03|2020 DER HANNOVERANER No 03 | March 2020 Sport With consistency to success Sport Caleya flies to vicotory Verband The structure reform was agreed Sport Family Westendarp with homebred Four Season FRH: Matthis, Johannes, Alexa and Ines Westendarp. Photo: Knaup With consistency to success The training of horse and rider takes centre stage at Family Westendarp’s facility in Wallenhorst. Nothing is left to chance. Ines and Johannes Westendarp have done everything right with respect to their children and with respect to the horses. By Britta Knaup 2 Der Hannoveraner 03|2020 Sport he name Westendarp is well known in the both already attended as young riders in the rural Tequestrian circles. The family-run facility is situ- district of Osnabrück. They fell in love during the ated on a knoll in the rural district of Osnabrück – time that they spent together as auction riders in about 10 minutes from the centre of Osnabrück. Vechta. In 1997, they got married; their daughter The generous facility is surrounded by 20 hectares Alexa was born in 1998. Son Matthis followed of grazing fields. Licensed stallions, Bundescham- three years later. The sport of riding was literally pions and Grand Prix-horses grew up here in the placed with them in their baby carriages! “As a municipality of Wallenhorst. After an education in baby, Alexa already always was part of the equest- agriculture, Johannes Westendarp took over the rian activities. While I was riding, the baby carriage parental farm in 1988 and restructured it into his stood in the corner of the riding arena. We always very own family business for breeding, raising and took the children to the horse shows,” the dres- training horses. Successful sport horses now live in sage rider, who has successes up to the S-level, the old barn, which formerly housed the bulls. The shares. There were very many horse shows, since mare barn borders the cozy home. “When the the couple especially made a name for themselves alarm goes off, we are right in the barn and can as trainers of young horses. Johannes Westendarp assist with the foaling,” the head of the family won 77 riding horse classes during his time as an shares. He expects a total of six foals this year. The active competitor. “I learned a lot about training pillars of the business are the breeding, raising and presenting young horses during my time as an and training of horses as well as the preparation auction rider.” Ines as well as Johannes won victo- Matthis Westendarp and Stalido for stallion approvals and broodmare tests and the ries and have the medals to show for as successful jump from success to success. training of the rising generation of riders. Forty participants in multiple national championships all stallions, which Johannes Westendarp bred and/or the way to the World Championships for young raised, obtained a positive approval result inclu- dressage horses. The hallway in their home is deco- ding but not limited to Wolkentanz II, Rosentanz, rated with pictures from the successes of all the Worldly, Conen, Ballettmeister and Fürstenball. members of the Westendarp family. “This is Alexa and her pony on the Bundeschampionat. Do you The purchase of Wolkentanz II was the first big remember, Ines, these were the Bundeschampionat, step towards success. “When I saw the foal, I was in which we all three had a horse in the final,” the not leaving the farm without buying him!” He trai- family father proudly shares. These are memories ned and successfully competed the stallion in the and experiences, which are unique to a family, in Bundeschampionate, the World Championships for which everyone shares the love for the sport of ri- young dressage horses all the way up to obtaining ding and accepts its responsibilities and challenges. victories and placements up to the S-level. “We cultivate a close friendship with the stallion’s bree- “The equestrian sport is a family project” der Josef Brinkmüller from Georgsmarienhütte.” By now, the parents no longer actively participate The trainer so far successfully presented six stalli- in competitions. Instead they stand on the sideline ons out of the line of Wokentanz II on licensings. of the dressage or jumping ring as trainers and Rosentanz is one of them. “The stallion sold to Denmark on Verden’s stallion sales in 2003. When the new owners were looking for an exceptional foal a few years later, they consulted us,” Johannes Westendarp explains. In addition to breeding and training horses, he also offers his services as a con- sultant for breeding decisions and purchases. The exceptional foal was found and raised on the farm of Family Westendarp and still accompanies the family today in the next generation. We are talking about Fürstenball. The brown stallion stole the heart of Ines Westendarp, who rode him as a five- year old in Warendorf and won the championship title. The pair participated in the World Champion- ships for young dressage horses twice. “Fürsten- ball followed a fairytale-like career path,” she sha- res proudly. All members of Family Westendarp are closely connected to horses from childhood on. Johannes and Ines, which both celebrate their 55th birthdays this year, have basically known each Alexa Westendarp and Der Prinz won the Derby Dres- other forever. They met at regional shows, which sage Cup in two consecutive years. Photos: Lafrenz Der Hannoveraner 03|2020 3 Sport supporters. “At some point, you have to leave the brück. “Alexa is learning a great deal at Family competitions to the younger generation,” both pa- Kasselmann’s facility, which will benefit her. She rents agree. “The children must not compare has the opportunity to ride trained Grand Prix- themselves to us! Since we came to this decision, horses. This experience helps her with training her the careers of our children have taken off,” the horses at home. Once she completes her studies, successful rider smiles. The careers of the two all doors will be open to her.” Matthis still has a Westendarp siblings have truly taken off over the year in school before he starts the finals. What will past years. Both won medals at the German and happen next, is still undecided. “He will definitely European Championships. While Matthis presents want to focus on riding horses first. I would not jumpers, Alexa is following in the footsteps of her mind for him to get a business degree,” so the fa- parents. “Matthis would have also been a good ther, who likes to have a plan in place. Both child- dressage rider!” his father is certain. “He has a lot ren are interested in running the parental farm. of feel.” - “Dressage was just too boring for him,” “But first they must gain experience and try a few his mother adds laughingly. “Matthis also wanted things. One has to look beyond your comfort zone,” to ride but only at a fast speed. During his first the trainer, who conducts clinics all over the world, attempts, he galloped around the ring, stopped emphasizes. the horse in a corner and asked, ‘Would you check my time? I think that I can ride faster.’” The body Nothing left to chance Awarding Four Seasons the suffix FRH was a very special moment for posture is of utmost importance to Matthis. In spi- Structure and planning is not only important for Family Westendarp. Photo: Züngel te of his speed, he is a careful and focused rider. the children. Those who leave nothing to chance Just as his trainer and idol Andreas Kreuzer, from and work on their continued development with whom he took over his successful mount Stalido determination will succeed in the end. Johannes by Stakkato/Calido (breeder: Renate Bosse, Wen- Westendarp strongly believes in this philosophy. deburg)! His three year older sister Alexa specia- He considers consistency to be a key to success. lized in dressage from the start. “She is very fo- “You have to think about it and make a plan. We cused; her technique is superb. She gets every carefully select and then train.” The breeder is con- possible point,” the trainer says about his daugh- vinced that his strategy leads to success. Family ter, who also trains with Oliver Oelrich and Hans- Westendarp only breeds with the best horses. A Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen. She has been team sport-tested damline plays an important role. European champion in her age group twice alrea- “Good mares belong in a breeding program, which dy with her success horses Der Prinz by Diamand means that one sometimes has to reject a financi- Hit/Davignon (breeder: ZG Neff, Geismar), which ally lucrative offer.” The reserve championess of acquaintances from Austria had bought on one of the Herwart von der Decken-Show in 2019, Hann. Verden’s foal auctions, and the homebred mare Pr.A. Bon Bon by Bon Coeur/St. Moritz (breeder: Four Seasons FRH. “It is good that both children Gerhard Durstmann, Melle), which Johannes West- have their own discipline, so there is no competiti- endarp bought as a foal, will remain on the farm in on. They support and cheer for each other. Alexa Wallenhorst and serve as a broodmare. “I would drags all her friends to the jumping ring to root for like to start a new line with her.” The most impor- Matthis.” The parents enjoy the strong bond bet- tant damline on the farm currently is the line of ween the children. Flair by Fidertanz/Weltmeyer (breeder: Günter Lindwehr, Alfhausen). “The line is just incredible!” Classic family vacations are not on the agenda at the owner shares with excitement. He had bought the moment.