Horse International

Jonty Evans regains consciousness

We were very glad to hear Irish eventer Jonty Evans has regained consciousness after his serious fall with Cooley Rorkes Drift at Tattersalls on 3 June. A statement on behalf of his family on 20 July reported that the Irish eventer is ‘interacting positively’ with medics and his family, and his condition has continued to improve in recent days. Evans is undergoing physiotherapy and rehabilitation, which will continue for the foreseeable future. “Due to the need for Jonty to remain in a quiet and calm environment for a significant period of time, and to continue his recovery as privately as possible, the medical team have advised the family to keep visitors strictly to a minimum,” the statement added.

N.O.P. signs two new horses

The Stichting Nederlands Olympiade Paard (N.O.P.) has signed two new horses into its programme. Diederik van Silfhout’s dressage stallion Expression and Alice Naber-Lozeman’s eventer ACSI Peter Parker have been secured with the focus on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. N.O.P. Chair Ieko Sevinga explains; “The nine year old Expression (by Vivaldi) had a very strong international debut in April. He was crowned KNHS indoor champion in his very first start at Grand Prix level and has since shown his incredible talent on the international stage.” Chef d’Equipe for the Dutch dressage riders Rien van der Schaft shares the N.O.P.’s high expectations; “Expression has a lot of potential. Despite his relatively young age for this highest level, he has shown us some very mature tests.” In ACSI Peter Parker, the N.O.P. has secured yet more routine. Alice Naber-Lozeman rode him to multiple national eventing titles , as well as competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics. “This combination is a fixture on the Dutch eventing team,” Sevinga adds, “His signing is a show of faith and appreciation for ACSI Peter Parker’s owners, and could be of great value for the team’s Tokyo qualification.”

Girasol gives birth to a filly

Grand Prix mare Girasol has given birth to a filly through embryo transfer, owner and rider Morgan Barbançon Mestre reported on social media. “A star is born,” the rider stated. The filly is by the KWPN stallion Franklin, who was sold to foreign investors last year. Barbançon Mestre and her Gribaldi mare have been out of the lime light for over a year, due to some motivational issues. “I have had some starting up challenges with her, she seemed to have lost her motivation. We have given her the time to find relaxation, and it looks like she will soon be able to come to shows again. She is 17 now, and I do not want to over work her,” Barbançon Mestre said earlier.

Foreign Affair for sale

The Rothenberger family was not able to enjoy former KWPN stallion Foreign Affair (Rock Forever x Scandic) for long. Just over one year after coming to Gestüt Erlenhof, the gelding is moving back to Patrik Kittel’s stables to be sold. Under Kittel’s stable rider Malin Nilsson, Jan Greve’s breeding product won both Nürnberger Burg Pokal classes at Horses and Dreams in Hagen, Germany, and he was sold to the Rothenberger family and Ralph Westhoff shortly thereafter. Sanneke Rothenberger was first to take the reins, later younger sister Semmieke took over, finishing second at their debut in the S1* in Darmstadt-Kranichstein.

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