Weeks of great sports!
Susanna Cottica’s editorial
What great sports weeks we had! his year’s European Championships for show jumping, eventing, dressage, para dressage, both for juniors and seniors, took place between the end of August and the beginning of September. Sara Morganti and Mariebelle, once again, won a gold medal for Italy! All results, information and detailed articles are available in this issue. In show jumping from day one we just had incredible sport, fantastic horses, great riders and the proverbial cherry on the top in the end. Chef de piste Uliano Vezzani was congratulated by all for his excellent work.
The words from Steve Guerdat and Philipp Weishaupt in the press conference deserve our attention…
Steve Guerdat
I’ve been very, very, very lucky or even blessed since the beginning of my career. Dynamix is very special mare. It takes a lot for me to admit that she is the best horse I’ve ever had. we knew it, and we hoped for it, and we were just trying to let her mature and come out of her shell in her own time. She basically has all the qualities of all my superstars in one, so that’s why she’s very, very special. I’m trying very hard not to rush her and give her the time she needs. During these Championships she really gave me everything, so I tried very hard myself to give her the best I could. Now she will have about eight weeks off, so she’ll enjoy the field and the good rest that she deserves. We’ll do our best so we can take her to Paris in the best possible form. I believe that every horse has his own story and Dynamix’s path turned out the way it had to. I had other horses in the past whose careers would have been different if they had been with me as youngsters. It always is as it’s meant to be. I’m incredibly grateful for my owners, for these great horses that make our dreams come true. Sabina Cartossi e Gianluca Agostoni have been with me for many years. Now we have Dynamix who has been with us since she was five. I told Sabrina that I have already had many nightmares about losing the ride, but she assured me I won’t! A big thank also to Frederic Aimez, Dynamix’s breeders. I feel breeders deserve to be more involved in the success of the horses.
Philipp Weishaupt
Zineday is only nine years old. I told myself I needed to listen to him and proceed taking one step at a time, show-by-show. In the latest months I tried to keep him a little bit in the background, making sure not too many people were asking me questions or realised how good he was, but after Aachen there was no more chance to hide his talent, everybody could see it. After Riesenbeck I knew he was ready for the Championship, even if he’s only nine. I thought he would learn and get experience during those five days, but I didn’t have any expectation. I knew the horse is super and I needed to ride well and just keep him calm. On the day of the final, he was super-fresh, he jumped fantastic and I’m more than delighted with the result. He now will have a well-deserved rest and then we’ll see what the future brings. Zineday was born in Riesenbeck (Franz-Georg Ottman breeder). He was produced by Richard Vogel, then Christian Kukuk had him for two years. He has been with me since he was seven and a half. It was an extremely difficult youngster; I’m not saying we are special, but I feel he wouldn’t be the star he is now had he been brought up in a less professional environment. We knew from the beginning his worth. We make our living selling horses. In Zineday’s case we know we have a special horse. Luckily his american owner Alice Lawaetz, who also owns Coby, assured me I can decline any offers for him. This feels unbelievable, it never happened in my whole career! I’m so excited for the future, as a can really make a plan based on what’s best for the horse. It is so lucky to have owners that can allow us riders to decline an offer for special horses like this, I’m so grateful for it…
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