Finally a new Grand Prix horse for Dutch native, German based dressage rider Ellen Bontje! With Gestion Silvano N nearing the end of his competition career and Rubioso N not breaking through at the highest level, the time was right for a new mount for Bontje.
Conrad Schumacher's leading student and stable manager since 1984 is currently riding the bay mare Whoopi. Owned by the British Lady Bamford, Whoopi is a 1991 Hanoverian bred mare.
The combination made their international debut at the CDI Maastricht, The Netherlands the first weekend of December. This fresh combination had a difficult start in the Grand Prix. With 59.72% the pair ranked 10th but in the kur they moved up to 7th position with 64.89%.
Ellen Bontje and Whoopi were also part of the winning quadrille together with Anky van Grunsven and the Bartels family in the Essent Quadrille Championships.
Lady Bamford owns Daylesford Stud, which situated in the heart of the glorious Cotswold countryside within the grounds of Daylesford House. Lady Bamford's daughter Alice Bamford is a successful British Grand Prix competitor with the Brandenburg stallion Akzento.
With Fididas, Physikus and Livello, Alice Bamford has a top quality back up team, which will create great opportunities for her at international competitions.
Image copyrighted: Dirk Caremans - no reproduction without permission.
Related Link
Scores 2001 CDI Maastricht