Out of 50 mares, geldings, and stallions in the three-year-old and four-year-old divisions each, the two mares, H.W.'s Saskia and Quithablue stood out as the true champions that they were at the Oldenburg Free Jumping Day at the Horse Center in Vechta, Germany. Both mares were stunning in their form and explosive power over the fences, and earned top scores that were not at all easily given out by the tough judges, Ulrich Henschke and Gilbert Böckman.

H.W.'s Saskia who is by Stakkato, and is out of Whitney (Promotion x Wildwasser, by Tin Rocco) won the four-year-old division. She was bred by Wilhelm Meiners and is owned by Hannelore Weber, who was very happy with his mare's performance. She earned an outstanding 9.2 for technique, and a 9.0 for ability giving her an exceptional total of 18.2.

The champion of the three-year-old division was Quithablue, who is by Chacco-Blue and is out of Queen (Quattro B x Journesse, by Landadel). She was bred by Reinhold Peter and is owned by ZG Hebbelmann-Litmeyer. This mare really impressed everyone with her incredible power over the jumps. She was given an 8.7 for technique and a 9.0 for ability coming to a total of 17.6.

In dressage news, Dutch rider Hans Peter Minderhoud was a close second in the grand prix freestyle at the kick-off of the CDI***** World Dressage Masters Series in Wellington, FL, with his Oldenburg gelding, Escapado. They and many more such as Ringo Starr under Shannon Dueck, Wig Wam under Shelly Francis, and Pik's Pride under Jennifer Hoffman having been doing very well this winter show season.

For more on these stories and videos highlights of the free jumping, please visit www.oldenburghorse.com.