06|2020 DER HANNOVERANER No. 06 | June2020 Sport Always in good spirit Breeding Dam line of Flaute Auction Foals online Hemingway and Andre Hecker Photo: Lafrentz Sport Andre, Pauline and Franca Hecker are not only connected through the riding of horses. Always in good spirits Andre Hecker had planned to compete on the international stage with his horse Hemmingway. Now the trainer uses the time to carefully prepare his Hannoveraner for international competitions. By Jürgen Stroscher 2 Der Hannoveraner 06|2020 Sport he season 2020 started very promising for championat won his first Prix St. Georges with Ralf Tdressage rider Andre Hecker from Schillerslage Kornprobst. Owner Lars Bartling placed Heming- and his 13-year old Hemingway by Hochadel/ way in the care of Andre Hecker, when the Han- Wolkenstein II. Then the Corona crisis put an end noveraner was six years of age. He had good rea- to it, which was no reason for the always cheerful son for the decision, since the dressage rider and competitor, trainer and breeder not to see the sil- his wife Franca are respected in the horse world for ver lining. “Now I use the time to work Heming- treating their horses with a lot of patience and feel. way even more intensely in a relaxed and quiet Andre Hecker accomplished a masterpiece with atmosphere. I always carefully selected competi- the training of Hemingway. For more than seven tions for his show schedule even prior to the out- years, he gently prepared the gelding for his show break of the pandemic. Hemingway is at an excel- career. He deliberately did not compete him every lent age for dressage. So now I plan on competing weekend, but selected competitions in northern him again in the late summer and fall.” In spite of Germany. “Hemingway has gained a lot of self- everything, the dressage rider and trainer is filled confidence. He almost always enjoys his training with hope when looking towards the future. sessions. I can, however, never loose the required respect for him.” Wife Franca admires her hus- Andre Hecker had to give up several international band’s patience, endurance and commitment. “It is competition authorizations, which he had fought important to me that the relation between horse for very hard; but postponed is not cancelled! “I and rider feels true. The competition is not that im- always dreamt of such a success in the sport of portant,” the 42-year old female trainer shares. dressage. I am not disheartened though. Heming- Andre Hecker is more of a perfectionist; he has way is getting better and better after all. The many strong show ambitions. “I like to compete against successes gave him a considerable performance my fellow horsemen. There is nothing more beauti- boost.” Andre Hecker is fully convinced about the ful to me than to exhibit what my horse and I are potential of his horse. After two very successful capable of doing in the dressage ring under the show seasons, the 43-year old is looking towards open sky. When I realize that I can compete and be the future with great optimism. The road to the one of the best, then I want to expand on the suc- international sport of dressage is not easy. The cess, but always with the wellbeing of the horse in competition spots on the international, highly clas- mind.” The continued developmental progress of sical stage are much sought-after. Furthermore, the Hemingway while making him into an excellent additional costs for travel are significant as well as Grand Prix-horse proves that the trainer is correct. the increased time spent on the road. It actually just really starts now for the dressage rider. With nearly 20 victories at the Grand Prix- “You only have such a horse once in your lifetime,” level, Andre Hecker and Hemingway are on the Hemingway and Andre Hecker Andre Hecker is certain. Other riders might have way to establish themselves within the elite group enjoyed the victory lap in Verden. Photos: Stroscher long given up. Hemingway is a rather special com- of German dressage riders and within the interna- petitor. On one side, the elegant chestnut gelding tional sport of dressage. “Due to so many positive is equipped with a rather strong drive to run away, experiences, Hemingway again matured and now on the other side, his movement is exceptional. enters the classes a lot more at ease. Handling him When the impressive Hannoveraner with his ener- and riding him in the dressage ring has become a getic basic gaits presents himself at his best, the lot more relaxed; he is now able to better show his judges and spectators are very impressed. “Actu- performance ability.” ally Hemingway is the perfect horse. He is smart and always in a good mood. He has very good car- The career of Hemingway is a testament to horse- rying power and pronounced hindquarters. Once friendly and individualized daily training. “It is im- he trusts his rider, he focuses on him/her complete- portant to us that all riding horses receive proper, ly,” Andre Hecker describes the character of his individually customized handling and training. We Hannoveraner. Hemingway was born in 2007 on would like to allow them the time that they need the farm of Reinhard Grothmann in Oederquart as and not overwhelm them,” the Hecker couple is in one of eight descendants of Hochadel and out of agreement. Franca and Andre Hecker met during the mare Wolke. His pedigree goes back to the their studies at the Veterinary School in Hannover. foundation dam Antipathie. He shares the ancestor Both worked as veterinarians, but decided in 2004 Dekret by Duellant with Celle’s former state stud to risk the step into independence as trainers. sire Royal Blend, who was also born on the farm of Three years later, they got married and then daugh- Reinhard Grothmann. Hemingway’s full-brother ter Pauline was born. In 2009, son Josch joined the Happy Day G – born 2012 – seems to also have family. Since 2008, the young family lives in Klein the talent for competing at the Grand Prix-level. In Schillerslage on a large piece of property together October of last year, the participant of the Bundes- with their private zoo, which consists of ducks, Der Hannoveraner 06|2020 3 Sport geese, chickens, turkeys, peacocks, sheep, goats anyways. I consider my work a calling not a job.” and other rescue animals. “We do not give animals There is no standing still. The work with the horses a home to eat them.” takes centre stage. He personally cares for the wellbeing of his four-legged animals together with A dream came true his wife and two hired grooms. Even though every- “A dream came true for us, when we were able to thing takes place on a rather small scale, it is done buy this old farmyard. Now we live in very close with a lot of empathy and professionalism. At 1.96 proximity to our riding barn,” Franca Hecker shares. m (6’4”), Andre Hecker looks very good in a dres- Family Klussmann owns the horse facility in Schill- sage saddle. “Together with the saddle maker erslage though. The training and sport horses live Henning, I designed a special saddle for me and in a manageable barn since about twenty years. Hemingway, which is easy on him and does justice They include three broodmares, a hopeful, two- to my stature.” With respect to his riding skills, he year old colt and – since recently – two foals of top always tried to copy only the best. Because of his quality, which the Hecker couple bought last year training at the sports college of the Bundeswehr in on Verden’s auction: Visco by Viscount/Comte Warendorf, he was able to work with many re- (breeder: Lorenz and Annegret Lahiague, Schnev- nowned trainers. He was fortunate to get to per- Hemingway has a close relationship erdingen) and Francis Black by For Gold/St. Moritz sonally know George Theodorescu and Klaus Balk- with Andre Hecker. (breeder: Cornelia Gedenk, Quitzoebel). “We once enhol, two equestrian legends. After his final Photo: Stroscher again reinforce our ambitions in the breeding of veterinary exam, Andre Hecker took the opportu- horses. After the positive developments in the nity to further his riding skills in the stable of Klaus Hannoveraner Verband, we are now strengthening Balkenhol. Even though the day only has 24 hours, our focus on the Hannoveraner breed. We view it in addition to training his horses, teaching young as being on the way to a new start.” At the turn of riders is a big concern to Andre Hecker. “It is im- the millennium, the Heckers took over St.Pr.St. portant to me that riders ride well. I try to improve Wianti by Wenzel/Absatz (breeder: Friedrich the riding lessons that I teach to be better than Luehrs-Behnke, Verden-Borstel) from owner Hiltrud what I often experienced.” Every fortnight, the rec- Schwetje, Franca’s mother. Since then they culti- reational riders at the Riding Centre in Luhmühlen vate the damline of Isolde. Bred to state stud sire also benefit from his knowledge and not only Fabriano, the mare Firlefranzi S was born in 1998. those in a dressage saddle. Franca as well as Andre Hecker were victorious with the mare in dressage classes at the S-level, at Numerous riding horses have already successfully Inter I to be precise. Firlefranzi’s daughter Feine been trained for the upper levels in dressage at the Franzi by For Compliment just delivered a colt by stable of Family Hecker.