Rumours that Alexandra Simons-De Ridder's top Grand Prix horse Chacomo has been humanly put down, have been denied by trainer Ton de Ridder.
Although the bay Holsteiner gelding (by Calypso) had been having many health problems and specialized veterinarians of the Universitary Clinic in Hannover detected inoperable tumors behind his lungs, Chacomo has not been humanly destroyed. Chacomo was operated on his stomach but he did not heal as well as hoped for and both Ton and Alexandra decided to retire him from competition. "Chacomo will be enjoying his retirement with my parents-in-law in Belgium," De Ridder said.
Simons-De Ridder was unable to compete her 12-year old mount regularly this year and did not show him at the European Dressage Championships in Verden. However, the pair won the Olympic team gold medal in Sydney in 2000. Chacomo was considered to be one of the best dressage horses in the world to date.
As Simons-De Ridder has no second top Grand Prix horse, she will no longer be part of the German A-team.
Source: Horseweb and Reiter Revue
Image copyrighted: Dirk Caremans
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