Above: Tom Tarver and Popeye. Photo credit: Ostseefotograf. Text Source: Julia Hansen

Every year in September in the town of Bad Segeberg in Schleswig-Holstein (the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany), the best riders in the state are decided across all age groups.

Run over three stages, it was New Zealand’s Tom Tarver who took out the state title. Tom, now based with the Vogg family on the Tasdorf facility, won the gold medal in the Grand Prix Tour, having three faultless rounds  – that has only happened once in the history of this competition. And certainly a first for a New Zealander to win the state championships in Schleswig-Holstein!

Above: Tom and Popeye. Photo credit: Ostseefotograf

“I wanted to win that,” said Tom, making his title ambitions clear after winning the second state championship class. He put his plan into practice. His partner: the lightning-fast eleven-year-old gelding Popeye, a New Zealand warmblood by Cardento, of whom 36-year-old Tom says: “We discovered him at his breeder’s house when we were seven. He’s my once-in-a-lifetime horse. He has a lot of blood, a great gallop and is very careful. But his greatest strength is his intelligence.”

Tom Tarver and Popeye had already won a Grand Prix in Schleswig-Holstein in July, so his competition knew what this team were capable of.

In Bad Segeberg, 19 combinations competed in the final round. Tom and Popeye were one of eleven combinations – with no faults from the first two rounds. And so it remained exciting until the end, but the likeable New Zealander piloted Popeye over the obstacles at such a speed that he galloped over the finish line with a lead of over three seconds and confidently secured the gold medal. Frenetic cheers from everyone involved. “It’s a big task to ride three rounds consistently at a good level,” said the happy new State Champion, and referring to his team supporting him: “Everything depends on the people you work with. My wife, my co-workers, my trainer – you are nothing without a team. ”

We are delighted for Tom – and how exciting to make the cover of Germany’s top Horse magazine!