Sweet Revenge for Rothenberger, Wins 2024 Piaff Forderpreis Finals

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2024 CDI Donaueschingen

It was sweet revenge for Semmieke Rothenberger who won the 2024 Piaff Forderpreis finals at the CDI Donaueschingen after being snubbed from German team selection for the 2024 European U25 Championships.

This is the second time that Rothenberger won the Finals. She did so the first time on horse Flanell in 2021.

From Stuttgart to Donaueschingen

The Piaff Förderpreis is a German Under 25 show circuit with four selection trials (Mannheim, Balve, Bettenrode and Elmlohe) - held in spring and summer. The participants for the qualifiers are decided at a training seminar and selection trial held in Warendorf before the outdoor show season. This year 11 riders were selected at the seminar alongside the U25 squad listed pairs to compete in the qualifiers. Eight are invited to the finals.

The Piaff Förderpreis held its "pilot project" in 2000 with finals staged in Leverkusen and won by Hubertus von Zedtwitz on Rubicon M. The first official Piaff Förderpreis was held in 2001 with the Finals in Stuttgart. The winner was Ellen Schulten-Baumer.

For the first time in 24 years the finals were not held indoor in Stuttgart but outdoor at the CDI Donaueschingen on 12 - 15 September. The show management of the Finals and CHI Donaueschingen was in the hands of Matthias Rath's company Schafhof Connects. Rath was the winner of the Finals in 2006.

Rothenberger on Repeat

Second Piaff Forderpreis win for Semmieke

Semmieke Rothenberger won the 2024 Piaff Forderpreis on the 14-year old Dutch warmblood Farrington (by Jazz x Samba Hit x Ramiro Z). She scored 72.580% in the classic Grand Prix test which decided the winner. A mistake in the one tempi changes and a mediocre rein back kept the score from climbing higher.

For Rothenberger the victory was sweet revenge. She missed out on riding the 2023 Piaff Finals as Farrington had sustained an injury. She made a come back at the 2024 German Under 25 Championships in Balve, which she won, but was not selected on the team because she allegedly did not fulfil the team selection criteria. It led to much commotion within the German dressage community. Donaueschingen is Farrington's second show of the year.

Treffinger Runner-Up

Young professional dressage rider Moritz Treffinger became the runner-up on Gestut Bonhomme's 14-year old Hanoverian stallion Cadeau Noir (by Christ x De Niro). The 21-year old rider posted 70.140%.

The third placed pair was Franziska Haase on the 16-year old Hanoverian De Nino (by Don Schufro x Sandro Hit) with 68.900%. Haase is based in the town Hellschen-Heringsand-Unterschaar, which is Germany's municipality with the longest name.

Seven Instead of Eight

Only seven riders showed up for the Finals instead of the usual 8. Lia Welschof was absent.

"It's a shame that only one pair from this year's European Championship, Moritz Treffinger and Cadeau Noir, took part," said German U25 team trainer Sebastian Heinze. "A few strong pairs were also missing, such as Helen Erbe and Carlos. The horse is 17 years old and Helen wanted to take the opportunity to present him in the regular Grand Prix tour in Donaueschingen. I understood that. But on average we saw good riding."

Erbe won the Piaff Forderpreis in 2022.

In the last 17 years none of the winning combinations returned to win the title twice. Only two pairs ever won the Piaff Forderpreis twice: Ellen Schulten-Baumer on Gina Royal OLD in 2002 and 2003 and Matthias Rath on Renoir Unicef in 2006 and 2007.

Previous Winners
Felicitas Hendricks Wins 2023 Piaff Förderpreis Finals in Stuttgart
Rothenberger Withdraws Farrington from 2023 Piaff Forderpreis Finals