The horse-shopping frenzy continues in Europe, and lots of top show jumpers have changed hands during August. In addition, one fantastic horse has a new rider, ending an unforgettable partnership.

At the end of August, Swiss rider Pius Schwizer lost the ride on Carlina IV (Carvallo—Calinka S, Landgraf I). The owners of Carlina, Pro Horse International, haven’t been completely satisfied in regards to their expectations for the mare. Schwizer and Carlina were third at the Rolex FEI World Cup Final in April, and then tied for 12th in the individual rankings at the London Olympic Games. The owners are open to selling Carlina, but for now the horse has been placed with Irish rider Trevor Coyle.

Of course, the major news of August was the seizure of Gerco Schroder’s mount that helped him win team and individual silver at the Olympic Games. Immediately after the Games, Eurocommerce London was removed from Schroder as a result of bankruptcy and fraud investigations concerning his former owner, Eurocommerce.

Earlier this year, ownership of the horse was transferred from Eurocommerce to a company called Gevi International, owned by Ger Visser Jr., the son of Eurocommerce owner Ger Visser. The bankruptcy trustee dealing with the bankruptcy of Eurocommerce has now reversed that sale, which makes London—in addition to other Eurocommerce horses—a part of the bankruptcy estate.

Rabobank, the creditor in the bankruptcy proceedings of Eurocommerce, has returned London to Schroder’s yard. While Rabobank initially seized the passports of 19 Eurocommerce-owned horses, Rabobank has returned the passports of five of those horses to Schroder and another rider, Annalies Vosselmans, allowing Eurocommerce horses in their care, including London, to compete.

Lots Of Transitions

In another type of transition, London was the last competition for the reigning World Champion from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (Ky.), Vigo d’Arsouilles. Rider Phillipe LeJeune decided that the 14-year-old stallion by Nabab de Reve will now retire and stand at stud.

The August shopping spree was opened by no other than Ukraine’s Aleksandr Onischenko, who bought the promising 8-year old-stallion Cabachon (Casall—Lady Mobilcom, Concerto II). Cabachon had been competed by Norwegian rider Stein Endresen, under the ownership of Ib Kirk at Katrinelund stud and stallion station in Denmark and Kristin Andresen from Norway. Cabachon was double-clear in the Nations Cup in Drammen, Norway, in June and also won a four-star class in Copenhagen, Denmark, in May.

Marco Kutscher’s ride Satisfaction FRH (Stakkato—Cecile, Calypso II) was sold to Denmark in the middle of August. His new rider is 14-year-old Emil Hallundbæk. With Kutscher, Satisfaction FRH won the World Cup-qualifier in Gothenburg (Sweden) earlier this year, and the two also won a five-star class in Zürich in January.

Denis Lynch’s 9-year-old ride Contifex (Cornet Obolensky—Cora, Corofino) is another horse that has changed hands after he was sold to Syrian rider Ahmad Saber Hamcho. As a part of the deal, Lynch has taken over Hamcho’s Olympic partner Wonderboy III (Flamenco de Semilly—Orleans, Jus de Pomme), Ben Maher’s former ride.

Carlos VHPZ—up until now ridden by Nicola Phillipaerts—has been sold to Danish rider and Wellington, Fla., inhabitant Emilie Martinsen. The 10-year-old Chellano Z gelding won the Longines Grand Prix in Falsterbo, Sweden, in July with Phillipaerts.

French Haras des Coudrettes continues to strengthen their string of horses and purchased German rider Thomas Voss’ ride Carinjo for Patrice Delaveau to ride. The Holsteiner stallion has performed well with Voss and came second in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen (Germany) this summer. The two were also reserves on the German Olympic team.

At the end of August, the promising Don VHP Z (Diamant de Semilly—Sara van het Parelshof, Voltaire) was sold to U.S. rider Saer Coulter. The 8-year-old Zangersheide stallion had been competed successfully by British rider Louise Pavitt. During the five-star show at Hickstead (England) in July the pair really made their mark and finished fourth in the grand prix. The two also won the grand prix at Windsor (England) earlier this year.

August ended with Werner Muff’s Olympic ride Kiamon being sold to French rider and businessman Edouard de Rotschild, leaving the Swiss team with the loss of another great horse.

Ludger On Fire

Ludger Beerbaum has been on a major hot streak in August. The German rider won the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, on the stallion Chaman (Baloubet du Rouet—Jadied, I Love You) on the 18th of August and followed up with yet another win in the Grand Prix of Münster (Germany) on Sunday 26th on the same horse – turning the tables after a disappointing summer where he missed out on the Olympic Games.

During the Global Champions Tour show in Valkenswaard, the U.S. riders made sure their presence was felt. McLain Ward on Rothchild and Lauren Hough on Oh La La won a five-star class each on Friday, while Richard Spooner followed up by winning the 1.45/1.50-meter speed class aboard Billy Bianca on Saturday. Spooner also claimed second in the most prestigious class of the show—the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix—on Cristallo (Caretino—Cambrina, Cicero), who jumped three clear rounds. On Sunday, Ward was back on top again and won the 1.50-meter class on Zander (Cantos—Sacha, Saygon).

A New Nations Cup Next Year

The Irish team took a popular home win in the last leg of the Top League Nations Cup series in Dublin. Clem McMahon, Richie Moloney, Darragh Kerins and Cian O’Connor did their home crowd proud with the victory, but Germany won the 2012 series overall. Belgium ended at the bottom as No. 8 and Sweden as No. 7. As it looks right now, this will have no consequence, however, as the FEI Nations Cup Series is set for a total makeover for next year.

Young Stars Ready To Inherit

At the European Championships for Juniors and Young Riders, the relatives of two famous show jumpers stepped up and took home the gold medals. In the Young Rider Championship, Marcus Fuchs’ nephew Martin Fuchs won the gold medal aboard Beat Mändli’s former ride Principal. Maurice Tebbel, son of German Nations Cup rider Rene Tebbel, won the gold in the Junior Championship. 

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