Friday, May 14, 2004

2003 Pavo Cup Winner Robin Hood Sold to Susan Blinks

American Grand Prix dressage rider and Olympian, Susan Blinks has acquired a new top dressage horse, the 2003 Pavo Cup Winner Robin Hood. The 6-year old chestnut gelding by Jazz out of Lionne (by Zep) was bred by T. van den Berg in Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands, and formerly ridden by Judith Ribbels.

Due to the sale, Robin Hood has been withdrawn from the Dutch 2004 World Young Horse Championship Selection Trials. He will move to the States in the near future to continue his career under Blinks.

Three persons have invested in the purchase of Robin Hood. Sue Blinks and Louise Leatherdale have purchased two-thirds of the ownership from Dutch owner Annebeth Reesink-Brouwer.

"We have been good friends with Sue Blinks for more than ten years," Eugene Reesink explained, "when we got him as a four-year old, the plan was that my wife would ride him."

However, Robin Hood turned out to be extraordinary talented and could be brought to the absolute under a professional rider.

"My wife Annabeth and Sue have been close friends and she always said that she would only sell Robin Hood to Sue," Reesink said. "When Sue saw Robin Hood as a 4-year old, she immediately said she was interested in buying him in two years. She already tried him out four to five times, but since February, we've been negotiating the sale."

Robin Hood has been showing the first baby steps in the piaffe and passage and has already played with the tempi changes. "He has no difficulties with the FEI moves," Reesink added.

This year, Sue Blinks retired Fritz Kundrun's Grand Prix horse Flim Flam (by Wilhelm Tell) so she will not be trying for another Olympic Games. Blinks' most important current mounts are the Prix St Georges horse Orlando, and Robin Hood.

Astrid Appels - eurodressage.com

Images copyrighted: Karin van der Meul/Hippofoto