Adriano B, 2019 European Pony Champion, Retired from Sport

Dressage

Germany

Adriano B, a highly decorated international dressage pony and the 2019 European Pony Champion, has been retired from sport.

Adriano B is an 18-year old Rhinelander bred gelding by De Angelo B out of First Lady B (by Flying Dream x Valentino). He is bred by Ludwig Stassen of Gestut Bonninger.

Denmark's Most Decorated Pony

He was discovered in Germany by the Danish Rohmann family.

Under Karoline Rohmann he showed at the 2014 and 2015 European Pony Championships in Millstreet and Malmo, where they were 8th and 10th in the Kur to Music finals. In 2015 they won team bronze.

In 2016 Adriano B sold to Camilla Bach Sorensen for Claudia Kjaer to ride. She presented the pony at CDI's in 2016 and 2017, but was not selected on the danish team.

In 2018 Adriano B sold to Andreas Helgstrand for his son Alexander. He went to the 2018 European Pony Championships in Bishop Burton, where they won triple silver. The were also the 2018 Danish Pony Champions. At the 2019 Europeans in Strzegom, Poland, he secured triple gold.

In the autumn of 2019 Adriano B received a new rider, Sophie Obel Jorgensen, but officially the ownership record did not change with the FEI and he continued to be listed as owned by Helgstrand. Obel and Adriano B competed at the 2020 European Pony Championships in Pilisjaszfalu, where they won triple silver. At the 2021 Europeans in Strzegom they earned double individual bronze and team silver. They finished the year by winning the 2021 Danish Pony Championships.

Move to Germany

At the end of 2021 the rising 16-year old Adriano B was again offered for sale.

He was rumoured to have sold immediately to an established German pony rider, but the deal didn't materialize. In November 2021 he sold to the Danish Qvist family for daughter Laura to ride, but the pony was soon returned to the previous owner.

Shortly afterwards the seven-time European Pony Championship participant Adriano B sold through Helgstrand to the Hamburg based Hubertus Stallmeister, who trains with Kristy Oatley. He became the pony's sixth rider.

Stallmeister made his international show debut at the 2022 CDI Troisdorf and competed in the German team selection trial in Hagen. He was sixth at the 2022 Preis der Besten and named second reserve for the German team for the 2022 European Pony Championships. He placed 12th at the 2022 German Pony Championships.

In 2023 the pair was third at the Preis der Besten and competed at the CDI's in Kronberg, Aalborg, and Hagen. They were named on the German team for the 2023 European Championships but had to withdraw last minute as Adriano B was not fit to compete. Hagen in June 2023 turned out to be their last international. Stallmeister and Adriano B qualified for the 2024 Preis der Besten in Hagen, but they were eliminated from the first round in Warendorf. It was their last show.

Retirement

With Stallmeister at the 2022 CDI Troisdorf

The 18-year old Adriano B has been retired from sport.

"Adriano has always shown his incredible talent and unique character," said Stallmeister. "I am one of the lucky few who had the privilege of being part of this special pony’s career. I’ve learned so much and achieved many milestones with him. Now, I am grateful to see him enjoying his time outside."

Hubertus continued, "Adriano was a wonderful companion during my U16 time, and without him, those years wouldn’t have been filled with so many memorable experiences. We will ensure he enjoys his well-deserved retirement and continues to enjoy his life."