2007 Munich Youngster Cup: Uwe Schwanz and Rockbarton win the advanced dressage evening gala show
At the big evening gala dressage competition on Saturday, held as part of the Munich Youngster Cup, Uwe Schwanz and Rockbarton claimed first prize tonight.
Schwanz and his impressive chestnut gelding wjo was bred by the Niedermair family (by Rivero II x Matheis) showed an excellent test characterized by the amazing gaits of the dressage youngster who is fast establishing himself as an audience favorite on the dressage circuit. They won before the likes of Rudi Widman on Rubins Figaro (2nd place) and Bejaming Werndl (5th place) on Alegro.
Everyone had lots of fun at the ribbons ceremony sans horse, when the organizers called for a lap of honor that Schwanz laughingly led in his very best impression of a collected canter.
"Rockbarton really did very well tonight," Schwanz said happily on Friday evening, "especially considering that as a special difficulty, the organizers had asked for this advanced level test to be ridden with a snaffle and not, as is usual, with a double bridle. This was Rocky's first advanced test on a snaffle, his 3rd advanced test overall, his first evening competition, and then indoors. The fact that he won today, I think, really says a lot about the potential and rideability of this wonderfully talented horse."
Uwe Schwanz' girlfriend, the dressage amazone Dr Tina von Block whom he trains, came 4th with her champion horse Lautrec, which was also bred by us. At the end of the evening, Tina beamed happily and said she was very proud of Uwe, Rockbarton and also of her dark bay stallion Lautrec. "I could feel that Lautrec really did not want to pass the judge's corner," she said, "because in the dark indoor school, it all looked mighty strange to him. But he decided to trust me fully and went past there anyway."
Photo Galleries of Lautrec and Rockbarton at the Munich Youngster Cup can be found on the website of Uwe Schwanz (www.uweschwanz.com).