Germany's Michael Jung was crowned the HSBC FEI World Cup Eventing Champion for 2010 at the last event of the season at Schenefeld, Germany. Julia Mestern (GER), on FRH Schorsch, won the event but Michael's impressive second, third and fourth places behind the winner were enough to emphasise his domination of the series and hand him the crown. After 12 events in ten countries and three continents, Jung, who is hailed as one of the world's most exciting young riders, emerged supreme as the only rider to have won two events, at Marbach (GER) and Strzegom (POL). His reaction on learning that he had won US$ 50,000 of HSBC prize-money was: "This is wonderful for me because as a professional rider I am always thinking about earning money. This will now allow me to relax and prepare my top horse, Sam, for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky next month."

KWPN foal auction a "huge" success

Despite the difficult financial climate, the 2010 KWPN Foal Auction this year proved a huge success. The average price for a foal was 10,500 euros per foal and the two price highlights both sold for 31,000 euros. Despite a slight injury, the colt Fantast (by Tango x Florencio x Jazz) sold for this top amount, as did the top filly Florence STF, by San Amour out of a full sister to Adelinde Cornelissen's Parzival (by Jazz x Ulft). Blue Hors Stud bought two foals at 30,000 euros each: First Choice (by Jazz x Negro) and Fletsch (by Ampere x Jazz x Zeoliet). The 2010 KWPN Foal of the Year, Ferrari (by Apache x Jazz), sold for 23,000 euros.

Kryklund new IDRC president

Six-time Olympic dressage rider Kyra Kyrklund has confirmed that she has been elected the new president of the International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC). She was voted president by the IDRC members on August 18. The Finnish born and British-based Kyrklund stated that she wants to continue the work of her predecessor Margit Otto-Crepin. The IDRC attempts to improve the influence of the riders in the FEI Dressage Committee in which they have one seat covered by Otto-Crepin until a new election in 2011. It is an important role where riders can input into various matters such as the way judges are trained, the Olympic format as well as the team championship format.

Rothenberger's secure deal on Fifty Fifty

The 2010 Oldenburg Elite Mare Champion, Fifty Fifty, has been sold to Sven Rothenberger. The three-year-old bay mare (by Fidertanz x De Niro) will be Sanneke's first young horse that she will train up the levels herself. After the mare won the Oldenburg Elite Mare Show, there was a great deal of interest in her. The Rothenberger family finally secured the deal and a delighted Sven said: "Now we think the time has come that Sanneke applies all that she has learnt from her school masters onto a young horse. She will be training Fifty Fifty as much as school allows her to." The 17-year-old Sanneke recently earned her "Goldenes Reitabzeichen", a gold medal which riders in Germany get when they have achieved a certain number of S-level victories. In four months, Sanneke has won at this level six times with Deveraux, three times with Paso Doble and five times with Wolke Sieben.

Raffaldo sold to Austrian Stable Zach

While one German rider has acquired a new horse, another top German rider has sold one. Nadine Capellmann's Grand Prix horse Raffaldo has been sold to Austrian-based Stable Zach. The 12-year-old Danish warmblood gelding by Come Back II x Raffaeli Z will have a new future with an as yet unnamed rider. Campellmann acquired Riverbanks Raffaldo in 2008 through Jochen Arl to become a second Grand Prix horse to Elvis VA. The combination was successful at small tour and big tour level but never reached the top so Nadine has decided to sell him. "I want to focus fully on Elvis, who gives me a lot of pleasure and, of course, I have Girasol with whom I hope to ride the standard Grand Prix tests soon."