Since the CDI Stuttgart the rumour has been slowly spreading that Kees and Tosca Visser's Totilas has been sold. More recently it was heard through the grapevine that Austrian Sissy Max-Theurer bought the 9-year old Dutch warmblood stallion for 10 million euro. All not true, according to Visser and Max-Theurer.
Moorland investments, the firm of Totilas' owner Kees Visser, confirmed to Eurodressage that the horse has not been sold. Nicole Werner, the business partner of rider Edward Gal, quipped that "we haven't had anyone over to try him out so if he were sold it would be a surprise to us too."
To Dutch equestrian magazine De Hoefslag, Visser said, "every time Totilas competes somewhere, I get offers on the horse and you know how gossip goes. The first person hears I have received an offer and the third person says the horse has been sold. That's the speed it goes at and I can't help it."
St. Georg reported that Max-Theurer had to laugh about the rumour. "I would have paid 10 million euro for him? No, all nonsense," she replied.
Visser confirmed that Gal and Totilas are now focusing on the CDI-W London mid December and that the horse has been contracted for Gal until the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. He will also not stand at stud as long as he's competed.
"If Totilas were to be sold we would let the media know," Visser told De Hoefslag. "We know the impact this horse has. It would be a blood-letting for The Netherlands and an enormous boost for the sport in the new country. I've been asked before what if a rich oil baron would make an offer I can't refuse? I can tell you I've never seen such a person in the dressage world."
Photos copyrighted: Astrid Appels/Eurodressage
Related Links
St. Georg: Totilas verkauft? Alles nur Gerüchte (in German)
Horses of the Dutch: Totilas Niet Verkocht (in Dutch)
Edward Gal Proclaimed L'Annee Hippique Rider of the Year 2009
Edward Gal Wins Kur to Music Gold Medal at Windsor Europeans