With the show year coming to a close, FEI ponies are being sold and re-allocated as several international pony riders have aged out. Two German FEI ponies have recently found a new rider: Der Kleine Champion and Assenmachers Gentleman.
Assenmachers Gentleman
The 8-year old Rhinelander bred German riding pony Assenmachers Gentleman is by HET Golden Dream out of Chere de Luxe (by Champion de Luxe x Chantre B). He is bred by Michel Assenmacher.
The bay was first shown as a 4-year old in 2020 by Wibke Hartmann-Stommel and landed 6th place at the Bundeschampionate. A year later Julia Ralinofsky placed 9th with him at the Bundeschampionate. In 2022 it was Laura Amelie Borges' turn and she placed 6th in Warendorf.
Gentleman sold to the Buck family for their son Mats to ride. He piloted the pony to a 7th place at the 2023 Bundeschampionate. Their international debut followed at the 2024 CDI Aachen Festival 4 Dressage. They returned to the CDI ring a year later in Lier, followed by Compiegne and then the German team selection trial at the CDI-P Hagen, after which they were named third reserve. At the German Pony Championships they were 29th in 2023, 10th in 2024 and fifth in 2025.
Gentleman has now successfully moved on to a new rider, Stella-Sofie Mankowski, who debuted the pony at the CDN Kreuth last weekend, finishing second twice with 70.256% and 71.138%.
Der Kleine Champion
The 8-year old Der Kleine Champion is a DSP registered gelding by Diamond Touch out of Lady Farbenfroh (by Londontime x Walt Disney). He is bred and was owned by Heike Schulmerig.
He was first competed by Michele Schulmerig as a 3-year old in 2020 and won bronze at the Bundeschampionate that year. He returned to Warendorf in 2021 to score silver. In 2022 he was shown mostly by Amely Böh and finished fifth at the Bundeschampionate with her. In 2023 it was Amelie Bertazzoni's turn and she won the Bundeschampionate in the 6-year old division.
As of 2024 Der Kleine Champion was shown by Hannah Isbruch and she debuted him at CDI level in Hagen in June 2025, followed by Troisdorf. They were 9th at the 2024 German Pony Championships. In 2025 he showed again in Hagen at the German European Championship team qualifier, but the chestnut remained Hannah's number two as her other pony, Dabia Dior, was chosen for the team.
The chestnut sold to Danish Agnes Ørnskov Beier already a few weeks ago, but Hannah was allowed to ride her final show on the gelding at the CDI Aachen Young Stars last weekend. The pony now moves to Denmark.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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