Wednesday October 6, 2004

A German in America, Fritz Fleischmann Competing Donna Novella

Meike Möller and Donna Novella Score in 2003

In 2003, Mulchahey slowly but steadily began to realize that her "calculated infatuation" purchase at the Verden Elite Auction was a better deal than expected. The black mare was improving rapidly and started to show serious potential to score high in the FEI Young Horse Classes. Melissa wanted to show the mare in the American Selection Trials for the World Young Horse Championships but needed a professional rider to do it. She called up the German Jorn Kubelke, who had trained Donna as a 3-year old, to come over to the U.S.

"However ten days before the show, Jorn had some complications at home and was unable to come," Melissa said, "I was panic stricken. I had spent so much time, effort and energy prepping Donna, and now I didn't have a rider." Mulchahey called Jeanine Pagel, head of Customer Service at the Hanoverian Verband, who helped her find a new rider. "She asked me if I had a preference for one of the auction riders to come over," Melissa explained. "I had ridden several horses from Meike Moeller at the auctions and had liked the way all her horses always went, so she was my first choice. Meike agreed, and 4 days before the competition last year Meike flew over. With the help of my USA based trainer Alex Gerding - Meike and Donna had 4 days to get to know each other. And obviously it worked out fine!"

Donna Novella was shown in the 5 year old FEI Young Horse Division, becoming the Central States Selection Trial Winner and she was fourth on the short list to represent the USA at the 2003 World Championships at Verden.

However, most of Donna's showing was done by Melissa herself. The combination competed at training and first level and ended up with several Horse of the Year awards from the USDF.