The Holsteiner of the Month is a horse that has frequently attracted attention in recent weeks and months. The nine-year-old won her first 1.60-meter Grand Prix at the show premiere in Hohen Wieschendorf at Enno Glantz' facility, and in Aachen she was also at the front of the podium at the U25 Jumping Cup Final. We are talking about Greece by Mylord Carthago-Quinar.

Teike Carstensen, the granddaughter of her breeder, Margit Petersen, sits in the saddle of the large-framed gray mare. Greece is what the Carstensen/Petersen family call a real family horse. From her dam Online, who was named "Holsteiner Mare of the Year" in June, the breeder has already bred a number of special horses, including Conrato by Caretino (Hikari Joshizawa/JPN), Zürich (Teike Carstensen/GER) or Pikeur Carre (Markus Brinkmann/GER). Teike has been riding Greece since she was four years old; at the age of five, the pair won the silver medal at the Bundeschampionat. "So far, no one has presented her at a show except me," the rider reveals. Teike's boss, Stephan Johannsen, has ensured that this will not change anytime soon by securing Greece for the up-and-coming Amazon. "Greece is a very special horse for me. My grandma bred her and I have celebrated my greatest successes with her so far. She always makes it easy for me in the course. All I really have to do is ride along and brake," laughs the likeable 24-year-old.

Photo: Stefan Lafrentz