Hans-Dieter Dreher & Forpleasure du Moulin Master the Competition at Frankfurt

By Jumper News on 2024-12-23

Frankfurt, Germany – December 21, 2024 – Thirty-four-year-old Katrin Eckermann (GER) was in the lead for a long time, but then came Hans-Dieter Dreher! “I rode as fast as I could and it was enough!” Dreher and the nine-year-old Forpleasure du Moulin raced through the course in 38.22 seconds for the €30,200 CPA Lichtkonzept Prize CSI 4*. That meant victory at the International Festhallen Riding Tournament in Frankfurt.

Thirty-nine starters took part in this international world ranking test, and the top twelve were allowed into the winner’s round. It was the third of four jumping competitions in Frankfurt in which the riders were able to collect points for the world rankings, a jumping competition with obstacles up to 1.45 meters high.

Katrin Eckermann opened the winner’s lap with Iron Dames Casa Blue PS, put in a flawless lap and put her competition under enormous pressure. The following nine couples could not come close to Eckermann’s given time. Hans-Dieter Dreher (GER) was the penultimate starter, completed the course in his casually brisk Dreher style and took 0.38 seconds off Eckermann.

“This afternoon my mare didn’t jump well, she was a bit out of her role,” said the winner. “But tonight she was back to work. She’s a really little fighter.” She’s already very confident in 1.45-meter show jumping, and next year he wants to take the next step with his “fighter” towards 1.50 to 1.55-meter jumping. Tackle jumping.

With the last rider, Dreher still had to fend for his victory. Niklas Betz was faster than everyone else with Million Dollar Baby, crossing the finish line in 37.62 seconds, but had to record a drop. In the end, the 26-year-old finished seventh. Third place went to Tim Rieskamp-Goedeking (GER) on Coldplay 33 in a flawless 38.75 seconds.