Guenter Seidel, a three-time Olympic medalist in dressage, is eyeing a fourth Olympics thanks to a new horse, Fandango (Feinbrand—St Utgard). With the 17-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Seidel’s goal is to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games in London. Fandango has been competing at the Grand Prix level with owner Marie Meyers since the summer of 2008.
“I’m excited!” said Seidel. “I’ve known Marie, and she has known me, so I’ve always known the horse. I had helped Marie with him and even ridden the horse in an exhibition once [at the 2009 FEI World Cup in Las Vegas].”
Watch the video of that ride:
After parting ways with longtime sponsors Dick and Jane Brown in August of 2011, Seidel, 51, lost the ride on Grand Prix mounts U II and Sundayboy.
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Without top horses to campaign, Seidel spent his downtime teaching clinics. As a frequent clinician at Toyon Farm in Napa Valley, Calif., he became friendly with owners Ed and Camille Penhoet.
“[Marie and I] always talked about how it would be fun for me to ride [Fandango]. She’s a very good rider on her own, but he can be a little on the strong side. Ed and Camille showed interest in doing a lease and helping financially, and Toyon Farms came through and put the deal together,” Seidel said. “And that’s kind of how it happened.”
Fandango arrived at Seidel’s Cardiff, Calif., facility on Jan. 24. Seidel said he plans to compete the horse for the first time at the Mid-Winter Dressage CDI in Burbank, Calif., Feb. 23-26, with hopes of qualifying for the Olympic trials.
“We’re under a little bit of time pressure. At the beginning I’m sure I won’t be 100 percent ready like I’d like to be, but I don’t have that much time, so we’ll just go in the first CDI and do the best we can. Hopefully we’ll improve from each one,” Seidel said.
“He does everything well. There’s nothing really that he can’t do. He’s powerful. He gets a little strong, so it’s just putting that together and getting to know him. He’s really a player; he wants to go, and he likes to work,” he continued. “I’m confident that we’ll have a good shot [at qualifying]. But time will tell, and just like any other combination, we’ll have to prove ourselves and do a good job.”
