Hanoverian chestnut mare, born 1992, 1.61m, Grunewald x Winkel

Rosebud with her new owner in Virginia

Flaggy is the daughter out of my first horse. She is a typical old-school Hanoverian that were traditionally bred for pulling carts: small, short legs, big barrel, with a short and low positioned neck.

At first, she had a good walk but her trot was short and stomping, and her canter hard and very short behind. She was the exact opposite of an optimal modern dressage horse but I had raised this little mare myself and thus I trained her the way I know best: dressage.

At first she was cooperative, calm and loving which is very imprtant for dressage. While she lost her eagerness at first, she quickly rebound and learned everything. Flying changes were not her strong point but she did piaffe and passage like a champion and had a very good canter pirouette and half passes in all gaits. Her extended trot was a dream (she was always in the 8’s for her trot and in the 7’s for her canter).

My former trainer Gerhard Bagdahn, who is German Champion of Professional Riders said this about Flaggy: „she belongs on a field pulling a plow.“ And: „well? Back with your anti-dressage horse?“ Later on he had this to say: What you’ve accoomplished here is the equivalent of training a cow. They have about the same physical aptitude. Let’s see if anyone will ever be able to accomplish something like this.“

I am very proud of my ambitious „cow“ who now, as a new US resident carries the name „Rosebud“. I wish her only the best at her new home in Virginia with Robert Clements and that Bob can achieve all his goals with her.

I spoke with Bob in March, 2008, and he told me that he got 2 second places at his second show. According to Bob she could have gotten first place if he’d paid more attention.

When I spoke to him again in April 2008 he proudly reported that the very next show he got 2 first places.