In 2019 Sönke Rothenberger premiered Santiano R as a second iron in the fire alongside Cosmo on the international Grand Prix scene. While the competition career of Cosmo moved on the back burner after the 2019 Europeans, the bay DSP gelding Santiano R came into the forefront and was Sönke's main ride for a while. The pair competed through the spring of 2021.
After the CDI Hagen in April 2021 Santiano R disappeared from the scene. Where is he now?
Dr. Antje Rahn
Santiano R is born in 2008 and is a Brandenburg registered gelding by San Amour out of Doriana (by Lord Sinclair x Dukur). He is bred Dr. Antje Rahn.
Santiano R was bred and owned by Antje Rahn who has lightly competed the horse over the years, with only one competition each year since 2013. Rahn rode the horse at L and M level and in June 2016 she once competed him at S-level at the CDN Prietzen where they were seventh in the class.
Sönke Rothenberger
Santiano arrived at Rothenberger's yard in January 2017 and was acquired by his family in partnership with Ralph Westhoff and his life partner Marga Groeninger. A collaboration with the businessman was then being developed by the Rothenbergers. Westhoff had already purchased half ownership in Sönke's Olympic ride Cosmo and full ownership of Sanneke's young horse Sankt Anton.
The pair debuted at the 2019 CDI Nieuw en St. Joosland and posted 68.826% in the Grand Prix (9th). Two months later they improved that to a 70.957% at the CDI Wiesbaden and another three months later confirmed that result at the CDI-W Fot.
In the 2020 corona year the pair showed at three internationals: the World Cup qualifiers in Amsterdam and Neumunster where their GP score moved into the 71% range. In the July 2020 the pair posted 74.783% at the Grand Prix in Hagen. Rothenberger kept Santiano R at home to continue working on their level.
However, at the CDI Hagen in April 2021 they had an off-day and Santiano R got 63.413% in the Grand Prix to place 24th. It was the pair's last show
Where is He Now?
"A longer time ago he had accident in the aqua trainer, right before he came to us," Sönke told eurodressage. "In the end he recovered from that and training actually improved the condition. But he also had shivers. This means that when he was kept constantly moving he could compensate well. Then there was a small injury which required some rest and it became clear the shivers became worse when he was out of training. We decided to retire him from sport."
The bay gelding is now being a headmaster in the field with the youngsters, teaching them manners and good behaviour while he can freely move around all day long.
"He is now a super buddy for all the other horses," Sönke added. "He's the most social horse I know. Never angry or naughty to the other horses."
Photos © Astrid Appels - Barbara Schnell
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Related Links
Eurodressage Photo Database: Santiano R
The WBFSH on Shivers
Santiano R, New Grand Prix Hopeful for Sönke Rothenberger
Santiano R in the field last summer at Rothenberger's Gestut Erlenhof in Bad Homburg