Horses coming and going at Scott Brash’ stable 
Scott Brash announced that his longtime mount Hello Guv’nor has been sold to Emma Heise (on the right with Emily Moffitt), a 17-year-old show jumper who trains with Laura Kraut and Nick Skelton. “We would like to wish Emma Heise all the luck and success with her new horse Hello Guv’nor,” Scott said on his Facebook page. “He has been an incredible horse a yard favourite for us all and will be very much missed.” Scott and Hello Guv’nor have had a long and illustrious partnership together since 2014, winning the Mercedes Benz Grand Prix at Aachen just this past year. They also jumped double clear in the Nations Cup at Aachen.
In the meantime, Brash made his comeback on his superstar Hello Sanctos, after more than a year of revalidation. He was seen on the indoor show in De Peelbergen, The Netherlands. He’s meant to compete at Oliva Nova MET tour in Spain the next couple of weeks.
Scott also welcomed also a new young mount in his stable. Everest, bronze medallist at the last World Breeding Championships in Lanaken, was sold to the British rider by the Dutch Stal Hendrix. Everest is turning eight this year.
Olympic Champion makes great comeback
Rahotep de Toscane, the current Olympic team champion of Philippe Rozier, is doing very well. After a few months of rest, the grey gelding by Quidam de Revel is performing at top level again. The horse jumped to a golden team medal during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro last year. But in the five star show in Bordeaux beginning of this month, he turned up lame after the first round. He seemed to have trouble on the leg that was
injured once before. Luckily it turned out okay after all. Later this month the combination will start in Abu Dhabi.
Penelope not traveling to Omaha
France’s number one female show jumping rider, Pénélope Leprévost (right) has decided to not participate at the next World Cup finals in Omaha, USA. Leprévost still had a chance to qualify, but she already has announced to not do the finals. However she is in top form, she’s hesitating to much about being ready or not. Leprévost has now decided to focus on the outdoor season. Instead of a far away travel to the north in a couple of weeks to collect some World Cup points in Gothenburg, Leprévost will travel south with Flora de Mariposa (For Pleasure) to the Sunshine Tour in Vejer de la Frontera. For France Kevin Staut has already secured his spot for WC Finals. He is leading the Western European League since the start of the season. Simon Delestre, Roger-Yves Bost and Olivier Robert are still in the lead to qualify.
Full standings before the final qualifier in Gothenburg
Laurent Guillet taking over Delestre’s Sultan du Chateau again
Simon Delestre separates from his 11-year-old super fast gelding Sultan du Château, the half brother of Itot du Chateau. Delestre only had the chance to ride if for one season. Sultan’s owner Laurent Guillet (left) is taking over the reins again. Together with Delestre the son of Kannan jumped to many international successes. At the beginning of this year Delestre and the Selle Français gelding placed third in Basel’s CSI5* 1.50m class. At the end of 2016 they won a 1.50m in Mechelen. 
Two STX horses to USA
Stephex Stables’ Jonna Ekberg separates from her two top rides, Air Pia VG Z (right) (Air Jordan Z) and Freestyler (Lord Z). Both have been sold to the USA. Air Pia VG Z moves to one of McLain Ward’s students. Jonna Ekberg jumped the mare nicely around in the massive Aachen Grand Prix last summer. Also Daniel Deusser had great performances on the black mare. Ekberg’s other horse Freestyler moves to the stables of Missy Clark. On Freestyler, Ekberg represented Sweden at the Nations Cup in Falsterbo and Rotterdam. Lately he was used as a second horse for Jonna Ekberg of the STX five star stable. Owner and horse dealer Stephan Conter already found a new top horse for Jonna in the stallion Cassini Bay, formerly ridden by Nicola Rodinetti.
Lord Chambertin to Karen Polle
Philipp Weishaupt’s Grand Prix horse Lord Chambertin (left) (Lord Z) has been sold to Karen Polle, a student of Rodrigo Pessoa. The Japanese rider who lives in New York acquired the horse with the eye on the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in her country of birth Japan.
Ryan back in competition after injury he catch rode in Rio
Following a six month break due to an injury he suffered right before the start of the Olympics in Rio, Simon Delestre’s Hermes Ryan (right) is back on track and started competition again in Bordeaux. Hermes Ryan is one of the best horses in France, winning bronze medal at the European Championships in Aachen 2015.
Guerdat’s Concetto Son also at WEF now
Steve Guerdat’s Concetto Son has been sold to America. The thirteen year old gelding will from now on compete under the Canadian Laura Jane Tidball. The pair will jump at the Winter Equestrian Festival. The German horse used to be one of the top horses of former Olympic Champion Steve Guerdat. He mainly used him for the small tour at CSI5* events. Thunderbird Show Park from Vancouver bought the gelding now.
New chef d’equipe in Belgium
Germany’s Peter Weinberg (left) takes over the reins from Dirk Demeersman as Belgian Chef d’équipe and trainer. The national federation KBRSF has announced will reveal the details of the contract later. Peter Weinberg who lives close to Belgium in Aachen, has been assistant coach to Herbert Meier in Germany for a while and he was a top international rider for more than 25 years. Weinberg runs a stable together with his son Thomas Weinberg, who competes at international level just like his father Peter Weinberg and mother Helena Stormanns.
Cas 2 to Audrey Coulter
Americans purchasing new horses in Europe before or at the start of the WEF season, that’s not a new trend. Also Audrey Coulter (right, with Alex) welcomed a new star in her barn. Cameron Hanley’s talented 10 years old Cas 2 (Indoctro) has been acquired by her family’s Copernicus Stables and will now be seen under USA’s Audrey Coulter. Under Cameron Hanley, Cas 2 made his five star debute in December last year with impressive rounds in Paris. He has taken second place in Donaueschingen’s GP, and was placed in Oliva, Hagen and Wiesbaden.
Jessica Mendoza loses her fast stallion Ramiro
Very sadly, Ramiro de Belle Vue (Mozart des Hayettes) has left for heavenly pastures. The 
16-year-old bay Belgian Sporthorse owned and ridden by Jessica Mendoza (left) passed away due to complications of colic nature after undergoing an eye operation. The two had several wins and top placings together, such as three wins during the Vilamoura Equestrian Tour CSI 2* and 3* last October in Portugal. He also took her from winning at her first Global Tour to winning her first Derby and car.
New GP horse for Christian Ahlmann
The Belgian mare Funke van ’t Heike (Action Breaker) has been sold to Christian Ahlmann. The chestnut had several wins and placings last year under the saddle of Darragh Kenny. She was brought to GP level by the Italian Giulia Martinengo.
VDL stallions Arezzo and Zapatero retired
Big news on the KWPN Stallion Show in ’s Hertogenbosch last week. The VDL sport and breeding stallions Arezzo and Zapatero VDL both would jump their last course. Arezzo and Jur Vrieling won the GP, Zapatero refused when the rider James Billington took too much risk. Both stallions sired by Chin Chin jumped at the highest level of the sport with Jessica Kuerten. Jur Vrieling took over Arezzo when Kuerten ended her career. Robert Vos was put in the saddle of Zapatero. Both stallions also have impressive offspring. Several young stallions have been approved by the KWPN, so both will probably have a busy breeding career ahead.