2013 FEQHA European Championship of American Quarter Horses: Europe’s Quarter Horses on a World Show Level
The 2013 FEQHA European Championship of American Quarter Horses was perhaps the best ever – at least as far as the huge number of high class horses is concerned. Never before have there been so many top quality horses and runs – at least this is what both the judges of the event and AQHA Director of International Affairs, David Avery said. As did Ann Dennis, who has designed the EC trail courses for the fourth time now.
“These European trail exhibitors are so good that I could give them more difficulties this time,” she said. “It was a tough course, but they handled it really well. There were quite a number of horses that could go to the World Show any time. The margin between the U.S. and Europe is really narrowing.”
Multiple European Champion, Sylvia Jackle, who judged the event for the first time, added, “The trails were extremely good, but so were the Senior Western Pleasure and the Amateur Reining. This show was a real pleasure to judge! Working together with the other judges was fun. The results were usually very similar, and we got along very well. The show management did a great job as usual – as did David Avery, who was busy giving all the support you might need. And, it was a great decision to include the finals again – as they make the EC something special.”
In 2013, the European Championship consisted of six AQHA shows plus a finals, which gave back former prestige to the event. The event attracted huge media attention – not only from the worldwide horse media, but also from regional newspapers, radio and television. Even the ‘Bayerische Rundfunk,’ the leading TV station of Bavaria and one of Germany’s leading TV stations, attended the show on the final weekend to report about it in their sports section.
305 horses from 12 nations were entered – less than the year before, which was due to a major reining event running at the same time in Austria as well as the AMERICANA following right after the EC. However, entries had increased again. There were almost 1,800 in contrast to last year’s 1,700. The total purse (prizes and money) exceeded € 50,000 and included the beautiful European Championship buckles. Exhibitors really appreciated FEQHA’s sponsoring of one box stall per youth exhibitor. Also, FEQHA took a share of the box stall fees for amateur exhibitors.
“FEQHA did a great job of giving back something to the exhibitors,” said David Avery, who has been present at every single EC since 2006. “Service and exhibitor friendliness are what it’s [all] about. ER tried to change this horse show due to exhibitors’ wishes and also due to the concerns of the welfare of our friend, the American Quarter Horse.“
The 2013 FEQHA European Championship of American Quarter Horses started with the Halter and Cattle Shows. The show team received lots of praise from the cutting exhibitors, who enjoyed the excellent cattle and ground. In Cutting, The Netherlands claimed two gold medals as well as two bronze medals. The European Championship Cutting All Ages Open was claimed by Meradas Acre (Master Merada x Not Quite An Acre) and Roel Breeur. The two scored a total of 436 points. Silver went to Dmac Termintior (Young Gun x Lenas Smart Missi) and Rene Opitz who scored a 425.5. The owner of this horse is Werner Strauss (AUT). Lindy Star Light 218 and Rob Gerrits placed third scoring a 425. This 13-year-old Grays Starlight mare also claimed the European Champion title in Amateur Cutting. Silver was earned by Prettypinkstuff and Lars Christiansen (DEN, 395 points), followed by Meradas Acre and Ingrid Hendriks (NED).
In Working Cowhorse All Ages Open, the winner was Freckles Miss Olena with Pattrick Sattler (GER) in the saddle. The 1997 mare by Show Time Freckle out of Pretty Miss Lena, who was 2012 DQHA Internationaler German Champion Sr. Working Cowhorse Open, FEQHA Reserve European Champion Senior Working Cowhorse Open and AQHA World Show Qualifier Sr. Working Cowhorse Open, scored 853.5 points altogether. Charleys Silent Star (owner Franz Lermer) and Philipp Martin Haug (830 points) took the silver medal, followed by Peppys Steppin Jac (owner Jens Golz) – again with Philipp Martin Haug in the saddle (826.5).
In Halter, the most successful horses were Aint It The Blues, shown and owned by Gesa Meier-Bidmon; Zippos Chocolate Star (owner Silvia Kube, exhibitor Volker Laves resp. Silvia Kube); Marlanas Promotor (owner Rüdiger Bartholatus, exhibitor Valerie Bartholatus); CB Stormy O Badger (owned and shown by Christina Böhm), who earned two gold medals each, as well as Centrisity (owner Günter Fischer, exhinitors Leonie, Britta and Günter Fischer), who took three gold medals. Aint It The Blues (Zips Chocolate Chip x Aint She Hot) is a multiple European Champion and Reserve Champion both in Halter and Performance. 2-year-old Zippos Chocolate Star (Zippos Good Mr x Chocolate Principles) bred by Silvia Kube was a 2012 European Champion in Open Yearling Stallions as well as DQHA Futurity and DQHA Int. Champion. Marlanas Promotor (Undeniably Hint x Marlana Glow), bred by Horst and Elisabeth Müller, started his career as the 2005 FEQHA Champion of Champions. He is a multiple Futurity Champion, European Champion and Grand Champion. CB Stormy O Badger (CL Silent Badger x Feet of Flames) was bred by Christina Böhm. The palomino gelding stood Grand Champion several times. Centrisity (CK Kid x Everything) earned gold in Aged Mares Open as well as Mares 3 & over Amateur and Youth. The 4-year old mare, which was third at the World Show as a weanling, got her Superior in Amateur Halter last year.
The first day of the Performance class finals ended with a beautiful Junior Bit Open Reining, which was won by Sharp Dressed Shiner (Shining Spark x Smartley Dressed) and Volker Schmitt (GER). The palomino stallion, owned by La Mesa Ranch, scored a 221. Volker also rode Whizin On A Star (Topsail Whiz X Hello Starshine, owner Alice Winkler) to second place honors with BMS Hickory Smoke and Markus Stricker placing third.
The Senior Reining Open was claimed by Wimpys Balito and Uli Kofler. The stallion is by Wimpys Little Step and out of a Keen Freckles mare and is owned by Hoflacher Schuster, GER. Chexy Step Chiquita (owner Cosima Bergauer) and Susanne Schnell placed second with KHM Cody Fritz Chex (owner Karl-Heinz Manns) and Elias Ernst placing third.
In SBH Open Reining, A Painted Rooster and Elias Ernst took gold for Switzerland. The stallion, by Reds Rooster Delmaso out of Okies Grace, is owned by Hans-Peter Reiss, who organized the European Championship for many years. Last year, H.P. was awarded the AQHA certificate for 30 years of breeding American Quarter Horses. A Painted Rooster and Elias Ernst already won three of the four AQHA Jr. Reining Open shows at the Bavarian Championship in 2013. Silver went to Ally Get Your Gun and Barbara Seibold, and bronze went to Smart Electric Spark (owner Birgit Dietrich) and Volker Schmitt.
The European Champion Reining Amateur was Hollywood Gun Dunnit with Santo Bruni-Zani in the saddle. The stallion is by Gunner and is owned by Equus Quarter Horses, Italy. He scored a 223.5. Ima Royal Legacy and Richard Hagl (GER) placed second scoring a 218. Sail On Broadway and Miriam Leinweber (GER) were third. In Amateur Select Reining, the title went to OJ A Light Of Taco and Wolfgang Becker who scored a 212. Sprattins Sunrise and Manfred Erdeljan placed second. ARC Mister Playboy and Franz Jaksche placed third. OJ A Light Of Taco was 6th at the Belgian Futurity in the 3 & 4 J L4 Open.
Dragon Heart and Manon Tamagni took gold for France in Reining Youth. The gelding and his young owner have been successful in youth events for years, including the 2007 AQHA Youth Cup. Spookin Right On and Gina-Maria Betsch placed second, and This Little Legend and Katharina Hagesveen (Norway) were third.
Gold in Western Horsemanship Amateur was claimed by Power In The Canyon and Sophie Gillioz (SUI). The two are multiple Swiss Champions, High Point and All-around Champion. Silver in this class went to Marlanas Promotor and Valerie Bartholatus. Bronze went to Version In A Dream and Vera Pirola (ITA). In Western Horsemanship Amateur Select, the European Champion also came from Switzerland. Technical Nat Image and Philipp Roos took the top title. SMH Make Me Hot and Brigitte Müller placed second, and Out In The Sand and Laura Cristini (ITA) were third.
The winner in Youth Showmanship was CPR Diabolic Zip, who was shown by Melina Hugelshofer (SUI). The 10-year-old mare by Red Sonny Rider out of Completely Unzipped, which was bred by Antonio Giraudini, won with Melina three AMERICANA Youth shows in 2011. Silver and bronze went to Austria: Good Rythum Tonite with Hannah Friedl and Krymsun Zippo with Natalie Samek-Göschl.
In Amateur Showmanship, all three medals went to Germany. The European Champion was Impulsively Me (Impulsion x Sabrina Sabre) shown by Franca Bartke. High Quality Version and Leandra Christina Rohr placed second. Marlanas Promotor, which was shown by Nathalie Elisabeth Bartholatus placed third.
In Amateur Select Showmanship, Out In The Sand and Laura Cristini took gold for Italy, which also claimed bronze with CPR Velvet Blazer and Emma Daniela Cembi. Silver was earned by Gabs Ultra Shock and Francoise Lecrocq (FRA).
In Senior Western Pleasure, A Cruise With Me took another gold medal for the Czech Republic. The mare, who is a triple DQHA Int. Champion, was also a European Champion Western Pleasure Youth with her owner Katerina Bastova. Wisely Victorious (owner Sibyl von der Schulenburg, ITA) and Matteo Sala placed second with Dont Skip It Up and Asa Kümmerling (SWE) placed third.
The European Champion Western Pleasure Amateur was Dont Skip It Up with Asa Kümmerling (SWE) in the saddle. The two were also NSBA European Champions this year. The Hot Intern and Philipp Roos followed in second place with HC Ima Good Hot One and Peer Kraack placing third. The Amateur Select in this discipline was won by Invitation Tonite and Philipp Roos followed by Dressed For Fun unser Roberta Gianformaggio and SMH Make Me Hot under Brigitte Müller.
There was no surprise in the Youth Western Pleasure final. The winner of the two go rounds also took the EC title: A Cruise With Me and Katerina Bastova (CZE). Madame Machine and Natalie Samek –Göschl (AUT) followed in second place, and Don’t Skip It Up and Asa Kümmerling (SWE) was third.
In Junior Trail Open, High Quality Version (Vintage Version x Sheza Hot Machine) and Stefanie Bubenzer became European Champions. The 5-year-old mare, owned by Miriam and Leandra Rohr, scored a 213.5. Silver went to IOnlyWannaBeWithYou and Natasha Kronil Haukrog Moller (DEN). Bronze went to Double Goodness and Linda Leckebiusch-Stark.
The Senior Trail Open was claimed by Diva Donna (No Chip Sherlock x Chelseas Bella Donna) and Alexander Eck. The mare, who is owned by Luisa Webersinn, is a DQHA Int. Champion and Reserve European Champion in this class and also took bronze with her owner in Performance Halter Mares Youth. Silver went to Investets Hotkrymsun (owner Karin Mossmann) and Andrea Schmid. Bronze went to Pines Rumor and Bastian Zielinski.
The tough Trail Amateur ended with Ostinato Jac and Nina Kienreich winning this class again. The 14-year-old gelding by Jac O Rima and out of Elsa Silky Jane is already a multiple European Champion. Technical Nat Image and Philipp Roos placed second with Version of A Dream, and Vera Pirola followed in third place. In Amateur Select, the winner was Harmonie In Motion and Mario Seebacher. Invitation Tonite and Philipp Roos took silver. Smart Little Brenda and Karin Lamprecht took bronze.
The Trail Youth was won by Pines Rumor and Bastian Zielinski (GER). The 7-year-old gelding by Vested Pine and out of Passing Rumors scored a 226. Bastian and his horse already were the European Champion Youth Trail twice (2009 and 2010) and Senior Trail Open in 2010. A New Choco and Alessandra Ouellet (ITA) placed second, Sam Leaguer and Lena Henkelmann (GER) third.
A Natural Sensation (Coats N Tails x Sure Natural) claimed two gold medals for Austria: With Karin Prevedel in the saddle, the mare was European Champion Junior Hunter under Saddle Open with Hoo Let The Dogz Out (owner Johanna Oswald) and Jadasa Jablonowski placing second and Double Goodness (owner Carolin Wolff), and Linda Leckebusch-Stark placed third.
With her owner, Cathrin Gutmann, A Natural Sensation won the Hunter under Saddle Amateur title. Silver went to Flashy All The Time and Asa Kümmerling (SWE). A New Intrigo and Alan Vincent (FRA) took bronze.
Flashy All The Time and Cora Kümmerling took the European Champion title in Hunter Youth. Silver and bronze went to Austria: Good Rythum Tonite with Hannah Friedl and Smooth Walkin Terms with Marie Christin Schranz.
In Senior Hunter under Saddle, the title was claimed by My Final Say (My Final Notice x Designed In The Dark; owner Elisabeth Seif, AUT) and Alexandra Jagfeld, who also won the Green Hunter under all judges. Alan Vincent‘s A New Intrigo claimed silver for France with Karin Prevedel in the saddle. Bronze went to The Right Luke (owner Chloe Shaw-Jackson, BEL) and Barbara Ceusters.
Among the many beautiful youth classes of this EC were also the Western Riding and Western Horsemanship Youth, which were both won by Miss Zippo Principle and Moa Berglund. The 10-year-old mare by Principle Investment and out of Zippopotamus is owned by Guglielmo Passoni (ITA) and is a multiple European Champion. Silver in Horsemanship Youth went to Italy as well: GC Dressed In Gold and Guilia Fasani. GR Liberty Robbie and Tom Reulecke took bronze. In Western Riding Youth, Sam Leaguer and Lena Henkelmann (GER) placed second with Hint of Leo and Lisa-Marie Georgi (GER) placing third.
In Senior Western Riding, the winner was 14-year-old Secondary Asset (Investment Asset x Butterscotch Time) with Peggy de Kraa (NED) in the saddle. Grey Asset (owner Eleonora Bordelin, ITA) and Matteo Sala took silver, and Krymsun Zippo (owner Susanna & Gerald Göschl, AUT) and Nina Leiner took bronze.
The Hunt Seat Equitation Amateur was won by Invy My Principles (Green With Invy x Chip N Hot Principle) and Leonie Behrens, followed by Investin Thewildcard and Pia Lipp in second place and The Right Luke and Chloe Shaw-Jackson in third place. In Amateur Select, the EC title went to Cametwoconquer (Camesawconquered x Our Stormy Girl) ridden by Laura Weber. Joan Badge and Camilla Doneda placed second, and Diva Donna and Luisa Webersinn placed third.
Altogether, Germany was leading in medal ranking both in halter and performance, but a look at the performance ranking shows how close the European nations were together: 11 gold medals for Germany, six for Switzerland and four gold medals each for Italy and Austria. It’s even more remarkable considering that Germany had the most exhibitors at this event.
Germany Wins FEQHA European Team Cup Amateur and Youth
The EC hosted the FEQHA European Team Cup Amateur and Youth this year. The classes were run class-in-class with the second go rounds of the various disciplines, with the exception of trail which was an extra class and ended the second day of the final.
In Amateur Cup, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic competed with teams. Here, the German team had the best result with a total of 157 points, with Austria following in second place (95) and Switzerland in third place (91). The trail was won by Silke Woitaschek (GER), and Laura Kraack (GER) placed second.
In the Youth Cup, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, France, Norway, Belgium and Luxemburg had entered teams. Germany also took first place with a total score of 261 points with Norway following in second place (172) and Austria in third place (171). Here, Bastian Zielinski (GER) topped the trail with Hannah Friedl (AUT) following in second place.
Medal Ranking 2013
Performance
