A Sandro Hit x Donnerhall x Classiker offspring was proclaimed Champion of the 2007 Oldenburg Stallion Licensing in Vechta, Germany, on Saturday November 24, 2007. The same pedigee combination (Sandro Hit x Donnerhall) also produced the licensing champion of the Hanoverian society in Verden last month.

The bay Oldenburger branded champion is bred by Georg Sieverding and sold at auction for 340,000 euro to the Danish Jens-Peter Aggesen. The champion will stand at stud at Gestut WM of Eckhard Wahlers in Reessum, Germany.

The reserve champion of the licensing was a Sir Donnerhall x Rubinstein offspring, bred by Marion Menck and owned by Paul Schockemohle's Gestut Lewitz. The third placed stallion in the premium ring was Fackeltanz, a delightful Florencio x Feinbrand x Thymian xx son owned by Sissy Max-Theurer from Austria. She purchased the colt at the Vechta Foal Auction two years ago. (Read More)

Isabell Werth Wins First World Cup Qualifier in Odense, Denmark

The opening qualifier of the Western European League in the FEI World Cup™ in Odense for a sold out audience was won by 38 year old queen of dressage Isabell Werth partnering her mount of her World Cup™ win in Las Vegas earlier this year Warum Nicht with 79,50%. Runner up Swedish Jan Brink technically was the slightest of a margin better with a faultless test, however dressage on the edges is about taking risks as well.

And this is one of the capabilities Isabell Werth always explores to the utmost. As chairman of the judges Danish Leif Törnblad stated: “The quality of this class was pleasantly good! It was not a challenge for one or two, but the first ten placed riders performed top class. With this quality the difference is not only between mistakes or faultless performances, it is also about exploring a high degree of difficulties. And in taking the risks of the higher, Jan Brink lost a few points that Isabell Werth gained.”

Isabell Werth was relieved that her ‘Hannes’ as she nicknames the impressive big chestnut was more at ease than the day before in the Grand Prix. “I think everyone could see that yesterday it was a ride between highlights and big mistakes. Hannes was a bit spooky because of the atmosphere and it was very difficult to get him at ease in the arena. I am happy we managed so well today”, said Werth at the press conference.

The prize money for dressage in Odense might be called a world record and a unique first time event, as the dressage prize money exceeded the prize money for show jumping in Odense. For Isabell Werth this had been the reason to choose for Odense instead of the Maastricht show, she explained. Both Isabell Werth and Jan Brink said they liked to keep the car. “It’s a convenient size”, Isabell expresses and Jan Brink added that although he just like Isabell must have won five cars by now this one will just be perfect for his staff at his farm. (Read More)

Dutch Olympic A-Team of Nine Riders Announced

At an official press conference in Arnheim 255 days before the Olympic Games in Hong Kong, Dutch dressage chef d'equipe announced that she has assembled an A-team of nine riders from which the Dutch Olympic team will be selected.

The nine selected Olympic A-team riders are in alphabetical order Adelinde Cornelissen, Kirsten Beckers, Hans Peter Minderhoud, Stephanie Peters, Imke Schellekens-Bartels, Marlies van Baalen, Anky van Grunsven, Laurens van Lieren, and Alex van Silfhout. The definite Dutch Olympic team will be named after the final selection trial at the CDIO Rotterdam (June 19-22, 2008).

Mariette Sanders explained that she was striving for clarity, definitiveness and transparence: "We selected the riders for this A-team based on their performances the past few months. This is clarity. Definitiveness implies that all riders will train with Sjef Janssen a few times a month. Transparence will be achieved through two clear observation and selection trials. Those take place at the Outdoor Gelderland and CHIO Rotterdam competitions. All riders will show at these competitions and many judges who will be judging at the Olympics in China will be present at these shows." (Read More)

More Euro News at Eurodressage.com

Related Links
Donnerhall x Kennedy Colt Dazzles at 2003 Oldenburg Stallion Licensing
Vechta Oldenburg Auction Sells Highest Priced Horse, Der Euro, To America's Highlife Farms
The Dutch Write History by Winning Team Gold at the 2007 European Dressage Championships