Dressage: Tortilas New Rider To Be Announced on Tuesday -- by Nan Rawlins

Edward Gal (NED) and Tortilas WEG 2010 (FEI Photo)

Germany's Paul Schockemöhle will announce Tortilas new rider and home on Tuesday, November 30, 2010.  Schockemöhle, Germany's leading sport horse breeder and dealer, said that the announcement will be made with the mystery rider aboard the horse at Schockemöhle's Muhlen, Germany stallion station.

Tortilas, the 2010 WEG Dressage Champion and record-breaking son of Gribaldi, is currently residing in Muhlen under closely guarded lock and key.  After Tuesday's announcement, the black stallion will be moved to his new home to continue competition.  The stallion will only be available for breeding through artificial insemination.

Schockemöhle has made no secret of the fact that he purchased the horse to further the German sport horse breeding program. He also has made it clear that he intends for Tortilas to continue in competition with  a German to rider aboard. Current speculation puts German rider Matthias Rath at the very top of the list of potential Tortilas riders.  Rath and his father and coach Klaus Martin Rath were said to be very deeply impressed with the horse when Rath took a ride last week at Schockemöhle's facility.  Said Rath of his experience aboard the stallion "The feeling was incredible… I had to laugh out loud."

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