Lisa Wilcox’s successful relationship with the top dressage stallion Relevant came to a triumphant end at the weekend, when the pair won the grand prix and grand prix special in their last competition together at CDI Oldenburg in Germany.
The American Olympic rider is leaving Germany’s Gestut Vorwerk stable, where she has been based since 1997, to go and work at Stable Schatzmann in Switzerland after receiving what has been described as “a very profitable offer”.
Wilcox and Relevant have been important members of the United States dressage team in recent years, helping the country to win the team silver medal at the 2002 WEG, where Wilcox was fifth individual, and team bronze at the Athens Olympics.
The German dressage world has taken the popular America rider to its heart while she has been based in the country and gave her a standing ovation as she said farewell in Oldenburg.
Meanwhile, Emile Faurie and Rascher Hopes were the most successful of the British partnerships competing at CDI Oldenberg. They finished seventh in the grand prix and the grand prix special with plus-67% scores.
Britain’s other competitors, Ferdi and Maria Eilberg, both produced solid mid-60% tests in both classes, with Maria and Two Sox beating her father (Teutone) in the grand prix, although Ferdi reinstated the status quo in the special.
