Günter Seidel to Campaign California-Owned Fandango for Place on USA Olympic Team
13 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Günter Seidel to Campaign California-Owned Fandango for Place on USA Olympic Team
Günter Seidel, the three-time U.S. Olympic bronze medalist, will campaign the California-owned Fandango for a place on the American team for the London Games this summer.
Fandango, owned by Marie Meyers of Moorpark, California, is a 17-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Feinbrand x St. Urgard x Figaro) that has been competed by Marie in California, mostly at national shows but at CDIs in Thermal and Burbank in 2010.
The arrangement for Günter, aged 51 of Cardiff, California, to campaign the horse through August of this year was made with the help of Ed and Camille Penhoet of Toyon Farm in Napa Valley in Northern California.
“I am thrilled that Marie made this opportunity available and that Camille and Ed’s gracious support is making it possible. I know the horse really well and he’s a super talent,” Günter said. “Right now we’re focused on getting ready for the upcoming selection trials.”
In addition to his Olympic success, he was also on the World Equestrian Games team that won silver at Spain in 2002 and bronze at Aachen, Germany, in 2006.
With Fandango, he participated in an exhibition at the 2009 World Cup Final in Las Vegas with his “Phantom of the Opera” themed Pas de Deux.
Under his owner, Marie Meyers, Fandango was the 2008 Intermediaire II U.S. Dressage Federation Horse of the Year, and finished fourth in the 2006 U.S. National Championships at small tour.
Günter rode horses for Jane and Dick Brown for more than two decades until the partneship ended last year which left him without an Olympic prospect until now.
