Analysis by Christopher Hector – Photos file and Ros Neave

The World Young Dressage Horse Championships would seem to contradict the facile assumption that young horse stars never go on to Grand Prix, in fact, many many young horse stars go to Grand Prix – and almost as many end up taking care of young riders…

Admittedly, out of the five year old class at the first Worlds in 1999, there is only one notable Grand Prix Performer, Wahajama (Warkant / Acapulco).

Wahajama and Holga Finken

Wahajama competing Grand Prix level at Bremen with her owner, Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff

Lingh and Edward Gal at Aachen

But out of the six year old class that year, there are several stars – most notably the 9th placegetter, the Dutch entry, Lingh (Flemmingh / Columbus)

Le Bo and Carola Koppelmann at Bremen

And the 4th placed Le Bo (Lauries Crusador xx / Eisenherz) who went on to the German reserve team horse for the 2007 European championships.

Ainsley’s Quicksilver (Latano II / Touch of Fairway xx) who competed Grand Prix for Holland was 10th, and the reserve champion, Del Piero (Donnerhall / Matcho aa) enjoyed  a moderately successful Grand Prix career before being sold to a Danish young rider.

Laurentianer and Michael Farwick – image Jacob Melissen

The following year, the six year old championship was won by Laurentianer (Lauries Crusador xx / Grande) who competed at an FEI level with Marlies van Baalen, although he never went as well for her as he did for his rider at the Young Horse championships, Michael Farwick.

Here’s Laurentianer working at home with Michael Farwick under the watchful eye of Jo Hinnemann

Ratino and Martina Hannöver competing Grand Prix and Norten Hardenburg

The third placegetter, Ratino (Rubinstein / Schampus xx) competed successfully Grand Prix with Martina Hannöver…

Donatha and Ellen Schulten-Baumer

While the 5th placegetter, Donatha (Donnerhall  / Pik Bube) had a wonderful Grand Prix career with Ellen Schulten-Baumer.

Seventh placed Montecristo combined some of the most influential early Dutch dressage stallions – he was by Grand Prix competitor, El Corona (by Amor, out of a mare by Doruto, who at one stage had produced more FEI dressage horses than any other stallion in the world). El Corona was out of a mare by another Grand Prix stallion, Clavecimbel by Statuar (by Tamersale xx) out of a mare by Apple King xx. Montecristo went on the compete Grand Prix with Kirsten Beckers.

Another in the top ten, Richard Kimble (Ribbeck / Rheingold) went Grand Prix with Isabell Werth. That’s at least 50% – and while we are at it, the amount of close up Thoroughbred blood is noteworthy.

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Dimaggio and Suzanne Davies

The 2000 Five Year Old Championship also tells much the same story. The winner, Dimaggio (Don Primero / World Cup I), went on to compete Small Tour with his owner, and then became a very influential sire of dressage horses. Second, third and fourth to Roman Nature (Rohdiamant / Ehrentusch) , Placido (Prestige Pilot / Watzmann) and Quantum Tyme (Quattro B / Argentinus) – all competed in international classes.

Rubels and Hans Peter Minderhoud

2001 and more of the same. The top two both went on to compete at an international level. The winner, Rubels (Rafürstinels / Amethist) despite an injury-interrupted career went FEI with Hans Peter Minderhoud.

While the second placed, Wanesco (Weltmeyer / Werther) went to Intermediaire II with Holga Finken before going to Ulla Saltzgeber. Seemingly it was not a happy marriage and the gelding disappeared…

Cherie and Karin Rehbein

The percentage to go on is even higher in the Six Year Old Championship. The winner, Cherie (Don Primero / Lanthan) had a spectacularly successful Prix St George career with Karin Rehbein and was starting Grand Prix when Mrs Rehbein lost the ride.

Münchhausen and Fie Skarsoe

The Reserve Champion, Münchhausen (Hohenstein / Königstein) became a member of the Danish Dressage Team with Fie Skarsoe.

Placido and Ulf Möller at Verden

The third placegetter, Placido was a successful Young Rider horse for Laura Tomlinson.

Kristy Oatley and Quando Quando at Aachen

The fifth placegetter, Quando Quando (Quattro B / Akzent II) was a member of the Australian dressage team at the WEG and the Olympic Games.

While the sixth placegetter, Negro (Ferro / Variant) was a Grand Prix winner with Ann van Olst before siring one of the more famous dressage competitors of modern times – Charlotte Dujardin’s Valegro.

Don Davidoff and Ulf Möller

Cut to 2002, and the Five Year Old championship went to Don Davidoff (Don Gregory / Rubinstein) who after failing to make it as a breeding stallion – there was nothing wrong with his foals just that they were very very few and far between – went on to an FEI career with Laura Bechtolscheimer.

Diamond Hit and Emma Hindle

The Reserve Champion, Diamond Hit (Don Schufro / Ramino) was a wonderful Grand Prix competitor and is an important sire. The sixth place, Comic B (Come On / Platon) competed Grand Prix with Carola Koppelmann before disappearing into the USA.

Comic B and Carola Koppelmann winning the Nürnberger Burg Pokal

The six year old title was won by Rubels with Wanesco in reserve. Fourth to Weltissimo (Welt Hit II / Barsoi xx) who went on to be a Grand Prix star with Hubertus Schmidt.

Hexigons Ollright

And right down in 16th place was Hexigons Ollright (Rubiquil / El Corona) – later a member of the Dutch team.

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The Five Year Old Championship in 2003 saw a real second generation dressage stallion, Fürst Heinrich – by Florestan out of a Donnerhall mare – in first. Sadly he died soon after but not before he sired some excellent finalists in the young horse championships, and some stallions that have really made their mark. There were not many horses in this lineup that went on to the ‘big sport’.

Baroncelli and Susan Pape

The fourth placegetter, Baroncelli (Bergamon / Matcho aa) competed Grand Prix in the USA. The tenth placegetter, Show Star 2 (Sandro Hit / Feinbrand) was a Junior and Young Horse star with Sophie Holkenbrink.

Poetin and Kathrin Meyer zu Strohen

The Six Year Old Championship was also won by a horse that died way too soon, Poetin (Sandro Hit / Brentano II).

Morgan Barbeçon Mestre.and Painted Black competing at the Aachen Euros

Second to Painted Black (Gribaldi / Ferro) who went on to a stellar Grand Prix career, and is now an influential sire.

Florencio and Hans Peter Minderhoud

2004 produced more stallion ‘stars’ than competition stars in the ribbons. First and second in the five year old class were Florencio (Florestan / Weltmeyer) who never made it to the big sport, and Lord Loxley (Lord Sinclair / Weltmeyer) ditto. Belissimo (Beltain / Romadour II) was a moderately successful Grand Prix competitor.

Belissimo and Kathrin Meyer zu Strohen

Daianira van de Helle competing at Mechelen

Still there were some handy future FEI horses in the top ten, like Daianira van de Helle (Dream of Glory / Rituel), a Grand Prix winner at Bremen; Schianto (Gribaldi / Schwadroneur), ninth in a World Cup final in Göteborg, and a GP winner in Oslo; Spargo (Krack C / Boreas) who was a very good Grand Prix competitor with Theo Hanzen; Scandic (Solos Carex / Amiral) who won some very big Grand Prix with Patrik Kittel.

Scandic at the Verden Worlds with Remy Bastings 

French Kiss, a winner with Katrin Burger

The 2004 Six Year Old Championship produced no competition superstars, but more than a few that made it to the big tour – like French Kiss (Florestan / Donnerhall) who competed with success in young rider classes with Laura Swain, Baroncelli (Bergamon / Matcho aa) a Grand Prix horse in the United States; Rhodium (Ferro / Ramiro), a successful Young Rider horse with Diederik von Silfhout. King Arthur (Buddenbrock / Consul), Grand Prix with Petra Wilm; Royal-Rubin (Rubinstein / Brandenburger) a Grand Prix competitor with Heike Kemmer and the Holsteiner, Carabas (Carnaby / Roberto) who competed Grand Prix with a number of riders, including Andreas Helgstrand.

Carabas and Andreas Helgstrand competing the the 2009 Windsor Euros 

Totilas and Edward Gal staring at the 2009 Euros

The 2005 Worlds saw the emergence of one of the superstars of modern times; Totilas (Gribaldi / Glendale) was fourth in the five year old class. The horse that won the class, Damon Hill (Donnerhall / Rubinstein) went on to win the Six Year Old Championship the following year, before becoming a formidable Grand Prix competitor with Helen Langehanenberg.

Damon Hill and Ingrid Klimke who started the stallion

Reserve champion, Donnerball (Donnerhall / Alabaster) had a somewhat limited international career, competing twice at Grand Prix level with Kristina Bröring Sprehe in Doha in 2013. The sixth placegetter, Rusty (Rubinstein / Weltmeyer) – not Ulla Salzgeber’s multi medal winner –  placed at in an Intermediaire II at Herford but I can find no evidence he went on to Grand Prix.

Tango and Hans Peter Minderhoud

Tenth placegetter in the five year olds that year was the Jazz son, Tango (Contango), he went on to be a serious, if somewhat erratic, Grand Prix competitor with Hans Peter Minderhoud. Other placegetters include Westerland (Welser / Loredo), 13th, who is described as an international competitor with Sascha Schulz but I can find no results on the FEI database and Liaison (Londonderry / Gralswächter) placed 15th, and under the suitably Gallic title, Liaison Ene *HN won the Saumur CDI Grand Prix in 2016.

The 2005 Six year old class winner was Florencio (Florestan / Weltmeyer) following on from his five year old win the previous year. The stallion went on to compete Prix St Georges, but never made the leap to the big tour. Reserve to Spirit Freedom (Figaro / Sion) who competed Small Tour in the UK.

Insterburg

Third to Insterburg (Hohenstein / Girogio Armani), who was to be a serious Grand Prix competitor with Carola Koppelmann. Fourth to Spargo (see above).

Baldessarini and Brigitte Wittig

Fifth was Baldessarini (by Breitling W out of the amazing Devisa by Diego xx – Baldessarini is one of six (!) Grand Prix competitors out of the mare). Baldessarini was a World Cup winner with Gina Capellmann-Lütkemeier.

Edward Gal and Sisther de Jeu

The seventh placegetter, Sisther de Jeu, another product of the breeding program of Dutch master, Huub van Helvoirt – by Gribaldi out of an Amor mare. With Edward Gal the mare went on to win at Grand Prix level. Ninth was Media Luna (Münchhausen / Karon) who competed Small Tour. Tenth to Schianto (Gribaldi / Schwadroneur) a GP winner in Oslo. Thirteenth to Daiamara van de Helle and Vicky Smits, Grand Prix stars…

So there we are, the first ten years and proof that many many young horse stars go on to be extremely good Grand Prix competitors.

Gribaldi and Edward Gal

I am also getting the impression that Gribaldi is the most influential young horse sire of them all – let’s see what the next decade reveals.

Uzzo and Patrik van der Meer in the warm-up arena at the Aachen Euros in 2005

In 2006, the Five Year Old championship, victory went to the Dutch pair Uzzo (Lancet / C-Indoctro) and Patrik van der Meer after the favorite, Sir Donnerhall (Sandro Hit / Donnerhall) gave Ulf Möller a very uncomfortable time. Third place to another Sandro Hit, San Remo (Donnerhall) with Susan Pape.

Lancet and Emma Hindle at the Windsor Euros in 2009

Uzzo’s sire, the Wenzel son,Lancet, was a Grand Prix winner with Emma Hindle, and Uzzo was a member of the gold medal winning Dutch team at the European Championships of 2015. He was a consistent GP placegetter with van der Meer.

Sir Donnerhall I and Ulf Möller

Sir Donnerhall, like his sire, quit competition after young horse classes but his full brother, Sir Donnerhall II has been a fine big tour competitor for Morgan Barbeçon Mestre.

The sixth placed Smeyers Molberg (Michelino / Rambo) went on to compete Grand Prix with Denmark’s Marcela Krinke-Susmei. The eighth placed Hermes (Rambo / Urbino) proved an excellent Grand Prix competitor for Anne Svanberg.

Santana and Minna Telde at the Euros

Santana (Sandro Hit / Rubinstein) in 10th went on to be a 5* star with Minna Telde.

Damon Hill and Helen Langehanenberg at the 2013 Euros in Herning

The Six Year old championship of 2006 went to Ingrid Klimke and Damon Hill, who we saw winning the previous year before going on to big tour glory with Helen Langehanenberg.

Biagiotti W (a full sister to Baldessarini, Breitling / Diego xx) placed third and went on to be a fine Grand Prix horse for Brigitte Wittig. Holga Finken rode Dablino FRH (De Niro / Wanderbursch II) into fifth spot – the gelding was a member of the German dressage team with Annabel Balkenhol.

Dablino and Annabel Balkenhol at the 2010 WEG

Equitop Torricelli LS (Florestan / Pion) placed 8th at the Worlds before becoming a successful Junior and Young rider horse for Aimee Meddens. Ninth placed De Le Vega (Davignon / Wolkenstein II) competed Grand Prix with Denmark’s Alexandra Lampe, and then with Japan’s Toshihiko Kiso.

Rounding out the top ten we have Twinkel R (Freestyle / Hamlet) ridden at the worlds by Willem Jan Schotte, and later competing Grand Prix with Willem Jan and Hubertus Schmidt.

Susan Pape and Cayenne W

2007 and the winner of the Five Year Old Championship was Susan Pape’s Cayenne W (Carabas / Bismark) but this was the mare’s fifteen minutes of fame.

Noble Dream and Marc Boblet at the 2014 WEG

The third placegetter, Noble Dream (Caprimond / Donnerhall) did go on to win at Grand Prix level with Marc Boblet. The 4th placed Danish entry, Marburg’s Polka Hit (Sandro Hit / Temple Wind xx – it’s been a while since we saw the xx’s) went on to compete Grand Prix with Andreas Helgstrand and Anja Plönzke.

Rosevelt and Allison Brock (Photo – Kenneth Braddick dressage news)

Hans Peter Minderhoud rode Roosevelt (Rotspon / Lauries Crusador xx, oops spoke too soon) into fifth and the horse went on to a distinguished career with American Allison Brock, competing at the Rio Games, and winning and placing in top competition.

Johnson and Hans Peter Minderhoud

It was the sixth placed stallion that was to bring real lustre to Hans Peter’s crown – Johnson (Jazz / Flemmingh) super star competitor, super star sire.

The other in sixth, Vivaldo (Polansky / Montecristo) had a moderate GP career with Mirelle van Kemenade-Witlox.

Bertoli and Brigitte Wittig

In ninth, ridden by Brigitte Wittig, another from that magic cross, Breitling / Devisa – Bertoli W. The stallion went on to compete very successfully at Grand Prix with Brigitte’s husband, Wolfram, and then with the Japanese rider, Kuranojo Saito.

Voice and Edward Gal at the 2014 WEG

Imke Schellekens-Bartels rode Voice (De Niro / Rohdiamant) into the tenth spot but it is with Edward Gal in the saddle that the stallion found fame and fortune, winning a string of top Grand Prix.

Blind Date and Victoria Max-Theurer

Brigitte Wittig also rode Blind Date (Breitling / Donnerhall) into 15th – since then the Hanoverian mare has had a fine career at Grand Prix level with Victoria Max-Theurer.

Don Auriello and Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén

Don Auriello, one of those rare creatures, a foal by Don Davidoff, out of a White Star mare, finished 17th but again went on to star, winning multiple Grand Prix with Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén.

Nadine Plaster and Desperado

2008 and the five year old winner was the mega-talented, Desperado (Dressage Royal / Rouletto / Barsoi xx) ridden by Nadine Plaster. The horse was purchased for Carola Koppelmann to ride, with instant success winning the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal of 2011. In 2013, the pair competed twice at Munich, third in the Grand Prix and second in the Special. At the beginning of 2017, it was announced that the gelding had died… no explanation was forthcoming.

Imperio and Anna-Sophie Fiebelkorn

Anna-Sophie Fiebelkorn rode the Trakehner stallion, Imperio (Connery / Balfour) into reserve champion. The ride was taken over by Hubertus Schmidt with great success at Grand Prix level and at one stage the stallion was reserve for the German Team.

Silberaster and Helen Langehanenberg

Third to the beautiful black mare, Silberaster (Sandro Hit / Canaster) and Helen Langehanenberg. The pair were the shooting stars of the scene, winning at the Bundeschampionate two years running, then third at the Worlds, before a final, disastrous tilt at another Bundeschampionate title. Silberaster just could not handle the atmosphere and placed 46th in the five year old class. She recovered to compete well in the consolation but was withdrawn from the final and never competed again…

Wynton and Madeleine Witte-Vrees

The fourth placed Wynton (Jazz out of a mare by Kyra Kyrklund’s star, Matador) was another who never really lived up to his early promise. At one stage he was billed as the heir to his great sire, Jazz, and at Frankfurt in his first GP season with Madeleine Wiite-Vrees, he won the Special and was fifth in the Grand Prix, that was his first and last Grand Prix victory. His last appearance was in February 2018, for a 5th and 6th at Neumünster.

Kathrin Meyer zu Strohen rode Wells Fargo (Welser 2 / Fabriano) into fifth, and the gelding went on to an honest, and successful, career as a Junior and Young rider mount for Paulina Holzknecht.

Oliver Oelrich rode Rock Forever (Rockwell / Landstreicher) into sixth, and the stallion also found honest employ with a younger rider, placing three times in under 25 classes with Sophie Holkenbrink. Wolly Ann (Stravinsky xx(!) / Ulster) placed 7th at the worlds, and recorded a 17th in an Inter I at Deauville.

Rounding out the ten, Scharmeur (Schwadroneur / Napoleon) and Malin Rinné, they went on to be solid Grand Prix competitors.

Cassidy and Cathrine Dufour

And that’s it – except for one of the world’s real superstars lurking in 14th, the cutest chestnut gelding by the name of Atterupgaards Cassidy, ridden at the Worlds by Sabine Petersen, but made famous with that wonderful rider, Cathrine Dufour.

Dramatic and Jana Freund (Photo – KH Frieler)

The Six Year old Championship in 2008 was won by Jana Freund riding Dramatic (Don Frederico / Weltmeyer) but he seems to have disappeared after his young horse triumph. We met the reserve, Marburg’s Polka Hit the previous year when they were fourth in the five year olds.  The third placed Diamantenbörse (Diamond Hit / Rubinstein) went on to a junior horse career with Austria’s Nicole Louise Ahorner.

Astrid Gemal rode Wizard Banamex (by the Weltmeyer son, Kermo’s White Talisman, out of a Regazzo mare) into fourth – the gelding went on to win 3* Grand Prix with Steffen Peters in the US. We met Vivaldo in the five year old class of 2007.

Sixth to Vicky Smits-Vanderhassett and Chinatown’s Dream (jumping bred, Pavarotti vd Helle / Furioso Z) who went to the broodmare paddock where she produced four BWP stallions in succession…

Seventh to Brigitte and Bertoli W, then in equal eighth Waioni (Waikiki /Fabriano) and Impuls (Master / Chapman).

Rounding out the top ten, Diamantina (Diamond Hit / Campari M) who went on to represent Australia at the Caen WEG with Maree Tomkinson.

Damsey FRH and Helen Langehanenberg

Lurking in 19th we find Damsey FRH (Dressage Royale / Ritual) who had a distinguished Grand Prix career with Helen Langehanenberg.

2010 and the Five Year Old championship saw victory to the stallion, Astrix (Obelisk / Olivi) and Emmelie Scholtens, and the horse’s career seems to end there…

Lissaro

Second to Lissaro (Lissabon / Matcho xx) the ‘accidental dressage horse’. Lissaro was purchased at a two-and-a-half year old colt at the Verden Stallion licensing to stand at the well-known Belgian stud, Stoeterij van de Helle. Edith de Reys is one of the stud’s principals along with her husband, Paul Mais, and she told me that right from the start, the horse was bought to jump, which is not surprising if you look at his pedigree. In the fourth line we find a line up of jumping greats: Lord, Ahorn Z, Contender, Nithard, Grande and Diskant.

However when the Rüscher sisters started showing the bay in riding classes and winning, his career took a new turn. He won his three and four year old riding classes at the Bundeschampionate, before winning the five year old dressage championship – and then the Reserve Championship at the Worlds. The German FN astounded the world in 2015 when Lissaro topped their dressage sires breeding values!!! Seemingly the mare owners remained unconvinced because Lissaro’s next career was with Junior rider, Valentina Pistner.

Uta Graf and and the Damon Hill son, Don Jerome

Ute Graf’s fourth placed Don Jerome (Damon Hill / Guy Laroche) seems to have stalled in small tour – their most recent result an Intermediaite I 5th in a 1* CDI in September 2017.

The fifth place Grevens Sa’ Va’ (Blue Hors Soprano / Romancier) later a fine Junior rider for Alexander Yde Helgstrand – whose father, Andreas rode the sixth placegetter Tørveslettens Stamina (Stedinger / Carano) – Andreas had a number of Grand Prix starts with Stamina in 2015…. Seventh to Licoto (Licotus / Rosenkavalier), he went on to compete in Juniors with Claire Louise-Averkorn.

Isac (by the 1.60 jumper, Hip Hop out of a Master mare) would become a 5* Grand Prix winner with Minna Telde. The Trakehner stallion, Aston Martin (Monteverdi / Sixtus) was 10th in the 2010 Five Year old Championship before going on to Grand Prix success with Helene Melsen.

 

Weihegold and Isabell Werth

There’s a future superstar lurking in 11th, Weihegold (Don Schufro / Sandro Hit), ridden at Verden by Kira Wulferding.

Donna Unique and Andreas Helgstrand (photo – Gestüt Peterhof)

The Six Year old Championship in 2010 was won by Andreas Helgstrand and the black mare, Donna Unique (Don Schufro / Falkland). The beautiful mare was to become central player in a spectacular horse deal. The year after her win at the world, Donna Unique was purchased for €2.7 million by Patrik Kittel’s sponsors, Gestüt Peterhof as his future Grand Prix ride. Patrik showed the mare twice in 2012 for wins at Prix St Georges and Inter I, then in February 2013, the Dutch magazine, Paardenkrant broke the ‘missing million’ story, reporting that Helgstrand had sold the horse for €900,000 MORE than the price he quoted to the horse’s part-owner, and breeder, Joan Andreasen.  When she found out, Helgstrand paid her half the missing €900,000 – whereupon she received a bill from Kittel for a €250,000 commission fee – with Helgstrand paying Kittel the other half of the €500,000 commission he was claiming. Eventually the trio settled the affair between themselves…

And the poor horse? Donna Unique has never appeared in competition after those two appearances in 2012. She was injured in 2013, since then she has had two foals, and it is ‘hoped’ that she will return to competition.

Soliere and Eva Möller

The reserve champion was Soliere (Sandro Hit / Donnerhall) ridden by Eva Möller. Soliere enjoyed a highly successful Young Rider career in the United States.

And Eva with Blickpunkt…

The third placed gelding, Blickpunkt (Bellisimo / Weltmeyer) also ridden by Eva Möller, also went on to Young Rider success, this time with the Russian rider, Anna Aristova.

Fourth to Skovens Rafael (Romanov / Don Schufro) who has gone on to Grand Prix success with Danish rider, Lottel Skjaerbaek. He has been a popular breeding stallion, and in 2019 was crowned Danish Warmblood Stallion of the Year.

Dresden Mann and Ingrid Klimke

Fifth placed Dresden Mann (Dreseman / Florestan) competed Grand Prix with Ingrid Klimke but has not re-appeared since placing at Hagen and Wiesbaden in 2015.

The Dutch stallion, Zamora (Krack C / Farrington) was seventh – he was then ridden successfully in under 25 classes by the Russian, Katsiaryne Bialevich. Another Dutch stallion, Zhivago (Krack C / Jazz) appeared in two small tour classes in 2016.

Yet another of the top ten, Belamour (Bellissimo / Lord Sinclair I) went off to a Junior rider, Norwegian, Alexandra Gamlemshaug but in 2017 the pair competed successfully in open small tour classes.

Deja and Patrik Kittel

Deja (Silvano / Don Schufro) finished tenth, and went on to be a member of the Swedish team at the Rio Games after a series of 5* successes with Patrik Kittel before she was retired in May 2020.

Du Soleil and Kirsty Oatley

Eleventh placed, Du Soleil (De Niro / Caprimond) went on to a successful Grand Prix career with Patrik’s sister-in-law, Kristy Oatley – and started 2021 with four Grand Prix wins. They too competed at Rio.

What would those young riders do without young horse classes to find horses for them? In equal 12th we find Hønnerups Driver (Romanov / Don Schufro), a successful Young Rider and Under 25 ride for Denmark’s Josefine Hoffmann. Also 12th, Redford (Rosentau / Escudo I) a Grand Prix winner in Japan for Hiroshi Watanabe.

Woodlander Farouche and Michel Eilberg (KH Frieler photo)

The Five Year old Champion in 2011, Woodlander Farouche (Fürst Heinrich / Dimaggio) with Michael Eilberg came back the next year to win the Six Year old championship, and looked like being the next superstar. They won both the small tour classes at Aachen in 2016 before being injured and on to a new life as a brood mare.

Third placed Bretton Woods (Johnson / De Niro) who competed small tour with Matthias Alexander Rath but was another who failed to make the leap to Grand Prix.

Fourth to another by Johnson, Boston STH, out of a Quattro B mare – he went on to a successful Grand Prix career with Denise Nekeman, their last start a 7th in the Special at Exloo in May 2021.

Showtime FRH and Dorothee Schneider competing at the Bundeschampionat

Dorothy and Showtime on their way to a medal at the Rio Olympics – Hippophoto

The horse in sixth, Showtime FRH (Sandro Hit / Rotspon) is an absolute big tour super star with Dorothee Schneider. Seventh, Swing de Hus (San Remo / Wonderland) competes small tour with French rider, Claudia Chauchard.

Borenico (Florencio / Lord Sinclair I) who was eighth with Emmelie Scholtens in 2011, then came back to stand reserve champions in 2012, is yet another to go to a Young Rider – Denmark’s Alexandra Gamlemschaug Andresen.

Ninth, Florentinus (Florestan / Londonderry) went on to compete Grand Prix with American, Jennifer Hoffmann, but last appeared in 2017.

Fürstenball

Down the list in 13th is Fürstenball, another who peaked at Young Horse level, but he has gone on to be one of Germany’s most sought after sires – and has already produced his first 5* Grand Prix competitor, Heiline’s Danciera (out of a De Niro mare).

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2012

Sa Coeur and Eva Möller (Photo – Kenneth Braddick dressage news)

Eva Möller rode Sa Coeur (Sir Donnerhall I / Don Davidoff) the five year old champion in 2012, and brought the gelding back the following year, to win the six year old title. The horse was shown small tour by Michael Eilberg, and more recently at Grand Prix by PSI stable jockey, Frederic Wandres.

Ann-Christin Wienkamp rode Revolverheld (Rockwell / Landstreicher) into second, since then he has been competed small tour with Anja Plönzke.

Dinja van Liere rode Capri Sohn jr. (Rhodium / San Remo) into third, the stallion went on to compete Grand Prix with Laura Tomlinson.

Heiner Schiergen rode Discovery OLD (Dimaggio / Classiker) into fourth, then came back the next year to place third in the six year old championship – since then, he has taken the gelding into Grand Prix competition.

Charmeur

Charmeur (Florencio / Jazz) was a striking stallion, the winner of the Dutch Performance Test in 2010 but his behaviour in the ring was unpredictable. Fifth in the five year old class in 2012, the following year, he was unable to make it through the preliminary round. Charmeur did compete big tour with Madeleine Witte-Vrees, but in his final year of competition, 2018, the scores ranged from 4th to 21st. In 2020 he was sold as a breeding stallion to Canada.

Floresco Sil (Florestan / Baroncelli) took sixth – he was to compete Grand Prix in Finland with Nina Dunder. Carinsio (Painted Black / Beaujolais) in seventh, has been a Grand Prix winner in the UK with Becky Moody who rode him at the worlds. Cachet L (Jazz / Ferro), eighth at the worlds, then off to a Junior, Belgium’s Micky Schelstraete. Yet, another, Di Magic (Dimaggio / Rhodiamant), ninth at the worlds and off to Austrian Junior, Marie-Paule Frauenschuh. Maybe they should be called the world young rider talent spotting championships because the next horse in the top ten, Dongo (sire, Ravallo, no dam sire listed) also teamed up with a  junior rider, Hungarian, Dominik Borza.

Vitallis

Down the list in 18th was another of the soon-to-be-important dressage stallions, Vitalis (Vivaldi / D-Day). He had two small tour starts, Inter I and Prix St Georges, for two wins with Isabell Freese…

And even further down the list, in 28th with Severo Jurado Lopez, Chippendale (Lord Leatherdale / Negro) who is now competing Grand Prix with Lottie Fry.

2012 Six Year old Championship

As mentioned earlier, Woodlander Farouche came back to win the six year old title, while Borencio came up from eighth in the previous year to take the reserve.

Sir Donnerhall II competing as a young horse…

and Sir Donnerhall II and Morgan Barbençon Mestre 

Third to Sir Donnerhall II (Sandro Hit / Donnerhall) ridden then by Maik Kanitzky but a Grand Prix star now with Morgan Barbençon Mestre. Another stallion, Bordeaux took fourth with Eva Möller – he went Grand Prix with Isabel Freese. Fifth another stallion, Tabasco (Topaasch / Björsells Sack), another Young Rider star, this time with Sweden’s Linnéa Williamson.

Sixth to Novia (Stedinger / Alabaster) ridden  by Victoria Michalke – Victoria took Novia to a string of Grand Prix placings in 2019. Equal seventh, Boston STH (Johnson / Quattro B) who we met last year – another to go big tour. The other in seventh spot, Santa Domingo (Samba Hit II / Flemmingh) has gone on to place in Under 25 Grand Prix with Emma Jönsson.

Sanceo and Sabine Schut-Kery (Photo – Kenneth Braddick dressage news)

Just to prove there is life after young horse classes, Sabine Schut-Kery rode Sanceo (San Remo / Ramiro’s Son) into 26th in the 2012 Six Year Old Championship, and this year, the pair are the shooting stars on the American Grand Prix scene with four wins in 2021.

2013 – Five Year old

Given the high percentage of finalists that have gone on to Big Tour success, it’s almost a relief to get to the Five Year Old Championship of 2013, where we have to go down to the sixth placed horse before we find one of interest – and even then, not on the basis of his performances but his progeny. Don Juan de Hus (Jazz / Krack C) died when he was only nine years old, but unsoundness had already cut short his competition career. Nonetheless he shapes as an important sire.

Desperado NOP

The seventh placegetter, Desperado NOP (Vivaldi / Havidoff) is a genuine 5* star with a series of top class wins with Emmellie Scholtens, and a popular sire…

It had to happen some time – ninth to Dancer (Vivaldi / Tango) off to Young Rider ranks with Nadine Krause… Tenth place to Bilan (Bocelli / Donnerschlag) small tour with Róbert Ács.

Dream Boy and Hans Peter Minderhoud

Down in 14th is Dream Boy (Vivaldi / Ferro), a Grand Prix star with Hans Peter Minderhoud, and like Desperado, a serious contender for the Dutch team.

2013 – Six Year old

Damon’s Delorange

We met the six year old winner Sa Cour last year when he won the five year old title. Reserve champion to Damon’s Delorange (Damon Hill / Rubin Royal) ridden at the Worlds by Helen Langehanenberg, but later a fine under-25 Grand Prix competitor with Jil-Marielle Becks.

We have already noted that the third placegetter, Discovery (Dimaggio / Classiker) went on to the big tour with Heiner Shiergen.

Duke of Britain (Dimaggio / Rubinstein) has been starring in Grand Prix classes with Frederic Wandres and is in line for team selection. Here competing at Frankfurt.

Maria Caetano’s Coroado Photo – digishots

One who failed to make the second round, but who went on to prove that Lusitanos can do Grand Prix is Maria Caetano’s Coroado (Rubi / Xaquiro)…

2014 – Five Year old

Sezuan and Dorothee Schneider

If 2013 was somewhat light on for big tour talent in the five year olds, 2014 makes up for it. The winner was Sezuan (Zack / Don Schufro) with Dorothee Schneider, it was to be the first of three young dressage horse titles in a row, five year old, six year old, and the inaugural seven year old class. Since then the horse competed once at Intermediaire with Dorothee, and it has been repeatedly claimed that he is about to compete with Patrik Kittel, but it is wise not to hold your breath in anticipation.

Eye Catcher

Eye Catcher (Vivaldi / Partout) was 3rd with Kirsten Brouwer at the Worlds, but went on to be one of the select group of Grand Prix winners in a 2021 largely bereft of Grand Prix. The chestnut took out a national Grand Prix class at Aachen with Emma Kanerva.

Belantis and Beatrice Buchwald

The beautiful grey stallion, Belantis (Benneton Dream / Exposé in 4th spot) has had a stop start career, but he did appear – gelded – at a national show in October 2020 at Reutlingen, to win the Grand Prix with a 75+ score, ridden by Isabell Werth.

 Soiree d’Amour and Kira Wulferding

Kira Wulferding rode Soiree d’Amour (San Amour / Latimer) to fifth at the worlds, and in 2021 the pair placed 6th and 9th in the Grand Prix and Special at Verden.

Ferdinand BB and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl

Ninth to Ferdinand BB (Florencio / Lanciano) who has picked up four Grand Prix wins in 2021 – at Stadl Paura and München-Rien, with Jessica von Bredow-Werndl.

2014 – Six year old

Kirsten Brouwer rides Dancer (Vivaldi / Tango) into the six year championship before the chestnut heads off to young rider ranks. Stephanie Dearing rode Auheim’s Del Magico FRH (Dimaggio / Feinbrand) into reserve and took the grey to an Inter II win at Achleiten, before the ride went to another Young Rider, Chiarra Pengg.

Hans Peter and Dream Boy are third. Fourth to Beatrice Buchwald and Den Haag (Diamond Hit / Florestan). Isabell Werth rode the horse to first in the Special, second in the Grand Prix a Reutlingen in 2020.

Desperado NOP and Emmelie Scholtens take eighth but Grand Prix glory awaits…

2014 – Five Year old

Fiontini and Severo Jurado Lopez

The winner at Verden in 2014 was Fiontini (Fassbinder / Romanov) ridden by Severo Jurado Lopez, the mare went on to win the six and seven year old world titles before going Grand Prix with Severo and more recently with Andreas Helgstrand.

The reserve title went to Fiontini’s full-sister, Fiontina with Andreas Helgstrand, but this one disappears from the competition arena. None of the others made it to Grand Prix and perhaps we should stop looking now since our candidates are too young to realistically expect much Grand Prix action… but I would hope that we have established for once and for all, that many young horse stars go on to be stars in the Big Sport…