedt and Breiholz.

To Ireland

Rock My Heart EA has now joined Sorrell Klatzko in Ireland. She first spotted the horse for sale on Eurodressage in the autumn of 2022.

"Your lovely advert in Eurodressage is what drew my attention to him," Sorrell explained. "I have always followed him, I've always loved him. Every time there was a chance I asked and she always said no. He's been so beautifully trained, always classical, always correct. We had a really long chat then. I thought he was settled with Ingrid Klimke. One year later she called me and asked if I was still interested in her beautiful boy. Of course I was. I tried him and I fell completely in love and he loves me. It's an interesting combination, so let's see. I'm feeling very lucky today."

Klatzko has been a member of the Irish team aboard her own and Janine Shoffner’s Turbo (by Totilas x Florestan) at the 2022 World Championships and 2023 European Dressage Championships, but her two championships starts have been very challenging. In Herning she was eliminatd as the judges deemed Turbo took an unlevel step and in Riesenbeck he knocked himself in training and had to be withdrawn before the Grand Prix.

Despite the set-back, Klatzko is excited for 2024 with a second Grand Prix horse in the ranks.

"It's fantastic," she told Eurodressage. "Toto is back feeling super, so we will train and build together first and hopefully in the new year enjoy some good shows."