The 11 year KWPN approved stallion Paganini, bred by mr H.A. Verberne, owned by John Risley and showed by Canadian Cheryl Meisner was honoured as Best Stallion at the international stallion show in Zwolle.
His runner up position in Grand Prix and the third place in the Freestyle Grand Prix was the best result of an approved stallion in the Grand Prix class. Cheryl Meisner (26) was over the moon with the victory. Paganini is the horse that makes all her dreams come true.
Five years ago Meisner’s Canadian trainer Shannon Dueck introduced her to her own trainer, Dutch Bert Rutten. Meisner decided to come to The Netherlands to learn. “I watched Paganini for a year when Bert Rutten was riding him and he was so special! In 2004 I had the chance to ride him once a week and than I decided he definitely was the horse for me. He is something special! He has a great character and talent and fortunately my sponsor bought him for me.”
Not only her dream horse was found at Rutten’s place in 2004, Cheryl Meisner also met her husband Patrick Linssen. Now they live at Bert Rutten’s place in the south of the Netherlands. Rutten was an international dressagerider himself before he decided to concentrate on educating people and horses instead of showing.
Grand Prix Debut Luiza Almeida
The Brazilian Team got their Olympic Team Qualification at the Pan Am Games at Intermediate level. The challenge now for Brazil is to present three riders with a two times 64% score in Grand Prix!
Only 16 year old Brazilian Luiza Almeida moved to Belgian trainer Johan Zagers last year to get educated to Grand Prix-level. A challenge indeed, as her Lusitano stallion Samba imported from Portugal is unexperienced too at Grand Prix-level. In Zwolle her parents, sister and brothers watched the debut of Luiza and Samba in Grand Prix. The grey Samba is talented in piaffe and passage and made wonderful changes, however mistakes prevented a higher score than 59,336%. Of course Luiza was disappointed. Judge Bernard Maurel explained: “It’s not about the movements or exercises, it’s about the posture and engagement which needs a little change. The tendency of moving uphill needs some improvement. I’m sure this will come.”
Two time win Aat van Essen
This year the international Stallion Show in Zwolle for Dutch competitors suffered from the date chosen, only a week after the KWPN stallion grading and finals of the stallion competitions. The organisers who for the first time extended the show to a ten day event, now also invited geldings to compete and welcomed well visited classes for ponies, juniors and Young Riders as well. Zwolle-resident Aat van Essen who internationally surprised at the World Cup™ in London did win both tests. As his Premier is a gelding he of course could not be rewarded with the title Best Stallion. Aat van Essen couldn’t care less: “It’s great to win for my home crowd and I feel there is much more to come!”
Patrick Kittel renews Promising Stallion Title
Last year Patrick Kittel and Floresco won the title in the Intermediate Class called ‘Promising Stallion’ partnering Floresco, this year he renewed the title partnering KWPN-approved Scandic. Scandic (Solos Carex x Amiral) owned by ‘De Watermolen’ in Haaksbergen showed his elasticity and movements in a fantastic way. “I just love Scandic!”, Kittel said. “He learned all Grand Prix exercises in the last three months, amazing. We do trust each other mutually. He is a great horse. And his Swedish origin makes me smile too. It makes a great mixture of a Dutch owner, a Dutch born and Dutch approved stallion with Swedish ancestors and a Swedish rider!”
Just like in the Grand Prix class, Scandic didn’t win both tests. Moorland Totilas (Gribaldi x Glendale) was two times winner partnered by Edward Gal.
However as Moorland’s Totilas is not approved, the title ‘Promising stallion’ was reserved for Scandic.