Remember Erin Williams, the former British team rider who successfully represented Great Britain at three European Pony Championships and three European Junior Riders Championships between 2010 and 2015? The 21-year old Williams, who did her last international show three years ago in April 2016, has become a Miss Universe Great Britain finalist. The GB finals will be held on 13 July 2019. Check out Williams' Miss Universe GB video.
George Williams, one of the longest serving Presidents of the United States Dressage Federation and Nancy Williams, an attorney with a special interest in equine activities have joined the Dressage at Devon Board of Directors.
Dutch FEI rider Fieke Houwen and her husband Ruud van Ool are expecting their second child together, a girl. The couple is already parents to daughter Nomi. Fieke is over 20 weeks pregnant.
Australian 5* para judge Suzanne "Sue" Cunningham has just been granted an age extension from the FEI. At 70 years young, Sue is a Judge Educator for judges for Para, Young Horse and able body dressage. She is also a national A level judge and a Level 2 Coach and a 5* FEI PE judge. Sue currently runs the education program for NSW and has been a Director of Education for Malaysia for the last 15 years.
German professional dressage trainers Tanja and Lukas Fischer became the proud parents of their first child, a baby girl named Lina Marie. She was born on 13 April 2019 as was 50 centimeters tall at birth, weighing 3.220 kg.
For 14-year old Dutch pony rider Lara van Nek her dressage career is taking professional proportions. Daughter of breeder and stallion owner Willeke Bos, Van Nek has been competing five rides for the past 2.5 years in the international pony (Dream Dancer, Haasendonk's Sultan, Baumann's Despino, Brouwershaven's Nairobi) and Children division (Fariska). She has now added the 5-year old KWPN stallion Jappeloup (by All at Once x Lord Leatherdale) to her string. The stallion was previously trained by Vai Bruntink and will now be Van Nek's future junior riders' horse.
The 4-year old KWPN licensed stallion King de Niro (by De Niro x Ampere x Havidoff) has been sold to Italian junior rider Patricia Magni. Bred by Tineke Huizing, the colt sold as a foal to South Africa. He was successfully approved and completed his stallion performance test. He now sold to the Magni family and will stay in training at Coby van Baalen's yard in The Netherlands.
Roy Burek, Chairman of the British helmet company Charles Owen, has sadly passed away in his sleep, following a heart attack, at just 61 years of age. "Roy has dedicated his whole life to making riding safer. He always gave generously and kindly of his time, as well as his knowledge to everyone, so today (30 April) is a huge loss to so many," said Charlotte Dujardin who is Charles Owen's leading ambassador.
Horses.nl reported that the Dutch court in Zutphen has ruled in favour of Team Nijhof in a lawsuit about the ownership of the 4-year old licensed stallion Fontaine (by Finest x Samarant). The lawsuit went on for almost two years.
Horses.nl also posted that Dutch Grand Prix rider Danielle Heijkoop has purchased a new youngster to add to her string of horses: the 5-year old KPWN mare J'Adore (by Damon Hill x Jazz). Heijkoop found her online and tried the chestnut mare at Argen van Diepen's yard.
Portuguese Grand Prix rider Maria Caetano has relocated in Germany. She was based for half a year at Hof Kasselmann in Hagen, but due to her ever growing business and the number of horses to train, she needed more space. Caetano relocated to Irina Zakrabekhova's yard in Krefeld. "My sponsors wanted to send me more horses to ride and compete," Caetano told Eurodressage. "It was a great time (in Hagen)! I loved to be there and was very nice to make part of Kasselmann team."