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Germany’s Richard Vogel – current world number eight – and the 11-year-old gelding Cydello (Cascadello x Forsyth FRH, bred by Christof Schörning) won the CSI4* $215,000 MARS Equestrian Grand Prix during week 4 of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, USA – their tenth international win together.

“Cydello is a very modern type of horse,” Vogel tells about the fiery chestnut that he has been riding since August 2023. “He is absolutely built to perform, and he always does his best. He's a real fighter, especially in the ring. At the same time he is also sensitive, and I believe that is why he is so careful – he pays attention to everything.”

However, Cydello’s sensitivity can at times be a challenge. “He is not the easiest to handle, because he can be quite spooky and fresh. He has a lot of blood and heaps of energy, which is obviously good to have: If we have to jump multiple rounds, I never have to worry about him getting tired. He sees everything and pays attention to every detail, and I think that is what makes him such a winner.”

He has a lot of blood and heaps of energy

Even though Vogel has not been riding Cydello for that long, the talented gelding was always on his radar. “He was bred only half an hour from where we are based in Pfungstadt, Germany,” Vogel explains. “He was on the local shows around us from five years on, so I saw him a lot. I remember always thinking that he was a very cool horse, but it was hard to say at what level he would end up jumping. However, it was easy to see that he was super smart and very careful, and that he had a great character and good attitude towards the sport.” 

“Franziska Baum-Gundlach, the daughter of Cydello’s breeder, produced him up until 1.40m national level,” Vogel continues. “At that point, he already jumped a lot of clear rounds and I asked quite a few times about him, but the breeder never wanted to sell. As I got to know the breeder a bit better, we eventually worked something out. At our first national show, he won a Grand Prix and then I took him to Brussels Stephex Masters before going to Mexico in the autumn of 2023. In Mexico, he won three classes and took three podium finishes. Last year, we had a very good season. It feels like almost every show I have taken him to, he has won a good class. He is simply a very cool horse who always produces good results.”

He is simply a very cool horse who always produces good results

“Obviously, we would be delighted to just repeat the last season we had with him,” Vogel says about his goals with Cydello for the year ahead. “I think he is a horse who you have to keep happy and motivated on 1.50-1.55m level, and every now and then, he can jump a 1.60m class. We are very happy with him because the level he does, he does better than 99% of any other horse. I guess that is the secret to his success; we have found the level that suits him the best and don’t push him too much. I'm sure that winning a five-star Grand Prix is possible for him, on the right day. It is more about his mental condition; he has to believe in himself, and as a rider, that is my job – to give him the confidence he needs.”

While Vogel is currently competing in Wellington, United Touch S – his other superstar – is in Europe. “All our horses are performing well here in Wellington, they are all in good shape,” Vogel tells. “Besides Cydello, I have a group of younger horses here and they are all a bit green. It's going to be an interesting circuit over here because these horses need to gain mileage. Hopefully, we can get some good results as they are stepping up. Meanwhile United Touch is at home. He has a bit of a rest now, and Felicia – his groom – is with him. Normally, he will be going to The Dutch Masters in March, and to the World Cup Final in Basel in April,” Vogel concludes.

18.2.2025 No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.