German long-time youth team member Semmieke Rothernberger has spoken out on her non-selection for the German long list for the 2024 European Under 25 Championships.
At the 2024 German Under 25 Championships in Balve last weekend, Rothenberger and the 14-year old KWPN gelding Farrington (by Jazz x Samba Hit) were second in the Intermediaire II (73.789)% and won U25GP gold (74.790%) as well as Kur gold (80.675%). Balve was Rothenberger's first show on Farrington in nine months time. Their last competition start was in September 2023.
Despite double gold in Balve, the dressage selection committee of the DOKR decided not to long list Rothenberger for European U25 Championship team selection as she missed the first team selection trial in Mannheim and did not compete at any other show in 2024 to prove form and fitness.
"What counts for the dressage committee when making the nomination is the impression of the entire year and the entire selection process, which was communicated to the riders at an early stage," the DOKR stated. "For reasons of sporting fairness, we have therefore given priority to those pairs that have completed the entire process. We are certain that we are well positioned with the pairs mentioned. The decision on the shortlist will be made on July 2nd."
Rothenberger disagrees and made a statement on social media, referring to long listed rider Helen Erbe who also missed Mannheim. Long-time team member Helen Erbe did compete at the CDN Munster and CDI Lier - twice in the senior Grand Prix division - at the start of 2024 before making her way to the German Championships in Balve, where she won the Inter II ahead of Rothenberger, was fifth in the U25-GP, and won silver in the Kur.
"Where this is difficult for me, is the Federation has made exceptions to rules at their discretion in the past, and a horse has qualified that has not competed at the first qualification (just like Farrington)," Rothenberger took to social media. " So when the reason given is that our selection would be unfair to the other competitors and that they have only chosen combinations who have done the ‘entire process’ - this is not accurate and led me to feel disappointed and confused with the decision.
Semmieke further addressed the DOKR directly asking "to please critically question the statements and decision made, by looking at selected horses and their show history; of this year and prior years."
When mentioning "prior years" Rothenberger refers to the selection of Raphael Netz on Ferdinand BB on the German team for the 2022 European Under 25 Championships despite him having only competed the horse for 1.5 months. Netz rode the selections on Exclusiv BB and only made his show debut on Jessica von Bredow's former GP horse Ferdinand BB at the end of June 2022 at a local event in Brunnthall before heading to the CDI Kronberg in July. After that they went to the national show in Elmlohe which was their first and only team qualifier as a pair. Good 70++ scores were achieved at these shows. The German federation allowed him to swap Exclusiv BB for Ferdinand BB.
Semmieke added, "undoubtedly this is disappointing for myself and my team, given Farrie's exceptional form and results that see him always finishing in the top three. (..) As this is my last year in U25, we would have loved to represent our country and I am confident that Farrie would have shone, especially after his recent performance in Balve."
Rothenberger told Eurodressage exclusively that she proposed to compete at the CDI Jardy or Achleiten this weekend, 13 - 16 June, to have another show on record before the nominative deadline of 18 June. The FN did not accept this as part of the selection process. Since 2011 Rothenberger has ridden at eleven (!) European Youth Riders Championships from pony level to Under 25 with seven different horses. She has been working with Jonny Hilberath alongside her parents Sven and Gonnelien Rothenberger.
Photo © Stefan Lafrentz
Related Links
German Long List for 2024 European Under 25 Championships, Rothenberger Excluded