It is always fun to watch the change in young horses… here are two photos one year apart – Vin Noir (Van Vivaldi – Don Gregory), German Oldenburger Elite Auktion mare born 2014, owned by Marta Kauffman and Jaye Cherry.

Sovereignty, a 5 yr old German Oldenburger by Sondheim OLD out of Love Quest, schools with Mark Farndale before heading up to the Sacramento International Horse Show for the 5 Yr Old Jumper Finals.

Owned and bred by Carrie Treadway and ridden by Ashley Barrett, Sovereignty WON last year’s 4 Yr Old Jumper Finals at the same show.  As Sondheim is by Sandro Hit, the jumper breeding comes through from Sandro, as well as the mare line. Love Quest is a Landadel / Quattro jumper mare from the Oldenburger Elite Auktion.

It’s interesting to see that Sondheim produces BOTH competitive dressage and jumper foals!

After a VERY successful GOV Mare and Foal Inspection, Tommy Rhinow had time to give me a lesson on Santana – BIG FUN!!!

Congratulations Marta F. Kauffman and Santana!!
I just found out (I know, sometimes I’m slow) that at the L. A. Chapter Summer Dressage Show recently, Santana (Show Star – Donnerschwee) finished the show as FEI Reserve Champion! This was based on his 2 day successes at Prix St. Georges… Ridden by Jaye Cherry, Santana was purchased as a 3 yr old at the German Oldenburger Mixed Auktion, and over the years has had much success – it’s great to see he’s back at it again!!!

Recently, Sondheim was well represented at the El Sueno Dressage show, by two of his daughters.

Hilda Gurney bred both mares – Springtime and Stunning – who are FULL sisters! By Sondheim OLD and out of a Winterprinz mare, Hilda also owns Springtime.  Adrienne Bessey owns Stunning, and actually won ALL of her classes this weekend with scores ranging from 70+5 to 80.4%!!

At the prestigious Flintridge Dressage Show 2019, over the Memorial Day Weekend, once again breeder Hilda Gurney and owner / rider Adrienne Bessey showed what a great partnership they have – Adrienne showed her 4 year old German Oldenburger mare Stunning (Sondheim OLD – Winterprinz) in Training Level classes… and WON THEM ALL!!

It is a PLEASURE to watch Hilda and Adrienne work together with such great success – I can’t wait to watch the future of this threesome!!

I will hold a GOV Mare and Foal Inspection this August 9, 2019, at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank.

Please contact me if you are interested in joining us – my email is Jciroquois@aol.com, or you can contact me via Facebook.

After a 4 year hiatus from the show ring, German Oldenburger Auktion gelding Santana (Carlos) returned today to make his first start in Prix St. Georges… CERTAINLY a work in progress, but SSOO much fun to get back to it!!! Thank you Marta F. Kauffman for letting me show your wonderful horse, Sheryl Stein and Mark Farndale for helping this morning, and OF COURSE Barbara Bella FOR THESE GREAT PHOTOS!!!!! Thank you also #Devoucoux for Carlos’ saddle – we BOTH LOVE IT!!!!

Congratulations to breeder Hilda Gurney and owner Adrienne Bessey, on the successful first show for Stunning (Sondheim OLD – Winter Prinz).

At the Dressage Affaire CDI*** held this last weekend (Mar. 21 – 24, 2019) held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center (Burbank, Ca), Stunning won her Training Level classes with scores into the 70%!!

Ridden by Adrienne, she and Stunning were also the High Score Lower Level Amateur of the show!

This being their very FIRST show, Adrienne and her trainer Hilda did a wonderful job helping this 4 year old German Oldenburger mare navigate the ‘ins and outs’ of a facility that she’d never been to, combined with quite a chilly and breezy first day!

The future is certainly bright for this lovely pair…