2006 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses

Uzzo, A Show Jumping Project Gone Dressage

August 8, 2006

Van der Meer purchased Uzzo as a three-year old and showed him in the Pavo Cup finals as a 4-year old in which he finished 8th overall. Van der Meer confirmed that he won't be riding the Pavo Cup Finals this year now that he claimed his World Champion's title. "You never know what might happen. A judge might score him down now, just because he doesn't like his ears," Vaan der Meer joked.

Uzzo was bred Mr Schonewille in The Netherlands. He's by Lancet out of a C-Indoctro dam. In 2000, Mr Schonewille had planned to breed his show jumping dam to a U.S. based jumper stallion but by the end of the breeding season the mare hadn't caught yet. His veterinarian, who was at the time part owner of Lancet, suggested him to use Lancet as a final good-luck try before calling it quits. Just having used one straw, the mare got in foal to Lancet and Uzzo was the result.

Van der Meer runs training stable "De Hoeve" with his wife Sylvia in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands. He trains and competes youngsters but also has several FEI horses. He recently his client's Holsteiner Grand Prix horse Allassio at the CDI Falsterbo and in Verden he was also riding the big tour aboard Ogami.

Patrick stated that he had no intention of selling Uzzo. "I want to prepare him for next year's World Championships. I had fun this year and want to give it a try again next year," he told Eurodressage.

Text and Photos copyrighted Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed without permission

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