Campari W, a well-known Danish dressage pony who has taken seven riders to international FEI level, has retired from the sport at the age of 22.

Campari W is a German riding pony born in 2002 by Champagner W out of Dancing Girl B (by Derano Gold x Danny Black)? He was bred by Hilda Wassmann.

Start in Germany

The pony began his career in Germany, initially at the Weser-Ems-Pony stallion licensing in 2004, where he was approved. He never completed a performance test and was only bred for a very short time.

He has only five offspring registered for the sport in Germany, including a licensed son, Caspar W (international dressage pony under the Belgian Helena Theeuwes).

He was first seen as a 3-year-old by Catharina Wassmannfollowed by Charlott-Maria Schürmann who won silver with him at both the Weser-Ems Pony Championship and the Federal Championship in 2005.

In 2006 he was Patricia Andler and in 2007 by Nicola Krause. In 2008 it was Lena SchutteIt’s their turn. They made their international show debut in 2008 at the CDI Bonn. They came third at the German Pony Championships in 2009.

Danish Team Pony

Campari W was sold to Denmark where he continued his extensive show career under a large number of riders.

He was purchased by Jette Nevermann, the former Danish pony national trainer, and the ride was initially assigned to Caroline Bording-Schmidt who won bronze with him at the Pony European Championships in 2010 and 2011 with the Danish team. They also won silver at the Danish Pony Championships 2011In 2012 Nikoline Ravn Jensen began showing the dark chestnut at competitions for two years. They were appointed team reserve for the 2012 and 2013 Pony European Championships.

He then sold to Jonnhild Hanssen for daughter Victoria Christine Hansen They made their CDI debut in 2015 and finished sixth at the Danish Pony Championships in 2016, after which Dagmar Sofie Oxlund followed in 2017. She made her CDI debut in 2018 and won silver at the 2018 Danish Pony Championships.

In 2020 he sold to the Dietz family and became a family pony for daughters Gry and Nynne Dietz Viborg. Nynne brought Campari back to the international show ring in 2023. She also competed with Campari in his very last show, the Danish Pony Championships 2024, and scored 66.795% in his final test.

retirement

At the age of 22, the pony is now being retired from competitive sport.

“He’s just a very special pony, he’s almost always happy and so funny in everyday life,” the Dietz family told Ridehesten. “He’s a bit of a bully and doesn’t give up, so you really have to fight to make things work with him, but at the same time he’s also a friend you can feel comfortable with.”

Dietz continued: “He is truly our heart pony and we are so incredibly happy about the experiences that our family is able to have with him. It is really hard right now, but we are also crying with gratitude for this wonderful pony. He deserves to finish fit and healthy and although he is still young at heart, he is getting old physically. That’s why he will retire at home and enjoy it.”

Photos © Astrid Appels – Ridehesten

Related links
Sophia Obel Jorgensen wins the Danish Pony Championships 2021
Thilde Rude Hare wins the Danish Pony Riding Championships 2020
Alexander Yde Helgstrand wins the Danish Pony Championships 2018
Louise Christensen wins the Danish Pony Championships 2016
Danish team selected for the 2013 Pony European Championship
Vallentin wins the Danish Pony Dressage Championship 2011
Danish team for the 2011 Pony European Championship announced
Danish team selected for the 2012 Pony European Championship