After the second round of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Qualifier in Lyon last weekend (27-29 October 2011), Hans Peter Minderhoud currently lies in a very strong position in the rankings.

The competition was extremely tough, with the likes of Salzgeber, Werth and Gal delivering immaculate tests. Minderhoud, however, also produced two exceptionally elegant tests, performed before an audience of 6000.

In the Grand Prix on Thursday (27 October), Minderhoud, riding Withney van't Genthof, an incredibly skilled, 11 year old, Belgian Warmblood stallion, came in 7th place, with a fantastic score of 69.40%, easily qualifying for the Kur.

In the Grand Prix Freestyle, late on Friday evening (28 October), Minderhoud was well in the lead at the half-way-point, having scored a first-class 74.1%. By the end of the competition, Minderhoud had risen two places from the previous day, finishing 5th and gained a much-deserved 12 points.

After such a successful weekend in Lyon for the Dutch rider, Minderhoud now stands in 3rd position in the FEI World Cup rankings with 32 points, only 3 points behind the current leader!

Congratulations to Hans Peter! The Albion Team wish him all the best with the remainder FEI World Cup Qualifiers.

Albion's sponsored rider dominated the global dressage scene last weekend, with a magnificent win for Hans-Peter Minderhoud at Odense CDI-W, Denmark.

the World Cup Dressage season got off to a flying start at Odense, 21-23 October 2011. In the 27th season of World Cup Dressage, Minderhoud reigned supreme at this first qualifier out of nine, which saw nine nations battling for points.

Finishing 3rd in the Grand Prix (Saturday) with I.P.S. Tango (a talented, but relatively inexperienced, 11 year old, KWPN stallion), the Dutch rider easily qualified for the Freestyle on the following day, with an impressive score of 71.34%.

In the Grand Prix Freestyle (Sunday), Minderhoud and Tango rose to the occasion, scoring an astounding 79.3%. The duo took the top-spot, carrying the maximum 20 points forward into the next Qualifier.

Albion wishes Hans-Peter and Tango the very best of luck! We will be keenly following the combination's success in the forthcoming months, as they firmly fix their sights on the Final in the Netherlands, 18-22 April 2012.

A historic victory for Team GBR as the quartet win the first British gold medal at the FEI European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam, 17-21 August 2011.

The team's final score of 238.678 set a new European record, a full 12 points ahead of the Germans who won silver and the Netherlands bronze.

Albion's sponsored riders Laura Bechtolsheimer, Emile Faurie and Hans Peter Minderhoud gave spectacular performances throughout the competition.

Emile and Elmegardens Marquis set the tone on day one of the team Grand Prix with an impressive score of 70.426%. The combination went on to finish in 21st place in the Grand Prix Special.

As well as team gold, Laura B and Mistral Hojris claimed individual bronze in the Grand Prix Special, took 4th place in the Grand Prix Kur to Music on an excellent score of 83.018%, and finished 5th in the Grand Prix.

"He was very flighty in there and too bothered by the noise which pushed him over the edge. I felt like a small blonde girl on a big ginger horse, rather than the harmonious picture we usually go for!" joked Laura. "Still I don't think I can be too upset, this is still fairly indescribable."

Hans Peter and Nadine (representing the Netherlands) scored 76.589% in the Grand Prix Kur to Music to earn them 11th place.  The pair went on to finish 14th in the Grand Prix Special and 15th in the Grand Prix.

Albion thoroughly enjoyed meeting our existing Dutch customers and welcoming many new friends from around the world onto the stand in the shopping village.

Click here for full results.

Brits on Top Form...

Three cheers for the GBR Eventing team who won gold in the CIC3* and the Dressage team who finished 2nd in the Nations Cup in Aachen, Germany (13-17th July 2011).

Six of Albion's sponsored riders took part in the event, producing wonderful performances which exceeded all expectations.

In the Eventing:

William Fox-Pitt finished clear in both the cross-country and show jumping earning him an Individual 3rd.

Albion's sponsored riders dominated the Dressage leaderboard:

Hans Peter Minderhoud won the Grand Prix Kur to Music CDI riding Nadine, closely followed by Laura Bechtolsheimer and Andretti H in 2nd place on a score of 74.975 and Anabel Balkenhol in 4th position with Rubins Royal.

Hans Peter and Vivaldi finished 4th in both the Prix St Georges and Intermediaire I.  Hans Peter continued with his success to claim 3rd place with Nadine in the Grand Prix CDI with Laura B and Andretti H hot on his heels in 4th position with a mere 0.447 difference between them.  Not far behind was Beli Balkenhol lying in 7th position with Rubins Royal.

Laura B and Mistral Hojris claimed 2nd place in the Grand Prix CDIO on an impressive score of 80.596.  The combination continued to stay on top form, finishing 4th in both the Grand Prix Special CDIO and the Grand Prix Kur to Music CDIO. 

Hans Peter and Tango came 11th with a score of 74.075 in the Grand Prix Kur to Music CDIO and 12th in both the Grand Prix CDIO and Grand Prix Special CDIO. 

Guenter Seidel and UII gained 17th position in the Grand Prix CDIO and finished 19th in the Grand Prix Special CDIO.

Emile Faurie and Elmegardens Marquis performed well, scoring 70.725 in the Grand Prix Kur to Music CDIO to land them in 14th.  The pair also claimed 14th position in the Grand Prix Special CDIO and were placed 27th in the Grand Prix CDIO. 

Massive congratulations to all of our sponsored riders. 

Click here to see the full list of results.

It has been announced that the Dutch Aachen Team is to include Albion sponsored rider Hans Peter Minderhoud who will be riding Tango (by Jazz x Contango),

CDIO Aachen, which takes place from the 8th - 17th July 2011, has been coined the 'mini-olympics' so should make for an exciting event.

Albion would like to wish Hans Peter every success.

Click here to view the full team.

Hans Peter Minderhoud had two rides in the 2011 Dutch Dressage Championships, Johnson and Tango. Both horses produced fantastic tests throughout the championship.

Hans Peter and Tango competed in the Big Tour Championships where they finished 3rd with a score of 72.659 in Round 1 Grand Prix, they won Round 2 Grand Prix Special and finished 2nd in Round 3 Kur to Music.

Theses fantastic scores lead Hans Peter and Tango to win the 2011 Dutch Grand Prix Championships with 227.572 points, ahead of Edward Gal.

Hans Peter’s second horse Johnson competed in the Small Tour Championship and finished 4th with a score of 70.921 in Round 1 Prix St George, 2nd with a score of 74.122 in Round 2 Intermediaire I and 3rd with a score of 73.416 in Round 3 Kur to Music.

With all of these great scores Hans Peter Minderhoud and Johnson went on to finish 2nd with 218.461 points in the 2011 Dutch Small Tour Championships.

Well done Hans Peter, what a great performance.

Click here to view the full results.

Albion's sponsored rider Hans Peter Minderhoud and Nadine was on great form at s-Hertogenbosch.

The fabulous partnership produced two wonderful scores finishing 4th in the Grand Prix with a score of 72.574 and 3rd in the Grand Prix Kur to Music with a score of 79.725.

Well done Hans Peter.

Click here for the full results.

Hans Peter Minderhoud and Nadine produced another great test in the Grand Prix Kur to music in Neumuster finishing 4th with a score of 77.100%.

Albion would like to wish Hans Peter all the best for the rest of the season.

Click here for the full result.

Hans Peter Minderhoud and Nadine had another great performance in Neumunster, finishing 3rd in the Grand Prix with a score of 71.532%.

Well done Hans Peter.

Click here for the full result.

Albion's sponsored rider Hans Peter Minderhoud and Johnson won the VHO Trophy at the 2011 KWPN Stallion Licensing in 's-Hertogenbosh, making no mistakes to come out with a score of 77.125% in the Kur to music.

Click here to read more.

Hans Peter Minderhoud and Tango produced two great scores in Amsterdam.

CDI - W Grand Prix with a score of 69.49 finishing in 8th place

CDI - W Grand Prix Kur to Music with a score of 75.700 finishing in 5th place.

Well done Hans Peter.

Click here for the full result. 

Hans Peter Minderhoud and Tango continued their success at Zwolle after winning the Grand Prix with a score of 71.787, they went on to win the Grand Prix Kur to music with a score of 79.825.

This combination is getting stronger after each event and we look forward to more wonderful performances.

Well done Hans Peter.

Click here for full results.

Albion's sponsored riders Laura Bechtolsheimer, Emilie Faurie and Hans Peter Minderhoud are all competing in Olympia's Reem Acra FEI World Cup dressage qualifier on Tuesday 14 December 2010.... It’s going to be good....  Check back for resullts.

The World Equestrian Games Dutch Dressage team has been nominated for the Dutch Sports team award,  including Albion's sponsored rider Hans Peter Minderhoud riding Nadine in the Albion SLK dressage saddle.   

Hans Peter Minderhoud and Tango had a successful weekend at the CDI - W in Stockholm, finishing 10th in the Grand Prix with 66.213 and qualifying for the Grand Prix Kur to Music where they finished 7th with a score of 72.00.

Well done Hans Peter.

Click here for full results.

World Equestrian Games Team Dressage Gold Medalist Hans Peter Minderhoud from Netherlands heads to Olympia for the World Cup dressage qualifier, held at The London International Horse Show on 14-20 December.

Tickets available now

What a Fabulous day it was yesterday for Albion Saddlemakers sponsored rider team, with three of their riders Laura Bechtolsheimer, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Anabel Balkenhol having come away with team medals at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Hans Peter Minderhoud with a score of 72.255% o secure team Gold for the Netherlands, Laura Bechtolsheimer with a score of 82.511% to secure team silver for GBR and Anabel Balkenhol with a score of 67.702% to secure team bronze for Germany.