DressageDaily: New Grand Prix Horses for Steffen Peters and George Williams

Tuesday September 26, 2006

New Grand Prix Horses for Steffen Peters and George Williams

Edward Gal and Ravel United States dressage team members Steffen Peters and George Williams both have a new Grand Prix horse at their disposal. Peters and Williams' sponsors acquired two rising FEI horses in The Netherlands, which are meant to be the successors of Floriano and Rocher.

The Dutch warmblood stallion TC Ravel has been sold to a sponsor of Steffen Peters, who will be preparing the horse for the 2008 Olympic Games in Bejing. TC Ravel is by Contango x Democraat and was owned by Tim Coomans. Eugene Reesink mediated in the sale of the stallion. Grand Prix rider Edward Gal competed TC Ravel at small tour level and was preparing the AES licensed stallion for Grand Prix.

American team rider Steffen Peters tried out Ravel a few times the week before the 2006 World Equestrian Games. "The strong point about this horse is that so far I have found no weak points on him," Peters said. "Ravel has three good basic gaits and an extended canter that is 'out of this world'. He's very sensitive, needs few aids and piaffes and passages with much balance. My number one Floriano is 16 now and Ravel will be his successor."

Joann and Chuck Smith of Gypsy Woods Farm purchased the 7-year old licensed Oldenburg stallion Donnerbube III. Reesink put the Smiths in touch with Donnerbube's German rider Hans Peter Mohr and Williams went over to try out the dark bay stallion. Donnerbube III will follow in the footsteps of Williams' number one horse Rocher, who is currently sidelined due to an injury.

Donnerbube III is a 1999 born Oldenburg stallion by Donnerhall out of Pik Dame (by Pik Bube I x Wachtelkönig). He won his 30-day test in Schlieckau in 2000. He placed third in the 3-year old riding horse stallion class at the Oldenburg Regional Championship. Under Martina Hannover-Sternberg, Donnerbube III competed at the 2002 Bundeschampionate and under Roland Metzler, he showed in the 2005 Bundeschampionate qualifiers.

More News on TC Ravel and Donnerbube III at www.eurodressage.com
Photo courtesy: Tim Coomans