Regentanzer

Regentanzer

Barn Name: Rico

DOB: 2/12/1996

Breed: Holsteiner

Height: 16.2h

Color: Dark Bay

Markings: a tiny star

History:

I bought Rico in 2005 when he was thirty days undersaddle. He was this really gorgeous Holsteiner who had been plucked out of his driving barn and put into training at a dressage barn to be sold.

At the vet check

Rico grew up in Germany where he was broke to drive and paired up with his driving partner, Limbo. He and Limbo competed in combined driving in Germany before being imported together into the United States. They competed all over the US at the Preliminary level at CDEs. They were doing well until Limbo sustained an injury to one of his front feet and it was evident that he was not going to recover well enough to do Prelim again. Rico was then tried as a singles horse, but in true Rico fashion, he was not enthusiastic enough about going at it alone.

Rico and Limbo, Rico on the right side looking bored.

Timeline: 

I bought him on January 8th, 2005 as a gangly dressage prospect. Throughout 2005, I showed at Training and First level. We went to JR championships and I reinjured my lower back so was out for the next winter. In 2006, we competed at Second level and went to championship, earning third place overall.

Competing 2nd at Woodside

Rico then sustained a poll injury, leaving him unable to go on the bit for two years. Not to be held back, from the end of 2006 to the end of 2008, Rico and I jumped! He was a tricky to jump. He stopped a fair amount at new fences, but when he did jump, he did so effortlessly. Soon we were jumping 3'6-3'9 courses and schooling over 4'.

Rico jumping at our hunter barn

In 2009 we went back to dressage. His poll had healed and soon I had my USDF Bronze Medal and we were moving up to 4-1. I then ended up failing my A rating, doing poorly at a couple shows, and moving my horse out of the barn I was at to the training barn I worked at.

Showing at 4th level

The end of 2009 was disastrous. Between October 2009 and June 2010, my horse was diagnosed with the following injuries: suspensory ligament tear, tenosynovitis, abscess, cellulitis, stone bruises, collateral ligament damage, and finally, the big one- a lesion on his deep digital flexor tendon. He needed surgery which was done in July of 2010. After the surgery, he was not coming back to work sound, so I put him at my parents' ranch and retired him for good.

"Retired" pony

April of 2011 I found myself injured and struggling financially while changing careers so I moved to to the ranch as well. Rico and I helped each other rehab and, with a LOT of expensive vet visits, we were soon back at the level we had been three years previously.

My gorgeous boy

We finished 2012 by returning to the dressage court for the first time in three years to compete at Fourth Level Test 1, earning our highest score at that level.

The boy at Greenville in 2012

Over the winter of 2012-2013, I decided to get serious about riding at the FEI levels on Rico and began taking weekly lessons. In early 2013 Rico and I showed Fourth Level Test 2 twice.

On September 8th, 2013, Rico and I did our first Prix St George together, scoring 65%+. We showed Prix St George twice more that fall and in November we attended an Alfredo Hernandez clinic where Alfredo set our sights on Grand Prix.

October 2013 PSG at Greenville

In June of 2014, Rico and I showed Intermediare I with a 63%+. In August of 2014, Rico and I showed Intermediare II with a 60%+.

Rico after Intermediare II

On September 7th, 2014, just 364 days after our FEI debut, Rico and I cantered up centerline in our first Grand Prix test ever. We earned a 61%+ and the third score toward my USDF Gold Medal.

On our way down to A at Grand Prix

On October 25th, 2014, Rico and I cantered down centerline for the last time. We competed at our second Grand Prix in a large class, earning a 65.2%, a second place ribbon, and my USDF Gold Medal.

Our FEI partnership may be over, but our time together isn't. It's finally time for Rico to enjoy his pasture and for us to explore the trails together.  Love this absolutely amazing horse. 

Oh and he's a ham