With seven young dressage horses earning at least the minimum qualifying score this year, the U.S. Equestrian Federation had more choices than ever for the FEI World Breeding Championships in Verden, Germany, August 3-7.
Three horses were chosen to represent the country: Florentinus, a 5-year-old Westphalian stallion (Florestan I—Lady in Red, Londonderry) owned and ridden by Jennifer Hoffman; Ratzinger, a 6-year-old Austrian Warmblood stallion (Riccione—St. Pr. St. Inschella, Pablo) also owned and ridden by Hoffman; and Royal Couer 2, a 6-year-old Oldenburg mare (Royal Hit—Riva, Le Coeur) owned and ridden by Marne Martin Tucker.
The U.S. may send four horses—two 5-year-olds and two 6-year-olds—for the World Breeding Championships. In order to qualify, the horses had to earn at least an 8.2 at the Markel/U.S. Equestrian Federation Young Horse Dressage Selection Trials held in Illinois, California and Virginia or while overseas in Europe.
Schumacher also qualified in Europe. The 6-year-old Westphalian gelding (Stedinger—Wildrose, Weltmeyer), ridden by Allison Brock and owned by Fritz and Claudine Kundrun, will compete at the International British Young Horse Championships at Hickstead instead of Verden.
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In the United States, Emily Wagner rode her own WakeUp to an 8.24 at the Central Selection Trials to qualify the 6-year-old American Warmblood stallion (Wagnis—Maiden Montreal by Macho), bred by Beverly McLean
Alice Womble-Heitmann’s 5-year-old Hanoverian stallion Sanceo (San Remo—St. Pr. Hauptstutbuch Rivera, Ramero’s Son II), ridden by Sabine Schut-Kery, qualified at the Western Selection Trial on an 8.22.
Finally, Lauren Chumley and the 5-year-old Hanoverian stallion Somer Hit (Sandro Hit—Rhussia, Rotspon) earned a qualifying score of 8.37 at the Eastern Selection Trial. The stallion is owned by Alice Tarjan and was bred by Mo Swanson of Rolling Stone Farm.
The U.S. riders opted to keep their horses at home and shoot for the Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, August 26-28.
