Tessa Bartels Makes Transition to Junior Level with Dr. Best

Wed, 01/30/2019 - 10:16
Germany
Nicole Kirschnick and Dr. Best at the 2018 Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals in Frankfurt :: Photo © LL-foto

The 16-year old German FEI pony rider Tessa Bartels has made the transition to junior riders' level with a new horse, Nicole Kirschnick's Nurnberger Burgpokal finalist Dr. Best.

Bartels made her international show debut at FEI pony level in April 2017 and the past two years she has campaigned three different ponies at CDI's in Mariakalnok, Hage,, Diepenbeek and Exloo. Her top ride was Olivier K, but she also rode Dior's Dakiri and Global Player AT.

Bartels will turn 17 in November and reached the age limit for pony sport. She has now moved up to junior level with Dr. Best.

The 9-year old Dr. Best is a Brandenburger gelding by Dr. Jackson D out of Ralucca (by Roy Black x Amerigo Vespucci xx). He was owned by Erna and Lutz von Reden.

He was first competed as a youngster by Katja Slupinski in 2015, but one year later Heike Kemmer took over once and then the ride was handed to Kemmer's student Nicole Kirschnick. The pair placed sixth in the consolation finals for 6-year olds at the 2016 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf.  In September 2017 they made their debut at national small tour level.

In December 2018 Kirschnick and Dr. Best competed at the Nurnberger Burgpokal Finals, the German Developing Prix St Georges horse championships, being called up last minute to substitute for Thomas Wagner and QC  Fillipo Niro, who had withdrawn. They finished 7th with a score of 73.122%.

Dr. Best has now become Tessa Bartels' new ride and the pair made its winning show debut at the national indoor competition in Verden on 24 January 2019, where they won the M-level test with 68.919%. Bartels has been training with Kirschnick for the past four years.

Photo © LL-foto

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