Dressage un Ltd, Unlimited Dressage, CHIO Aachen 2002

™

CHIO Aachen
2002

Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff:
Comeback to the Top Level Sport
On Championship-Course with Renoir

No horse is currently being observed as closely by the dressage scene as the Oldenburger Renoir. The talented eleven year-old chestnut gelding, progeny of the star-sire Rubinstein, has made a comeback to the top of the equestrian scene possible for his rider and owner Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff. If the horse stays healthy and fit, then it will be very likely that the pair will be members of the dressage team at the "World Equestrian Festival - CHIO Aachen" and at the World Equestrian Games in the Spanish Jerez de la Frontera. Renoir possesses everything that is expected from a top dressage horse: spectacular basic gaits, a lot of charisma and an enormous willingness to perform. Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff, who at the beginning of 2000 purchased the chestnut after he had previously been trained by Matthias Vatter, enthusiastically declares: "He is by far the best horse that I have ever had."

Two years ago the Oldenburg gelding was already able to prove his qualities to Aachen's dressage audience. It was in 2000 that the examined veterinarian Linsenhoff rode Renoir in the small tour and was ranked second in the Intermediate freestyle competition. Almost one year later the first rankings at Grand Prix level followed, and this spring, such as at Dortmund's indoor tournament, Renoir was the name of the winner of the Grand Prix and Spécial. At the CDIO in Aachen Renoir will for the first time in his life probably show in three competitions in a row: Grand Prix, Spécial and Freestyle, precisely the formula valid at international championships. That Renoir is a match for this stress is beyond doubt for Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff. "He is in a fantastic condition and he is always highly concentrated."

Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff, who lives together with her companion and coach Klaus-Martin Rath on the Schafhof in the Taunus village of Kronberg, is immensely looking forward to Aachen. "To ride there is the highest point of a rider's career. The flair is unique, no where else can you find such a fantastic and expert audience," says the 41 year-old. The lap of honour in the main stadium is one of the special highlights for her. "The feeling while riding past those huge tribunes with many thousands of applauding spectators simply can't be described, you have to witness it." Her relationship to Aachen is a very special one. Her mother won the first two "Dressage Grand Prix of Aachen" on Adular in 1955 and 1956. The "World Equestrian Festival" has since been closely tied to the Linsenhoff family. The "Liselott-Schindling-Foundation for the Promotion of the Dressage Sport" sponsors the "Dressage Champion of Aachen" and the prize for the best female dressage rider of the tournament is named after her unforgotten horse Piaff, the chestnut with whom Liselott Schindling-Rheinberger won Gold at the 1972 Olympics in München, which made her the first woman ever to win an Olympic Gold medal.

In Aachen the preliminary decision about which riders and horses will represent the German national colours at the World Equestrian Games will be taken. With a start in Jerez a dream would come true for Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff. She has already gained a great deal of championship experience: from 1987 until 1990 she belonged to the German teams that won Gold at Olympic Games, World and European Championships. After that things quieted down for her. After she had given birth to her son Moritz, she wasn't successful in returning to the top of the equestrian sport for several years. Due to injuries and illnesses she lost a lot of promising up-and-coming horses. Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff reports: "I have experienced how it was to have been at the very top and for many years afterward having to start at rural tournaments. That was no longer enough for me."

She started a "shopping tour" and purchased several young, highly talented dressage horses. Three years ago the veterinarian returned to the top sport scene with the Westphalian Red Liner from Rex Fritz and has also already competed at the CDIO in Aachen with him. Now the dark bay is being outshined a bit by his stable-companion Renoir. And another up-and-coming talent is currently still on her way to Grand Prix level: Wahajama. The Hanoverian mare from the sire Warkant is one of the most prominent young dressage horses in Germany and has already won the Federal Championship twice under Holga Finken. In the meantime the black beauty has learned the movements of the Grand Prix, but in Aachen she will only be started in the small tour. The rider justifies: "We have slowed down a bit. For now Wahajama shall compete in the small tour, that means at Prix St. Georges and Intermediate level. As far as the Grand Prix is concerned, I want to give her a little more time."

Particulars:
Born on August 1st, 1960;
Resident in Kronberg/Taunus;
Studied veterinary medicine;
Two children;
Daughter of Olympic Dressage Champion Liselott Linsenhoff.
Won her first Team-Gold Medal and Individual-Bronze Medal at the European Young Riders' Championship in 1981.
Successes at senior level:
Olympic Team-Gold Medal in 1988, Seoul, Korea
Team-Gold Medal at European Championships 1987 and 1989 as well as Individual-Silver Medal (1987) and Individual-Bronze Medal (1989), respectively with "Courage";
Gold Medal at World Championships 1990 with "Golfstrom".

Dressage un Ltd