Fontalero

Fontalero’s career began at the tender age of just two years. In 1999, the Werther-Weltmeyer son raised by the Dree Boeken breeding farm – incidentally a half-brother of former Celle state stud Don Cavallo – was selected for breeding in Verden. The following year he completed his stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf seventh best with an overall index of 121.25. In 2001 and 2002, Fontalero took part in the federal championships under Silke Schaerffer and was even called up into the squad for the World Championship for five-year-old dressage horses. However, he was unable to take part in Verden because of an injury of his trainer.

We acquired Fontalero in 2003. Because I was still riding ponies, we passed him on to Anke Unger and Michael Fassbender in Mönchengladbach for further training. With his victories in “S� dressage, he helped Anke Unger to win the Golden Riding Insignia.

With the assistance of Michael Fassbender, the squad trainer for Luxembourg, “Bubi�, as we affectionately call him, and myself became a team. Very soon we meet with success and included fourth place at the Junior European Championships in Stadl-Paura/AUT.

In 2007, the tenth victory in an “S� dressage meant the Golden Riding Insignia. A victory at the Luxembourg Championships was added to by an eighth place at the Juniors European Championships in Nussloch. Whilst missing out on the European Championship final in Lisbon/POR by two points in 2008, we were able to successfully defend our regional title, registered our first international places and took fourth spot in the “B� final of the FEI World Cup for young riders in Frankfurt.

In 2009, Fontalero was on the cover of the Hanoverian Association magazine, justifying this honour with another eight international places.