Dutch equestrian magazine De Hoefslag reported today, Sept. 20, that Relevant, the Oldenburg stallion competed by American dressage rider Lisa Wilcox at the 2004 Athens Olympics, will be trained and competed by Dutch rider Marlies van Baalen.

Owned by the German breeding farm Gestut Vorwerk, Relevant came to international prominence under Wilcox\’ training. She rode Relevant to fifth place individually and the team silver medal at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Spain and earned a team bronze medal in Athens. But Wilcox left Gestut Vorwerk in December 2004 for Switzerland to pursue other training opportunities.

Relevant has since then been trained by Johann Hinnemann. According to a report on eurodressage.com, it was Hinnemann who suggested to the owners of the Gestut Vorwerk that Baalen ride the chestnut stallion.

“It’s a very nice opportunity for me to compete such an experienced and successful Grand Prix horse,” van Baalen said. “I don’t know yet when I will show him for the first time. I will only take him to shows when we are really ready for it.”