2002 European Pony Championships

Annika Fiege and Konrad

Already a member of the team gold medal winning 2001 German Dressage Pony Team, Annika Fiege and Konrad secured yet again team gold and individual silver at the 2002 European Pony Championships.

The German strategy for winning team and individual gold year after year is very simple. The country does not sell its best FEI Dressage ponies but offers them to a new, talented pony rider who will be trained by a professional instructor and managed by a very experienced pony chef d'equipe, Cornelia Endres. Furthermore, German riders/children start out with ponies before riding big warmbloods and make combinations fair to the rider's strength and physionomics.

Annika Fiege is a perfect example of the German system. Riding Konrad, the 1997 European Pony Champion (under Nicholas Kronke) and multiple team gold medal winner under Kira Kroncke, Fiege had a top scoring pony at her disposal. Located in Munster, Fiege rode Konrad for two years and gained maximum experience aboard the Weser Ems gelding, who is sired by Constantin. At the 2002 German Dressage Championships in Kreuth, Fiege ended her pony career (as she's 16-year old) with the silver medal.

Next year, Annika Fiege will spend six months in the United States with a school exchange programme. Konrad is owned by the Kroncke family. Both Nicholas and Kira Kroncke are now succesful German junior/young riders team members.

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