International Trakehner Stallion Market Neumünster 2013

The Gala Show

The 2013 Gala was very long, but also one of the best in recent years, which was mostly due to excellent jumper presentations. Also another novum and highlight was the Finale of the Trakehner TSF Dressage Championships, which showcased the two top placed horses from that afternoon's last round. In 2013, this was previous year's winner Cote d'Azur TSF (by Cadeau - Patricius xx) with Helen Langehanenberg and the approved Amadelio (by Lehndorffs - Lauries Crusador xx) with Dorothee Schneider. What a treat to watch two German Olymöic riders on their young Trakehner dressage horses.

Images will follow in the next few days, but here are some video highlights from the jumping presentation. The first round was jumped over 1.20m, and pairs of young riders and their (sometimes also still young) horses competed against each other and the clock. No videos are available for the first two riders, unfortunately. For the purpose of education, we have added the full pedigrees of the competing horses. Note the alsmost complete absence of "modern names", yet the repetitive appearance of certain other names from East Germany, Russia and the West. Blue marks names from Eastern Europen/East German lines, Green stands for Arabian blood and Red for English TB.

Two very special chestnut stallions are featured here in a special position. One was the total newcomer Peron, a stallion born in Estonia at the Heimtali Stud. He is owned by Jane Uibopuu, also from Estonia and was presented at the Gala by Karen Wisser, who had only ridden the horse a couple of times. This stallion is 7yrs old and his regular rider is a youngster amateur from Estonia. The FEI records for this horse list an appearance at the World Championships for Young Show Jumpers in Lanaken, Belgium, and several shows up to 1.45m CSI levels. The stallion was presented to the Trakehner Verband during the days in NMS, and pending full performance records, will be approved based on his success in show jumping. This horse was a true specialist, but what a scopey, powerful jumper. In fact, we'd go as far as to say he was truly a revelation! Currently, it is unclear if or when the stallion will be available in Germany. It would be fantastic if he could be retained for Karen Wisser, who is such a skillful and capable rider. But maybe that is just not in the cards (yet).

And an even more impressive appearance came from the approved Trakehner stallion Lichtblick TSF, the last son of the excellent East German sport horse producer Nerv. Lichtblick TSF has ober 90 wins and placings up to S level (1.50m) in Germany - under 5 different riders!! And currently, he functions as the schoolmaster for his 14yr old (!) rider Laura Schoechert, who rode the stallion around the ring as if she never did anything else in her life. The partnership between these two is truly inspirational, and while the jumping style of Lichtblick is somewhat unconventional, he just never makes a mistake. His inner qualities - willingness, temperament, character - are really quite stunning and deserve a lot more recognition from breeders.