As in the qualifiers, the impressive Bon Coeur/Vivaldi son Bon Courage (breeder: Dr Christine Feichtinger/LIE) and Thomas Schulze collected the most points in the FRH Cup final. Seven years ago, the liver chestnut was celebrated as a premium stallion at the same venue during his licensing and then moved into a box at the W.M. stud farm in Visselhövede. He is now available to breeders through the Lodbergen Dressage Horse Performance Centre. “Bon Courage lives for his rider every day and puts his heart and soul into the dressage arena for me,” enthuses Thomas Schulze.

Second place went to Zuperman OLD by Vincent Maranello/Destano with Beatrice Hoffrogge. Not only did he prove his athleticism, but one of his sons is also part of the Verden stallion licensing. The white ribbon for third place adorned the bridle of Manolo FRH by Morricone/Donnerhall (breeder: ZG Stritzke und Schellin, Hamburg) and Borja Carrascosa. The eight-year-old already bears the suffix FRH, having been Hanoverian Champion of six-year-old dressage horses two years ago. There will be a reunion with the top three in December, as they have all secured their tickets to the final of the Nuremberg Burg Cup in Frankfurt.

Even before the award ceremony, there were some goosebump moments during the tribute to successful breeders. For the first time, the Madeleine Winter-Schulze Prize was awarded to breeders of particularly successful sport horses. In dressage, it went to Stephan Kurz, Zöbingen. He is the breeder of Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour's world number one dressage horse, Mount St John Freestyle by Fidermark/Donnerhall. The prizes for show jumping and eventing will be awarded next weekend at the show jumping stallion licensing. Certificates of honour were also awarded to Vasco Freire, Portugal, the breeder of double European champion Zonik Plus by Zonik/Hohenstein, and to Christian Thelker, Venne, who bred the Para European champion Escari by Escolar/Diamond Hit.