Isabell Werth dominated the Grand Prix dressage at the Munich Indoors (Germany), held Dec. 2-4, with Antony FRH and Apache OLD. Late on Saturday evening (the Grand Prix was held in two parts early on Saturday morning and late Saturday evening), the 1996 Olympic champion won the Grand Prix in front of 9,000 spectators aboard the 12-year-old, Oldenburg gelding Apache OLD (74.25%) and placed third aboard Antony FRH (70.45%).

In the qualification for both the Grand Prix Special and the Grand Prix freestyle, Anja Ploenzke and Solero TSF finished second (72.29%).

Ulla Salzgeber competed her 8-year-old Grand Prix prospect Piet. But the gelding was very tense in his second Grand Prix test, and although he placed sixth (66.54%), Salzgeber decided not to compete him on Sunday in the loud and colorful arena, with Christmas decorations such as larger-than-life Santa Claus statues.

On Sunday morning, Werth won aboard Apache OLD (73.68%) in the Grand Prix Special and again in the Grand Prix freestyle aboard Antony FRH (78.75%), while Ploenzke and the Trakehner stallion Solero TSF finished second (75.15%) again in the freestyle. With a very nice test, Saskia Schroeter, the 22-year-old daughter of Felicitas Schroeter, who competes for the United States, took third aboard the 12-year-old, Oldenburg gelding Charleroi (69.12%).

At the age of 19, Antony FRH showed that he is still very fit and powerful, which didn’t make the decision to retire him any easier for his rider. “But I am happy that I was able to retire Antony in such a good form. One day his career had to come to its end. After 16 years together it was certainly a very emotional moment for me,” she said.

With the elegant black gelding, Werth became the 1999 European Team Champion (the only championships Gigolo failed to compete in during his long career due to an injury) and was several times among the top five in the World Cup Finals.

Antony qualified for the World Cup Final at Las Vegas again this year, where he should have had his last great appearance. But he was injured upon his arrival there and had to be withdrawn from the competition. During the outdoor season Werth did not compete him but saved him for Munich.

In the beginning of their career the headstrong gelding, whom Werth showed in conformation classes as a 4-year-old, was not easy. In one test after another, Werth had to retire him, but she never gave up her belief in Antony, and finally he matured into a reliable Grand Prix mount. Nevertheless, in his last round of honor, Antony had his own ideas. While Apache had done his rounds of honor in perfect passage, Antony preferred to canter, and Werth finally had to give in.

For the time being Antony will continue to be ridden. “It will certainly take one to two years until he will be worked off and not be ridden anymore,” Werth said.

Antony’s farewell was made easier for Werth by the successes she has had recently with Satchmo, Warum Nicht and Apache. “At the moment everything looks very good for my future,” she said. “To qualify for the 2006 WEG I put my hopes on Satchmo and Warum Nicht.”

Again Werth pleaded for Munich to be a World Cup qualifier. “Many dressage riders have just one top mount and have to concentrate during the indoor season on the World Cup qualifiers, so they miss a show like Munich,” she said. “But, Munich deserves a first-class starting field. The spectators are so enthusiastic here about dressage, and the atmosphere is just great.”