The Hanoverian 09|2012 - the American Hanoverian Society!

18 The Hanoverian 09|2012
Sport
Everyone benefits
from foundation
Isabell Werth is one of the best dressage riders of all
times. She earned her biggest successes riding
Hanoverian horses. The next top horse called Don
Johnson FRH by Don Frederico/Warkant is already in
her barn.
Von Britta Züngel
”Don Johnson is a very elastic and
spectacular horse and is provided
with all possibilities for the sport of
dressage,” Isabell Werth describes
her present top horse. Photo: Frieler
THE HANOVERIAN: You have been highly
successful with Hanoverian horses. What
connects you with Hanover?
Isabell Werth, “The many grand successes in the
dressage ring I have been allowed to celebrate
aboard Hanoverians is unquestionably create a
bond. Weingart was the first; I had my greatest
successes with Gigolo FRH and Satchmo. I love
horses and am crazy about training them. When I
see the reach of the Hanoverian breed and the immense
potential, Hanover obviously presents a
great challenge and is always worth a trip!”
THE HANOVERIAN: Your current top horse is
Don Johnson FRH by Don Frederico/Warkant.
What makes him special?
Isabell Werth, “Don Johnson is a very elastic and
spectacular horse. He holds all the possibilities for
the sport of dressage and still has potential to do
more. The bay has developed beautifully over the
past months. I have been excited about ‘Jonny’
right from the beginning. He was still maturing
when he came to my barn. Even then his moving
mechanics were convincin, and he gave me a very
good feel under saddle. His former rider Matthias
Klatt said that it could go either way with him, ‘up
or down’.
I prefer powerful and naughty horses. ‘Jonny’ is
still very playful but I can channel it. His personality
is the complete opposite to Satchmo’s. On one
side Satchmo was rather domineering on the other
side he also was scared and tense. ‘Jonny’ has total
self-confidence and is not at all scared. He is
naughty in a positive way and nothing bothers
him.”
THE HANOVERIAN: Many of your horses carried
the appendix FRH from the Hanoverian
Support Association abbreviated FRH. Don
Johnson was awarded this honor in Verden.
How important is the FRH to you?
Isabell Werth, “The engagement of the FRH made
it possible for me to keep Gigolo FRH. Great trust
between Herwart von der Decken, the former President
of the support association, and Dr. Uwe
Schulten-Baumer distinguished the co-operation.
They always looked for a way and found it. I am
still incredibly thankful for that. This was also the
beginning of a wonderful co-operation that is
based on great trust. Hanover was the first breed
association to realize and understand the need for
support and established the support organization.
That is what makes Hanover special to always be a
little bit faster and a little bit better than the
others. Over many years the FRH has been a strong
partner for me.”
THE HANOVERIAN: How do you look upon
the position of the Hanoverian horse in the
sport of dressage?
Isabell Werth, “The strengths of Hanover lie in the
broad breeding area and in the healthy foundation
of the breed. Movements will always take place in
the breeding of horses. Once we looked for a bit
more W-blood in the pedigree, then more S-blood
and then another time F- or D-blood. The foundation
of the breed is very strong in Hanover and
everyone benefits from it! The deciding factor for
me is that a breed is healthy and that it is based on
a broad foundation. With this in mind Hanover offers
the largest potential.”
THE HANOVERIAN: Do we select correctly
from the perspective of a dressage rider?
Do we allow the right stallions into the
breeding program?
Isabell Werth, “The answer to the question, if the
right stallions are approved is always very relative.
Unfortunately nobody knows in advance. There are
sufficient stallions people did not expect much of
from a breeders’ point of view. They were described
as being the final product and then the offspring
surprised all. There are however just as
many examples to the contrary. The combination of
Don Frederico x Warkant is an excellent fit as Don
Johnson FRH or Diva Royal have proven. There are
many Don Frederico-descendants in the sport of
dressage that are very hopeful. Other lines may be
more suitable for amateurs but we need amateur
as well as performance horses.
Hanover has always been strong in breeding dressage
horses. We now have the feeling that the
breeding of jumpers is improving, too. Again and