The first day of the 2023 Schafhof Dressage Festival, a top day for dressage trainer Pieter van der Raadt from Baden-Württemberg. With the five-year-old stallion Furore Fantastico, he secured victory in the elementary level dressage horse test, price of the acáo GmbH, and with the final score of 8.0, he also secured a ticket to the Bundeschampionat. "The horse is great! The gallop in particular is just a great feeling, a poem. I've only had him three and a half weeks under the saddle, but today was outstanding.” Furore Fantastico makes two appearances at the Schafhof: he himself in the arena and one of his offspring is part of the lot at the DSP foal auction Kronjuwelen on Friday evening.
“I wanted to do it particularly well. Too good, I think,” smiled Jillian Wyrobnik from the Reit- und Fahrverein Reiskirchen. With a little too much 'pressure' Wybronik and Vitation allowed themselves a short canter stride in the extended trot. The six-year-old Vitalis-son, who descends from the Schafhof-Hengst Foundation on the mother's side, didn't quite settle down while holding. Mistakes that narrowly prevented qualification for the Bundeschampionat in the end. Despite this, the couple won the M-level dressage horse test, the prize of Georg Kieffer Sattlerwarenfabrik GmbH, with a final score of 7.7. “Vitation is just super special, he's special and fun. He did a great job today and I'm super happy," said the winner. Wybronik was at the start at the Schafhof for the first time: “That was super cool. The scenery here is breathtaking, it was a little dream of mine.”
Fulfilled dreams on day one, on Thursday the Schafhofs Dressage Festival continues with day two. The day begins in the Equimus dressage arena at 8 a.m. with the international small tour, the prize of the Taunus Sparkasse, continues with the Almased Amateur Trophy and the presentation of the auction foals up to the international four-star tour. From 3 p.m., the Grand Prix couples will compete in the i-West animal nutrition prize – animal nutrition Dr. Meyer GmbH&Co.KG. Among the participants is Hessen's number one successful rider, the two-time team Olympic champion Dorothee Schneider. Although the riding master is at home in Rhineland-Palatinate, she rides black and yellow for the Frankfurt show stables. Schneider is at the start at the Schafhof for the third year in a row. "Firstly, it's just a great tournament here and secondly, it's on my doorstep - I would be crazy if I didn't take advantage of it," explains Schneider in a good mood. "I brought three horses with me: Sister's Act for the Four Star Tour, Dante's Hit for the Small Tour and Vainqueur for the Louisdor Prize. I am looking forward to starting with all three horses, they are motivated and in good spirits.”
