There’s always been a touch of the dramatic about Totilas and today was no exception.
The announcement of Totilas’ new rider, revealed to be 26-year old Matthias Alexander Rath, was broadcast via streaming video (finally, a new video was posted!) and Rath rode Totilas in a demonstration ride.
Anticipation of the announcement was the “buzz” of the dressage sites for several days with the choice of Rath one of the worst kept “secrets.”
Today it was announced that German rider Matthias Alexander Rath will get the ride on Moorlands Totilas. There had been much speculation in the dressage world about who would get the ride but it was reported that Rath had enjoyed a “test” ride on the stallion last week. Eurodressage.com reports that he said,
“I’m not really an emotional person but when I rode that first pirouette I had to laugh. The feeling is amazing. I’m happy and grateful that I can ride this horse.”
At the press conference it was also revealed that Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff, Rath’s stepmother, co-owns the horse with Schockemohle.
While many people are still upset that Edward Gal lost the ride on Totilas, I hope that Rath and Totilas enjoy their partnership. After riding the horse only six times, the video makes it look like they are on their way. Hats off to Edward Gal. His excellent training seems to be done more that just make Totilas a one-rider wonder; instead he trained the stallion to be rideable. I’m not in any way trying to take away from the partnership that the two had — but part of the training process, at least in my opinion, is to create a horse that can be ridden by more than just the trainer.
