Coming to a New World
August 8, 2009
“It’s not like it is in the states.”
German Leonie Fischer placed third in the 2-year-old mares with Designed By Royal Te. (Journal photo)
That’s what halter exhibitor Leonie Fischer said of showing American Quarter Horses back home in Germany. She shows in everything there from reining to halter and all-around events.
“In Germany, if you have an all-around horse, you put it in the halter, too,” she said.
Leonie came to Oklahoma City with her parents, Guenter and Britta, to show at the 2009 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show. It’s her first trip here, and though she qualified in five classes, this time she’s sticking just to showing halter.
“We thought it would be best if she starts with the halter and gets to look around, and next year maybe she can start in the performance classes,” Guenter explained.
AQHA Professional Horseman Ted Turner has trained and fit Leonie’s mare, Designed By Royal Te, a 2007 black mare by LSP Dominate To A Te and out of Design My Dream by Designation. Guenter and Britta bought the mare at last year’s AQHA World Championship Show. They came to Oklahoma a week early so Leonie could work with Ted down in Thackerville, Oklahoma, before showing this week.
“I wanted to see how the classes go here,” Leonie said, with Britta helping a little with the English translation, “and to know the mare better.”
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Guenter and Britta explained that in Germany, exhibitors are less proper in their showmanship in the halter. They pet the horses more and stand closer, and Leonie needed to learn the American style in the ring: “In the arena, they have to do their job.”
The Fischers have 17 Quarter Horses back home in Germany. Guenter shows in the novice pleasure and horsemanship and Britta in the all-around. They’ve also been raising their own.
“Our first success was to win, three weeks ago, the yearling longeline futurity at the European Championships,” Guenter said. “We are very happy. Our first own baby, Dressed To Be Best.”
About nine years ago, Britta had Warmbloods but Guenter had no interest in riding them.
“I said, I will go on a western horse,” Guenter said. “She gave me one lesson on a ranch in Germany, and it was wonderful. Three months later, I bought a horse. Half a year later she sold her warmbloods and bought an AQHA Champion called Hint Of Marlana. Then it became like a wave, our whole life turned.”
“They are wonderful horses,” Britta said. “You can go in the field with them and the shows as well.”
Leonie showed August 8 in the 2-year-old mares class, and will be taking home a bronze trophy when the family flies home on August 9. Although thrilled with the third place finish, Leonie really came for the experience of showing in the Ford Youth World arena. And she plans to come back.
Christine Hamilton
Editor
American Quarter Horse Journal
Check out photos from the final day of the 2009 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show. Click on the photos to see the captions. Some of the photos are available for purchase at the AQHA Photo Store.
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