Stuttgart – “It’s just fantastic competing here in Stuttgart in such a wonderful atmosphere. It’s a special honour for me,” said a delighted Charlott-Maria Schürmann (22) when speaking to the media after winning Friday’s “Piaff Förderpreis” final for the Prize of the Liselott Schindling and Klaus Rheinberger Foundation at the 30th International STUTTGART GERMAN MASTERS Horse Show. Last to go, the economics student scored 72.160 points on the 11-year old Hanoverian stallion Burlington FRH to snatch victory from Nadine Husenbeth and the 15-year old mare Florida (72.000). Back in third was Sanneke Rothenberger on Wolke Sieben, another 15-year old Hanoverian mare (70.640).
The German national dressage coach Monica Theodorescu was pleased with the “top class performances yesterday and today and the fact that four of the eight starters were given over 70 per cent.” The multiple Olympic, World and European Champion attested a good performance from each and every one of the riders. She also thanked the foundation and the organisers for giving the riders the chance to gain experience in a Grand Prix at a top horse show.
Jürgen Koschel, the head coach of a group of top dressage prospects, proudly pointed out that our “academy system is in the meantime being copied in part by many of the world’s countries.” The “pool” has after all already produced world class riders like Kristina Sprehe, Helen Langehanenberg, Matthias Alexander Rath and Fabienne Lütkemeier.
