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Wednesday August 6, 2008

2008 World Young Horse Championships in Verden
Text and Photos copyrighted: Astrid Appels/Eurodressage for Dressagedaily.com

Hoffmann Proud to Represent the U.S. with an 8.0 Scoring Horse

Though she didn't make it into the individual finals, Jennifer is extremely happy that she was able to score above 8.0, a mark last achieved by an American (Susan Dutta and Currency DC) at the 2005 World Championships.

"I'm proud that America has been able to send a horse that scores above 8.0. It's really important to me," Hoffmann stated. "I'm very proud to bring home such a score for my country."

Bred by Jürgen Bunge, Rubinio is by Rubin Royal out of Farina (by Florestan). He was competed by the German Henrike Sommer in Germany this 2008 show season before Hoffmann took over the ride as late as 11 July with three weeks to prepare for the Championships.

"We found him in Germany as a three-year old through Mr Brinks at Henrike Sommer's stable. I tried him, loved him and had to buy him," Jennifer reminisced. "He was more than our budget could handle, but we had saved up, so we bought him."

Rubinio stayed in Germany in training with Henrike Sommer who competed him successfully in the materiale and dressage horse classes. "He was kept in Germany because he was a popular breeding stallion there and had a good career for him there," Hoffmann explained.

Rubinio qualified for the Bundeschampionate in September and the LVM Young Horse Championships in Munster in January 2009, so the stallion might stay in Germany for another year. "In January we'll make the decision to bring him home or to keep him one more year in Germany and qualify him again as a 6-year old for the World Championships," said Jennifer. "I have five to six FEI horses at home, so it is not I have nothing to ride."