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2003
European Pony Championships
Katharina Winkelhues and Dressman Capture Second
Consecutive European Title
August 2, 2003
 With
overwhelming dominance did German Katharina Winkelhues
win the 2003 European Pony Championships Dressage at
Necarne Castle in Irvinestown, Ireland. Riding her steady
partner of three years, the liver chestnut Dressman,
Winkelhues rode record scores in the "walled garden"
ring at the Euro Championships. Winning all three classes
with respected magical scores of 74.89%, 76.06% and
76.04%, Winkelhues was untouchable and took home her
fourth golden medal and her second individual title.
The combination Winkelhues/Dressman has been a success
story from when they first met in 2001. Katharina immediately
qualified the pony for the European Championships in
2001 and won the consolation finals with a 71% score.
In 2002 and 2003 they won the individual title. Any
dressage enthusiast with some insight could have seen
that Winkelhues would unstoppable in this year. During
the 2003 show season she already claimed the Preis der
Besten and Bad Salzuflen Dressage Derby title, and the
European title was only a formality.
Winkelhues lives in Cologne, Germany, and is trained
by her parents Wolfgang and Gaby Winkelhues. She took
up riding on a Shetland pony named Mickey, but it was
pony Victoria who got her acquainted with the competition
ring. At the 1997 Autumn Elite Auction in Munster, the
Winkelhues's bought the licensed stallion Dressman Son
(by Dressman). This pony put Katharina in touch with
Theo Schurf, owner of Dressman. They agreed that Katharina
would be competing both Dressman and his licensed son
Don Joshi for three years. Despite an astronomical leasing
fee, the Winkelhues's had to drive 200 kilometres daily
to train the pony at Schurf's stable in Bedburg, Germany.
 The
legendary licensed pony stallion Dressman (by Domingo
x Niklas) is an investment worth making. He took four
riders to gold medals at various European Championships.
The 14-year old Westfalian pony was bred by Mr. Sondermann
from Haltern, Germany,. He won the German Bundeschampionate
three times and was introduced to the FEI classes and
European Championships as a 6-year old by Astrid Buer.
Afterwards he was also ridden by Desiree Schurf, Kira
Kroncke and Katharina Winkelhues.
Katharina Winkelhues is 15-years old and still has
one more year to go in the FEI Pony division. Besides
riding, she enjoys playing the piano.
Image copyrighted: Paul
van Oers
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