In 2024, Dorothee Schneider and Barcelo were serial winners in the national small tour. The crowning glory was their triumph in the Nuremberg Burg Cup Final. In 2025, however, it had become quiet around the former Bundeschampion, whose full name is Maxi Kraft’s Barcelo OLD, named after the construction machinery company of his owner and Schneider’s new employer, Maik Kanitzky. However, the fact that the Bon Coeur son was not at the show does not mean that he did not work. This year, Barcelo has made the step towards S***, as we saw today in Ankum.
Barcelo rode his first Intermédiaire II there and won it straight away with 73.158 percent. The three judges were quite unanimous. Ute von Platen awarded 72.763 percent for H, Cornelia Hinsch 73.553 percent for C and Harry Lorenz 73.158 percent for M.
The background to Barcelo
Barcelo had a different first name when he was born. At that time, he was called Atterupgaards Barcelo, named after his Danish birthplace, the stables of Kristine Munch Nielsen. Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour’s Olympic horse Cassidy also once bore the prefix “Atterupgaards”. His full sister is the mare Dicte by Caprimond-Donnerhall. And this Dicte is the dam of Barcelo. He is therefore a nephew of Cassidy.
He began his career at the Helgstrand stables. He was first licensed for the Oldenburg Verband in Vechta, followed by recognition in Denmark, where he won his performance test as a four-year-old. At the age of five, Maik Kanitzky and his stable rider at the time, Tessa Frank, discovered him at Helgstrand Dressage. Barcelo thus returned to Germany. One year later, he became Bundeschampion with Tessa Frank. However, the owner then decided to entrust the bay to Dorothee Schneider for further development, with the above result.
S*** premiere for U18 European Champion Sohler
Barcelo was not the only one to make his S*** debut in Ankum. The 2024 European Junior Champion Marie Sohler also rode her first Intermédiaire II. When she rode to European Championship gold, the 18-year-old student of Team Aubenhausen was still in the saddle of the former dressage horse world champion Global Player. Last year, she took over the now 14-year-old Hanoverian Queolito by Quaterhall from Bianca Nowag-Aulenbrock for her step into the big sport. They came second in Ankum with 69.912 percent.
Another former European Young Rider Champion, Lia Welschof, was left behind. She scored 69.430 percent with her Don Index son Dolcino.
Also worth mentioning
Natalie Stickling Morzynski, who recently took over Isabell Werth’s DM bronze medal winner Special Blend, presented her other S*** horse in Ankum, the now nine-year-old Swedish Ampere son Be Allex. He was previously known under Jeanna Hogberg, who presented the giant black horse as a five, six and seven-year-old at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses. Even back then, Be Allex was a striking appearance. He even won the qualifier as a six-year-old and then came seventh in the final. As a seven-year-old, he took the detour via the small final, was victorious here and finished eleventh in the end. Now he is going with Natalie Stickling Morzynski, who trains with Isabell Werth. Today was their first competition as a pair and the gelding’s first S*** performance. He finished in fifth place with 67.237 percent.
Reunion with Straight Horse Ascenzione
Another horse that has not been heard from for a long time is Helen Langehanenberg’s Sezuan full sister Straight Horse Ascenzione. In 2023, the pair came sixth in the final of the Louisdor Prize. After that, the elegant dark bay did not compete again. They are now back in Ankum. Yesterday they came eighth in the Grand Prix with 67.100 percent. Today they came second in the Grand Prix Special with 68.954 percent.
Yesterday’s winning pair, Dorothee Schneider and Karlijn V, were no longer there today. This cleared the way to the top spot for Raphael Netz and Sola Diva, who the perspective squad rider will ride until she is sold, as the owners announced on their social media. The mare certainly made friends in Ankum today with a 70.523 percent round.
All results from Ankum can be found here.
