Leonberg Returns to the Grand Prix Ring with a Win and 70.625%
Equestrian News Release

Albuquerque, NM— Horses Unlimited’s Leonberg returned to the Grand Prix ring this weekend at the Gold Coast Finale I with a solid 70.625%. The bay RPSI stallion had been breeding in New Mexico after an injury kept him out of the show ring, but hopes were always high that he would return to the form he displayed when he qualified for the 2004 Olympics and with his second place finish in the Grand Prix Special at Dressage at Devon 2005. Leonberg, by Lonely Boy XX, out of a Romiros mare, has been carefully brought back in New Mexico by the Horses Unlimited staff before returning to Florida to be paired with international Grand Prix rider Mikala Gundersen in November 2007.

“We are still just getting to know each other,” Gundersen says of the 17-hand stallion. “He’s a very sensitive horse and I’ve been working very hard to establish a true connection with him. He’s slowly giving me his body and his heart, which is really rewarding.” The pair debuted in Florida earlier this spring in the Intermediaire II classes as Gundersen allowed Leonberg to regain strength. They won an Intermediaire II class at the Zada WEF Dressage Classic in March, along with other ribbons.

For Anne Sparks, owner of Horses Unlimited, seeing this great stallion returning to top form is exciting and heartfelt. She says, “We are so thrilled that Leo is doing well, both physically and emotionally. Everyone has wanted him to be healthy and happy, so this is extremely rewarding for everyone on the Horses Unlimited team.” The farm recently welcomed the first 2008 Leonberg foal, a filly born to the Fidermark mare Fee, who’s a full sister to the extravagant Fürst Fabio. Sparks continues, “The Leonberg babies have been incredible; they are very uphill, elastic with incredible movement. The oldest are just starting under saddle and we have high hopes for them.” Among the offspring are several who received Gold Premium awards and movement scores above 8.0, including Lancalot who received an 8.5 on movement from the RPSI, and Liberando VT who received an 8.3 on movement at his ISR/OLD inspection.

Pik L is another Horses Unlimited stallion that has been earning top scores in the Grand Prix. At the Gold Coast Grand Finale I he earned a 68.125% to finish sixth in the Grand Prix and at the Zada WEF Dressage Classic he received 72.20 on his Grand Prix test in the FEI Test of Choice, which was good enough for third place. Pik L and Gundersen received second and third place ribbons at the Phelpssports.com Palm Beach Dressage Derby in the open Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix, respectively.

“I always knew Pik L had the ability for Grand Prix,” Sparks explains. “It’s wonderful to see him and Mikala developing a relationship that allows him to express his physical potential.” The bay Hanoverian stallion has won more than 20 CDI Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire I classes and 11 classes at Dressage at Devon with three different riders. Pik L also finished fourth in the 2003 Pan American Games and represented the U.S. as the Reserve horse at the 2007 Pan American Games.

Gundersen is very pleased with Pik L’s progress. “He’s 15 years old,” she says. “But he’s still developing. His trot has more schwung and more suspension, which has made the piaffe and passage much easier for him. Pik L is a great example of how classical training should improve a horse.”

Pik L is also becoming a prolific sire. His son Pikko del Cerro HU won both USEF Four Year Old classes at Dressage at Devon 2007 and has already qualified for the 2008 National Young Horse Championships with wins in the FEI Five Year Old classes at the Gold Coast Grand Finale, among others. Son Pikturesk claimed the 2007 USDF Horse of the Year, Training Level Adult Amateur, as well as the High Point award at the 2007 Phelpssports.com Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI. Other winners include Pikk Primero, who won at the Zada Dressage at the National Horse Show and Pikachu, a champion children’s hunter. “The Pik L’s inherit their father’s incredible temperament, walk and canter, and they can jump!” Sparks says.

Pik L and Leonberg will continue to be based in Florida for the summer, but are available for breeding. Check out http://www.horsesunlimited.us for updates and news on the farm’s other horses.

About Horses Unlimited

Horses Unlimited is one of the premier sport horse breeding establishments in the United States. Utilizing the best bloodlines from Europe, Horses Unlimited is producing jumpers, dressage and eventing horses for both amateur and professional riders who compete from the local level to the international ring. Their horses have competed at the highest level of the sport, from CHIO Aachen to the Olympic Games.


PHOTO CREDIT: Susan J.Stickle