SWITZERLAND (by Claartje van Andel, Jo de Roo and Adriana van Tilburg) During the weekend of the 57th CHI de Geneva (December 7-10), the world’s top breeders will gather to be traditionally honoured by the WBFSH and to receive their awards, presented by Rolex. Outside the annual World Breeding Championships for Young Horses, it’s the one occasion when the spotlight is fairly and squarely on the breeders who devote their time and energy to producing sport horses that carry their riders to international success. It also recognizes their work and commitment to breeding tomorrow’s sires and dams.
This year’s awards in the three Olympic disciplines will be presented to Stefaan Delabie from Belgium for the BWP registered Halifax van het Kluizebos (Heart- breaker - Dalida van de Heffinck x Fetiche du Pas), ridden by Italian show-jumper Lorenzo de Luca; Germany’s Inge Bastian for the Oldenburger mare Wei- hegold (Don Schufro - Weihevoll x Sandro Hit), who has elegantly graced the world’s dressage arenas with Isabell Werth; and a two-time winner of the eventing award (the first occasion in 2015), Mirko Glötz will be rewarded again for the brilliant DSP-bred Fischerrocana (Ituango xx - Rose II x Carismo) under the saddle of her long-time rider - Michael Jung.
During the 12 months of the ranking year, running from October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017, Hali- fax carried Lorenzo de Luca to no fewer than seven five-star CSI wins and seven runners-up finishes, as well as numerous top-10 finishes.
As well as being triple European championship gold medallists, Weihegold and Isabell Werth have scored victories across the board – 13 in total – with one second place in the Aachen CDIO5* Grand Prix Special. Earlier, of course, they won Olympic gold in Rio 2016 – which counted towards last year’s WBFSH rankings...
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