Bundeschampion Tanzbär T Passed Away

Dressage

Sweden

Tanzbär, an internationally competed FEI pony and former Bundeschampion, has passed away. He would turn 16 in the spring.

Tanzbär T was a Westfalian bred German Riding pony by Timberland out of Go Go Girl (by Golden Dancer x Derano). He is bred by Hans and Eva Maria Tüpker.

Bundeschampion

The chestnut was successful in sport from the start.

He was first competed by Caroline Schnarre and breeder Eva-Maria Tüpker as a 3-year old in 2013 before Christina Dufhaus took over in 2014, quickly followed by Christina Schankat. With Dufhaus he won the gold medal in the 4-year old division at the 2014 Bundeschampionate.

In September 2014 he was offered for sale in the Ponyforum Open Sales. In 2015 he was ridden by Felicitas Schankat and Laetitia Terberger. With the latter he returned to the 2015 Bundeschampionate and placed 10th.

In 2016 no less than three riders competed him: Ann-Sophie Arlt, Lea Maria Golkowski as well as Felicitas Schankat.

The Netherlands

Tanzbär sold to The Netherlands. Under his Dutch rider Nina Jansen he made his international show debut at the CDI Diepenbeek (BEL) in July 2017 and competed at CDI's in Lamprechtshausen, Waregem, Exloo and Aachen that year.

They won silver at the 2018 Dutch Indoor Pony Championships and campaigned internationally in Le Mans, Aalborg and Hagen that year.

Sweden

Tanzbär T then sold to Sweden and became the new partner for Ellen Stymne.

In 2020 they were 19th at the Swedish Pony Championships and a year later they made their international debut at the CDI Hagen in June 2021. They won gold and silver at the 2021 Swedish Pony Championships. In 2022 they went to Cascais in Portugal, but also ride in Aalborg and Flyinge, where they placed 6th at the 2022 Nordic Baltic Championships. He was a Swedish team reserve for the 2022 European Pony Championships.

In 2023 Tanzbär T sold as a schoolmaster to a new Swedish rider, Ellen Jakobsson. She rode the chestnut in one international competition, the CDI Kronenberg Indoor in December 2023, where they scored twice above 70%. They competed in Sweden at the start of 2024, Jakobsson's last year on ponies.

Untimely Passing

Unfortunately, Tanzbär T sustained an injury and despite extensive medical care he could no longer live a comfortable life and was put to sleep.

Jakobsson reported, "I miss him enormously. I'm so grateful for everything we managed to do together. We did everything for you but unfortunately it was not enough all the way. I love you for always. My lovely Tanzbär T so very grateful for you."

"He was one of the best ponies that I had in my life," his German Bundeschampion rider Dufhaus told Eurodressage. "Bärchen had the perfect temperament and was incredibly rideable."