Swiss dressage team rider Marie Line Wettstein has retired her top Grand Prix horse Le Primeur. The career of the 16-year old Hanoverian gelding (by Lauries Crusador xx x Golfstrom II) was celebrated at a very special party at the Fohlenhof equestrian stable in Wermatswil
, Switzerland. In attendance of 140 guests Le Primeur was honoured and the successes of Marie Line's two daughters in 2009 were lauded.
Marie-Line Wettstein and Le Primeur became key members of the Swiss dressage team and achieved numerous high placings at international dressage competitions in Europe. In 2005 they competed at the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas and at the European Championships in Hagen. They won bronze at the national championships. At the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen they finished 23rd individually. One year later they combination helped to capture a fourth team place at the European Championships in Turin. They got silver at the national championships. The icing on the cake came in 2008 when the pair became Swiss Grand Prix dressage Champions at the Nationals in Hardwiese.
At the retirement party, 16-year old daughter Aurelie and 12-year old daughter Estelle did a show jumping round. Aurelie is Swiss Junior Rider Show Jumping Champion (with Santos XL), Estelle Swiss Pony Champion both in show jumping (Calinka) and dressage (Rhythm 'N Blues). Estelle also presented her FEI dressage kur to music.
The party came to a conclusion with career highlights of Le Primeur being shown on a wide screen while a very emotional Marie Line thanked the audience and her horse. Finally she rode a Grand Prix Kur to Music for the last time.
Marie-Line once said about Le Primeur: "Leo’s best quality is his character, and after my husband and children, he’s the best thing that has happened to me in my life."
Photos courtesy: Valeria Streun
Related Links
Scores 2008 Swiss Dressage Championships
Le Primeur at the 2008 CDI Cannes
Estelle Wettstein at the 2008 CDI-P Weert