Top showjumper loses ride on five talented horses
Swiss rider Pius Schwizer has lost the ride on five of his top horses after his partnership with owners Quinoa Stables ended suddenly earlier this month.
The horses — Caretina De Joter, Living The Dream, Amira, Dundee vd Dwerse Hagen and Newton De Haut Bois — were moved from Irish rider Cameron Hanley’s yard in January this year.
The reason cited at the time for the move from Cameron’s yard was that the horses would be closer to their owners at Pius’ base. The 17-year-old showjumper Morgane Dassio also joined the team at the same time.
However, the horses are now changing rider again.
Carentina De Joter and Living The Dream will be going Olympic showjumper and Global Champions Tour supremo Jan Tops’ base in the Netherlands.
Carentina De Joter will ridden by Jan’s wife, Edwina Tops Alexander, but it is unknown who will take on Living The Dream as yet.
The remaining three horses will be campaigned by young Swiss rider Morgane Dassio.
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The 2008 Olympic bronze medal-winning showjumper revealed on his website that it was a “bitter loss”. Pius added that the horses had “developed marvellously” since arriving at his yard earlier this year.
The relationship with the owners came to an “abrupt end” on 10 July.
“The horses were taken away from Oensingen. Owner Eleonore Paschoud stated the pressure and the duties that came along with the huge success were too much for her,” read a statement.
Pius added: “I very much regret this. But what can I do, I have to respect the owner’s decision. My whole season planning was concentrated on these horses. Now I have to count on my young prospects and also try to strengthen again my string of horses.”
Pius was yesterday (Tuesday 21 July) named as one of the riders on the shortlist for the Swiss team for European Championships, along with Giovanni Van Het Scheefkasteel.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.