Wellington, FL (April 27, 2011) – German trainer Holger Bechtloff showed off his good sportsmanship during the Gold Coast Dressage Finale Show, riding away with the Premier Equestrian Sportsmanship Award. Sponsored by Premier Equestrian, a leading supplier of dressage arenas, horse jumps, arena footing and stable accessories, the Premier Sportsmanship Award is awarded to a rider who displays a high level of sportsmanship during a show.
Bechtloff said he was pleased to win the Sportsmanship Award and shared his secret for being a good sport. “Fairness to the animal has to be the top thing,” he said. “It’s important to know your limits and your horse’s limits and have fun doing it.”
Bechtloff, who competed Cartujo VIII and Teknicolor at the show, has found great success showing Andalusians to the Grand Prix level. “I recently had an amazing Andalusian that I was going to take to the Pan Am trials but he was a great horse and he ended up getting sold,” Bechtloff said. “The new owners love him and will compete him in the Pan Am Games for Venezuela.”