DRESSPROD

German rider Carina Scholz has announced the unexpected death of her Grand Prix mare, Soiree d’Amour Old, at the age of 17. Bred by Maren Bergen, this daughter of San Amour and Latimer began her career with Kira Wulferding. In 2012, the pair won the German Championship for 3-year-olds, before going on to secure 5th place at the 2014 World Championships for 5-year-olds and finishing as runners-up in the German Championship for that age category. After reaching the final of the

As part of its strategic plan for dressage, the FEI has recently undertaken a review of its dressage tests across all levels. The proposed changes were evaluated, notably through real testing in Warendorf, Germany. The new tests will come into effect on January 1, 2027, for all FEI competitions. This timeline will coincide with the opening of the qualification period for Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MER) for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Notable updates to the Gran

Ebony, the former Grand Prix horse of Dutch rider Vai Bruntink, has died at the age of 17. Discovered by Sjak Laarakkers and Vai Bruntink, Ebony was ridden by the Dutch rider from his earliest years of competition. Notably, the pair finished fifth in the Dutch Championship for four-year-olds and represented the KWPN three times at the World Breeding Championships for Young Horses: placing ninth in the five-year-old division, followed by a ninth-place finish in the six-year-ol

A new chapter for Facilone FRH: the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding is now competing under Spanish rider Severo Jurado Lopez—marking yet another change of rider for the son of Fürstenball, who has already built a career with Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock, Stephanie Dearing, Marcus Hermes, Helen Langehanenberg, and Nicola Louise Ahorner. Bred by Günter Lindwehr and born in 2012, Facilone FRH began his career with Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock; at age four, he finished eighth in the German

Dutch rider Lotje Schoots has just lost one of the most significant horses of her career: Equitop Torricelli LS. The son of Florestan I and Pion passed away on September 7 at the age of 26. Torricelli entered her life when he was just two years old and she was fourteen; he accompanied her during her time riding for the van Silfhout stables, and the bay gelding enabled her to compete in the 2006 World Championships for six-year-olds, where they finished eighth. They became Dut

Diamond Hit, who competed up to Grand Prix level with the British rider Emma Hindle, has died. Bred by Gabriele Harder-Brune and born in 1997, Diamond Hit was by Don Schufro out of the famous mare Loretta, who also produced Sandro Hit and Royal Hit. Diamond Hit quickly established himself among the best young horses of his generation. In 2001, he was the German and Oldenburg vice-champion for four-year-old stallions under Miriam Henschke. In 2002, he confirmed his potential b